The Courthouse
Their number was called in the echoing hall of the civil court. Hazel turned to a young couple beside her and smiled politely. "Would you mind keeping an eye on my luggage for a minute? Thank you. I hope you two have a wonderful life together."
Dressed in a striking red dress, she looked so radiant that the clerk at the counter briefly mistook them for a couple coming to get married.
"May I see your IDs, please?" the clerk asked kindly. "We'll process your paperwork right away."
Hazel smiled faintly and handed over a folder--the divorce papers and her once-treasured marriage certificate.
"Thank you for your help."
The clerk blinked, momentarily confused. "You're...filing for divorce?"
"Yes," Hazel replied calmly. "I've already signed."
The clerk reviewed the documents, then looked at Rayan. "Mr. Knight, we just need your signature here."
Rayan's gaze lingered on Hazel's name for a long moment. Finally, he picked up the pen and signed with a firm hand.
"Miss Foster has chosen to leave without any financial claim," the clerk remarked, glancing between them. "Any objections?"
Rayan let out a bitter laugh. "No objections. Playing the saint again, Hazel? Pretending money means nothing--trying to be more like Evelyn? Let me tell you something--you'll never replace her."
Hazel's eyes stayed calm, but her tone turned razor-sharp. "Rayan Knight, wake up. I've repaid your so-called kindness a hundred times over these past three years. Your money means nothing to me--I make my own."
Then she turned to the stunned clerk. "Please finalize the paperwork. I'm in a hurry."
The woman blinked, then quickly stamped and sealed the documents.
When it was done, Hazel accepted the divorce decree with steady hands, her expression unreadable.
"Congratulations," the clerk murmured, handing it over.
Hazel said nothing. She turned and walked toward the exit.
Olivia's eyes gleamed with undisguised joy, but Hazel paused at the door, glancing back just once. A faint, knowing smile curved her lips.
"Don't get too excited, Miss Olivia," she said coldly. "Be careful--joy has a way of turning into sorrow when you least expect it."
Then she walked out of the courthouse, each click of her heels growing softer until it faded into silence.
Outside, she hailed a taxi, placed her suitcase in the trunk, and exhaled deeply.
Three years--finally over.
The woman who had once lived to please Rayan Knight was gone.
In her place stood a new Hazel Foster--one who no longer needed his love, his pity, or his name.
As the taxi drove away, the city stretched before her like a blank canvas waiting to be painted anew.
For the first time in years, Hazel smiled.
It wasn't a smile of love or hope--
It was the smile of freedom.
****
The Studio
Half an hour later, Hazel's taxi stopped in front of a studio--the one owned by her best friend, Elaina Williams.
At that moment, with nowhere else to go, Elaina was the only person Hazel could think of.
Dragging her suitcase, she walked inside.
As soon as she entered, Elaina spotted her. "Oh my God! Hazel!" she exclaimed, rushing forward to hug her tightly. "What a pleasant surprise!"
Hazel returned the embrace, a faint warmth touching her face for the first time that day.
Then Elaina's eyes fell on the suitcase. "Wait--did you run away from home?"
Hazel paused, then said quietly, "No. But I divorced Rayan and moved out of the RK mansion."
Elaina's face froze in shock. "You really got divorced?"
Hazel nodded. "Yes. I'm coming straight from the civil court."
She pulled the divorce certificate from her bag and placed it in Elaina's hands.
"The real deal," Hazel said with a faint smile. "So, Aina, can I stay with you for a few days? Just until I find a new place."
Seeing Elaina still processing the news, Hazel added gently, "If it's inconvenient, I can always check into a hotel."
"No, no, no--it's not inconvenient at all! You're most welcome!" Elaina said, grabbing the suitcase and dragging it inside. "Honestly, darling, I've been wanting to tell you to divorce him for ages. I never understood what you saw in that man! Besides looking decent, he's utterly useless!"
When it came to listing Rayan's flaws, Elaina's mouth turned into a machine gun.
Hazel sighed helplessly. "Aina, it's all in the past. Let's not bring it up again."
Elaina finally hit the brakes. "You're right. Once you've ditched a jerk, you've ditched him. I'll find you someone better!"
Hazel chuckled softly--she didn't even know what to say to that.
As they sat down, Elaina's expression turned more serious. "Hazel, now that you're free, you don't have to revolve around men anymore. How about a comeback? Let's team up again and build something big together."
Hazel raised a brow. "A comeback?"
Elaina sighed. "To be honest, I'm in a bit of a bind. Kathy--my most promising designer--got into serious trouble. If I can't find someone to take over her projects, I'll be sleeping on the streets!"
Hazel froze.
Before meeting Rayan, she had suffered an accident that caused memory loss. Elaina, who was leading a design team at the time, had found her barely conscious and arranged for her to recover while working as a design assistant.
Hazel's natural talent soon shone through--her designs caught attention across the industry. Later, when the company began exploiting its designers, she left and co-founded a studio with Elaina.
When she married Rayan, Hazel had transferred all her shares to Elaina. Over the years, her friend had built that small studio into a thriving business.
So why did Elaina suddenly sound so desperate?
Hazel frowned slightly. "What kind of trouble are we talking about?"
Elaina clenched her jaw. "Kathy offended that witch, Oliver Howard. Now RK Enterprises has blacklisted her--and by extension, me. They've canceled every contract. If I can't pay the penalties, I'm finished. Even selling the company won't cover the tens of millions owed!"
Hazel's eyes narrowed as Elaina continued, seething.
"Oliver's just a spoiled bully! Kathy got the design rights for a project she wanted, so she spread rumors that Kathy slept her way into it. Kathy snapped and slapped her, and of course, Oliver played the victim--crying her way straight to Rayan!"
"What a bitch!" Elaina slammed her fist against the table. "So what if she's got Rayan backing her? Acting like some rich-family designer--green-tea bitch!"
At the mention of Oliver's name, Hazel's pupils sharpened to ice.
Divorcing Rayan didn't mean she had to swallow this humiliation.
The score would be settled.
Everything Oliver had done to her would be repaid in full.
Watching Elaina's angry expression, Hazel gently patted her friend's hand.
"It's fine. Leave it to me. I'll handle it--today."
Elaina blinked. "Huh? Today? Baby, you're serious? You just got divorced--you should rest!"
Hazel smiled faintly. "I've actually designed quite a few new pieces over the years--different styles, all unreleased."
She pulled out her phone and sent several sketches to Elaina. "Take a look. See if any match the theme. If not, I'll conceptualize something new right away."
Elaina's jaw dropped as she scrolled through the sketches.
Even after all these years, Hazel Foster hadn't lost her touch--she had only gotten sharper.
