The One She Loved to Hate

Hailey didn't know how long Nolan kept going.

All she remembered was the fever burning through her body, her mouth running with words she couldn't even recall.

Somewhere in the haze, her mind drifted...

She used to love hiking. Nolan would tag along, mountain after mountain.

Once, she heard about this love-wish tree on a far-off peak. The trail was brutal, unmarked, risky.

She wanted to go. But that time, Nolan said no.

Back then, she didn't get it.

He'd never seen a future with her—wasn't about to chase some stupid tree for love.

So she went anyway. Packed her bag, told no one.

And it rained.

Hard.

She got stranded on the mountain.

She never found the tree—but she did find Nolan.

Soaked. Furious. Eyes wild.

Before she could say a word, he started shouting. She just stood there, stunned, heart crumbling.

Then—he pulled her in.

Tight.

Like he'd almost lost her for good.

His chest pounded. His grip was crushing.

In that second, she knew—

Finding the tree didn't matter anymore.

***

When Hailey woke, the sharp sting of disinfectant hit her nose.

She blinked—and there he was.

Nolan.

Staring at her like through a fog, face unreadable.

But just as she tried to figure him out, he snapped back into that icy version of himself.

"Fever didn't kill you. Too bad."

Then he turned and walked out, leaving her alone in the hospital.

During her stay, Nolan never showed.

Not once.

But his name kept blowing up on trending—first with an actress, then some up-and-coming model.

Hailey didn't flinch.

After eight years, her heart was wreckage. Pain barely registered.

When she finally returned to Thorne Corp, every stare in the room landed on her.

She didn't know why—until Jane walked up with a file.

"Robert's dead."

Hailey blinked. "What?"

"Got caught with another guy's wife. Her husband beat him to death."

A frown flickered across Hailey's face, then disappeared.

For someone like Robert... it wasn't exactly a shock.

Nolan didn't show all day.

The secretarial pool hummed with whispers—some actress had supposedly caught his eye.

Hailey's pen slipped from her hand.

A thought crept in—if Nolan really wanted someone else... would he finally let go?

Could she take her mom and get out for good?

The idea wouldn't leave her alone.

Even after work, she was still hoping.

Just as Hailey stepped outside, someone lunged at her.

Before she could react, a bottle came flying—its contents aimed straight at her face.

She froze, eyes wide.

"Hailey!"

Nolan burst in, throwing himself in front of her.

"You bitch!" the woman shrieked. "My son lost his job because of you! Now he's crippled! You're gonna pay with your life!"

Nolan kicked her, hard.

It was Ethan's mom.

She hit the pavement, screaming.

"You filthy pair! You ruined him—now me? I'll sue! I'll watch you rot!"

Hailey just stared, numb, then turned to Nolan.

Someone shouted, "Mr. Thorne, your arm!"

Nolan's face went cold. Dark.

"Take her away," he snapped.

His voice—flat, emotionless—stabbed into Hailey like tiny silver blades.

Stiff, she glanced down at his arm. "Nolan!"

The crowd was growing.

A petite woman shoved past the bodyguards and rushed to him, grabbing his arm with shaking hands.

"That was acid! We have to go—now!"

She didn't wait. Just dragged him toward the car.

Hailey called out without thinking. "Why?"

Nolan stopped.

His face stayed blank—just the ghost of a smirk playing at his lips.

Like he knew exactly what she meant.

Like he was laughing at her for still hoping.

"Why did I save you?" he said, voice low. "Your family owes me more than a thousand deaths could pay off. If you're gonna rot... you'll rot by my hand."

The crowd thinned.

And under the flickering streetlight, Hailey stood alone—small, quiet, and breaking.