Hazel's eyes narrowed as she spotted Andrew, a familiar face amidst the crowd. His smile was polite, but there was a hint of mischief in his gaze as he approached her with a champagne glass in hand.
"Do you remember me?" Andrew asked, his voice smooth as he sipped from his glass.
Hazel's gaze flickered around the room briefly before settling on Andrew. "Yes, Mr. Andrew," she replied curtly, her tone guarded.
Andrew's smile widened, his eyes gleaming with amusement. "So, finally he makes you his girl, right?" he remarked casually, taking another sip of his drink.
Hazel's jaw tightened at his words, her discomfort evident. She tried to brush off his question, but Andrew was persistent, refusing to let her evade the conversation.
"Actually, no law could hold him like you did," Andrew continued, his tone conspiratorial as he leaned in closer. "And also, you were a beautiful lady, so Francisco could not let you go."
Hazel's pulse quickened at Andrew's words, a mixture of unease and intrigue swirling within her. His words hinted at a deeper understanding of Francisco's motivations, stirring a sense of curiosity within her.
"He showed his true colors and took the challenges," Andrew continued, his voice low but filled with conviction. "He wanted to see what a detective like you could do."
Hazel's mind raced as she processed Andrew's words, the pieces of the puzzle slowly falling into place. His cryptic remarks hinted at a hidden agenda, a game of cat and mouse.
Hazel's gaze bore into Andrew's, her expression steely as she met his gaze head-on. "If it is, then I will see your friend, how many days or months he can do it," she retorted, her voice laced with determination.
Andrew's smile widened, his words slurring slightly as he leaned in closer. "Then why don't you take action?" he teased, the scent of alcohol lingering on his breath. "Or do you enjoy staying with him?"
Hazel's eyes narrowed at Andrew's taunting, her patience wearing thin as she attempted to step back and distance herself from the conversation. But Andrew's grip on her arm tightened, preventing her from leaving as he persisted with his drunken banter.
"Let's dance, Hazel," Andrew insisted, his voice eager as he tugged at her arm.
"Leave my hand," Hazel responded in a calm yet firm tone, her patience wearing thin.
Andrew chuckled, his demeanor carefree as he continued to tease her.
"Ms. Hazel, when Francisco throws you away like he did to Emily, your place will be with us. So why not cooperate from now?"
Hazel's jaw clenched at Andrew's words, a surge of anger coursing through her veins. She knew he was trying to provoke her, to sow doubt and insecurity in her mind. But she refused to succumb to his manipulations.
With a swift movement, Hazel wrenched her arm free from Andrew's grasp, her eyes flashing with defiance.
"I don't need your cooperation," she declared, her voice unwavering despite the turmoil within her.
"And I won't be tossed aside like some discarded toy. Now, if you'll excuse me."
Andrew's mocking words cut through the air like a knife, his tone dripping with derision as he taunted Hazel.
"Oh really, you want to be his s*x partner for the rest of your life? Then what about us?" he jeered, his voice filled with mockery.
Hazel's jaw tightened at his words, her patience wearing thin as she seized his arm with a swift and decisive movement. With practiced ease, she twisted his arm in the middle of the party, causing Andrew to groan in pain as the sound of his thud echoed through the room.
"F*ck, my hand!" Andrew shouted, his voice filled with agony as Hazel pressed her knee against his neck, her anger palpable.
"Do you not dare take women weakly," Hazel spat, her voice laced with fury as she asserted her dominance over him.
"Don't forget my place and who I am."
Andrew groaned in pain, his breath coming in short gasps as he struggled beneath Hazel's grip. The room fell silent, all eyes on Hazel as she held Andrew firmly in place.
With one final, forceful press, Hazel released her hold on Andrew, allowing him to slump to the floor in a heap. He coughed and wheezed, his body wracked with pain as he struggled to regain his composure.
As Hazel stood over him, her gaze unyielding, the onlookers watched in stunned silence, their eyes narrowed with a mixture of shock and admiration. At that moment, Hazel had asserted her strength and refused to be undermined by Andrew's taunts.
A stern, commanding voice sliced through the tension, commanding everyone's attention. As the guests turned to see the source, they were met by the imposing figure of Francisco, flanked by Max and Diana.
"What is happening here?" Francisco demanded, his tone heavy with authority as he surveyed the scene before him.
Hazel's gaze hardened as Francisco approached, her expression unreadable as she met his eyes with a defiant stare. As he drew closer, Francisco's eyes fell upon Andrew, who stood there with a mixture of discomfort and indignation.
"Why are you sitting like that?" Francisco inquired, his voice tinged with confusion as he addressed Andrew.
Andrew coughed and straightened up, his gaze meeting Francisco's with a hint of resentment.
"Francisco, if I knew I would be humiliated here, I would not have come to your party," he retorted, his voice tinged with defiance.
Francisco's jaw clenched at Andrew's words, his expression darkening with anger as he assessed the situation. His attention turned to Hazel, who stood before him with an air of indifference, her demeanor unreadable.
Taking a deep breath, Francisco reached out and took Hazel's arm, his fingers tracing the faint imprints left by Andrew's grip. "Did he touch you here?" he asked, his voice low and intense as he pointed to the marks on her left arm.
Hazel's expression remained impassive as she met Francisco's gaze, her silence speaking volumes. Without a word, she pulled her arm away from his grasp, her eyes betraying nothing as she turned away from him, as if she didn't even know him.