Hazel lay on her bed, her pillow damp with tears. She could still hear the echo of her aunts' voices in her mind, their words replaying over and over again. Their accusations against Ace felt like daggers to her heart, and she couldn't shake the feeling of betrayal. How could they not see how much he meant to her? How could they not trust her judgment?
Her stomach growled, reminding her that she had skipped dinner, but she couldn't bring herself to go downstairs. The thought of facing her aunts again, of seeing the worry and disappointment in their eyes, was too much to bear. She curled up tighter, hugging her knees to her chest, and let the tears flow freely.
Meanwhile, across town, Ace was sitting in the back booth of their usual hangout spot, a dingy diner that catered to the local hi
