CHAPTER 150: ARE YOU HAPPY WITH HER LEFTOVER?

Once they left, Hazel found herself alone with Aubrey. Their checkup appointments were still twenty minutes away, and Aubrey wasted no time in seizing the opportunity. She took a few steps closer to Hazel.

"I can see that you are pregnant," Aubrey remarked, a mocking lilt in her voice. "In fact, you are heavily pregnant for someone who just got married." A chuckle escaped her lips. "Don’t tell me the wedding happened because you are pregnant. Oh, I am sorry; I didn’t mean to be nosy."

Hazel had dealt with Aubrey’s disdainful remarks for years, and she was more than capable of humbling her.

With a calm demeanor, she glanced at Aubrey’s belly and replied, "I can see that you are also heavily pregnant."

Then, lifting her left hand to touch her lips, Hazel made sure the ring on her finger caught Aubrey’s attention. This was the same ring that she coveted during the auction, and she was deftly showing it off.

"We are pregnant." She paused, allowing the words to sink in. "I can’t help but wonder why you still don’t have a ring on your finger, even though Mr. Barlowe called you his fiancée."

Aubrey’s smile faltered, malice flickering across her face as she processed Hazel’s statement.

"Oh, I am sorry; I didn’t mean to be nosy," Hazel repeated what she said earlier. Her rings glinted under the light.

Aubrey was seething with anger, her teeth clenched tightly as she glared at Hazel for her earlier remark. "What do you mean by that?" she spat.

Hazel tilted her head innocently, pretending to be coy. "What do I mean? I don’t understand. What are you talking about?" As she rested her hand on her belly, a sly smile crept over her face.

But then, she leaned in closer and whispered into Aubrey’s ear, "How does it feel not to be invited to my wedding?"

Aubrey shot back, "I don’t care about your wedding," her voice strained from the tension.

"Oh, you don’t care?" Hazel said, straightening her back and crossing her arms smugly. "Then what if I change my question? What does it feel like to have your sister’s secondhand man? Are you happy to have her leftovers?" Hazel’s tone dripped with cheerfulness, a stark contrast to the suffocating atmosphere between them.

Aubrey was so stunned at what Hazel said that it rendered her momentarily speechless. She hadn’t expected Hazel to bring up River, and the implication hung heavily in the air.

The suspicion about Hazel suddenly felt more like it made sense; if Hazel knew about River, then that meant she was aware of everything that had transpired.

In that moment, Aubrey’s heart raced, not from excitement, but from fear.

Hazel watched as the color drained from Aubrey’s face, relishing the moment. Yes, Aubrey deserved to feel afraid; she had wronged River, and the tide was finally turning.

It was about time for Aubrey to feel the consequences of her actions.

In her mind, Hazel envisioned the advantage she had now; being married to a powerful man like Ranon was her great move towards her revenge.

She felt safe, knowing that he would protect her from any fallout that might arise from provoking her enemies. It was a strategic position to be in, allowing her to confront them with confidence.

As Hazel maintained her composure, she noted Aubrey’s fear, and this made her laugh internally. Hazel wanted them to come to her; in that case, it wouldn’t require much effort on her part to find them, especially since she was now shielded by Ranon.

With him by her side, she could easily leverage and control the situation.

Aubrey stood there, utterly speechless, struggling to process her conversation with Hazel. Initially, her intention had been to vent her frustration that she had been holding back because Arlo started to grow cold towards her again.

His growing distance had been painful to endure.

However, seeing Hazel only intensified her jealousy. She looked happy, and the smile on her face irked Aubrey.

She had intended to take jabs at Hazel, to put her in her place, but it turned out this confrontation was not how she had envisioned it.

"How... How do you know about River?" She finally managed to stammer, panic lacing her voice. "Do you have some kind of connection with her? Where is she? I want to see her."

In a sudden burst of desperation, Aubrey grabbed Hazel’s hand, hoping to shake the answers out of her. She was determined to learn where River was and why she hadn’t shown herself.

But before Hazel could react, Ranon swiftly appeared at his wife’s side. He grabbed Aubrey’s wrist, stopping her movements with a firm grip. "This is inappropriate, Ms. Lozen. Let go of my wife’s hand," he commanded, his deep voice dripping in authority.

Arlo, standing beside Aubrey, remained calm, but his eyes betrayed a hint of sternness. "This is a misunderstanding, Mr. Leighton," he said, attempting to diffuse the situation as Aubrey reluctantly released Hazel’s hand.

Still shaken from the tense confrontation, Aubrey felt Arlo’s reassuring hand on her waist, a reminder to compose herself. He pinched her waist as a warning for her to behave. He was not going to lose an important business partner because of Aubrey’s silly outburst.

Arlo didn’t know what they were talking about, but he was certain it was Aubrey who provoked the other person first.

"I don’t see this as a misunderstanding, Mr. Barlowe," Ranon replied firmly, pulling Hazel closer to him. With that, he turned and walked away, leaving Aubrey feeling exposed and vulnerable.

Once Ranon and Hazel had vanished behind the door, Arlo turned to Aubrey, glaring at her. "What do you think you were doing?" His frustration was palpable, and she could sense his disappointment.

Aubrey swallowed hard, struggling to find the right words. The tension hung heavily in the air as she attempted to tell Arlo about what Hazel just told her.

"You have crossed the line, Aubrey!" Arlo growled through his gritted teeth. He was mad.