The One She Loved to Hate

The wedding had barely started when the lights went out. Then came the moans—from the giant screen behind the altar. Hailey froze. Her skin went ghost-pale. Her whole body shook. A beat later, the doors slammed open. Leading the charge? Nolan. Cold eyes, sharp suit, and bodyguards in tow. He stormed the stage. The groom tried to stop him. Big mistake. Nolan's guys dropped him in seconds. Nolan grabbed a fistful of the groom's hair and yanked his head back. "Heh. I've slept with Hailey hundreds—maybe thousands—of times. Used condoms alone could fill your house. Wanna see the HD vids?" Hailey's eyes locked on Nolan, pure hate. She'd been his kept woman for eight years. He loathed her family. He loathed her. Swore she'd never know peace. Then she disappeared—and he lost his mind. Chapter 1 The wedding had barely started when the lights went out. Then came the moans—from the giant screen behind the altar. Hailey Hart froze. Her skin went ghost-pale. Her whole body shook. A beat later, the doors slammed open. Leading the charge? Nolan Thorne. Cold eyes, sharp suit, and bodyguards in tow. He stormed the stage like he owned it. Ethan Gardner, the groom, tried to stop him. Big mistake. Nolan's guys dropped him in seconds. Nolan grabbed a fistful of Ethan's hair and yanked his head back. "Heh. I've slept with Hailey hundreds—maybe thousands—of times. Used condoms alone could fill your house. Wanna see the HD vids?" Ethan's face twisted. He looked at Hailey. She couldn't move. The crowd gasped. "Seriously? He picked HER?" "That skank tried to marry my son? She's disgusting! "Hailey, you're a shameless tramp! No wonder you were so desperate—you've been passed around!" "Gross. Just straight-up nasty. Did you hear those noises? Total trash. No class. Who even raised her?" The insults flew. Hailey backed up—until Nolan grabbed her waist and pulled her in. She slashed at him, nails catching his lip. Blood smeared his smirk. "Nolan, you sick freak!" His eyes darkened. He grabbed her jaw, yanked her close, and bit her lip—hard. The crowd lost it. To them, it just proved everything they'd said. Then Nolan scooped her up like she weighed nothing. Her wedding gown flowed behind her—like some fairytale. If only it wasn't him. *** In the car. "Mr. Thorne, where to?" "Back to Northwick." Nolan's voice was ice. His gaze dropped to Hailey's wedding dress—white, perfect. His thumb swiped her red lips, then smeared the color across her cheek like war paint. He grabbed her neck and yanked her in. "Nolan, let me go!" She thrashed, but he didn't move. His grip only tightened as the privacy divider slid up. She was trapped. No out. Just the heat of his rage. But she didn't fold. Hailey stared him down, eyes locked on his. Then he struck—hand clamped around her jaw. Pain shot through her skull. Her vision blurred. He leaned in, sneering. "This hurts? You really thought biting your tongue would be some noble exit?" Everything went black before she could answer. *** In her dream, Hailey was back in the good old days. Her parents—Donovan and Amelia—were alive, doting. And Nolan? Always nearby with that soft smile and sweet lies. Back then, she was still the Hart heiress. Untouchable. Nolan was the kid of Donovan's old best friend, Frederick. After Frederick died, Donovan took him in, treated him like his own. Nolan played perfect—polite, sharp, golden boy. With no sons of his own, Donovan planned to give him everything. Hart Corp. Hailey. The future. Then it all flipped. Nolan came out of the study, stone-faced. He brushed past her, knocking away her hand. A scream followed. Donovan was dead. Scissors in the chest. Suicide. Next day, the cops came with baggage. Turns out, the dad she adored had messed up big. Bad enough to ruin Nolan's father and shatter his mom completely. So Nolan made a vow: take down the Hart family. Every last piece. Starting with Donovan's pride and joy—Hailey. Eight years. She was his mistress. Humiliated. Used. *** Hailey shot awake. The room hit like a slap—perfect, familiar. And just like that, the despair came flooding in. Chapter 2 She was back. Same room, same vibe. Like the whole year she'd been gone didn't even scratch the surface. Not a speck of dust out of place. A sound echoed outside her door. Barefoot, she slipped off the bed. Her room—always the guest room—sat at the end of the