Whos this, Butler?

Madison ignored Hazels question, suppressing the impulse to rake her nails across the other womans face. Instead, she turned to the butler, her voice laced with an over-familiar authority, calculated to illustrate just how well she was ensconced in this household.

The butler hesitated, caught off guard.

Mr. Jennings had said nothing about this.

To be precise, Mr. Jennings had been so preoccupied with the new arrival that hed barely acknowledged anyone else. It was clear, thoughit wasnt hard to seethat this woman was intended as the new mistress of the house.

But since those words hadnt officially passed Mr. Jenningss lips, the butler couldnt very well announce her as such.

His silence left Madisons pride on the floor, shattered into irretrievable pieces.

Especially when Hazel let out a soft laugh, a half-sigh of amusement that dripped disdain. The sharp, quiet sound was enough to send Madisons face from pale to flushed in fury, her composure slipping by degrees.

And then Hazel spoke, her next comment measured to slice the air like a blade.

Oh, maam, are you one of Gabriels older relatives? What should I call you?

Maam.

Older relative.

Madisons mind exploded with a deafening roar of indignation. Her hands clenched at her sides as she watched Hazel casually adjust the lapel of her blouse, every movement deliberate, every flick of her fingers a silent taunt.

Wait. Her lapel?

Have you twoslept together? Madison blurted.

Hazels hand froze mid-motion. Following the trajectory of Madisons affronted gaze, she realized the misunderstanding immediately.

A stray lock of hair tickled her neck as she tugged at her collar, trying to cover the faint marks left there. Marks that had deepened from greenish shadows to a blooming, telltale red-purple. Gabriels fingers had been firm, leaving evidence not at all concealed by the flimsy drape of fabric. At first glance, it did bear a striking resemblance to the aftermath of something far more intimate.

Oh dear, my apologies! Such a laugh, isnt it? Hazel said with a saccharine smile, her words all honeyed mischief. Inside, she was cursing Gabriel and making a mental note to throttle him later when they were alone. She tugged the fabric higher, purposefully hiding the marks a little more effectively.

But the gesture didnt go unnoticed. To Madison, it reeked with Hazels smug, self-satisfied pridea fox flaunting a henhouse conquest. Humiliated and livid, Madison could feel her wrath build like a tidal wave.

What an ill-bred tramp! Shameless, vulgar, conniving little tart!

Madison held herself up with her usual icy hauteur. The Jennings family isnt the kind of place where all sorts of women can just walk in and stay. Youd do well to find some self-awareness and step back before things get out of hand. Youre not the firstits laughable, the number of women whove triedand none of them made it out unscathed. If youve got any sense, youll walk away before you make a fool of yourself, dragging us all down with you.

In the past, these sanctimonious reprimands had always worked in dispatching Gabriels admirers. Shed wielded her superiority like a scalpel, cutting down everyone from cutthroat career women to wide-eyed interns, delicate intellectuals to demure bookworms. For years, Madison had been the unchallenged victorbecause not one of those women, try as they might, had ever claimed even a scrap of Gabriels focus.

But Hazel didnt flinch. If anything, she looked amused.

Oh! I see now, Hazel said, feigning sudden realization. Youre Honeys mother, arent you?

The butler stifled a laugh. This new Mrs. Jennings had a knack for delivering one jibe after another, each more devastating than the last. Calling Ms. Gale old? The audacity was staggering.

Hazel threw him a look, and the butler stepped in. Theres been some misunderstanding. This is the young masters cousin once removed.

Cousin? Hazel toyed with the term, drawing it out as if rolling the taste of the word on her tongue. Cousin, as in some cousin flung way out on the family tree? She let out a theatrical sigh. Well, now it makes sense. I almost thought you were a proper elder of the Jennings family Turns out, not so much.

She wasnt done.

Loud enough for everyone in the room to hear, Hazel muttered, Playing dress-up like a pig in pearls.

Someone couldnt hold back a laugh. A sharp, aborted sound broke the tension, echoing in the room.

Madison whirled, scanning for the source, but every servant suddenly found the floor fascinating. Her humiliation mounteda slow burn giving way to an inferno. No one had ever dared treat her like this.

