Chapter 18 19:44
HOURS LATER!
Hailey let out a soft groan, feeling nothing but pain all over her body. “Babe!!” Hailey heard the familiar worried voice beside her. It took a while for her vision to stabilize; when it did, she came face to face with her best friend, whose face showed worry and relief. Debbie was seated on the bed beside her. “Are you okay? Do you want me to call the doctor?” Debbie was almost standing to do so when Hailey managed to speak. “W…water.” Her voice was a whisper. Debbie dashed to a nearby table and poured some water into a cup. She helped Hailey sit up and then gave her some water. Hailey only took a few sips. Debbie then placed the cup on the nightstand and sat back down. “Are you sure you’re okay, babe? I can call the doctor if you want me to.” “Yeah, yeah, I’m fine. My head feels very heavy, and I feel pains all over my body.” “Yeah, there’s a bandage around your head to stop the bleeding, and a small one on your arm.” Hailey glanced at her right arm, which had two plaster bandages. Then she touched her forehead and sighed. “How’s my face?” she asked her best friend. “You look really sick, and there’s a scratch on your lip.” “I almost lost it when I got a call that you were at the hospital. I knew you were going on a date, and then the next thing I know, I get a call from the emergency center?!” “It’s complicated.”
Chapter 18 19:44
“You need not explain anything. Tyler is outside. He told me how he messed up,” Debbie said. Then it hit Hailey. “Cole? How is he?” Worry was evident in her voice and on her face. “The doctor said they were about to conduct surgery to remove the bullet.” “Is he going to be okay?” “I’m sure he will be.” Hailey sighed, slamming her back against the bed rest. “I wasn’t feeling good about the date. I should have turned Tyler down. If I had, all this wouldn’t be happening.” “You actually did nothing wrong, babe. You have every right to enjoy yourself and your life. It’s so unfortunate that this had to happen.” “Why would anyone want me dead?” Debbie sighed and reached for Hailey’s hand, gently squeezing it. “Please don’t cry.” “I really don’t want to. But my whole life sucks.” Debbie shook her head. “Please don’t. You need all your strength to quicken your healing process. Crying would only make things worse.” “I know. I just don’t get why anyone would want me dead. I mean, I never wish anyone evil.” “We’re not going to pretend we don’t know who the enemies are. This is one of the reasons I was skeptical about you taking over your grandfather’s company.” “It wasn’t an accident. The person behind the truck is nowhere to be found. And the person who shot… we don’t know if it’s the same person or two different people.” “But the police have started investigating to trace the truck’s origin and check street cameras. We’re going to find the culprit, and I swear, if your bitchy stepsister has a hand in this, I’m going to kill her with my bare hands.”
Chapter 18 19:44
“I thought I was going to die. I saw him pull the trigger, and suddenly, I was on the floor.” “Cole took the bullet for you.” “I don’t like that.” “Me neither, but I’m grateful he saved you.” “Yeah, now it’s going to seem like I owe him my whole life. Especially after I’ve made it clear I want nothing to do with him.” “You’re right. He did the bravest thing anyone in love could have done. He did it in an instant.” “Perfect! Just the perfect scenario for someone I want to get rid of.” “I’m struggling so badly, trying to get rid of any feelings for him, that this had to happen.” “Would you have preferred if it was Tyler who saved you?” “I don’t wish for anyone to get shot, but yeah, maybe!”
“You can’t force love. You know that, right?” Hailey said nothing. “I’m so mad at Tyler. That’s why he’s outside,” Debbie confessed. “You needn’t be mad at him. Cole was way out of line. I would have probably done the same if I were in his shoes.” “I guess he brought us to the hospital?” Debbie nodded. “He said he could see you driving behind him, but suddenly he didn’t see you anymore. He got uneasy, then decided to make a U-turn. He saw you and Cole bleeding, then brought you both here.”
Chapter 18 19:44
Hailey sighed, not knowing what to say. “I hope Cole makes it through. If not, I’m going to die of guilt.” “What kind of guilt?” “All kinds. That he saved me, thinking he was alone, whereas he has two sons somewhere he’s never met.” “So you’re having a change of heart?” “I don’t know, but everything’s not going as planned.” “I was eventually going to tell the twins about their dad, but that would be when they’re grown and can decide for themselves if they want him in their lives or not.” “I thought there was a time when I had control of my life, but right now I don’t know what’s going on.” “Try to stay calm and focus on getting better. Cole will be fine. He’s a strong man, so he’ll be okay. Thankfully the bullet was just by his arm and not his head or heart.” Hailey nodded, still not feeling at ease. “Did you know Tyler was going to propose to me?” Hailey asked her best friend. “I had no idea. I just knew it was going to happen soon since you’ve both been together for a while. I mean, it’s what’s expected in any long relationship.” “He said he’s had the ring for seven months.” “I think I can believe that. Even anyone blind would know that Tyler is insanely in love with you. It sucks you don’t feel the same way about him.” “I care about him.” “But it’s not enough.” “Is it crazy that I feel guilty about it?”
Chapter 18 19:44
“It’s normal. He’s definitely pained by now, but the best thing you can do for him is not marry him if you can’t reciprocate the same love he gives you.” “I hate that I’m in this triangle.” “I honestly didn’t see the proposal coming. At least not tonight. I had no idea what to say. People saw us and recorded. I really hope we aren’t viral on social media yet.” “Cole pulled me out of the restaurant and announced to everyone that I was his wife. He did that so confidently. I can’t blame Tyler for storming out and leaving me behind. I’m also glad he wasn’t the one who got shot.” “Why? Because your baby daddy got more muscular?” “I don’t wish evil on Cole, but he sort of deserves it for all the pain he put me through.” “I’ve never seen anyone as jealous as Cole,” Debbie mumbled. “You can say that again.” Debbie was about to say something when the door to Hailey’s ward flung open, and an angry-looking Vanessa stormed in, approaching Hailey’s bedside. “You bitch! What did you do to my husband?”