Part 3Six Years in the Grave

This was the man who once promised to love me until the end of time. Now, he was gently rubbing Roselyn’s swollen pregnant belly, treating her like she was made of fragile glass.

"Grant, did Hazel agree to take the charge?"

Looking at Roselyn’s pale, tear-stained face, Grant swallowed hard, overcome with guilt. He couldn't speak.

Roselyn’s eyes immediately welled up. "Why wouldn't she agree? That is my baby brother! He had such a hard life growing up in foster care. He's only nineteen. His life is just starting!"

In that moment, I felt a bitter sting of envy. As a sister, she was far more devoted to her brother than my own flesh and blood ever was to me.

"Don't cry, Roselyn. I swear to you, I will find Hazel."

My phone buzzed in my memory. [Hazel, you need to confess for Roselyn’s brother right now. If the stress hurts Roselyn or the baby, I will never forgive you.]

For seven years, I dreamed of Tristan coming to find me. I never imagined the first message he'd send me would be that.

Roselyn suddenly bit her lip, leaning heavily on the couch to stand up.

"Forget it. If Hazel really hates us that much, I'll just go to prison for Toby."

She cradled her bump with one hand. "I'm pregnant. It's not like they can give me the death penalty."

Tristan panicked, pulling her securely into his arms. "Hazel is so sick and twisted. You are carrying a child. How could she possibly let you go to a place like that."

I looked at them, a hollow, tragic smile forming on my lips.

When I took the fall for Roselyn all those years ago, I was pregnant too. Did anyone ever care about my pain?

"Relax. I've already sent my best investigator to track down her rat hole. Even if I have to tear this city apart brick by brick, I will drag her out."

Grant turned to look at Tristan. "Roselyn’s due date is coming up. Do you have everything ready?"

At the mention of the baby, Tristan’s entire demeanor softened.

"Absolutely. The trust fund my parents left behind, and that beachfront villa down the coast. Everything is secured for the baby."

My chest tightened. [Hazel, this trust fund and the beach house... even if you two don't make it, my parents wanted you to have them.]

Those things were supposed to be for our child. Watching Tristan give them away felt like a rusted knife carving out my soul.

"With an uncle like you looking out for us, we don't have to worry about a thing," Roselyn cooed, leaning into Grant.

Grant stayed silent for a moment. "Once we find Hazel and sort out your brother’s case, I'm going to step back. I won't visit you as much anymore. Tristan will take good care of you."

Roselyn froze.

"I owe Hazel too much for these past years. Moving forward, I want to properly compensate her. I want to finally be a real brother to her."

How rare. Grant was actually willing to distance himself from his precious adopted sister.

Back then, when Roselyn offended one of his highest-paying corporate clients, Grant didn't scold her once. Instead, he ordered me to go apologize, forcing me to drink with the client until my stomach bled to save his contract.

It was a shame his guilt came far too late. I couldn't accept his compensation from the grave.

"What is there to compensate? She brought this all on herself. Hazel actually committed a hit-and-run and fled the scene. To this day, I can't believe I was blind enough to think she was the kindest girl in the world."

Hearing Tristan’s words, Roselyn’s eyes darted away shiftily. Grant cleared his throat, staring at the floor.

"Back then, she actually had the nerve to run to my place, crying that you guys were trying to frame her. Thank God I didn't fall for her lies. I called you secretly so you could drag her away. If she had escaped, she would have forced Roselyn to take the blame."

I snapped my head toward Tristan, my phantom heart ripping into shreds.

That night, Jenny told me she was close to finding security footage proving I wasn't at the scene of the crash. She told me to hide.

The only person I trusted to keep me safe was Tristan.

All these years, I thought I just had bad luck when Grant found me. I never knew it was the love of my life who personally handed me over to hell.

Grant’s phone rang. [Boss, I can't find a single credit card transaction or digital footprint for Hazel. It's like she vanished off the face of the earth. I'm starting to think... maybe something really did happen to her?]

"Grant, Hazel is hiding so well. She must be really angry and refusing to help us."

The tiny shred of worry that had just sprouted in Grant’s eyes vanished the second he saw Roselyn’s tears.

"Prison taught her a few tricks. She knows how to commit to a bit. But a living, breathing person has to eat and drink."

Grant’s eyes turned venomous. "I know exactly where to find her. There is only one person in this world who would go to these lengths for her."

When Jenny opened her front door, she thought it was Ryan coming home from work. The moment she saw Grant, her face twisted with pure disgust.

"What the hell do you want? Here to repent to Hazel? Let me tell you, you are way too late."

She tried to slam the heavy oak door in his face, but Grant forced his way in with a cold shove.

Locking the deadbolt behind him, he started kicking open bedroom doors. "Come out! Stop hiding, Hazel! Get your ass out here right now!"

Finding nothing, Grant turned into a rabid beast. "Jenny, where the fuck are you keeping her."

Jenny’s knuckles turned white. "You really want to know? If you're so desperate to see her, go to hell!"

Grant spun around, his cold gaze locking onto Jenny’s massive, nine-month pregnant belly.

"I heard you begged the heavens for this baby. Walked up ten thousand temple steps on your knees just to get pregnant, right?"