Chapter Nine

Hailey nibbled on her breakfast, pondering over everything Mika had said. It was no wonder Nolan was so distant and cold towards others. Losing both parents at such a young age must have been incredibly difficult. At least she had been placed with foster parents when her mother passed away, even if they weren't the best parents in the world. But for Nolan, losing his parents wasn't the only tragedy he had faced. He had also lost the use of his legs and was forever confined to a wheelchair. It was a heartbreaking story, to say the least.

 

"Do you want seconds, little one?" the housekeeper asked Hailey, standing closely beside her. The bulky woman had dark Samoan coloring, and her tattoos served as a testament to her heritage. The tattoos, although not overly flashy or extreme, encircled her arms. They didn't detract from her motherly demeanor, which she displayed without any shame.

 

"No, thank you, ma'am. They were very nice, but..." Hailey's eyes quickly darted to where Nolan sat at the other end of the long dining table, engrossed in his phone. When her gaze returned to the motherly housekeeper, Mrs. June nodded in understanding and lowered her voice to a conspiratorial whisper.

 

"He doesn't have to know. I can see that you're very hungry."

 

Hailey pouted slightly, tempted by the offer. It was true that she was famished, but she was trying to behave like a lady. A lady never asked for seconds, or she would be seen as a glutton. Nolan already thought so little of her; why should she give him more reasons to doubt her maturity?

 

"I think I'll pass," she reluctantly concluded, pushing her plate away and rising to her feet. "It was a delicious breakfast. Thank you, ma'am." Mrs. June smiled at her and swiftly took the dishes away. She seemed like she had something to say but held herself back at the last minute. Perhaps it was for the better.

 

After finishing breakfast, Hailey began to feel inadequate and bored. She still didn't know her way around the large house and didn't want to trespass where she wasn't wanted.

 

"Nolan," she called in a meek tone. "Is there a library here? I would like to catch up on my reading."

 

He arched an eyebrow, as if surprised that she was capable of reading. The silent insult hung in the air, and she shifted uncomfortably under his intense gaze. It wasn't as if she had asked for a million dollars.

 

"Anything you need, you should ask your maid, Mika. I am not a butler or a nursemaid."

 

Hailey bit down on her tongue, swallowing a whimper. She hadn't done anything to deserve such a curt reply. She had never had a maid in her entire life. When she lived with the Bales, she had been the maid, doing all the odd chores without complaining even once. She was made to understand that she had to work harder to earn her keep and avoid being thrown out of their house—the only home she had known for the longest time.

 

"I'm sorry if I have offended you," she apologized, curtsied, and left the dining room. Nolan watched her walk away, curiosity piqued, and a pang of guilt pinched at him. Hailey Lincoln played the role of an innocent virgin to perfection and had even worn a white dress to enhance her pretense. However, he couldn't help but wonder why he hadn't complimented her looks or said something nice to her. Her dark hair was a sharp but lovely contrast to her outfit, and her big watery eyes were adorable. Why he had thought those things but hadn't expressed them

 

 aloud was beyond him.

 

An ostentatious cough reminded him that he wasn't alone in the room, and he frowned at Mrs. June. "What?"

 

She folded her arms across her chest, embodying her disappointment in his behavior and dismissal of his soon-to-be bride. She was let down by his disrespect and tightened her grip on the back of the chair she was leaning against. "I thought I raised you better, Nolan."

 

His steel-blue eyes hardened, and his lips formed a thin, grim line. "But you didn't raise me; Grandfather did. Stop acting like you know me or understand anything about me."

 

Mrs. June winced, hurt by his disrespect, but she held her tongue. She had been pushed aside from his life, and it was evident that their connection had dwindled. "That's because I don't know you anymore, Nolan—"

 

"It's Master Nolan to you," he interrupted, and without waiting for another word, he made his way out of the room. He wanted to be anywhere but there, arguing with the woman who had been almost like a mother to him. Yet, he realized he had been unnecessarily rude to her. It was all his grandfather's fault for orchestrating this betrothal behind his back and blackmailing him into accepting it. The old man was dying and wanted his grandson to be married before he passed away. Left to himself, Nolan knew he would never find a wife because his sarcastic nature would be too much for any woman to handle. His grandfather knew the same and had taken the liberty of finding him a wife.

 

The Lincolns and the Rothschilds had a lifelong understanding, and it had been agreed that a marriage between the two families was a long-desired decision. Gareth had given his consent when Nolan was concluding his studies in Australia, which were cut short by his accident. He was brought home immediately. Initially, he had vehemently opposed the idea of an arranged marriage, but Gareth had put an end to the argument with a threat:

 

"If you don't do as I say, when I die, I will ensure the family leadership moves to the minor family. I'm sure your Uncle Max would consider this good news."

 

With that, Nolan had given in, not wanting to lose his inheritance. He blamed it on his accident and his inability to literally walk away from the agreement. As he maneuvered his wheelchair through the corridors, he noticed that the door to the library was slightly ajar. He remembered Hailey's request to use his library and was about to wheel past when he heard a familiar deep chuckle. Hailey wasn't alone in there, unless she had developed a deep voice in a matter of minutes. Curiosity getting the better of him, he reversed his chair and ventured into the room, only to find Hailey and Uncle Max huddled over a book. Hailey was genuinely smiling, her face flushed from laughter, and a pang of jealousy gripped Nolan.