Chapter 22: Putnam Knocks on the Door
“Dear, what are you doing here?” Grandma looked at Hazel with a face full of affection.
“Just wanted to grab some fruit,” Hazel adjusted her expression. She didn’t want Grandma and Gerard to know that she had been eavesdropping on their conversation.
“Of course, little glutton.” Grandma walked into the kitchen, opened the fridge, and took out some sliced apples.
Hazel sat at the dining table, feeling Gerard’s gaze on her. She pretended not to notice. Maybe Grandma and Gerard knew she had been eavesdropping, but they hadn’t exposed her.
“Is that enough?” Grandma asked.
“That’s plenty, Grandma.” Hazel finished her last piece of apple, making herself look like a little chipmunk.
Suddenly, the doorbell rang. Hazel reacted faster than anyone and quickly went to the door, almost slamming it shut. She didn’t know why she had such a strong reaction.
“Hazel, who is it?” Grandma looked puzzled because she had clearly seen someone outside.
“It’s a door-to-door salesman, Grandma.” Hazel’s eyes showed annoyance, and she didn’t want to open the door.
Grandma noticed Hazel’s strange behavior and walked to the door. She grabbed the doorknob and swiftly opened it.
Standing outside was Putnam. Now Grandma understood why Hazel had reacted so strangely.
“Grandma, long time no see,” Putnam smiled. He knew that Hazel cared a lot about her grandmother.
“Putnam, you’re back?” Grandma didn’t invite Putnam inside. She knew Hazel wouldn’t want to see him. If her beloved granddaughter didn’t like him, she didn’t want to invite trouble.
Hazel sat on the couch, but her ears were still tuned to the sounds outside the door.
“Grandma, I’ve moved back here, so I can visit you more often,” Putnam pointed to the house next door, which he used to live in.
Grandma let out a cold snort and forced a polite smile. She suspected Putnam had returned to this house not to visit her but to get closer to Hazel. She had heard some things about Putnam, but her knowledge was limited. Hazel never liked talking about him.
“Grandma, can I go in and talk to Hazel?” Putnam continued. He couldn’t believe that Hazel would be so resolute, not even allowing him inside the house.
“Putnam, we need to rest. Good luck to you.” Grandma closed the door without a second thought.
The moment the door closed, Putnam’s smile turned into a sinister expression. He couldn’t believe that Hazel had really shut him out. He was back in this house, and that wasn’t enough?
Tania was right; maybe Hazel had changed. But no matter how Hazel had changed, he had to carry out his plan. He hoped Hazel wouldn’t make things too difficult for him, or he wouldn’t hesitate to prioritize his goals over their past friendship.
Putnam looked at the shadow on the window and turned to leave.© NôvelDrama.Org - All rights reserved.
Inside the house.
Grandma glanced at Hazel, who was sitting on the couch, her face expressionless.
“So, that’s your ex-boyfriend. Should I go help give him a piece of my mind?” Gerard raised his arm and waved it in front of Hazel.
“Hey, Gerard, no need. I don’t want too much contact with him,” Hazel spoke.
This time, Putnam felt different to her. The old Putnam was like an angel, always protecting her. But the Putnam before her had grown up. After all those years away, he carried a different air about him.
Hazel wasn’t sure how to face this man.
“Hazel, you’ve grown up,” Grandma patted Hazel’s back.
“Grandma, Gerard, you don’t need to worry about this. Get some rest and have a good night,” Hazel said and then headed to her room.
Lying in her bed, Hazel felt uneasy. She hadn’t expected Putnam to come to her house. Thankfully, Grandma hadn’t let him in. Hazel wondered what he might have said if he had entered.
Hazel’s eyes were getting heavy, as if she were about to fall asleep, when a familiar voice echoed in her mind.
“Tomorrow morning, assemble at the training field at eight sharp. Don’t be late. Remember to set your alarms.”
Oh, it was a mind link sent by Cyril. Hazel couldn’t quite define her mood, but Rita, her wolf, was excited about it. The Alpha’s voice made her feel elated.
The thought of training tomorrow made Hazel feel her muscles ache.
She needed a good night’s sleep.
Early the next morning, Hazel was already at the training field, earlier than anyone else. She changed into her training gear in the locker room and then proceeded to the training field to warm up.
When Cyril arrived, he saw Hazel alone on the training field, looking radiant, even in her simple training outfit.
Cyril approached Hazel swiftly, extending his hand to her neck to test her reaction to a surprise attack.
Hazel didn’t notice Cyril’s approach. She tried to push his hand away, but Cyril’s strength was overwhelming, and she couldn’t break free.
Hazel searched for an opening as Cyril’s grip tightened. She couldn’t find a way to escape, and she lost.
Cyril’s hand didn’t release her, but he relaxed his hold, allowing her to breathe.
“Truly an Alpha,” Hazel praised Cyril. She could feel that Cyril wanted to get close to her.
“Danger may not be present all the time, but neither can you expect it to be absent,” Cyril released Hazel and twisted open a water bottle, handing it to her.
Hazel hesitated for a moment but then took the water from Cyril. It was the first time she had seen this gentle side of him.
Surprisingly, today there was no hostility between them. It felt like a miracle.
“Your training needs to be intensified,” Cyril said as he looked at Hazel.
“I know,” Hazel responded, feeling somewhat annoyed. Her skills had indeed regressed, which was not a good thing, especially with so much happening in the small town recently, leaving her feeling unsettled.
“How’s the investigation into Bessie’s death going?” Hazel suddenly inquired. She wanted to retrieve her pearl ring.
“Bessie’s death was not accidental. Someone manipulated her, but this person remains mysterious, and we can’t identify them yet,” Cyril said. He shouldn’t have shared this with Hazel, but for some reason, he felt compelled to tell her.
“Where’s my ring?” Hazel only cared about her ring. As for Bessie, her death had nothing to do with Hazel. She just wanted to clear her name, avoiding being dragged into malicious plots, especially by Ada, who enjoyed wrecking things.
“After the training, go to my office and get your ring back,” Cyril stated, locking eyes with Hazel. He still didn’t know why someone had framed Hazel for Bessie’s death, but he didn’t want Hazel entangled in this conflict.
Hazel nodded, relieved that she could finally retrieve her ring.
Cyril sat nearby, observing Hazel. She seemed burdened with concerns. Today, she had put her animosity aside and hadn’t confronted him, which was unusual.
Hazel, on the other hand, was thinking about Putnam.
As the other members arrived, Ada approached the training field and noticed Hazel standing close to Alpha. It felt like her lungs were about to explode.
“That damn b****,” Ada seethed.
“Find a chance to mess with her,” Jay wore a wicked smile, enjoying the sight of people looking surprised and frightened.
“Ada, are you really going to confront Hazel? I see that Cyril treats her differently,” Karin loved to stir the pot. She wasn’t as foolish as Ada, but she wanted to provoke a war between Ada and Hazel.
Karin disliked Ada but was also no fan of Hazel.
“Do you think I can’t handle her?” Ada glared at Karin, who had snatched her guy at the bonfire night. Now, Karin was daring to challenge her again.
Karin shrugged and didn’t say more.
“Then I’ll pay that b**** Hazel a visit,” Ada’s eyes burned with rage. She needed to knock Hazel down hard, making Cyril take notice of her!