His innocent wife is a dangerous hacker.-Chapter 583

Nicolas took a step toward her.

"Hazel—"

She didn’t even turn.

"Nicolas." Jenna’s voice was cold and hard. Nothing like the warm woman who had welcomed him into their home. "Walk away."

He looked at her. At Kevin’s stony face. At Leo’s murderous eyes. At Dominique.

"She’s mine," he said quietly. "I made a mistake, but she’s mine."

No one answered.

And finally, Nicolas left.

He walked out with his head low, his parents trailing behind him like shadows. Valeria’s face was icy. Richard’s was simply... empty.

Jenna moved first.

She crossed the space in seconds, her heels clicking against the stone floor, and wrapped her arms around Hazel so tightly it looked like she was afraid her daughter might disappear. Her face pressed into Hazel’s hair, and her shoulders started shaking.

Hazel stood still for a moment. Then slowly, carefully, she lifted her arms and hugged her mother back.

"It’s okay, Mom." Her voice was soft. Calm. "I’m not that sad."

Jenna pulled back, her eyes wet, searching Hazel’s face like she was looking for wounds that couldn’t be seen. "Baby—"

"Really." Hazel even smiled. A small one. Just a curve at the corner of her mouth. "I’m fine."

Kevin stepped forward and put a heavy hand on her shoulder. His jaw was tight, his eyes suspiciously bright, but he didn’t speak. He just squeezed once, then let go.

Lina and Alessandro exchanged a look and quietly slipped out, giving the family space. Rika hovered nearby, arms wrapped around herself, unsure whether to stay or go.

Hazel’s eyes drifted.

Across the room, Dominique stood with Bella and Leo.

His three-piece suit was destroyed. Jacket unbuttoned, shirt wrinkled and untucked on one side, sleeves rolled up to his elbows. His hair, that perfectly styled hair, was a disaster, dark strands falling every which way. He looked nothing like the perfect model who had walked into the wedding hours ago.

He looked... real.

He was gesturing at something, making Bella smile. His hands moved when he talked, the way they always did. He glanced toward Hazel as he spoke, quick, subtle glances, like he was checking she was still there.

Leo’s gray eyes were narrowed, fixed on Dominique with that expression he got when he was filing information away for later. He didn’t say anything. Just watched and assessed.

Dominique, to his credit, didn’t flinch. He just kept talking to Bella like Leo’s stare was nothing.

Hazel watched the whole thing from across the room, and something warm flickered in her chest.

"He’s something," Jenna murmured, following her daughter’s gaze.

Hazel blinked, looking back at her mother. "What?"

"That boy." Jenna nodded toward Dominique. "Carried you through the woods in that suit. He didn’t care who was watching." She studied Hazel’s face. "He just cared about you."

Hazel’s cheeks warmed. "Mom..."

Jenna smiled. Of course she understood everything. "I’m just saying, baby. That’s the kind of man you notice."

Hazel looked away.

Kevin cleared his throat. "We should let her rest."

Jenna nodded, squeezing Hazel’s hands one last time. "We’ll talk tomorrow. Okay? Whenever you’re ready."

"Okay."

Kevin kissed her forehead, a rare, tender gesture, and then they were gone, walking out with their arms around each other.

The room emptied slowly. Rika gave Hazel a quick hug and whispered something in her ear that made Hazel’s eyes go wide. Then she left too.

Soon, only Hazel, Bella, Leo, and Dominique remained.

Hazel looked at Dominique across the room.

He looked back.

For a long moment, neither of them moved.

Then Bella tugged Leo’s arm. "Let’s go check on Jason."

Leo raised an eyebrow. "Jason’s sleeping."

"Exactly. He could be dead. We should check." She pulled him toward the door, throwing Hazel a small smile over her shoulder.

Leo went, but not without one last look at Dominique.

The door clicked shut.

And Hazel and Dominique were alone.

He walked toward her slowly, his ruined suit somehow making him more handsome, not less. When he reached her, he stopped a few feet away. Close enough to talk. Far enough to be polite.

"Your mom seems nice," he said.

"She is."

"Your dad looks like he could kill someone with his pinky."

"He could."

Dominique nodded seriously. "Good to know."

Hazel almost laughed.

"How are you feeling?" he asked quietly.

She thought about it. Really thought.

"Tired," she admitted. "But... lighter. Like something heavy I’ve been carrying for years finally fell off."

He nodded slowly. "That makes sense."

"What about you?" she asked. "Your suit is ruined."

He looked down at himself, then back at her with a grin. "Worth it."

Her heart did something strange.

"Dominique..."

"Yeah?"

She didn’t know what to say. Thank you felt too small. Sorry felt wrong. Everything felt too big and too little all at once.

He seemed to understand.

"You don’t have to say anything," he said softly. "We can just... stand here. For a minute."

She nodded.

Meanwhile, back in their room, Bella was practically bouncing with excitement.

"I think Dominique likes Hazel!" she announced the moment the door closed behind them. Her eyes were wide, sparkling with the kind of joy that only came from witnessing unexpected romance.

Leo unbuttoned his shirt slowly, clearly less invested in this revelation. "Mm."

"No, listen!" Bella grabbed his arm, stopping his undressing. "I even heard Jason say something. He called Dominique ’lover boy.’ But when I asked him, he said I misheard."

Leo raised an eyebrow. "Jason said that?"

"Yes! And then he got all weird and changed the subject." She started pacing, her mind racing. "But here’s the thing. I thought Dom was just being nice, but now I’m putting pieces together and—"

"I thought Jason was flirting with you," Leo interrupted flatly.

Bella stopped pacing and stared at him. "What? No. No, he wasn’t."

"At the wedding. He kept coming near you. Touched your shoulder. Turned your face toward me." Leo’s voice was calm, but his eyes had that dangerous glint.

Bella blinked. Then she laughed brightly.

"Leo. That’s Jason. He’s like a puppy. He touches everyone. He turned my face because he was trying to distract me from Dom running after Hazel." She walked over and placed her hands on his chest. "He was helping, not flirting."

Leo’s expression didn’t change, but his hand came up to cover hers. "Mm."

"You’re impossible." She shook her head, but she was smiling. "Anyway, that’s not the point. The point is, I think the ’Miss Mystery’ Dom’s been talking about for months? I think it’s Hazel."