She was back.

Same room, same vibe. Like the whole year she'd been gone didn't even scratch the surface.

Not a speck of dust out of place.

A sound echoed outside her door. Barefoot, she slipped off the bed.

Her room—always the guest room—sat at the end of the hall. Separate. Distant.

But the noise? It was coming from Nolan's room.

The door was cracked open. She wasn't even close when the sounds hit—low groans, breathy moans.

A guy's growl. A girl coming undone.

Hailey froze. Eyes wide. Feet glued to the floor.

On Nolan's bed—there she was.

"Jordyn!"

Her sister.

No. No way. Not her.

Stunned, Hailey lunged and yanked Jordyn off the bed.

Jordyn—undressed—met her gaze with this eerie calm. Maybe even smug.

"You're hurting me," she said like Hailey was the problem, shoving her off.

Nolan sat up, robe loose, cigarette in hand like nothing happened.

Smoke drifted her way as he gave Hailey that same twisted smirk.

Her fists clenched. Nails digging in. Tears spilled before she could stop them.

"Nolan, it's bad enough you won't leave me alone, but why Jordyn? She was just a kid when something happened to your parents. She didn't know anyth—"

He lunged.

Slammed her down on the bed, hand crushing her throat.

His eyes—cold, empty—locked on hers.

He leaned in, lips brushing her ear. Voice soft, lethal. "You don't get to mention my parents."

Her face drained. The room reeked of intimacy.

She lay there, gasping, eyes locked on Jordyn.

But Jordyn only looked at Nolan. No shame. Just hunger.

Then her eyes hit Hailey—burning with jealousy and hate.

Nolan let go. Hailey sucked in air, coughing.

He felt no remorse. Not even a flicker.

His robe hung open. Eyes red, zoned in on Jordyn now.

He squinted, voice slow and cruel. "Well, your sister's seen us. What now?"

Like he almost cared.

Jordyn lit up and threw herself at him, her soft body melting into his like she belonged there.

"The Hart family's dead to me," she purred. "I don't have a sister like her."

Hailey's pupils shrank. Lips quivered.

She wanted to ask why—but nothing came out.

Nolan's smirk twisted deeper.

Then, right in front of her, he untied his robe.

"What's the point of sneaking peeks?"

He tipped Jordyn's chin up and took her lips into his mouth.

Hailey shook, then bolted.

"Stop!" Nolan snapped. "One more step and I pull your mom's oxygen—right now."

She froze.

Her whole body trembled, back still to the bed. The sounds behind her were unmistakable. Intimate. Vicious.

One voice was her sister's. The other—Nolan's. The man she once loved like he hung the moon.

She didn't know how long she stood there, numb and dazed.

But Nolan wasn't done. He wanted her watching.

So she turned.

Then he mocked her for looking like a ghost.

So she moved—to the corner.

She crouched down, eyes locked on her feet.

Finally, the noises stopped.

Something landed near her foot.

A used condom. Sticky fluid leaking out.

"Hailey, go give Jordyn a bath."

When Hailey stepped out of Nolan's bedroom, her legs felt like bricks.

She didn't go far—just collapsed onto the couch and waited.

Jordyn came down in full glam: designer outfit, Chanel bag swinging. That's when Hailey's lashes fluttered.

"Why?" Her voice scraped like ash.

"Why what?" Jordyn's tone dripped with sarcasm. "Why I slept with Nolan? Or why I ditched you and the Hart name?"

Her eyes gleamed with spite.

"Please. You knew I liked Nolan. We're both Dad's daughters—so why'd you get it all? I liked him first! Who cares if I was younger? What makes you so special?"

Jordyn's words stabbed deep. Hailey's fists clenched.

"Even so, how could you be with him? Did you forget why Dad's dead?"

"So what? He had it coming." Jordyn leaned in, voice like a blade. "If you were gonna run, why didn't you stay gone?"

Hailey stared at the sister she once loved more than anything. Her eyes, hollow and heavy, held a grief too deep to say out loud.

"You really think he'll pick you? He's using you—to trash Dad's name, to trash all of us."

Jordyn didn't flinch. Just turned and walked off.

Hailey dropped to the floor, completely wrecked.

Her eyes drifted upward—and there he was.

Nolan stood at the top of the stairs, silent. Cold. Just watching her break.

***

With Jordyn around, Nolan stopped barging into Hailey's room like before—no more tearing her clothes off, no more forced nights.

Now he made her stand guard outside his bedroom.

She'd lost count of how many times she sat there, numb to the sounds on the other side. Her heart? Dead quiet.

Nolan dragged Hailey back to the company, slapped "assistant" on her again.

People she used to work with wouldn't even look at her.

Her phone buzzed. Nolan's voice was ice.

"You'll go in my place to tonight's dinner."

Click. He didn't wait for a reply.

Jane from PR dropped off a folder, eyes flicking with sympathy.

"Ms. Hart, Robert Ramirez is a total creep. Just... watch yourself, okay?"

