Hailey didn't know how long Nolan kept going.

All she remembered was the fever burning through her body, her mouth running with words she couldn't even recall.

Somewhere in the haze, her mind drifted...

She used to love hiking. Nolan would tag along, mountain after mountain.

Once, she heard about this love-wish tree on a far-off peak. The trail was brutal, unmarked, risky.

She wanted to go. But that time, Nolan said no.

Back then, she didn't get it.

He'd never seen a future with her—wasn't about to chase some stupid tree for love.

So she went anyway. Packed her bag, told no one.

And it rained.

Hard.

She got stranded on the mountain.

She never found the tree—but she did find Nolan.

Soaked. Furious. Eyes wild.

Before she could say a word, he started shouting. She just stood there, stunned, heart crumbling.

Then—he pulled her in.

Tight.

Like he'd almost lost her for good.

His chest pounded. His grip was crushing.

In that second, she knew—

Finding the tree didn't matter anymore.

***

When Hailey woke, the sharp sting of disinfectant hit her nose.

She blinked—and there he was.

Nolan.

Staring at her like through a fog, face unreadable.

But just as she tried to figure him out, he snapped back into that icy version of himself.

"Fever didn't kill you. Too bad."

Then he turned and walked out, leaving her alone in the hospital.

During her stay, Nolan never showed.

Not once.

But his name kept blowing up on trending—first with an actress, then some up-and-coming model.

Hailey didn't flinch.

After eight years, her heart was wreckage. Pain barely registered.

When she finally returned to Thorne Corp, every stare in the room landed on her.

She didn't know why—until Jane walked up with a file.

"Robert's dead."

Hailey blinked. "What?"

"Got caught with another guy's wife. Her husband beat him to death."

A frown flickered across Hailey's face, then disappeared.

For someone like Robert... it wasn't exactly a shock.

Nolan didn't show all day.

The secretarial pool hummed with whispers—some actress had supposedly caught his eye.

Hailey's pen slipped from her hand.

A thought crept in—if Nolan really wanted someone else... would he finally let go?

Could she take her mom and get out for good?

The idea wouldn't leave her alone.

Even after work, she was still hoping.

Just as Hailey stepped outside, someone lunged at her.

Before she could react, a bottle came flying—its contents aimed straight at her face.

She froze, eyes wide.

"Hailey!"

Nolan burst in, throwing himself in front of her.

"You bitch!" the woman shrieked. "My son lost his job because of you! Now he's crippled! You're gonna pay with your life!"

Nolan kicked her, hard.

It was Ethan's mom.

She hit the pavement, screaming.

"You filthy pair! You ruined him—now me? I'll sue! I'll watch you rot!"

Hailey just stared, numb, then turned to Nolan.

Someone shouted, "Mr. Thorne, your arm!"

Nolan's face went cold. Dark.

"Take her away," he snapped.

His voice—flat, emotionless—stabbed into Hailey like tiny silver blades.

Stiff, she glanced down at his arm. "Nolan!"

The crowd was growing.

A petite woman shoved past the bodyguards and rushed to him, grabbing his arm with shaking hands.

"That was acid! We have to go—now!"

She didn't wait. Just dragged him toward the car.

Hailey called out without thinking. "Why?"

Nolan stopped.

His face stayed blank—just the ghost of a smirk playing at his lips.

Like he knew exactly what she meant.

Like he was laughing at her for still hoping.

"Why did I save you?" he said, voice low. "Your family owes me more than a thousand deaths could pay off. If you're gonna rot... you'll rot by my hand."

The crowd thinned.

And under the flickering streetlight, Hailey stood alone—small, quiet, and breaking.

Hailey didn't go home.

She just rode the bus. For hours.

Eventually, she ended up at the cemetery.

She bought a bouquet of white lilies and laid them at Donovan's grave.

It had been years. Her first time back.

Not because she didn't want to—she just couldn't.

She'd been too tired. Too wrecked.

Staring at his headstone, all she felt was envy.

He got to die and be done. No consequences. No guilt. No pain.

She was still here, drowning in it.

There was so much she wanted to say—but now that she was standing there, nothing came.

So she just smiled, bitter and quiet.

"I'm doing okay. Mom too. Jordyn... well, she's surviving, I guess."

The wind brushed her face, soft and cool.

Almost like it understood. Almost like it was sorry.

***

When Hailey finally got home, drained and aching, she didn't expect to see Nolan.

She froze, hand tightening around her bag.

He should've still been in the hospital.

But the second the door clicked shut, he looked up.

Then—he stood.

Crossed the room fast and stopped right in front of her.

His voice was cold, every word like a blade.

"Where were you?"

Hailey tensed. "I... I went to the hospital, but I didn't know which one you were in, so I—"

He moved—quick.

His hand slid through her hair.

