Ch. 61..70

Chapter 61: You Promise?

“You must not tell anyone else! I am only telling you because I trust you.” Hazel ordered them to secrecy.

Before Ariel and Summer could say anything, they had already felt very disappointed.

“What? Hazel? Are you going to have a secret affair?” they asked in astonishment.

“What do you think I should do? Continue to be a campus celebrity?” Hazel was helpless.

“What’s wrong with being a campus celebrity? Your boyfriend is Joshua Denmark, enough to be envied and hated!” Ariel said delightedly.

“… I just want to get my diploma in peace.” Hazel was speechless.

“Alright, alright.” The two girls waved their hands with disappointment. “Rest assured. We’ll never publicize it. But remember, let Prince Charming invite us to dinner again!”

Hazel agreed to it, not knowing whether to cry or laugh.

She was still the hot topic in the school, so she thought for a while, finally decided not to go to class, and stayed in the dormitory to study to avoid being surrounded by onlookers.

Summer and Ariel did have away. They had an alternative account on the school forum, they would simply send a few posts questioning and leave it to others to add fuel to the fire.

Karla was so anxious to make this something big. Wasn’t she the guilty one?

Others were now skeptical, so they started following and questioning for themselves. Karla seemed to be more anxious and wanting to argue with them, but her arguments only increased their suspicions.

Many of the members who attended the student council activity that day testified directly. It was Karla who first proposed that Hazel should invite Joshua.

Suddenly, the direction of the comments changed, everyone changed from reprimanding the President of Student Council to everyone reprimanding him and Karla, more so Karla.

A comment left was, “They made their bed, and now they need to lay in it!”

Ariel was deep in thought, then out of the blue, she turned to Hazel and said, “Thanksgiving Day is coming up. Have you decided what to give to your Prince?”

Hazel was stunned.

***

Thanksgiving Day was no different to her than an ordinary day, but now that she had a boyfriend, she would have to think about these things more.

After all, she really did like him.

“I don’t know what he likes.” Hazel frowned. “Should I ask him?”

“Why?” Summer couldn’t resist rolling her eyes. “If you ask in advance, would there have been any surprises on Thanksgiving Day?”

“Mmm.” Hazel agreed. Then she said miserably. “Let me think about it carefully.”

She thought about it for a while but could not come up with a good idea. Finally, she decided to ask Joshua.

She could not ask him directly, but she could find an opportunity to bring it up in conversation.

From time to time, there were girls from other dorms knocking on doors, and Hazel was well aware that they were all there to see her. Summer and Ariel simply escaped out of the dorm without them noticing, but Hazel was not taking a chance, so she hid. When they knocked she did not answer and when her phone rang she ignored it.

A few hours later her phone rang again, she was getting ready to throw it out the window but noticed it was Joshua. Hazel answered the phone with a little surprise.

“Hazel, let’s have dinner tonight,” Joshua whispered.

“Oh?” she said expressionlessly, “Didn’t we have breakfast together this morning?

“How can breakfast be the same as dinner?” He smiled a little and laughed. “I’m already outside your school. Are you coming out, or am I coming in to pick you up?”

“… I am on my way out.” She became a wuss instantly.

If Joshua came here, it was very likely going to cause another disturbance.

At dinner, she could casually bring up gifts to find out what he would like.

Hazel snuck out of the dormitory wearing a baseball hat and scarf, looking like a burglar rather than a woman in love just to hide her identity.

When she saw Joshua sitting in the car, she could not wait to get in. Her heart was pounding.

There was a flash of surprise in his eyes. “Why are you looking so stealthy?”

“I’m hiding from people.” Hazel fretted. “I didn’t want you to know, but there are times when I feel like a panda at the zoo. People are always looking at me.”

Joshua cocked his brows. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“It isn’t that bad, is it?” she said, “I am hoping people will forget me after two days.”

His eyes dimmed; he had neglected this. She had always had the characteristic trait of not bothering others and not worrying about things.

As her boyfriend, he should take the initiative to help her solve these problems.

“By the way, I have something to tell you,” she said suddenly.

“Huh?” he looked at her.

“Can my job as your secretary be on hold?” she asked.

“Are you unwilling to do it?” He looked at her quietly.

Facing his deep eyes, she only felt her heartbeat pounding harder. Looking directly at him, she felt it seemed she couldn’t refuse any of his requests at all.

“I’m not unwilling…” she blushed a little. “The final exam is in two weeks. I want to study as much as possible.”

“But when you finish your final exam, it’s time for winter vacation.” There was a little sadness in his eyes. “Can you stay with me then?”

“… Mmm,” she said in a low voice.

“What?” He looked at her in astonishment. The next moment, He put his hand around her waist, and there was incredible joy in his eyes. “Hazel, say it again.”

“I meant to tell you about it.” Her cheeks turned a little red. “I’ve called my parents and told them I’d be home later this winter vacation. I haven’t found a place to live… yet.”

“Why do you want to find a place? Live with me.” He chuckled.

“You?” She watched him vigilantly.

“Hazel, you don’t believe me?” His eyes were sad.

In an instant, her heart leaped. It felt like she was completely different from herself when she faced Joshua.

No, no, you can’t be seduced by a honey trap.

“It’s not that I don’t believe you, it’s that I haven’t liked you to the point that I want to live with you,” she said after she thought for a bit.

He was considerate, and he felt this was the same thing as not believing.

“I assure you that I will do nothing to you unless you agree,” he whispered. “It’s hard to find a house now, so tell your parents you will be living in a classmate’s house.”

Hazel’s heart leaped.

At that moment, she believed Joshua’s promise. What’s more, he had always had a good reputation.

“You promise?” She reconfirmed.

 

Chapter 62: She’s My Girlfriend

“I promise.” He said with a big smile.

He just meant that he would do nothing to her if she is unwilling, but he would be happy to cooperate if she wanted.

“Nanny Carter likes you very much. If you are unwilling to live with me, she will scold me.” There was a bit of sadness in his eyes.

“Okay…” she consented to it.

His eyes flickered, and he moved slightly toward her.

She got very nervous in an instant.

Did Joshua want to kiss her again? The driver was still there, though!

Suddenly, his cell phone rang, and she pushed him away with a sigh of relief. “That is for you!”

He cocked his brows with some displeasure. Who is so inconsiderate?

It was his friend Kenny Jones. Frowning slightly, he answered the call.

“Joshua, let’s get together tonight,” Kenny said. “Chuck and Isaac are here, too.”

“I don’t have time,” Joshua said indifferently.

“How come you have no time? I just called your office, and it’s said you left work early.” Kenny half-joked, “You wouldn’t be with your girlfriend, would you?”

“Yes.” Joshua nodded.

On the other end of the phone, Kenny became quiet. Soon he asked in surprise, “Really? Did you get a girlfriend? You are lying to me, aren’t you? Bring her too, and we can meet her!”

Joshua’s eyes twinkled a little. He said calmly, “I’ll ask her if she wants to.”

Kenny chuckled.”Your persuading skills are strong.”

Ignoring him, Joshua put down his cell phone and looked at Hazel. “My friend asked us to come over for a small get-together. Would you like to go?”

“Is it okay for me to go?” She was a little hesitant.

“You’re my girlfriend. Why is it not okay?” he said softly, “Rest assured. They’re not bad enough to bother you, and Isaac is also there.”

