Chapter 248: Seeing My Former Self
Hayley’s POV:
Inside, I found several car keys and a few other items. I picked up one of the keys, put on a worn black cap, and looked up at my reflection in the mirror. For a moment, I felt as if I was seeing my former self.
“I’ll take these,” I said, holding the box as I walked out of the bedroom.
Nueve spread his hands and said, “I was just keeping these for you temporarily—they were always meant to return to you one day.”
“Thank you, Nueve,” I said sincerely. Nueve gave me a faint smile and said, “We’re good friends. No need for all the thanks.”
We both left the house, and I locked the door behind us before heading to the elevator.
“Do you remember the last time I left here?” I said, my voice soft. “I remember thinking to myself that I’d never come back here again.”
“And now, just two years later, here I am again. It’s hard not to feel a little nostalgic,” I added, my words tinged with emotion.
Nueve looked at me with a gentle expression. “Honestly, I always knew you’d come back—it was just a matter of when.”
“I’m glad I waited. Good luck with tomorrow’s match. I’ll be there cheering you on, looking forward to seeing how you do.”
I grunted. “Tomorrow’s the group stage. I’ll give it my best.”
After stepping out of the elevator, I went straight to the garage, where my favorite sports car was parked. Thankfully, even though the cars had been there for a few years, they weren’t covered in dust. That was thanks to Nueve, who occasionally had someone come by to clean them.
Sliding into the driver’s seat, suddenly everything felt familiar again. I started the car, pressed the accelerator, and drove out onto the road. My car sped down the street, drawing the attention of several nearby drivers, but I paid them no mind.
Behind the wheel, I wasn’t the Alpha of the Shadow Pack, nor was I the Omega disguise of Hayley. I was simply a racer—Sara!
I drove straight to the hotel, took off my cap, and casually placed it on the passenger seat. After a quick glance in the mirror to fix my hair, I opened the car door and stepped out.
As soon as I neared the hotel lobby, I could feel Hera stirring inside me, full of excitement. And sure enough, as soon as I entered, I spotted him on the phone.
We got into the elevator one after the other, and I stood next to him.
“You handle this for now. Call me if anything comes up,” Benjamin said, ending the call. He glanced at me, then frowned slightly, a look of distaste crossing his face. I quickly realized that he probably thought I kept running into him because I was trying to get closer to him.
“Ms. Carson, just got back from outside?” Benjamin suddenly asked. I had planned to ignore him, but since he spoke, I simply nodded in response.
We didn’t say anything more. When the elevator doors opened, I stepped out first, heading to my room.
Once back in my hotel room, I went straight to the bathroom for a shower. When I came out, my hair was still damp, droplets of water running down it. I grabbed a towel and dried my hair before walking over to the floor-to-ceiling window. From there, I could look out at the city’s night skyline, the bright lights and nightlife making it easy to lose yourself in the city’s chaos.
Ding-dong! At that exact moment, the doorbell rang. Curious, I wondered who might be visiting me at this hour. I walked to the door and asked, “Who’s there?”
“It’s me!”
Two simple words, spoken in a familiar voice. I froze for a moment, disbelief washing over me, as I slowly opened the door.