Chapter 5

Chloe froze, her face instantly losing all color. Tears fell from her eyes right on cue.

"Hazel, I know you hate me."

"But the client is innocent..."

Ethan frowned, turning his gaze to me.

"Hazel, I never thought you could be this malicious."

I curled my lips into a bitter smile, staring straight back at him.

"Me neither."

Ethan startled, clearly not expecting that response.

He knit his brows, lowering his voice. "Hazel, now is not the time to be stubborn. Apologize to the client first."

Chloe chimed in softly, her eyes red. "Hazel, the bride is resting in the bridal suite. Just go apologize."

She made it sound like she was trying to help me.

But every word she spoke was framing me for the crime.

The groom was completely furious now, pointing a finger at us as he yelled, "Is this how you run a business?"

"You're quick to take credit, but when something goes wrong, you just point fingers?"

Their family members quickly surrounded us, pushing and shoving, demanding an explanation.

Chloe gasped, stumbling backward.

Almost at the same time, someone shoved my shoulder hard.

My foot slipped, and I fell onto the floor.

As Ethan rushed over, I still looked up.

In that split second, my body reacted faster than my brain.

Eight years of habit made me believe he would check on me first.

But the next second, he brushed right past me.

He pulled Chloe into his arms, shielding her.

"Stop pushing!"

Just then, the paramedics arrived.

The bride was wheeled out.

Chloe held her wrist, her eyes brimming with tears.

Ethan immediately supported her. "Chloe, I'll take you to the hospital."

I pushed myself up from the floor, blood trickling down my leg from my scraped knee.

A hotel staff member nearby handed me some napkins. "Miss Brooks, you should tend to your leg."

I looked at Ethan. He was busy adjusting Chloe's coat, never once looking back.

In the emergency room hallway.

Chloe sat next to Ethan while he softly comforted her.

I sat on the opposite bench, letting the nurse clean the scrapes on my knee.

The alcohol stung, making my fingers tremble.

It wasn't until the nurse called out my name to sign the paperwork that Ethan seemed to remember I was there.

"Hazel?"

He walked over, his brows furrowing when he saw my bloody knee.

"How did you get hurt like this?"

I didn't answer.

"Hazel, tonight was too chaotic. Don't overthink things."

"Go home and rest. I'll pick you up tomorrow morning to head to the venue."

I looked at him and slowly pulled my leg back.

"Okay."

He turned and walked away.

And I walked in the opposite direction.

By the time my flight landed in Paris and I turned my phone back on, a flood of notifications rushed in.