The Runaway Husband

Chapter 42

Hazel

As Hazel made his way through the bustling streets, his heart heavy with the weight of recent events, he stumbled upon a scene that ignited a spark of defiance within him.

A rich woman, adorned in expensive attire and surrounded by an air of entitlement, berated a poor family who dared to ask for food. Anger surged within Hazel as he witnessed the injustice unfolding before him.

Stepping forward, Hazel confronted the woman, his voice steady with determination. "Not all people are as privileged as you," he declared, his words cutting through the tense atmosphere. "If you can't help, then leave. But don't you dare shout at them."

With a sense of resolve, Hazel emptied his pockets, offering all the money he carried to the struggling family. Turning to the man, he handed him a card, promising a job opportunity as a delivery person and ensuring that his family would have a place to live.

The woman, her pride wounded by Hazel's audacity, bristled with indignation. Before she could retaliate, however, a call from one of her workers interrupted her. With a final warning of revenge, she stormed off, leaving behind a trail of resentment and simmering hostility.

Returning to the studio, Hazel found himself confronted with yet another unexpected twist of fate. The manager delivered the news that they were now the majority owners of the management, having sold 55% of shares. Their studio would soon be relocated to a new location near the office of the new owners.

As they prepared to meet the new owner, Hazel's heart sank as he realized the woman from earlier was none other than their new benefactor. Dread coiled in his stomach as he watched her approach each member of the group, her demeanor icy and calculating.

When it was Hazel's turn, the woman's eyes bore into his, a predatory glint dancing in their depths. A malevolent smile played at the corners of her lips, sending a shiver down Hazel's spine.

Though he tried to conceal himself behind his group members, the woman's gaze pierced through him, her expression promising a confrontation yet to come.

As the meeting concluded, Hazel couldn't shake the feeling of impending danger that lingered in the air. The woman's sinister smile haunted his thoughts, leaving him to wonder what challenges lay ahead at the hands of their new owner.

As the days unfolded, Hazel's apprehension grew as he awaited the inevitable confrontation with the woman who now held their fate in her hands. True to his fears, Katherine Blackwood, their new owner, wasted no time in making her presence known.

Approaching Hazel with a calculated air, Katherine introduced herself with a smile that sent chills down his spine. "H-Hello ma'am, I'm Ha-Tex," Hazel stammered, his nerves betraying him in the face of her imposing presence.

But Katherine's smile widened into a predatory grin as she noted Hazel's discomfort. "What cat caught your tongue earlier? You were talking so bold. What happened to you now?" she taunted, her tone dripping with malice.

Hazel's jaw tightened as he struggled to maintain his composure in the face of Katherine's thinly veiled threats. "Nothing's changed, ma'am," he replied, forcing his voice to remain steady despite the tremor of fear that ran through him.

But Katherine's eyes gleamed with satisfaction as she sensed Hazel's vulnerability. With a dismissive wave of her hand, she turned her attention elsewhere, leaving Hazel to wrestle with the unsettling realization that he was now squarely in her crosshairs.

In the days that followed, Katherine's torment of Hazel only intensified. She devised new ways to exert her control, making him practice overtime, separating him from his group members, and isolating him in a place far from the comfort and support of his bandmates.

Alone and vulnerable, Hazel found himself trapped in a web of Katherine's making, his every move scrutinized and manipulated by her cunning tactics. Despite his best efforts to resist, he was powerless against her relentless onslaught.

As the Melodious Knights' fame continued to skyrocket, Katherine Blackwood's malicious scheme against Hazel, the least known member of the group, unfolded with ruthless efficiency. With the complicity of the other four members, they collectively decided to portray Hazel as the antagonist within the group, fabricating stories of his alleged arrogance and disruptive behavior.

Despite his reluctance, Hazel found himself reluctantly agreeing to go along with the plan, hoping it would solidify the group's success and maintain harmony within their ranks. However, he soon realized the devastating consequences of their decision as Katherine's manipulations took a dark turn.

With each passing day, Hazel became increasingly vilified in the eyes of the public. Fans, once loyal supporters of the group, turned against him, showering the other four members with adoration while directing their scorn and hatred towards Hazel.

During performances, Hazel faced the brunt of the audience's fury. As he took the stage, fans hurled shoes, trash, and even their own belongings at him, turning what should have been moments of triumph into humiliating ordeals. In one particularly harrowing incident, a fan's phone struck Hazel on the head, leaving him shaken and vulnerable.

The fan meet-and-greets were no better. Ignored and ostracized by the very people who once cheered for him, Hazel endured the pain of rejection and isolation. His attempts to connect with fans were met with hostility, culminating in a shocking moment when a fan lashed out, slapping him and unleashing a torrent of anger and abuse.

Faced with the relentless onslaught of hatred and mistreatment, Hazel struggled to maintain his composure, his spirit battered and bruised by the relentless onslaught. Despite his best efforts to stand tall, he couldn't shake the overwhelming sense of despair that threatened to consume him.

As the group's fame continued to soar, Hazel found himself trapped in a nightmare of his own making, forced to endure the consequences of Katherine's cruel machinations. Alone and vulnerable, he faced the harsh reality that his dreams of success had come at a devastating cost, leaving him isolated and broken amidst the glare of the spotlight.