hall. Separate. Distant. But the noise? It was coming from Nolan's room. The door was cracked open. She wasn't even close when the sounds hit—low groans, breathy moans. A guy's growl. A girl coming undone. Hailey froze. Eyes wide. Feet glued to the floor. On Nolan's bed—there she was. "Jordyn!" Her sister. No. No way. Not her. Stunned, Hailey lunged and yanked Jordyn off the bed. Jordyn—undressed—met her gaze with this eerie calm. Maybe even smug. "You're hurting me," she said like Hailey was the problem, shoving her off. Nolan sat up, robe loose, cigarette in hand like nothing happened. Smoke drifted her way as he gave Hailey that same twisted smirk. Her fists clenched. Nails digging in. Tears spilled before she could stop them. "Nolan, it's bad enough you won't leave me alone, but why Jordyn? She was just a kid when something happened to your parents. She didn't know anyth—" He lunged. Slammed her down on the bed, hand crushing her throat. His eyes—cold, empty—locked on hers. He leaned in, lips brushing her ear. Voice soft, lethal. "You don't get to mention my parents." Her face drained. The room reeked of intimacy. She lay there, gasping, eyes locked on Jordyn. But Jordyn only looked at Nolan. No shame. Just hunger. Then her eyes hit Hailey—burning with jealousy and hate. Nolan let go. Hailey sucked in air, coughing. He felt no remorse. Not even a flicker. His robe hung open. Eyes red, zoned in on Jordyn now. He squinted, voice slow and cruel. "Well, your sister's seen us. What now?" Like he almost cared. Jordyn lit up and threw herself at him, her soft body melting into his like she belonged there. "The Hart family's dead to me," she purred. "I don't have a sister like her." Hailey's pupils shrank. Lips quivered. She wanted to ask why—but nothing came out. Nolan's smirk twisted deeper. Then, right in front of her, he untied his robe. "What's the point of sneaking peeks?" He tipped Jordyn's chin up and took her lips into his mouth. Hailey shook, then bolted. "Stop!" Nolan snapped. "One more step and I pull your mom's oxygen—right now." She froze. Her whole body trembled, back still to the bed. The sounds behind her were unmistakable. Intimate. Vicious. One voice was her sister's. The other—Nolan's. The man she once loved like he hung the moon. She didn't know how long she stood there, numb and dazed. But Nolan wasn't done. He wanted her watching. So she turned. Then he mocked her for looking like a ghost. So she moved—to the corner. She crouched down, eyes locked on her feet. Finally, the noises stopped. Something landed near her foot. A used condom. Sticky fluid leaking out. "Hailey, go give Jordyn a bath." Chapter 3 When Hailey stepped out of Nolan's bedroom, her legs felt like bricks. She didn't go far—just collapsed onto the couch and waited. Jordyn came down in full glam: designer outfit, Chanel bag swinging. That's when Hailey's lashes fluttered. "Why?" Her voice scraped like ash. "Why what?" Jordyn's tone dripped with sarcasm. "Why I slept with Nolan? Or why I ditched you and the Hart name?" Her eyes gleamed with spite. "Please. You knew I liked Nolan. We're both Dad's daughters—so why'd you get it all? I liked him first! Who cares if I was younger? What makes you so special?" Jordyn's words stabbed deep. Hailey's fists clenched. "Even so, how could you be with him? Did you forget why Dad's dead?" "So what? He had it coming." Jordyn leaned in, voice like a blade. "If you were gonna run, why didn't you stay gone?" Hailey stared at the sister she once loved more than anything. Her eyes, hollow and heavy, held a grief too deep to say out loud. "You really think he'll pick you? He's using you—to trash Dad's name, to trash all of us." Jordyn didn't flinch. Just turned and walked off. Hailey dropped to the floor, completely wrecked. Her eyes drifted upward—and there he was. Nolan stood at the top of the stairs, silent. Cold. Just watching her break. *** With Jordyn around, Nolan stopped barging into Hailey's room like before—no more tearing her clothes off, no more forced nights. Now he made her stand guard outside his bedroom. She'd lost count of how many times she sat there, numb to the sounds on the other side. Her heart? Dead quiet. Nolan dragged Hailey back to the company, slapped "assistant" on her again. People she used to work with wouldn't even look at her. Her phone buzzed. Nolan's voice was ice. "You'll