Chapter 2 Chapter 2
Hailey’s POV
The next morning came like punishment.
A sharp, throbbing pain drilled through my skull, every pulse a cruel reminder of the night before.
My mouth was dry, my body heavy and my thoughts were scattered across fragments of blurred memory.
My hand reached up to shield my face from the bright sunlight. That was when I realized I had company.
My heart stuttered as panic sliced through the haze. Slowly, I turned my head and my gaze fell on the man lying beside me.
For a few seconds, breathing became something I had to remember how to do.
His face was a perfect contradiction of hardness and peace; his strong jaw was slightly shadowed with stubble and his lips were curved like they had been carved for sin.
Dark hair spilled slightly across his forehead and was tousled just enough to make him look human.
The sheet slid a little as he shifted, revealing more of his sculpted torso. The lines of muscle that looked effortless, like he was born with every woman’s temptation written into his skin.
God, what was I thinking?
Memories came in flashes, the way he had looked at me at the bar, how his voice had sounded when he had asked what I wanted, and the way I had answered without hesitation.
Sleep with me. — What kind of sane person said that to a stranger?
Carefully, I sat up, clutching the sheet to my chest as if it could shield me from my own decisions.
My head throbbed harder, reminding me that tequila was a terrible life coach.
The moment he stirred, my breath caught. His lashes fluttered, and then those deep, dark eyes opened and met mine.
For a moment, we just stared at each other.
Suddenly, my phone came alive with angry buzzing. Notifications poured in, missed calls, messages from Benita and a few from numbers I didn’t even recognize.
My heart dropped as I scrolled.
Benita: Where are you?
Benita: Answer me!
Benita: Hailey, this is serious. Call me back NOW.
Oh no.
“Something wrong?” the man asked, watching me with that calm and steady gaze that drew me in at the bar.
“Everything,” I muttered, already reaching for my bag.
He didn’t stop me, didn’t ask for my number, didn’t even pretend to care about what came next.
“Hailey,” he called, staring at me.
The sound of my name on his lips made me freeze mid step. I hadn’t told him my name but yet he knew it.
Before I could ask how he knew, his eyes had already drifted back to the ceiling as if our night had never happened at all.
I was going to confront him but then another call from Benita made me run across the room.
Benita opened the door before I could knock. Her eyes were wild with worry and something close to exasperation.
“Where the hell have you been?” I flinched at the volume of her voice.
“Can you not yell? My head’s trying to split into half.”
“That’s what you get for ghosting me!” she snapped. “I called like a hundred times.”
“I…” I hesitated, searching for something believable. “I went home with someone.”
“Wait, what? You… Hailey…” She stopped herself, her eyes narrowing. “Was he at least hot?”
“Ridiculously,” I admitted before I could stop myself.
She sighed, pressing her fingers to her temples. “God, I can’t believe you. One scandal wasn’t enough?”
“Don’t remind me.” I muttered, guilt wrapping it around me.
“I’m sorry. I’m just… look, you need to get dressed. The disciplinary team sent for you and Sophia.”
“What?” I gasped.
“Yeah.” She nodded, crossing her arms. “They said you two should come with your parents.”
“My parents are on another continent.” I shrugged, falling into the only couch in our dorm.
“Well, then I guess you’re going solo.”
Pushing my hands into my hair, I groaned. “I can’t face them, not after what happened yesterday.”
“Listen to me. You’re not the one in trouble. Everyone knows it wasn’t you who uploaded those pictures, it was Sophia.”
The air left my lungs in a sharp gasp. “What?”
“Apparently, IT traced the file upload to her student account. She’s screwed, Hailey. Like, permanently.”
For a moment, I didn’t know how to feel.
Relief came first, followed by anger, then sadness, not for her, but for the version of me that still wanted to understand why she did it.
“I don’t even know what I had done to her,” I whispered.
“Good,” Benita said firmly. “Say nothing. Just show up, keep your head high, and let karma do the talking.”
“Easier said than done.” I snorted.
Still, I cleaned up and got dressed choosing a plain black top and jeans.
All through, Benita watched me from the doorway with her arms folded. “You sure you’re okay?”
“No,” I admitted. “But I’ll pretend until I am.”
“That’s my girl.” She pulled me into a hug then kissed my forehead.
By that time I got to school, it was already past nine am leaving me with about fifteen minutes to meet with the committee.
Eyes followed me as I walked across the hallway but I didn’t stop.
Every step toward the administrative building felt heavier. My hands trembled, not from fear, but from the memory of everything I had lost.
Now standing behind the door, I took in a deep breath before pushing it open.
The room was formal. There was a long table where a panel of professors sat and two empty chairs facing them.
Sophia was already there, sitting with a perfect posture. Her hair was glossy and her expression unreadable.
I forced myself to look straight ahead, refusing to shrink.
Someone at the table gestured toward the empty seat. “Miss Hailey, please have a seat, we’ll begin shortly.”
Nodding, I dragged my feet forward holding my head high but then my gaze shifted.
And every ounce of composure shattered.
Sitting beside Sophia was him, the man from the club.