Chapter 5

Hailey walked slowly toward the bedroom, her heartbeat thundering in her ears.

The voices grew clearer with every step she took, and she froze in shock at a corner where they couldn’t see her.

“How did you come up with cancer poisoning, though? … and the insurance—that’s top-notch intelligence,” Iris said loudly, her voice laced with admiration towards Carter as her fingers trailed across his shirtless chest.

Carter smirked, his eyes fixed on his laptop screen.

“Her mother died of cancer, so I took it as an advantage,” he replied casually with a shrug.

“That’s amazing… You did a good job,” Iris chuckled softly, leaning in to kiss him.

Carter returned her smile but pulled away almost immediately, his gaze never leaving the glowing screen in front of him.

“Was it a billion dollars when she is dead?” Iris pressed, her eyes glimmering at the mention of the amount.

Carter nodded with a slight smile.

“I’ve been using her diagnosis to pull some of the money already. I bought you those heels you liked and invested the rest into estate management.”

Iris squealed in excitement, clapping her hands together dramatically.

“You’re totally the best, babe! You know what? Let’s buy a house when she finally dies.”

But Carter only let out a frustrated sigh. “That’s a nice plan, but that bitch is holding out longer than I expected. Are you sure you increased the dosage?”

“Definitely. She won’t last long… She’s already bleeding. She might drop dead anytime soon,” Iris said confidently with a grin.

Hailey leaned against the wall, her legs threatening to give way beneath her as she continued listening to them.

Every word they spoke was like a knife to her heart.

This was her childhood best friend, the girl she had grown up with, and the man she had once believed to be her partner in life.

Together, they were plotting her death like she was nothing more than an animal meant for slaughtering.

“You bastard!” Hailey screamed with the little strength she had left. “This is insurance fraud,” her voice cracked as she finally stepped out, unable to hold it in anymore.

Carter’s head snapped up, and Iris froze mid-laugh. Both of them looked like they’d seen a ghost.

Pain burned in Hailey’s chest, her eyes stinging with unshed tears. “What did I ever do to deserve this?” she whispered, her voice low yet trembling.

Her hand shook as she grabbed the framed picture of her and Carter from the table beside her.

And with one furious motion, she hurled it to the ground. The sound of glass shattering across the floor echoed loudly like a gunshot in the room.

“Hailey, listen…” Carter started; his voice was too calm. He was already trying to twist it, to make her doubt what she had just heard.

“No!” Hailey snapped, her voice louder this time, filled with anger. “I’m not stupid anymore. You’re not going to gaslight me. I’m reporting both of you to the police!”

She turned towards the door, but before she could take a step, Iris grabbed her arm roughly and yanked.

Hailey stumbled, her balance slipping, and her already frail body came crashing to the ground.

Iris crouched over her, her face twisted with cruelty. “You’re going to die anyway,” she screamed, her voice sharp and shrill. “Why not just die already?”

Hailey sniffed, still finding it hard to believe this was the same Iris that she grew up with. The same girl she took as her younger sister.

Hailey’s body trembled with pain and fury. With all the strength she could gather, she pushed herself up, staggering to her feet. Her vision blurred, but she charged at Iris regardless.

Before she could reach her, Carter shoved her hard. The force sent her backward, her head slamming against the corner of a table.

A sharp crack echoed, and she felt warm liquid flowing down her head.

Hailey couldn't move, she could only hear the faint sound of their voices as she lay on the cold floor.

Carter and Iris panicked at the sight.

Their plan would be ruined if she dies this way. “Honey,” Iris called out to Carter in panic, her voice low. “I think she is dead.”

Carter growls, his hands combing through his hair in frustration.“She was going to die anytime soon, it doesn't matter how she dies,” he murmured as he bent down to touch her neck.

Hailey still felt warm, but life was slowly draining out of her. “Call...an… ambulance…please.” Her voice was faint and weak, barely above a whisper.

Carter smirked, there was no way he was going to do so. “People with cancer faint more often.” He stood up.

Now facing Iris, who had her hands tightly closing her mouth to stop herself from throwing up at the sight.

“She tripped and fell, and we found her like this; we know nothing about it,” Carter said smoothly, slowly pulling Iris into his warmth.

“What if we don't get paid?” Iris' voice came out trembling, she was more concerned about the money.

Hailey’s eyes shut slowly; her heart was in pieces. The two people she least expected. The only person she thought was on her side.

While she thought Iris was always there for her, it was all her disguise, all her plan, they discarded her like she meant nothing.

If only things were different, or in another universe, maybe in another lifetime…she wouldn't be the naive woman who got used.

She won't be her best friend's spawn or her husband's wife.

Tears rolled down Hailey's eyes.

“Babe are you sure you’re okay?” Carter's voice breaks through her thoughts, she flinched in fear as her eyes flung open.

“She must be so touched she couldn't hide her tears” a voice chirped in, she turned towards the voice and she gasped.

It was their assistant editor…the lady had quit her job seven years ago.

Hailey blinked hard, trying to organize her thoughts, she was seated at the cafeteria in her workplace with her colleagues.

The same day her relationship with Carter went public….

What is going on?