The Forgotten 97

Posted by admin, ? Views, Released on April 3, 2025

Chapter 97

Owen remained silent, his head lowered. But it was clear–he knew.

Hailey sneered. “You knew all along, yet you kept it from me. Do you take me for a fool? You let me fall in love with the son of my mother’s enemy. Owen, do you think it’s fun to toy with me?”

“Hailey, I never thought of it that way. I truly love you,” Owen said.

Hailey didn’t want to hear another word. Taking a deep breath, she said firmly, “I will keep investigating my mother’s accident until I uncover the truth.”

Owen remained silent.

“As for us, let’s separate for now–at least until I find out the truth.” Her voice was cold, devoid of any emotion.

Owen knew how stubborn she was–once she made a decision, she could not change her mind. He took a deep breath and said, “Alright.”

Exhaustion weighed on Hailey, especially in her eyes. She took a deep breath, stood up, and walked out. After wandering the streets for a while, she suddenly stopped. It was only then that she realized–she had nowhere to go.

The family she believed in, the love she cherished–in the end, they had all deceived her. She had been a fool, blissfully thinking she had found happiness. But it was all a lie.

She pulled out her phone and scrolled through her contacts, but for a moment, she had no idea who to call. Casey had just gone through a breakup and was still dealing with heartbreak.

Eliza had someone she cared about, and her relationship with Christopher was progressing rapidly. Hailey had no reason to disturb her. After scrolling for a long time, she gave up and lowered her head, aimlessly wandering the streets.

Suddenly, everything went black in front of her, and she collapsed. Hailey fell into a deep sleep, drifting into a dream.

In the dream, she saw her mother, Valerie. She was a woman of incredible warmth, grace, and poise, radiating elegance and dignity. She wore a white gown. She had a tall and slender figure, delicate skin, and a graceful neck. Her hair was neatly styled.

In the dream, Valerie looked at her with deep disappointment, her voice filled with reproach. “How could you be with the son of someone I despise?” she asked. “Hailey, you’ve genuinely disappointed me.” With that, she turned and began to walk

away.

Hailey tried to chase after her, but she couldn’t catch up no matter how hard she ran. She watched as Valerie disappeared before her eyes. A deep sadness overwhelmed her, and she felt an unbearable pain. Hailey woke up crying, her heart heavy with sorrow.

It seemed to be late at night, the darkness surrounding her. After a nap, she felt much more refreshed, but she hadn’t eaten all day, and hunger began to set in.

Hailey reached beneath her, feeling something soft and plush, as if she were lying in a bed. ‘Whose house was this?‘ she thought. Using the moonlight streaming through the window, she managed to grab her phone, only to discover, to her dismay, that it had run out of battery and shut off.

The lights in the room suddenly flickered on. Hailey squinted, her eyes adjusting, and finally took in her surroundings. The room was decorated in shades of gray, its furnishings minimal and almost sterile, giving it a cold, unwelcoming feel.

Hailey glanced around before her gaze fell on the man standing by the door. Despite the chill, he seemed unfazed, wearing nothing but a white shirt and black pants. He looked slim and somewhat fragile, holding a tray with a bowl of pasta on it.

Hailey had only eaten half a bowl of oatmeal all day, and now she was starving. The aroma of the food made her stomach

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Chapter 97

growl uncontrollably, echoing loudly in the otherwise quiet room. She immediately felt embarrassed and wished to hide.

“This pasta is something I made myself, prepared to my taste. I’m not sure if you’ll like it, the man said gently, his tone considerate as he skillfully changed the subject.

“Thank you,” Hailey said softly.

“I happened to see you collapse on the road while I was on my way to the flower shop, so I brought you back here,” the man said. “I’m Raphael Park. And you?”

Raphael had an undeniable charm. He exuded an air of refinement and quiet elegance that made him seem well–versed in scholarly pursuits. In another time, he might have been seen as the brightest scholar destined for great things.

“I’m Hailey Dalton,” she said.

“Miss Dalton,” Raphael said calmly, “Is there anywhere you’re still feeling unwell? I’m a medical student; I can take a look. You fainted earlier due to low blood sugar, and after bringing you back, I gave you some glucose. How do you feel now?”

It was a chance encounter, yet the other person had been so generous. Hailey felt quite embarrassed and quickly thanked him. “I feel much better now, no other symptoms. Thank you so much.

Raphael gently shook his head, a faint smile appearing on his handsome face. “It’s getting late. You should eat first. If you want to head home afterward, I can send you.”

Hailey hesitated for a few seconds before, feeling a bit bold, she spoke up. “Could I stay here for the night?” Raphael was stunned upon hearing her words.

“If it’s a bother, then never mind,” she added quickly.

“It’s fine,” Raphael replied gently. “If you have nowhere else to go, you can stay. I’ve only moved in, so it’s a bit sparse.”

Hailey shook her head. “It’s not sparse at all. Thank you for taking me in.”

Raphael didn’t say anything more. After giving her directions to the bathroom, he left the room. Hailey sat on the edge of the bed, eating the pasta. She thought that perhaps fate wasn’t so unkind–when she had nowhere to turn, it had led her to meet someone like Raphael.

Before going to bed, Raphael even lent Hailey his charger. Once her phone had enough charge, she was about to turn it on, but then something seemed to cross her mind, and she set the phone back down without unlocking it.

She had slept too much today and now felt wide awake. Hailey lay in bed, staring at the moonlight outside. It wasn’t until 3 a.m. that she finally drifted off to sleep.

The next day, as soon as she woke up, Hailey was greeted by the delicious aroma of food.

Raphael had given her some disposable toiletries the day before. After washing up, Hailey stepped out of the room. She found Raphael cooking, looking quite skilled. Not wanting to take advantage of his hospitality, Hailey decided to pitch in and help.

The meal was quiet, with neither of them being particularly talkative. Raphael wasn’t the type to speak much, nor was Hailey, so they ate silently. Once they were finished, Hailey took the initiative to wash the dishes, and Raphael did not attempt to stop her.