Chapter 016

Hailey's POV I sat on my bed, my eyes frozen in shock as I stared down at my journal. The words on the page blurred together as tears streamed down my face. Memories I had long suppressed came flooding back, and I felt like I was reliving the nightmare all over again. My voice was barely audible as I whispered, "He betrayed me." The words felt like a punch to the gut, leaving me breathless and reeling. "He slept with my step-sister, Charlotte. He took my love for granted." The memories kept pouring in, each one a fresh wound that cut deep into my soul. I remembered the day I caught him in our matrimonial bed with Charlotte. I remembered the way he looked at me, without an ounce of remorse or guilt. I remembered the way they both pushed me out of the house, leaving me with nothing but the shattered remains of my heart. I sobbed uncontrollably as the pain washed over me. My ex-husband, Evans, had been my high school sweetheart, my rock, my everything. He was the one person I had left after my parents abandoned me and my dad remarried my evil stepmother. He was my solace, my comfort, my safe haven. But it was all a lie. He had been cheating on me with Charlotte even before our marriage. The thought was like a knife twisting in my heart, leaving me feeling raw and exposed. I remembered everything now, and the pain was almost too much to bear. I felt like I was drowning in a sea of despair, with no lifeline in sight. All I could do was sob, the tears streaming down my face as I mourned the loss of my marriage, my love, and my trust. As I sat there, tears streaming down my face, a sharp pain pierced my chest. The memory of Evans's betrayal was still fresh, still raw. I could see it all so clearly - the way he looked at me, the way he touched my step-sister, the way he Banged her on our bed while I just stood there and watched. I felt a wave of regret wash over me. Why did I have to remember this part of my life? Why did I have to relive the pain and the heartache? Was it that I had never truly experienced happiness in my past life? Was it that all I had ever known was pain and suffering? Was there no single period in my life where I was happy? The happiness I thought I had in Evans was all fake. As I flipped through the pages of my journal, I realized that there were still so many unanswered questions. How did I get pregnant? How did I get into an accident? If I was three months pregnant, did that mean I had met the father of my child just three months ago? Was Evans the father of my child? Was I pregnant during the period of our divorce? How long ago was this divorce? I felt a sense of frustration and desperation. Why couldn't I remember these things? Why were there still so many gaps in my memory? I kept flipping through the pages of my journal, searching for answers, but there was nothing. It was as if someone had deliberately ripped out the pages, hiding the truth from me. A sense of unease crept over me. Who could have done this? And why? What were they trying to hide? I felt a sense of determination rising up within me. I was going to find out the truth, no matter what it took. Unknown POV The man's eyes were fixed intently on the picture in his hands, his face a mask of calmness. But beneath the surface, a storm was brewing. His voice was low and menacing as he whispered, "I'm coming for you, Hailey." His eyes seemed to burn with an inner fire as he clutched the picture to his chest. "I made a terrible mistake in the past, but I won't let you slip away from me again. You're mine, Hailey. Mine alone." A sinister smile spread across his face as he continued, "If I can't have you, no one can. Not even the most powerful man in the city." His eyes gleamed with a possessive intensity, his voice dripping with malice. He paused, his chest heaving with emotion. "My heart flooded with hope when I saw you today. But you couldn't recognize me, and that's a good thing. It's a good thing you've forgotten about the pains I caused you." A cold, calculating glint appeared in his eye. "Which only proves the universe wants our reunion. I'm not letting you out of my sight again, Hailey. You're mine, and I'll do whatever it takes to keep you. Even if it means killing Aiden Brooklyn."