The Courthouse

Their number was called in the echoing hall of the civil court. Hazel turned to a young couple beside her and smiled politely. "Would you mind keeping an eye on my luggage for a minute? Thank you. I hope you two have a wonderful life together."

Dressed in a striking red dress, she looked so radiant that the clerk at the counter briefly mistook them for a couple coming to get married.

"May I see your IDs, please?" the clerk asked kindly. "We'll process your paperwork right away."

Hazel smiled faintly and handed over a folder--the divorce papers and her once-treasured marriage certificate.

"Thank you for your help."

The clerk blinked, momentarily confused. "You're...filing for divorce?"

"Yes," Hazel replied calmly. "I've already signed."

The clerk reviewed the documents, then looked at Rayan. "Mr. Knight, we just need your signature here."

Rayan's gaze lingered on Hazel's name for a long moment. Finally, he picked up the pen and signed with a firm hand.

"Miss Foster has chosen to leave without any financial claim," the clerk remarked, glancing between them. "Any objections?"

Rayan let out a bitter laugh. "No objections. Playing the saint again, Hazel? Pretending money means nothing--trying to be more like Evelyn? Let me tell you something--you'll never replace her."

Hazel's eyes stayed calm, but her tone turned razor-sharp. "Rayan Knight, wake up. I've repaid your so-called kindness a hundred times over these past three years. Your money means nothing to me--I make my own."

Then she turned to the stunned clerk. "Please finalize the paperwork. I'm in a hurry."

The woman blinked, then quickly stamped and sealed the documents.

When it was done, Hazel accepted the divorce decree with steady hands, her expression unreadable.

"Congratulations," the clerk murmured, handing it over.

Hazel said nothing. She turned and walked toward the exit.

Olivia's eyes gleamed with undisguised joy, but Hazel paused at the door, glancing back just once. A faint, knowing smile curved her lips.

"Don't get too excited, Miss Olivia," she said coldly. "Be careful--joy has a way of turning into sorrow when you least expect it."

Then she walked out of the courthouse, each click of her heels growing softer until it faded into silence.

Outside, she hailed a taxi, placed her suitcase in the trunk, and exhaled deeply.

Three years--finally over.

The woman who had once lived to please Rayan Knight was gone.

In her place stood a new Hazel Foster--one who no longer needed his love, his pity, or his name.

As the taxi drove away, the city stretched before her like a blank canvas waiting to be painted anew.

For the first time in years, Hazel smiled.

It wasn't a smile of love or hope--

It was the smile of freedom.

****

The Studio

Half an hour later, Hazel's taxi stopped in front of a studio--the one owned by her best friend, Elaina Williams.

At that moment, with nowhere else to go, Elaina was the only person Hazel could think of.

Dragging her suitcase, she walked inside.

As soon as she entered, Elaina spotted her. "Oh my God! Hazel!" she exclaimed, rushing forward to hug her tightly. "What a pleasant surprise!"

Hazel returned the embrace, a faint warmth touching her face for the first time that day.

Then Elaina's eyes fell on the suitcase. "Wait--did you run away from home?"

Hazel paused, then said quietly, "No. But I divorced Rayan and moved out of the RK mansion."

Elaina's face froze in shock. "You really got divorced?"

Hazel nodded. "Yes. I'm coming straight from the civil court."

She pulled the divorce certificate from her bag and placed it in Elaina's hands.

"The real deal," Hazel said with a faint smile. "So, Aina, can I stay with you for a few days? Just until I find a new place."

Seeing Elaina still processing the news, Hazel added gently, "If it's inconvenient, I can always check into a hotel."

"No, no, no--it's not inconvenient at all! You're most welcome!" Elaina said, grabbing the suitcase and dragging it inside. "Honestly, darling, I've been wanting to tell you to divorce him for ages. I never understood what you saw in that man! Besides looking decent, he's utterly useless!"

When it came to listing Rayan's flaws, Elaina's mouth turned into a machine gun.

Hazel sighed helplessly. "Aina, it's all in the past. Let's not bring it up again."

Elaina finally hit the brakes. "You're right. Once you've ditched a jerk, you've ditched him. I'll find you someone better!"

Hazel chuckled softly--she didn't even know what to say to that.

As they sat down, Elaina's expression turned more serious. "Hazel, now that you're free, you don't have to revolve around men anymore. How about a comeback? Let's team up again and build something big together."

Hazel raised a brow. "A comeback?"

Elaina sighed. "To be honest, I'm in a bit of a bind. Kathy--my most promising designer--got into serious trouble. If I can't find someone to take over her projects, I'll be sleeping on the streets!"

