Chapter 2

That night, Bailey came to see me. She sat in a wheelchair, both hands wrapped in bandages.

Hayden wheeled her in, looking clearly annoyed. "Bailey has something to say to you."

Bailey's eyes were swollen and red. Her voice was soft. "I'm sorry, Sienna. I just love Hayden so much. Seeing the two of you get engaged made me lose control for a moment."

She glanced at my injury. "I've already been punished for what I did. Can you forgive me?"

Before I could speak, Hayden finished the conversation for her. "Bailey won't lay a hand on you again. Sienna, this ends here."

I asked Bailey, "Did you pick up the kettle yourself?"

"Yes," she replied.

"Did you know the water was freshly boiled before you poured it on me?"

Bailey's lips parted, but no words came out.

Hayden gripped the wheelchair handles. "That's enough."

"I'm asking her a question."

Bailey bit her lip and nodded. "Yes, I knew."

Two lawyers stood at the hospital room door.

Mom was about to let them in when Hayden suddenly stepped in front of me.

"Sienna, are you really going to put her in jail?"

"She nearly ruined my arm," I replied.

"Bailey saved my life!" His voice suddenly dropped. "When I was sixteen years old, I became seriously ill. Bailey donated her bone marrow to save me. I promised I'd protect her for the rest of my life."

A round silver pendant hung from Bailey's neck. It swayed gently with each breath.

Four numbers were engraved on it.

0716.

I stared at it for a moment. The numbers looked familiar.

When I was fifteen years old and in the hospital, I had received an identical pendant. When we moved later, I somehow lost it.

Bailey noticed me staring and quickly tucked the pendant inside her collar. "Sienna, it's just a keepsake."

Hayden stepped in front of her. "Have you seen enough?"

With that, he reached for the settlement agreement on my bedside table.

I pressed my hand against the paper. "Don't touch my things."

Hayden grabbed my hand and slowly tightened his grip. "Your dad is still negotiating the Westend project. Do you really think he'll agree to ruin that deal over a minor injury?"

At that moment, his malicious intent became clear. There was a sharp crack, and Hayden's index finger popped out of its joint.

He froze.

Bailey's face went pale too.

I looked at his crooked finger and reminded him softly, "Hayden, you were trying to hurt me."

"I was only trying to grab a piece of paper!"

"The protection spell knew you were trying to use it to pressure me."

Hayden jerked his hand back. "What do you mean by 'protection spell'?"

Mom stared at him icily. "You're welcome to try again."

Hayden didn't move.

-

From that day on, Hayden finally believed in the spell protecting me.

He made Bailey move out of Gardner Residence and replaced every staff member who knew what had happened at the engagement party.

Every day, he came to the hospital and stood about six and a half feet away from me.

Sometimes he brought flowers. Other times, he brought soup.

I thought he had at least learned to be afraid.

Three days later, he told me Bailey was going abroad.

"Once she's gone, we can start over."

I asked, "Can you really let her go?"

He fell silent for a moment. "I owe Bailey my life. I'll repay her with money. Once you and I are married, it'll be just the two of us."

He looked completely sincere when he said that.

Mom happened to be away.

I looked at the fading white flowers outside the window, and my resolve began to waver.