go in my place to tonight's dinner." Click. He didn't wait for a reply. Jane from PR dropped off a folder, eyes flicking with sympathy. "Ms. Hart, Robert Ramirez is a total creep. Just... watch yourself, okay?" Before Hailey could say anything, another coworker yanked Jane away. "Are you dumb? Mr. Thorne's setting her up. Ramirez is a known perv—yet he's sending her alone." Hailey clenched the folder—then pictured her mom, Amelia, still hooked up to machines in the ICU. Her body eased, just a little. She'd spent a year on the run, doing everything she could to keep Amelia hidden from Nolan. But he still found them. She honestly didn't know what else to do to make him stop. To let her go. To leave her family alone. Donovan dying hadn't been enough. So... would her death be? The thought iced her veins. She shook it off fast. She couldn't die. Not yet. If she did, who'd look after Amelia? Jordyn? Please. She hated her—hated all things Hart. She hadn't visited their mom once. Just thinking about it made Hailey squeeze the folder tighter. *** That night, Hailey showed up early. She figured Robert would roll in with a team. Nope. He came solo. Dinner was gross from the jump. He kept trying to slide his hand over hers. She yanked back, steadying her voice. "Mr. Ramirez, if your company partners with ours, we'll absolutely hit those targets." Robert's greasy smile spread across his thick face. Then he went for it—skipped her hand this time and landed on her thigh. She flinched, tipping her wine glass straight onto him. Her face drained. "I'm so sorry—" But he didn't even bother pretending. Just clamped his hand around her wrist, eyes locked on her chest. "Ms. Hart, I came alone for a reason. You get it, right? Project's easy—just make me feel good. Real good. Do that, and I'll toss you eighty, ninety more deals. Whatever you want." Before she could even move, his hand slid under the table— Bang! The door flew open. Chapter 4 The wine bottle slipped from Hailey's hand and shattered on the floor. She froze, trembling, one jagged shard still clenched and pointing straight at Robert. Then—some guy stormed in. Robert shoved her hard. "What are you, PR or a hook-up? Quit faking and stop grabbing me!" Her arm smacked into the cabinet edge, pain shooting through her. The glass dropped from her hand. Before she could catch her breath, the guy from the doorway was already coming at her. She looked up, shocked. "Ethan—" Smack! Her head snapped sideways. Ethan stood over her, eyes blazing. "My mom was right. You're trash. You'll sleep with any guy who gives you a second look. Is that it, Hailey? Flash a little cash and you're ready to go?" Hailey's nails dug into her palm until it bled. She just stared at Ethan, stunned. She thought he'd come to save her. Ethan used to be gentle—more like a big brother than anything else. That's why she said yes to his proposal in the first place. But now? People believed whatever fit their story. No one had her back. No one believed her. Her throat burned like it was packed with needles. She swallowed hard. Even the taste of blood couldn't distract her. Robert scoffed under his breath. "So this is who you really are? And here I thought you were just playing coy." He glanced at Ethan. No reaction. That was all the permission he needed. His voice turned nastier by the second. "Should've figured. Your boss usually brings a whole crew. Sends just you? You must've been desperate to get laid." Ethan's face twisted with rage. Desperate to save face, he jumped in. "Please. She ditched me on our wedding day for some other guy. "They played her moans on the reception screens—sounded like a total slut. "Always acting innocent. Who knows how many guys have already used her? Makes you wonder what kind of trash raised her!" Smack! Ethan staggered back, hand flying to his cheek. Hailey stood still, her hand tingling from the hit. "Apologize!" she snapped. His face darkened. "Apologize? Keep dreaming." Then—he spat in her face. Before she could wipe it off, he grabbed her arm and dragged her out, yelling like a lunatic. "Check this out! Filthy little call girl—look at her face!" He shoved his phone in her face, holding her down as he took photo after photo. The fancy restaurant froze. Everyone stared. No one stepped in. Outside the VIP room, Hailey saw him—Nolan. Jordyn curled up beside him. He looked like a