Chapter 134 Chapter 134
Hailey’s POV
I looked at Benita, my best friend who knew me better than almost anyone, and decided to be honest.
“Vincent gives me the creeps,” I admitted quietly. “From the moment he arrived here, something about him has felt wrong. Off. Like he’s playing some kind of game that only he knows the rules to.”
Benita’s expression shifted to something hesitant, like she was debating whether to share something.
“What?” I pressed. “You know something else, don’t you?”
Benita bit her lip, clearly wrestling with whether to speak. Finally, she said, “During the shooting that happened at the compound. When the Morellis attacked.”
“What about it?”
“I saw something,” Benita said slowly. “Or at least, I think I did. Everything was so chaotic, people running everywhere, gunfire, screaming. But I could swear I saw a blurry image of Vincent walking freely in the house. Not running like everyone else. Not taking cover. Just… walking. Calmly.”
My blood ran cold. “Vincent was at the compound during the attack?”
“That’s the thing….I don’t know,” Benita said, frustration evident in her voice. “It happened so fast, and I was terrified, running for my life. We were all running for our lives. So I must have confused him with someone else. Maybe it was one of the guards. Maybe my mind was playing tricks on me in all the chaos.”
“Or maybe it really was Vincent,” I said quietly.
“But that doesn’t make sense,” Benita said. “If Vincent was there during the attack, working with the Morellis, why would Damien bring him here? Why would he trust him?”
“True.”
We sat in silence for a moment, both of us thinking through the implications.
“Thank you for staying,” I said finally, reaching out to take Benita’s hand. “I know you wanted to leave. That you and my mom were ready to go. But you chose to stay because of me, and that means everything.”
“You’re my best friend,” Benita said simply. “Where else would I go?”
We hugged tightly, and I felt tears stinging my eyes.
As I pulled back and Benita was about to walk out of the door, a sudden sharp pain shot through my stomach.
I gasped, my hand immediately going to my belly. The baby had kicked, but not like before. This was different, harder, more painful.
“Hailey?” Benita said, alarm in her voice. “What’s wrong?”
“The baby,” I managed to say through gritted teeth, moving to find a corner to sit. “It kicked. Really hard.”
I made it to the chair by the window and lowered myself into it, my breathing becoming shallow as another wave of pain rolled through me.
“I’m getting Damien,” Benita said, already moving toward the door.
“No!” I said quickly, not wanting to cause alarm. “Don’t. It’s just a mild pain. The baby kicks sometimes. It’s probably normal.”
“That didn’t look mild,” Benita argued, concern written all over her face.
“I’m fine,” I insisted, even as the discomfort continued. “Really. I just need to sit for a minute and it’ll pass.”
Benita looked torn, clearly wanting to get help but also not wanting to go against my wishes.
“Please,” I said. “Don’t make a big deal out of this. I’m okay.”
“Fine,” Benita said reluctantly. “But if it gets worse, you call for help immediately. Promise me.”
“I promise,” I said.
“Or should I just stay with you. I’m not busy for now.”
“No, no, you don’t have to. You have a lot to sort for I can’t just keep you waiting here. I promise, I’m fine and if u need help with anything, I’m going to screamed your name first.”
She looks like she wanted to argue but then nodded her head.
“Stick to your promise.”
Benita left, though I could see the hesitation in every step she took.
The moment the door closed behind her, the pain intensified. Another sharp kick, stronger than before, radiating through my entire abdomen.
I doubled over in the chair, my vision starting to blur at the edges. The pain was overwhelming, unlike anything I’d felt before.
Was something wrong with the baby? Was I losing it?
My vision started to go dark around the edges. I felt myself slipping, consciousness fading as the pain became unbearable.
But then, just as suddenly as it had come, the pain stopped.
Completely.
I sat there gasping, my hands still clutched around my belly, waiting for it to come back.
But it didn’t.
I took several deep breaths, my heart still racing from the scare. What the hell was that?
My throat was dry from the panic. I looked over at the tea service Nina had brought earlier. The cup was still sitting on the bedside table, the tea probably lukewarm by now.
I reached for it and drank deeply, the liquid soothing my parched throat even if it wasn’t as warm as I’d have liked.
I sat there for another few minutes, making sure the pain was really gone, that it wasn’t going to come back.
When I felt stable enough, I decided I needed fresh air. I couldn’t stay cooped up in this room, not after that scare.
I stood up carefully, testing my balance, making sure everything felt normal.
It did. The pain was completely gone, like it had never happened.
I moved to the door, already planning to walk down to the garden for some air and space to clear my head.
I pulled the door open and immediately stopped short.
Vincent stood right outside my door, so close that I nearly bumped into him.
He was standing there, perfectly still, his body angled toward my door, his head slightly tilted toward it.
Like he’d been listening. Eavesdropping on everything Benita and I had just discussed.