Hazel woke up the next morning with a sense of peace she hadn’t felt in days. The anxiety and guilt that had been gnawing at her were now replaced with a hopeful determination. She knew that what she and Ace shared was special, and she was ready to fight for it, no matter the challenges ahead.
She rolled over in bed, smiling at the sight of Ace's message on her phone: *"Morning, Hazel. Can’t wait to see you today. Let’s talk about us—really talk."*
Her heart skipped a beat as she read his words. Ace was right; they needed to talk about their relationship in a deeper, more meaningful way. Hazel couldn’t help but feel nervous, but she was also eager to finally address the issues that had been brewing beneath the surface for so long.
After a quick shower, Hazel dressed casually but thought
