The Billionaire's Widow

39

Paige’s POV

“Hailey?” I called, stepping into her office. Empty.

Her bag and both her phones were still on her desk. That wasn’t like her—Hailey never left without them. I scanned the room quickly. Still no sign of her. I placed the food I had bought for us on the desk, then glanced toward the private restroom.

Nothing.

Then it hit me—the only other place she could be.

The hidden bedroom.

I walked to the door of her secret space, hesitating in front of the palm scanner. Only she could open it. I sighed, feeling defeated. Something in me said she was in there.

I knocked lightly. Silly, I knew. If she was asleep, I didn’t want to wake her. But if she was hurting…

I leaned on the scanner, lost in thought—and heard a soft click.

I blinked. The green light was on. The door… unlocked.

Did I just—? How?

I opened it slowly.

She was there, sitting on the edge of the bed, knees pulled up to her chest. Her shoulders trembled. I moved closer and heard her soft sobs.

“Hailey?” I rushed to her side.

She looked up at me, her red, swollen eyes filled with tears.

“Paige…” she whispered, a tear rolling down her cheek.

My heart cracked in two.

“Baby, what’s wrong?” I wrapped my arms around her. “Why are you crying?”

She didn’t answer at first. She just let herself fall into me, holding on tightly as the sobs returned.

“Shhh, I’ve got you,” I whispered. “Everything’s going to be okay.”

I held her until her breathing softened.

“Thank you,” she said, voice hoarse.

“Do you want to talk about it?” I asked gently.

She nodded slowly. “Kiara found out about us. She confronted me… and the things she said—” Her voice broke. “They really hurt, Paige.”

I cupped her face, wiping her tears. “When did this happen?”

“Last night.”

I clenched my jaw, trying to contain the heat rising in my chest. “I’m so sorry, Hailey. This is my fault. I dragged you into this.”

“No,” she said, shaking her head. “If anything, you’ve made my life better. You’ve made me better.”

Her words made my chest ache in a new way. “But why does she want to see you unhappy? You’ve finally found peace. Why can’t she just let you be?”

“I don’t know. I wanted to tell the family when I was ready—not like this.” She sighed deeply.

I took her hand. “I get that.”

“Paige…” Her voice trembled. “Promise me you won’t leave. No matter what she tries. I don’t think she’ll let me go that easily. The way she looked at me last night…” Another tear slid down her cheek. “It scared me.”

I pulled her into my arms again.

“Baby, no one—not Kiara, not her entire family—can make me walk away from you. I love you, Hailey.”

She froze for a moment. Her eyes widened—then she kissed me, hard, desperate. My heart raced.

When she pulled back, her voice dropped to a whisper. “I love you too.”

Brooke’s POV

“Miss Thompson,” Nurse Betty called as I passed the nurses’ station, “someone’s here to see you at reception. Natalie said they tried calling your office.”

“Alright, I’ll head there now. Thank you.”

I didn’t expect to find her in the lobby.

Kiara.

Just seeing her made my blood boil.

I walked toward her, keeping my cool—for now. “What do you want?”

“You really have no manners, do you?” she scoffed. “I wonder why Hailey keeps someone like you around.”

I said nothing.

“Then again,” she went on, “she was a nobody before she met my brother.”

That was it.

My hand moved before I could stop it. The slap rang through the lobby. Even my palm stung.

Her mouth fell open. “How dare you lay your filthy hands on me?”

“How dare you insult Hailey and me like that? We’re nobodies? I work my ass off and earn a six-figure salary every month. And Hailey? She built her success even before she met your brother. Don’t you ever disrespect her again.”

“You’ve lost your mind,” she spat.

“No. You’re just so bitter and obsessed that you can’t stand to see her happy without your brother. You need help.”

“She’s still married to him! I have every right to be upset. She’s cheating—”

“Cheating?” I laughed. “Your brother’s dead, Kiara. He’s been gone for over five years. You really think Hailey should be punished for wanting love again?”

“She still uses our name. Still benefits from the Anders wealth.”

“She’s the mother of your brother’s children and she earned every privilege she has. You don’t get to dictate when she moves on.”

“I will as long as she’s still Mrs. Anders!”

“You’re sick,” I said slowly, deliberately. “And dangerously obsessed.”

She stepped closer. “Insult me again and I swear, I will kill you with my bare hands.”

I took off my coat, opening my arms wide. “Then do it. I’m right here.”

A crowd had gathered now. Curious eyes. Whispers.

She noticed.

Her face hardened as she slid her sunglasses back on.

“This isn’t over,” she hissed. “You’ll regret this, Brooke.”

I didn’t flinch. “I’m not scared of you.”

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