Before Hailey could say anything, another coworker yanked Jane away.

"Are you dumb? Mr. Thorne's setting her up. Ramirez is a known perv—yet he's sending her alone."

Hailey clenched the folder—then pictured her mom, Amelia, still hooked up to machines in the ICU. Her body eased, just a little.

She'd spent a year on the run, doing everything she could to keep Amelia hidden from Nolan.

But he still found them.

She honestly didn't know what else to do to make him stop. To let her go. To leave her family alone.

Donovan dying hadn't been enough.

So... would her death be?

The thought iced her veins. She shook it off fast.

She couldn't die. Not yet.

If she did, who'd look after Amelia?

Jordyn? Please. She hated her—hated all things Hart. She hadn't visited their mom once.

Just thinking about it made Hailey squeeze the folder tighter.

***

That night, Hailey showed up early.

She figured Robert would roll in with a team. Nope. He came solo.

Dinner was gross from the jump. He kept trying to slide his hand over hers.

She yanked back, steadying her voice. "Mr. Ramirez, if your company partners with ours, we'll absolutely hit those targets."

Robert's greasy smile spread across his thick face.

Then he went for it—skipped her hand this time and landed on her thigh.

She flinched, tipping her wine glass straight onto him.

Her face drained. "I'm so sorry—"

But he didn't even bother pretending.

Just clamped his hand around her wrist, eyes locked on her chest.

"Ms. Hart, I came alone for a reason. You get it, right? Project's easy—just make me feel good. Real good. Do that, and I'll toss you eighty, ninety more deals. Whatever you want."

Before she could even move, his hand slid under the table—

Bang!

The door flew open.

The wine bottle slipped from Hailey's hand and shattered on the floor.

She froze, trembling, one jagged shard still clenched and pointing straight at Robert.

Then—some guy stormed in.

Robert shoved her hard.

"What are you, PR or a hook-up? Quit faking and stop grabbing me!"

Her arm smacked into the cabinet edge, pain shooting through her. The glass dropped from her hand.

Before she could catch her breath, the guy from the doorway was already coming at her.

She looked up, shocked. "Ethan—"

Smack!

Her head snapped sideways.

Ethan stood over her, eyes blazing.

"My mom was right. You're trash. You'll sleep with any guy who gives you a second look. Is that it, Hailey? Flash a little cash and you're ready to go?"

Hailey's nails dug into her palm until it bled. She just stared at Ethan, stunned.

She thought he'd come to save her.

Ethan used to be gentle—more like a big brother than anything else. That's why she said yes to his proposal in the first place.

But now?

People believed whatever fit their story.

No one had her back. No one believed her.

Her throat burned like it was packed with needles.

She swallowed hard. Even the taste of blood couldn't distract her.

Robert scoffed under his breath. "So this is who you really are? And here I thought you were just playing coy."

He glanced at Ethan. No reaction.

That was all the permission he needed.

His voice turned nastier by the second. "Should've figured. Your boss usually brings a whole crew. Sends just you? You must've been desperate to get laid."

Ethan's face twisted with rage. Desperate to save face, he jumped in. "Please. She ditched me on our wedding day for some other guy.

"They played her moans on the reception screens—sounded like a total slut.

"Always acting innocent. Who knows how many guys have already used her? Makes you wonder what kind of trash raised her!"

Smack!

Ethan staggered back, hand flying to his cheek. Hailey stood still, her hand tingling from the hit.

"Apologize!" she snapped.

His face darkened. "Apologize? Keep dreaming."

Then—he spat in her face.

Before she could wipe it off, he grabbed her arm and dragged her out, yelling like a lunatic.

"Check this out! Filthy little call girl—look at her face!"

He shoved his phone in her face, holding her down as he took photo after photo.

The fancy restaurant froze. Everyone stared. No one stepped in.

Outside the VIP room, Hailey saw him—Nolan. Jordyn curled up beside him.

He looked like a king, cold and untouchable.

And he watched it all—watched her get torn apart, piece by piece.

***

Back home, the lights were off.

The second she stepped in, Hailey saw him—Nolan, sitting on the couch, face unreadable.

Her clothes were wrinkled, makeup smeared. It was obvious she'd been crying.

The sight yanked up memories he didn't ask for.

Hailey had always been the stubborn one. Jordyn messed up, but Hailey took the fall.

Even when she got hit, she never cracked.

At night, Hailey used to sneak into his room, slip under the blanket, and curl up in his arms like it was the only place left.

Nolan's jaw tightened. Fists clenched.

Those memories should've died with Donovan.

He stood and crossed the room.

She looked up, hollow.

"Nolan... is this enough?"

"What?"

"All of it. Does it pay back what my dad did to you? If not, just give me a deadline..."

No answer.

He grabbed her chin, forcing her to meet his eyes.

The moonlight cut across his face, cold and sharp.

"Don't even think about running, Hailey. Not in this lifetime."