C9 Five days left.

Only five days were left until Hazel's birthday, and Ace's possessiveness was taking a toll on her mind. She felt a constant pressure, a shadow of his presence always looming over her, making her both anxious and frightened. Tonight, she had a party to attend at Mia's place, a chance to relax and escape from the intensity of Ace's attention, if only for a little while.

As she was getting ready, her phone buzzed with a message. She hesitated before looking at it, her heart pounding. "Don't wear black and red, you look sexy in it." She choked on her breath at his audacity. Determined not to let him control her, Hazel chose to ignore his message. She pulled on a short red dress that hugged her curves, accentuating her figure. She felt confident and beautiful, ready to enjoy the evening with her friends.

Her aunt Sophie dropped her off at Mia's place, and Hazel was greeted with warm hugs and cheerful chatter. The house was bustling with music and laughter, a stark contrast to the oppressive tension she'd been feeling. For a moment, she allowed herself to relax, to forget about Ace and his possessive grip on her life.

But it didn't take long for that uneasy feeling to return. She felt someone's gaze on her and looked around, finding no one. Shaking off the feeling, she tried to immerse herself in the festivities. She laughed with her friends, danced to the music, and enjoyed the freedom of the night. Yet, the buzzing of her phone brought her back to reality.

"Can't listen to me once, baby? You'll regret it! Serve punishment for you after 5 days." The message made her smile drop instantly. She glanced around the room, her eyes searching for him. And there he was, standing alone in a corner, his dark eyes fixed on her. The sight of him made her shiver. His aura was menacing, a mix of anger and possessiveness that sent chills down her spine.

Hazel tried to ignore him, to pretend she hadn't seen the message or noticed his presence. She turned back to her friends, forcing a smile and trying to rejoin the conversation. But her mind was elsewhere, her heart pounding in her chest. The knowledge that Ace was watching her every move made it hard to focus on anything else.

She excused herself to the bathroom, needing a moment to collect her thoughts. As she splashed water on her face, she stared at her reflection in the mirror. The girl looking back at her was scared, trapped in a situation she didn't know how to handle. She took a deep breath, trying to calm her racing heart.

When she returned to the party, she felt Ace's gaze on her again. It was like a physical weight, pressing down on her, making it hard to breathe. She couldn't escape it, no matter how hard she tried. Her friends noticed her distraction, asking if she was okay. She nodded, forcing a smile and lying through her teeth. "I'm fine, just a little tired."

The party continued, but Hazel couldn't shake the feeling of dread. Every time she looked up, Ace was there, watching her with those dark, intense eyes. His presence was a constant reminder that she was never truly free. She felt trapped, suffocated by his possessiveness.

At one point, Mia pulled her aside, concern etched on her face. "Hazel, what's going on? You've been acting strange all night."

Hazel hesitated, not knowing how much to reveal. "It's... it's Ace. He's been really intense lately, and I don't know what to do."

Mia frowned. "Intense how? Has he done something to you?"

Hazel shook her head. "No, not really. It's just... he watches me all the time, sends me these messages. It's like he can't let me out of his sight."

Mia's eyes widened with concern. "That's not okay, Hazel. You need to talk to someone about this. Maybe even go to the authorities."

"I don't know," Hazel said, feeling overwhelmed. "He's not a bad person, he's just... he's possessive. I think he really cares about me, but it's too much."

Mia hugged her tightly. "You don't have to deal with this alone. We're here for you, whatever you need."

Hazel nodded, feeling a little better knowing she had her friends' support. But as she glanced back across the room, her eyes met Ace's once more. The darkness in his gaze made her shiver. She knew she needed to confront him, to set boundaries, but the thought of it terrified her.

As the party wound down and people started to leave, Hazel found herself dreading the end of the night. She didn't want to face Ace, didn't want to deal with his possessiveness and anger. But she knew she couldn't avoid it forever.

When the party finally ended, Hazel walked out with Mia, who insisted on driving her home. As they stepped outside, she felt a hand grip her arm. She turned to find Ace standing there, his expression cold and furious.

"We need to talk," he said, his voice low and menacing.

Mia stepped between them. "Leave her alone, Ace. She doesn't want to talk to you."

Ace's eyes narrowed, but he let go of Hazel's arm. "Fine. But this isn't over, Hazel. You have five days to think about what you've done."

Hazel's heart sank at his words. She knew he wouldn't let this go easily. As she got into Mia's car, she couldn't shake the feeling of dread that had settled over her. She needed to find a way to deal with Ace, to make him understand that his possessiveness was suffocating her. But how could she do that when she was so scared of him?

The drive home was silent, Hazel lost in her thoughts. When they finally arrived, Mia hugged her tightly. "Stay safe, Hazel. And remember, we're here for you."

Hazel nodded, feeling a flicker of hope. She wasn't alone in this. She had her friends, her aunt, and maybe, just maybe, she could find a way to break free from Ace's possessive grip.

As she lay in bed that night, Hazel couldn't stop thinking about Ace's dark gaze, the way he had watched her with such intensity. She knew she needed to confront him, to set boundaries and make him understand. But the thought of it terrified her. She didn't know if she was strong enough to face him alone.

But she had to try. For her own sake, and for her future. She couldn't let Ace's possessiveness control her life. She needed to take back her power, to stand up for herself. And she would. No matter how scared she was, she would find a way to break free from his dark, suffocating