His innocent wife is a dangerous hacker.

The woman standing before her was beautiful.

Mature, elegant, with dark hair and striking blue eyes and the kind of presence that made the room feel smaller. She wore a cream-colored coat over a black dress, and her face was bare of makeup, but she didn’t need any. She was stunning.

Hazel’s gaze flicked to Dom, who was standing behind his mother, making exaggerated faces, wide eyes, frantic hand gestures, mouthing something that looked like she’s my mom, be cool, be cool.

Hazel’s frown deepened.

She felt something twist in her chest. Something uncomfortable. Something she didn’t want to name.

This beautiful, elegant woman standing in Dom’s house, looking like she belonged here. And Dom, standing behind her, looking at Hazel with those dark eyes, trying to communicate something she couldn’t quite understand.

She didn’t like it. The feeling of seeing him with another woman, any woman, made her stomach clench. Made her want to leave. Made her want to ask questions she had no right to ask.

Was this his girlfriend? His ex? The thought made her heart ache.

"You’re—" Hazel started, her voice catching.

"Hazel!" Dom stepped forward quickly, his voice too loud. "She’s my mom! This is my mother. She’s the doctor I was telling you about. The surgeon."

Hazel’s eyes widened. She stood up slowly, her laptop forgotten.

"Your... your mother is the doctor?"

Kaelani raised an eyebrow. "You didn’t tell her?"

Dom’s face flushed. "I was going to. I was building up to it."

"You were ’building up to it’?" Kaelani’s voice was dry. "For how long?"

"A few weeks."

"A few weeks, and you didn’t think to mention that the doctor you were recommending was your own mother?"

"I wanted her to say yes on her own merit!"

"I’m your mother. My merit is unquestionable."

Dom groaned. "Mom—"

But Hazel wasn’t listening to their bickering anymore. The uncomfortable twist in her chest had loosened, replaced by something else. Relief. Embarrassment. A warmth that spread through her cheeks.

His mother. Not his girlfriend. Not some mysterious beautiful woman he had been hiding. His mother.

She let out a breath she didn’t know she was holding.

"It’s nice to meet you," Hazel said, stepping forward and extending her hand. Her voice was steadier now, warmer. "I’m Hazel. Dom has told me a lot about you."

Kaelani took her hand, her grip firm. "Has he?"

"Only good things."

Kaelani’s lips curved. "I’m sure."

Hazel noticed, then, how beautiful Dom’s mother really was. The high cheekbones, the flawless skin, the dark blue eyes that were so much like his. She could see where Dom got his looks, the sharp jaw, the elegant bone structure, the kind of beauty that made people stop and stare.

"Thank you for coming," Hazel said. "Dom speaks very highly of your work."

Kaelani studied her for a moment, her dark blue eyes missing nothing. Then she nodded.

"We’ll talk," she said. "Later. After we deal with this." She gestured at the laptop screen, still displaying the footage of the figure outside.

Hazel nodded. "Of course."

Dom stepped between them, his hand on his mother’s shoulder. "Mom, why don’t you sit down? I’ll make coffee. Hazel, can you pull up the rest of the footage?"

Hazel nodded, already turning back to the laptop.

Kaelani sat on the couch, her posture perfect, her eyes following Hazel’s movements.

Dom disappeared into the kitchen, his heart pounding. His mother was here. Hazel was here. And someone had been watching his house.

He took a breath and started making coffee.

Kaelani leaned forward, her dark blue eyes fixed on the laptop screen, studying the footage of the hooded figure one more time. The image was frozen now, the figure captured mid-stride, head slightly tilted as if listening for something.

"What do you think, dear?" she asked, her voice thoughtful. "Who is this person?"

Hazel set her phone down, her brow furrowed as she replayed the footage in her mind. The way the figure moved, hesitant, almost nervous, not aggressive. The way he stood at the edge of the driveway, not approaching the door, not trying the handle. The way he had walked away when a car passed, his shoulders hunched, his steps quick but not hurried.

"I think," Hazel said slowly, "this person is a fan. Or someone who is stalking Dom. From his body language, the way he walks, the way he hesitates, he doesn’t seem like someone who is here to harm Dominique."

Kaelani nodded, her lips curving. She looked at Hazel with sparkling eyes, something warm and approving in her gaze.

"You’re smart," she said simply.

Hazel blinked, her cheeks flushing. "Thank you."

"And very beautiful."

Hazel’s blush deepened. She ducked her head, tucking her hair behind her ear, the scar on her cheek catching the morning light. "I’m not—"

"You are," Kaelani interrupted gently. "Don’t argue with your elders."

Dom’s mother laughed, the sound warm and genuine, filling the small living room with something soft and unexpected. Hazel looked up, startled, and found Kaelani watching her with kind eyes.

"Dear," Kaelani said, her voice softer now, "can I see your scar more closely?"

Hazel’s hand instinctively moved to her cheek, her fingers brushing the raised tissue. The familiar shame rose in her chest, the old instinct to hide, to look away, to make herself small.

But Kaelani’s gaze was not pitying. It was curious, professional and Kind.

"Okay," Hazel said quietly.

She closed her laptop, set it aside, and moved from the armchair to the couch, sitting beside Kaelani. Her heart was pounding, her palms damp, but she forced herself to sit still and not look away.

Kaelani turned to face her, her dark blue eyes focused. She reached out, her fingers gentle, and tilted Hazel’s face toward the light.

"The tissue is extensive," she murmured, her thumb brushing the edge of the scar. "But the underlying structure is good. The muscle hasn’t been damaged, only the surface layers."

Hazel held her breath.

"The color will fade with time and treatment. The texture can be smoothed." Kaelani’s eyes moved over the scar, missing nothing. "It will take multiple surgeries. At least three, maybe four. The recovery will be long. The results won’t be perfect, but they will be significant."

"You’ve seen worse?" Hazel whispered.

"I’ve seen worse." Kaelani met her eyes. "And I’ve fixed worse."

Hazel’s throat tightened.

"I’m not promising anything," Kaelani continued, her voice firm but gentle. "I need to run tests, review your history, consult with my colleagues. But I think I can help you."

Hazel nodded, not trusting her voice.

Kaelani released her, leaning back against the couch. "You’re brave," she said. "To keep trying. To keep hoping."

"I stopped hoping," Hazel admitted. "Dom made me start again."

Kaelani smiled. "He has that effect on people."

From the kitchen, the sound of the coffee maker beeping echoed through the house. Dom’s voice called out, "Coffee’s almost ready!"

Neither woman moved.

"Thank you," Hazel said quietly.

"Don’t thank me yet." Kaelani patted her hand. "Thank me after the surgery."

Hazel smiled.