Chapter 1086

Before Frederick's lips could reach hers, Hazel calmly intercepted him with a palm to his chest. She tilted her chin up, one brow arching in regal defiance. “Not now,” she said crisply. “Aunt Flo’s visiting.” With that, she rose, giving him a pointed look. “You're on your own tonight,” she declared, her tone final. The sharp click of her heels echoed through the room as she turned on her heel and ascended the stairs. The door to her room shut with a firm thud—unmistakably final. Frederick stood frozen for a moment, then exhaled through a quiet chuckle. That little minx… Still full of surprises. Inside her room, Hazel’s playful air evaporated, replaced by a cold, distant stillness. She slipped off her heels and perched cross-legged on the bed, the soft sheets rustling beneath her. From beneath the pillow, she retrieved an old, battered flip phone—its presence a jarring contrast to the sleek tech of the Peppa Pig-themed manor. She flicked it open and shut a few times, lost in thought. He