“Isaac Anderson?” she asked. Knowing that there was a person she knew, she seemed less resistant to meet his friends.

Thinking for a bit, she nodded. “Alright.”

He lowered his eyes, nodded, and said to Kenny, “We will be there after a while.”

After hanging up and telling the driver where to go, Joshua quietly looked at Hazel.

“Why are you looking at me?” She touched her cheek blankly. “Is there something on my face?”

“Hazel,” Joshua asked jealously, “do you want to go because Isaac is there? You treat him in quite a special way.”

Stunned, she stared at him. Did she hear that right? Joshua was jealous?

She had always felt that Joshua, though gentle, was too calculating and profound that she could not guess what he was thinking at all.

But he was actually jealous?

She couldn’t help laughing out loud.

“You’re still laughing.” He pinched her cheek with hidden bitterness.

“It’s indeed a sort of special.” She blinked. “I think he’s a nice guy and a good friend.”

“Mmm, he’s a really good friend.” His face softened slightly.

Did he accept it so easily?

She looked at him curiously. “Are you afraid that our relationship will be better after we have been friends for a long time?

Eyes twitching, he looked at her seriously and said firmly, “You’re not going to have such a chance. Hazel, I trust your judgment.”

She was angry and amused. What did he mean? Did he mean that if she continued to develop her relationship with Isaac, that she had bad judgment?

But… indeed, Joshua was more her type than Isaac would ever be.

They reached the place they were meeting Joshua’s friends. He quietly knocked on the door.

Kenny opened the door, smiled, and said, “Joshua, you’re here…”

But before he finished, he looked at Hazel in amazement.

He thought Joshua was deceiving him when he said his girlfriend would accompany him. Kenny did not expect Joshuaton to really bring a woman here!

“She, she…”Kenny pointed at her with astonishment.

Hazel looked at him, puzzled. This man looked kind, but why did he see her as a ghost?

“She’s my girlfriend.” Joshua took Hazel by the hand intimately and led her into the room.

Acting as he had seen a ghost, Kenny followed them.

Isaac looked at Hazel in shock. Then he said with a sad look on his face, “Hazel, are you really with Joshua? This must be the reason you acted the way you did and piss me…”

“Face it, Isaac.” Joshua took Hazel by her waist intimately, leaned over, and softly kissed her on the forehead.

Her cheeks turned red at being so close to him in front of his friends.

“It’s just a kiss on the forehead…” Isaac was disdainful.

“If you want to see us more intimate, I’d be happy to break your heart even more.” Joshua had a faint smile.

Isaac became versed in an instant. The other two men in the room were all too shocked to even come to their senses.

They had never seen Joshua take a woman so seriously. Was Hazel really his girlfriend?

Isaac looked extremely depressed and angry. Joshua ignored him and simply introduced the three of them.

It wasn’t until then that Hazel knew the guy who looked nice and honest was Kenny Jones, and the other guy who looked cool and seldom talked was Chuck Foster.

Kenny and Chuck were finally convinced that Joshua didn’t lie to them when they knew Hazel was the woman who had an affair with Joshua the other day.

“Hello, sister-in-law,” The two men shouted together.

Hazel was both frightened and embarrassed. She was about to say something when Joshua smiled softly and said, “Your sister-in-law is shy. Don’t scare her.”

After a brief chat with them, Hazel found that they were actually quite easygoing, and then they all teased each other but in a friendly way.

Kenny was very kind, Chuck was a little cold, and Isaac was rather flirtatious. As for Joshua, although he looked nice, he was the most scheming. Their relationship was actually so good that Hazel was somewhat surprised.

“You guys have totally different personalities. How can you be friends?” she asked curiously. “Is it because you grew up together?”

“No, the three of us grew up together,” Isaac pointed to Chuck and Kenny. Then he explained, “Joshua joined us later, or brought it under control. The three of us admire him very much.”

Hazel felt more surprised. Joshua didn’t grow up with the three of them?

She wanted to continue asking, but Kenny, who had been somewhat tongue-tied, suddenly said, “Joshua, I’d like to apologize first. I may have done something wrong…”

 

Chapter 63: You Think Too Much

“What did you do?” Joshua asked softly.

“I…” Kenny was about to say something when there was a knock at the door. He sighed helplessly and got up to open the door.

“He thought you were joking with us when you said you were bringing your girlfriend,” Isaac gloated as he whispered, “so he asked VanessaYoung to come here.”

“Why didn’t you stop him?” Joshua asked calmly.

“Why should I stop him?” Isaac looked as if he expected the worst.

Hazel felt overwhelmed.

Their words clearly said that the relationship between Vanessa, who was about to arrive, and Joshua was not simple.

The door opened, and a woman came in.

Hazel looked at her curiously. She was stunning, with exquisite make-up. Apparently, she had taken her time to make sure she was perfectly dressed. It seemed she was Vanessa with a gentle and virtuous personality.

Vanessa greeted several people in the room with a polite smile.

“Brother Joshua.” Vanessa looked at Joshua with more intimacy.

Hazel looked at Joshua, only to find he was calm without any guilt.

“I heard you brought another woman this time. Won’t you introduce us?” Vanessa chuckled.

Another… Even if Hazel was rather slow, she could hear the meaning of Vanessa’s words.

“Vanessa, no-nonsense.” Kenny seemed to be trying to save his mistake, and he quickly said, “This is really Joshua’s girlfriend. Her name is Hazel Crowe. Sister-in-law, this is Vanessa Young. We are good friends who grew up together.”

“Oh, I’m sorry.” Vanessa looked as if she had said something wrong, and she said quickly, “It was Joshua who has brought a lot of women with him and said they were his girlfriends before. But I think he must have just been trying to deceive us. Hazel, don’t think too much into it.”

Hazel’s mouth twitched. Persuading her not to think much? She was clearly afraid that she would not think enough.

She had no feelings for Vanessa, to begin with, but now she had a pretty bad impression of her. Besides, when she thought she might have had something with Joshua, she felt a bit unhappy.

“Well, I won’t think much.” She smiled softly. “I don’t mind or care about Joshua’s past, but you can rest assured that he will not have other girlfriends because I’ll be the last.”

Vanessa’s face became a little unpleasant, and a faint chill flashed across her eyes.

Isaac couldn’t help laughing, but then he looked at Hazel with much sadness and bitterness.

Surprised by her comment, Joshua looked at her wearing an innocent smile.

She actually had hit back before he could explain to her. A smile curving his lips, he gently held her hand.

Hazel stared at him, her hand suddenly pinching his.

“All right. Everybody, have a seat,” Aware of the awkwardness of the atmosphere, Kenny said quickly.

“I never,” Joshuawhispered in Hazel’s ear.

“Never what?” Hazel clenched her teeth.

“Never brought another woman here,” he said. “Believe me.”

“Ha.” She sneered.

“If you don’t believe me, I’ll kiss you.” Joshua’s eyes twinkled.

“I believe you, I believe you.” She blushed in shame.

All of the people sat down, and the waiters began to serve.

They talked over dinner. Vanessa talked kindly to the other people, and from time to time, she talked to Joshua about work or the past.

Joshua occasionally replied, but most of the time, he kept out of the conversation.

Hazel didn’t interrupt. She was focused on the big table of delicacies; the food was absolutely delicious. She had to say that all of them really knew how to enjoy themselves.

