CHAPTER 242: AN OFFER FROM AUBREY

Hazel was wearing a beautiful yellow gown, which complemented her skin and hair. There was nothing fabulous about the dress; it was a simple cut with crystals that adorned her chest area.

It was not revealing, but it accentuated her curves, which was a big deal since people knew that she had just given birth to Ashlyn seven months ago. Now she had lost her baby weight and looked even fitter than before. Thanked to all her trainings and exercises.

Meanwhile, Ranon looked perfect in his black suit. Hazel couldn’t even stop wondering how this man was close to perfection, at least in her opinion.

"Stop ogling at me," Ranon said as they stood in the lobby, waiting for their car to take them to the venue.

"What to do? You look delicious," Hazel teased him as she ran her fingers against his stomach and chest, which made him laugh.

"Should we skip the entire event and go back?"

"No, thank you." Hazel flicked her hair over her shoulder coquettishly. "I have my makeup and hair done; you will only ruin them."

"I thought you liked it."

And thankfully, the car arrived, because Hazel didn’t know how to respond to that. She should stop teasing him, as in the end, Ranon would always have the final say.

Ranon didn’t talk much, but he was skilled with words when he used them.

Inside the car, they were talking about Rafael and the recent attempt from the McKenna family, as they sent a sniper. But unfortunately for them, Ranon’s own sniper, something that the McKennas didn’t expect, found their man first and killed the poor man.

They talked about it as if it were a trivial matter, as normal as they were talking about what they were going to eat for dinner.

And once they arrived at the venue, all the cameras were on them. Hazel had put on a sweet smile as she walked past them with Ranon by her side.

Right after Hazel and Ranon arrived, a car pulled over, and those who came out were Arlo and Aubrey.

Arlo was using a crutch to help him walk, while Aubrey was by his side, subtly trying to prevent him from stumbling in front of so many cameras and bruising his little ego.

At this point, Hazel and Ranon were only ten steps away from them, and she locked her eyes with Arlo. She gave him a harmless smile, but her eyes filled with malice. She liked what she had done to him.

Even though Hazel didn’t kill him as she had intended, watching how the limp hurt his little ego was satisfying enough. Death was easy; life was more difficult.

Hazel liked the idea of torturing them a little bit longer before she finished them off once and for all.

"Happy?" Ranon noticed the way Hazel stared at Arlo.

"Yeah. I should have cut off one of his legs. It would be quite a spectacle," Hazel mused, then caught herself. She subconsciously looked at Ranon to see his reaction after he heard her comment.

However, her husband didn’t seem to mind that. He put his arm around her waist and pulled her closer. "There will always be a chance."

"Nice," Hazel said with a chuckle. "But I will get him first."

"Wifey, I am the only man you will get."

Hazel laughed at that cheesy line. From the outsiders’ perspective, the two of them seemed to be whispering sweet nothings into each other’s ears while having a good time. No one would have thought that they were planning a murder.

Meanwhile, Arlo watched the interaction between the two of them. A smile on his lips didn’t even reach his eyes as he entered the building with the help of his crutch and Aubrey.

***

The highlight of the night was the tiara.

Hazel didn’t remember much about the history behind that precious tiara, but Ranon was dead set on getting it for their daughter.

"No, you don’t." Hazel shook her head when Ranon’s eyes lit up to see the items on the auction table.

"Why not?" Ranon gave Hazel a grin that she liked.

"For what is that thing?"

"For my daughter."

He said it in a matter-of-fact tone as if it were enough reason for him to get the astronomical tiara in the first place. That tiara cost almost twice the price of Hazel’s engagement ring.

"I can’t say anything." Hazel facepalmed herself and then caught sight of Aubrey, who kept glancing in her direction. It was rather dim here, but she could feel her gaze on her. "I will go to the toilet."

Hazel then left her seat to walk out of the room. She went to the toilet, and she was right. Aubrey followed her out.

