Chapter 130 Chapter 130
Hailey’s POV
I stood there facing everyone, feeling their eyes on me, their suspicion and judgment pressing down like a weight.
“My mother is innocent,” I insisted, my voice firm despite the trembling I felt inside. “I know she didn’t take that necklace.”
“Then tell us what she told you,” Sophia demanded. “If she has nothing to hide, why won’t you share what she said?”
“Because it’s private,” I shot back. “And because I don’t owe you any explanations, Sophia. You’ve done nothing but attack me and my family since the moment I arrived in this house.”
“That’s not an answer….” Sophia started.
“You want an answer?” I interrupted, my voice rising. “Fine. Here’s an answer. You were careless. You left a ten million dollar necklace sitting on your nightstand like it was a cheap piece of costume jewelry. You didn’t put it back in the vault where it belonged. You didn’t secure it properly. And now it’s missing because of YOUR negligence.”
Sophia’s face flushed red. “I didn’t….”
“You probably dropped it somewhere,” I continued, not letting her finish. “Maybe it fell behind your nightstand. Maybe it rolled under your bed. Maybe you knocked it onto the floor when you were sleeping and it’s wedged in some corner you haven’t checked yet.”
“We searched my room thoroughly!” Sophia protested.
“Not thoroughly enough, apparently,” I said coldly. “Because it wasn’t the first time you’ve acted reckless and miserable. Everything you do is impulsive and thoughtless. So why should this be any different?”
“How dare you….” Sophia started toward me, but Damien held up a hand to stop her.
“Enough,” he said, his voice tired. “Fighting isn’t going to find the necklace.”
“Then what will?” I challenged. “Because we’ve searched for hours. We’ve gone through everyone’s bags, every room in this house. And it’s not here. So either Sophia is lying about having it in the first place, or she lost it through her own carelessness.”
“I am NOT lying!” Sophia screamed.
“We still need to find it,” Damien said firmly. “That necklace is too valuable, too important to just give up on. We’ll continue searching…”
Something inside me snapped.
I felt tears suddenly flooding my eyes real tears mixed with manufactured ones, genuine hurt combined with strategic performance.
“Of course,” I said, my voice breaking. “Of course we have to find Elena’s necklace. Of course that’s what matters most. I’m being reminded once again that I’m just a shadow compared to her. That I’ll never measure up. That everything about her is precious and sacred while I’m just… just…”
I let my voice trail off into a sob, covering my face with my hands.
“Hailey….” Damien started, concern entering his voice.
“Did you ever give me a gift?” I asked through my tears, looking up at him. “For our child? For the baby growing inside me? Or have you been so focused on Elena’s memory, on her jewelry, on her ghost, that you forgot I’m actually here, actually pregnant, actually sacrificing everything for you?”
The accusation hung in the air, and I saw Damien flinch.
“Or what about compensation for ruining my life?” I continued, my voice rising with emotion. “I was supposed to graduate college. Have a normal life. Date normal guys. But instead I’m trapped in a war zone, being accused of theft, watching my mother get blamed for something she didn’t do, all because I fell in love with you!”
“Hailey, that’s not fair…” Damien said, moving toward me.
“None of this is fair!” I sobbed, pulling away from him. “Nothing about this situation is fair! And now I have to stand here and be interrogated about a stupid necklace while my baby’s father doesn’t even defend me!”
Damien’s expression softened immediately. He reached for me again, and this time I let him pull me into his arms.
“Don’t cry,” he said softly, stroking my hair. “Please don’t cry. It’s not good for the baby.”
“Then stop this,” I pleaded against his chest. “Stop treating my mother like a criminal. Stop letting Sophia attack me. Just… stop.”
Damien pulled back slightly to look at my face, wiping tears from my cheeks with his thumbs.
“I’ll find the necklace,” he promised. “And your mother is innocent. I believe that. She can leave whenever she wants to. I’m not holding her here against her will.”
I looked up at him through my tears, seeing sincerity in his eyes.
“You mean that?” I asked.
“Yes,” Damien said firmly. He turned to address Barbara directly. “Mrs. Cooper, you’re free to go. You and Benita. I apologize for the accusations and the searches. You’re not under suspicion anymore.”
I expected my mother to grab her bags and leave immediately, to take the escape Damien was offering and run.
But instead, her expression hardened into something determined and angry.
“No,” Barbara said, crossing her arms. “I’m not leaving. Not anymore.”
“Mom?” I said, confused. “But you wanted to go. You and Benita were packed and ready…”
“I changed my mind,” Barbara said, her voice sharp. “I’m staying. For a few months at least. Maybe longer.”
“Why?” Damien asked, clearly as surprised as I was.
“Because I was just reminded of something important,” Barbara said, her eyes moving to Sophia with clear disgust.
“Once crime runs in a bloodline, it spans generations. And Sophia’s stunt just reminded me that I’m leaving my only daughter in a den of lions. Surrounded by people who lie, manipulate, and attack without evidence.”
“Mrs. Cooper…” Damien started.
“No,” Barbara interrupted. “I’m not abandoning Hailey to this. I’m staying. And I’m going to make damn sure that my daughter and my grandchild are protected from all the toxicity in this house. Including from your daughter, Damien.”
Sophia’s face went white, then red with rage. “You can’t talk about me like that…”
“I just did,” Barbara said coldly. “And I’ll keep doing it as long as you keep attacking my daughter. You want to accuse people of theft? You want to slap pregnant women? Fine. But you’re going to have to deal with me now. And I promise you, Sophia, I’m not as forgiving as Hailey is.”
The threat was clear and unmistakable.
Benita stepped forward, moving to stand beside Barbara. “If Barbara’s staying, I’m staying too. We’re not leaving Hailey alone in this mess.”
I felt tears real ones this time flooding my eyes.
My mother and my best friend were staying. Choosing to stay in this dangerous, toxic house because they loved me. Because they wanted to protect me.