king, cold and untouchable. And he watched it all—watched her get torn apart, piece by piece. *** Back home, the lights were off. The second she stepped in, Hailey saw him—Nolan, sitting on the couch, face unreadable. Her clothes were wrinkled, makeup smeared. It was obvious she'd been crying. The sight yanked up memories he didn't ask for. Hailey had always been the stubborn one. Jordyn messed up, but Hailey took the fall. Even when she got hit, she never cracked. At night, Hailey used to sneak into his room, slip under the blanket, and curl up in his arms like it was the only place left. Nolan's jaw tightened. Fists clenched. Those memories should've died with Donovan. He stood and crossed the room. She looked up, hollow. "Nolan... is this enough?" "What?" "All of it. Does it pay back what my dad did to you? If not, just give me a deadline..." No answer. He grabbed her chin, forcing her to meet his eyes. The moonlight cut across his face, cold and sharp. "Don't even think about running, Hailey. Not in this lifetime." Chapter 5 Nolan scooped her up, hands clamped around her waist so tight she flinched. He acted as if he couldn't see it— He didn't loosen his grip. If anything, it got worse. He carried her straight to the master bedroom, and Hailey knew—knew exactly what he was about to do. She shoved at him, panic rising fast. Not long ago, he'd been in this same bed with Jordyn. And now—now he wanted her in it? Her struggle only made his bloodshot eyes go darker. "Oh, I see. You don't want me touching you? Then who? That fiancé who dragged you through the dirt?" Hailey froze. His words hit like a switch, dragging her straight back to the restaurant—those stares, the jeers, the humiliation. Nolan didn't even notice her shutting down. He took her silence as guilt, and snapped. "You really are that cheap? After everything he did, you still want him?" He ripped at her clothes, sank his teeth into her shoulder. "Hailey, I need to know!" His leg shoved between hers. And all she could see was that used condom—tossed at her feet like garbage. Jordyn's. His. Her stomach lurched. With everything she had, she shoved him off and bolted for the bathroom. Moments later, a crash rang out—furniture splintering, glass breaking. When Hailey stepped out, the room was trashed. Nolan was gone. She just stood there, pale and hollow, hunched like something had cracked inside her. Eyes empty, she drifted back to her room. She called the nurse. "Can I see my mom?" "Ms. Hart, great news—she might wake up very soon!" Hailey wiped her face fast. "That's... that's amazing. Thank you." But the tears didn't stop. She snapped a screenshot of her mom's livestream, and hugged the phone to her chest as silent sobs shook her. At some point, she cried herself to sleep right there on the floor. *** Noise from outside jolted Hailey awake. Thirsty, she headed out for water—flipped on the light and froze. Two undressed bodies. One was definitely Nolan. The other... Nadine. Her cousin. Her younger cousin. Hailey's vision went red. She marched straight up and slapped Nolan hard across the face. "You sick freak!" Nadine scrambled for her clothes, panic all over her. "H-Hailey, don't—don't hit Nolan. I... I wanted to." Hailey's heart cracked in two. But her eyes locked on Nolan, full of venom. She thought if he wanted revenge on the Hart family, she could take it. But this? He wasn't just destroying her. He was dragging down the rest of her blood. Eight years—he kept her as mistress, used, humiliated. And now he was going after the girls in her family too. Nolan licked his lip, eyes gleaming like a blade. He kicked Nadine out. She banged on the door, sobbing, begging to be let back in. But he didn't even look her way. His focus was all on Hailey. He grabbed her throat and slammed her onto the couch. His body burned against hers, pinning her down, mouth crashing into hers to smother her scream. She could still smell Nadine on him. Tears streamed down her cheeks. He didn't stop. When she saw him push into her—still wearing the same condom he'd used on Nadine—something inside her snapped. "Nolan, I hate you!" He froze. Then he bit down on her lip—hard—until blood spilled. In the pale moonlight, mouth stained red, he leaned in and sneered. "You don't get to say that." Chapter 6 Hailey didn't know how long Nolan kept going. All she remembered was the fever burning