Chapter 98
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“I’m fine. Where are you? Why can’t I get through to your phone?” Owen’s voice was hoarse, as if he hadn’t slept all night.
Hailey pressed her lips together and replied calmly, “I’m fine. You don’t have to worry.”
The conversation stalled for a moment.
Knowing she was safe, Owen didn’t press further. He simply said tiredly, “Give your parents a call. They’ve been worried all night.”
Hailey responded with a hum, then asked, “When are you leaving? I’ll buy your ticket.”
Silence fell on the other end.
After a while, Owen finally said, “It’s fine. I can buy it myself.”
Hailey said, “Then I’ll hang up.”
Owen didn’t respond.
Hailey waited for a moment. Just as she was about to end the call, Owen spoke again. “Hailey, we’re just taking a break, not breaking up, right?”
His tone was a little cautious as he sought confirmation.
Hailey pressed her lips together. After a few seconds, she gave a quiet hum in response.
Hearing that, Owen clearly let out a breath of relief. In a low voice, he said, “I’ll always wait for you.”
He had decided to wait for her until she had sorted everything out and uncovered the truth.
Hailey felt like she couldn’t breathe. She didn’t respond and simply ended the call.
She turned to Raphael with a small smile and said, “Sorry to keep you waiting.”
Raphael shook his head. “It’s fine.”
After exchanging contacts, Raphael picked up his keys and offered, “I’ll take you home. Where do you live?”
“No need. I live nearby,” Hailey replied.
Raphael knew how to keep the right distance and said, “Alright. I need to stop by the supermarket anyway. I’ll walk you to the entrance.”
Hailey nodded.
They left together, one heading left, the other right. After saying their goodbyes, they each went their separate ways.
Hailey returned to the Brown family home.
On the way, she called them to let them know she was safe.
Since she had called ahead, everyone in the Brown family was sitting together waiting for her.
Owen wasn’t there and should still be at the hospital.
“Hailey.” Greg called out in a hoarse voice, his face full of worry. “Where were you all night? We couldn’t reach you at all.”
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Chapter 98
Hailey pressed her lips together and took a deep breath without responding. Instead, she looked at Lydia and asked, “Lydia, did you break up with him? Why?”
Lydia looked exhausted. Her eyes were bloodshot, as if she hadn’t slept all night and had been crying.
“Well…” She lowered her head, looking like she didn’t really want to say it. “Anyway, we won’t be together anymore.”
In her previous life, Lydia and Tony had gotten married smoothly. Two years after the wedding, they even had a child before Lydia discovered his betrayal.
Hailey had every reason to suspect that Owen had done something.
She had returned this time to stop Lydia from falling into that trap. But since she had uncovered so much more, she wouldn’t be able to deal with Lydia’s situation immediately.
And besides Owen, there was no one else who could have handled it.
So Hailey simply said, “I’m fine. You should all get some rest. Sorry for making you worry.”
Lucia and Greg were caught off guard by Hailey’s abrupt courtesy and aloofness. Lydia frowned in confusion and looked at her, but Hailey avoided her gaze.
To be fair, the Brown family had raised her, and she couldn’t bring herself to repay kindness with betrayal. But Greg had also done things that couldn’t be ignored.
Hailey had thought long and hard about it and had made up her mind to cut ties with them.
She took a deep breath and looked straight ahead without looking at the others while announcing, “I’ll pack my things and leave today.”
Lucia suddenly stood up from her chair. “Y–You’re leaving this soon? Why don’t you wait until after Easter? We can at least spend the holiday together as a family…”
“We are not family,” Hailey coldly cut her off.
Lucia opened her mouth but said nothing.
“What’s going on?” Lydia stood up, looking confused.
Greg remained silent, keeping his head down the entire time.
Hailey’s expression was ice–cold. “From today on, we have nothing to do with each other.”
Lydia said in disbelief. “Hailey, what are you talking about?”
Greg grabbed Lydia’s arm, signaling her to stop talking.
Then, Hailey turned and walked into the room to pack her things.
Lucia patted Lydia’s arm and only stated, “We’ve let her down.”
Lydia was getting anxious. “What exactly happened?”
“I’ll tell you later,” said Lucia.
Not long after, Hailey walked out of the room holding a luggage. Besides that, she had nothing else.
“Hailey…” Lucia tried to stop her.
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Chapter 98
Hailey paused for a moment and said, ‘T’ll send you a card in a month. The money in it will be enough for you to live comfortably for the rest of your lives. Consider it my way of repaying you
That was all she could do.
Lucia’s eyes instantly turned red.
Greg was too ashamed to speak. He kept his head down, unable to even look at Hailey.
Lydia stared at her sister’s resolute face, and her eyes turned red as well.
Lucia had told her everything, and she knew that there was truly no going back this time.
Having said what was necessary, Hailey picked up her luggage and walked away.
This time, she wouldn’t look back.
Leaving the Brown family behind, Hailey wandered aimlessly on the cobblestone streets in the town.
She really had no family left.
After thinking for a moment, Hailey went to the bus station and bought a ticket to Hallon City.
The bus was scheduled for two in the afternoon. Hailey felt too lethargic to do anything, so she simply waited at the station.
She bought a bagel and a cup of coffee.
Holding the food, Hailey glanced around and suddenly felt like laughing.
She had never thought that she would be homeless one day.
But she had always been resilient. She knew she would be okay. As she was thinking, she took a bite of the bagel and found a bit of comfort. At least she could still take care of herself.
After finishing her meal, Hailey took a deep breath and reached into her pocket, pulling out a photograph.
It was of her mother, Valerie. She always carried the photo with her.
Hailey bore an obvious resemblance to the woman in the picture. The difference was that Valerie’s eyes held warmth, while Hailey’s were filled with determination and resolve.
Hailey stared at the picture for a while before carefully putting it away.
Just as she did, someone sat down beside her. She turned her head and saw that it was Owen.
The man still looked pale, looking like he had just been discharged from the hospital, and his eyes were weary.
“Why are you here?” Hailey frowned slightly.
“I’m going with you,” Owen said in a low voice.
Hailey said, “You’re not fully recovered yet.”
“It doesn’t matter. I want to go with you.” Owen was firm. Then, he gave her a reason she couldn’t refuse. “I came here with you. Are you going to leave me behind?”
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