Hazel froze.

Before meeting Rayan, she had suffered an accident that caused memory loss. Elaina, who was leading a design team at the time, had found her barely conscious and arranged for her to recover while working as a design assistant.

Hazel's natural talent soon shone through--her designs caught attention across the industry. Later, when the company began exploiting its designers, she left and co-founded a studio with Elaina.

When she married Rayan, Hazel had transferred all her shares to Elaina. Over the years, her friend had built that small studio into a thriving business.

So why did Elaina suddenly sound so desperate?

Hazel frowned slightly. "What kind of trouble are we talking about?"

Elaina clenched her jaw. "Kathy offended that witch, Oliver Howard. Now RK Enterprises has blacklisted her--and by extension, me. They've canceled every contract. If I can't pay the penalties, I'm finished. Even selling the company won't cover the tens of millions owed!"

Hazel's eyes narrowed as Elaina continued, seething.

"Oliver's just a spoiled bully! Kathy got the design rights for a project she wanted, so she spread rumors that Kathy slept her way into it. Kathy snapped and slapped her, and of course, Oliver played the victim--crying her way straight to Rayan!"

"What a bitch!" Elaina slammed her fist against the table. "So what if she's got Rayan backing her? Acting like some rich-family designer--green-tea bitch!"

At the mention of Oliver's name, Hazel's pupils sharpened to ice.

Divorcing Rayan didn't mean she had to swallow this humiliation.

The score would be settled.

Everything Oliver had done to her would be repaid in full.

Watching Elaina's angry expression, Hazel gently patted her friend's hand.

"It's fine. Leave it to me. I'll handle it--today."

Elaina blinked. "Huh? Today? Baby, you're serious? You just got divorced--you should rest!"

Hazel smiled faintly. "I've actually designed quite a few new pieces over the years--different styles, all unreleased."

She pulled out her phone and sent several sketches to Elaina. "Take a look. See if any match the theme. If not, I'll conceptualize something new right away."

Elaina's jaw dropped as she scrolled through the sketches.

Even after all these years, Hazel Foster hadn't lost her touch--she had only gotten sharper.

Elaina opened her email and saw a pile of drawings inside. Her eyes grew brighter and brighter.

"Holy cow! Darling, you really are a genius!"

She said excitedly, her eyes sparkling intensely. "These designs could compete in a world-class competition! You're still as sharp as ever!"

Hazel smiled faintly. "Glad I could be of help."

Elaina showered her with more flattery, rubbing her hands together excitedly. "I heard that bitch Oliver is entering next week's Jewelry Design Competition. How about we pick one to enter too?"

Hazel nodded without hesitation.

If you're going to humiliate someone, you might as well do it thoroughly...otherwise, how will Oliver ever learn her lesson?

"When you send these sketches over, tell the partners outright that I'm the designer. You can also state on the company website that I've returned to your design studio."

Elaina's eyes widened in disbelief. "Really?"

When Hazel left the studio, she had announced her retirement from design. Yet her work still commanded admiration in the jewelry circle to this day. She had thought Hazel's willingness to help was already generous enough...never expecting Hazel would actually be making a comeback!

Elaina blurted out excitedly, "Then...then I'll return all the shares to you--"

"No rush. We have a more pressing matter now."

Hazel pulled her laptop from her bag. "First, do exactly as I say."

Hazel's slender fingers danced swiftly across the keyboard. Opening a web page, she was immediately confronted with a flood of negative news about Kathy.

(Tsk, tsk, all that hype about a 'genius beauty designer'? Turns out she just used her body to climb the ladder.)

(Poor Oliver...earned the final design rights through skill, yet still got beaten up.)

(Ban her already! Boycott her entire Dream High Studio too!)

(Don't even think about it. Dream High was founded by our God 'Ray of Light' herself. Even though she's retired, it's still our cherished memory.)

@Miss Ray of Light -- since she left, Dream High designs have lost their sparkle. Using designers like this now? Utterly rotten!

Hazel's eyes turned cold as she opened a long-dormant messaging app and tapped on a black profile picture.

"Kathy's case -- I want every detail. Once you find it, I'm releasing it online."

The reply came back instantly: "Holy shit! Ray of Light is back from the dead?!"

Hazel didn't waste words. "Hurry up. I need this resolved today."

The response came back: "Got it."

Only then did Hazel log back into her Twitter account and post a message:

Ray of Light: Justice may be delayed, but it never fails to arrive. Also, I'm back.

Within half a minute, Twitter crashed.

