く
11
Abby almost flew home.
She found me at the airport.
She hugged me. “Did they hurt you?”
“I’m okay.”
“I thought they wouldn’t let you go.”
“They did.”
“Maybe they felt guilty.”
I never saw the Hall brothers again.
I lived with Abby and had fun.
Ashley went bankrupt. She wanted rich guys.
to help her live luxuriously.
But her games came out.
A woman threw acid in her face.
The Halls fought. The company suffered.
Jackson still looked for me.
Someone sabotaged Jackson’s car.
Jackson was paralyzed.
[How did this happy story turn out this way?]
[This is nothing like the spoiled female lead I
wanted.]
L
[She’s trash. She ruined people’s lives.]
[The side chick was cute. She ran when she
had the chance.]
Three years later
I met Hayden.
I was walking my three-year-old.
He saw her. “Riley, is she…”
I said, “She’s not yours. I’m married.”
He was quiet.
He said, “Okay.”
He left
<
I sighed.
I didn’t remarry.
That day at the clinic, I couldn’t go through
with it.
Years later, my daughter got prettier.
She looked like Hayden.
He wasn’t dumb. He knew she was his.
He sent money anonymously.
But he didn’t find me.
I woke up at seven.
My daughter said, “Mom, I’m going to
<
school.”
I kissed her. “Remember my candy, please.”
She laughed. “Okay, Mom.”
Epilogue:
Hayden wanted to say something.
He had started with a prank.
“It’s like Riley’s a public toilet,” that woman
had said.
When she cried, his heart hurt.
He had caught feelings.
At first, it was sweet.
He was afraid.
He tried to treat her well.
He didn’t know if Riley liked Jackson or him.
He wanted her to have his baby.
That was his only chance.
He wanted her to know the truth, but he was
afraid.
He was going to be gentle.
He was going to tell everyone he loved her.
The day he found her getting an abortion, Jackson choked him. “Who let you touch
her?”
<
He had never been so angry.
Hayden knew Jackson loved her.
They were both doomed.
He had lied.
But he really loved her.
He couldn’t say it.
He gave up.
She deserved better.
She had to be happy.
He couldn’t be in her way.