through her body, her mouth running with words she couldn't even recall. Somewhere in the haze, her mind drifted... She used to love hiking. Nolan would tag along, mountain after mountain. Once, she heard about this love-wish tree on a far-off peak. The trail was brutal, unmarked, risky. She wanted to go. But that time, Nolan said no. Back then, she didn't get it. He'd never seen a future with her—wasn't about to chase some stupid tree for love. So she went anyway. Packed her bag, told no one. And it rained. Hard. She got stranded on the mountain. She never found the tree—but she did find Nolan. Soaked. Furious. Eyes wild. Before she could say a word, he started shouting. She just stood there, stunned, heart crumbling. Then—he pulled her in. Tight. Like he'd almost lost her for good. His chest pounded. His grip was crushing. In that second, she knew— Finding the tree didn't matter anymore. *** When Hailey woke, the sharp sting of disinfectant hit her nose. She blinked—and there he was. Nolan. Staring at her like through a fog, face unreadable. But just as she tried to figure him out, he snapped back into that icy version of himself. "Fever didn't kill you. Too bad." Then he turned and walked out, leaving her alone in the hospital. During her stay, Nolan never showed. Not once. But his name kept blowing up on trending—first with an actress, then some up-and-coming model. Hailey didn't flinch. After eight years, her heart was wreckage. Pain barely registered. When she finally returned to Thorne Corp, every stare in the room landed on her. She didn't know why—until Jane walked up with a file. "Robert's dead." Hailey blinked. "What?" "Got caught with another guy's wife. Her husband beat him to death." A frown flickered across Hailey's face, then disappeared. For someone like Robert... it wasn't exactly a shock. Nolan didn't show all day. The secretarial pool hummed with whispers—some actress had supposedly caught his eye. Hailey's pen slipped from her hand. A thought crept in—if Nolan really wanted someone else... would he finally let go? Could she take her mom and get out for good? The idea wouldn't leave her alone. Even after work, she was still hoping. Just as Hailey stepped outside, someone lunged at her. Before she could react, a bottle came flying—its contents aimed straight at her face. She froze, eyes wide. "Hailey!" Nolan burst in, throwing himself in front of her. "You bitch!" the woman shrieked. "My son lost his job because of you! Now he's crippled! You're gonna pay with your life!" Nolan kicked her, hard. It was Ethan's mom. She hit the pavement, screaming. "You filthy pair! You ruined him—now me? I'll sue! I'll watch you rot!" Hailey just stared, numb, then turned to Nolan. Someone shouted, "Mr. Thorne, your arm!" Nolan's face went cold. Dark. "Take her away," he snapped. His voice—flat, emotionless—stabbed into Hailey like tiny silver blades. Stiff, she glanced down at his arm. "Nolan!" The crowd was growing. A petite woman shoved past the bodyguards and rushed to him, grabbing his arm with shaking hands. "That was acid! We have to go—now!" She didn't wait. Just dragged him toward the car. Hailey called out without thinking. "Why?" Nolan stopped. His face stayed blank—just the ghost of a smirk playing at his lips. Like he knew exactly what she meant. Like he was laughing at her for still hoping. "Why did I save you?" he said, voice low. "Your family owes me more than a thousand deaths could pay off. If you're gonna rot... you'll rot by my hand." The crowd thinned. And under the flickering streetlight, Hailey stood alone—small, quiet, and breaking. Chapter 7 Hailey didn't go home. She just rode the bus. For hours. Eventually, she ended up at the cemetery. She bought a bouquet of white lilies and laid them at Donovan's grave. It had been years. Her first time back. Not because she didn't want to—she just couldn't. She'd been too tired. Too wrecked. Staring at his headstone, all she felt was envy. He got to die and be done. No consequences. No guilt. No pain. She was still here, drowning in it. There was so much she wanted to say—but now that she was standing there, nothing came. So she just smiled, bitter and quiet. "I'm doing okay. Mom too. Jordyn... well, she's surviving, I guess." The wind brushed her face, soft and cool. Almost like it understood. Almost like it was sorry. *** When Hailey finally