Hailey's POV
Her words leave me stunned, and I stare at Jake, questions burning in my eyes. Charlotte smirks. "You just had to always get in the way. You were so desperate for his attention, so we let you think that you had finally gotten it." I face Jake. "Is this true?" He rolls his eyes. "What do you think? It was all pity. You should be glad I was able to pretend for so long. Do you realize how unbearable you are?" My whole relationship had been a perfectly orchestrated lie by my best friend. How much could she possibly hate me, if she was willing to go so far and so long, just to hurt me? "I hate you so much, Hailey," she sneers. "I would go any length, just to see you suffer. You always thought you had it all. Always trying to rub your perfect life in my face. You have no idea how satisfying seeing you heartbroken is." For a moment, I see the broken girl I met in my junior year of high school. Instead of anger, pity for her overwhelms me. She had an abusive childhood, and I see how much it has twisted her thinking. I shake my head. "Char. I never tried to show off to you. I wanted to include you in everything because I love - I loved you," I tell her. "I didn't just see you as a friend, but as a sister too." Suddenly, she lunges towards me, pushing me. I stumble back, not prepared for the encounter, but I manage to regain my balance. "Stop lying! You hated me! you always did!" She screams. Where did she get that narrative from? "I don't care about what you have to say. Seeing your little perfect bubble burst, is enough for me." Her eyes carry a mixture of satisfaction, and an indiscernible look. Hurt? Regret, maybe? Leaving them where they stand, I begin packing, taking my time to arrange my belongings. Organizing things always helped me calm down. Before I go back to them, I leave a special present in the bathroom, for Jake - and Charlotte, if she happens to stumble across it. By the time I'm done, the tears have already been long gone, replaced with a neutral expression. I come back to find them standing at the spot where I left them, as they watched me pack. "Are you happy?" I ask Charlotte, my voice flat. She eyes me, her face briefly contorting in confusion, but she quickly masks it with a cruel smirk. "Of course. Why wouldn't I be?" I nod, a sense of detachment washing over me. "As long as you're happy, I won't take it away from you." With that, I walk out of the house. Disregarding my already wet clothes and the pouring rain, I don't bother to fetch the umbrella from my bag, letting the rain on my body reflect how I feel inside. ... I sit in the club's bar, slowly downing my third bottle of wine. The effects have already started kicking in, and I already feel tipsy. I'm not one to drink often, but I do when it's needed. Like now, for example. I tried to be strong for a few hours after arriving at the hotel I lodged in, but eventually, the hurt hit hard. So I took the best option for a distraction; drinking myself senseless. I'm officially all alone in this city. The only friend I managed to keep in all my life, betrayed me with my boyfriend. I order another drink. Three shots of vodka, this time. I need something stronger to help me forget. "Another," I tell the bartender. He gives me a wry look and ignores me. 'Is he judging me?' "Hey! Bartender," I slur. "Aren't you hearing me? Bring me three more shots!" He still pretends not to hear, and it pisses me off. I click my teeth. "You are sooo disrespectfullll," I point at him dazedly, twirling my fingers in a circle. "I'm gonna... I'm gonna report you to your manager." A look of fear flashes across the bartender's features. Yet, he doesn't budge. "Look. You fucking cu-" I stop speaking, momentarily distracted by a strong, masculine hand settling around my waist. "Why's such a pretty lady drinking alone?" a deep, drawling voice asks, sliding into the stool next to me. The bartender takes the distraction as an opportunity to leave. The man's voice spreads a chill crawling down my spine that makes me tense up. I turn to him, a frown etching itself onto my face. "It's none of your business, okay?" A smirk twists his lips, a predatory curl. He leans in, the stench of cheap whiskey and cigarettes on him making my stomach churn. "When it concerns a pretty thing like you? Definitely my business." 'Ugh. What a lame-ass line.' The buzz of the wine starts fading, and my consciousness clears up. "Go away," I groan, waving my hand dismissively. The man does not take it kindly, his grip tightening around my waist in a manner that makes me stiffen. "Stop trying to be stubborn, baby," he growls, his breath hot in my ear. Disgusting. "I know your type," he slurs, invading my personal space, his foul smell filling my nostrils. "Come here looking for a quick shag, then pretend to be all innocent. You're nothing but a fucking whore." 