Jin was busy typing away in the middle of the night on his keyboard while his algebra book was open by his side at the basement of Cassie’s boutique while Cassie had fallen asleep in a makeshift bed nearby. He heard footsteps and began to stand quietly on full alert to turn around feeling suspicious of who it could be so late only to find it was Ray.

  “Easy brother, it's just me.” He greeted as Jin relaxed and noticed Ray was a little disoriented.

  “Spoken with Dad?” Jin suspected as Ray sighed heavily.

  “You too?” Ray asked noticing Jin was half studying and half working on the report for his handover. Jin nodded.

  “Glad you decided to focus on your study. The future of the company needs you.” Ray praised as Jin nodded in acknowledgement knowing Ray was trying to change the topic or take a breather.

  “How did you like… you know …” Ray's gaze landed on Cassandra's partition and Jin knew Ray was bothered about Hazel and the adoption of Jeremy’s boys.

  “I just went with the flow. I laid eyes on her and that unexplainable moment just captured me. The rest was history.” Jin nonchalantly said as Ray noticed the sparkling look in his brother’s eyes. He envied the couple naturally.

  “You know maybe start with the basics of a date then follow the flow. Perhaps try kissing at the end and you will figure it out fast.” Jin advised as Ray's eyes twinkled brightly.

  “Really?” Ray chuckled along with Jin.

  “But where can I find the time to go on a date?” Ray sighed while rubbing his head.

  “It can be a walk on a peaceful night after a hectic day for you both or just a simple meal or even helping to take care of the kids?” Jin suggested as Ray nodded.

  “It's best if it was just you two alone in a quiet place. The honesty will flow even better.” Jin added before saving the Word file he was working on.

  “However, the kids… are you sure about that?” Jin questioned with a heavy sigh.

  “That's not an issue at all. Am upholding my promise to your future brother-in-law.” Ray’s replies surprised Jin and they both smiled.

  “I like him better than the other brother though,” Jin said trying to distract Ray who was deep in his thoughts.

  Ray chuckled knowing Jin meant Jeremy.

  “I agree. Now if only that naughty sister of us wakes soon.” Ray sighed again before they both called it a night.

  It has been nearly a good two days since Ivy was unconscious while Ray ran the aftermath of the gang alongside Real and Chiang who were spared by the police force on bail. Jeremy admitted to everything and was prepared to hold himself in jail for a long while with a mission as he ensured his other members and minions were fred on bail as arranged with Ray. Only Charles and Kyle rebellious gang members were captured and locked up.

  Hazel was still a little uncomfortable with Ray at first and she had to force herself to accept the fact that she promised to dedicate her whole life to him. Partly because he was busy as well that she did not have the chance to build familiarity yet with him. Besides, given her traumatic past, she could not get used to the genuine hospitality and luck she was living in now.

  She had been busy with the boys too but was grateful for them to be with their grandparents for the night as it gave her some time to rest for a bit. He too had noticed they were quite distant ever since her rescue which gave him no chance to get to know her just yet though his curiosity was hyping but instead he had been always giving her space and time.

  He secretly did not want her to forcefully yield to him. Despite the pressure from Peter to decide on the adoption of the boys since he had made a prior arrangements with Jeremy, he wanted the relationship with Hazel to be nonchalant since he initially was interested in her at first sight.

  As he sat by the window outside Ivy’s room where Hazel temporary stays with the boys, wondering to himself how was her day and hoping she was having a good rest, he fell asleep not realising he was falling sick. Hazel found herself a little unsettled sleeping alone in a big room that she decided to head to the garden for a walk.

  That was when she spotted Ray who had fallen asleep as she went to wake him only to figure he was down with fever. Being quick witted, she quickly fetch a hot wet towel from her room and return trying to put it on his forehead before harshly being pulled forward into Ray’s arms.

  She was startled for a moment and began to blush when she could feel his heavy breathing on her cheeks. “It’s… It’s me… You’re down with fever…” She stuttered as she felt his grip loosening.

  “Sorry… It’s just a bad habit…” He mumbled with a heavy head.

  “Let’s get you to your room first. Do you have some fever tablets in your room?” She asked as he nodded and let her help him to his room. When he finally settled down in bed after medication and noticing Hazel was about to leave, he grabbed her arm in his.

  “Stay…” He said weakly forcing himself to keep his eyes open while still holding onto her right hand. Hazel sat by his bed side and found herself admiring her savior’s face. “Alright…” She mumbled shyly.

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  “You’re still not comfortable with me?” Ray mumbled as she drew a sharp deep breathe as though caught offguard. Ray smiled while forcing his eyes to stay open.

  “Don’t be… I don’t bite you know…” He said as she chuckled sending him smiled even more.

  “Beautiful…” He commented.

  “Huh?” She asked confused.

  “My first time hearing you laugh… It’s beautiful.” He clarified as she blushed. Each of her small gestures kept sending butterflies to his stomach.

  “I’m sorry you had to take care of the boys in the midst of the chaos and my sister’s issues…” He apologised while giving in to his tired eyes for awhile as she shook her head.

  “Not at all… I feel bad about not being able to help you out with the gang. I’m not that capable…” She pouted and he saw that as he reached out to her cheeks and gently caressed it.

  “Don’t be. You’re already doing your best. Besides, I love the meals lately. You’re a better cook than Cassie.” He teased as she genuinely laughed out this time.

