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?"

"Didn't you always hope she'd wake up? Maybe she's about to."

Nolan sneered, then lowered his head, setting her skin on fire.

"You bastard! Let me go!"

Her thighs were pinned. She was bare. He'd only unzipped his pants.

Tears streamed down her face. Her hair clung to her skin. Her lip—split and bleeding.

Nolan drove into her like he wanted to destroy her.

She squeezed her eyes shut, terrified to glance at the other bed.

But he didn't stop.

He forced her to open her eyes, made her watch. Made her see how he wrecked her.

Only when he grunted and stilled did he finally stop, still crushing her beneath him.

Then—

"Ms. Hart, is that you? Your mother's awake—I was just about to call—"

Her head whipped toward the door.

Every drop of blood drained from her face.

Closest to the door was Amelia's bed.

Her eyes were open.

She'd seen everything.

Hatred and disgust burned in them.

Then she turned away, bolted for the window.

"No!"

Hailey screamed, shoving Nolan off with everything she had.

She didn't care how exposed she was—she lunged, reaching for Amelia's gown.

Her fingers missed.

A sickening thud.

Silence.

Hailey stood frozen, then staggered toward the window.

Nolan yanked her back.

He held her tight. His body, once warm, now ice-cold and shaking.

"Ah!" Her scream ripped through the room.

She swung at him, fists flying.

"If you die," Nolan hissed, "I'll make sure your mom doesn't even get a body to bury! She won't rest—ever!"

Her fists stopped midair.

Something bitter climbed her throat.

She coughed blood all over his white shirt—and collapsed.

***

When Hailey woke up, she was weirdly calm.

She handled the cremation, the burial—every step, like she was on autopilot.

Then she picked a new plot and buried Donovan and Amelia together.

When Nolan showed up with Mike's corpse, she didn't even glance up.

"I beat this dog to death. If you behave and stay by my side to atone, maybe I'll make an exception for you."

His voice dripped with fake generosity.

Hailey didn't react. But that night, she asked to see the love-wish tree again.

Nolan frowned. "That thing? It's a scam. You looked for it before—it's not real."

She didn't argue, just stared at the ground.

She figured he'd shut her down again. But then—

"Go pack. I'll take you tomorrow."

Her lashes fluttered. She stayed quiet and walked off.

***

They left at dawn. Hours into the climb, the trail got rough. Hailey had a few hypoglycemic crashes, and Nolan had to stop each time.

He glanced around, annoyed. "After today, if you keep acting like the walking dead, I'm done playing nice."

"We're here."

"What?" He turned, irritated.

But Hailey was locked on the massive tree ahead.

She'd never told anyone.

That morning, after Donovan died, she'd gone searching for it again.

And she'd found it.

Hailey walked around the back, where one wrong step could send her over the edge.

Nolan tensed, instinct kicking in. He moved to follow—then stopped cold.

It hit him—how much he'd been hovering. Like his concern was some kind of gift.

Hailey didn't notice.

She dug around the base of the tree and found the red ribbon she'd tied all those years ago.

Without flinching, she pulled out scissors and cut it.

Nolan's face twisted, but before he could say a word—

She turned.

Her whole body shook with hate and regret. Eyes shut tight, she wouldn't even look at him.

"Nolan Thorne, I wish I'd never met you." Then she jumped.

His eyes went wide. He lunged.

"Hailey!"