“Ambrose, you’ve got it wrong! It’s my sister…”

“Enough!” Ambrose cut her off, his voice sharp with disdain. He clenched his jaw, his gaze piercing as it locked onto Scarlett. “How much longer do you plan to spin your lies?”

That morning, his assistant, William, had unearthed the truth about Scarlett’s past. The pristine, angelic image she cultivated was merely an elaborate façade. Since their high school days, Scarlett had entangled herself in a web of scandalous relationships. Every man who showed even a flicker of interest in Hazel became ensnared in her schemes, seduction her weapon of choice. Ambrose was no exception, just another pawn in her carefully orchestrated game. The so-called “chance encounter” she’d described so vividly was a fabrication. Scarlett had eloped with a struggling singer, seeking escape, and upon learning of Ambrose’s proximity, staged a performance to lure him in.

The revelations hit Ambrose hard, fury surging through him. His hands trembled as he wrestled with the anger threatening to consume him. He didn't have time for further investigation; his focus was finding Hazel and uncovering the truth from years ago. Fate, however, intervened. By chance, he ended up saving Hazel.

“Scarlett, drop the act! You never loved me! You only used me to hurt Hazel!”

“I was blind… I lost the one who truly loved me because of a woman like you.”

Hazel watched the confrontation, a tangle of emotions overwhelming her. The three of them had been bound together for over two decades: the man she once loved deeply, and the woman she once loathed. Now, the man she cherished seemed ridiculous, while the woman she despised appeared heartbreakingly pathetic.

Scarlett, however, remained a picture of endless conflict. To her, the world was a battleground. She didn't understand love, and likely never would. She had lost sight of a simple truth: by abandoning these perceived “prizes,” she could have embraced the world’s boundless opportunities.

And Ambrose? He was a self-righteous, greedy hypocrite, a wolf in sheep's clothing.

Hazel fixed her gaze on him, her voice steady and cutting. “You really disgust me.”

Without another glance, she turned, only to be stopped by the flashing lights of a police car. The commotion had attracted a passerby who’d called the police. Hazel was taken in for questioning. She intended to hold Scarlett accountable, but lacking surveillance or concrete evidence, her case crumbled. The matter remained unresolved, her frustration deepening.

Ambrose's public assault on Scarlett had been witnessed by many, potentially leading to legal repercussions. But Scarlett, ever calculating, refused to cooperate.

“He’s my lover. We were just playing around. He loves me so much that he got carried away. I don’t blame him.”

The officers exchanged weary glances, their disbelief mirrored in Hazel’s expression. Ambrose walked away without charges, though flagged as a person of interest.

Hazel’s plans were dashed. She’d intended to hail a taxi, but her mother rushed toward her, panic in her eyes.

“Are you alright? Did anyone hurt you?”

“I’m fine. Let’s just go home.”

Hazel smiled warmly, linking arms with her mother as they walked away. Gianna’s gaze shot daggers at Scarlett and Ambrose, her fury barely contained.

“I’ll tell you this much. The Bell family may not be what it once was, but I won’t let anyone harm my daughter on my turf. And I certainly won’t let anyone take her from me.”

“If there’s a next time,” she added sharply, “I’ll make sure you pay the price.”

They left the station. Hazel leaned against her mother, her mood softening.

“Mom, you were so cool just now.”