Chapter 15
539words
Nolan was gone.
Footsteps pounded outside. The door slammed open, and a bunch of people in white coats rushed in.
Her pulse spiked.
She was totally exposed, arms and legs locked in place.
They laid out metal tools—cold, gleaming, brutal.
Her face drained.
"Who are you? What is this?!"
One of them glanced at her, deadpan. "Mr. Thorne said no anesthesia. Make it fast."
"Yes, sir."
They moved in.
Jordyn thrashed, screaming for Nolan.
The door opened again.
He walked in, towel around his neck, fresh from a shower. Shampoo clung to his skin—but her eyes locked on the angry red patches across his chest. Scrubbed raw. Like he was trying to wipe her off him.
Jordyn blinked, stunned. No time to process. Her eyes shot to him, desperate.
"Nolan, what are you doing?! Untie me—get them out of here!"
Her voice cracked. Teeth chattering. Eyes on the cold metal tools. She didn't know what they were for, just that it wasn't good.
He sneered.
Then grabbed her throat.
Her body jerked, legs kicking, eyes rolling back. Words tumbled out, broken and useless. She wanted to run. Couldn't move.
"You drugged me, Jordyn Hart. You should've seen this coming."
He turned to the others.
"Clean her out. She tried to trap me—she'll be the first and the last."
He let go.
Jordyn gasped—then the instruments hit, cold and brutal.
Her screams ripped through the house.
Tears bled into the pillow. Pain wrecked her.
And in that moment, she knew—
To Nolan, everyone else was nothing.
Only Hailey mattered.
***
Nolan didn't want to go home, so some friends dragged him to a bar.
But his vibe screamed back off, and no one got near him.
He staggered toward the restroom.
Then—
"Excuse me!"
A small figure darted out, slammed into him, and sent his phone flying.
"Oh no, I'm so sorry!"
She dropped down fast, grabbed the phone, checked it over, then handed it back with a smile.
Nolan froze.
"Ha—Hailey?!"
His buzz vanished.
He stared, heart racing—
But no.
The eyes, the voice... close, but not her.
Hailey was gone.
He shut his eyes, sick with it.
Took the phone, didn't even look at her.
"Wait!"
She grabbed his arm.
He flinched, started to pull away, but she let go first, head down, digging through her bag.
"Got it!"
She lit up, holding out a bandage. Before he could say a word, she gently took his arm and pressed it over a cut.
Nolan frowned, followed her gaze to the scrape on his skin.
"Sorry if I overstepped. I'm a nurse—just habit."
She smiled, warm and easy.
He stared at her eyes, dazed.
Didn't even notice when she slipped away.
She climbed the stairs to a private room.
A girl opened the door with a smirk.
Inside, she reached for her wine glass—
But it got snatched midair.
"Hailey, my brother said no drinking!"
Hailey blinked, sighed, and took the water glass instead.
"How'd I manage to ditch annoying Kayden but still get stuck with you?"
Serena Kingsley winked.
"Real question—do you honestly think Nolan still has feelings for you?"
Hailey swirled the glass, quiet.
Didn't answer.
