Chapter 25

“I am trying my best here, Hailey. Don’t make me look like a terrible person.”

“Really? You seduced me; I came home to food and nice gestures from you. We had drinks and we had sex. I woke up hoping to see you but figured you’d traveled. You returned three weeks later and never spoke to me. And you dare tell me not to call you a terrible person?!”

Cole heaved a deep sigh. Hailey didn’t expect what he did next. He got down on his knees.

“What the hell are you doing?” she said, taking a step back as he reached for her leg or foot; she wasn’t sure which.

“I’m tired,” he said. “I am tired of going back and forth with you. I know I messed up in the past and I regret it so much. I don’t blame you for being brutal to me. I know I deserve it, but please find a place in your heart to forgive me.”

“You may have suffered more than me, but I promise you that I suffered too. I don’t think I’ve had any reason to smile since the day you left me. It has been a series of terrible experiences.”

“I know I caused you pain and suffering, and God knows I hate myself for it. All I ask is a chance to make it up to you! I am a changed person now. I don’t know what I can say to make you believe that. This is me being vulnerable. I just don’t know how else to convince you.”

“I did the calculations. I know the twins were conceived that night. That means you were pregnant when you left.”

“You mean when you threw me out? And I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Come on, Hailes. I know you understand perfectly. And I didn’t throw you out. I told you I wanted you out of my life. I swear I didn’t mean it. I got home and all your bags were gone.”

“You didn’t plan with Vanessa to throw my things out?”

“No, I didn’t.”

Hailey sighed, trying her hardest to keep her tears at bay.

Chapter 25

“Get up.”

“I will when you forgive me.”

“I forgave you long ago, Cole. If I hadn’t, I wouldn’t have moved on.”

“I forgive you, but no. I am not interested in giving you another chance because I don’t want to get back together. You are my past, and I don’t want anything to do with you.”

“And lastly, you are not the father of my boys.”

“Please don’t do this to me, Hailey,” Cole pleaded, still on his knees. “I will be the best father I can to them. I love them already. Please don’t keep me away from my sons.”

“For fuck’s sake, they are not yours!”

“Come on, Hailes, even the blind can tell. It’s so obvious, and I felt a connection.”

“You definitely felt a wrong connection because they aren’t yours. Please just leave.”

Cole sighed and slowly rose to his feet.

“I really want to take things the easy way, but you’re being so hard on me.”

“I want a DNA test to confirm paternity.”

“You must be kidding,” Hailey said almost immediately.

“I am not.” She shook her head. “There is no way I am letting you bring my babies into… I don’t care how, but I want a paternity test.”

Chapter 25

“This might be my last chance to make things right. And I am not going to give up on you.”

“Just leave, please. I don’t want to raise my voice because the boys are sleeping.”

Cole shook his head.

Hailey was about to say something when the doorbell rang. It was past 10 p.m., and she wondered who it was.

“Expecting someone?”

She sighed deeply, wishing she could throw him out. Regardless, Hailey went to the door with Cole following. She opened it, and the sight of the person on the other side made Cole’s heart burn with jealousy.

“What is he doing here?” Cole and Tyler said in unison.

Hailey mentally facepalmed.

“What do you want, Ty? Please ignore anyone behind me. He was about to leave.”

“She rejected your proposal. Isn’t that enough proof?” Cole said.

Tyler glared at him.

“Can you just shut the fuck up!” Hailey shouted, glaring at Cole.

“I am sorry if I offended you, but there is no way I am going to allow him to take over my place in your life and my sons’ lives. Never!”

“Ollie and Enzo are not your sons. If anything, you are the intruder here. Tyler is my boyfriend, and you have no place here.”

“I am sorry for everything I said that night. I like you so much, and it was torture thinking you didn’t like me back,” Tyler said, his attention solely on Hailey.

Chapter 25

“I decided to move on with my life and forget about you, but it’s so hard to have a life without you.”

“I don’t know how long it will take you to say yes, but I want you to know I’m going to keep trying to win your heart.”

“What the hell? You know she’s married to me!” Cole stepped forward, facing Tyler, extremely angry. He couldn’t believe Tyler ruined everything with his presence when he was so close to making up with Hailey.

“You mean that fake marriage?!” Tyler mocked. “It’s not my fault you don’t know how to keep your woman!”

“Fuck you!” Cole pushed Tyler.

“Fuck you too, asshole!” Tyler pushed back, and they began to fight outside the door.

Hailey shut the door before approaching them, not wanting to wake her boys.

“Can you guys just stop this!!!!!!” she screamed, tears streaming down her cheeks. She saw blood on Cole’s arm, from his gunshot wound.

She intervened in the fight, and everything happened so fast that Hailey found herself on the floor, in pain.