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Chapter 9

Author: Strawberry Spring Roll
"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 everything she had.

She didn't care how exposed she was—she lunged, reaching for Amelia's gown.

Her fingers missed.

A sickening thud.

Silence.

Hailey stood frozen, then staggered toward the window.

Nolan yanked her back.

He held her tight. His body, once warm, now ice-cold and shaking.

"Ah!" Her scream ripped through the room.

She swung at him, fists flying.

"If you die," Nolan hissed, "I'll make sure your mom doesn't even get a body to bury! She won't rest—ever!"

Her fists stopped midair.

Something bitter climbed her throat.

She coughed blood all over his white shirt—and collapsed.

***

When Hailey woke up, she was weirdly calm.

She handled the cremation, the burial—every step, like she was on autopilot.

Then she picked a new plot and buried Donovan and Amelia together.

When Nolan showed up with Mike's corpse, she didn't even glance up.

"I beat this dog to death. If you behave and stay by my side to atone, maybe I'll make an exception for you."

His voice dripped with fake generosity.

Hailey didn't react. But that night, she asked to see the love-wish tree again.

Nolan frowned. "That thing? It's a scam. You looked for it before—it's not real."

She didn't argue, just stared at the ground.

She figured he'd shut her down again. But then—

"Go pack. I'll take you tomorrow."

Her lashes fluttered. She stayed quiet and walked off.

***

They left at dawn. Hours into the climb, the trail got rough. Hailey had a few hypoglycemic crashes, and Nolan had to stop each time.

He glanced around, annoyed. "After today, if you keep acting like the walking dead, I'm done playing nice."

"We're here."

"What?" He turned, irritated.

But Hailey was locked on the massive tree ahead.

She'd never told anyone.

That morning, after Donovan died, she'd gone searching for it again.

And she'd found it.

Hailey walked around the back, where one wrong step could send her over the edge.

Nolan tensed, instinct kicking in. He moved to follow—then stopped cold.

It hit him—how much he'd been hovering. Like his concern was some kind of gift.

Hailey didn't notice.

She dug around the base of the tree and found the red ribbon she'd tied all those years ago.

Without flinching, she pulled out scissors and cut it.

Nolan's face twisted, but before he could say a word—

She turned.

Her whole body shook with hate and regret. Eyes shut tight, she wouldn't even look at him.

"Nolan Thorne, I wish I'd never met you." Then she jumped.

His eyes went wide. He lunged.

"Hailey!"
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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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