“Try this.” Joshua put a tender piece of fish in front of Hazel. He made sure to carefully take the fishbone out before putting it on her plate. He began to shell the shrimp.

Vanessa watched Joshua’s movements. She clenched her chopsticks in her hand with hatred.

The next moment, she asked with a gentle smile, “You don’t talk very much, Hazel?”

Hazel gulped down the food in her mouth and took a sip of water. “You’re free to talk, I’m busy enjoying a delightful meal.”

There was a touch of anger in Vanessa’s eyes, but the next moment, she said apologetically, “Ah, you don’t understand what we’re talking about, and don’t you know what to say? I’m sorry, but we have a good relationship. We usually chat like this. That’s all.”

Hazel suddenly realized that Vanessa was reminding her that they isolated her.

She looked up, speechless. Why couldn’t Vanessa be quiet even at dinner?

Vanessa wasn’t very polite to her, which Hazel thought was a misunderstanding. But now, it seemed that Vanessa was really aiming at her.

Hazel didn’t like to get into difficult situations, but she was never afraid of anything.

“You got me wrong,” she said with a smile. “My family has rules when it comes to meals, we don’t talk while eating. So, I don’t really like to speak at dinner. It’s very impolite. The most important part of a meal is to enjoy the delicious food, and that cannot be done if I am speaking.”

Vanessa’s face became nasty instantly. Hazel actually said she was uneducated in a roundabout way.

“Joshua, did Ipiss Hazel off?” Vanessa looked at Joshua with an aggrieved look.

“You think too much. Hazel carries her heart on her sleeve. Besides,” with a soft smile, Joshua put the peeled shrimp in Hazel’s bowl, “she’s right.”

Vanessa’s face was even more unsightly. Was Joshua actually on Hazel’s side?

The other three men were even more unpredictable. Isaac had a clear bias towards Hazel, Chuck was uncommunicative, and Kenny was too honest.

In an instant, the whole private room was quiet, and they began to eat in silence.

Vanessa was very irritated, but she could not help it. She was trying to isolate Hazel, but instead, she was actually being isolated by Hazel.

When the dinner was finally over, Vanessa said first, “We hadn’t been together for a long time, and we meet Hazel today. Let’s just have a good time and celebrate, shall we?”

Hazel was nervous. What was Vanessa up to?

But no matter what she planned to do, her proposal was what others wanted. The three men cheered, saying yes.

“Do you want to play?” Joshua looked at Hazel.

Hazel hesitated.

She could see that Vanessa was rather close to them. She could not disappoint them because she disliked Vanessa.

“Playing what?” Hazel asked.

“Truth or dare.” Vanessa proposed.

Chapter 64: Truth Or Dare

Hazel’s eyelids twitched.

Vanessa didn’t want to seize the opportunity to embarrass her, did she?

Hazel was worried that she wouldn’t have the opportunity to ask Joshua what he wanted for a gift, and if they played “Truth or Dare,” she might have the opportunity to ask.

“Great idea!” Kenny agreed. “We don’t know her very well yet, so we can take advantage of the game to get to know each other.”

The others all agreed.

Joshua looked at Hazel, who itched to have a go, and nodded.

The group got together to come up with a lot of ideas to give the others a hard time.

Prepared for the punishment of “Truth or Dare,” they a deck of cards, selected a few of them, shuffled, and pulled out a card.

Hazel stole a glance at her cards and heaved a sigh of relief.

Fortunately, she didn’t get the Joker in the first round fatefully.

“All right, show me the cards,” Isaac shouted. They placed their cards down on the table so everyone could see them.

Hazel didn’t expect that Joshua would be the one who got the Joker. She secretly looked at him, and he was so calm that she would never have thought he had it.

“Ha, ha, ha,” a few men kept laughing happily, as if they did not see the look that Joshua had on his face.

“Which one, Truth or Dare?” Isaac asked.

Hazel looked at Joshua curiously. Joshua took a look at Hazel. It looked as if he had guessed what she was thinking, he calmly opened his mouth. “Truth.”

“Let me ask you first.” Isaac asked, impatient and confused, “How far have you gone intimately? Don’t try to trick us. Hazel’s still here.”

The three people looked at Joshua and Hazel with ridicule.

Hazel was embarrassed instantly. She looked at Joshua nervously, hoping he wouldn’t answer anything at random.

“Slept in the same bed,” he said softly.

“Poo —” Hazel spat out a mouthful of water.

“Joshua is joking, isn’t he?” Vanessa managed to remain smiling. “Hazel’s clearly scared by your answer.”

“She’s shy.”Joshua gave a simple answer, then gave a faint look at Hazel. “Am I wrong?”

Hazel was shy, but she and Joshua did ‘Sleep in the same bed’, however, nothing had happened! But if she were explaining it specifically, it would very likely only get worse.

“… Right.” She finally succumbed to it. She picked up the glass in front of her and drank absent-mindedly.

Everyone smiled inquisitively, and Vanessa’s face grew even uglier.

However, they could tell that Hazel was indeed timid, so they didn’t continue to tease her.

Chuck asked,”Where do you like best to make love… with sister-in-law?”

Hazel started to choke. She put down the glass, unhappy. Chuck looked reserved, but deep down, he was ruthless as he actually asked this kind of question.

A smile curving Joshua’s lips slightly, he said quietly, “Bathroom.”

Hazel’s cheeks were already red, and she was dying to duck under the table.

Several people gave a burst of laughter, and even Kenny, who looked rather kind, was constantly praising Joshua that he was good at sex.

When Kenny’s turn, he looked at Joshua and was shy about asking him any unnecessary questions. He thought for a bit before finally asking, “What would you like Hazel to give you most?”

“Why ask?” Chuck joked, “What he wants most is Hazel wrapping herself up as a gift.”

Hazel looked at Joshua, confused. Didn’t he really want this, did he?

Joshua smiled slightly, he thought for a moment and said, “Hazel herself…”

A few people began to cheer, and Hazel became shyer. But Joshua continued, “to make the gift.

“You paused on purpose!” All the men laughed.

Hazel felt relieved that it was so easy to know Joshua what he wanted. But what kind of gift should she make?

“Joshua,” Vanessa said as she glanced at Hazel with a sudden smile. “You’ve not forgotten what you promised me, haven’t you?”

Joshua’s eyes were a little deep, and he answered with an “Mmm.”

“What? What is it?” Isaac asked curiously, looking as if he wanted to be a looker-on even though something bad might happen.

“It’s not my turn, to tell the truth. I refuse to answer,” said Vanessa, looking very secretively.

Isaac looked at Joshua and wanted to ask, but Vanessa said, “Isaac, you’ve already asked me. Would you like to ask a second question? It doesn’t make sense, or you can ask Hazel to do that.”

Isaac smirked. How could he not see through Vanessa’s tricks?

Because Joshua had won Hazel’s heart and he was a little angry, he tried to get them into some harmless little trouble.

But he didn’t want to be used by Vanessa.

“How could Hazel be interested in this?” Isaac chuckled. “She must have something she wanted to ask, doesn’t she?”

“Oh?” Hazel looked at him blankly. She had been too lost in thought to notice what Vanessa had asked.

“It’s your turn to ask.” Joshua reminded her.

Hazel came to her senses and thought for a bit before asking, “Do you like chocolate?”

