Four

HAZEL STYLES POV

"How could you be so stupid" Julian yelled as he threw the pictures in his hand at my face.

They pooled around me, their crinkling sound slicing at my heart.

"I'm sorry. I didn't know that..."

"You don't know anything. Do you know how much I had to pay to stop your disgraceful act from being leaked on the media? I am trying to protect you and all you do is try as much as you can to jeopardize that. What the hell is wrong with you"

"I am sorry..."

"Your apology is not going to cut it. Our parents died because of you. I lost the only people who cared about me so why can't you live right huh? Do I have to die so you can be happy? I told you Liam was no good and for you to stay away from him. Why don't you ever listen? Look at all that mess I had to clean up. Why are you so stupid huh"

Darkness swirled in my vision. He was right. I was stupid. I deserved this. I should have seen Liam for who he was. I'd just been so desperate... I'd wanted someone to love and support me.

"Are you going to stand there and say nothing" he roared in fury, his breath coming out in harsh gasp.

My mouth moved as a single tear escaped my eyes. "I'm sorry, It was all my fault. I promise that this will never happen again".

He took a deep breath and let it out. "You bet it won't. I am shutting down your art studio. Quit your stupid art and come work for the company, at least that way I'd know what you are not doing"

My gaze jerked up to his and the sudden movement made the spot on my neck that I was trying to ignore ache. Riven's face flashed in my head, the way his gaze had held mine before he leaned in and took a bite out of me.

My fingers moved to my neck, their tips lightly touching the bandage. Why the hell was I thinking about him when my world was crumbling around me? I applied pressure and the pain made my present all the more real and all of a sudden I spoke back.

"I won't do that. You can't touch the art studio. You signed the papers"

He gaped at me. "What? Did you just say that to my face? Who the hell do you think you are? After everything I've done for you. I've raised you for the past fifteen years and you dare to speak to me in this manner"

I pressed harder against the spot, my gaze dropping to the floor. "My father left me that studio. You already took everything else, so please, just don't touch that"

He stepped toward me and I jerked, the feeling of suffocation intensifying.

"Are you trying to make a point? You want to tell me that you own everything don't you"

"Of course not." I got out, my gaze jerking to his wild ones. "The studio is all I have left. You already have access to everything else, so why can't you just let it be? I am an adult now. I can make my own decisions"

He scoffed. "Of course, you can. A very good example is the one you made with Liam Hex".

His words stung but I couldn't let him get to me.

He watched me, his hands clenching and unclenching. Was he going to hit me? It had been a long time since he'd swung at me. Was he going to start again? My blood ran cold.

"You better watch yourself, Hazel. If you continue defying my wishes, I am really going to get rid of that studio. Stop ruining the family name. I won't always be there to save you"

'I don't need saving'. They were words I could never utter though. If I did, Julian was really going to kill me

He sighed, then rubbed at his face. "I'll give you a month. If you don't find what to do with your art, I will tear down your studio and then you have to work for the company. Don't even think about trying to sue me. If you push me more than you have already done, I am really going to let you go, Hazel" he warned and then suddenly took my face in his hand, his gaze holding mine intensely. "I care about you Hazel. Stop making me hate you. Stop making me hurt you" he said and I watched as his gaze flickered to my lip and lingered.

My heart twisted in disgust and I yanked my face from his hold "Don't touch me. I want to be alone, so leave"

The look in his eyes was filled with rage. Cursing under his breath, he turned and walked out of my apartment. The door shut behind him and I stared at it, a storm swirling deep inside me.

Trying not to choke on tears, I walked out of the house and down the path that led to the studio.

Stepping into the cozy room made breathing easier but I was so mad, I just wanted to fucking destroy everything.

My unfinished painting was still at the center of the room. It was a picture of my mom.

I picked up the brush, the anger in my chest making my hand tremble.

I dipped the brush into red paint then I screamed as I swiped at the painting, ruining what would have been my masterpiece but I didn't care. I was bloody furious. Why did they leave me all by myself? Why. Why. Why.

******

"Watch out" Mother screamed and that was the only warning I got from where I sat at the back of the car, coloring my art book.

The car flipped, then flipped, the sheer terror filling up the space blood-curdling. The breath was knocked out of my lungs and then all I felt was pain.

I must have blacked out, but when I opened my eyes, I was upside down and the grotesque face of my Dad covered in blood was staring eye wide at me. Mother was still breathing, but she was also bleeding a lot.

"His neck has been ripped out. Look at all that blood. Such a gruesome sight huh" a voice broke through the whirling in my ear.

"Julian" I gasped, and his eyes moved to mine. It wasn't Julian. It was someone else and as our eyes held, I couldn't help but feel terrified. His eyes were void of any emotion, and still, I opened my mouth to ask for help. Blood spurted out instead and I watched as he stared at me, almost mesmerized.

The woman beside him stepped closer. "Should we help them?" she asked as fire sparked and started to burn in front of the car.

My gaze moved to his, hopeful, that he was going to help us.

"No, leave them. We are already late for the meeting. They are going to die anyway. Father is probably already angry now. We should go" he said, his gaze clashing with mine one last time.

The woman nodded and I watched as they walked away.

I succumbed to the darkness and then gasped as a bloody hand pressed against my lips. The fire spread, burning hotter.

"This is all your fault, Hazel. This is all your fault"

******

I gasped awake and then tried to sit up, but there was something heavy weighing down on me.

My vision cleared, my eyes widening as they took In those of the man holding me down. My heart leaped into my throat.

"Riven?"