Netizens who had been fiercely attacking Kathy's page vanished in unison, swarming to Hazel's account instead.

Holy crap! Ray of Light is alive? Does this mean she's making a comeback?!

No way! The official Ray of Light account confirmed it -- our God is back!!!

From the sound of it, there's more to Kathy and Oliver's situation...I'm choosing to believe my God Ray of Light.

Some of Oliver's fans weren't having it.

"Who the hell is this random chick? Never even heard of her before!"

"She's definitely trying to ride on Oliver's popularity! Maybe that bitch Kathy hired her to whitewash herself!"

But the backlash was swift.

Does our God Ray of Light need to ride anyone's coattails? Get real! She's a legend in jewelry design -- the only one under 25 to win a world-class award!

Your idol's designs are trinkets. God Ray of Light's creations are national treasures -- one's even in the British Museum, okay?

In an instant, online sentiment shifted. Many who had previously attacked Kathy now remained neutral, demanding the project team produce evidence.

*****

At the top floor of the Howard family villa, Oliver watched the trending posts, grinding her teeth in fury.

"Where did this Ray of Light come from? How dare she ruin my plans?!"

She smashed the cup on the table into shards, splattering the maid nearby -- who didn't dare utter a word.

After venting her rage, Oliver finally calmed down and dialed a number.

"Have that project manager post on Twitter too -- claim that Kathy seduced him! Release the photos taken that day!"

But to her surprise, the voice on the other end sounded grim.

"Miss Howard, it's hopeless...someone's already leaked the full video of us taking those photos. Netizens are now accusing the partner of sexual harassment!"

Oliver paled. She reopened Twitter, and sure enough, the trending topic #KathyTwist was plastered across every feed.

All the big names in the jewelry industry were reposting it, and several paparazzi accounts with tens of millions of followers were circulating the video across platforms!

How could this be?

To ruin Kathy's reputation for her ungrateful behavior, she had specifically arranged for that partner to get Kathy drunk at a so-called "drinking party," then attempt to drug her and take suggestive photos as "evidence."

But Kathy had escaped -- and Oliver had ensured all footage was deleted.

So how did it resurface now?

She stared at the screen in utter panic when her phone rang again. It was the same partner who had helped frame Kathy.

"Miss Howard, you have to help me! If this blows up, our company is finished! I risked my neck for you -- out of respect for CEO Knight!"

"If you don't help me, I'll have no choice but to spill everything!"

Oliver's expression darkened further.

*****

The next day.

When Hazel arrived at the studio, her eyes fell on the office where Kathy worked. It was still dark. She wasn't there.

"Is Kathy still hiding at home?" she asked Elaina.

"Cyberbullying is terrifying! When I went to see her, reporters blocked my way. Looks like she won't return to work until this scandal dies down."

"Hazel, she's so talented! To be framed like that by Oliver...it's utterly unfair!"

Elaina, ever the loyal boss, was furious about the situation yet powerless to act. After all, in this city, no one dared to cross Rayan Knight.

"Contact her," Hazel said calmly. "Regarding the plagiarism incident, tell her the studio will handle it thoroughly. She should stay home and wait for updates."

Elaina's eyes flickered with hope. "Hazel, you have a solution?"

"Yes. Leave it to me."

"That's wonderful! Hazel, you're truly my savior!"

Overwhelmed with excitement, Elaina threw her arms around Hazel, almost ready to plant a kiss on her.

"Alright, I need to get back to work. There are still orders to fulfill at the studio, right?"

"Then what do you want to eat? I'll buy it for you! Hazel, I'm your loyal little sidekick -- just give me orders!"

Her best friend clung to her arm, acting all cute and clingy, leaving Hazel both amused and exasperated.

"Alright, alright. Don't be so formal with me. If you hadn't taken me in, I wouldn't have had anywhere to go after my divorce."

Elaina's eyes welled up at Hazel's words, about to launch into another heartfelt speech -- but Hazel gently dismissed her.

"I want cold coffee. Seven parts sugar, with milk."

"No problem! Coming right up!"

After Elaina left, Hazel logged into her Twitter account on her computer.

Among her friend list was a user named Dark Hunter. She clicked open the chat window.

The individual was a notorious online troll leader -- whatever the latest gossip was, he was sure to be there. Known for his scathing online commentary, he had amassed a significant following.

Now a prominent figure in the gossip sphere, any scoop he leaked would instantly attract massive attention.

Hazel organized the evidence in her hands -- all of it concerning the competition judges.

(Hey, I've got some juicy dirt on Evan Grey, one of the judges for the design competition.)

