Not any of it.”
She yanked her phone out of her pocket, her fingers trembling as she began to snap photos of the scene: her mother-in-law sneaking around the kitchen and her husband cozying up to Zoey.
“Hazel, are you sure?” I asked, though I knew it was a pointless question. She was way past SURE.
“Absolutely,” she said, the edge in her voice sharpening. “I’ve put up with too much for too long.
They all think I’m blind, that I don’t notice what’s going on around me. Well, tonight, they’re going to learn.”
Without missing a beat, she dialed my number and handed me the phone. “Stay on the line.
You’re going to record everything.”
Before I could respond, Hazel stormed downstairs. I watched, my pulse racing, the phone pressed tightly to my ear. Her footsteps were deliberate, each one echoing in the now quiet house.
Sebastian and Zoey froze as she entered the room.
Sebastian pulled back from Zoey like a guilty teenager caught sneaking out after curfew, his face turning several shades paler.
“Hazel?” he stammered. “What are you doing here?”
Hazel’s voice was cold, every word coated in controlled anger. “What am I doing here?
No, Sebastian. The better question is, what are YOU doing?”
Zoey’s eyes widened, panic flashing across her face. She opened her mouth, probably to start spewing excuses, but Hazel cut her off.
“Zoey, don’t even try it,” Hazel snapped, her voice trembling with a mixture of rage and heartbreak.
“You know exactly what I saw.”
“It’s not what it looks like!” Zoey blurted out, taking a step back, her hands shaking as she held them up defensively. “Hazel, I swear, it’s not what you think!”
“Not what it looks like?” Hazel laughed, but it was a hollow sound. “Do you think I’m stupid?
I saw it all. Addison saw it all. And before you even think about lying again, you should know—I recorded the whole thing.”
Sebastian’s face turned ghostly white.
“Hazel, wait,” he started, stumbling over his words. “It’s… complicated.”
“Complicated?” Hazel’s voice cracked. “You want to talk about complicated?
Fine. How about this: your mom’s been tampering with our food for months, making me look like a fool in front of you, in front of your entire family. And now, I walk in here and find you making out with my sister?”
Sebastian opened his mouth, but nothing came out.
Just then, Donna rushed in from the kitchen, her face pale, her hands trembling. She must’ve realized she’d been caught too.
“Hazel, dear,” Donna began, her voice shaky, “it’s not what you—”
Hazel didn’t even look at her. “Don’t,” she warned, her voice low and deadly.
“Just don’t. I know exactly what you’ve been doing. Sabotaging my meals, spreading lies about me!
What, did you think I wouldn’t figure it out? You’ve been doing this for months.”
Donna’s mouth opened and closed like a fish gasping for air, but Hazel wasn’t done. “I should’ve known you were in on this too.
Trying to make me look like I can’t even manage a meal. What’s the plan, huh? Kick me out of here so Sebastian and Zoey can play house?”
“No!” Sebastian blurted out, his hands reaching out as if he could somehow physically stop what was happening.
“It’s not like that—Hazel, please, just let me explain.”
But Hazel’s eyes were cold now, with no hint of the woman who had once adored him. “Explain? There’s nothing left to explain.
You and I? We’re done.”
Sebastian’s face crumpled. “What do you mean, done?”
Hazel looked him square in the eyes.
“I’m filing for divorce. And Zoey?” She turned to her sister, whose tear-streaked face showed nothing but regret. “You are dead to me.”
“Hazel, please,” Zoey begged, her voice breaking, “it wasn’t serious!
It just… happened.”
“Just happened?” Hazel’s voice trembled. “You’re my sister. You’re supposed to have my back.
But instead, you’re here—throwing yourself at my husband?” Her face hardened, and she let out a deep breath. “I’m done with both of you.”
The room went silent, the weight of Hazel’s words sinking in. Sebastian looked like he wanted to argue, but he must’ve realized there was no point.
As I listened from the other end of the line, my heart ached for Hazel.
The betrayal she had uncovered in a single night was almost unbearable. But there she was, standing tall, reclaiming her strength.
Hazel turned on her heel, leaving them both in stunned silence. She didn’t look back.
That night, Hazel’s house remained quiet and dark, but I knew her world had changed forever.
She had taken her power back — but the cost was heavy.
And as her friend, all I could do was be there for her, to help her pick up the pieces of a life torn apart by betrayal.