'Is no one seeing this?' "I assure you, I'm gonna fuck that attitude out of you, whore." A surge of anger pushes through my fear. I shove him away, stumbling off the stool. "Can't you take a hint? I said no," I manage, my voice trembling but firm. I snatch my half-empty bottle of wine and flee, the music from the club fading behind me. So much for wanting to drink away my sorrows. The streetlights cast long, distorted shadows on the pavement, in a manner that makes me uneasy. I've never been a fan of late nights. Instead of ordering an Uber, I brave it, walking my way to the hotel, just a few blocks away from the club. Footsteps echo closely behind me. My heart hammers against my chest, as I get the feeling I'm being followed. I fumble my bag, looking for the pepper spray I always carry around. I don't find it. Shit. I quicken my pace, clutching my bag tightly. The footsteps grow louder as the person approaches me. "Look," I call out into the space, my voice tight. "I don't have anything. Just leave me alone." "Babygirl," The familiar, revolting voice of the man from the club echoes through the night. I whirl around, a knot forming in my gut. "You didn't think I would let you go, did you?"Hailey's POV The man looms in front of me, and I'm able to trace out his huge form in the darkness. He towers above me by at least a feet, his presence intimidating and radiating menace. The alcohol is completely gone now, leaving me sobered up, and I realize just how vulnerable I am. Trying to act smart would do nothing to help right now, as he can easily overpower me with his size, so I settle for the next best thing. Begging. "Please, just let me go. What do you want?" He chuckles, a low sound that makes my skin crawl. He steps closer, backing me against the cold brick wall. "Don't come any closer," I warn him, trying to portray the boldness I don't feel, but my voice betrays me. He blocks me from the street, so if anyone were to pass by, they wouldn't be able to see what's happening. "Now, why would I do that, baby girl? When I have you right where I want you?" His calloused palm grazes my cheek, sending a jolt of revulsion through me. His other hand begins to ro
Hailey's POV The stranger had driven me back to the hotel in comfortable silence. Coincidentally, he happened to be staying here too, and in the room opposite mine. When he first dropped me off and followed me to the elevator, I thought it was for my safety. But it turned out he was just trying to get to his own room. I still don't know his name though. I couldn't find the courage to ask, and he seemed like wasn't going to share it either - the excuse I gave myself for not asking. When I get to my room, the first thing I do is strip off my ruined shirt, then I take a long, hot bath to get rid of the stench and stress from the day. The bath eases the physical tension, but the memory of the assault is still firmly imprinted in my mind. Although the biker had called the cops, it still feels like the man would suddenly appear in my room to finish what he started. Speaking of cops, I can't believe I thought he was one. A smile tugs on my lips. I should have known from his
Hailey's POV I wake up to the shrill cry of my alarm from my bedside table. "Just a few more minutes," I mumble, my eyes still sealed. I fumble around for the annoying device, but I send it crashing to the ground, forcing me to finally open my eyes. I instantly regret doing so, as the sunlight filtering into the room is blinding. I forgot to draw the blinds before I went to sleep last night. Shading my eyes with the back of my hand, I sit up in bed. I feel groggy, my head feels like there's a whole parade going on in it. The alarm still blares, only adding to my headache. I bend to pick it up, but I instantly regret it, as a wave of nausea washes over me. I bolt for the bathroom, the remaining contents of my dinner heaving into the toilet. Since the week began, I've been battling new issues in my body every day. Headaches, dizzy spells, tiredness, and most recently, nausea and vomiting. Bloated and sluggish, I stare at my reflection. Each glance at myself in the mirror