The other party replied almost instantly, firing back a question:

(How much for the scoop?)

Hazel chuckled, her fingers flying across the keyboard.

(You won't need to pay for this information. Consider it a favor. All you need to do is take this material to Evan and demand that he publicly clarify Kathy didn't plagiarize. Otherwise, I'll expose him myself.)

The other party fell silent for a moment, seemingly weighing the potential benefits.

(What if he refuses to clarify?)

(Then you can handle it however you see fit. If he does clarify, I'll give you another exclusive scoop -- guaranteed to satisfy you.)

After hitting Enter, Hazel promptly sent the documents over.

Opening the files, Dark Hunter found the content explosive -- utterly riveting.

If it leaked online, it would cause a huge uproar.

But even if he couldn't leak it, he wouldn't lose much either.

After all, this was his livelihood -- the steady stream of insider information was what kept the money flowing in.

If Hazel could dig up such private matters, uncovering other secrets would surely be a breeze.

(Alright, leave this to me. You're a true friend.)

(You flatter me. I believe evil deeds will always meet retribution.)

Hazel deliberately avoided using an alternate account for the negotiation, aiming to demonstrate her sincerity.

If Dark Hunter wanted to trace the account back to its owner, it would be a simple matter.

Rather than risk suspicion, she preferred directness.

Her Twitter account and Kathy's belonged to the same studio anyway -- Dark Hunter would understand her reasoning.

(Wait for my message, Miss. Also, congrats on your comeback.)

Hazel's lips curled into a smile as she read the reply on her screen.

Who would have thought -- this Dark Hunter was actually one of her fans?

****

Evan Grey, the renowned judge of the design competition, led a vibrant nightlife. At this moment, he was lying in a private room at a nightclub, completely drunk.

His head rested on a beautiful woman's lap as he dozed off.

His phone buzzed incessantly in his pocket. Annoyed, he frowned and pulled it out.

"Who the hell is this...?"

It was his private number -- he rarely received calls from unknown sources.

There was only one possibility: the beautiful woman he had his eyes on a few days ago couldn't resist any longer and was finally offering herself tonight.

Grinning lewdly, he pushed away the woman leaning toward him and stepped out of the private room with his phone.

Outside was much quieter. He cleared his throat twice before answering, "Hello, is this Kathy?"

Dark Hunter on the other end got goosebumps all over. So he really was the kind of man who loved backdoor deals -- pretending to be respectable in public, but a slimeball behind closed doors!

"Sorry, I'm not Kathy. But don't hang up just yet. What I'm about to say will shock you -- make sure no one else can hear."

The middle-aged man's face darkened. He thought it was some kind of prank.

"Got something to say? If not, hang up."

"You remember the incident with Lucy Chen, right? The one you took advantage of?"

Evan's eyes flashed, his entire body stiffening. The alcohol sobered him almost instantly.

"If Lucy Chen doesn't ring a bell, how about these names -- Jessica, Maya? Remember them now? They're big names in the art world, past champions of the design competition. But they only won because they slept with you, right?"

By the time Dark Hunter finished, Evan's scalp tingled.

Even so, he refused to admit it.

"What nonsense are you spouting? Do you have any proof? I can sue you for defamation!"

"If it's not true, why are you so flustered? Want to see my evidence? Evan Grey, check the photos and videos I just sent you -- then call me back."

Dark Hunter hung up abruptly.

Moments later, videos and images appeared on Evan's phone.

Upon seeing them, he nearly fainted.

The footage was unspeakable -- yet undeniably showed him in a hotel room with those very champions.

Evan felt his entire career crumbling before his eyes. If this was exposed, the consequences would be catastrophic.

Without hesitation, he dialed the number back.

"How much do you want? Name your price!"

"Evan Grey, I don't want money."

"Then what do you want?" His voice grew tight. Someone who didn't want money was far more dangerous.

"Simple. The plagiarism scandal surrounding the design competition -- you started that, didn't you? Clear Kathy's name. She didn't plagiarize. End this farce."

The man exhaled in relief, but his heart sank again at the thought of Oliver.

"You want me to offend President Knight? Do you even know who's backing Oliver Howard?"

Compared to ruin and disgrace, Rayan was terrifying too!

"That's your problem. Maybe there's a way to save both sides. Figure it out yourself. You have one day. By tomorrow night, I want to see the clarification!"

The call ended abruptly.

Evan kicked a trash can in frustration and hurried off to find a solution.

One day. He had to issue a clarification without offending Oliver -- or the devil Rayan behind her.

How could this not be a death sentence?