Chapter 45
Chapter 45
Hailey felt much better and softly said, “Thank you.”
+5
“You do not have to be so polite with me, Hailey. I have always been on your side,” Owen’s gentle voice came from the other end of the line.
Hailey pressed her lips together slightly and whispered, “I am glad to have you
“I will wrap things up here as soon as possible and try to return earlier. I will also arrange bodyguards for your family and yourself,” Owen said.
“That will not be necessary,” Hailey refused. “I can handle it myself. Besides, they are my family–I should be the one to take care of them.”
There was a brief silence on the other end. It seemed like Owen wanted to say something, but in the end, he only said, “Alright. If you find yourself unable to handle it, let me know. I will always be someone you can rely on.”
Hailey pursed her lips again, unsure of what to say. She knew her refusal had hurt Owen slightly.
But she really did not want to trouble him with such matters.
First, this was a small issue. Second, these were her family members–she should be the one to protect them.
Moreover, the more Owen knew, the less at ease she felt.
Although she trusted Owen completely now, Hailey admitted that she was not yet ready to fully entrust herself to him.
She was too guarded, and this was a shadow from her past
life.
After hanging up, Hailey let out a slow sigh.
“Hailey, Casey is awake. Do you want to go in and see her?” Eliza asked as she stepped out of the hospital room.
Hailey nodded, got up from the bench in the hallway, and entered the room.
Eliza did not follow her inside and chose to wait outside instead.
Inside the hospital room, it was just the two of them. The atmosphere was quiet.
Casey looked incredibly pale, her expression weary and drained of energy.
Hailey walked over, picked up a cotton swab, and gently dabbed her lips with it since she was still unable to drink water.
Casey turned her head away, clearly unwilling to look at Hailey, and slowly closed her eyes.
Hailey’s movements stiffened. She placed the cotton swab down, lowered her head, and apologized, “Casey, I am sorry. This happened because of me.”
Casey remained motionless and silent.
It seemed Eliza was right–Casey held a misunderstanding against her.
But since Casey was unwilling to speak, Hailey did not know how to address it either.
All she could do was stand up awkwardly and say, “Get some rest. If you need anything, just call me. I will be outside.”
With that, Hailey turned and left the room.
1/3
+5
“How did it go?” Eliza asked anxiously.
Hailey let out a slow sigh. “She resents me.”
Eliza asked, “Hailey, did you not explain things to her?”
“I do not know how to,” Hailey rubbed her temples and sighed. “Forget it. She probably does not want to see me right now. I will give my uncle, Nicolas, a call.”
Eliza hummed in response. Watching Hailey walk away, she finally turned and entered the hospital room.
“Casey,” Eliza greeted.
At school, Eliza and Casey were not particularly familiar with each other.
This was their first private conversation.
Since Eliza brought Casey to the hospital, Casey did not hold any grudges against her.
Casey acknowledged her presence and said, “Thank you for bringing me here.”
Eliza waved her hand dismissively, pulled up a chair, sat in front of Casey, and explained, “Casey, I think there is a misunderstanding between you and Hailey. You have got it all wrong–Hailey did not ignore what happened to you. She gave Jeanie a harsh lesson.”
Casey lowered her eyes and murmured, “Please stop, Eliza. I want to rest.”
“Just hear me out! Look at this trending news,” Eliza hurriedly pulled out her phone, opened Weibo, and showed her. “This is all Hailey’s doing. Jeanie is completely ruined. The entire internet is talking about her.”
Casey propped herself up slightly and glanced at the screen, momentarily stunned.
Eliza quickly continued, “See? I am not lying. Hailey might not say much, but she truly cares about you. You are her little sister–how could she just stand by and let you be bullied?”
Casey pursed her lips. “I understand now. Thank you, Eliza.”
“Oh, come on! No need to be so formal. Just call me Eliza. We are both Hailey’s little sisters,” Eliza said with a smile.
Casey absentmindedly hummed in response before saying weakly, “I want to sleep for a bit.”
Eliza stood up and said, “Alright, rest well. I will not disturb you anymore.”
With that, Eliza left the room.
Outside the hospital room, Hailey sat in the hallway, seemingly having finished her phone call.
Eliza walked out, just about to say something when Hailey spoke first. “Did you tell her everything?”
Eliza nodded and replied, “I could not just let her misunderstand forever.”
She rubbed her eyes and added, “But she still does not seem to have let it go.”
“It is normal for her to resent me,” Hailey said calmly. “If not for me, she would not have suffered like this.”
“But it was Jeanie who did this!” Eliza could not understand. “How could she blame you?”
“At the root of it, I was still involved,” Hailey wearily rubbed her temples and sighed. “Forget it. Do not dwell on it. There is nothing we can do. If she does not forgive me, then so be it. Let things take their course.”
2/3
Chapter 45
Eliza had nothing more to say but still felt Hailey was being unfairly Mamed
“It is getting late. You should head back home. I will stay here and wait for my rete, Mac 1 fredag in d of. Do not let Grandpa and the others worry. Hailey said.
Eliza nodded. “Alright. Take care of yourself:
Hailey hummed in acknowledgment.
After Eliza left, it did not take long for Nicolas to arrive. Along with him came a woman Bailey had never met Stephanie Medrano.
Stephanie had a gentle and elegant presence. She wore a white dress, and her eyes were filled with worry
“Hailey, where is Casey? Nicolas asked anxiously
“In the ward,” Hailey replied, pointing towards it.
Stephanie quickly greeted Hailey before she and Nicolas rushed inside.
Hailey stood outside the hospital room, watching the family of three. A sudden wave of every washed over her
She lingered for a while before finally turning to leave.
Inside the ward, Casey was surrounded by her parents. Just as she glanced toward the doorway, she saw Hailey’s departing figure–her lonely and desolate silhouette.
Casey pursed her lips, feeling a slight pang of guilt, thinking, ‘It seems my cousin has already lost the happiness of having a family together.
Hailey wandered aimlessly through the streets.
After wasting so much time, it was already three in the afternoon.
The sun was absent today, and the sky looked especially gloomy.
After a while, it started to drizzle–only adding insult to injury.
Hailey had no interest in driving, so she left her car parked outside the hospital.
She thought for a moment before calling. “Lily, are you free right now? Can you come pick me up?”
Ten minutes later, a red sports car pulled up in front of her.
A woman stepped out, dressed in a striking red dress. Her long, wavy hair cascaded over her shoulders, exuding a mature and seductive charm.
3/3
AD
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