Chapter 35 Summary: Ongewenste Betovering (Unwanted Enchantment)

⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.

Summary

The chapter opens with Hazel waking early, still irritated by Cam's humiliation of her. She dresses and prepares for a confrontation, expecting the Bishop brothers' arrival. Cam and Levi show up with large bouquets of wildflowers stolen from their mother, apologising for their earlier behaviour. Both have fresh bruises from fighting. Gage then storms in, furious because Cam's ex-girlfriend Nina has poached the roofing crew for a Dominion project, delaying Hazel's roof repair. The incident sparks an idea in Hazel: she decides to spy on Dominion's operations. She bikes around town, conducts reconnaissance, and overhears Nina on a phone call in a public restroom, revealing Dominion's plan to take over Story Lake and build a golf course. Hazel then rides to Bishop Farm, exhausted, and shares the intel with Laura and Pep Bishop. They brainstorm ways to raise money to counter Dominion's scheme, and Pep insists on a family dinner to prepare for the upcoming town meeting. Cam finds Hazel in the office, and despite her lingering anger, they share an intense kiss. The chapter ends with Gage interrupting to call them for potato peeling, while more family members arrive.

Key Events

Hazel plans revenge on Cam by dressing immaculately and ignoring him.
Cam and Levi apologise with stolen flowers; their bruised faces hint at a physical fight.
Gage reveals that Nina has lured the roofing crew to Dominion for a higher-paying job.
Hazel gets an idea and leaves to research Dominion's activities.
She spies on Dominion and overhears Nina's phone call discussing the company's plan to "gobble up Story Lake" and develop a golf course.
Hazel bikes to Bishop Farm and informs Laura and Pep about Dominion's real goal.
The three women begin planning a fundraising countermove before the town meeting.
Pep orders a family dinner and invites Hazel's friend Zoey.
Cam corners Hazel in the office, they argue and then kiss passionately.
Gage interrupts, calling them to help with dinner preparations.

Character Development

Hazel moves from personal revenge against Cam to strategic community action. Her spying and alliance with the Bishop women show growing investment in Story Lake's future. The passionate kiss with Cam indicates she is emotionally torn but willing to re-engage. Cam demonstrates vulnerability by apologising with flowers and admitting jealousy. His persistence in seeking Hazel out suggests genuine feelings beyond their original arrangement. Levi and Gage support their brother while also asserting independence—Levi by winking at Hazel, Gage by openly confronting Cam about Nina. Laura and Pep emerge as pragmatic allies, ready to fight for their town. Nina is confirmed as a calculating antagonist, using her influence for Dominion. Zoey is set up as a potential problem-solver due to her background.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Community vs. Corporate Greed: Dominion's plan to build a golf course threatens Story Lake's character. The Bishop family and Hazel unite to protect local interests.
Unwanted Enchantment (title motif): Hazel mentally labels her physical attraction to Cam as an "unwanted enchantment," highlighting the conflict between her anger and desire.
Apologies and Reparation: The stolen flowers symbolise the brothers' attempt to make amends, but the bruises suggest that words alone aren't enough—actions (like fighting) also matter.
Espionage and Strategy: Hazel's reconnaissance mirrors the cat-and-mouse game between Dominion and the town. Information becomes a weapon.

Why This Chapter Matters

Chapter 35 pivots the plot from personal drama to a larger community conflict. Hazel's accidental eavesdropping exposes Dominion's true ambition, raising the stakes for the upcoming town meeting. The chapter deepens Hazel's integration into the Bishop family and her commitment to Story Lake. The romantic tension between Hazel and Cam is re-ignited, but now it coexists with a shared goal: saving the town. This chapter sets the stage for the climactic meeting where the residents must find a clever solution to outmaneuver Nina and Dominion.

Study Questions & Answers

1. What specific piece of information does Hazel overhear, and why is it significant?
Hazel hears Nina telling someone on the phone that Dominion plans to "gobble up Story Lake" and begin construction of a golf course. This is significant because it reveals that Dominion's ambitions go far beyond the sewer project—they aim to transform the town for corporate gain, threatening its rural character and economy.

2. How does Hazel's attitude toward Cam shift during this chapter?
At the start, Hazel is determined to stay angry and ignore Cam. After receiving the flowers and hearing his apology, she moves from "boos" to "geërgerd" (annoyed). By the end, despite still being irritated, she cannot resist his kiss, indicating that her romantic feelings are reawakening even as she tries to maintain distance.

3. Why does Hazel choose to confide in Laura and Pep rather than Cam?
Hazel believes Cam would dismiss her ideas regardless of merit, while Laura and Pep know the town intimately and can give honest feedback. She needs allies who will listen and act, not debate personal issues. This choice underscores Hazel's strategic thinking and her growing trust in the Bishop women.