“What is the problem?”The others were not satisfied. “Hazel, you are deliberately cheating!”

“But I have nothing else to ask…” Hazel said quietly.

Vanessa pinched her palm in anger and shot a cold glare at Hazel.

Didn’t this woman care what Joshua promised her?

She had planned to plant a thorn in Hazel’s heart, and if she asked now, it meant she didn’t trust Joshua. As long as she had a doubt, even if Joshua told the truth, very likely she wouldn’t believe it.

Did Hazel see through her plan and wanted to ask Joshua when they were alone?

Vanessa’s face was unattractive at the thought of it.

“Yes,” Joshua replied.

“Oh.” Hazel nodded and would keep it in mind.

As they continued to play the game, Hazel was too lucky as she did not get the Joker during three consecutive rounds.

Instead, Isaac got it once. Fearing that the bad buddies would ask him something he couldn’t say, he chose “Dare.”

Then, he stood at the window and shouted: “I’m a pig” three times toward the downstairs, causing the other people to laugh their heads off.

However, everyone has bad luck at some point, Hazel got the Joker.

Before they started asking, Joshua told them, “Don’t ask uncalled-for questions.”

“I see.” The other men were not left with an option.

It seemed that Joshua really loved Hazel this time. He acted as a wife- protecting maniacs most of the night.

 

 

Chapter 65: It’s Just A Game

Joshua had warned them before they asked.

“Hazel, how old are you?” Isaac asked, clearly cheating.

“Twenty,” Hazel replied.

They all looked at Joshua in unison, with a look of conviction.

“Shame on you!”Isaac said, looking at Joshua. “You’re robbing the cradle!”

“Oh,” said Joshua, with a calm air, “you can’t do it.”

In an instant, Isaac stared at him with a sad, angry face.

“Go ahead, go ahead.” Hazel reminded them with embarrassment.

“What part of Joshua do you admire most, sister-in-law?” Chuck asked wickedly.

The crowd began to cheer again, and Hazel was very speechless.

She looked at Joshua unconsciously. When she flashed a glance at some part of him, her cheeks turned red instantly.

“Chest…” Hazel said after thinking for a bit.

He had an incredible body. Every time she thought of it, her face would get hot.

The crowd began to cheer again while Vanessa’s envy grew more intense.

Her eyes twinkling, she smiled softly and asked suddenly, “Hazel, did you have a first love?”

“Yes.” Hazel looked at Vanessa helplessly. Vanessa’s hostility to her was so strong that she had tricked her again and again.

“Who is he?” Kenny asked curiously.

“Him.” Hazel smiled softly, looking at Joshua.

She was emotionally shut off before meeting Joshua, so she doesn’t feel any love towards him.

She had a smile on her lips when Joshua suddenly kissed her.

The others sighed with grief, clearly trying to embarrass Joshua and Hazel, but they had to watch their public display of affection in the end.

“What do you want to ask?” Hazel asked, blushing.

“I have nothing to ask,” Joshua said calmly. “Let’s start the next round.”

As the game went on, Isaac was unlucky enough to draw the Joker twice. Then he did two stupid things that made people laugh, which made him so angry that he said if he got the Joker again, he wouldn’t play anymore.

His words seemed to work, and then Vanessa got the Joker.

“I choose ‘Dare,” said Vanessa quickly.

Joshua wouldn’t protect her. Who knew whether or not Hazel would ask her to do something embarrassing? However, she did know which one she should choose as the punishment of the game!

“Come on, draw lots.” Kenny passed her a cardboard box of papers.

Vanessa shook the cardboard box. Suddenly her eyes lit up, and she took out a piece of paper and handed it back to Kenny.

“Read it for me, I can’t bear to do it,” she said.

Joshua’s eyes grew deep, and he suddenly grabbed Hazel’s arm and pulled her gently into his arms.

Hazel screamed in a low voice as her cheeks were flushed instantly.

What was Joshua doing? His friends were still here, but he actually cuddled her so intimately in front of them?

As she tried to speak, Joshua raised his index finger and laid it gently on her lips. He whispered, “Be good, let me hold you.”

Hazel was going to say something when she heard Kenny read it out. “Kiss the nearest person for a minute!”

“Closest to Vanessa?” Isaac laughed. “Isn’t that Joshua?”

Since the game began, Vanessa had been sitting next to Joshua while Hazel was on the other side of Joshua, but Hazel and Joshua were sitting on the same couch and were more intimate, so people didn’t notice it.

But did Vanessa and Joshua have to kiss now?

Everyone looked at Joshua, and Isaac said in surprise, “When did you two start cuddling?”

Vanessa pinched her palm again, but the next moment her eyes flashed with anticipation and pride.

Hazel clenched her teeth in shame and anger. She was about to stand up when Joshua held her in his arms with more strength.

“Mr. Denmark, go and execute the punishment,” Isaac said as he gloated.

“Isn’t that enough, Isaac?” Joshua spoke with a faint smile.

“What’s wrong with that? It’s just a game,” Chuck said. “Isaac drew a lot and had to pretend to be a couple with the person next to him. Didn’t I cooperate helplessly?”

“Right, right, no exception…” Isaac said as he laughed.

“You’re wrong. I’m not the nearest to Vanessa,” Joshua said quietly. “It’s Kenny.”

Kenny was indeed sitting on the other side of Vanessa.

But when Kenny was reading out the punishment, Vanessa sat closer to Joshua, so Joshua was closer to her.

“What?” Isaac shouted, “You’re clearly closer!”

“Do you have such bad eyes?” Joshua cocked his brows.”Can’t you see Hazel between Vanessa and me?”

Hazel was stunned. She suddenly understood why Joshua wanted to hold her in his arms.

She was in Joshua’s arms now, but she’s closer to Vanessa than he was.

Did he know what was going to happen, so he was using her as a shield?

All the people quieted down, and Kenny said hastily, “Forget the punishment. Let’s draw lots again.”

“It’s just a game. No exception,” Hazel suddenly spoke.

That was what they said to Joshua, and now she was saying it back to them. Vanessa had been trying to steal her boyfriend away, so Hazel was more or less a little angry.

Vanessa had planned to walk through it, but now she could only choke her words back.

But did they really want her to kiss Kenny? She was very aggravated. Then she took a deep breath, and an idea came to her.

“But Hazel is closest to me,” Vanessa said as if he was in a dilemma. “You can’t let me kiss Hazel, right? Or, let’s change the terms…”

“Don’t change,” Joshua said quietly. “Hazel’s willing to sacrifice.”

Vanessa’s face changed.

Hazel looked at him glumly. “Do you want to sacrifice your girlfriend for keeping yourself safe?”

“Are you going to watch your boyfriend kiss another woman?” he whispered quietly. “Aren’t you afraid that she would change the terms to the nearest man?”

Hazel thought for a moment that she would be angry and disgusted actually to see Vanessa and Joshua kiss.

“All right,” Hazel looked at Vanessa painfully. “It’s a game, and it’s just a kiss. I’ll sacrifice myself. But don’t use your tongue.”

Chuck and the other men coughed and looked at Joshua with an air of tease.

Hazel was stunned for a bit and suddenly realized why they acted like this. Did they think that just because Joshua kissed her like that, she said that?

 

Chapter 66: I Don’t Need It

Vanessa was infuriated.