Levi's POV"I know, Dad." I pinch my nose bridge, trying to stifle a sigh that threatens to escape. I wish my father would just get off my back. He's been pressuring me for over a year to get married, or to produce an heir. It only got worse in this past month. If only he could understand that marriage isn't a business transaction, even if it's for the sake of his empire. I'm still young, still strong. I have enough time on my hands to decide if and when I want to procreate. "The least you could do is get a girlfriend, Levi," my father speaks up again. "I've been lenient enough. If you don't get a wife, or a grandchild by this time next year, you can forget about taking over the legacy.""Dad-" I cut myself short as the line goes dead. I hung up. Of course. A string of profanities escapes my lips, and I almost fling my phone across the room. Just then, the door clicks open, and my secretary, Sarah, walks in. The file in her trembling hands shakes slightly. "Don't you know how to f
Levi's POV The lady from that night, three weeks ago. The lady that gave me the best sex of my life, and then decided to disappear from the face of the earth without even telling me so much as her name. Not even a curtsey "thanks," for saving her life - although the sex was more than enough. She stands across the hotel lobby, the same hotel where all that happened. She doesn't notice me though, engrossed in a conversation with a lanky, pale-looking guy with sandy blonde hair and blue eyes. 'Is this the kind of guy she likes?' the unwelcome thought flashes across my mind, as I hear her laughing at another thing he says. I don't realize how long I have been staring until Walker taps my hand. "Why did you stop?"He follows the direction of my gaze, and his eyes widen when they land on the lady. "Damn. She's stunning," he whistles lowly. I tear my gaze away from her to eye him. "What? I mean, look at her."I want to punch him for his remark, but he's not lying. Anyone with a working
Hailey's POV It's been two weeks since I met the stranger again - Well, not just any stranger, but Levi King - and I can't seem to wrap my head around the fact that I'm pregnant with his child, after a reckless one-night stand. He gave me his contact card and number, but I still can't bring myself to call him. It's not that I'm desperate. I don't even need his money or anything, I just want him to know that he's about to become a father, and I also want my child to know her father. That brings me to why I’ve been staring at the message icon on my phone for the last few minutes, too nervous to type a single word. "If you won't text him, then I will," Matt says, snatching my phone out of my hand. I told him bits of the story when he wouldn’t stop pestering me after my conversation with Levi two weeks ago. I didn’t want to burden him with the details, but Matt’s persistent, and I guess it felt good to talk to someone. I can't bring myself to take my phone back. He might a
Levi's POV "You're the father of the child I'm carrying," Hailey says. A loud ringing fills my ears. I barely register her words at first. Me? A father? How's that even possible? I'm not impotent, but I could swear I was careful. The events of that night rush back to me like a flood. "Oh God," she moaned, digging her fingers into my shoulders, urging me to go faster. I increased the pace of my thrusts, gripping her body firmly until she finally came undone all over my cock. Shortly after, I felt my own release build. "I'm coming soon babydoll," I told her. I started to pull out, but she stopped me, guiding me back into her. She looked so sexy doing that. "I'm on birth control," she'd assured me. I hesitated, but the look in her eyes convinced me. I thrust into her again, deep and hard, until I spilled inside her. I'm not even in the mind to get turned on by the memory, too pissed at our carelessness. "You said you were on birth control," I point out, my v
Levi's POV The loud buzz of the club's speaker vibrates through me as I sit at the bar, drinking my third shot of vodka. After enduring five more gruesome hours in the office after Hailey left, I came to the club to drown my frustration. Hailey's tear-streaked face keeps appearing in my mind's eye, and a pang of guilt follows after. A warm hand lands on my shoulder, running down my arm and interrupting my thoughts. I'm immediately grateful for the relief. Then, I feel the warm breath on my neck, making my hair stand. A slurring, breathy voice follows. "I noticed you sitting over here for a while now. Would you like some company?" I'm not that drunk to misunderstand her intentions, but I nod anyway, pulling the stool by my side closer. I tap on it, inviting her to sit down. I know she probably wants us to leave the club together, but I'm not in the mood for that. Not today. And if I don't find a way to make things right with Hailey, I'm not sure I'll ever be in the mo
