Chapter 17

“Babe,” Tyler whispered, still on his knees, waiting for Hailey to answer his proposal. He saw her lips move, but no words came out.

“T….Tyler….” she said, her voice trailing off.

“Please make me the happiest man in the world.”

“Fuck you and stay the hell away from my wife!” Cole’s familiar voice cut through the air.

Looking up, they saw him. Before Hailey could speak, he grabbed her arm and reached for her purse. He was about to pull her away when Tyler intervened, rising to his feet. People recognized Cole, and more people began taking pictures and videos.

“What the hell are you doing?” Hailey mumbled, struggling to get free.

“Let go of me!!!”

“Let her go,” Tyler said, approaching them. Cole pushed him away, and the ring fell to the floor.

“Can you just stop this!” Hailey pleaded, still trying to break free.

“I’m sorry if this hurts you, but I’m never letting this asshole have you,” Cole said, then addressed the growing crowd. “This woman is my wife, and I’m urging all men to stay away from her.”

“I wronged her in the past; that’s why she hates me. But I love her too much to lose her. She is my woman, and any man who comes close to her will end up behind bars,” Cole declared, then forcefully but politely pulled Hailey out of the restaurant to his car. He didn’t release her until they reached it.

“What the hell is wrong with you?” Hailey slapped him.

“Get mad at me all you want, but I won’t let you end up with that man or anyone else.”

“You don’t own me! Why did you embarrass me and my fiancé?”

“You are still my wife, and I have the marriage certificate to prove it!”

“And you should be thankful instead of mad at me! It was obvious you weren’t going to accept his proposal. Be happy I saved you from a tight spot.”

“Just shut your mouth, Cole. You’re still as egotistical as I remember. You have no right to invade my privacy. Whether or not I accept the proposal is none of your damn business!”

“I am not your wife, and I would never return to you, so stay away from me.”

Hailey started to walk away, but Cole cornered her by the car. “If I can’t have you, then no one else can.”

“What the hell is wrong with you? Can you just let me be? Can’t we go back to the times when you didn’t give a damn about me?”

“I made a terrible mistake. I was stupid to ignore you, but now I’m back to make amends. I love you so much, and I can’t let you slip away. I’m not asking you to take me back with open arms. I know you have every right to be angry, but just give me a chance.”

“I don’t care if he’s the father of your children. I want you back, and I’ll take care of them as if they were my own.”

“Please, just accept me back!”

“I hate you and I want nothing to do with you! Stay the fuck away from me and my affairs!” Hailey snatched her purse, glared at him, and stormed away.

She had barely left when she saw Tyler emerging from the restaurant, looking embarrassed and hurt. Her heart ached for him. “Ty,” she called, hurrying after him as he approached his car.

“Ty, please wait.”

He ignored her, heading for the driver’s seat.

“Tyler?!”

“Let go,” he said, shrugging off her hand. He was about to open the car door when she spoke.

“I’m sorry!”

He turned to look into her eyes.

“For?”

“Please, Ty,” she pleaded, distressed by his coldness. She couldn’t bear the pain in his eyes.

“What exactly are you sorry for, Hailey?”

“For your ex embarrassing me? I’m going to be a meme by midnight because of all the videos and pictures. What was meant to be a sweet moment turned into ridicule.”

“I’m so sorry, Ty. You know this isn’t my fault. I don’t know what Cole was doing here; I don’t know how he found me.”

“You know about my past. You know I don’t want anything to do with him. He’s just trying to pry into my life.”

“Would you have accepted my proposal if he hadn’t shown up?” he asked, staring intently at her.

She swallowed hard.

“Answer my question, Hailey. Would you have accepted my proposal?”

“Please don’t take this the wrong way, Tyler. I adore you!”

“You adore me. So what next?”

“We’ve been together for three years, Hailey. How much more time do you need? I’ve loved you every day of my life, I treat you well. I love Enzo and Ollie with every breath I take. I put you first, even when you don’t do the same for me, but I never hold that against you.”

“I’ve had that ring for seven months. Every time I wanted to propose, I chickened out, thinking you weren’t ready, and today, when I finally had the courage…look what happened. I should have kept my mouth shut.”

“Please don’t talk that way, Ty.” Tears welled in Hailey’s eyes.

“What now? You want to keep me in your life as a puppet and never reciprocate the energy I give you?”

