109 Chapter 112
Chapter 112 – Unveiled Schemes, A Painful Descent
The sound of my heels clicking against the marble floor of Eleanor’s apartment building gave me a sense of power I hadn’t felt in years. Three days had passed since I’d set my plan in motion, and the results were even better than I’d anticipated.
“Ms. Ashworth, what a pleasant surprise, the doorman said, though his eyes darted nervously. Everyone in the building knew what was happening to Eleanor.
“I’m here to see my stepmother,” I said sweetly.
When I knocked on her door, it flew open almost immediately. Eleanor stood there, her usually perfect hair disheveled, dark circles under her eyes. She’d clearly been crying.
“You!” she hissed. “I know you’re behind this!”
I feigned innocence. “Behind what, Eleanor? May I come in? We have so much to catch up on.”
She reluctantly stepped aside, and I entered her once–pristine apartment that now looked like it had been ransacked. Papers were scattered everywhere, cushions thrown about, and there was a distinct smell of fear in the air.
“They won’t stop coming,” she whispered, her voice cracking. “Those… those animals you sent!”
I settled onto her couch, crossing my legs casually. “I have absolutely no idea what you’re talking about.”
“The debt collectors!” Eleanor shrieked. “They threatened to break my fingers! One of them wanted me to… to take off my clothes for collateral photos!” She collapsed into a chair across from me, deflated/“They come at all hours. The neighbors are
complaining.”
“How unfortunate,” I said, examining my manicured
- s. “But didn’t you tell me once
that people must pay their debts? I believe that was when you were throwing my mother’s things onto the lawn.”
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Eleanor’s face contorted with rage and desperation. “What do you want from me?
“I want you back at work tomorrow,” I said flatly. “Those debt collectors won’t stop until your payments resume. And they won’t resume until you start earning again.
“You cruel, heartless girl, she spat.
I laughed. “I learned from the best, didn’t I? You and my father taught me everything I know about cruelty.” I stood up, smoothing my dress. “Oh, and Eleanor? If you miss another day of work, I’ll double the number of agencies on your case.”
I left her apartment feeling a strange mix of satisfaction and unease. Was I becoming like them? I pushed the thought away as my phone rang
“Hazel! Where the hell have you been?” Victoria’s voice blared through the speaker. “I’ve been trying to reach you all day!”
“Sorry, Vic. I was… handling some family business.”
“Well, get your butt to Imperial Garden right now. I need to see your face when I tell you the latest gossip.”
Twenty minutes later, I was sitting across from Victoria in a private room at her family’s restaurant. She leaned forward, eyes wide with excitement.
“The Grayson family is in complete free fall,” she whispered theatrically. “Julian’s father has been forced to step down from his position. Their stocks are plummeting. And you know what the rumor mill is saying? That you’re behind it all!”
I took a sip of my tea. “Is that so?”
“Come on, Hazel! You have to tell me what happened with Giselle. People are saying you used some kind of dark magic to make her hurt herself!”
I nearly choked. “Dark magic? Really?”
that you
used
“Don’t laugh! This is serious. Some people are saying you’re dangerous, that your connections with Damien Sterling to crush the Graysons. Victoria’s expression turned worried. “There’s even talk that you might ha…. blackmailed them somehow.” I set down my cup and sighed. “Fine. You want the truth?”
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For the next half hour, I told Victoria everything about Giselle drugging my drink, about switching the glasses, about the video evidence I’d collected. Her jaw dropped lower with each revelation.
“Holy shit, Hazel. That’s… that’s brilliant and terrifying at the same time.”
“I didn’t do anything wrong,” I said firmly, “Giselle brought this on herself. I just made sure there was evidence,
Victoria reached across the table and grabbed my hand. “I know that. But not everyone will see it that way. These rumors could hurt your reputation… and your relationship with Sterling
A knot formed in my stomach. She was right. Even though I’d done nothing wrong, the narrative was spinning out of control. Would Damien believe me if people started saying I was some kind of vengeful witch?
“Has… has Damien heard any of this?” I asked hesitantly.
Victoria shrugged. “I don’t know. But at his level, he probably hears everything
The knot in my stomach tightened. We’d just had that conversation about no more secrets, and here was another situation I hadn’t fully disclosed.
That evening, as I packed for my company’s weekend team–building retreat, I debated whether to call Damien. He’d want to know where I was going, but if I told him, would he think I was running away because of the rumors?
In the end, I chose cowardice. I simply didn’t mention the trip to him at
all.
ing activities and strategy sessions, but i
The retreat location was beautiful – a mountain resort about two hours outside the city. I tried to focus on
mind
kept wandering to Damien, to the rumors, to the mess I’d created.
On Saturday afternoon, my phone rang. Damien’s name flashed on the screen, and my heart skipped a beat.
“Hi, I answered, trying to sound casual.
“Hazel. His voice was off, slightly strained. “I tried to stop by your apartment, but you
weren’t home.”
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“I’m actually at a company retreat,” I admitted. “We do it every year
There was a long pause. “I see. When were you going to mention this?
The hurt in his voice was unmistakable, and guilt washed over me. I’m sorry, I should have told you. It’s just been busy and-
Η
“And you’ve been avoiding me since the rumors started about what happened with the
Graysons.”
My breath caught. “You heard about that?”
“Of course I heard. His voice softened slightly. “Hazel, did you think I would judge you for protecting yourself? For turning Giselle’s own scheme against her?
“I didn’t know what to think,” 1 admitted. “People are saying terrible things about me.”
“People always talk. Let them. I know who you are.” He paused. “At least, I thought I did. But you’re still keeping me at arm’s length, even after everything”
“I’m trying, Damien. This isn’t easy for me.”
“I know.” Another pause. “We’ll talk when you get back. Be safe, Hazel.”
The call ended, and I felt like the worst person alive. Why was I so determined to sabotage my own happiness?
The next morning, our group went hiking on a scenic trail. I was paired with Cherry, my assistant, who seemed nervous around me since I’d asked her to find those debt collectors.
“Beautiful day, isn’t it?” I said, trying to break the tension.
She nodded, offering a small smile. “Ms. Ashworth… can I ask you something personal?”
“Go ahead.”
“Are you happy? With everything that’s happening mean.”
I considered her question as we navigated a particularly rocky section of the path. “I thought revenge would make me happy, but now I’m not so sure. It’s complicated.”
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We fell into silence as the trail became steeper and more treacherous. Suddenly, Cherry’s foot slipped on some loose gravel near a steep drop–off. She screamed, beginning to slide down.
Without thinking, I lunged forward, grabbing her arm. I managed to pull her back from the edge, but my momentum carried me forward. I felt my right foot twist beneath me as I tried to stop my own fall.
My knee crashed hard against a jagged rock. A white–hot pain exploded through my leg, and I screamed. I tried to stand, but my leg gave way immediately.
“Ms. Ashworth!” Cherry cried, kneeling beside me. “Don’t move! I think your knee is- I looked down and nearly fainted. My knee was already swelling grotesquely, and I could see blood seeping through my hiking pants. The pain was excruciating, unlike anything I’d ever felt.
“Get help,” I gasped, fighting back tears. “I can’t move.”
As Cherry scrambled up the path to find the rest of our group, I lay back against the rocky ground, each throb of my knee sending waves of agony through my body. In that moment of blinding pain, all my schemes, all the rumors, all my fears about Damien seemed suddenly trivial.
I just wanted him here with me now, and I was fed he wouldn’t come even if he
knew.
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