She had really understated Hazel Crowe. She had intended to kiss Joshua, but Hazel not only sabotaged her plan but even showed off to provoke her!

“No, you misunderstood, I don’t mean anything else.” Hazel felt embarrassed. She hurried to explain, “We’re both women…”

“Don’t bother!” Vanessa interrupted with a cold face.

Her target was Joshua, but now the one she had to kiss was Hazel. How could she insist on the kiss?

“Forget it,” Kenny echoed to her words. “Let’s start over…”

“Why can’t we continue?” Isaac interrupted with a sneer. “If you can’t handle it, why did you suggest we play this game? If you don’t feel like playing after drawing a dare, do you want to draw again until you are satisfied?”

“What do you want to do?” asked Vanessa coldly.

From the beginning, she realized that Isaac had been taking special care of Hazel, which she didn’t care about, to begin with, but now, Isaac would even embarrass her for Hazel!

“Aren’t the rules set at the beginning?” Isaac opened his mouth coldly. “Whoever chooses ‘Dare’ but refuses should drink three glasses of wine for punishment.”

Isaac pointed to the glass in front of Vanessa, whose face turned a little pale.

They had a mind to tease others before, and the glass used for punishment was not small. She would definitely get drunk after three glasses.

“Isaac, we’re all friends. We don’t need to be so unforgiving, do we?” Kenny said, a bit embarrassed. He looked to Joshua for help. “Do you agree, Joshua?”

The few of them all looked at Joshua and Hazel.

Hazel could tell that Vanessa had affection toward him, but she just cared about Joshua’s towards Vanessa.

“Isaac is right,” Joshua spoke quietly.

Vanessa grew a little paler now.

She was angry and wronged in her heart. Although Joshua had been lukewarmly facing her before, he took care of her. But now he didn’t show her any respect at all?

It was all Hazel’s fault! Without Hazel, no one would have taken away Joshua’s concern for her!

At the thought of it, Vanessa hated Hazel a little more.

The next moment, she picked up the wine and glass with anger and said with a look of protest, “I’ll drink!”

She was having a temper tantrum as she drank three glasses of wine. When she was done, she staggered and put down the glass. She looked at Joshua with a hidden bitterness as if she had been bullied.

The whole room became miserable.

“Joshua,” she gave him a distressing cry and said as she struggled, “I’m a little drunk, can you take me home?”

Hazel couldn’t help frowning. Joshua was her boyfriend, but Vanessa asked him to take her home. What did she mean?

“Kenny can get you home,” Joshua said, looking at the time. “It’s getting late. I have to get Hazel back to school.”

Vanessa’s face stiffened, but Kenny agreed gracefully.

Following them, the rest also got up, ready to depart. Joshua led Hazel out of the hotel, and just as they were about to get into his car, Isaac ran up to them.

“Hazel, wait for me in the car,” Joshua said.

“Okay.” Hazel nodded.

“Joshua Denmark!” Isaac laughed and stopped him. “Did I cooperate enough?”

Before getting in the car, Hazel heard this just in time, and she understood instantly.

She had been wondering why Isaac was so aggressive as he faced Vanessa before.

“Not bad,” Joshua said softly.

“Then you should help me in return,” Isaac said.

Joshua cocked his eyebrows. He sighed. “Isaac, your fiancée is really good. You can try to get along with her. Besides, your second uncle has been having a lot of engagements lately. She and her family can help you…”

“Joshua!” Isaac looked at him angrily. “No matter how worthless I am, I don’t need to rely on women!”

Joshua sighed softly. He said in a deep voice, “Okay, Denmark Group and your company have recently embarked on a cooperation project. You can ask your grandfather to arrange for you to take charge of it. This partnership will consolidate your position in your company, and your marriage will be delayed naturally.”

“So, you’ve arranged it all?” Isaac turned from anger to joy. “It’s really worth being your friend for so many years. Come on, give me a hug!”

Joshua stepped back in disgust. “Get out of here!”

Isaac laughed and said, “Are you afraid Hazel’s jealous? I see. You can go home early.”

Hazel saw Isaac off, then the door opened, and Joshua got into the car.

As the car drove to Quantum University, Hazel couldn’t help asking, “Did you just… you fight with Isaac?”

“Did you hear that?” He looked at Hazel tenderly.

“Your voice is a little bit loud,” Hazel said with embarrassment. “I heard some, but I couldn’t hear it very clearly.”

“It’s about his fiancée,” Joshua frowned. “This is a commercial marriage. In fact, Isaac is not willing and has been trying to call off the engagement. He was trying to pester you just to force me to help.”

“I see.” Hazel was a little depressed.

Although she had no feelings for Isaac, she still felt a little smug in her heart when he harassed her. However, it would not have been right if she had just taken advantage of it for selfish reasons.

“Very depressed?” Joshua frowned in surprise.

“A little,” Hazel said truthfully. “I thought I was suddenly more attractive. It turned out to be an illusion.”

Joshua chuckled.

“And will you have a commercial marriage?” She looked at him curiously.

“I don’t need it,” he said with a calm expression. “If you don’t have faith in me, Hazel, I don’t mind getting a marriage license with you at any time.”

“Let’s talk about it in the future…” her heart raced instantly. She could feel Joshua’s seriousness, but she hadn’t really thought about getting married or anything.

“Mmm.” His mouth tilted upwards slightly at the corners. “I’ll wait until the day you’re willing to say yes.”

Her heart pounded even harder.

“By the way, as for Vanessa…” He suddenly frowned.

“Why did you mention her?” She looked at him in amazement. “Do you like her?”

“I only like you.” He pinched her nose gently.

She was blushed slightly with shyness. “I thought you had done something naughty with her!”

“How could it be possible?” He looked at her amusedly.

 

Chapter 67: Do You Like It?

“Don’t mention her then,” she said in a low voice.

Even being inexperienced as she was, she could sense Vanessa’s hostility to her. Joshua suddenly mentioning her made her somewhat unhappy.

Joshua raised his eyebrows in surprise.

The reason why he suddenly mentioned Vanessa was that she suddenly mentioned he had promised her something when they played “Truth or Dare.”

Vanessa was the daughter of a director of Denmark Group. Her father came to Joshua and asked him to help arrange a job for her at DenmarkGroup.

Joshua had always refused directors to place their children in the company. But Vanessa’s parents were so close to his parents that he could not refuse them.

Fortunately, Vanessa’s ability was not bad, so the other directors had nothing to say about placing her in Denmark Group.

That was what Joshua wanted to tell Hazel, but she didn’t seem to care about it at all. He thought for a bit and never mentioned it again.

Back at Quantum University, Hazel asked Joshua to stop the car at a corner off-campus.

Joshua looked at the cold street and frowned. “There aren’t many people now. I’ll get you straight back to school.”

“No!” She quickly waved her hands. “Your car is too conspicuous. It’ll definitely get noticed.”

Joshua frowned slightly. It looked as if he thought he would have to buy a less conspicuous car?

“I’m leaving.” She pushed the door open, but Joshua got out of the car and followed her.

“Why did you get out?” she asked in amazement.

“To walk you home,” he said gently.

“Don’t bother.” She got embarrassed. “It’s only ten minutes to get to the dorm.”

“How can you reassure me that you will be safe? It is so late.” He raised his eyebrows. “If you’re afraid of this being misunderstood, I’ll stay behind you and keep my distance.”

