FLASHBACK
Years ago.
Hazel was barely out of school, nervously clutching her CV and a small folder of documents as she walked into a bustling restaurant. She was desperate for work—anything to keep her afloat. But in her nervousness, she tripped over her own feet, and her folder slipped from her hands. Papers scattered everywhere across the shiny tiled floor.
People laughed. Some shook their heads in annoyance. Hazel froze, her cheeks burning red with embarrassment. She bent down quickly to gather her documents.
Then, a gentle hand reached down.
Isabella.
Dressed in a neatly pressed suit, books under her arm, Isabella knelt to help her pick up the scattered papers.
"Careful… you'll lose something important." Her voice was warm, patient. She smiled at Hazel—so effortlessly kind it made Hazel's throat tighten.
Hazel stared at her, speechless, her heart skipping a beat. She had never seen someone so polished, so confident, yet so gentle.
After they gathered the papers, Isabella surprised her by buying her lunch. Hazel remembered sitting across from her at that little restaurant table, barely able to eat as Isabella spoke about law school, her eyes shining with ambition.
From that day, Hazel couldn't help herself. She followed Isabella from afar—not in a dangerous way, but quietly, almost shyly. At the mall, she'd catch a glimpse of Isabella flipping through books. At the park, she saw her reading under the shade of a tree. At Bella's law school, she once even sneaked into the crowd just to watch her deliver a presentation.
Hazel admired her. Respected her. Wanted to be like her.
But Isabella never noticed. Never remembered. She was too caught up in her own world, in her studies… and perhaps in her first love.
Years later, Hazel lost track of her completely. Life pulled her away when she was offered a permanent position at the Moore household—Ava's family home. She buried her admiration deep inside, convinced she would never cross paths with Isabella again.
Yet here she was. Standing before her. The very woman she once admired, now in Ava's bedroom.
Hazel clenched her hands together, forcing her emotions down.
Back in the present, Isabella was still looking at her curiously.
"Do you mind telling me about this family?"
Hazel swallowed hard, her lips parting as she tried to steady herself. She bowed her head slightly, her voice calm, though her heart was still racing from the memories.
"Of course, Ms. Bella. What would you like to know?"
Bella's eyes stayed fixed on Ava's family photo. Her fingers played nervously with the edge of the curtain as if she wasn't sure whether she should even be asking these questions.
"That man… is he Ava's father?"
Hazel followed her gaze and gave a small nod.
Hazel: "Yes, Ms. Bella. That's Ava's father and mother. And those two kids—those are her younger siblings."
Bella's lips parted in surprise. She turned back to look at Hazel.
"Siblings? I didn't even know she had any. Her father… I never saw him before. I only knew he wasn't really there in her life."
Hazel shifted uneasily, sensing the weight behind Bella's words.
"From what I know, they got back together some years ago. Since then, the family became… whole again, I guess. But I don't know much about how it happened."
"Tell me about Ava." Bella said softly.
Hazel blinked, unsure of what Bella truly wanted.
"Ms. Bella… could you tell me exactly what you want to know?"
Bella's eyes darkened.
"Anything. Everything. I just… want to know. Does she really have a girlfriend? Who is Dolly"
The words were almost desperate, like a confession she had no right to say out loud.
But just as Hazel opened her mouth, Bella's phone rang on the bedside table, its vibration cutting through the silence. Bella turned quickly, distracted, and Hazel took the chance.
"Excuse me, Ms. Bella."
She hurried out of the room before Bella could stop her, her heart pounding as though she had escaped something dangerous.
HAZEL'S ROOM
Hazel closed the door and leaned against it, pressing a hand to her chest. Her pulse refused to calm down. She walked to her bed, pulled out a small wooden box from under it, and placed it carefully on her lap.
She lifted the lid. Inside were photos—old, secret pictures she had taken of Isabella over the years. Some were from events at the law school, some when Bella was in different restaurants with friends. Each one held the same woman who now occupied her thoughts more than ever.
Hazel ran her fingers over the edges of one photo where Bella was laughing, her face lit up in pure joy. Hazel bit her lip, eyes stinging.
"Why can't you look at me that way? Just once… just once like that." she whispered .
Her mind spun with questions she couldn't answer.
"Why does Ms. Ava care so much about her? Who exactly is Bella to her? Why bring her home… and from where?"
Her jealousy twisted with longing until it felt unbearable. She hugged the box tightly to her chest, as if it could fill the hollow space Bella's presence had carved into her.
But deep down, Hazel sensed the truth—Bella's eyes, her voice, her every breath carried something raw and unshakable whenever she spoke Ava's name. It was love. Love that never died, no matter how many years had passed.
And Hazel, despite all her wishes, wasn't the one inside Bella's heart.
She remembered Ava had given her some outfit to give to Bella. She quickly rushed to Ava's room. She entered when her knock was not responded to. She noticed Isabella was in the shower.
"Ms Bella, I'll put your outfit on the bed. Ms Ava selected it for you."
From behind the bathroom door, Bella's voice came, soft and calm.
"Thanks, Hazel."
Hazel carefully placed the clothes on the bed. She paused for a second, her eyes lingering on the steam slipping out of the slightly open bathroom door. She could hear the faint sound of water hitting Isabella's skin, and she swallowed hard.
Her chest tightened. She wished she could stop herself, but her feet didn't move. Her eyes scanned the bed, the table, the half-empty glass of water Bella had left behind. She noticed Bella's phone lying there, forgotten and unguarded, as if it meant nothing to her.
Hazel's hand twitched. Part of her wanted to touch it, to check if Ava had sent her messages, but fear and guilt tied her hands. Instead, she stole another glance toward the bathroom. She imagined Bella standing under the water, eyes closed, vulnerable in a way Hazel knew she would never get to see.
Hazel quickly turned away before her thoughts betrayed her. She slipped out of the room, shutting the door softly behind her.
Meanwhile, at Bella's house, Becca was waiting. She sat in the large living room, tapping her fingers against her knee, her eyes darting toward the door every few seconds. Bella had said she would appear in seconds, but it had been much longer, and the silence was driving Becca mad.