"Where are you going?" Arlo asked when he saw that Aubrey stood up. He wouldn’t have come if his father hadn’t told him to make an appearance. His father said it would be good for the family’s image and connections.

Toilet," Aubrey said curtly. She stood up without waiting for Arlo’s reply. She could feel his enraged glare bore a hole in her back, but it had been so long since she cared about him.

Outside, Darren, the bodyguard who was assigned to her, followed her before Aubrey could stop him. He was one of the Lozens’ assassins. After the fallout, however, he pledged his allegiance to the McKennas, and currently, the Barlowes were using his service.

He was around thirty years old. Aubrey didn’t really pay attention to him at first since she hadn’t gone out for the past few months, but he was the bodyguard who was assigned to watch her every move ever since she started staying with the Barlowes.

In the past, the Lozens and the Barlowes integrated really well, and the McKenna was a loyal supporter of the Lozens. They had as many assassins as the Lozens did.

"You don’t need to come with me." Aubrey furrowed her brows because Darren kept following her. "Do you want to go inside the bathroom too?" She raised her brows indignantly.

"I will wait outside," Darren said in an even tone.

Aubrey said nothing and kept walking. She saw which toilet Hazel used, and she followed her inside, while Darren waited for her.

On the other hand, once Hazel was in the toilet, she took out her lipstick and started to touch up her makeup while waiting for Aubrey to enter.

It didn’t take long for her to come and start doing the same as Hazel.

At first, she didn’t say anything because she didn’t know how to open the discussion with the woman who had stabbed Arlo, but then she gathered her courage and spoke when Hazel was about to leave.

"I have an offer for you," Aubrey said hastily. She looked around her to make sure no one was there.

"An offer?" Hazel didn’t expect this. She thought Aubrey would ask the same boring question—something related to River or what had happened to Arlo.

"Yes, an offer." Aubrey wrung her fingers nervously, but then she calmed herself down, and the mask was on. She looked at Hazel right in the eyes.

"What kind of an offer?" This was the least Hazel expected. Her stepsister always had something to surprise her, and she would hear what she was going to say.

"You stabbed Arlo." Aubrey started with a strong statement.

Hazel raised her brows questioningly. She tried to see whether Aubrey was upset with that fact. "Yes, I did," she said bluntly.

"Don’t get me wrong, I don’t mind it at all."

Now, that was news for Hazel. She knew their relationship wouldn’t last for long, at least for Arlo’s part, since he was so hung up on River. But she didn’t think Aubrey would give up that easily, especially after everything she had done.

"So, you don’t mind it even when I have tried to kill your man?" Hazel crossed her arms. "Well, that’s interesting. Your point is?" Hazel prodded her to get straight to the point.

"I know that you want to destroy the Barlowes and the McKennas." Aubrey lifted her chin as if doing so could dispel the discomfort that she felt and boost her courage. "For whatever reason, you want revenge on behalf of River, am I correct?"

Hazel didn’t answer that rhetorical question; she found this funny. "Do you even realize that if that’s the case, then you are on the shit list too?"

Aubrey had expected that Hazel knew the whole story. "You still need an insider’s help. I will help you ruin them." She didn’t directly answer the question. But her hatred toward the Barlowes and the McKennas had reached the roof. "Just don’t touch my son."

Hazel was surprised because Aubrey, whom she knew, always thought only of herself. She had never cared about someone else, but now she was asking for her son’s safety.

For a long moment, Hazel only stared at Aubrey. She glanced at the bodyguard outside. "You are a very lousy strategist," she scoffed, and then pointed at the door. "What are you going to do with that bodyguard of yours? Do you think he will not say anything to Arlo about this little meeting?"

Aubrey didn’t think much about it. "I will... take care of him."

"How?" Hazel walked closer toward Aubrey, and now she was standing in front of her. Hazel hated the fact that she was slightly shorter than Aubrey.

Aubrey couldn’t reply to the question.

"Let me help you." Hazel then slapped her.