Hospital

Chapter 6 

I walked into the mansion and found everyone gathered in the living room. The tension was so thick it felt like the air itself was holding its breath.

“Now what have you done Hayden? You married this girl and got her bestfriend pregnant? Amazing!” his mom, Alessiah snarled.

Great. Perfect. Just what I needed.

“This is crazy! How will we surpass this? It’s this girl’s fault!” Elly Rose jabbed her finger at me.

Grandma Aurora intervened immediately. “Elly, stop. Katlyn is part of this family now. She did nothing wrong.”

“Well, if it’s not her fault, then it’s her best friend’s fault,” Elly professed.

I felt rage rise in me. I stood up straighter. “Really? Nairovi's fault? Or your brother? Who got her pregnant, huh? Who made the mess here?”

It was pointless, but I wasn’t letting her talk trash about someone who only acted out of pain. Nairovi was hurting because of everything we all caused. I still cared about her, even after she dragged me into hell.

“Enough! No more of this foolishness!” Mr. Henry’s voice cut through the chaos.

Silence swept through the room in an instant. 

“You made a huge mistake, Hayden. This is a disaster for our family.” Mr. Heather criticized Hayden, his eyes burning with anger. “How did this even happen? How did you get her pregnant? Did you even think about the protection?”

“We broke up, Dad. I didn’t know anything about it,” Hayden replied, calm but tense, staying controlled.

“Then tell me—what are you going to do now?” Mr. Heather asked.

Hayden stayed quiet.

“Deny the child,” Mr. Heather said unflinchingly.

“What? She’s my best friend!” I burst out. “You can’t just pretend the child doesn’t exist!”

Mr. Heather looked straight at me. “And Hayden is your husband. That makes her a mistress. If you don’t care about our reputation, then stop arguing.”

I stared at Hayden in disbelief — confused, disappointed, and angry–then strode out with heavy steps toward my room.

“Katlyn!” Hayden called after me.

“Let her,” his father said, stopping him. 

Inside my room, I grabbed my phone. The comments were blowing up everywhere.

She’s a flirt. Why would Katlyn steal her best friend’s ex?

They’re enemies, right? How did they end up married?

They met at a club. Look at this video.

That video had over a million views. I tapped it. There I was, hair being pulled, wine flying into Hayden’s face. The whole world was watching.

My phone buzzed.

Katlyn, leave the mansion. Now!

It was my dad. My pulse kicked up just as Hayden walked into the room looking drained. I stepped forward and I slapped him. 

“That’s for hurting Nairovi! How could you leave her when she’s carrying your child?!” I shout as I slap him, my anger finally breaking loose. 

“Katlyn, please calm down,” he said, lowering his voice. He glances toward the hallway and closes the door of our room. “They’ll hear us.”

“Now what? I fire back. “What are we supposed to do? Are you really denying the child? After everything? Did you even love her?” pointing at him.

“I didn’t know she was pregnant.” Hayden reacts, frustrated but trying to stay composed.  She never told me—”

“Answer me!” I cut him off, my voice shaking. “Did you even love her? Or did you just use her?”

Hayden’s jaw tenses, his eyes narrowing as he finally admits, “I did. I did love her.”

“Then why?” My voice cracks. “Why hurt her? If you stayed with her, none of this would have happened.” Tears fall as I wipe them away with the back of my hand. “I should be with her right now, comforting her… but I broke her heart too. And I hate that.”

“Katlyn, it’s not your fault,” he says, trying to take another step forward. His voice softens. “You only did what you had to do for your family. And you never meant to hurt her. As for us…” He pauses, searching for the right words. “Nairovi and I loved each other, but not everything lasts. We needed to break up.”

“What a stupid choice,” I mutter bitterly, shaking my head. “Why didn’t you at least fight for it?”

“Because I didn’t love her anymore,” Hayden answers, firm and unapologetic.

I slap him again, harder this time. “You’re all the same!”

His expression shifts — his composure slipping, anger flickering in his eyes.

“Katlyn..” he says, voice lower, heavier now. “She cheated on me.” He looks directly at me, not flinching. “That’s why I left.”

“You’re lying.” I say instantly, stepping back from him. “She would never cheat. She loved you.”

“Believe it or not, it’s the truth,” Hayden replies steady but disheartened that I won’t accept it. “But right now, we have bigger problems.” He runs a hand through his hair, exhausted. ”If this scandal continues, both families will lose everything. Investors, partnerships, business deals — they could all collapse. Your sacrifice will be wasted. We need to act fast.”

Before I could answer, my phone buzzed again. A message from Nairovi. I inhaled sharply as I read it. 

Hayden stepped closer. “What happened?”

“She’s in the hospital,” I said, my voice unsteady. “Hayden… we need to go. Right now.”

Hayden didn’t waste a second. He grabbed his keys, posture stiff and alert.

“Let’s go. I’ll drive,” he said.