Chapter 28

HAILEE'S POV.

I lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, trying to calm my racing heart. Sebastian had come into the room and I couldn't help but scream. I knew he was the one who had me chained up and left to die, and now he was here, watching me. But as I screamed, he just smiled, and that smile made me more scared than anything else.

He left the room, and I could hear his footsteps echoing down the hallway. I took a deep breath and tried to collect myself. I knew I couldn't let him see that I was scared of him. It was just a pretense, after all. The doctor had helped me play this game.

I heard a knock at the door and the doctor entered the room. "Are you alright, Hailee?" he asked, concern etched on his face.

"I'm fine," I lied. "I just didn't expect him to be here so soon."

The doctor nodded. "I understand. But you have to keep up the pretense. If he thinks you're scared of him, he'll have more power over you."

"I know," I said, "but it's hard. He's so... intense."

The doctor gave me a