The One She Loved to Hate

The wedding had barely started when the lights went out.Then came the moans—from the giant screen behind the altar.Hailey Hart froze. Her skin went ghost-pale. Her whole body shook.A beat later, the doors slammed open.Leading the charge? Nolan Thorne. Cold eyes, sharp suit, and bodyguards in tow. He stormed the stage like he owned it.Ethan Gardner, the groom, tried to stop him. Big mistake. Nolan's guys dropped him in seconds.Nolan grabbed a fistful of Ethan's hair and yanked his head back. "Heh. I've slept with Hailey hundreds—maybe thousands—of times. Used condoms alone could fill your house. Wanna see the HD vids?"Ethan's face twisted. He looked at Hailey. She couldn't move.The crowd gasped."Seriously? He picked HER?""That skank tried to marry my son? She's disgusting!"Hailey, you're a shameless tramp! No wonder you were so desperate—you've been passed around!""Gross. Just straight-up nasty. Did you hear those noises? Total trash. No class. Who even raised he

When Hailey stepped out of Nolan's bedroom, her legs felt like bricks.She didn't go far—just collapsed onto the couch and waited.Jordyn came down in full glam: designer outfit, Chanel bag swinging. That's when Hailey's lashes fluttered."Why?" Her voice scraped like ash."Why what?" Jordyn's tone dripped with sarcasm. "Why I slept with Nolan? Or why I ditched you and the Hart name?"Her eyes gleamed with spite."Please. You knew I liked Nolan. We're both Dad's daughters—so why'd you get it all? I liked him first! Who cares if I was younger? What makes you so special?"Jordyn's words stabbed deep. Hailey's fists clenched."Even so, how could you be with him? Did you forget why Dad's dead?""So what? He had it coming." Jordyn leaned in, voice like a blade. "If you were gonna run, why didn't you stay gone?"Hailey stared at the sister she once loved more than anything. Her eyes, hollow and heavy, held a grief too deep to say out loud."You really think he'll pick you? He's us

Nolan scooped her up, hands clamped around her waist so tight she flinched.He acted as if he couldn't see it— He didn't loosen his grip. If anything, it got worse.He carried her straight to the master bedroom, and Hailey knew—knew exactly what he was about to do.She shoved at him, panic rising fast.Not long ago, he'd been in this same bed with Jordyn. And now—now he wanted her in it?Her struggle only made his bloodshot eyes go darker."Oh, I see. You don't want me touching you? Then who? That fiancé who dragged you through the dirt?"Hailey froze.His words hit like a switch, dragging her straight back to the restaurant—those stares, the jeers, the humiliation.Nolan didn't even notice her shutting down.He took her silence as guilt, and snapped."You really are that cheap? After everything he did, you still want him?"He ripped at her clothes, sank his teeth into her shoulder."Hailey, I need to know!"His leg shoved between hers.And all she could see was that use

Hailey didn't go home.She just rode the bus. For hours.Eventually, she ended up at the cemetery.She bought a bouquet of white lilies and laid them at Donovan's grave.It had been years. Her first time back.Not because she didn't want to—she just couldn't.She'd been too tired. Too wrecked.Staring at his headstone, all she felt was envy.He got to die and be done. No consequences. No guilt. No pain.She was still here, drowning in it.There was so much she wanted to say—but now that she was standing there, nothing came.So she just smiled, bitter and quiet."I'm doing okay. Mom too. Jordyn... well, she's surviving, I guess."The wind brushed her face, soft and cool.Almost like it understood. Almost like it was sorry.***When Hailey finally got home, drained and aching, she didn't expect to see Nolan.She froze, hand tightening around her bag.He should've still been in the hospital.But the second the door clicked shut, he looked up.Then—he stood.Crossed th

"Didn't you always hope she'd wake up? Maybe she's about to."Nolan sneered, then lowered his head, setting her skin on fire."You bastard! Let me go!"Her thighs were pinned. She was bare. He'd only unzipped his pants.Tears streamed down her face. Her hair clung to her skin. Her lip—split and bleeding.Nolan drove into her like he wanted to destroy her.She squeezed her eyes shut, terrified to glance at the other bed.But he didn't stop.He forced her to open her eyes, made her watch. Made her see how he wrecked her.Only when he grunted and stilled did he finally stop, still crushing her beneath him.Then—"Ms. Hart, is that you? Your mother's awake—I was just about to call—"Her head whipped toward the door.Every drop of blood drained from her face.Closest to the door was Amelia's bed.Her eyes were open.She'd seen everything.Hatred and disgust burned in them.Then she turned away, bolted for the window."No!"Hailey screamed, shoving Nolan off with everythi