Revenge Turned Blue (Hosie)

15- Composure

~~~~~

Hayley sat at her vanity after the party, staring at her reflection as she removed her diamond earrings. The night had been a success on the surface, but the weight of it all clung to her, heavy and suffocating. The affair, the exile, the painting...

She wasn't sure if she was feeling guilt for what she did, or anger. Probably both.

The sound of the door opening behind her pulled her out of her thoughts, and she didn't need to turn around to know who it was.

Klaus's expression was dark as he entered the room.

"You didn't have to exile her," Klaus said after a moment, his voice showing his disapproval. "What you did was cruel."

Hayley's hands froze on the clasp of her necklace. Her eyes flickered up to her reflection, meeting Klaus's hardened gaze in the mirror.

Her eyebrows furrowed at him. "What I did was cruel?" she repeated slowly, her voice sounding incredulous. She scoffed at the statement, turning around to face him, "You could've had anyone, Klaus. You knew that Cami was my closest friend."

Klaus deflated a bit at the accusation, "It was never meant to be an affair—"

"Oh, it just happened?" Hayley cut him off, her voice rising sharply. "For god sake, are you physically incapable of taking responsibility for your actions?"

Klaus's gaze narrowed at the woman. "That's a problem you and I seem to share," he bit back. "If you'll remember, I gave up everything once to prove how much I loved this family."

Hayley let out a hollow laugh, rising to her feet as her anger boiled over. "You didn't give up anything. She was taken from you. You're just too damn prideful to admit it."

"That's not true!" Klaus yelled defensively, but his eyes flickered, revealing the truth behind her words, regarding someone from his past, yet another old flame still haunting the family, even years later.

Hayley rolled her eyes and folded her arms. "You may have stayed in this marriage, but your heart stayed with her," her gaze pierced through him as she shook her head, "You haven't been the same since."

It was that truth that haunted their marriage since the day Caroline, the other pretty little blonde next door, was taken from him. It was a truth that Hayley tried to bury, but it only kept rising to the surface and festering between them.

Klaus's jaw tightened as he stared back at her, his eyes flashing with frustration. "I'm not the only one who's changed," he said bitterly.

With that, he turned on his heel and disappeared out of the room, the door slamming shut behind him.

Hayley stared at the closed door, her chest rising and falling with uneven breaths. She clenched her fists, her nails digging into the palms of her hands as she fought the wave of emotions threatening to drown her.

She did what needed to be done. Camille was out of their lives now.

But the cost...Hayley wasn't sure if this was a victory or yet another fracture in their already fragile marriage.

~~~

Hope had of course offered to walk Josie home after the party, and the brunette gratefully accepted.

Their steps were slow as they made their way toward the house down the beach, letting their time together drag on naturally.

Hope's voice sounded over the waves crashing on the shore, "My mother is always full of surprises." Her voice carried a trace of dry amusement. Josie felt the Tribrid's hand gently graze her own, before their fingers laced together.