got home, drained and aching, she didn't expect to see Nolan. She froze, hand tightening around her bag. He should've still been in the hospital. But the second the door clicked shut, he looked up. Then—he stood. Crossed the room fast and stopped right in front of her. His voice was cold, every word like a blade. "Where were you?" Hailey tensed. "I... I went to the hospital, but I didn't know which one you were in, so I—" He moved—quick. His hand slid through her hair. Then he pulled back, holding a single lily petal between his fingers. Her eyes widened. Breath caught. Nolan stared at the petal. Then let out a strange, low laugh. "Phone broken? You went to the hospital? Brought flowers? Funeral ones? Seriously, Hailey—are you that eager for me to die? Think if I'm gone, you'll finally be free to marry whoever?" Hailey let out a slow breath. He hadn't figured it out. Thank God. Even his insults didn't sting anymore. Then—the doorbell rang. Nolan went to answer. "Nolan, you're so slow! Mike couldn't wait!" The second she heard the voice, Hailey turned toward the door— And a black blur came flying at her. Something massive slammed her down. Pain exploded as jaws clamped around her leg. "Ah!" she screamed. A pit bull. Its teeth dug in deeper. The woman rushed in after it. "Mike, let go! Let go or I'll hit you!" Tears streaked down Hailey's face. Through her blurred vision, she caught it—that smirk. The woman stroked the dog's head, gentle like a lullaby. And the gentler she got, the harder those jaws tore into Hailey's leg. Ripping. Shredding. Only when Hailey was barely conscious did the dog finally let go. Soaked in sweat, shaking, she collapsed—gone before she hit the floor. *** When Hailey came to, her leg was already wrapped up. Nolan was parked on the couch like he owned the place. At his feet? The same pit bull that had just torn into her—now chilling like it hadn't done a thing. She yanked her leg back on instinct, but it brushed the wound. Pain shot through her, and she curled up, shaking. Nolan glanced over, cool as ever, and gave the dog a lazy pat. "You seriously think I'm that dumb? Like I'd fall for your crap?" His smirk cut sharp—like he was laughing at how clever she thought she was. Chapter 8 Hailey got it instantly. If Nolan was dumb enough to buy her lies, he wouldn't have spent years playing the humble outsider, worming his way into her family—or dated the daughter of the man he hated most. Somewhere in the middle of her thoughts, he moved. By the time she blinked, he was right in front of her. He grabbed her chin, shoving her face toward the acid-burned mess on his arm. "I took acid for you. And this is how you repay me?" he sneered, dragging out the name. "Classic Hart." Hailey shrank back without thinking. The door creaked open, and she finally got a good look at the woman—the one who owned the dog. Vanessa Decker. Nolan's latest actress obsession. She waltzed in, all fake sweetness. "Ms. Hart, I'm sooo sorry. Mike didn't mean to bite. He just likes bones. Maybe you're a little too skinny—he got confused." She whipped out a crusty old bone from behind her back. "See? With this, he won't bite you again." Sure enough, the pit bull lit up, snatched the bone, and trotted over to Vanessa and Nolan. It flopped down in the corner, chewing with sharp teeth—crunch, crunch—like it was tearing something alive. The sound made Hailey's skin crawl. "Ew, Mike. You like crematorium bones too? Guess I'm not kissing you anymore." Thud! Something cracked in Hailey's head. She took off, leg screaming, but she didn't stop. In the living room— Her father's urn... was on the floor, tossed like trash. Tears streamed silently as she dropped to her knees and grabbed it. She thought her heart had died eight years ago. Turns out, that was nothing compared to this. "Hailey, you lied to me. You had to know this day was coming." Nolan's voice echoed behind her. He just stood there, watching her fall apart like it meant nothing. Then—smack!