When Hazel opened her eyes, Vincent was sitting beside her. He was injured, too, yet insisted on staying by her side. But Hazel felt nothing. She turned her head coldly, unmoved by his presence or his concern.
Vincent didn’t get angry; he leaned closer, trying to please her. “The doctor says your injuries aren’t serious. The grand cruise gala is in two days. I want to invite you for a dance.”
It was their old agreement. But before Hazel could answer, Milena walked in carrying a cake.
She pouted, “Vincent, didn’t you promise you’ll dance with me?”
The atmosphere in the ward instantly became awkward.
Hazel didn’t care. She ordered both of them out, cold and firm. Right now, all she wanted was a good sleep.
But Milena wouldn’t leave. She opened the elegant cake box and held it out to Hazel.
“Hazel,” she said sweetly, “I’m sorry for what I did. I made this cake myself to apologize. Try it.”
Hazel hesitated. But she was weak and starving, she needed food to regain her strength. She scooped up a spoonful and put it in her mouth.
Then her face twisted. A strange, metallic sweetness exploded on her tongue. She turned and spat it out.
When she looked back at the cake, she froze. Inside the cream was a layer of unmixed gray powder.
“Milena! What did you put in this?” she pressed.
For a moment, a flicker of satisfaction flashed in Milena’s eyes—but it vanished just as quickly, replaced by an innocent smile. “Oh, that one? It was in the tin on your desk. I thought it was flour. How is it? Do you like it?”
Hazel’s heart stopped. That tin… it held her father’s ashes.
Her hand trembled as fury surged through her veins. She swung, striking Milena hard across the face.
“Milena, you bitch! Why don’t you just die?!”
Vincent rushed to intervene. “Enough! Why do you always have to lose control?”
Hazel didn’t want to see either of them. She drove them both out and, staring at the cake, broke down completely. She had failed to protect even her father’s remains.
After a brief moment of grief, Hazel headed straight for her sister’s ward. Insisted she’d only stayed there. No matter how much Vincent tried to persuade her, she wouldn’t leave her sister’s side. Her sister was all she had left. Even if it meant dying, she would protect her.
Vincent sighed helplessly and left her, letting her calm down.
That evening, the power went out.
Every life-support system connected to Sadie stopped. Hazel panicked. She ran into the hallway, searching for help, but every corridor was empty. There wasn’t a single doctor in sight. She called Vincent—ninety-nine times—but got no answer.
She could only watch helplessly as Sadie grew cold in her arms. Using her last strength, Sadie squeezed Hazel’s hand.
“Don’t cry… Hazel…”
Then she closed her eyes forever.
Hazel held her sister’s lifeless body, crying until she nearly fainted.
The next morning, she carried her sister to the crematorium. This time, she had her sister’s ashes made into a necklace and wore it around her neck. No one would ever separate them again.
When Vincent arrived, he explained that he had been in meetings and had his phone off. He asked what had happened.
Hazel said nothing of the tragedy. Instead, she spoke calmly, “I’ve got my eye on a haute couture gown. It’s thirty million. I want you to buy it for me for tonight’s gala.”
Vincent didn’t even blink before agreeing.
That evening, Hazel showed up at the cruise gala wearing the stunning gown, her beauty stealing every spotlight. For the first time, she didn’t fade into the background—she owned the room. She danced the first dance with Vincent, earning cheers from everyone, outperforming Milena.
Enraged and jealous, Milena dragged Hazel to the back of the yacht. “So, you still haven’t given up on him? You think you can compete with me?”
Hazel’s eyes flicked briefly toward the hidden security camera behind them. She smiled faintly.
“Vincent’s my husband. Why should I give him up?”
Milena’s face twisted. “But he loves me! Who do you think you are?”.
“If you weren’t around,” Milena snapped, “Vincent would be mine.”
"You're the one forcing me to do this!"
The next second, Milena shoved Hazel hard.
Hazel, who was leaning against the railing, fell backward, hitting the metal guard before plunging into the sea.
Milena regained his composure, reacting immediately and running back to the yacht, trying to cover up what she had done.
***
Meanwhile, David who was waiting nearby, grabbed Hazel as soon as she fell and hauled her onto the lifeboat.
They sped away in the opposite direction of the yacht, disappearing quickly into the night.
Watching the yacht vanish into the darkness, Hazel pulled out her phone SIM card and tossed it into the sea.
From that moment on, Hazel Wright ceased to exist.
As their boat sailed across the sea surrounded by mountains, she was finally, completely free...
