Hailey
Morning came quicker than I expected. I didn’t know when I had fallen asleep, but I woke up feeling the aftermath-my throat raw from all the sobs I had tried to swallow, my eyes swollen, my skin still burning.
After Damien walked away, I had rushed to the bathroom, turned on the shower, and stood beneath the scorching water for hours. Scrubbing. Scrubbing. Trying to erase him.
But it didn’t work.
I felt him everywhere.
Every inch of my skin. Every inch of my soul.
Every tear tracing down my face felt like his mocking fingers mapping paths along my body. Every trembling breath echoed with the sound of his cruel laughter. And when I stepped out, dripping and exhausted, and faced the mirror-
I saw it.
The evidence. His fingerprints still branded into my flesh, buried beneath blotchy red patches, hidden beneath the angry marks of my own nails.
Good. That was good.
And then I had staggered back to my bed and cried until there was nothing left.
And now-here I was. Awake, but barely alive. It was already ten. An hour late for college.
Well.
It seemed my body had at least tried to sleep off the heartache. Tried. Even if it had failed spectacularly. But my heart? That traitorous, wretched thing? It wasn’t even trying. It was making everything harder.
Because now that I truly thought about it-
I had let Damien Black walk all over me. He had trampled over my soul. And I still couldn’t hate him for it.
A bitter chuckle slipped past my lips. Pathetic. I turned on the faucet, splashed cold water on my face, forcing myself to wake up-to snap out of this. Then, expression blank, walls raised, I headed downstairs.
I never thought I’d have to use this mask again. But I had been forced to once-back when my father would leave me covered in bruises. And I’d still have to smile the next day, still have to pretend nothing happened, just so he wouldn’t snap and finish the job.
That was the sad part.
The only person who had ever made me feel safe… had brought me back to the past.
As I stepped into the living room, I saw Mom sitting on the sofa, chatting with someone. Coby was nowhere in sight. But there was an addition.
A woman; A beautiful brunette in red, perched elegantly beside my mother. Their conversation was light, smiles on both their faces.
But then-
She looked at me.
And Mom followed.
The moment my eyes landed on her, something ripped open inside me.
My wounds-freshened. The knife already buried in my chest twisted, deeper, deeper-
“Hey, honey.”
Mom spoke first. The woman simply stared, her expression unreadable.
“You’re finally awake! Come here-meet Jenna.”
The realization settled in.
So… this was why my heart ached.
I ran my tongue over my dry lips, forcing my feet to move, step by step, toward them. I repeated breathing techniques in my head, steadying myself, masking every crack in my composure before I finally stood before them.
“Good morning, Mom.” I smiled-calm, practiced-then turned to Jenna. I almost felt bad for her, “Hi, Jenna. Nice to meet you.”
I kept the smile on as I extended my hand, though my insides churned violently. She looked at it. Then at my face.
A second passed before she smiled, warmth blooming across her features. And instead of shaking my hand, she stood up and hugged me.
Tight. Firm. Like we were supposed to be family. Well, we were.
“Hi, Hailey,” she murmured, squeezing me once before pulling away. “I’ve been wanting to meet you for so long.”
If you knew the truth… you’d regret ever meeting me.
“Me too,” I lied, flashing her an awkward smile. Having her be this kind to me felt like a punch to the gut. I didn’t know about Damien, but I felt guilty, “I’ve heard a lot about you.”
“Really?” She wiggled her eyebrows playfully. “I need to know what you’ve heard, because I don’t trust Damien.”
I froze for a fraction of a second.
But then she laughed, looking at Mom as if I hadn’t just felt my stomach twist at her words.
“He never gives the best descriptions when it comes to me, Madison.”
Mom chuckled. “No description needed, Jenna. You’re the best match for him.”
At that, Jenna blushed, her smile bright. “Thank you, Madison. That means a lot to me.”
Well…
She was beautiful. Kind. Funny. Probably better in bed. Successful? And maybe-most importantly-she didn’t have trauma attached to her. Damien didn’t deserve her. But she deserved the man she thought she loved. And if she ever found out the truth… it would break her.
So I had to keep my distance. Speak as little as possible. Give nothing away.
“Okay, guys. You chat a little, I’ll grab myself some breakfast,” I announced, already shifting away.
Jenna turned to me with an eager smile. “Come quickly, Hailey-I have so much to talk to you about!”
Trust me. You don’t.
“Sure,” I forced a chuckle, nodding. “Be right back.”
I walked to the kitchen, and the moment I stepped inside, I leaned against the counter and released the breath I hadn’t even realized I was holding.
Tears burned behind my eyes.
But I wouldn’t let them fall.
One of the maids, Annie, glanced at me, her expression laced with sympathy-as if she knew.
I swallowed. “What works for headaches, Annie?”
“Time,” she whispered. “Time works best. But for now, I can make you a milkshake? It might not cure headaches, but… it’s soothing.”
A melancholic smile touched my lips.
“Make me one, then.”
***
I had made an excuse.
Yes, an excuse.
Just to avoid talking to Jenna any longer. Just to escape family gatherings, stolen glances, and perhaps any encounter with Damien’s silent indifference. I rushed out, claiming my assignment was due today.
And now here I was.
At college. Wandering the corridors, clutching my books, pretending like I belonged here when my mind was anywhere but present.
I was definitely late. But thankfully, no one seemed to notice. I had only missed one class-one and a half, technically. Nothing I couldn’t catch up on.
At first, I had thought about going to my literature class. But the moment I heard the teacher had pulled out some heart-wrenching novella, I turned on my heel. I was already full of emotions. I didn’t need more.
So instead, I was heading to the manager’s office to get my schedule changed-just for today.
However, just as I reached the office door, my body collided with something.
No. Not something.
Someone.
A solid, unmovable wall of muscle.
The impact sent me stumbling backward, my fingers tightening around my books as if they could somehow anchor me. But before I could fall, a strong arm caught me, steadying me effortlessly.
“You didn’t fall, little one.”
A chuckle.
Deep. Rich. Familiar in a way that made my stomach clench.
“You can open your eyes.”
But I already knew who it was.
I didn’t open my eyes because he told me to. I opened them because of his voice-the last person I ever expected to run into at this college.
The college of the one person who barely tolerated him.
Carter.
Carter Hayes. Damien’s friend that Damien probably hated.