Chapter 8 Only hope I have

Remembering the money in her bag, she internally panicked. What if she lands on it? It was her only hope right now!

But she knew better not to disobey her aunt because somewhere, she still hoped that she could have a change of heart and let her stay.

Giving her the bag, she put it on the floor then bent down and pulled the zipper. She opened it and started removing everything as she placed it on the floor. After emptying the bag, she saw her lift it up before turning it upside down and shook it. Hazel was internally praying that none of the coins comes out at this moment but her prayers were short lived when one gold coin came out and tossed loudly on the marble floor.

Their eyes widened in shock at the sight of the gold coin. She snapped her head and looked at Hazel who looked frightened at the moment. "Where the hell did you get this money?! You've been stealing from me?!" Hazel shook her head hurriedly and said," I wouldn't dare do such a thing."

"Then where did you- oh Lord!" she exclaimed when two more gold coins fell on the floor. "Is this all?!" she asked as she thoroughly shook the bag and Hazel nodded her head. She knew that right now, she was doomed. "Pius!" screamed Scarlett as she continued to check in every corner of the bag. Not able to find anything else, she looked at Lilith and said," Check every part of her body thoroughly. She might have more."

"Pius!!!" she called again. "What is the matter?" he asked as he made way to the living room. "Come and see the person you've been defending. All this time, she's been stealing from us." "I have never stolen from you aunt Scarlett," spoke Hazel as Lilith continued to check her thoroughly. "Then how did you get this much money?!!" she asked.

"I-I can explain. It was given to me by someone who nearly knocked me down on my way back from the market I promise," she pleaded. "Mother, I think she gets the money from men. She might be offering her b- " "Shut your mouth Lilith," Pius said and she pursed her lips. "Now that I think about it, it might be true. I would have noticed if she stole from me this much. I'm sure she took her mother's ways of sleeping around with men for money," she turned to look at her husband and said," Do you now see why she should not stay here? She's a bad influence to our daughter."

She turned to look at Hazel and said," I don't want to see you here any longer. Put back your things and leave!" Hazel felt a lump in her throat and she swallowed it before saying," At least give me back the money. It's the only hope I have." "I'm not giving you back the money unless if you want me to report you to the magistrate and you know how thieves end up," she threatened. Of course she knew how thieves were taken to slavery and it was the worst fate ever to happen to anyone.

Hazel squatted down as she put back her clothes in the satchel and before she could stand up, she decided to give it one last shot. "Please aunt. I don't know where to start." "You should leave before I call the magistrate," she said and Hazel placed the strap on her shoulder before standing up.

She looked at the house. She didn't have any pleasant memories here but she had grown to call the place home. She looked at her aunt before looking at her cousin and finally, her uncle. Her eyes glimmered with unshed tears as she chocked back the sobs that were threatening to erupt from her throat. She clamped back hard on them and swallowed it before she began walking away, with slow steps.

When she stepped outside, she cast her eyes downwards so that people could not see her pathetic state. She wondered where she was going to go. She was penniless, she didn't know anyone out there and the outside world was never easy for a girl because everyone viewed them as prey. Something they could toy with for their own satisfaction.

When she walked a few blocks away from the Milbrand household, she took a seat on the street as her bag settled on her lap.

She looked at the many carriages that passed one after the other and she wondered if her mother was watching her right now.

A tear rolled down her cheek and she immediately wiped it off. Now was not the time to cry, but one to use her head and see how she got out of this situation.

A long while later, she was starting to feel hungry and she had suppressed a number of yawns. Many passbyers looked at her as if she was crazy but she didn't care.

Not too long after, a carriage stopped right in front of her and she wondered who it could be. When the door was opened, she saw the pathetic man smirking mischievously at her.

"This is how you end up for being arrogant," scoffed Rufus Hamilton.

She decided not to pay attention to the crazy man because she would never get help from someone like him. "Even though you embarrassed me back there, my offer still stands."

"You shouldn't waste your time with me. I will never take your offer," she said looking at him. Alright then. I will give you a job because you look like someone who is in need of one," he said. "I would love to but I don't trust your intentions. I will be just fine Mr Rufus. I have passed through the worst. A busy man like you shouldn't waste his precious time with a nobody like me."

"You may be right," he said before adding," If you have a change of heart, I will be waiting for you. The Hamilton mansion is so easy to find." With that, he closed the door and the carriage rode off.