Page 54 of The Forever Vow

“Chloe!” She sprang to her feet. “What’s the matter?”

But I flew past her and threw open my brother’s door.

Noah and Hazel were sitting cross-legged on the floor, a bowl of cheese puffs between them, hollering at the television.

“Take that, Renegade Raider!” Hazel’s thumbs clicked furiously on the controller. “I’ve got you now!”

“Dude!” Noah wailed. “You’re shooting backward! I told you—”

“Noah!” I threw myself at him, spilling the cheese curls. “Are you okay?”

“Let go of me!” He wrenched free and peered over my shoulder at the screen. “Thanks a lot, Chloe, you just killed me. What’s the matter with you, huh?”

Hazel rose to her feet, her knees cracking.

“Mr. Windsor, Mrs. Windsor.” She looked at me, obviously concerned, as I clutched my brother. “Has something happened?”

“We need to speak with you, Hazel.” Bryce motioned for my brother. “Stay outside with Midge. Don’t go anywhere.”

“Seriously? I just lost my game!” Noah huffed as he left the room. “Don’t go anywhere, Hazel. We need a rematch.”

Bryce closed the door behind him, then turned to the maid. “I need to ask you something, and I’m sorry to have to do it.”

“What’s this about, Mr. Windsor?”

Bryce sighed. “Someone told me that you’d accepted a bribe from my father. Did he ask you to spy on us?”

Hazel bowed her head. “Yes, Mr. Windsor. He did.”

“And did you do it?”

“Not exactly.” Hazel dug into the pockets of her uniform, revealing a small zipped bag. “Here.” She handed it to Bryce.

He looked perplexed as he opened it and pulled out a wad of hundred-dollar bills. “You took his money?” Bryce sounded crushed.

Hazel raised her gaze to meet his. “Yes, Mr. Windsor. And I told him that I would spy for him. But I was only doing it to protect you. I only told him lies. And I planned to turn the money over to you, to put it into a trust for the boy.”

“For Noah?”

She nodded. “I wasn’t very kind to Mrs. Windsor when she first arrived here—I didn’t trust her intentions. Ever since you were a boy, I’ve been protective of you, Mr. Windsor. So I treated Mrs. Windsor too harshly.”

She peered past Bryce to me. “I believe she has your best interests at heart, Mr. Windsor. And I think you know me well enough to recognize that I would never be loyal to anyone but you. I did this to protect you. And I kept the money for the boy because I know what it feels like not to have parents looking out for you.”

She dropped her gaze. “If you feel it’s necessary to terminate me because I didn’t reveal this to you, I understand.”

“Aw Hazel, c’mon.” Bryce surprised all of us by sweeping her into his arms for a hug. She yelped, and he quickly released her. “You’ve been like a mother to me since my mom passed. I’m giving you a raise. I’m going to buy you a house wherever you want.”

“I only ever wanted to stay here and be of service.”

He smiled at her. “Then you can stay here and be of service. But I’m sending you on a trip someplace nice. All expenses paid, five-star all the way. How does that sound?”

For the first time ever, I saw Hazel crack a smile. “That sounds lovely, Mr. Windsor.”

I stepped forward. “Hazel, thank you for looking out for Noah while we were gone. And thank you for setting that money aside for him.” I was touched by her gesture. “I think Noah was really having fun hanging out with you. Is it okay if you stay with him a little longer? Bryce and I have some business to take care of.”

“Of course, Mrs. Windsor. It would be my pleasure.”

I brought my brother back in, and he immediately coerced her back to the floor. He handed her a cheese curl and an x-box controller. “We’re totally gonna win this game.”

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