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The One She Loved to Hate
The One She Loved to Hate
Author: Strawberry Spring Roll

Chapter 1

Author: Strawberry Spring Roll
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 her?"

The insults flew. Hailey backed up—until Nolan grabbed her waist and pulled her in.

She slashed at him, nails catching his lip. Blood smeared his smirk.

"Nolan, you sick freak!"

His eyes darkened. He grabbed her jaw, yanked her close, and bit her lip—hard.

The crowd lost it.

To them, it just proved everything they'd said.

Then Nolan scooped her up like she weighed nothing. Her wedding gown flowed behind her—like some fairytale.

If only it wasn't him.

***

In the car.

"Mr. Thorne, where to?"

"Back to Northwick." Nolan's voice was ice.

His gaze dropped to Hailey's wedding dress—white, perfect. His thumb swiped her red lips, then smeared the color across her cheek like war paint.

He grabbed her neck and yanked her in.

"Nolan, let me go!"

She thrashed, but he didn't move. His grip only tightened as the privacy divider slid up.

She was trapped. No out. Just the heat of his rage.

But she didn't fold.

Hailey stared him down, eyes locked on his.

Then he struck—hand clamped around her jaw. Pain shot through her skull. Her vision blurred.

He leaned in, sneering. "This hurts? You really thought biting your tongue would be some noble exit?"

Everything went black before she could answer.

***

In her dream, Hailey was back in the good old days.

Her parents—Donovan and Amelia—were alive, doting. And Nolan? Always nearby with that soft smile and sweet lies.

Back then, she was still the Hart heiress. Untouchable.

Nolan was the kid of Donovan's old best friend, Frederick. After Frederick died, Donovan took him in, treated him like his own. Nolan played perfect—polite, sharp, golden boy.

With no sons of his own, Donovan planned to give him everything. Hart Corp. Hailey. The future.

Then it all flipped.

Nolan came out of the study, stone-faced. He brushed past her, knocking away her hand.

A scream followed.

Donovan was dead. Scissors in the chest. Suicide.

Next day, the cops came with baggage.

Turns out, the dad she adored had messed up big. Bad enough to ruin Nolan's father and shatter his mom completely.

So Nolan made a vow: take down the Hart family. Every last piece.

Starting with Donovan's pride and joy—Hailey.

Eight years. She was his mistress. Humiliated. Used.

***

Hailey shot awake.

The room hit like a slap—perfect, familiar.

And just like that, the despair came flooding in.

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  • The One She Loved to Hate   Chapter 24

    Hailey didn't look at Jordyn anymore.She was done.The game was over, and she had no reason to keep playing.She'd already sent Nolan's most confidential company files to his biggest rival.They didn't waste time.In one clean hit, they cut off Nolan's last lifeline.By the time he came to, his entire world would be gone.Kayden had helped her pack up everything ahead of time.And when she saw him—really saw him—Hailey finally let herself fall.Exhausted, pale, she leaned into him, holding on like she might fall apart.Kayden rubbed her back gently. "It's over now."Hailey had one last stop—to take him with her to visit her parents' graves.To let them rest.But as they left the cemetery, her smile dropped.In the distance, a figure swayed on unsteady legs."Should I call you Laurel... or Hailey?" Nolan laughed, bitter and broken."Does it matter?" Her voice was flat.Made no difference who she was. The ending between them never changed.That blank look in her eyes h

  • The One She Loved to Hate   Chapter 23

    Vanessa suddenly started laughing.One wave of her hand, and everything froze."Nolan, only one walks outta here today," she said, eyes glittering. "So tell me—who do you pick?"Nolan's wrecked body shook as he pushed himself up.No hesitation. "Hailey..."Jordyn went stiff.Then the dam broke—tears streaming down her face.She clenched her fists so tight, her palms bled. "Do you even have a heart?! You seriously can't see Hailey played you?"I've been with you for years—with nothing. No title, no name. You treated me like trash and I still stayed. People laughed at me—called me the Hart family's shame!"And this... this is what I get?"Vanessa's smile was ice. She jerked her chin at one of her guys. "Crawl under his legs, and I'll let one go."Hailey barely lifted her eyes.Nolan looked even worse than Vanessa—and that said a lot.Every gaze shifted to him. The man who once ruled Northwick.His whole body screamed in pain.Still, without a word, he lowered his head and

