I Was Reborn

Hailey looked at the man silently. His eyes were light blue, and when her gaze met his, she felt her soul sucked in by the intensity of it. It was like a whirlpool pulling her in, leaving her in a daze. Hailey found herself blurting out the first thing that came to mind.

 

"I have died before. And I was reborn."

 

The words escaped her lips quickly, and she raised a palm to her mouth in shock as she realized what she had just revealed. Nolan fell silent, tapping his fingers on the wooden frame of the bed. Hailey immediately regretted telling him and was about to take it back when the door was suddenly pushed open by another stranger.

 

"You should b—Master Nolan!" the bald butler exclaimed, not noticing Nolan's presence in time. "You are not supposed to be in here."

 

The friendliness in the young man's countenance disappeared, replaced by a cold haze. "Last time I checked, I am the firstborn son of the Rothschild family, and nothing is limited or beyond my reach. You cannot tell me where I can or cannot go, regardless of my physical state. Now, make yourself useful and untie Miss Lincoln."

 

His authoritative tone left no doubt that he was accustomed to being in charge. Hailey watched the butler try to function under his obvious displeasure, his interlocked fingers betraying his fake smile.

 

"I'm sorry, Master Nolan. I will set Miss Lincoln free immediately."

 

The butler made his way to the lady on the bed and quickly undid the knots around her ankles, his hands shaking on her chains. Once she was freed from her captivity, Hailey tested her feet, gradually putting weight on them. When she was sure she wouldn't crumble to the floor, she stood tall, stretching out the cramps in her sore body. The butler stepped aside to give her some space.

 

"Sit down, Hailey; you are making me dizzy with these unpredictable movements of yours," Nolan ordered, and Hailey sank into a sofa, silent as a graveyard. Although he was in a wheelchair, he gave orders like a field sergeant and expected immediate obedience.

 

"Where is my father, Ferrell?" he directed his question to the edgy butler, who stood ramrod straight.

 

"He is in his study. He is quite busy though, and if I were you..."

 

"Well, luckily, I am not you," Nolan interrupted, waving the butler's words aside. "You can leave now."

 

Ferrell flashed another fake smile and exited the room. Hailey tried to avoid looking at the man seated in his wheelchair, resembling a king upon a throne. She examined her clothes; a simple black linen dress that did not belong to her. She hoped that her earlier words had been forgotten and they could move forward from it.

 

"Did you hit your head when you were brought here? Did you have a head concussion?" he suddenly asked, breaking the silence. Hailey blinked once to process the question and blinked again once she understood where he was coming from.

 

"No. No, I didn't! I am telling the truth. In my first life, my stepsister killed me, and I believe I was given a second chance. It sounds crazy, I know, but that's my story."

 

She wrung her fingers, avoiding his gaze. Nolan was not yet convinced, and she sounded like someone who had just returned from a psychiatric hospital. However, he could see her determination to make him believe her.

 

Nolan looked at her quietly as he formed his perception of her. Hailey Lincoln was, in summary, a very unconventional woman. Her hair was mussed against her face, but she was probably unaware of it, and the black linen dress suited

 

 her beautifully. Usually, black was a common color, but it looked especially different on her, and despite its thin material, it made her look very attractive.

 

"Your sister killed you in... in your other life?" he inquired, trying to go along with her half-brained story.

 

"No," she countered, shaking her head vehemently. "Cassidy is my stepsister, not my biological sister. She hated me and set me up with her fiance. On the same day, she killed me. I believe I was sent back to take my revenge on her. To do that, I cannot be married to you. I'm sorry, Master Nolan."

 

"You have no choice. The deed is done. Less than a month from today, you shall be walking down an aisle towards me, professing your undying love before everyone present. I will get you a psychiatrist so you can discuss your issues and hopefully find a solution."

 

"No!" Hailey yelled, rising on her feet and prancing toward the irritating man. She had assumed she could trust him, had confided in him, only to be considered crazy. "You can't do this!"

 

A knock fell on the door again, and the visitor eased the door open a bit. It was Cassidy, wearing a pleasant smile on her face. Cassidy's gaze fell on Nolan, and she was momentarily stunned. Nolan had always been an attractive man, and every time she saw him, she couldn't help but be drawn to him. However, she felt it was unfair that such an attractive man was crippled.

 

Nolan raised a brow at her unwelcome intrusion, and she gasped, blushing foolishly.

 

"I'm sorry, sir, but I was told my sister was in here. I just thought to drop by and say hi. I'm Cassidy."

 

"Cassidy, is it?" Nolan asked, glancing sideways at Hailey, who had stepped back to create distance between herself and her stepsister. She wasn't falling for Cassidy's tricks and looked forward to the day when she would be exposed. Her wrists hurt, but she was ready to fight her way out of the room if necessary.

 

"I will be outside, Miss Lincoln. Don't keep me waiting." Nolan wheeled himself out of the room, and Cassidy took a vacant seat.

 

"What do you want, Cassidy? Are you here to gloat?" Hailey attacked her harshly, a sneer on her lips. Cassidy did another dramatic gasp, pressing her palm against her chest in feigned hurt.

 

"Sister, I have no idea what I did to make you hate me so much. I understand that you are not happy about this situation, but Master Nolan is kind. You will not find a better man to love you."

 

"Then why didn't you marry him yourself, you snake?"

 

Cassidy lazily examined her nails, pouting like a child. "I'm not stupid, unlike you. I am educated, and I deserve a man who is not eternally stuck in a wheelchair. You came just in time to save me from a future that doesn't suit me. You are the sacrificial lamb, sister."