Hailey's frown deepened. "And your sister..." Kendrick went on. "She has also left the city."How could they both leave the city at once? Were they still together? And had she been worried for nothing that Rob was looking for her?But his visit to the diner."Hailey." Kendrick dragged her attention. She stared up at him, he looked calm. "That day that you lost consciousness in your car," he paused and dropped his spoon. "It was confirmed that a truck did pass through that area in that afternoon."Hailey lowered her head. She didn't know if to be sad or happy at the moment. He'd confirmed that she wasn't lying after all. But the remembrance of that also brought grief to her heart. And she couldn't help her hand from wandering to her stomach. "Then... How can they carry on with the investigation?" When she looked up again, she found his eyes on her hand, or more correctly, he was staring at her stomach. "The investigation will go on." Kendrick looked away from her stomach and resume

"I can grant you whatever favor you ask for, as long as it is in my power." Sharelene gave her a regretful look. "But I no longer have the power to cancel the engagement, neither does Ken. Besides, Ken and I need each other.""Hailey." She smiled. "I'm not asking you to let go of him. You're a sweet person, and I couldn't think of anyone else that will attend to Ken's needs.""What do you mean?""I'm willing to share," Sharelene said. "As I've told you, Ken and I are busy people. But he's a man; they claim they're more controlled than us women, but I don't believe so. If you can attend to Ken's needs and keep him away from other women, I'll be glad to share."Share? Attend to his needs? Was Sharelene implying that..."Hailey." Sharelene pulled her attention. "Being a mistress isn't a bad thing. I can sense your desperation for Ken which is why I proposed this. I won't do this for other women, you just happen to have a soft spot in my heart."A mistress? That was the word Hailey dreade

~~~But one week passed by in a flash. No matter what she did, no matter the number of times she brought the topic up, Kendrick turned her down without thinking twice. He had made up his mind. And with every day that passed by, Hailey's devastation increased. The helplessness became multifold. She threw tantrums more than twice, but Kendrick only treated her as air. He made it clear that things were not going to change. He didn't want to argue, and he no longer raised his voice at her. Hailey couldn't even keep a smile on her face. She couldn't pretend she was happy while she wasn't.She'd call Kara and acted as if everything was fine. She would speak with her mother and assure her that she was alright. Yet, as the days approached, her lies were not going to last. Kara and her mother would eventually know. The whole world would know eventually that Kendrick had chosen a bride. And that bride wasn't her. She couldn't handle this heartbreak. She couldn't handle the looks that wou

***She was never going to be okay doing that. Hailey couldn't lie to herself. The future ahead was already clear, as clear as the day.The next morning, Kendrick had left home, certainly not going to his office. Today was the day. And once he returned in the night, if he ever did, he was never going to be hers alone anymore. Another woman would be his fiancee and up to the time they'd get married, she would forever remain his mistress. Could she carry on with the hurt? Was this ache in her heart ever going to heal? Wouldn't it send her to her demise?Sharelene had claimed that she was busy. She and Kendrick would probably barely have any time for each other. They would both be on their own while Sharelene was his legal wife.But she had forgotten one thing. Sharelene had forgotten that she was a woman. Hearts can change as well as decisions. No matter how long it took, she might need his comfort eventually. And she would have the right anywhere that he was her husband.That mornin

***Where did she go?The question resounded in Kendrick's mind, paying less attention to the man sitting across from him.She'd appeared at the event and fled. He'd gone back home and found it empty. Did she leave for good? Was she never going to come back?Or would she come back? She always came back, right?Hailey would always return to him, banging at the door and screaming that he let her back into his life. She wouldn't leave him because of this. She was hurt by this decision, he felt it deep inside. Yet, this was the only way. He trusted Sharelene with her words. This was the only way she could be with him. She would be out of the public's eyes. No one would know about her, and she'd be safe from all the dangers. The dangers he'd always strived to protect her from.It shocked him when she brought those words up. Yes, he'd said those words. She was unconscious at that time after the surgery. How was she able to remember?"Mr. Reid." The lawyer cleared his throat, snapping him