All Chapters of THE SWITCHED HEIRESS : Chapter 41 - Chapter 50

Whispers always start small.A flash of a camera.A familiar face in the wrong place.A woman who smiles too quietly.By Monday morning, the gossip had spread across every corridor in Castell Industries like perfume spilled on silk, impossible to ignore, impossible to clean.Hazel Castell was glowing again.And everyone wanted to know why.The first photo appeared on a lifestyle blog, Hazel, stepping out of her car at night, hair loose, no driver in sight. The caption read, The Heiress Walks Alone.The second came two days later, a blurry image of her on a balcony, laughing with a man whose face was turned away from the camera.The third didn’t need a caption. The light in her eyes said too much.By midweek, the Castell mansion felt heavier than usual, a silence that wasn’t peaceful, just waiting.Dimitri had been quiet. Too quiet.He left for meetings earlier, came home later, and when he was home, his phone was always in his hand. Hazel didn’t ask. She didn’t need to.At breakfast,

The world was quiet again. Too quiet.For weeks, Hazel moved through her life with the calm precision of a woman who had mastered both sides of herself, the heiress and the secret lover. Every morning began the same: tailored suits, perfect posture, breakfast meetings, board updates. No one could tell that her heart beat to another rhythm now.But Valentina could always smell secrets.It began with small things, a misplaced meeting, a forgotten time stamp, a call Hazel cut short when Valentina walked into the room. The woman didn’t need proof; she only needed instinct.And her instinct had started whispering again. Valentina stood by the window of Edwin’s office one afternoon, her reflection sharp in the glass. Dimitri sat across from her, jacket off, sipping his coffee like a man trying too hard to look calm.“She’s hiding something,” Valentina said softly.Dimitri looked up. “Hazel?”“Who else?” She turned, smiling that slow, dangerous smile. “Your perfect wife leaves the mansion

It was still raining when Hazel woke.She didn’t remember falling asleep. Only the warmth of his couch, the quiet hum of the city outside, and Charles’s hand covering hers sometime before dawn.He was already awake, moving quietly in the kitchen. The smell of coffee filled the air. Hazel sat up, pulling his hoodie tighter around her body. It hung loose on her frame, soft and heavy. The sleeves swallowed her hands.Charles looked over his shoulder. “You’re up.”“Barely,” she said, voice rough from sleep.He smiled. “I made coffee.”She walked over, barefoot, hair loose, eyes half-lidded. “You cook now?”“I survive,” he said, pouring her a cup. “Italian lessons included that part.”She took it, sipped, and smiled. “It’s strong.”“Better than the weak stuff you drink at Castell HQ.”Hazel leaned against the counter. “Youl remember everything.”He looked at her for a moment. “I never tried to forget.” Hazel didn’t answer. She turned instead, wandering around his apartment. It was simple,

The ballroom looked perfect. Gold light from chandeliers. Glass walls showing the city. People moving in gowns and tuxedos. Money and power under one roof.Hazel stood near the stage, silver dress fitted tight, hair pinned smooth, diamonds small and quiet. Every camera wanted her. Every whisper was about her.She smiled when needed, shook hands, listened, said thank you.Nothing extra. No nerves. Just control.Mia stayed close, handing her champagne. “Everyone’s watching you tonight,” she said.Hazel nodded. “Let them.”“You don’t even look nervous.”“I don’t get nervous anymore.”“Not even with Dimitri coming?”Hazel took a slow sip. “Not even then.”Mia gave a small grin. “You scare me sometimes.”“You should be scared of people who smile too much.”Mia laughed. “Then half this room is dangerous.”Hazel’s eyes swept the crowd, investors, politicians, old money, the board of Castell Industries. Edwin’s friends, Valentina’s circle. The whole empire gathered to watch her play the perfe

It all started with a whisper after the party.The gala had barely ended when Mia showed up at Hazel’s room, hair still pinned, dress wrinkled from the rain. She didn’t knock. She just came in, eyes wild.“They’re sleeping together,” she said.Hazel looked up from her vanity. “Who?”“Valentina and Dimitri.” Mia’s voice cracked. “I saw them. I’m sorry, Hazel, but I saw them.”The words hung there. Quiet. Heavy.Hazel didn’t flinch. She stared at her reflection in the mirror instead, her own calm face, her perfect posture.“How long?” she asked.“I don’t know. Maybe months. Maybe before the wedding. I didn’t want to believe it.”Hazel turned slightly, her tone even. “You’re sure?”“I wouldn’t say it if I wasn’t.” Mia’s eyes filled. “You need to be careful. They’re planning something.”Hazel stood slowly, brushing imaginary dust from her dress. “They always are.”That night, she didn’t sleep.She texted one person.> Hazel: I need to know everything.Charles: About what?Hazel: My family