“Mmm…” She felt powerless as he insisted and compromised. “Then let’s go.”

She walked for a while and suddenly found that Joshua didn’t catch up with her, so she stopped and looked back in surprise.

Joshua did, as he had said, just follow her from a distance.

She was speechless. She turned around and walked over to him.

He looked at her in wonder.

“Let’s go together,” she said, amusedly. “There aren’t many people in school at this time. We should not be conspicuous on foot.”

“Mmm.” A smile curving her lips, he stretched out his hands and gently grabbed her palm.

Her cheeks were flushed, and she struggled bashfully, but Joshua tried a little harder, and she gave up struggling.

Walking hand in hand across campus, Hazel had butterflies in her stomach. Joshua kept her company until they were under the girls’ dormitory.

“You may go home,” she said.

“Look at that.” He pointed to the gate of the girls’ dormitory.

A couple was standing there, kissing intimately in the bright light.

Hazel was a little embarrassed. What did Joshua indicate?

She wanted him to leave, so she pretended not to understand what he meant. “I saw it. You may go ho…!”

He leaned over, his lips gently covering hers.

He moved his tongue to tangle with hers passionately. Her eyes were blurry. Such a deep kiss made her give up struggling.

“You don’t like that?” He let her go, half laughing.

“… I don’t like it.” Her cheeks were a little red, and she thought Joshua still remembered what she had said during the “Truth or Dare.”

“Let’s do it again.” He chuckled and kissed her again.

After another lingering kiss, he asked with a smirk, “Do you like it?”

“… Yes,” she said shyly.

“Let’s do it again since you like it.” He kissed her again.

She was weak in his arms, she could not comprehend what was happening. Why did Joshua want to kiss her, whether she liked it or not?

Looking at Hazel’s eyes, Joshua gave her a reluctant kiss on the forehead. “Go back to your dormitory.”

“Mmm.” Shyly, she turned around and ran back to her dorm.

Driving back to Denmark Residence, Joshua was surprised to see Vanessa waiting at the gate.

When she saw him get out of the car, she walked towards him, staggering. “Joshua —”

Joshua frowned as Vanessa leaned toward him. He quickly held out his hand to hold her.

“Vanessa, you’re drunk. I’ll ask the driver to take you home,” he said with displeasure.

“I’m not drunk!” she said with a grievance. “Joshua, you don’t really like Hazel, do you? How could you take a fancy to such a stupid, boring woman?”

“Vanessa, you’re really drunk!” he said in a deep voice sternly.

“I said I wasn’t drunk!” Tears running down her eyes, she grabbed him by the sleeve. “How could you love that woman, Joshua? Clearly, we first met first, and I wanted you first! I have loved you for more than a decade. Don’t you understand what I am saying?”

“Vanessa, I think of you like a younger sister,” Joshua said sharply, his eyes a little deep. “I don’t have any other feelings for you. As for your feelings, they have nothing to do with me.”

Talking about feelings was a messy situation that he did not want to be a part of. He had decided that once Hazel had fallen in love with him, he would not give any other woman hope.

Vanessa looked at him with a sad look on her face. She never imagined that Joshua would say such heartless and cruel words.

“Is that woman really so nice?!” she roared, refusing to accept it.

“Yes,” he said, unhesitating.

Her face grew a little paler with more tears falling down.”But I’ve loved you all of these years, Joshua. What do you want me to do? I beg you, beg you to spend one night with me and put an end to my ridiculous behavior over the last ten years. As long as you are willing to spend one night with me, I promise I will not bother you anymore…”

“Vanessa, go back home.” He put up with his impatience and helped her get into the car.

“I don’t want to go home!” She struggled hard and clung desperately to Joshua. “Just do it, Joshua. As long as you spend the night with me, I promise that I will only treat you as my brother in the future. I will never have any thoughts of you as more than a brother ever again…”

Joshua’s face grew more exasperated, and his last ounce of patience was exhausted.

Suddenly, he stretched out his hand to strike her hard on the back of the neck. She rolled her eyes and immediately passed out.

Joshua threw her into the car and, with an angry tone, said to the driver, “Get her home!”

“Yes,” The driver said quickly.

He gave the driver the address to Vanessa’s rented luxury apartment. He shut the car door and let out a sigh of relief.

 

 

Chapter 68: Achieve Her Wish?

Just as they were about to leave, Nanny Carter came out and asked, “Is it, Miss Young?”

“Yes.” Joshua nodded.

“Mr. Denmark, you should personally take her home,” Nanny Carter advised. “Her family has helped the Denmark family. If anything happens to her, it would be hard for you to explain it.”

“I see.” Joshua agreed and also got into the car.

As soon as the car reached Vanessa’s apartment, Joshua and the driver helped her upstairs quickly to avoid suspicion.

After finding the key in her bag, Joshua opened the apartment door, and the driver helped Vanessa walk into the bedroom.

No sooner had she been put in her bedroom than she woke up slowly.

Looking at the blurry figure before her eyes, Vanessa suddenly grabbed the driver’s arm. “Joshua, is that you?”

The driver was startled. He pushed her away and walked out of the bedroom.

“Is she in bed?” Joshua, who had been waiting in the living room, asked in a low voice.

“Yes,” the driver hesitated and gave the bedroom a look. “Mr. Denmark, Miss Young seems to have woken up.”

“It’s not bad if she is awake. Leave her alone.” Joshua frowned. “Let’s go.”

They walked out of the room and locked Vanessa’s door.

As Joshua was walking down the stairs, his cell phone suddenly rang.

After answering the phone, he said to the driver, “Take me to the airport first. Tell Nanny Carter I’ll have an urgent business trip.”

The driver nodded and got into the car.

Vanessa was still so drunk that she struggled to get out of bed and ran out of the room to chase after Joshua.

She opened the door drunkenly, and there happened to be a figure with sneaky behavior in the hallway outside.

“Joshua, is that you?” she abruptly hugged him. The man was frightened and tried to push Vanessa away hurriedly.

“Sleep with me, Joshua,” Vanessa said, holding him desperately and refusing to let go. “As long as you promise, I will give up, and I will never pester you again…”

The man she was hugging heard her clearly, then he looked around and pulled her back to the apartment.

Hazel thought about it all night, and after discussing it with Ariel, she finally decided to make Joshua homemade chocolates for a Thanksgiving Day gift.

She had watched videos on the internet about making chocolates; the directions appeared simple enough. Hazel downloaded a video from the Internet and was just about to start the chocolates when her phone rang.

“Looks like someone’s going on another date.” Summer jokes.

“No date.” Hazel was determined and went to the balcony with her phone.

“Hazel, I’m out of town now on a business trip for a few days,” Joshua said in a low voice.

Her heart missed a beat. Thanksgiving Day was coming up. Joshua would be back in time, wouldn’t he?

“When will you be back?” she asked.

He was slightly astonished, smiled and, in his sexiest voice, asked, “Miss me?”

“… Who misses you?” Her face was a little flushed, protesting flirtishly. “Stop being so narcissistic. I’m just asking.”

“About three days,” he replied.

Three days later? It happened to be Thanksgiving Day.

Instantly, she became a little worried and couldn’t help asking, “Can you make it back by that night?”

He said quietly, “I should be able to make it. What’s the matter?”

