"Veins of Fire: The Hidden Queen"
Chapter 2: Shadows of Childhood
The garden of the Smith mansion bloomed with roses 🌹, their fragrance spreading through the warm afternoon. Children’s laughter echoed, but hidden within those innocent sounds were seeds of rivalry and unspoken emotions.
Hazel sat quietly under the oak tree, a book resting on her lap. She wasn’t like other kids — while most played hide and seek, she preferred reading, memorizing every line as though her mind was a vault. Her dark eyes glimmered with calm intelligence, yet her silence often made people think she was fragile.
Steven Hudson (ML & FL bff)
“Hazel, come join us!” Steven called out
Steven Hudson (ML & FL bff)
( his cheerful voice breaking the stillness. He was chasing butterflies 🦋 with his usual energy. His smile, warm and unshakable, always managed to bring a faint curve to Hazel’s lips.)
Before Hazel could respond, Sira grabbed Steven’s arm.
Sira Smith (Fl adoptive step sis)
“Why do you always call her? She’s boring. Play with me instead.” Her voice carried a sharpness, coated with sweetness only adults believed.
Sira’s beauty shone even as a child — golden curls, bright eyes, and a mischievous grin. But inside her, envy simmered.
Hazel Smith (FL)
Hazel lowered her gaze, pretending not to hear. She had long understood Sira’s dislike, but she never fought back. To Hazel, silence was more powerful than words.
David Hudson (Ml)
David stood by the fountain, watching the scene. His face was unreadable, lips pressed into a thin line.
Unlike Steven, he rarely spoke, but his eyes often followed Hazel. Even at a young age, something about her calm, cold nature pulled him in — though he’d never admit it.
Steven Hudson (ML & FL bff)
“Hazel doesn’t need to run to be strong,” Steven suddenly said, surprising both girls. “She’s… different. Special.”
Hazel Smith (FL)
His innocent words made Hazel blink in surprise. For the first time that day, a tiny smile curved her lips 😊.
Sira Smith (Fl adoptive step sis)
Sira’s face, however, burned with silent rage. Special? The word stabbed her heart. Why was Hazel always seen as the “special one” when she did nothing?
That evening, as the three families gathered for dinner at the long marble table, Hazel’s mother, Serina, proudly placed a cake Hazel had baked herself 🍰. Everyone praised the taste. Steven even clapped, his eyes glowing with admiration.
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