Setting the Trap

Hazel gripped her phone tight, listening to the loud, echoing splash of running water through the receiver. She knew exactly what that sound meant. After a woman gave birth to a child, she would invariably prioritize her child's future above all else. Fiona must feel exactly the same way she did. Since Daisy was not Bryce's biological child, Hazel felt zero remaining sentimental attachment to the man who had systematically ruined her life. She was acutely aware that he was likely curled up with Fiona at this very moment in some other apartment across town.

"What are you doing?" Hazel asked casually, letting the simple question hang in the air between them. "Why is the water running so loud?"

Bryce’s voice came through the speaker with a lazy, arrogant drawl. "Just brushing up. Getting ready for bed."

Hazel stared at the peeling paint on her locked bedroom door. She knew with absolute certainty that he was hiding in the bathroom, secretly answering her call behind his pregnant mistress’s back. She dropped all superficial pleasantries and cut straight to the chase.

"I want to immediately sell the house we are currently living in," she declared boldly.

The lazy drawl vanished in an instant. Bryce went on high alert. "Why do you want to sell our property?" he demanded sharply, his tone shifting into something hard and suspicious.

Hazel maintained a perfectly calm and reasonable demeanor, masking her disgust. "The community service center recently informed me about Daisy's impending school enrollment. They said children are placed in schools based on their local district. Living in this run-down old residential area means there are no good schools nearby. To secure Daisy's future education, we desperately need to liquidate our assets. We have to buy a much more expensive house located strictly within an urban school district."

Silence stretched over the line before Bryce spoke again, eagerly sniffing an opportunity. "Did you somehow make a large sum of money?"

Hazel quickly crushed that thought before he could build on it. "How could I make a large sum of money? You know my meager, modest salary better than anyone. We must sell our current home just to afford the down payment on the new one."

Bryce cleared his throat, beginning to hedge. "Well, regarding selling the house... I need some time to think about it."

He was clearly weighing his options, calculating how he could best manipulate the situation to his advantage. Sensing his greedy hesitation, Hazel flawlessly laid out her ultimate bait.

"Daisy is already three years old," she pointed out, her voice softening just enough to sound genuine. "What I'm proposing is that after we sell the old house and purchase the new one, we can put the pristine new property solely in your name. After that, we can finally get married, and Daisy can attend a top-tier kindergarten."

All of Bryce's hesitation vanished in a greedy heartbeat. He didn't even try to hide his eager satisfaction. "Sure. It's a deal."

"Make sure you come over to personally sign the documents on the day of the sale," Hazel instructed cleanly, locking the trap into place.

"I will," he eagerly agreed.

Before Hazel could end the call, Bryce attempted to squeeze even more out of her. "Hazel, listen. My mentor is unfairly holding up my thesis and won't let it pass. Can you immediately transfer a chunk of money to my account? I need to buy him an expensive gift to smooth things over."

Hazel's eyes narrowed. She was perfectly aware that the requested money was actually meant for Fiona’s costly prenatal care. She smoothly and sweetly deflected the demand.

"An average gift won't help your academic career," she insisted. "Keep your money for now. I will help you personally pick out something highly valuable to send to your mentor later."

Unable to find another plausible excuse to extract cash on the spot, Bryce sighed in obvious frustration. "Fine."

He reluctantly gave up and hung up the phone, completely unsuspicious of her sudden change in behavior. He likely just viewed her as the same pathetic, lovesick fool who would willingly sacrifice everything for his love and feel eternally grateful for the privilege.

Hazel stared intensely at the ended call screen. A dark, victorious smirk slowly crept over the corner of her lips. Once she successfully sold the house and secured the money in her own hands, she was going to take Daisy and run far away from Bryce and Brenda’s toxic grip.

She knew exactly what Bryce was truly plotting behind his agreeable facade. Most likely, once the old house was successfully sold and a brand-new school district home was bought and securely registered strictly under his name, he would ruthlessly kick her and Daisy out onto the streets.

After all, he and Fiona also needed a house within the school district in this big city to settle down for their child.