Hazel studied the girl carefully, her wide eyes still trembling from what had just happened. She looked small… fragile… like someone who had gotten used to being stepped on.
"Are you okay?" Hazel asked again, her voice softer this time.
"Yes… yes, I'm fine," the girl replied quickly, nodding too fast. "Thank you… I didn't know what to do…"
Dior crossed her arms, eyeing the girl. "You should start learning to stand up for yourself. People like Amber? They smell fear."
The girl lowered her head slightly. "I'll try…"
Hazel gave her a reassuring smile. "What's your name?"
"Lina."
"Alright, Lina. If they bother you again, come find me," Hazel said before gently patting her shoulder.
Lina's face lit up as if she had just been saved by a hero. "Thank you so much!"
As Lina hurried off, Dior turned to Hazel with a smirk. "Look at you, saving damsels now."
Hazel rolled her eyes. "Please, I just hate bullies."
"Mm-hmm… or maybe you're just in a good mood because a certain mafia lord bought you half the fashion industry," Dior teased.
Hazel's expression immediately dropped.
"Don't remind me," she muttered.
—
Lunch break came faster than expected.
Hazel sat quietly, poking at her food while Dior and Vorden talked about practice. But her mind wasn't there… it was stuck on one person.
Liam Greco.
His cold eyes.
His calm voice.
The way he said he would marry her… whether she agreed or not.
It didn't feel like a proposal.
It felt like a decision already made.
"Haze."
She snapped out of her thoughts.
Vorden was staring at her. "You've been quiet. That's not like you."
"I'm fine," she said quickly.
Dior gave her a knowing look but didn't expose her.
"Anyway," Vorden continued, "we have rehearsal after school. Don't forget. The competition is close."
Hazel forced a smile. "I won't."
Their dream.
Their girl group.
She couldn't let anything destroy it.
Not even Liam.
—
After school…
Hazel stood outside the gate, gripping her phone tightly.
Dior nudged her. "You're really going to call him?"
Hazel exhaled slowly. "I have to."
She dialed the number he had given her.
It didn't even ring twice.
"Hazel."
Her breath hitched slightly at the sound of his deep voice.
"Y-yes… it's me."
"I know."
Of course he knew.
"Have you made your decision?" he asked calmly.
Hazel swallowed.
This was it.
"No… not exactly," she said carefully. "But I have a condition."
There was a brief silence on the other end.
"Speak."
Hazel glanced at Dior, who nodded encouragingly.
"I don't want to marry a stranger," she said. "If this is going to happen… then we should date first."
Silence again.
This time, longer.
Hazel's heart pounded.
Did she just anger a mafia lord?
Finally—
"A relationship before marriage?" Liam repeated.
"Yes. That's the only way I'll consider it."
Another pause.
Then, a quiet chuckle.
Low… dangerous… amused.
"You're interesting, Hazel."
Her grip tightened on the phone.
"I accept."
Her eyes widened.
Wait—what?
"But," Liam continued, his tone turning cold again, "you will follow my rules."
Hazel's stomach dropped.
"What rules?"
"You will not be seen with any other man in a way I dislike."
Dior's eyes widened beside her.
"You will answer my calls."
A pause.
"And when I decide the time is right…"
His voice lowered.
"You will become my wife."
Hazel's heart raced.
This wasn't dating.
This still felt like a contract.
"…And one more thing," Liam added.
Hazel held her breath.
"Our relationship will not be entirely secret."
Her eyes widened again. "What do you mean?"
"I don't hide what belongs to me."
The call ended.
Hazel slowly lowered her phone.
Dior immediately grabbed her shoulders. "What did he say?!"
Hazel looked at her, stunned.
"I think…"
She swallowed hard.
"I just signed myself into something dangerous."
Dior blinked.
"…Dangerous how?"
Hazel stared ahead, her mind replaying his voice.
"I don't think I'm the one in control anymore."
—
Across the city…
Inside a dark office, Liam Greco leaned back in his chair, his lips curling into a faint smile.
"Prepare everything," he said to the man standing beside him.
"Yes, boss."
Liam's eyes darkened slightly.
"Hazel just stepped into my world."
His smile deepened.
"And she has no idea what's coming."