Do you believe I wont throw you out?! Madison snapped, pointing an accusatory finger at Hazel.

Do you believe I wont throw you out~ Hazel mimicked in a sing-song voice, clapping her hands twice in exaggerated mockery. Oh my! How intimidating, how impressive!

This had never happened before. Every other woman had either exploded in indignation or wilted under Madisons passive-aggressive stare-down. But Hazel wasnt like them at allneither serious nor submissive, she played entirely by her own rules, responding to Madisons cutting edges with maddening nonchalance. Like a glimmering, mercurial flame, Hazel was impossible to pin down.

And Madison, seasoned terrorizer of would-be rivals, had no idea how to deal with her.

What broke Madisons streak of dominance was not Hazels words, but the sound of Gabriels footsteps descending the staircase.

The sharp tap of his leather shoes electrified the air, and Madison straightened, her entire demeanor shifting as she discarded the prickly, venomous persona shed worn moments ago. She pivoted to face Gabriel with wounded precision, ready to deliver an impassioned plea.

Gabriel, this is beyond the pale! she exclaimed, voice trembling with carefully curated offense. Bringing her herehave you thought about what this will do to Caro? Shes coming home next week. After six months away, all she wants is to see her father, to feel secure, safe in her own home. But now youve let someone like this into the familythink of how shell feel

Hazel remained where she was, hands folded, her mouth twitching in the shadow of an irrepressible smirk.

Oh, bravo. Playing the devoted aunt card now.

Gabriel reached the bottom of the stairs. As Madisons rant tapered off, he cast a glance at the butler.

See her out.

Madison blinked.

Her gaze darted to Hazel, as if willing the smug expression off the younger womans face. She must have misheard.

But no.

Ms. Gale, the butler began smoothly, gesturing toward the door. If you would, please.

Stunned wouldnt cover it. Madison froze in place. Surely the butler had misunderstoodit couldnt be her being shown the door. Impossible. She wasnt the guest here. That woman was.

Gabriel! she sputtered.

Honey, Hazel spoke, finally breaking her silence. She sprawled lazily in an armchair, waving Gabriel closer like a queen summoning her court jester. Who is this person, exactly? Does she have the authority to claim she speaks for the Jennings family? Her mouth dipped into a petulant pout. She wanted to throw me out, you know.

Casually, Gabriel crossed the room and perched next to Hazel.

Shes no one important, he said simply, his tone matter-of-fact. She has nothing to do with this family. And as for throwing anyone out His lips quirked faintly. Thats for you to decide. No one else.

It was the truth. Gabriel wasnt merely indulging Hazels dramaticshe meant every word.

Madison stood there, unable to process the scene unfolding before her eyes. Even as the butler began to usher her toward the exit, she looked back, searching for some sign that this wasnt happening, that she hadnt just been unceremoniously dismissed. None came.

By the time she reached the front gate, her composure shattered completely. For three whole minutes, she stood there, blinking into the shaded villa road.

How dare hazel. And yet

Hazel had done it. Effortlessly.

Clutching her handbag with trembling fingers, Madison pulled out her phone. She needed reinforcements.

Caro, she said, her voice sharpened to a point. We need to talk.

Meanwhile, back inside the villa, Hazel was still lounging with exaggerated easea satisfied, feline arch to her movements.

Well, Mr. Jennings, she teased, her voice brimming with that familiar mix of sass and irony. Seems like youve been keeping busy over the years.

Gabriel winced. It wasnt hard to piece together the mischief Madison mustve spewed to stir things up.

Not Mr. Jennings. Hazel, he murmured, leaning in, his drawl low and warm. Its Honey to you.

Before he could explain himself further, the phone on the coffee table shrilled, cutting through their exchange.

Hazel arched a brow, gesturing at Gabriel to answer it.

He hesitated. It can wait.

But Hazel said nothing, her steady gaze pinning him in place. Within seconds, he caved, exhaling as he reached for the receiver.

Hello?

A voice colder than frost answered him.

Give the phone to her.