—a sharp slap lit up his face. "Nolan!" Vanessa ran over, cradling his cheek. Nolan shoved Vanessa off. Then his hand shot out, grabbing Hailey by the arm. His eyes burned red—just like the pit bull's. Hailey's were just as red now, blazing with hate. She blinked fast, fighting the tears. No way she'd let him see her break. "You piece of trash," she spat. Nolan let out a cold, twisted laugh. He dragged her outside, ripped off his tie, and bound her wrists before shoving her into the car. As the streets grew more familiar, Hailey started shaking. "Stop! I said stop!" She kicked the back of his seat with her good leg, but he didn't even blink. He drove like he was possessed. They pulled up to a rehab hospital. When she wouldn't budge, he slung her over his shoulder and stormed in. Her whole body trembled. Regret clawed at her chest. She never should've pushed him. The guy was unhinged. He didn't pause, didn't speak—just stormed straight into Amelia's room like he'd done it a hundred times. One hard kick, and the door slammed open. Then he threw Hailey onto the second bed. She screamed and fought, but he tore at her clothes, burying his face in her chest. The shock hit first. Then came the shame. Nolan leaned over her, sneering. "Your dad raped my mom. Now I've taken you—right in front of your mom. That intense enough for you?" Chapter 9 "Didn't you always hope she'd wake up? Maybe she's about to." Nolan sneered, then lowered his head, setting her skin on fire. "You bastard! Let me go!" Her thighs were pinned. She was bare. He'd only unzipped his pants. Tears streamed down her face. Her hair clung to her skin. Her lip—split and bleeding. Nolan drove into her like he wanted to destroy her. She squeezed her eyes shut, terrified to glance at the other bed. But he didn't stop. He forced her to open her eyes, made her watch. Made her see how he wrecked her. Only when he grunted and stilled did he finally stop, still crushing her beneath him. Then— "Ms. Hart, is that you? Your mother's awake—I was just about to call—" Her head whipped toward the door. Every drop of blood drained from her face. Closest to the door was Amelia's bed. Her eyes were open. She'd seen everything. Hatred and disgust burned in them. Then she turned away, bolted for the window. "No!" Hailey screamed, shoving Nolan off with everything she had. She didn't care how exposed she was—she lunged, reaching for Amelia's gown. Her fingers missed. A sickening thud. Silence. Hailey stood frozen, then staggered toward the window. Nolan yanked her back. He held her tight. His body, once warm, now ice-cold and shaking. "Ah!" Her scream ripped through the room. She swung at him, fists flying. "If you die," Nolan hissed, "I'll make sure your mom doesn't even get a body to bury! She won't rest—ever!" Her fists stopped midair. Something bitter climbed her throat. She coughed blood all over his white shirt—and collapsed. *** When Hailey woke up, she was weirdly calm. She handled the cremation, the burial—every step, like she was on autopilot. Then she picked a new plot and buried Donovan and Amelia together. When Nolan showed up with Mike's corpse, she didn't even glance up. "I beat this dog to death. If you behave and stay by my side to atone, maybe I'll make an exception for you." His voice dripped with fake generosity. Hailey didn't react. But that night, she asked to see the love-wish tree again. Nolan frowned. "That thing? It's a scam. You looked for it before—it's not real." She didn't argue, just stared at the ground. She figured he'd shut her down again. But then— "Go pack. I'll take you tomorrow." Her lashes fluttered. She stayed quiet and walked off. *** They left at dawn. Hours into the climb, the trail got rough. Hailey had a few hypoglycemic crashes, and Nolan had to stop each time. He glanced around, annoyed. "After today, if you keep acting like the walking dead, I'm done playing nice." "We're here." "What?" He turned, irritated. But Hailey was locked on the massive tree ahead. She'd never told anyone. That morning, after Donovan died, she'd gone searching for it again. And she'd found it. Hailey walked around the back, where one wrong step could send her over the edge. Nolan tensed, instinct kicking in. He moved to follow—then stopped cold. It hit him—how much he'd been hovering. Like his concern was some kind of gift. Hailey didn't notice. She dug around the base of the tree and found the red ribbon she'd tied all those years ago. Without flinching, she pulled out scissors and cut it. Nolan's face twisted, but before he could say a word— She turned. Her whole body shook with hate and regret. Eyes shut tight, she wouldn't even look at him. "Nolan Thorne, I wish I'd never met you." Then she jumped. His eyes went wide. He lunged. "Hailey!"