Chapter 32

“I’ll go with you,” Owen said, standing up.

Hailey gave him a look, amused. “It’s the women’s restroom. How exactly are you planning to go with mer

Owen considered this, then shrugged. “I’ll walk you to the door.”

She sighed, shaking her head. “Fine.”

The two of them left the table.

The Calhoun estate was massive, with multiple restrooms scattered throughout. Owen led Hailey to the one on the first floor, but as they neared the door, a muffled groan came from inside.

They both stopped and exchanged a look.

Owen’s expression hardened. Without hesitation, he strode forward and kicked the door open. The heavy door slammed against the wall with a loud bang.

He moved with a sharp precision that was impossible to ignore–quick, efficient, and effortlessly cool. But this was hardly the time to be admiring him.

Inside, Christopher lay sprawled on the floor, drenched, his body twisted at an awkward angle. His face was bruised, his eyes dull and full of despair.

There was another man in the restroom–the same one who had left the table earlier.

He, Dorian Calhoun, was from a branch of the Calhoun family, which meant Owen couldn’t deal with him as freely as he might have wanted.

He had his foot planted on Christopher’s face. His thick jowls quivered with excitement as he pressed down, clearly enjoying the power trip.

At the sudden interruption, the man jerked his head up. His eyes widened when he saw Owen. “Owen-”

Without thinking, she lifted the hem of her dress, took two quick strides forward, and drove her foot straight into Dorian Calhoun’s gut.

The force of the kick sent him sprawling backward, crashing onto the floor with a thud.

The sharp clack of Hailey’s heels echoed in the silent restroom as she stepped closer, towering over him.

A slow, almost amused smile curved her lips. “Does it feel good? Bullying someone weaker than you?” she asked, voice dangerously soft.

Dorian groaned, clutching his stomach. When he looked up at her, something in her expression made his breath hitch.

Hailey tilted her head, then pressed the pointed toe of her heel against his cheek, grinding it. “Pathetic,” she murmured. “This is the best you can do? Maybe I should show you what real strength looks like.”

Dorian’s left cheek throbbed with pain as if the skin had been scraped raw. He wanted to say something–anything–but the sheer force of Hailey’s gaze left him speechless.

emotion, sending an unmistakable wave of fear through him. For Hailey, the sight of Christopher being humiliated

heel gleamed under

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Chapter 32

had noticed the shift in her mood

second he saw her slipping off her shoes,

voice was

hers, steady and unyielding. Hailey exhaled, her

she muttered.

her shoe back on and stepped toward Christopher,

beating–his face was bruised, swollen, and streaked with water. His

moving, lifting Christopher back into his wheelchair.

brushing lightly over his leg as she studied

dull, vacant eyes remained fixed

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glanced at Owen. “We should take them both to the

studied her for a long moment before nodding.

Christopher and Dorian to be taken out through the back. Hailey and Owen followed

car ride was silent. Owen seemed in a bad mood.

thought and focused on

his wounds, but Christopher’s expression remained the same–numb, hollow.

him, examining his leg.

“Hey. If I can fix your leg,” she said, tilting her head,

was light, almost playful, but something about it pulled

glanced at her, curious.

white dress. She

curling into a bitter smirk.

fix me. And

If I fix your leg, you work for me–no questions

offered money, and resources–things most people

Christopher didn’t need wealth. He needed someone in his

had been

was protecting the version of herself

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Chapter 32

much older

a body that wasn’t

he knew Hailey had probably been joking, a small ember

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