10

Elena’s pov.

I stood in front of the giant wooden door, my palms were already sweating and my heartbeat was beating so loud, almost painful. because of Hailey’s father.

I’d only met him once, and that was nine years ago. And that encounter haunted me till this day.

He… he had been a grown man staring at me like he wanted to peel the clothes off my skin.

I remembered his eyes, how they moved down my body and how I had pretended not to notice because Hailey was standing right there.

I pray, things would be different now.

I never told Hailey. I didn’t want to stain the way she saw her father, or ruin what we had. She had been the first true friend I made in my life. So I swallowed it and buried it, acted like it never happened.

But that didn’t mean I forgot.

And it definitely didn’t mean I ever planned on stepping foot in his house again.

But here I was.

Standing in front of his door....

We pushed his door opened and the scent of herbs hit our nostrils. the scent was