When Hazel saw the familiar yet somewhat unfamiliar face, she froze. The person standing before her ovepped with the one from her memories, standing right in front of her, wearing that trademark smile.


    “Hazel, it’s been a long time,” Putnam greeted Hazel from a short distance away.


    His sandy hair and blue eyes were just as Hazel remembered, and he was wearing a white shirt that hinted at his well-defined muscles. In his hand, he held a small shovel, as if he were about to nt flowers.


    Hazel stood still, unsure if her eyes were ying tricks on her because she was looking at Putnam.


    “Putnam, you’re back?” Hazel asked, incredulous that she would meet him again in this manner.


    “Yes, I’m back. Hazel, how have you been?” Putnam ced the small shovel on the ground and walked closer to Hazel.


    Memories of the past came rushing back. Hazel recalled his sudden departure, which had caused her a great deal of pain.


    “I’m doing well now,” Hazel’s tone had grown unfamiliar, and Putnam’s reappearance did not fill her with joy. It only reminded her of the past sorrows.


    “Hazel, I’m sorry for leaving abruptly. I know you’ve been upset with me,” Putnam said, bringing up his sudden departure.


    Hazel wanted to ask, but she wasn’t sure how to begin. Did questioning the past even make sense now?


    Even though all this time had passed, Hazel still didn’t understand why Putnam had left in the first ce. She no longer wanted any connection with him. Hazel realized that her feelings for Putnam had faded away. In his presence, she felt nothing like the excitement and happiness she used to. It was more like facing a stranger, and Hazel was d to feel this way.


    “After you left, I searched for you for a long time, but all of that doesn’t matter anymore,” Hazel smiled, not hiding any of the things she had done in the past. There was no need to.


    Her intention wasn’t to make Putnam feel guilty; instead, she wanted to provide an exnation to her past self. She wanted all those things from the past to be scattered to the wind.


    “Hazel, you misunderstood,” Putnam shook his head, wanting to exin that leaving wasn’t his intention.


    “I left because my father passed away. I had to go back for his funeral, so I had no choice but to leave with my mother,” Putnam said, gazing at Hazel with deep emotions, thinking she looked even more beautiful now.


    Hazel pursed her lips, and she couldn’t me him for that. But at least he could have left a message instead of vanishing suddenly.


    “I’m sorry about your father’s passing,” Hazel said while maintaining eye contact with Putnam, gently shaking off his grip on her arm.


    Hearing Hazel’s words, a glint appeared in Putnam’s eyes. He knew Hazel well; she was kind, and that’s why she couldn’t refuse him.


    “Hazel, that’s all in the past,” Putnam smiled at Hazel. “I’ve returned because I wanted to see you again. I’ve never forgotten you, even after all this time.”


    Everyone knew just how attached Hazel had been to Putnam back in the day.


    “Hazel, do you believe everything he’s saying?” Rita questioned. She wasn’t sure if Putnam’s appearance had ulterior motives, but she knew just how much Hazel had liked him in the past.


    “I won’t specte on the truth of his words,” Hazel responded to Rita.


    “Hazel, I hope toe back to your side, no matter how much time it takes or what I have to give up,” Putnam’s words were sincere, just like before, making it hard to resist and impossible to forget.N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner.


    However, the Hazel of today was not the same as the Hazel from the past. The tears she shed over Putnam were a constant reminder not to stumble over the same person again.


    “Putnam, our rtionship is in the past,” Hazel’s gaze was unwavering. “There’s no possibility for you and me.”


    Upon hearing Hazel’s words, Putnam’s eyes revealed a slight change, but he still wore a smile.


    “I know it’s hard for you to ept me right now,” Putnam had a hurt expression on his face.


    “Putnam, you can’t just show up suddenly and expect me to forget everything from the past,” Hazel shook her head. This wasn’t what she wanted. Putnam’s actions made him seem irresponsible.


    She had thought that when she finally saw Putnam again, she’d be at a loss for words, or she’d be so excited that she’d cry, or maybe she’d just hug him and say nothing at all. What she hadn’t expected was to meet him with such calmness. She no longer wanted anything to do with a person who could suddenly disappear and reappear like this. It wasn’t fair to herself.


    Putnam’s blue eyes shifted. He could see that Hazel genuinely repelled him. He didn’t want to believe that this was the oue.


    “Hazel, I’ll give you time to think about it and hope you’ll give me a chance,” Putnam persisted; he needed Hazel.


    “You still don’t understand my words,” Hazel took a step back. Putnam’s approach made her ufortable, and he smelled strongly of cologne.


    “Hazel, one day, you’ll understand my predicament,” Putnam once again disyed that hurt expression. Even if he knew that Hazel wasn’t the same as before, so what? Everything could change, and he would bring himself and Hazel back to where they started.


    “No, Putnam, it’s you who doesn’t understand,” Hazel spoke without expression on her face. She didn’t know in what frame of mind she should face this sudden reappearance of Putnam. But there was one thing she was sure of: Putnam no longer held any significance for her.


    “Putnam, take care of yourself,” Hazel said and then left the hill. She didn’t want to be alone with Putnam any longer.


    Putnam watched Hazel’s departing figure, and his smile disappeared, reced by a gloomy expression.


    After confirming Hazel’s departure, a woman emerged from behind the tree.


    “It seems your ex-girlfriend isn’t as obedient as you imed,” the woman said with a seductive smile, leaning into Putnam.


    “She’lle around. I know her,” Putnam assured as he held the woman’s waist and nted a kiss on her cheek. His gaze appeared even more sincere than before.


    “Do you understand me? Why don’t you ask if I’ll get jealous?” The womanughed lightly, her hands wrapped around Putnam’s neck.


    “Tania, you’re the most important one,” Putnam said, leaning close to Tania’s ear and gently blowing into it.


    “It seems your premonitions are still quite urate.” Tania kissed Putnam’s neck.


    “Always have been,” Putnam felt excited thinking about his abilities. Last night, he had foreseen that Hazel woulde to the school’s hill, so he chose to meet her today.


    He and Hazel had met and fallen in love at school, making this ce filled with past memories. Hazel was bound to have lingering thoughts about their past, but it didn’t matter. He just needed her to know that he had returned to the small town and couldn’t forget her, which would disrupt her thoughts.


    “I hope she won’t be a burden,” Tania smiled. She didn’t care about Hazel’s identity or whether Putnam was interested in her. But she couldn’t allow anyone to disrupt their n.


    Hearing Tania’s words, Putnam’s expression became more serious.


    “Perhaps we need to expedite our n,” Putnam thought about Hazel’s attitude. Now they had to take faster and more direct action. The n was the most important thing, and no one could stop him.


    Tania nodded, and then the two quickly disappeared into the hill.


    Hazel returned home, lost in thought. She couldn’t understand how Putnam had suddenly returned to the small town, let alone appeared at the school’s hill. His words were unsettling.


    If Cyril found out about what Putnam had said to her, he would probably explode with jealousy again.


    “Damn it, I’m thinking about Cyril again!” Hazel punched the couch and quickly went back to her room upstairs. Maybe she should take a nap and then have lunch. Nothing was more important than eating and sleeping!