Chapter Three

Hazel's POV

That evening, my father texted me to come downstairs for dinner.

The table was crowded with food. Every dish was something Juliet or Sloane liked.

I pulled out a chair and sat down. I glanced at the dessert in front of me, but I had no appetite. I didn’t eat sweets. Everyone in the family knew that.

My father noticed and put a roasted lamb chop on my plate.

“I had the kitchen make this especially for you. Go ahead and eat.”

I counted the dishes on the table. I counted two, maybe three dishes without anything sweet in them. None appealed to me.

It was always the same. He could list my sisters’ favorite foods without a second thought. When it came to mine, he couldn’t name a single one.

I left the lamb chop untouched and stared at the pattern on the tablecloth.

He lost his patience.

“Stop sulking. I went to all this trouble for you, and this is how you act?”

Juliet quickly tugged at his arm.

“She’s upset today. She’s not trying to upset you. Give her a day or two. Please don’t be angry.”

Juliet turned her attention to me. “Dad works hard every day to keep the family business running. Try to make things a little easier for him. Don’t give him more to worry about. All right with you?”

Sloane rolled her eyes. “Seriously, can’t you just do as you’re told? You’re old enough to listen.”

My father rubbed the spot between his eyebrows. “Hazel, I gave Juliet the go-ahead to introduce you to Declan. He may be a bodyguard now, but he’s capable. He’ll move up. What exactly are you unhappy about?”

I met his eyes. “It’s Juliet he loves. He only came because she talked him into it.”

Juliet went pale and wrung her hands.

“How could you say that about me? Why would I have introduced him to you if I thought he wanted me?”

“All right, he did have a bit of a crush on me, but that was years ago. I turned him down a long time ago. You really don’t need to read so much into it.”

My father looked furious.

“Juliet’s been looking out for you. She even keeps out of Declan’s way when he visits so you won’t get the wrong idea. What else is Juliet supposed to do for you?”

Sloane spoke softly, her eyes reddening. “Hazel, you’re just jealous of us.”

“Didn’t you demand to know the other day, right in front of everyone, why our gowns were covered in sparkling gems and yours had none?”

All I could see in my father’s face was disappointment.

“I’ve told you a hundred times. Your gown doesn’t have any gems because there aren’t enough to go around.”

“Go to your room and calm down.”

My chest felt so tight I couldn’t get a word out to defend myself.

It happened every time. They twisted the facts right in front of him, making me out to be the one causing trouble. And he always believed them.

I stood up to leave. He added, “Once you’ve calmed down, make yourself presentable. And don’t give Declan that attitude the next time he comes.”

Sloane moved close, glanced at my muddy hem, and lowered her voice.

“Go change out of that dress. How do you expect Declan to be interested in you when your dress is that dirty?”

Her words made me think of the wedding gown in my room. My sisters’ gowns were covered in gems. Mine was as plain as a piece of white cloth.

I could see how tired he was. I let the matter drop.

I knew he did care about me. He was genuinely afraid I’d never get married.

But my sisters would always come first with him. Ever since Juliet’s first birthday, he’d been sewing gems onto their gowns himself, one by one.