MasukVincent’s expression shifted. Diego pushed a document toward the camera."Leo Sullivan owes 5 million dollars to the Vanguard family. You gave him that loan personally, not through the company. And you never reported it to the board of directors." Diego’s voice was calm but piercing. "That’s a serious violation, Mr. Vanguard. And if the public finds out you financed the man who stole the company of the late Rose Anne Quinn—""What do you want?" Vincent cut him off sharply.Diego smiled. "Just one thing. Call off your daughter. Make her stop before this becomes a bigger scandal. In exchange, this document will never be seen by anyone."Vincent was silent for a long time. His eyes drifted to Hazel, who sat quietly beside Diego. "You’re Hazel Quinn," he said. "Jasper’s granddaughter.""Correct," Hazel replied, her voice steady despite her racing heart.Vincent nodded slowly. "Jasper is a tough but fair competitor. I have no wish to be his enemy." He looked back at Diego. "You have a deal
That night, the Quinn Estate transformed into a war room.Jasper sat in his high-backed chair in the living room, surrounded by stacks of documents and his two best lawyers, who had arrived on short notice. Hazel sat beside him; she was still wearing the same dress from her meeting with Cassandra, but her eyes were now sharp and focused.Diego arrived at 8:00 PM, accompanied by Roman and two members of the Blake Industries legal team. Jasper received him coldly but professionally—for tonight, they were allies."Let’s get started," Diego said without preamble, placing his tablet on the table. "My team has tracked every document Cassandra gathered. The photos, the recordings, the news drafts—most of it we can challenge as illegally obtained evidence.""But not all of it," countered the Quinn lawyer, a middle-aged woman with thin-rimmed glasses. "Leo Sullivan’s interview, for example. That is direct testimony. Even if we attack his credibility, it will still damage her public image.""Le
Diego was already waiting outside Cafe Lumina.As soon as Hazel walked out looking deathly pale, he got out of his car and rushed over. Roman had told him Hazel went to the cafe alone, and his instincts immediately screamed "trap.""Hazel!" He grabbed her arm. "Are you okay? What did Cassandra—""She knows everything," Hazel interrupted, her voice hollow. "About us. About my past. About Villa Marin. She has photos, recordings, interviews with Leo... it’s all going live tomorrow."Diego didn't look surprised. His face remained calm, almost as if he’d expected this. "I know," he said softly.Hazel looked at him in disbelief. "You knew?""Roman caught someone trying to hack our servers a few days ago. The trail led back to Cassandra. I figured she was up to something." He took Hazel’s hand and led her to the car. "Get in. We’ll talk somewhere safe."As the car pulled away, Diego explained calmly. "My legal team is already preparing a countersuit. Defamation, privacy violations, witness t
—------- Chapter 79 —-------The Gathering StormThe peaceful atmosphere of Cafe Lumina suddenly felt like an interrogation room. Hazel gripped the brown envelope until her knuckles turned white, while Cassandra sat elegantly across from her, wearing a thin, unreadable smirk."You know," Cassandra began, her voice soft but sharp as a razor, "I’ve been preparing this for a long time. Ever since I first saw the way Diego looked at you during our engagement announcement."Hazel looked up. "So this is about Diego.""This is about everything." Cassandra leaned back, her blue eyes scanning Hazel with a mix of envy and something close to respect. "You appeared out of nowhere. No one knew you. No one knew your past. And suddenly, you’re the Quinn heir, Diego Blake’s lover, and the center of attention in all of Herlington.""I never asked for any of this," Hazel replied coldly."I know." Cassandra nodded. "That’s actually the most annoying part. You didn't ask for it, yet you got it. Meanwhile
Outside, the Herlington night pressed on. In three different places, three people with conflicting interests prepared for the next round. And Hazel, without realizing it, was right in the center of the vortex.Morning came with sunlight piercing through Hazel’s curtains. She woke up feeling strangely tired—not a physical exhaustion, but a weariness of the heart. The messages were still there. One from Diego, which she hadn't answered. One from Cassandra, which she hadn't decided on.And then one from Ethan, which had arrived minutes ago:[Ethan:] Good morning, Hazel. I was at the Gala last night too. I saw everything. You were so brave. I’m proud to know you. Lunch today? My treat.Hazel sighed. Three men. Three choices. Three different versions of herself.Diego was the past that was still chasing her—dangerous, burning, but made her feel alive. Ethan was the safe future—stable, kind, but a bit flat. And Cassandra was the inevitable war—the enemy she had to face.She closed her eyes.
Hazel couldn't sleep that night.It wasn't because of nightmares or the usual anxiety that haunted her. It was simply because too much had happened—the emotional explosion at the Gala, the warmth of her grandfather’s hand, and the tears that finally fell after years of being held back. And then there was Diego’s text, still sitting on her phone—unanswered, yet not deleted.She sat by her window, hugging her knees and staring at the same moon she used to watch from her father’s cramped apartment. Back then, she watched it while fighting off hunger, cold, and a rage she couldn't express. Now, she watched it with a full heart—not heavy, but full. Full of a grandfather’s newfound love. Full of the pride she finally felt for herself. And full of the shadow of Diego, whom she couldn't seem to shake.Her phone buzzed again.Hazel grabbed it, her heart skipping a beat. It wasn't Diego this time. It was an unknown number.[From: Unknown Number] Good evening, Hazel. This is Cassandra Vanguard.







