Chapter 208
Chapter 208
The phone call ended, and Hailey collapsed limply onto the bed.
She closed her eyes, her face expressionless.
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Two minutes later, she opened her eyes again, her deep brown eyes void of emotion. She rolled out of bed, took a shower, changed into fresh clothes, and then grabbed her suitcase before walking out of the villa.
The temperature had dropped today, and it was chilly.
Though she had taken her medication and was hooked up to an IV, Hailey felt it was all useless; her stomach still ached terribly,
Yet, compared to before, she could tolerate it now.
Perhaps it was because she knew, from this moment on, no one would be her refuge anymore.
Owen was a man of his word. Once he decided to ‘cut his losses,” he would have no further connection to her. Hailey wasn’t one to force anything; maybe fate had truly come to an end here.
Love and separation, togetherness and parting–human emotions were truly cruel.
As Hailey stood by the roadside waiting for a cab, she couldn’t help but touch her face. Suddenly, she felt old.
Back in her little apartment, Hailey set her suitcase aside, collapsed onto the bed, and slept like the dead. When she awoke, the sky outside had turned dark.
Hailey glanced at her phone–no unread messages, no missed calls. She stared at the dark room, a sense of emptiness overwhelming her, as though she were the only person left in the world.
Her body was much better now, and her appetite had returned. Having not eaten all day, Hailey felt her stomach protesting in hunger.
She pulled out her phone and ordered some oatmeal, then got up to boil some water.
The doorbell rang
She went to answer, and as she opened the door, a familiar “meow” sounded.
Raphael stood at the door, holding Chubby in his arms, smiling. “I saw your light on and guessed you were back. I brought Chubby to you.”
Hailey paused for a moment, then smiled and said, “Thank you,” taking Chubby into her arms.
“Come in and sit down,” she added.
Raphael nodded and stepped into the apartment. Chubby, after not seeing Hailey for a few days, meowed “itedly, not stopping for a moment. Hailey placed it into its bed, petted its fur, and poured it some cat food.
“I thought you were staying at Owen’s place,” Raphael said casually.
Hailey chuckled and poured him a glass of water, saying nothing.
“You look pale. Are you sick?” Raphael asked, his brow furrowing in concern.
Hailey replied, “I’m fine, just feeling a little under the weather. I’ll be better in a few days.”
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Raphael walked over, gently pulling her up from the floor and guiding her to the sofa. “If you’re not feeling well, you should rest. I’m a doctor, I’ll take care of you.”
Hailey smiled weakly. “It’s really not necessary. I’m already feeling much better.”
“It’s no trouble at all,” Raphael said, his voice warm. “I’m just doing my duty.”
He went to another room to fetch a thin blanket and a pillow, carefully wrapping her up and placing a hot water bottle in her
arms.
Her delivery arrived soon after, and Raphael reheated her oatmeal for her.
While she ate, Raphael’s phone rang.
Because he was sitting right beside her, Hailey clearly heard the voice on the other end–it was a woman’s. The conversation wasn’t clear, but it sounded like they were speaking intimately.
Unable to help herself, Hailey looked up and studied Raphael’s expression.
He looked gentle, even softer than usual.
The call ended, and Hailey teased, “Girlfriend?”
Raphael lowered his head with a faint smile. “Not yet.”
“Soon, though,” Hailey said with a sincere smile. She was happy for him.
Raphael was an important person in her life, and while she hoped to be a good friend to him, she didn’t want him to be fixated on her.
Now that he could let go of the past and look toward someone else, Hailey was glad for him.
Seeing Hailey smile so kindly, Raphael’s eyes were momentarily unreadable, but he quickly returned to his usual demeanor.
After dinner, Raphael left her apartment.
Knowing that Raphael had someone he liked now, Hailey felt a weight lift from her heart. She drank some warm water and lay back on the sofa, closing her eyes in comfort.
As long as she didn’t think about it, her heart wouldn’t hurt. That’s what Scarlett had told her.
Three days later, Hailey had almost fully recovered.
rest, but once she felt better, she eagerly opened her laptop and dove back into She had been so bored during these days her writing. The submission site had responded, and her work had been accepted.
With something to focus on, Hailey felt her life become fulfilling once again. Her thoughts were consumed by her ideas and her novel, and only when she saw a certain word would she suddenly remember Owen.
The days passed, blurry and uneventful, for ove
a month.
During this time, Hailey completely closed herself off from everything. She ate and slept on schedule, living peacefully like stagnant water.
Sometimes, she couldn’t resist searching for Owen, checking on his life.
Knowing that he was doing well put her mind at ease. She thought she would move on soon.
After finishing her writing for the day, Hailey
stretched, planning to take a shower and then go to bed.
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Chapter 208
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Her book hadn’t gotten much attention; most readers preferred fast–paced romance now, and the martial arts genre was growing out of fashion.
But Hailey believed that the best things took time.
Suddenly, her phone rang.
She answered it. “Hello?”
“Hailey, came Lucia’s voice.
Hailey bit her lip. “What’s up?”
“The day after tomorrow is Lydia’s funeral. Will you come?” Lucia’s voice was soft and hesitant.
Hailey’s phone slipped from her hand and shattered on the floor. Her eyes dilated, turning red in shock.
Lydia was dead.
Lydia Brown was dead.
When Hailey arrived in the town and saw Lydia’s smiling black–and–white photo displayed in the center of the hall, she finally grasped the reality of the situation.
Lucia said, “Lydia’s death was an accident. Ever since she came back from her trip, she had been in a daze, often locking herself in her room. Then, one day, when your father and I weren’t home, she went out. She left us a note saying she was going to clear her mind… and then…”
Lucia’s voice broke, tears streaming down her face. “Then… the old man at the village said Lydia had been pushed off the bridge by a group of kids playing around.”
“Lydia was a strong swimmer, so no one went to save her. But no one knew…” she continued.
Hailey looked up at the woman in front of her, who was now in her fifties, her hair half–white. Unable to hold back, she began to cry.
This wasn’t an accident.
Hailey knew–Lydia had wanted to die.
In the afternoon, the sky was overcast with rain, as they laid her to rest on a green hill just outside the town.