Hailey's POV The room swims into focus moments after I open my eyes. With a groan, I roll out of bed but immediately regret it as the now-familiar ache pounds in my head.Not long after, a wave of nausea hits me, sending me rushing to the bathroom. I barely make it in time before emptying the remnants of last night's dinner into the toilet. 'I really need to start accepting that my meals won’t last long these days.'Even when it seems like there's nothing left, I stay on the floor for two extra minutes —just in case. Eventually, I flush, freshen up, and head back to my room to get dressed.I slip into a short brown skirt and a black turtleneck, layering the matching jacket over it. A black purse and loafers complete the look. One habit I've developed over the years is ensuring my outfits always match in color and shade. My love for coordinating colors once made me consider a career in interior decorating, but I had to put my family's business first.Once I’ve gathered everything I ne
Levi's POVI pull into the garage and step out to open the door for Hailey. She fell asleep almost as soon as we started driving back. I’d expected the conversation to continue, maybe even get to know each other a little more. Instead, things ended abruptly, and I let myself get too comfortable - making things awkward in the process. I sigh and shake her shoulder lightly. "Hey, we’re here. Wake up." She mumbles something incoherent, shifting to her side - then promptly smacks me in the face. I huff, rubbing my jaw. "Hailey, we're home." 'Home.' Sounds kinda nice. I've never seriously considered settling down - outside the pressure from my father - but I guess the thought of starting a family and having a home with someone I love, is strangely appealing. She stirs slightly, her lashes fluttering open before her eyes squeeze shut again. "Go away, Jake," she mumbles, swatting at my hand. I freeze. 'Jake.' If I remember correctly, her mum mentioned the name the other da
Hailey's POV I stay silent, staring out at the passing cars until a new waiter brings our food. As soon as the waiter leaves, Levi exhales. "Hailey, I planned this so we could get to know each other. If we can't even talk, what's the point?" He pushes back his chair, getting ready to stand. "We should just go back. I'll pay for the food." Before he can move, I stop him. "Quit being so dramatic, Levi," I roll my eyes. "Just sit, and I will try to be more civil." He hesitates, watching me carefully, then sighs and lowers himself to his seat. "I'm sorry for the way I acted," he mutters. "It's fine." A beat passes. "I'm also sorry for blaming you," I admit. "I was just upset with how you handled things. I wish you'd found a better way to control the situation instead of trying to intimidate the poor waiter. He was only doing his job." "I'll do better next time." I shake my head. "Oh, no. Let's hope there's no next time." An unreadable look crosses his face. "Why? You do
Hailey's POV Levi holds the car door open for me as we arrive at a modest-looking restaurant. I step out, still irritated about the compliment he'd given me earlier. I don’t thank him, maintaining the same silence we had on the drive over. The valet takes his keys, and as we approach, the doorman pulls the entrance open for us. For somewhere Levi has described as "not too fancy," the place certainly gives off that extremely fancy vibe. With tables set for two, a live band playing soft music in the corner, and guests who look like they each have at least one yacht to their name. The men wear tailored suits, while the women glide through the room in elegant dresses, their hair styled to perfection like they’ve just stepped off a magazine cover. Gold balloons fill the empty spaces on the floor and walls, making it clear there's something else happening here... like a celebration of some sort. My stomach tightens.And once again, I find myself facing the consequences of trusting
Hailey's POV "Uhm..." Levi hesitates. "How do I say this?" He exhales. "I want both of us to go out for dinner," he pauses, then his gaze sweeps over me. "Together." I sit up so fast that I nearly choke on my water, coughing violently. "What?!" Why the fuck would he startle me like that? I expected a heads-up or something. He'd come back from his outing a few minutes ago, while I lay on the couch, scrolling through my phone. Then he said he had something to tell me, but I wasn't expecting... this! Levi scratches the back of his neck. "I want us to go out for dinner." "Like a date?" I ask, my voice still raspy. His expression turns awkward. "Not really... But if you want it to be, you can think of it that." I raise an eyebrow. "Why would I want that?" "I just thought that's what you wanted to call it," he shrugs. "No. Why do you actually want us to go out?" Levi sighs. "I want us to get to know each other. My family would probably ask a lot of questions.
