Chapter 226: HER HABITS
"Beats me why I’m working myself into this case again." Lucian’s complaint was endless. Even so, he did what Ranon told him to do, and now he came with the report that Ranon had been waiting for.
A month had passed since the incident at the Lozen family’s house. Lucian had spent that time gathering this trivial information from people who knew River personally. It was not easy, and he demanded a raise.
"So, what did you get?" Ranon was in the living room. He had dismissed Peni and Renna, as both of them went outside to walk, while Hazel left the house in the early morning. She said she wanted to go shopping, but Ranon knew better what she was actually up to.
Ranon deftly handled Ashlyn as she made a fuss. She hated tummy time. Her face scrunched up, and big tears formed in her eyes.
He told Renna and Peni to leave the baby. He had been busy lately, so he had spent significantly less time with his daughter. Therefore, he planned to spend his time with her in this way.
More so, what Lucian was about to tell him was not business-related; he didn’t have to put his focus on it.
"I am not sure what else you want to know when I’ve already reported the crucial information before. What is left are only these trivial things about her habit."
"That’s what I want to know." Ranon wiped Ashlyn’s tears as she gave him a sad look that melted his heart. "What is it?"
"River had this artistic side of her; she could actually draw, and her favorite was a long road. Somehow, she often drew a long road. She liked spicy things; she specifically liked lamb chops..." As Lucian continued speaking, he increasingly felt that what he was saying was ridiculous.
None of this information was valuable.
He managed to gather information about River because Ranon had been taking in the Lozens’ men who were being hunted down like animals by the McKennas. It was difficult to gain their trust since some of them recognized him as a target.
"She likes cucumber juice..." Lucian paused. Ever since he had gathered this information and heard about it, he had felt that something was off. "Ah. It’s Hazel. Now I remember where I knew someone else who drinks such juice. It’s her favorite, too, right?"
Lucian had scrunched his nose when he saw Hazel make one glass for him and was heavily offended when he didn’t want to drink it.
"Hm." Ranon’s expression was unreadable. He comforted Ashlyn when her tummy time was up. Her face had turned red because of crying.
From the side, Lucian watched his best friend with the baby and sighed. He slouched down on the sofa. "I think I can understand why Ema is so bitter with you and Hazel. It’s not like I am sympathetic with her."
Lucian waved his hand at Ranon and Ashlyn, and Ranon knew what he meant.
"This is the family picture that she envisioned: a nice house, a fat bank account, a baby—a little family."
"She got it."
In a way, Ranon was right. Ema got what she wanted, but not in the way she envisioned the father of her child.
"Well, you are not wrong." Lucian grinned when the baby looked at him. "What is it like to be a father?"
A gentle smile curled on Ranon’s lips; his gaze softened when Ashlyn reached out her tiny hand and grabbed his finger.
However, he didn’t answer the question; it was not something that Ranon could describe with words.
"Are you happy with your marriage?" When Ranon didn’t answer the previous question, Lucian asked the next one. "Do you like her that much?"
Ares had complained nonstop to Lucian about Ranon’s ridiculous antics to keep Hazel. Lucian had tuned him out because they both knew there was nothing they could do. It was the same as when he was with Ema.
"What are you going to do when the contract ends?"
"Renewal."
Lucian shook his head. "At this point, you waste papers and Ares’s time; just be a married couple for real."
As far as Lucian knew, aside from the incident with Olivia, Hazel had not yet done something that could put Ranon in danger. Actually, she took it very well when Ranon became the target of the Lozens. She was also the one who gave him a heads-up.
Overall, Hazel was not that bad. It was not like the hit on Ranon would disappear if he left Hazel. It was also good that she could protect herself. This lessened Ranon’s worry about her safety.
He couldn’t imagine that if it were Ema in Hazel’s position right now, she would only put more stress on him.
"We are real," Ranon replied. He nuzzled Ashlyn’s nose, and the baby made noises.
***
Hazel was looking for Rize. She wanted to know where the man was, and this time she brought along Nolu and Yara with her; no more running away from them, and she caused them trouble.
However, she insisted on not bringing the additional five men. It would only attract unnecessary attention.
"What are we doing here, Mrs. Leighton?" Yara was on high alert when they entered a narrow street in the slum area, an hour away from the burned candy shop.
Yara and Nolu were anxious. It wasn’t good. They had informed Mr. Leighton, but there was no response from him; therefore, they couldn’t decide what to do aside from following her.
"We need to leave. This is not the part of the city that you want to visit." Yara watched as a few heavily tattooed men looked in their direction with interest. They screamed trouble, and this place smelled like one.
"This is exactly the place that I want to visit." Hazel walked leisurely, as if she knew this place like the back of her hand. She chuckled to see how stiff Yara and Nolu were. "You need to relax and try to blend in with the situation."
Yara gave her a look, as if Hazel had grown a third head. "Mrs. Leighton, let’s go back. This place is not safe for you."
Yet, Hazel didn’t listen to that. She had her own reason to come here. "If you don’t like this place, you can leave and wait in the car."
There was no way Yara and Nolu would leave Hazel in this place alone. Yara was almost begging Hazel when she entered one of the houses along this narrow street.
There were so many small shops here. The businesses in this area flourished. But judging from the look of the people who were there, one could tell that they were there for shady business.
During the ten-minute walk, Yara had seen at least three gambling houses. It was a low-tier gambling house that Mr. Leighton had visited in the past to get Lucian out of trouble.
Some men were topless, showing their inked skin, while the women wore as little as possible, engaging in lewd activities without shame, even though they were in public.
"Mrs. Leighton, if you want to gamble, we can go somewhere else. I know a few gambling houses." Yara didn’t know where her madam got her sudden gambling addiction, but if that was the case, it would be better to do it in a safer place.
"Mrs. Leighton, you can’t come inside. What if the media spots you?" This time, Nolu finally spoke. He had been silent, as he was trying to comprehend what was going on.
Both of them blocked Hazel’s way when she was about to enter one of the gambling houses.
"The media will not be here. Do you think they want to come here?" Hazel was amused. "Move, both of you. I have to finish it soon; I don’t want to miss dinner with my husband and daughter."
"Let’s go back home then." Yara immediately jumped at the chance to persuade Hazel. "Mr. Leighton must be missing you; it’s not often for him to stay at home."
Hazel chuckled. "I know he misses me," she said cheerfully, but her eyes looked over Nolu’s shoulder and found the man that she was looking for.
That man caught her eye. The commotion Yara created got his attention. It was what Hazel wanted.
"Who is there?" The man stood up, leaving the table, and approached Hazel’s little entourage. "What happened here?"
Yara and Nolu stiffened visibly as they turned around. They were being very defensive, but Hazel greeted the man with a light tone.
***
"Can you do something about him?!" Wena shouted at his son.
James had been burying himself in matters with the company, especially when the Leightons didn’t agree with their further cooperation. It was not a problem for the Starling, but it was a personal blow for James.
"Your son has been hiding inside his room; he refused to go back to school. Can’t you show a little bit of care?" Wena was frustrated with her son.
"I don’t have time to deal with him. I have a lot of problems with the company, not to mention with the legal proceedings for what he had done. He should reflect and better himself if he wants my attention."
"He is just a child."
"He is not a child; he is seventeen years old. Old enough to know what’s better for him. If he decides to hole up inside his room and do nothing with his life, what can I do? Dragging him out and giving him a good beating to behave?"