“Nothing, nothing,” she waved her head happily. “I’m just asking. All right, I’ll hang up if there’s nothing else.”

Having hung up, Joshua was somewhat surprised.

Hazel seemed to care about him coming home in three days, but she wasn’t asking anything else. Why all the sneaky questions?

“What day will it be in three days?” Joshua looked at Jaxson.

“Thanksgiving Day,” Jaxson answered without hesitation. Then he asked unexpectedly, “Don’t you know that, President?”

Joshua suddenly understood her concern. It was not that he did not know Thanksgiving Day, but that it was a day he had never cared about before, nor had he ever celebrated with anyone.

Hazel repeatedly confirmed his schedule on the phone, mostly because she wanted to spend Thanksgiving Day with him.

He had forgotten that Hazel was still at the age that she liked to do these silly things, he should be more considerate.

“Jaxson, help me arrange something,” he said in a deep voice. “Also, on Thanksgiving Day, we’ll try to get back as early as possible.”

“Yes, Mr. President.” Jaxson agreed.

Joshua was thinking of Hazel when his phone rang, he looked at the screen hoping it was her but his heart sunk when he saw Vanessa.

He answered the phone, sounding distant, “Vanessa, what can I do for you?”

“Joshua, I…” There was a touch of shyness in her voice. She wanted to say something, but she bit her lip.

“If there’s nothing, I will hang up,” he said coldly.

“Joshua,” Vanessa hastily asked, “did you bring me home yesterday?”

“Yes.” He was somewhat impatient.

“Thank you, Joshua. Thank you for helping me achieve my wish…” There was a certain delight in Vanessa’s bashful voice.

Achieve her wish?

The driver and himself only took her home last night and left immediately. How did he help her to achieve her wish?

He was trying to find out, but Vanessa continued, “Joshua, I got it. You can rest assured that I’ll give up now and will not harass you again.”

There was more doubt in his mind, but if she weren’t going to bother him anymore, it would save him some trouble.

“Vanessa, you’ll always be my younger sister,” he said in a deep voice.

On hearing this, Vanessa swallowed her anger, and she said in an obedient manner, “Joshua, I got it.”

When she hung up, a shiver went down Vanessa’s spine. How could it be possible to make her give up like that?

It turned out that Joshua had really brought her home last night, and then he stayed to make love to her. Since he was willing to sleep with her, it showed he had feelings for her.

How could she let it go?

She picked up her phone and called Kenny. “Kenny, come with me to Quantum University.”

“Why are you going to Quantum University?” Kenny asked in astonishment.

“I caused a scene and made everyone uncomfortable yesterday. Come to think of it, I think it was rude of me to have done that,” she said. “So, I want to go to Quantum University and apologize to Hazel.”

“Are you really going to apologize to her?” Kenny asked with hesitation. He still could feel Vanessa’s hostility towards Hazel.

“Of course, I’ll apologize, otherwise, why would I ask you to go with me?” There was some reproach in her voice. “Do you think I’m trying to embarrass her? If I really wanted to do that, I’d have gone by myself secretly.”

“Alright, I’ll pick you up,” Kenny said.

After hanging up, Vanessa sneered despite herself. She could not wait to see Hazel’s expression when she found out what had happened between her and Joshua last night.

 

Chapter 69: Ivan’s Confession

Hazel needed to go to the supermarket for the ingredients to make the chocolates, but just as she was leaving the dormitory, she saw Ivan waiting for her.

She couldn’t resist frowning. Ivan still hadn’t called her since returning home after the incident in the mountains.

“Hazel.” Ivan walked toward Hazel hesitantly.

“What’s the matter, Ivan?” she asked politely.

“Nothing, I just wanted to visit you.” He looked to be in a gloomy mood. “Are you going out? Let me be your driver.”

“Don’t bother.” She smiled, distant. “I’m just going to the nearest supermarket, not that far.”

“Then I’ll go with you,” he said with a firm expression.

She had no choice but to let him follow her.

When they arrived at the supermarket, Hazel bought all the ingredients on the list while Ivan followed her with perseverance. However, he seemed to be distracted.

Walking out of the supermarket and looking at Ivan, who was still following behind her, Hazel suddenly stopped. “Ivan, if there’s nothing else, I will be going back to school. You do not have to walk me back.”

Ivan seemed to have made up his mind and spoke, “Hazel, let me buy you a drink.”

“Okay,” she said very distrustfully.

As Hazel and Ivan were walking toward a local coffee house, Kenny’s car drove by on their way to the University.

Vanessa looked out of the window and said, “Kenny, that is Hazel, correct?”

Kenny looked over and saw Hazel and Ivan walking down the street together.

Then he said, hesitating, “She looks like…”

“Looks like? It is clearly her!” Vanessa couldn’t resist sneering. “Who’s that man next to her? It looks like they just went to the supermarket together and are going to have dinner now? I can’t believe it. I thought Hazel was an honest girl, but when Joshua is on a business trip, she can’t wait to go out with another man…”

“Vanessa!” Kenny frowned and interrupted her with a little displeasure.

“Am I wrong?” said Vanessa angrily. “You clearly saw it with your own eyes. I can’t believe you don’t see anything wrong with the way that man is looking at her!”

Kenny was becoming more hesitant. He did not want to doubt Hazel or believe that Joshua made a bad choice to have her as his girlfriend, but it was Hazel he had seen.

“How is that, Kenny?” Vanessa said. “It seems that this is not a good time for us to talk with her. First, we should follow them to see if there is any misunderstanding.”

“… All right.” Kenny agreed. He turned the car around and slowly followed Hazel.

A sneer flashing across her eyes, Vanessa picked up her phone and pointed it at Hazel.

She originally wanted to find Hazel and ask her to give up of her own accord, but if Joshua found out about this, he would definitely be angry with her and may even blame her for being manipulative.

She did not expect that Hazel would be out with another man as soon as Joshua left for business. If she did send the photos to Joshua, hopefully, he would lose interest in the woman who was two-timing him!

After they reached the coffee house, Hazel went to find a window seat as she normally did. She sat down to watch the traffic on the road, but she had no idea that someone was watching her through the window.

“Hazel, I’m sorry…” Ivan said apologetically.

“Ivan, you don’t have to keep apologizing.” She smiled. “If you’re still feeling bad about the whole incident, you do not need to apologize. I don’t really care.”

He was still struggling as he let out a sigh. “Hazel, in fact, I did not doubt you back then. I knew very well that you are not the one who would steal.”

Hazel’s eyes flickered. She still felt a little uncomfortable recalling back the day when she was accused of stealing by Ivan and his friends.

She was thankful it was all over. “I understand.” She smiled. “Because everyone wanted things to be smoothed over quickly and you are closer to them, they are more important, you had to take their side first.”

Ivan’s face became pale as Hazel got up to leave. He knew that even if she said that it was fine repeatedly, he would still feel miserable.

“Hazel, that’s not true!” he caught her hand excitedly as she was walking past him.

Vanessa and Kenny had been upstairs looking for a place to sit, where they would not be noticed when they saw Ivan grab Hazel’s hand.

Kenny looked aggravated and wanted to go over to say something to both of them, but Vanessa stopped him and dragged him away.

“Why are you stopping me?” As he walked out of the coffee house, Kenny said with displeasure, “How can such a woman deserve Joshua? I remember she seemed to be having an unclear relationship with Isaac, too? She’s really talented. Even after she is obviously dating Joshua, she is out with another man and dares to deceive my friend!”

