Chapter 14

“What do you mean?” Hailey said in shock, unsure if she’d heard her little boy correctly.

“Daddy! Will he come back?”

“Why? Why do you ask?” Hailey was curious. The boys had asked that question before, and she’d told them he was far away.

“I don’t know. Why do you ask?”

“Aubrey has a daddy. He plays with her and brings her to school. I want Daddy to come play with me, too. I still don’t know how to ride a bike properly like Ollie. Daddy can teach me. I really want to meet him.”

“You should go to sleep, baby.”

“Please, Mommy.” Enzo stared at his mother with pleading eyes.

“I will try my best to locate him.”

“You promise?”

Hailey swallowed painfully, nodding.

“Thank you, Mommy. I love you.”

“I love you too, baby. Go to sleep,” Hailey whispered, kissing her son on the forehead. She caressed his cheek and watched him fall asleep.

Once Enzo was deeply asleep, Hailey sighed, gently getting off the bed. She put on a light fur coat over her nightie, picked up her phone from the nightstand, and went to the adjoining balcony. There was a small round table and a matching chair, and the weather felt cool. Realizing she was forgetting something, Hailey went back inside. She took a bottle of alcohol and a glass from her nightstand cabinet and returned to the balcony.

She sat, filled her glass, and took a couple of sips, lost in thought. Eventually, Hailey reached for her phone. She unlocked it and entered Cole’s name into her browser’s search box. Many results appeared, mostly about his company’s struggles to regain its former success. It wasn’t struggling like Summers Incorporations, but it was no longer at the top.

To Hailey’s surprise, the only relationship scandal Cole had had in the last four years involved speculation about him and Vanessa getting married and having children.

Hailey sighed, setting aside her phone. She returned to her thoughts and drinking.

Hailey had no idea how long she sat there. But the weather turned harsh, so she went inside. She dashed into her bathroom, opened the cabinet, took her pill container, and swallowed three pills. She hoped this would alleviate her anxiety and depression for the night.

“Vanessa, baby, wait up.” Connie tried to catch up with her daughter, who was heading toward the restroom.

“Why the hell are you crying? What if someone walks in?” Connie whispered, closing the door behind her. She checked the stalls; thankfully, they were empty. Then she approached her daughter, who was crying at the sink, staring at herself in the mirror.

“You don’t need this, my love. You’re going to ruin your makeup!”

Vanessa turned to her mother. “She knows our secret, Mama. She’s going to ruin us.”

“I’m disappointed you believed everything she said. There’s no way she’s going to ruin us. Yes, she knows we committed fraud, but she has no evidence, and even if she did, she’s never going to put us in jail.”

“Why are you speaking that way, Mama? Can’t you see she’s a new person? We can’t tell what she’s up to.”

“Oh, please, don’t tell me you believe she has the money to set up the company. She definitely has some sort of secret, and we’re going to find out what it is.”

“I can’t let her win, Mom. This is so unfair.” Vanessa sniffled, dabbing at her eyes, grateful her makeup was waterproof.

“No. There’s no way she’s going to win. I spoke to your father, and the company is in terrible shape. Much as we hate to admit it, we need that bitch’s help for now. Once the company is back on its feet, we can kick her out. Her presence is temporary. I assure you.”

Vanessa nodded, calming down.

“So, when are you and Cole getting married?”

“Oh, please don’t look at me like that. You should be married to him by now. Or do you want him to go back to that bitch?”

“Of course not, Ma. Cole has been difficult to talk to lately. He doesn’t look at me the same way. He doesn’t answer my calls or texts. It’s obvious he wants Hailey.”

“Desperate times call for desperate measures.”

“I know, Mama. I can hardly have a conversation with him. How am I going to get him drunk and…with him?”

“I don’t know. But you need to think fast and come up with a solution. Having Cole’s heir is the easiest way to secure him and his property.”

“Yeah, I’ll do my best. I’ll make sure it happens soon.”

“Okay, baby. Let’s go back and enjoy the party. I want your father to introduce you to the investors so it won’t be a surprise when Hailey no longer heads the company.”

Smiling, Vanessa left with her mother.

While Vanessa spoke with an investor, Connie saw Cole leaving and followed him. He was getting into his car when she reached him.

“You’re leaving already?”

Cole stared at her in disbelief.

“What I mean is, where are you going when your fiancée is still inside?”

“What fiancée?”

“Come on, Cole. You know I’m talking about Vanessa.”

“She’s not my fiancée. I have a wife.”

“What wife? The one who stole from you and disappeared?”

“I’m leaving if you continue to disrespect Hailey.”

“Don’t be hard on me. I’m just trying to tell you Hailey is a gold digger. You need to marry Vanessa as soon as possible.”

“I don’t know who gave you that impression, but I hate Vanessa as much as I hate you.”

“Don’t speak to me that way! My daughter saved your life. You owe her your life and should spend your days making her happy.”

“You’re kidding, right?!”

“No, I’m not.”

“Look, I appreciate she saved my life, but that doesn’t mean I need to worship her. My heart beats for only one woman: Hailey, and I’m getting her back.”

“I forbid you to go back to Hailey!”

“And I should obey you because?”

“Because I’m your mother-in-law.”

Cole scoffed. “Oh, you mean the stepmother-in-law who never cared about my wife?”

“Please!” Connie said calmly.

“Oh, please, don’t start with the fake tears.”

“Vanessa has loved you since you were little. She’s always dreamed of marrying you, having kids, and building a family.” A tear rolled down Connie’s cheek.

Cole scoffed.

“She loves you so much, Cole. With the company, her father neglecting her, and you…she’s depressed. I’m afraid she’ll kill herself if you don’t marry her.”

“Please save my daughter; I don’t want to lose her.” Connie fell to her knees, clinging to Cole’s leg, attracting stares.

“What is this, Connie? Get off me!” Cole mumbled, looking around, hoping no one was recording.

“I’ll only get up if you promise to marry Vanessa.”

“People are watching, Connie. You’re embarrassing me!”

“My daughter risked her life for you. Promise you’ll save her by marrying her.”

“Just get up so we can sort this out.”

“Promise me.”

“Fine!!!”