The days that followed felt like a dream to Hazel.
After so many years of loneliness and heartbreak, she was finally experiencing something tender and new—a relationship that was blossoming with every shared moment.
Peter proved to be more than just charming.
He was thoughtful, attentive, and genuinely interested in Hazel's life.
Their dates were filled with laughter, deep conversations, and quiet moments where words weren't needed.
Hazel found herself opening up to him in ways she never thought possible.
One evening, as they strolled hand in hand through a quiet park, Peter paused under the soft glow of a streetlamp.
Turning to face her, he gently tucked a loose strand of hair behind Hazel's ear.
"You're incredible, Hazel," he said softly. "I've never felt this way about anyone before."
Hazel's heart fluttered. "Neither have I," she whispered, her eyes shining.
But beneath all the happiness, a faint cloud of unease started forming.
Peter was always kind and present, but there were moments when he would grow quiet, as though something weighed on him—a secret he hadn't yet shared.
Hazel sensed it but chose not to push..
After everything she had been through, she knew that people carried wounds they weren't always ready to reveal.
The First Crack Appears
One evening, while waiting for Peter at a small bistro where they had planned to have dinner, Hazel noticed him arriving late, his usual bright smile missing.
"Everything okay?" Hazel asked, concerned.
Peter forced a smile.
"Yeah... work's been stressful lately."
She nodded, sensing there was more but choosing to respect his silence.
They ate, but the atmosphere felt heavier than usual.
As they walked back to Hazel's house, Peter's phone buzzed.
He glanced at it quickly, his face tensing for a brief second before shoving it into his pocket.
Hazel noticed. "Is everything alright? You seem distracted."
Peter hesitated, then offered a half-truth.
"It's just a minor business issue. Nothing you need to worry about."
But the tightness in his voice suggested otherwise. Hazel felt her stomach knot but tried not to let her growing anxiety show. She had finally found happiness—she didn't want fear to ruin it.
Mariam's Concern
The next day, Hazel met Mariam for lunch. As they sipped coffee, Hazel shared her growing concerns.
"I don't know, Mariam. He's perfect most of the time, but lately… it feels like he's hiding something."
Mariam frowned, her protective instincts kicking in. "Hazel, I'm happy you've found someone, but You need to be careful. If something feels off, trust your gut."
Hazel nodded, bitting on her lower lips. "I want to trust him. But you're right. I just hope it's nothing serious."
Mariam reached across the table and squeezed her hand. "Just promise me you won't ignore any red flags."
"I promise," Hazel said quietly.
The Mysterious Phone Call
Later that night, while Peter was in the bathroom during one of their cozy evenings at her house, Hazel noticed his phone vibrating on the coffee table.
She glanced at the screen — "UNKNOWN CALLER."
A moment of temptation surged inside her. She trusted Peter, but something about this mysterious call gnawed at her.
Before she could decide whether to pick it up or not, Peter reentered the room and quickly grabbed his phone, his face paling for a split second.
"Everything okay?" Hazel asked softly.
"Yeah… just a wrong number," Peter answered quickly, his voice tight.
Hazel forced a smile, but her mind was racing.
She felt the ground beneath their perfect world begin to tremble.
A Storm is Coming
As Peter left for the night, Hazel sat by the window, staring out into the starry sky, her heart heavy with both hope and fear.
The love she was feeling was real, but so was the growing sense that Peter was hiding something from her—something that could threaten to shatter everything they were building.
And deep down, Hazel knew the truth always finds its way to the surface.