“Stop saying that, Ty. You know I deeply care about you. I would do anything you ask of me.”

“Really? But you can’t say yes to spending forever with me?”

“There’s just so much going on, and I need more time.”

“How much more time do you need to heal? You still love that bastard, it’s so clear.”

A tear rolled down Hailey’s cheek. “No, I don’t.”

“Oh, yes you do, Hailey.”

“Four years is enough to move on from a gold digger who never treated you right! But for some reason, you still feel something for him.”

“I feel nothing but hatred for Cole, I promise you. I’ve just been traumatized by that relationship, and being in another one scares me.”

“You think I’m going to be a beast like your ex? Or should I say your husband, since you’re not divorced yet?”

“I can imagine tomorrow’s headlines: ‘Young Man Proposes to Cole Matthis’s Wife.’”

“That’s more hurtful than you think. You should know my past hurts me more than anything, and it’s not my fault Cole caused chaos.”

“What would have changed? Would you have accepted to be my wife if he hadn’t intruded?”

“Fine, I’ll marry you. Where’s the ring?” she sniffled.

Tyler shook his head. “I’d rather die than let you marry me out of pity.”

“You should go back to your husband!” He gestured toward Cole, who stood nearby, then got into his car, ignoring Hailey’s pleas.

Hailey was about to leave when she saw Cole approaching. She glared at him.

“Don’t you dare come close to me!”

“Please, Hailey, let’s talk. I’m sorry. I know I’m annoying, but you give me no choice.”

“I want nothing to do with you. Don’t you get it?!”

“I know you’re angry, but please, can we talk?”

“I want nothing to do with you!” She ignored him, got into her car, and drove off.

“Where the hell do you think you’re going?” Vanessa’s voice startled him; he’d forgotten she was with him.

He turned and saw her approaching.

“Hailey needs me.”

“What has gotten into you, Cole? You humiliated yourself, and you’re chasing someone who clearly wants nothing to do with you. What the hell, Cole?”

“Sorry if I humiliated you, but that’s on you, because we both know I feel nothing for you.”

“I know what it’s like to lose a good woman, and I’m not letting that happen again.”

“Take a taxi home and send me the bill.” Cole got into his car and drove off.

“No! This isn’t happening to me.” Vanessa shook her head, tears streaming down her face. “You all can’t keep messing with my feelings.” She took out her phone and dialed a number. “I don’t care what you do to her, James. Just follow her and get rid of her. I want her out of our lives as soon as possible,” she sobbed. “Yes, she just left the restaurant. Go after her now!”

Hailey drove, tears streaming down her face. She didn’t regret hitting Cole, but she hated hurting Tyler and, most importantly, herself. Tyler was everything a woman could want, and she was furious with herself for not reciprocating his love. She cared deeply for him, but that was it. She was crying, lost in thought, when a truck suddenly appeared and hit her car.

“No! No…no, no!” Cole yelled, having been following her. He jumped out of his car, forgetting to turn off the engine, and ran to Hailey. The windshield and passenger window were shattered. It took him a few minutes to force the door open.

“Hailey, boo, baby, please open your eyes,” he said, unbuckling her seatbelt. He caressed her cold cheek; she was bleeding from her forehead and arm. Tears welled in his eyes.

“Please wake up, Hailey. I lost you once, and I don’t want to lose you again,” Cole sobbed. “Please, baby, I promise I’ll spend the rest of my life making you happy. I don’t mind being your slave. The four years apart have been the hardest of my life. I want to make so many good memories with you. I’ve been an asshole, but I’m changed. I want to show you how sweet I can be, prove I can be an amazing husband and partner. I know you have kids with someone else, but I promise I’ll treat them as my own. I want to know what it’s like to be a parent, and having you as my partner would mean so much to me.”

He checked her pulse.

“Coleeeee,” she groaned, slowly opening her eyes.

“My love,” he leaned in, kissing her forehead. “You okay?”

She groaned.

“It’s okay, don’t say anything. I’ll take you to the hospital,” Cole said, removing the broken glass from her lap and carrying her to his car.

He was almost there when he saw someone in dark clothing and a mask pointing a gun at Hailey. “Don’t you dar…!” The stranger fired before he could finish. To save Hailey, Cole let go, and she fell as the bullet hit his arm.