(Rachelle's POV)Hazel is quiet the rest of the visit, but she doesn’t push me away.She watches. Listens. And when I say I should get going, she stands and walks me to the door."Will you come back tomorrow?" she asks, her voice feather-light, almost fragile.I blink, surprised. “If you’d like me to.”She nods slowly. “I think I would.”And just like that, I win a sliver of trust. Or so I think.Or so I believe.The next day, I return with more treats—berry tarts this time, and a little charm I enchanted myself, something subtle. A protection token. Fake, of course, but believable enough for a child.Hazel accepts it without a word. But when I sit across from her, I notice something... off.She’s smiling.It’s small. Barely there. But it’s a real smile. And it’s not for me—it’s for herself.“Do you like ridd
Last Updated : 2025-04-30 Read more