Chapter 108

Unsure if she was really safe, Hailey reached for her phone, dialed Cole and Debbie in a group call, and placed the phone on her desk.

Hailey rose as Connie approached. She noticed something odd and unsettling about Connie’s appearance. Connie was always impeccably dressed and adorned with expensive jewelry, but now she looked like a fugitive.

“How did you even get in…?” Hailey began, then gasped as Connie removed her scarf and wig. Hailey had told the building security to bar Connie from entering, but she recognized her instantly; she lived with Connie and knew her at any time. Even now, in that ridiculous dress.

“Don’t you fucking come near me!” Hailey glared as Connie neared.

“You bitch!!!!” Connie stopped.

“Why are you here? How did you get in?” Hailey wondered how Connie had bypassed both security and the receptionist.

“I have my ways, you idiot! I ran things before your existence, and I won’t let you ruin it.”

“What’s your heart made of? Cast iron?” Hailey asked, seeing no remorse or guilt.

“You’re so full of yourself! You think you can boss everyone around just because you own a shabby company!”

“I won’t let you belittle my hard work, especially since you’re nothing but a crazy piece of shit who’s never worked a day in your life! You’ve lived stealing from people!”

“Don’t you dare talk to me like that!” Connie yelled.

“Shut the fuck up, you bitch! You call me a gold digger? You’re the thief! What kind of insane mother are you? You let them beat up your daughter, she lost her baby, you stole from her, ruined her life, and ran away like the coward you are! You still dare show your face? You should be ashamed!”

“Is that what that bitch told you?”

Hailey chuckled. “Wow! You call your own daughter a bitch! You’re terrible!”

“She’s not even your sister, so why do you care?!”

“Vanessa…?” Hailey asked, pale with shock.

Connie scoffed. “You’re as dumb as your father!”

“You’re not Vanessa’s mother?” Hailey asked, disbelieving the resemblance.

“Don’t be dumb. I never said I didn’t give birth to Vanessa. She’s just not your sister. Your father believed she was his, but I was dating someone else then. I liked him, but he was poor. He couldn’t give me the life I wanted, so I chose your father.”

Hailey leaned against the table, fearing she’d faint.

“How could you? How do you even sleep at night?”

“Oh, I sleep like a baby. I’ll do anything to get what I want. But you’re the only one giving me trouble.”

“What did I ever do to you?”

“Vanessa defamed Cole. He did nothing to her, but she defamed you, and then you ran to the cops, demanding money we don’t have.”

“That’s what happens when you mess with me! I’m not Cole, and you’ll all pay for how you’ve treated me. You can’t keep doing evil and getting away with it.”

“You’re nothing but a brat! Because of you, I’m hiding like a criminal. I’d have left the country, but I can’t get past the airport.”

“Of course, you’re going nowhere! We’ve had enough of you! It’s time you paid for your sins! What did my family ever do to you? You ruined your daughter’s life, and the best you could do was run away? For fuck’s sake, you murdered your grandchild!”

“I’m not explaining myself. I sacrificed so much for Vanessa. She wasn’t doing things my way, so I had to deal with her.”

“Sending people to beat her up until she lost a baby, and then abandoning her? Are you sure you gave birth to her? A mother would never do that!”

“Don’t preach to me! You’re no different. I risked my life for Vanessa! Her birth father is a mechanic who barely makes $500 a month. How were we going to survive?”

Connie shrugged. “I never cared what you think, and I won’t start now. I don’t owe you any explanation. I risked my life to come see you.”

“I hope you didn’t hurt my staff.”

“Just shut up and withdraw the case!”

Hailey laughed bitterly.

“I’m not joking! You wanted Vanessa, now she’s in custody. You’re to blame for her child’s death. She wouldn’t have lost the baby if you hadn’t threatened to sue us over a ridiculous amount of money. This is all your fault.”

Hailey moved closer. “You’re insane if you think you can guilt-trip me! You and Vanessa brought this on yourselves, and you’ll pay for everything you’ve done to me!”

“And no, I’m not withdrawing the case! It was initially against Vanessa, and I’m glad you got involved. You implicated yourself, and it’s time to turn yourself in.”

“You bitch!!! If I knew you were a threat, I would have gotten rid of you, like I did your mother.”

Tears welled in Hailey’s eyes.

“You… you killed my mother?!”

Connie rolled her eyes. “Not like she was useful anyway.”

“You bastard!” Hailey hit Connie hard across the cheek and pulled her hair. Connie fought back.

“You evil witch! You deprived me of a mother! What did that innocent woman do to you? You destroyed my family! Why are you so cruel?” Hailey hit and pulled Connie’s hair.

Hailey tripped, and Connie pushed her to the floor, her head hitting the desk. Connie kicked Hailey’s leg and belly repeatedly, eliciting a scream. Tears streamed down Hailey’s face as she protected her belly.

“You bitch!!!” Connie said. “I should have dealt with you long ago! Then Vanessa would be married to Cole, and all his property would be mine.”

Connie grabbed an empty glass. She was about to smash it on Hailey’s head when the door burst open—Cole and two police officers.

Cole grabbed Connie, took the glass, and threw it on the desk. He pushed her onto a couch and slapped her repeatedly.

“How dare you lay your hands on my wife?!” Cole yelled, slapping her. He grabbed the glass and smashed it against Connie’s head. She screamed.

Cole ignored Connie and rushed to Hailey. The police arrested Connie. Cole knelt, pulling Hailey onto his lap. He saw blood on her forehead and leg.

“Baby, my love, I’m here.” He applied pressure to her head wound.

“Fuck!!!!” Cole cursed, seeing the blood. He scooped Hailey into his arms and rushed her out.