The next morning, Hazel was already up before the sun.
She couldn't sleep. Not after last night's gala. Not after the smug way Vanessa had practically declared war. Hazel wasn't naïve — she knew women like Vanessa didn't play fair. And if she wanted to keep what was hers, she'd have to be willing to get her hands dirty too.
Coffee in hand, Hazel slipped into Michael's home office, scanning the shelves of leather-bound folders and confidential files. Normally, she wouldn't have dared touch his work. But this was different. This was personal.
She opened the sleek black laptop on his desk, knowing Michael was still asleep upstairs. Hazel had watched him type his password a hundred times. She typed it in without hesitation.
M.Graze01
Classic.
The screen unlocked, revealing a maze of folders, business deals, mergers… and something labeled "Vanessa Carter — Case Archive".
Hazel clicked.
Inside was a trove of records: old emails, legal documents, financial statements, surveillance photos. Michael had been keeping tabs on her. For years.
Hazel's stomach twisted.
Vanessa wasn't just an ex.
She was a threat.
And Hazel had a sinking feeling this went deeper than jealousy.
One file stood out — a confidential report stamped with Nexus Corp's insignia. Hazel opened it.
Subject: Vanessa Carter
Status: Active Threat
Objective: Hostile takeover via partnership with Kline Industries.
Hazel's heart pounded. Kline Industries was one of Nexus' biggest rivals. And if Vanessa pulled off a merger with them, she'd have enough leverage to cripple Michael's company.
And possibly… him.
A floorboard creaked behind her.
Hazel spun to see Michael leaning against the doorway, hair tousled, a dangerous glint in his eyes.
"You shouldn't be in here, Hazel."
She straightened her shoulders. "I had to know."
Michael's jaw worked. "It's not your fight."
"Like hell it isn't," Hazel snapped, storming over to him. "She came into our home, threatened you, and now she's trying to take everything from you. From us. I'm not going to sit on the sidelines while you handle this alone."
Michael grabbed her wrist, not roughly but firm. "This world isn't clean, Hazel. You get involved in this, you don't come out the same."
Hazel met his gaze, her voice steady. "I don't care."
And for a moment, neither of them spoke.
Then Michael sighed, something in him cracking. "I've kept things from you. Things about Vanessa… and about why our parents arranged this marriage."
Hazel's pulse spiked. "What are you talking about?"
Before he could answer, his phone buzzed. He glanced down.
Unknown number. One message.
"Tell your pretty little wife to back off. Or I will."
Hazel caught a glimpse of it and her blood ran cold.
Michael swore under his breath. "It's starting."
Hazel's stomach flipped.
"Then let's finish it.".....