Then he pulled back, holding a single lily petal between his fingers.

Her eyes widened. Breath caught.

Nolan stared at the petal.

Then let out a strange, low laugh.

"Phone broken? You went to the hospital? Brought flowers? Funeral ones? Seriously, Hailey—are you that eager for me to die? Think if I'm gone, you'll finally be free to marry whoever?"

Hailey let out a slow breath.

He hadn't figured it out. Thank God.

Even his insults didn't sting anymore.

Then—the doorbell rang.

Nolan went to answer.

"Nolan, you're so slow! Mike couldn't wait!"

The second she heard the voice, Hailey turned toward the door—

And a black blur came flying at her.

Something massive slammed her down.

Pain exploded as jaws clamped around her leg.

"Ah!" she screamed.

A pit bull. Its teeth dug in deeper.

The woman rushed in after it. "Mike, let go! Let go or I'll hit you!"

Tears streaked down Hailey's face.

Through her blurred vision, she caught it—that smirk.

The woman stroked the dog's head, gentle like a lullaby.

And the gentler she got, the harder those jaws tore into Hailey's leg.

Ripping. Shredding.

Only when Hailey was barely conscious did the dog finally let go.

Soaked in sweat, shaking, she collapsed—gone before she hit the floor.

***

When Hailey came to, her leg was already wrapped up.

Nolan was parked on the couch like he owned the place.

At his feet? The same pit bull that had just torn into her—now chilling like it hadn't done a thing.

She yanked her leg back on instinct, but it brushed the wound. Pain shot through her, and she curled up, shaking.

Nolan glanced over, cool as ever, and gave the dog a lazy pat.

"You seriously think I'm that dumb? Like I'd fall for your crap?"

His smirk cut sharp—like he was laughing at how clever she thought she was.

Hailey got it instantly.

If Nolan was dumb enough to buy her lies, he wouldn't have spent years playing the humble outsider, worming his way into her family—or dated the daughter of the man he hated most.

Somewhere in the middle of her thoughts, he moved.

By the time she blinked, he was right in front of her.

He grabbed her chin, shoving her face toward the acid-burned mess on his arm.

"I took acid for you. And this is how you repay me?" he sneered, dragging out the name. "Classic Hart."

Hailey shrank back without thinking.

The door creaked open, and she finally got a good look at the woman—the one who owned the dog.

Vanessa Decker. Nolan's latest actress obsession.

She waltzed in, all fake sweetness. "Ms. Hart, I'm sooo sorry. Mike didn't mean to bite. He just likes bones. Maybe you're a little too skinny—he got confused."

She whipped out a crusty old bone from behind her back.

"See? With this, he won't bite you again."

Sure enough, the pit bull lit up, snatched the bone, and trotted over to Vanessa and Nolan.

It flopped down in the corner, chewing with sharp teeth—crunch, crunch—like it was tearing something alive.

The sound made Hailey's skin crawl.

"Ew, Mike. You like crematorium bones too? Guess I'm not kissing you anymore."

Thud!

Something cracked in Hailey's head.

She took off, leg screaming, but she didn't stop.

In the living room—

Her father's urn... was on the floor, tossed like trash.

Tears streamed silently as she dropped to her knees and grabbed it.

She thought her heart had died eight years ago.

Turns out, that was nothing compared to this.

"Hailey, you lied to me. You had to know this day was coming."

Nolan's voice echoed behind her.

He just stood there, watching her fall apart like it meant nothing.

Then—smack!—a sharp slap lit up his face.

"Nolan!" Vanessa ran over, cradling his cheek.

Nolan shoved Vanessa off.

Then his hand shot out, grabbing Hailey by the arm. His eyes burned red—just like the pit bull's.

Hailey's were just as red now, blazing with hate.

She blinked fast, fighting the tears. No way she'd let him see her break.

"You piece of trash," she spat.

Nolan let out a cold, twisted laugh.

He dragged her outside, ripped off his tie, and bound her wrists before shoving her into the car.

As the streets grew more familiar, Hailey started shaking.

"Stop! I said stop!"

She kicked the back of his seat with her good leg, but he didn't even blink. He drove like he was possessed.

They pulled up to a rehab hospital.

When she wouldn't budge, he slung her over his shoulder and stormed in.

Her whole body trembled. Regret clawed at her chest.

She never should've pushed him.

The guy was unhinged.

He didn't pause, didn't speak—just stormed straight into Amelia's room like he'd done it a hundred times.

One hard kick, and the door slammed open.

Then he threw Hailey onto the second bed.

She screamed and fought, but he tore at her clothes, burying his face in her chest.

The shock hit first. Then came the shame.

Nolan leaned over her, sneering.

"Your dad raped my mom. Now I've taken you—right in front of your mom. That intense enough for you?"