Levi's POV The only sound that fills the small, nondescript, cream-colored office is the relentless ticking of the clock on the desk. It's so loud and grating that I'm starting to think that it was put here specifically to test patients' patience. The room itself is sterile, designed to feel welcoming but failing miserably. Everything is white, except for the desk, chairs, and bookshelf. Technically, the bookshelf is also white, but I don’t count it - at least the books add some color. "So you claim you don't have any feelings for her?" My therapist asks, breaking the silence. 'Why does she keep asking me that?'She's been fixated on my relationship with Hailey ever since I slipped up and unintentionally blurted out how insufferable she is. What she doesn’t seem to grasp is - why would I use that word if I actually had feelings for her? She watches me over the rim of her tiny wire-framed glasses, waiting. I lean into the arm of the chair, meeting her stare. She sighs, removin
Levi's POV I return to the living room to find Hailey by the door, slipping on a pair of vans. She is dressed in simple brown cargo shorts and a white tank top that hugs her body perfectly, highlighting the volume of her supple breasts. I force my gaze away when she straightens up. 'Focus, Levi.' "You ready?" I ask. "Yeah," she responds, then pauses. "Are you okay?" I raise a brow. "I mean, you seemed tense when you got the phone call earlier..." Realization dawns on me. The call had been from my Dad. The call had been from my dad, letting me know that my cousin's wedding was moved up to this weekend. Since he knows I’m married, he skipped the usual, “I expect you to bring a girlfriend,” speech. Small blessings, I guess. Still, it stung that even after doing what he always wanted, it didn’t seem to matter. The call yesterday should have been enough, but it wasn’t. I expected at least a word of acknowledgment - some sign that I’d done the right thing. But no. Nothi
Hailey's POV A dull pounding echoes in my skull, dragging me out of unconsciousness. My vision swims before settling on unfamiliar surroundings, sending a jolt of unease through me. I sit up in bed, and that's when the events of yesterday come back to me. The call with both Levi and my parents, the pregnancy announcement, and the fight with Levi. Shit. His words hit me so hard that after I ran back to the room, I sat up in bed thinking about it for hours. I don't even remember falling asleep. What he'd said left a pang of guilt in my chest - not even because of how he said those things, but because they were true. Even if they aren't aware of it, I've disappointed my parents in so many ways by doing this. After thinking it over, I'm not sure lying to them is worth it. Why did I think I had to lie to them to keep their love? The momentary relief I felt yesterday now feels like a chain tightening around my chest. I made a huge mistake The faint smell of coffee seeps i
Levi's POV Of everything that happened today, at least the call with her parents went well. They were surprisingly cool - except for her father, who looked at me like he was mentally planning my execution. I get it, though. He’s protective. Must be nice, having parents who openly love you. I've walked around the neighborhood a few times now, and I've almost forgotten why I left my house in the first place. Oh, right. I wanted a drink. But I forgot my keys, and going back inside, only to see the look on Hailey’s face after my random exit, didn't exactly sound appealing. I sigh, rounding a corner and heading back in the direction of my house. I can't avoid going back any longer. Besides, it's late. Hopefully, she's asleep. I really needed this walk, and I'm thankful I forgot my keys. Because honestly? This walking-on-glass routine around her is already exhausting. I always have to be mindful of what I say or think all the time around her, and I don't know how long I can keep do