Chapter 13
613words
Somewhere between the steak and dessert, someone brought up Robert.
Everyone at the table knew the guy had been a creep. His death? Now just a running joke.
"Yo, did you hear? It happened right here. Robert rolled in with some girl—absolute knockout. I ran into him in the restroom, dude was bragging about taking her home. But get this—"
"What? Don't tell me he couldn't wait and went for it in the private room."
"Ha! Nah. He didn't even get the chance. Turns out she had a boyfriend. Guy stormed in, flipped out, called her every name in the book. Said she'd hook up with anyone. Robert got wrecked. Funniest thing I've seen in ages."
Peter flicked a glance at Nolan and muttered a curse.
He knew who the girl was—Hailey.
Right after that night, Nolan made him leak all of Robert's dirt to his wife.
Robert didn't last much longer.
"But for real, that chick? She had that look. Soft skin, that innocent vibe. Bet she's insane in—"
Bang!
Nolan shot up, chair slamming to the floor.
Everyone froze.
He didn't say a word—just grabbed the chair and stormed toward the guy.
The dude blinked, confused.
"Mr. Thorne, what're you—"
No response.
Then—
"Aaagh!"
Nolan brought the chair down on the guy's head.
Blood sprayed. Screams followed.
Everyone backed off, terrified eyes glued to Nolan as he raised the chair again—
And again.
And again.
The guy lay there, soaked in blood, red foam leaking from his mouth.
"He killed him!"
Faces went ghost-white. Screams broke loose. Everyone ran.
Peter rushed in.
"Mr. Thorne! He's barely breathing—you have to stop!"
Nolan just stared, eyes bloodshot, locked on the lifeless man.
He exhaled, heavy and ragged.
The chair hit the floor with a loud clatter. He kicked the guy aside and walked out.
Peter whipped out his phone, called 911, barked orders at the bodyguards, then ran after him.
He spotted Nolan at the end of the hall, standing still in front of the giant windows—just a dark silhouette swallowed up by silence.
That rage? It had exploded. But the pain? Still there, gnawing away like a dull knife dragging across his heart.
Peter kept quiet, unsettled.
One more hit, and that guy could've died.
He stayed close but didn't say a word.
Then Nolan spoke, voice rough.
"Anyone visited Donovan Hart's grave?"
Peter dropped his gaze.
"No."
Nolan had people watching the place ever since Hailey's fall.
But no one—not Hailey, not even Jordyn—had ever shown.
He swallowed hard. Felt like glass was tearing through his throat.
For a second, sorrow cracked through his stare.
He tossed his jacket over his shoulder and stepped into the elevator.
Peter started after him.
"Don't follow me."
***
Nolan drove straight to the psychiatric hospital.
The night nurse blinked, caught off guard. Just as she turned to page someone—
He shook his head.
She nodded, mumbled a few steps, then slipped out.
Claudia hadn't said much since she got checked in. Every time he came, she was parked by the window, staring into nothing.
Tonight wasn't any different.
She didn't even register he was there.
The shawl on her shoulders started to slide. Nolan walked over, frowning, and reached to fix it—
Then her voice cut through the silence.
"Donovan... do you hate me?
"You must. I was too much of a coward to tell Fred the truth when I should've. That's what got him killed... and you too. I'm the real sinner. The one who can't be forgiven."
Nolan froze.
His head jerked up, eyes blown wide as he stared at Claudia
