66 Chapter 69
66 Chapter 69
Chapter 69 – Hearts Unveiled, Justice Stalled
“So, does it feel good knowing your father is finally facing justice?” Chloe asked as she delicately picked up a piece of mango pudding.
I paused, my chopsticks hovering above my plate. The question hung in the air between us, weighted with implications. Both Damien and Chloe watched me with open curiosity, no judgment in their eyes.
“I’m…” I hesitated, searching for the right words. “I’m worried you’ll think I’m heartless if I say yes.”
Damien’s brow furrowed. “Heartless? For wanting justice after what he did to you?”
Chloe leaned forward, her eyes intense. “Hazel, your father stole from your maternal grandparents, abused you emotionally for years, tried to saddle you with his company’s debt, and consistently chose your stepsister over you. If you’re celebrating his downfall, that doesn’t make you heartless–it makes you
human.”
I felt tears prick at the corners of my eyes. “Most people would say I should forgive him because he’s family.”
“Most people,” Damien said quietly, “haven’t experienced what you have.”
His voice was gentle but firm, and his eyes held mine with such understanding that something inside me cracked open.
“Then yes,” I admitted, the words tumbling out in a rush, “Yes, it feels like a weight has been lifted. For the first time, I feel like I can breathe without his shadow looming over
me.”
Instead of disgust or judgment, both siblings‘ faces broke into smiles.
“That’s my girl!” Chloe exclaimed, clapping her hands. “Own those feelings!”
“You stood up not just for yourself, but for your mother and grandparents,” Damien added. “That makes you a hero, Hazel, not a villain.”
A hero. The word echoed in my mind. No one had ever called me that before. Tears threatened again, but these were different–warm and cleansing rather than bitter.
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“Thank you,” I whispered. “For understanding”
The server arrived with the bill, and I reached for my purse. “Please, let me get this. It was my invitation, after all.”
Before I could even extract my wallet, Damien had already passed his black card to the
server.
“Damien!” I protested. “I invited you. This was supposed to be my thank–you.”
His lips curved into a small smile. “Then you can get the next one.”
The next one. The implication that there would be a next time sent a little thrill through me.
“My brother always pays,” Chloe said with a dramatic eye he cares.” She winked at me, making my cheeks heat.
“Fine,” I conceded. “But next time is definitely on me.”
roll. “It’s his way of showing
“I’ll hold you to that,” Damien replied, his eyes warm as they met mine.
As we stood to leave, Chloe suddenly snapped her fingers. “Oh! I almost forgot why I crashed your lunch in the first place. Hazel, I have a proposition for you.”
“A proposition?” I raised an eyebrow.
“I’m performing in London next month–I play the violin professionally,” she explained. “It’s a special concert blending Western and Eastern musical traditions. I’d love if you could design a Ma Mian skirt for me to wear. Your designs are extraordinary.”
I blinked in surprise. “You’ve seen my work?”
“Of course! Damien has shown me your portfolio.” She grinned as her brother shot her a look. “What? It’s true.”
My gaze flicked to Damien, who now appeared slightly embarrassed–an expression I’d never seen on his normally composed face.
“I may have mentioned your talent,” he admitted.
“Mentioned? He practically has a shrine to-”
“Chloe,” Damien cut her off firmly, though I could swear I saw a hint of color on his
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cheeks.
I bit back a smile. “I’d be honored to design something for you, Chloe.”
As we walked through the restaurant toward the exit, a familiar voice called my name.
“Hazel!”
I turned to see Victoria approaching, her eyes widening as she took in my companions.
“Victoria,” I greeted her. “You remember Damien Sterling? And this is his sister, Chloe
Chase.”
Victoria’s gaze darted between the three of us, clearly dying of curiosity. “Of course. Lovely to see you again, Mr. Sterling. And a pleasure to meet you, Ms. Chase.” “Please, call me Chloe,” Damien’s sister replied warmly. “Your family’s restaurant is exceptional.”
After a few minutes of polite conversation, Damien checked his watch. “I’m afraid I need to head to that meeting.” He turned to me, his eyes softening. “Thank you for lunch, Hazel. It was… refreshing.”
The way he said it made it sound like so much more than a mere meal.
“I should be thanking you,” I replied. “For everything.”
His hand briefly touched mine–just the lightest brush of his fingers, but it sent electricity racing up my arm. “Until next time.”
After he left, Chloe linked her arm through mine. “I’ll ride with you to your office. I want to see those Ma Mian designs.”
Victoria shot me a “call me later with ALL the details” look before we parted ways.
In my car, Chloe wasted no time getting straight to the point. “So, are you going to admit you have feelings for my brother, or are we just going to dance around it?”
I nearly swerved, my hands tightening on the steering wheel. “I–what?”
“Come on, Hazel. The electricity between you two could power the entire city.” She grinned at my flustered expression. “You like him. He likes you. It’s so obvious you might as well be wearing flashing neon signs.”
<
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“It’s complicated,” I mumbled, focusing intensely on the road ahead.
“Is it? Or are you just scared?”
Her directness took me aback. “Of course I’m scared. The last relationship I invested in ended with my fiancé marrying my stepsister.”
Chloe’s expression softened. “Damien isn’t Julian. He would never betray you like that.” She paused. “He’s been alone a long time. I’ve never seen him look at anyone the way he looks at you.”
My heart hammered against my ribs. “How does he look at me?”
“Like you’re the answer to a question he’s been asking his whole life.”
The rest of the drive passed in contemplative silence, her words echoing in my mind.
At my studio, I pulled out my preliminary designs for Milan Fashion Week, including several Ma Mian skirts.
Chloe gasped when she saw them. “These are incredible! The way you’ve incorporated traditional elements with contemporary silhouettes–it’s revolutionary.”
Her enthusiasm was infectious, and we spent the next hour discussing fabrics and designs. I felt a genuine connection forming between us, independent of my complicated feelings for her brother.
Later that afternoon, as Chloe was leaving, my phone pinged with a news alert. My father’s arrest had gone public. The headline read: “Fashion Mogul Harrison Ashworth Arrested on Multiple Charges of Fraud and Embezzlement.”
I should have felt triumphant, but instead, a strange emptiness filled me. Justice was being served, yet part of me mourned the father I never really had.
That evening, my phone rang again. Julian’s name flashed on the screen, reminding me our divorce hearing was scheduled for tomorrow. Against my better judgment, I answered.
“What do you want?” I asked coldly.
“Hazel, I’m in the hospital.” His voice sounded weak, pitiful. “I’ve had a relapse. I’m going to need the hearing postponed.”
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“You expect me to believe that?” I spat. “Another convenient illness right before the hearing?”
“It’s true this time,” he insisted. “I’ve already had my lawyer submit the medical documentation to the court.”
Before I could respond, my other line beeped. It was my lawyer.
“I’ll deal with you later,” I told Julian, switching calls.
“Ms. Ashworth,” my lawyer’s voice was apologetic. “I’m afraid I have bad news. The court has accepted Mr. Grayson’s application to postpone the divorce hearing due to medical reasons.”
My blood boiled. “You’re kidding me.”
A
“I’m sorry. We’ve verified his admission records–he appears to be genuinely hospitalized this time. The hearing’s been rescheduled for next month.”
I ended the call and stared at my phone in disbelief. Just when I thought I was finally cutting ties with Julian, he found another way to keep me tethered to him.
Freedom would have to wait another month. The realization sat like a stone in my stomach.
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