Chapter 59

“Everyone hates me. This is so unfair! What did I do to deserve this much hate? Why is life so unfair to me?” Vanessa sobbed, almost falling to the floor, but Connie was there instantly to prevent it.

“What’s going on? Why are you talking like this? No one hates you. You need to snap out of these thoughts.”

“And why are you breaking things? You know how you react to blood!”

Connie ushered her daughter to a safe corner and helped her sit on the couch. Eric rolled his eyes at both mother and daughter.

Connie got some tissues from a nearby table and sat beside her daughter. “What’s going on? Why are you destroying everything? Who hurt you?”

“Hailey!” she sniffled.

“Here we go again!” Eric mumbled, massaging his temple.

“Please let her talk!” Connie glared at her husband.

“Hailey doesn’t even live here, and you constantly blame her for your problems. Grow up, Vanessa! You can’t live like this.”

“Ignore your father. Tell me what she did this time.”

“Are you going to look for her and lock her up?” Eric asked Connie, carefully stepping around the broken glass.

“If either of you ends up in jail, I’m not bailing you out,” Eric warned.

“Daddy loves her more than us!”

“Your father is being irrational, but he loves you. Tell me what Hailey did.”

“I told you yesterday, Mom, but you wouldn’t believe me.” Tears welled up in Vanessa’s eyes.

“Told me what?”

“That I had a feeling Cole was with Hailey.”

Connie frowned. “They’re together?”

Vanessa nodded.

“How do you know?”

“Jay investigated. He doesn’t know where they are, but someone he knows saw them at the airport.”

“Is Jay sure? This is a serious accusation.”

“That’s not all,” Tears rolled down Vanessa’s cheek.

“Okay?”

“They were with two kids?”

“What?” Connie and Eric exclaimed simultaneously, looking confused.

Connie shook her head. “How? Whose kids?”

“I don’t know. I feel like strangling them.”

“This shouldn’t freak you out until you confirm they’re related to those children. Two kids? Are you sure Jay investigated the right people?”

“Mom, don’t defend them. Jay wouldn’t lie.”

“I’m not defending them, sweetheart. This doesn’t make sense. Two kids? How? Girls? Boys?”

“No one knows. They were covered in hoodies.”

“Well, they may be other people’s children. Maybe adopted.”

“Mom, don’t avoid reality. What are Hailey and Cole doing with adopted children?”

“Cole is a busy businessman, and Hailey, even though she sleeps around for money, I’m sure she doesn’t have the time or heart to care for other people’s kids.”

“What do you mean?” Eric asked.

“Hailey has no family. Where would she get kids? Cole doesn’t seem into kids either.”

Vanessa sniffled.

“The children are probably theirs. They’ve been seeing each other behind our backs. Those two bastards!!!” Vanessa cried.

Connie turned to her husband. “Do you know about this?”

“How would I know? I disowned her, and I didn’t hear from her until she came back to run the company.”

“Moore didn’t mention anything about a baby?”

Eric, confused, shook his head. “Moore and I have been friends since childhood. He wouldn’t hide that from me.”

“This is probably a made-up story. Nothing adds up.”

“One kid would be believable. But two? How is that possible when they just reunited?”

“It all makes sense now. Cole rejected me and the baby because he has kids elsewhere.”

“Wait. Don’t tell me Cole is right,” Eric said, approaching his daughter.

“Please don’t complicate things, Eric. Vanessa is pregnant and distressed!”

Eric ignored his wife, facing his crying daughter.

“Cole confirmed Hailey was pregnant before she left. He said you fought.”

“Dad, don’t believe him. Cole would say anything to make me look bad. I’ve loved him my whole life, and this is how he repays me!”

“Yes, Hailey and I fought, but she hit me too. I attacked her first. She fell and bled. That should have been a miscarriage! Or she got pregnant by another man and is claiming the kids belong to Cole.”

“Why do you always think so ill of her?” Eric asked, shocked.

“Don’t start, Eric!” Connie warned.

“Because she is a witch!”

“Mother and I confronted her. We told her I was pregnant with Cole’s child. This is her revenge, giving him fake kids.”

“I’m carrying Cole’s heir. I deserve to be on vacation with him. No one deserves to take my place. This is wrong and unfair.”

“All I wanted was a good life and family. I worked so hard. I can’t believe Hailey is taking that away from me!”

“You’re overreacting!”

“How can you say that?” Connie countered.

“She broke my decorations over unverified news? How will this tantrum solve anything?”

“You’re insensitive, Eric! She’s pregnant. Of course, she’s unhappy knowing the father is cheating.”

“Hailey is the witch behind my daughter’s unhappiness!”

“You’re both impossible.”

Vanessa rose, wiping her eyes. “This shame and pain is too much. All I did was love Cole genuinely, and this is what I get.”

“Please calm down, dear,” Connie said, rising.

“Don’t listen to your father. We’ll get to the root of this. I’ll speak with Moore. No one will rob you of what you deserve, especially not Hailey.”

“I don’t care what you and Daddy say. I’ll deal with Hailey and her fake kids myself. They’ll regret messing with me!” Vanessa sniffled, then stormed off.