  • The One She Loved to Hate   Chapter 22

    Hailey acted furious.She stopped going to the hospital, ignored Nolan's calls—played the cold, silent treatment perfectly.Then one day—bam! Someone started pounding on her door.She opened it—and there was Jordyn.Jordyn's eyes were full of rage. "Hailey, it's you, isn't it? You really think a new face and fake name can fool everyone?"Hailey tried to shut the door, but Jordyn jammed her bag in the way.With a sigh, Hailey yanked it back open, ready to call Nolan to deal with the drama.But Jordyn lunged—snatched the phone and slammed it on the ground.Hailey snapped.Her feelings toward Jordyn were a mess. Fury, heartbreak, disappointment—all wrapped into one.She hated her for being blind. For still chasing Nolan like he was worth something. For never waking up.But it hurt too—because Jordyn was her sister. Her blood.And now? Jordyn looked full-on unhinged. Obsessed. Out of touch with reality.She hadn't even visited their mom's grave.Hailey's voice dropped cold. "

  • The One She Loved to Hate   Chapter 21

    The next morning, Hailey made seafood risotto like always.Nolan woke up late.By the time he opened his eyes, the bowl was already waiting.But he didn't touch it.Instead, he pulled her into his arms, warm hand resting low on her stomach. "Laurel, let's have a baby."Her smile froze.He'd always hated kids. Now he wanted one?"A girl, maybe. One who looks like you. Just one. I'll give her everything. You can teach her piano, painting—"He cut himself off.His hand slipped away.His lips pressed tight. "Headache. Don't feel like eating. You can go."Hailey took the bowl and left.The second the door shut, the smirk cracked through her calm.Laurel Quinn didn't know a damn thing about piano or painting.That was all Hailey Hart.***Nolan landed in the hospital with alcohol poisoning. Peter brought him in.When Hailey arrived, she ran into Jordyn.She walked past her like nothing.Jordyn only needed one glance.She grabbed Hailey's arm, eyes going wide. "Hailey!"P

  • The One She Loved to Hate   Chapter 20

    When Nolan killed Vanessa's beloved dog, his eyes said it all.She was next.Because she'd set that dog on Hailey.After that, he blacklisted her. Tanked her family's name across Northwick. Crushed every deal they tried to land until they were circling bankruptcy.She came to his office today to beg. Just wanted him to back off her family.But the second those elevator doors opened, she heard two assistants whispering about Nolan's new favorite.The slap of memory hit hard—how she used to love him. How he used her, dumped her, left nothing behind.So why should some other girl get what she never could?She changed course. Stormed into the secretary's office, ready to scare Laurel off.Only—Laurel wasn't scared.She was straight-up unhinged.Nolan didn't even let her talk. He called security, and they dragged her out like trash.Hailey didn't expect him to protect a so-called stand-in.But she also knew he had a meeting.And she had her own plans.As soon as he left, she

  • The One She Loved to Hate   Chapter 19

    That bowl of risotto only made Nolan miss her more.At work, Hailey didn't hold back.She flipped through his confidential files like they were hers."Hey, those are off-limits! Mr. Thorne said—""Carey!" Someone yanked that girl aside. "Are you trying to get fired? You really wanna mess with Laurel?""Girl, come on," another said. "He's obsessed. Houses, cars—she gets it all. He dumped Diana, his secretary for years, just like that. Ivy League and everything. Now she's pouring lattes at some café. Laurel could set those files on fire and he'd hand her the lighter."They kept it hushed, but Hailey heard every word.The girl named Carey frowned. "But—""No buts. Meeting. Move."They left. The files stayed.Hailey picked them up like she owned the place, not even blinking at the security cams overhead.As she scanned the pages, the office door slammed open.Hailey looked up—and froze.Vanessa.The same woman who once sicced a dog on her.She looked wrecked. No more designe

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