Chapter 2: Grounded

Hailey Queen

I reached home drenched in wine and sticky red liquid, my body trembling, each step heavier than the last. My arms hugged myself as if I could somehow shield my heart from the crushing weight of humiliation. Tears streamed freely down my cheeks, stinging my skin, but I couldn’t stop them.

“Thank you… for helping me,” I whispered shakily to the strange guy in the black T-shirt. I didn't dare look at his face, I was in my own world of humiliation. He had pulled me away from Brighton, his presence a small lifeline amidst the storm of jeers and mockery.

He nodded, giving me a gentle, understanding look. “Just go home and stay safe.”

I forced a weak smile and stepped inside.

The sight that met me made my stomach drop. Madison was already there, wrapped in my father’s arms, her face wet with perfectly timed fake tears. Her eyes sparkled with a cruel delight.

“Hailey…” she said softly, her voice trembling in mock sorrow. “I… I didn’t mean for him to…”

I blinked at her, my heart shattering. Did she actually expect me to believe her act? Did she really think she could manipulate my father this easily?

Before I could speak, my stepmom stormed forward. Her hand shot out, and the sting of the slap burned across my cheek, sending my head snapping sideways.

“Why are you this evil, Hailey?” she demanded, voice sharp, icy. “You hurt your own sister, and now you’ve soaked yourself so that we can believe you didn’t! You scratch your face just to seek out sympathy!”

I stumbled back, clutching my cheek, tears streaming harder now. “I didn’t—please! I didn’t hurt her! You have to believe me!” My voice cracked with desperation.

But my father’s hand was already on my arm, yanking me upstairs. Pain shot through my wrist, and I cried out, stumbling over my own feet.

“You’re lying, Hailey. Always lying,” he growled. His belt came off his waist and he roughly wiped my hair and face with it, leaving red marks across my back and shoulders. I gasped, feeling each bruise form as the sting traveled through me.

“You are a misfortune,” he spat, his face cold and unyielding. “Always jealous. Always causing trouble.”

I could barely breathe, my body shaking uncontrollably. “But… but I didn’t hurt her! I swear!”

Madison’s voice echoed cruelly in my ears. “See? She’s crying again. She always does this, trying to make herself the victim.” She smiled faintly, triumphant. “Everyone knows you’re the problem, Hailey. Even your own father.”

By the time he was done, I was bleeding from my arms and back, my cheeks swollen, and my chest heaving with sobs. My body felt like it was breaking from the inside out.

“You’re grounded,” he said flatly. “And I’ve stripped you of your shares from the family company. You’ll work to feed yourself. Don’t expect anything from me.”

My throat went dry as he leaned closer, his eyes cold. “And don’t you dare tell your mother. She is dying.”

I froze, my tears stinging anew. “Mom… is sick?” My voice was barely a whisper, breaking.

“Yes,” he said, voice like ice. “Cancer. Only a few months to live.”

I fell to the floor, tears streaming unchecked, my chest heaving as sobs wracked my body. At least these words hurt… but losing Mom? Hurts most. If she were here, I wouldn’t be treated this way. My hands clawed at the cold floor as I whispered her name over and over, the thought of her fragile life the only thing keeping me from losing myself completely.

Madison leaned closer, her fake tears now replaced with a smirk. “You see? This is what happens when you mess up, Hailey. No one cares about you.”

I shook my head violently, my voice cracking. “I didn’t hurt you… I swear! You’re lying!”

She laughed, soft and cruel. “Oh, Hailey… always crying, always desperate to be one of us.”

I could barely hear my own sobs over the laughter in my head, the relentless reminders of how alone I truly was. My phone buzzed beside me. I picked it up and saw a message from my best friend ..Lily Carter:

*I heard what happened, I'm sorry about that. Brighton is a total dickhead.

I clutched my phone like it was a lifeline, my fingers trembling as I typed a shaky, silent thank you.

The next morning, I painstakingly applied makeup to hide the bruises, every brushstroke a battle against my own reflection. My hands shook as I tried to mask the pain, both physical and emotional, so that no one would see the reality of what had happened.

My best friend picked me up. She frowned at me, her eyes scanning my face. “Why are you wearing that much makeup?”

I forced a small smile. “I… I just don’t want anyone knowing I got beaten.”

She groaned. “If it were me, I would have reported him to the police.”

I shook my head, voice barely audible. “My dad is a cop… remember? I have no case.”

As we arrived at school, laughter and whispers followed me like shadows. At the corner of my eye, my world froze—Brighton was kissing Madison, their lips pressed together, their smiles so sure, so deliberate.

I pulled my hoodie tighter over my head, trying to disappear, to vanish from the cruelty around me. But then I bumped into something solid.

"I'm sorry—" I said, looking up, and froze.

A tall, handsome guy stood before me, his blue eyes piercing, a jawline sharp enough to cut glass, lips perfectly formed. His gaze was steady, calm, and somehow… safe.

"Hey, it’s you again. How are you feeling?" he asked nonchalantly.

I swallowed hard, how did I not notice his godly features? He looked like a walking god on earth, my chest tightening and my lips quivering.

"I am fine," I lie.

"Hailey let's go, class is about to start," Lilly appeared behind me, startling me from my sinful thoughts.