The car ride home with Peter was unbearably silent.
Hazel stared out the window, her stomach twisted in knots, while Peter gripped the steering wheel tightly, his knuckles white.
She wanted to explain.
She wanted to break the silence. But she didn't know where to start.
Finally, as they pulled into her driveway, Peter parked the car but didn't move.
The engine hummed softly between them.
"Hazel," he finally spoke, his voice low and heavy, "who is Alexander really to you?"
Hazel swallowed hard.
"Peter, I told you—he's just an investor who's interested in my company.
That's all.
"Peter's jaw clenched. "Is it? Because it didn't look like that in your office tonight."
His words stung, and Hazel's guilt deepened.
"Nothing happened," she said quickly, reaching for his hand, but he gently pulled away.
Peter turned to face her fully, his eyes searching hers.
"Hazel, I've always trusted you.
I've always given you space to build your business, chase your dreams.
But tonight... I saw something in his eyes.
And I saw something in yours, too."
Hazel looked down, feeling exposed.
"I never planned for any of this," she whispered.
"He came into my life unexpectedly. We share a past, Peter—he was at the same orphanage I grew up in."
Peter's eyes narrowed, surprised but cautious.
"And you didn't think to tell me that?"
"I didn't want you to worry," Hazel said softly.
"I didn't even realize it until recently.
But Peter, you have to believe me—whatever's happening, I never intended for it to get complicated."
Peter's voice trembled with emotion.
"Hazel, I know life hasn't been easy for you.
I know you carry scars. But so do I.
And right now, I feel like I'm standing on the edge of losing you."
Hazel's eyes filled with tears.
"You're not losing me."
Peter leaned in, his voice raw and breaking.
"Then fight for us.
Fight for me.
Because I can feel him pulling you away.
And I don't want to wake up one day to find that you've fallen for someone else while I stood here loving you."
Hazel's chest tightened.
The weight of his words sank deep.
"I love you, Hazel," Peter said softly, tears shining in his eyes.
"But I won't compete for your heart if you're already giving it away."
A long silence settled between them. Hazel felt herself trembling inside.
"I need time," she finally whispered, her voice shaking.
"I just need to clear my head."
Peter gave a sad nod.
"I'll give you that, Hazel.
But don't wait too long.
" His voice broke slightly.
"Because some hearts don't survive waiting."
He stepped out of the car, closing the door quietly behind him, leaving Hazel alone with her spiraling emotions.
Excellent. Let's dive into Peter's point of view, revealing a layer of tension Hazel doesn't yet know exists. This will add a rich undercurrent of suspense.
Peter sat at the corner table of the quiet café, his hands wrapped around the warm coffee cup. His eyes flicked toward the door every few seconds. He had agreed to this meeting out of curiosity and suspicion.
The door finally opened. Alexander Knight walked in with the same calm, confident aura Peter had witnessed that night in Hazel's office. Dressed sharply, his movements deliberate, Alexander spotted Peter immediately and approached with a faint, knowing smile.
"Peter," Alexander said smoothly, extending his hand.
Peter rose slowly, gripping Alexander's hand firmly — too firmly — as they shook. Their eyes locked, neither one looking away. The handshake lasted longer than necessary, both men testing each other's strength in silence.
"Thanks for agreeing to meet," Alexander said, breaking the standoff and taking his seat across from Peter.
"I wanted to get something straight," Peter replied calmly. "You're circling Hazel. I want to know what your intentions really are."
Alexander's lips curled into a faint, almost amused smile. "Straight to the point. I respect that."
Peter's eyes narrowed. "This isn't a game to me."
"No," Alexander replied coolly. "But perhaps it is to her."
Peter's blood simmered. "Don't pretend you know her better than I do."
Alexander leaned forward slightly, lowering his voice. "Peter, I've known Hazel since we were children. We share a history — scars that you can't possibly understand." His eyes flickered darkly. "She feels that pull. She may not fully admit it yet, but it's there."
Peter's jaw tensed. "You're using your past with her as leverage."
Alexander shrugged. "I'm simply being honest about the connection we share. Whether you like it or not."
A heavy silence followed, both men locked in an unspoken battle for dominance. The soft hum of the café around them felt distant.
"Hazel is smart," Peter said finally, voice steely. "She'll see through whatever this is you're trying to do."
Alexander's smile faded slightly. "Are you sure about that? Because from where I'm standing, she seems… conflicted."
Peter gritted his teeth. "If you hurt her, if you so much as confuse her, you'll answer to me."
Alexander's calm mask slipped for just a second, revealing a flash of something sharper beneath — competitiveness. Rivalry. Challenge.
"Noted," Alexander said smoothly, rising from his chair. "But Peter…" He paused, gaze cold and calculating. "Be careful. Sometimes, the person who thinks they have everything can lose it all in an instant."
Peter's chest tightened as Alexander walked out, leaving him " sitting there with an overwhelming sense of dread.
This wasn't just about Hazel anymore. This was a dangerous rivalry. A battle neither men intended to lose.