“If I didn’t stop you, what were you going to do?” Vanessa sneered. “Are you going to scold her? If she cries to Joshua later on, wouldn’t it affect your brotherhood if Joshua believed her?”

“Then forget it?” Kenny asked angrily.

“Of course not.” Vanessa’s eyes flickered with pride. “We will tell Joshua all about this. It is a matter between Joshua and Hazel after all.”

“You’re right.” Kenny nodded. But then he said with some embarrassment, “But Joshua won’t believe me, I have no evidence. What can I do?”

“I just took photos.” She shook her phone. “But if I send them directly, I’m afraid Joshua won’t believe me. I’ll send you the photos, and you can forward them to Joshua. Joshua will know what to do with the photos.”

Kenny was a little stunned that Vanessa managed to take pictures without him noticing. Finally, he nodded and said, “Okay.”

Upstairs, Hazel pulled her hand away and almost raised it to smack Ivan’s face, but she hesitated.

“Sorry, Hazel, I was too excited. But,” Ivan withdrew his hand with a sad expression, “in my heart, you are more important than those people! Hazel, I love you!”

Hazel was startled.

It never occurred to her that Ivan would suddenly profess his love to her.

She suddenly thought that Ariel and Summer were right when they cautioned her. She was really clueless, she did not know a single thought that was in Ivan’s head.

“Because I love you, I consider you to be closer than them.” Ivan sucked in a deep breath.

Then he smiled with a hint of resentment. “I did want to smooth things over. I just assumed that our relationship was closer than this, and as long as I explained my feelings after things calmed down that you would understand me…”

 

Chapter 70: I Miss You

“I am sorry, Ivan, I do not understand,” she came to her senses and interrupted calmly.

Looking at his face, she took a deep breath. She did not know how Ivan felt before, but she knew it now, so naturally, they had to talk it over.

“Ivan, your affection to me should not be love,” she spoke quietly. “I always think that to love someone is to be nice to that person. It’s the first time I’ve heard that the one you love must be persecuted first even if she did nothing wrong.”

“I…” he wanted to explain something, but she interrupted him.

“As a friend, I can understand your helplessness but cannot accept it as an excuse. Besides, since you feel that your helplessness is more important than my injustice, doesn’t that say something right there?”

“Hazel, I was so confused,” Ivan said, looking at her with anticipation. “I can see clearly now. Can you please give me another chance?”

She frowned slightly and realized she needed to say things more clearly for Ivan to comprehend fully.

“I’m very sorry, but I have always treated you as a friend with no hint of anything more than that.” she suddenly smiled softly. “Besides, I am already in love with someone.”

“Joshua Denmark?” he asked, disappointed.

She was a little surprised, but she nodded and didn’t deny it.

He smiled bitterly. “Right. He’s the President of Denmark Group. He is a lot richer than me. You made the right decision to choose him.”

She became very uncomfortable when she heard Ivan’s thoughts. It didn’t matter what Ivan thought of her or how he misunderstood her, but his remark seemed to downplay what Joshua had done.

She knew better than anyone what he had done for her, so she would not allow Ivan to insult him like that!

“I chose Joshua, not because he has more money than you,” she said coldly. “He treats me well and does not want me to be wronged in any way. For example, recently, when my name was drug through the mud, Joshua stood up for me even though he knew his company would be involved. Would you have gone against your company and the media for me?”

Ivan sat back in his chair, looked down at the table, and shook his head slightly.

He would never have made the same choice as Joshua if it had been him. Just like his mentor and classmates were his weakness, the company would also be his weakness. His choice would have hurt Hazel regardless.

It was not about him trusting her; it was just that he loved himself more than he loved Hazel.

Ivan smiled despairingly. “I have lost. I lost to him because of his heart and soul, I know I could not love you as he does. Hazel, no wonder you are defending him like this. I hope you will be happy with him.”

“Thank you,” she politely replied. “Ivan, I sincerely hope you will find a girlfriend for who you will be willing to do everything.”

He smiled bitterly. He didn’t say anything more. He just got up and left.

There was a chime on Joshua’ phone, he picked it up and saw the photos that Kenny had texted. Kenny called him a moment later, and Joshua answered the phone with a frown on his face.

Kenny had angrily planned to tell Joshua what he had seen. He did not know that before he could speak, Joshua would accuse him, “Kenny, why did you follow Hazel?”

Kenny was stunned, even forgetting what he had intended to say.

“Joshua, I didn’t follow her,” he said quickly, coming to his senses. “I happened to see her as I was passing by.”

After that, he furiously told Joshua how he had seen Hazel at the supermarket with a man, walking intimately and holding hands.

Joshua listened indifferently, his brows slightly down.

“Where you alone when you saw her, or was someone with you?” He asked.

Kenny glanced at Vanessa sitting next to him, and he felt inexplicably guilty. “Of course, I was alone when I saw her. Joshua, are you questioning me?”

Joshua said coldly, “It’s not like you to give a personal assumption without knowing the facts.”

Kenny broke into a cold sweat because it was true. What he told Joshua was more of Vanessa’s guesses than his own.

“Joshua, we’ve been friends for so many years. Don’t you believe me?” He was somewhat nervous.

“Okay, I see,” Joshua said calmly.

“What are you planning to do?” Kenny couldn’t help asking, “Hazel doesn’t deserve you at all…”

“You misunderstood,” Joshua spoke indifferently. “Hazel has her own life and her own circle of friends. I’m sure she can handle any emotional involvements like a woman.”

“Do you believe her?” Kenny was offended.

“Of course,” Joshua said in a deep tone.

Kenny hung up without saying another word to his friend.

“What did he say?” Vanessa asked hastily.

He told her what Joshua had said.

“Joshua is crazy, isn’t he?!” She was furious. “He didn’t believe you even though the photos were so clear. What kind of spell has Hazel cast on him?”

“Maybe we really got her wrong?” Kennedy was a little hesitant. “Joshua is not like those who can be cheated on very easily. He does have his own thoughts.”

“But he doesn’t have any emotional experience at all. I think he’s just been cheated by Hazel!” She became more annoyed.

“Vanessa, I know exactly what you’re thinking,” Kenny looked at her quietly. “But the matter between you and Joshua is long in the past. He’s serious this time. You had better let it go.”

A hint of unwillingness flashed across Vanessa’s eyes. However, now she knew that Kenny was unwilling to cooperate, so she could not continue. The worst part was that Joshua actually believed Hazel.

Vanessa clenched her fists in anger. It seemed that she had to do something else to make Hazel leave!

Joshua looked at the photos on his cell phone. He believed Hazel, but the man in the photos was Ivan Lance, who Hazel had been very close to.

With his eyebrows cocked slightly, Joshua dialed Hazel’s phone. She was just about to leave the coffee house when her phone rang, she was excited to see that it was Joshua’s call.

“What’s the matter?” she asked with a surprised tone.

“I miss you,” Joshua said in a low voice.

She couldn’t help but blush.

“I’ll be back in three days at noon,” he continued.

Her heart lifted at the thought of him being home, and she shyly let out a sigh. He smiled, not wanting to expose her excitement.

“By the way, where are you now?” he asked casually.

“I’m away from the school, I just met with my tutor,” she said truthfully.