  “I haven’t notice you’re so good with words previously.” She said without filtering her thoughts.

  “Not with everyone. Only with close ones and that includes you now, Hazel…” He watched her smiling face turn serious as he frowned.

  “I…” she began to stutter due to nervousness.

  “I know we both uphold promises to the boys’ parents to look after them. I am pressured to adopt them but it doesn’t mean you have to…” He explained as she interrupted.

  “No, I want to do the same… Us… together adopting, yes… But us… About us…” She looked away realising she was shy for the wrong reasons she thought all this while. She did like him after all as she struggled with the butterflies in her stomach.

  “Hazel…” He tried sitting up as he was feeling a little too comfortable and would fall asleep anytime, giving in the drowsy medicines. She stopped him when he was halfway ending with him leaning on the bedrest instead.

  “Lay down… You don’t feel well. We can talk about this some other day when you’re feeling better.” She urged as he held her right hand again.

  “I might be down for a couple of days… It runs in the family… We rarely fall sick but when we do it prolongs… I want to get this off now if possible. ” He informed as she frowned.

  “I know we are in an awkward situation but I don’t think I get to tell you this before. Despite all the obligations we are put into in this situation, above all of it, I want you to know that I actually did… like you on first sight… I still do want to know more of you, Hazel.” He confessed as she could not help but hide her face into her palms as Ray chuckled.

  “You know the washroom… Helping you escape… If I could turn back time, I wish we could meet in a different circumstance…” He said as she scoffed which surprised him.

  “Why would you waste your time on someone like me? Someone so used and torn and dirty…” Hazel rubbed her tears away forcefully as he held her closer by her waist. Ray relaxed again knowing her confidence was wavering.

  “I could give you all the time to try and get used to us. If we really cannot make it in the end, that’s fine for me. All that mattered was as long as we kept the boys healthy and safe... and most importantly, you're healthy, happy and confident. What did I tell you back then, Hazel?” Hazel was forcing herself on a breakthrough but Ray could tell she was having a very hard time.

  “No one asked for what happened to you. Out there every victim every casualty, given a choice no one would want to be in this situation, Hazel. So you shouldn’t blame yourself. You shouldn’t put yourself so low cause you’re more capable than you think you are. There’s so much to learn. So much to move on to and most importantly, so much to teach and inspire others from your experience, my dear. Why don’t you take some time and think about what you can do on the awareness part? Your role is vital for the benefit of the other victims out there…” Ray tried to convince her while she gave it a thought and she suddenly thought he was right as she began to let her guard down a little.

  “You’re right… I will think about it a little…” She mumbled as he smiled and gently patted her head.

  “I actually do… do like you too… But it’s all new for me… I… I don’t know how or what to do or respond. All my life it’s been a tragedy that I mistaken you for being force into the situation… Or maybe out of pity. I never had a good life and all these… I never thought I would be living in them one day. It seems so… so… so…” Ray pulled her in for a hug just as advice by Jin to take one step at a time as she nearly broke down.

  From holding hands, to a date which they seemed to be in and now a hug which made both of their heart raced. She absentmindedly tightened her hug as he did the same.

  “I promise we will go slow while we parent together…I want to know more of you and I want you to tell me more of you. Naturally, we hopefully could grow old together.” He said as they broke away from the hug and she began to be more comfortable with him.

  She nodded bravely as he kissed her forehead. She blushed shyly as she looked away when he noticed she was slimmer.

  “Tough doing parenting? You seem to had grown skinnier… You just had a miscarriage, keep your diet well-balanced, alright?” He said weakly as she helped him to lay down in bed while lying next to him.

  “I will… It’s just that Jonathan seems to have nightmares when he sleeps recently. Baby Joseph sometimes is a little disoriented by loud noises. So, having very sensitive children means waking up often to check on them.” Ray was alarmed by her revelation.

  “I could have helped! Why didn’t you tell me earlier?” He asked while leaning on one arm in bed as he watched her eyes reddened.

  “Hey… It’s alright. What’s wrong?” He prompted as she tried to control her emotions when he wiped the escaped tears away.

  “I… I have never thought someday I would hear this line… It’s always been negativity…” She let a few tears escaped as he helped her to wipe them away.

  “From now on you’re not alone alright? We will send Jonathan to Phyllis for theraphies instead. She helped with Nick and Ivy previously and they are all well now…” Ray comforted as Hazel stared right back into his gaze still feeling as though she was in a dream.

  “And maybe you too should try?” He gently encouraged her.

  “I am not the ideal person to help you out with the past trauma but whatever it is, when you’re tired or sad, I can let you lean on me. When you’re happy, I am happy for you too.” Ray said as her twinkling eyes became more touched.

  Ray did not hesitate the moment to pull her in for a kiss to break the uncomfortable zone for her as she let her final barrier down. She kissed him back despite realising he was sick. Midway, he pulled away to have a good view of her but she was on the verge of making the next move.

  “Hazel…” He shook his head tiredly when he lay back down in bed, nearly giving in to the drowsiness. He noticed she was a little disappointed.

  He quickly held her closer with his eyes closed. “I promise we will go slow. Plus, I don’t want you to be unwell. We have kids to take care of.” Ray mumbled.

  She chuckled into his chest in embarrassment before tucking him in the blanket and stole a kiss on his cheek.

  “Goodnight, Haz…” He managed to mumble again before he drifted asleep which sent Hazel giggling to herself letting herself feel the blissfulness of love for once finally.