Mag-log inRivers’ POV The stack of papers on my desk had grown over the past week into something I no longer wanted to look at directly.Legal correspondence from the university's general counsel. A formal request for documentation related to the dorm incident. A note from the board's office indicated that the scope of the investigation had been expanded pending further review.For years, I had been the man who controlled the pace of every crisis that touched my family. I anticipated problems before they fully formed. I managed outcomes quietly, efficiently, without anyone noticing the hand that had shaped them.Now everything was moving faster than I could direct it.I told myself, for the umpteenth time that day, that Hazel couldn't possibly know. If she had found what I feared she'd found, she would have confronted me directly. She had never been a person who sat on things. But then I remembered the last breakfast we had. The way she had looked at me when I asked about the study. Why? Is s
Hazel’s POVThe drive back to Jaxon’s apartment was quiet. When we got back, I sat on the edge of Jaxon’s couch with my knees pulled up and stared at nothing in particular.“For weeks, I thought finding the truth would fix something. That if I just got enough proof, enough documents, everything would finally make sense.” I shook my head slowly. “Now I have a billionaire telling me he thinks I’m his dead daughter, and I feel less like myself than I have in my entire life.”Jaxon sat down beside me, close enough that his shoulder was against mine. “Everything is starting to make sense.”“Is it? Because nothing about this makes sense to me. If Rebecca Sterling is who I was born as, then who is Hazel? Was Hazel ever even real, or was she just a name someone gave me?”“Hazel is real, Hazel is the person sitting next to me right now.”“That’s not the answer.”“It’s the only answer I have, and I think it’s the right one. A name doesn’t erase eighteen years of life, Hazel. Rebecca might be wh
Hazel's POVThe name hung in the air between us. I had never heard someone call me that my entire life.“My name is Hazel,” I said. “Hazel… Hazel Pierce.”Oswald didn't react to the correction. If anything, he looked like he had expected it. He took a slow breath and stepped back slightly, giving me space I hadn't realized I needed, “Of course,” he said quietly. “I'm sorry. That was… I shouldn't have…” He stopped and pressed his fingers briefly to his mouth. “Forgive me.”“It's okay… I am sorry too.”Jaxon brought out his hand to hold mine that was resting on my thoughts, making a circling motion and occasional squeeze, I had not realized how much I needed the warmth. He hadn't said a word since I started speaking.Oswald moved back to his chair and sat down slowly. He looked at the documents on the desk again and then at me.“Your birthday,” he said. “March fourth. How old did you say you were?”“Twenty-one.”He nodded, the motion barely perceptible. “And your childhood — where did
Hazel's POVThe lobby had already been intimidating enough, but stepping into Oswald's office felt like entering an entirely different world. My eyes swept across the office, one entire wall was made of glass. From where I stood, the city stretched endlessly below us, buildings rising in every direction while tiny cars crawled along the streets like moving boxes. The rest of the office was just as intimidating, dark wooden shelves lined the walls, filled with trophies, awards, and framed photographs that captured snapshots from a lifetime of success. Everything about the room felt expensive, carefully chosen, and impossible to ignore.My gaze drifted across them absentmindedly and stopped at a photograph sitting on one of the shelves, and suddenly the office, the view, and everything else faded into the background. A younger Oswald stood beside a dark-haired woman and between them was a little girl.My breath caught. That was exactly the same picture that I saw on the internet. For a
Hazel's POVI woke up to the ray of morning sunlight reflecting into my eyes, I shifted beneath the covers and immediately regretted it.A dull ache pulled through my body, making heat rush to my cheeks as memories from last night came flooding back all at once.God.I buried my face in the pillow, fighting a smile that was creeping up my cheeks.Every girl always talked about her first time like it was either a complete disaster or some perfect fairy tale. Mine had been neither. It had been awkward in places, emotional in ways I hadn't expected, and overwhelming enough that I still wasn't sure how to put it into words.But if I was being honest with myself, I wouldn't change a single second of it.I rolled onto my side carefully and stared at the sunlight filtering through the curtains.This morning was an absolute peace compared to the past few days. There was no feeling that the entire world was about to collapse before breakfast.A small smile tugged at my lips before I could stop
Hazel's POVI didn't say anything for the first few minutes. Jaxon also didn't push me to say anything. He was focused on the road, and that silence as awkward as it felt was soothing. I watched the neighborhood slide past the window. The familiar streets gave way to the broader road. But it wasn't long before the questions started flooding into my head.What if Mr. Oswald doesn't recognize me? What if he's not my father?What if he doesn't believe in my story?“Stay with me, Haz,” Jaxon voice came through breaking into my thoughts“I don't know who I am,” I said. “Rebecca Sterling. I keep saying it in my head and I don't know if it belongs to me or if it doesn't.”Jaxon was quiet but his eyes were fixed to me right now.“Not everything is supposed to make sense right now, which is why we would get answers ,” “I know but my mind is finding it hard to stop.”At this point he didn't say much, he just gave my hand his usual reassuring squeeze.“I am having cold feet now.”“You've been
Hazel’s POVThe arena was packed to the brim as everyone gathered to watch the first official game that’d kick-start the season this night.The stands were a sea of moving colours, painted faces and min-flags raised high up in the air. Pom-poms blurred in the corner of my vision from the chair squa
Jaxon’s POV“This isn’t fair.”The words came out rough, torn straight from my throat, but I didn’t take them back. My chest felt like it was on fire, like someone had reached inside and was strangling my heart with both hands.“You can’t just leave like this, Hazel.”But she wouldn’t even look at
Hazel's POV The moment Jaxon’s lips touched mine, I felt immense heat course through my body like wildfire.The tingling sensation was just too electric.Every nerve ending came alive, every coherent thought scattered like they were never there. His hands were everywhere—my waist, my back, grazing
Jaxon’s POVThe thing about Tiffany?She didn’t know how to lose quietly.I saw it coming the second her smile tightened and her hand grabbed Trey's shoulders. She glanced up at the sun like it had personally blessed her with an opportunity.“It’s getting a bit sunny,” she said, loud enough for us







