THE minute the door clicked shut behind her mother, Hazel stood frozen for a few seconds, her chest rising and falling rapidly. Her hands curled into fists at her sides, short nails digging into her palms as anger, hurt, and betrayal crashed over her all at once. Her jaw tightened, teeth grinding against each other as she replayed Amelia’s calm, unyielding voice in her head.
‘This decision has already been made.’
Hazel let out a sharp breath, blinking back tears that refused to stay put. With a frustrated growl, she spun around, marched the little distance between her and her desk, and grabbed her phone. Her fingers trembled slightly as she scrolled, then pressed a familiar name.
**Dad.**
The phone rang twice before the call connected.
“Hey, sweetheart,” Adrian’s voice came through, w
