Chapter 21
746words
Nolan woke up late.
By the time he opened his eyes, the bowl was already waiting.
But he didn't touch it.
Instead, he pulled her into his arms, warm hand resting low on her stomach. "Laurel, let's have a baby."
Her smile froze.
He'd always hated kids. Now he wanted one?
"A girl, maybe. One who looks like you. Just one. I'll give her everything. You can teach her piano, painting—"
He cut himself off.
His hand slipped away.
His lips pressed tight. "Headache. Don't feel like eating. You can go."
Hailey took the bowl and left.
The second the door shut, the smirk cracked through her calm.
Laurel Quinn didn't know a damn thing about piano or painting.
That was all Hailey Hart.
***
Nolan landed in the hospital with alcohol poisoning. Peter brought him in.
When Hailey arrived, she ran into Jordyn.
She walked past her like nothing.
Jordyn only needed one glance.
She grabbed Hailey's arm, eyes going wide. "Hailey!"
Peter stepped in just then. "Ms. Hart, this is Ms. Quinn."
"Ms. Quinn? Laurel Quinn? His new girl?" Jordyn's nails sank in.
Hailey frowned and ripped her arm free.
Jordyn stared like she wanted to shred her to pieces.
Hailey walked right past.
"Hailey!" Jordyn shouted.
No reaction.
She walked straight into Nolan's room.
He looked drained.
He'd heard everything.
His gaze landed on her arm—the bruises, the bleeding.
Something flickered. Almost concern.
"Laurel, Jordyn's Hailey's sister. Just let it go this time. I'll find a place to send her. She won't come near you again."
Hailey smiled. "Okay."
The look unsettled him.
He glanced away.
She sat with him in silence.
After a while, still watching the window, he said, "Laurel, what if I told you there's someone I can't forget. Would that bother you?"
She smiled. "Not at all."
He frowned.
Turned to her. "Why not?"
She caught the sharp edge in his voice, smoothed her sarcasm behind a smile. "Do I really look that much like her?"
Nolan froze.
"Her name was Hailey Hart, right? So why isn't she here?"
Each word hit like a blade.
His breathing turned shaky. He looked away, the nerve in his voice gone.
Hailey turned, eyes sharp with mockery.
Still the same Nolan.
Clinging to the past while demanding loyalty. Expecting love he couldn't return. Wanting everything, giving nothing.
Her phone buzzed.
She glanced at the screen, smiled, and stepped into the hall.
Nolan caught that smile.
And it twisted something inside him.
Hailey stood at the end of the hallway, deep in conversation.
She got so caught up, she didn't notice the time.
When she finally turned, Nolan was right there—frozen, cold, expression unreadable.
"Who was that?"
He didn't move, just stared, jaw clenched and hollow-eyed.
She slipped her phone into her pocket like nothing. "A friend."
"Give it to me." His hand hovered in the air, waiting.
Her fists tightened. "I said it was a friend. You don't believe me?"
He didn't answer. Just kept his hand out.
He didn't know why this woman messed with his head so much.
He was scared she'd leave. Afraid she'd uncover his past and walk away.
When she got hurt, guilt clawed at him.
When she said she didn't care he was still hung up on someone else, it made his skin crawl.
So when he saw her smiling on the phone, his first thought was—was it a guy?
She'd agreed to be with him for money.
But now... that wasn't enough.
He didn't just want her in his bed.
He wanted her heart. Her attention. All of her.
Even if she was a stand-in, he wanted to own every piece.
Hailey caught the look in his eyes.
Lowered hers.
Took out the phone, placed it in his hand, and walked away.
Nolan called the number without thinking.
"Laurel, what's up?"
A woman's voice answered.
"Sorry. Wrong number." He hung up fast, heart pounding, and rushed out to find Hailey.
Meanwhile, on the other end, Serena raised a brow.
"You two seriously got some kind of psychic bond or something? Kayden, how'd you know that wasn't Hailey?"
She glanced at Kayden lounging on the couch, drink swirling in his glass.
He didn't even look up. "Just a feeling."
Serena rolled her eyes. "Ugh, I ask one thing and get hit with a full-on rom-com moment. Can y'all chill with the couple energy for like five seconds?"
