Chapter 22
634words
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. "There's nothing to talk about. Get out."
Jordyn froze.
But then doubled down, grabbing Hailey's wrist.
She opened her mouth—
And the door slammed open.
Three or four huge guys stormed in, no warning.
Grabbed them both.
Towels slammed over their faces.
Everything went dark as they were dragged into a waiting car.
***
When Hailey woke up, she was in some busted-up warehouse.
She sat up, head spinning, then spotted Jordyn nearby.
The giant metal doors creaked open.
A woman walked in—fully covered, head to toe.
Behind her, a squad of bodyguards followed close.
Jordyn sat up, blinking hard.
Then her eyes went wide.
"Vanessa!"
She'd memorized every woman who ever touched Nolan—and she knew this one. Even wrapped up, she recognized her.
Sure enough, the woman raised her head.
Jordyn gasped.
"Your face..."
Vanessa's skin was a horror show—twisted with scars, stretched and wrecked.
Even with surgery, the damage was forever.
Vanessa clenched her fists, eyes burning as she stared down Hailey and Jordyn.
"Hold them down!"
Right as the words left her mouth—
Boom. The warehouse doors slammed open.
Nolan walked in, alone. Fury written all over his face.
The second he saw the bruises on Hailey's arm, something snapped. His eyes turned bloodshot.
Vanessa met his gaze, bitter to the bone. She'd lost everything for him—and he'd thrown her away like trash.
"You really showed up alone," she sneered. "All I did was send you the results of the investigation. You didn't even double-check before running here. Guess she really is different to you, huh?"
Jordyn's head whipped toward Hailey.
Nolan's jaw tightened. His eyes locked on Hailey—bruised, but still holding strong.
He looked pale, barely healed, voice raspy. "Let them go. If you've got a score to settle, take it out on me. I'm the one who hurt you. Not her."
Vanessa shook with rage.
She waved her hand.
One of her guys stepped forward and kicked Nolan in the knee—hard.
He dropped with a sickening thud.
Someone handed Vanessa a steel pipe.
She raised it high. "This is what you owe me!"
She swung it down toward his head.
Jordyn screamed, full-on panicking, tears streaming.
Nolan dragged himself upright. "Hit me all you want. Just leave them alone."
Vanessa stomped on his face. "You think you get to make demands?"
No one could count the hits after that.
Jordyn's cries and Vanessa's twisted laughter echoed around the warehouse.
Nolan's face was a wreck—bloody, swollen, vision shot—but he never looked away from Hailey.
She didn't move. Didn't flinch.
What crushed him most... was what Vanessa said before.
Laurel was Hailey.
Everything clicked.
No wonder he couldn't let her go.
No wonder she felt so familiar.
"Stop! You're gonna kill him—stop!" Jordyn thrashed, screaming.
She turned on Hailey, eyes wild.
"Hailey, this is all your fault!"
