Hayden

I expected a lot when I got to my hotel room today, but I didn't expect that witch sitting on my couch. I also notice the bedroom door is ajar, and that fact alone makes me frown. I remember clearly how I closed it this morning.

"Why so hostile, Hayden Cross? I'm here to help you out." Her voice interrupts my observation, and I focus on the woman in front of me. She looks rather amused, almost like she's having the time of her life invading my privacy like a damn snake.

"I doubt it. Get the fuck out of my hotel room." I'm having trouble keeping my voice down with the rage in my veins. The audacity of this woman blinds me.

"Now, now," she says as she gets up. "Don't you want to hear what I have to say about your little puppy?"

I scoff. "You don't think I'll believe a word that comes out of your filthy mouth, do you?"

She pulls something out of her purse, a psychopathic smile curling on her lips as she waves a manila envelope around like it's supposed to mean something. "You don't need to trust me. A picture says more than a thousand words." She throws the folder on the couch table, and for just a moment, I can't help but look at it, curiosity instantly getting the better of me. "Do me a favor, Hayden." She's suddenly right next to me, her hand on my arm as she gets on her toes to whisper into my ear, "Trust your eyes."

The sudden closeness makes me take a step back, and after I study her for one last moment, I dash to the door, throwing it open as I command, "Get the fuck out of my room."

Meredith doesn't say anything, she just walks past me with a wink, waving her thin fingers at me before she disappears in the hallway.

I slam the door shut behind her, letting my back rest against it for a minute. "What the hell have you done now?"

I know I should just throw that folder away. Nothing in there will help—I know that. I should ignore whatever it is and not let that woman get in my head.

But I said it before; I'm a curious person. Maybe too curious for my own good, because despite knowing it's not helping at all, I walk to the couch table and pick up the folder she left there.

As soon as I see the pictures, I know I should've just thrown it away. I should've ignored the bitch. But I couldn't.

I had to be the curious fucker I am, and now I'm looking at a picture of two people kissing in the street. One of them is a man I've never seen in my life.

The other is Mila.

***

Mila

I knew it wouldn't be easy.

But I didn't expect it to throw us over the edge so badly.

I spoke to Hayden about an hour ago, and I'm starting to get worried. But before I can even think of calling him to see what's taking him so long, a message from an unknown number appears on my screen.

Might wanna keep an eye on your man, Mimi ;)

Beneath it is a picture of Hayden and Meredith. It seems like they're in his hotel room, and when I realize she looks like she's about to kiss him, I jump out of my seat.

What is Meredith doing there? Why is she so close to him? And why the hell can't she stay away from us?

The thoughts come crashing down on me as I throw on Hayden's sweater and make my way into the kitchen, desperately needing a coffee to calm my soul.

Why would he even talk to her? Why are they so close? And who sent me the photo?

It must've been Mer. The only people who call me Mimi are Jas and Meredith, and I'm fairly certain Jas isn't behind this. "Why can't you just leave us alone?" I sigh as I put on a fresh pot of coffee.

The smell of our favorite drink must have woken Dad up from his nap, because mere seconds after I grab a cup, I watch him shuffle into the kitchen with a grin on his lips. "Coffee?" he asks, but his smile falters as soon as he notices the look on my face. "What's wrong, sweetheart?"

I slide the phone over the counter without a word and rub my hands over my face, trying to stop my mind from racing a hundred miles per hour.

"Oh, buttercup." He glances at the phone with furrowed brows. "You don't believe this nonsense, do you?"

"I don't. He wouldn't do that. I just... What is he even doing with her?"

Dad walks around the counter and wraps one arm around my waist, squeezing me tightly as he presses a kiss on my head. "I don't know. But I'm sure he can explain."

"But why...why hasn't he called?" I ask, feeling defeated somehow.

"Did he want to?"

"He...he wanted to call me about ten minutes ago," I stammer, suddenly remembering the exact reason he wanted to call. I think it's better if my dad doesn't know about that.

"Have you tried calling him?" he asks.

"I wanted to, but then I got the picture."

"You don't believe it, right?"

"No." I blurt out my answer in an instant. "I really don't. I trust him."

He raises an eyebrow at me, and I instantly see the question in his eyes. Why haven't I called him yet?

"Ugh. Okay. I'll call him now." I swipe through my phone when Dad shoots me a smile, but I can't reciprocate it, the sound of Hayden's mailbox at the other end of the line eliciting a sigh from my lips. Disconnecting the call, I place the phone on the table, letting my mind wander for just a moment.

Hayden is loyal. I trust him. I really do. Even so, I'm an insecure person, and as much as I've worked on myself, that insecurity still lingers in my bones, and I can't help but think...

"Mimi!" Jas's voice interrupts my thoughts, and I glance up with arched brows, wondering where the hell my best friend came from.

"Jas? What's wrong?" I ask, but she instantly muffles my words by throwing her arms around me, almost smothering me with her tight hug. "What are you doing here?"

"Your dad let me in. I just wanted to see you." She studies me up and down as we break the hug. "There were dozens of reporters at our apartment."

My eyes widen upon registering her words. I knew they were after me, after us, but they never went to my apartment. How the fuck did they even get the address?

"I would've knocked them on their asses, but I figured that wouldn't help your case, so I came here. They...they kept asking, Mimi..."

"Kept asking what?"

For the first time in forever, I watch how my best friend seems speechless for just a moment. She quickly swallows her emotions, though; soon enough, she takes a step closer to me and says, "About your affair."

I look at Jasmine for a moment, and I try to remember how to breathe, how not to panic at the thought that this is getting out to the press. Meredith shouldn't have that effect on me. She shouldn't be allowed to make me feel this way.

"Buttercup..." Dad reaches out to me, but I feel so overwhelmed that I can't help but step back, suddenly needing space to think and breathe.

Taking a seat on the armchair in our living room, I try to regulate my breathing, to gather my thoughts and strength. I can't let them win.

Jas paces up and down the living room, fury radiating off of her when she exclaims, "I'm gonna punch those fuckers, I swear!"

"You'll do no such thing, Jasmine. It will only make things worse." My dad shoots her a stern glance.

"I don't care!" She points at me. "Look what they're doing. I can't stand this shit."

"Jasmine..." Dad warns again as he rests a hand on my shoulder, but I look up at him as I shake my head.

"No, Dad. She's right. I'm sick of this." I call Hayden again, and I'm about to lose my patience when it goes to voicemail once more. "Why did he turn off his goddamn phone?"

And then my phone rings again. For just a split second I'm excited, hoping to see Hayden's name on there, but instead, I face a text from an anonymous number.

Let's hope he believes you more than the rest of the world does.

Below the message is a picture of me and my ex-boyfriend kissing in the street, and it only takes a split second until I understand what this is and why they sent it to me.

"What is it?" Jas snatches the phone from my hand, her eyes widening at the picture. "That goddamn bitch. I'll kill her."

"What?" Dad furrows his brows as he glances over her shoulder, but Jas already

shoves the phone back in my hand.

"Meredith! Look, it's two pictures. One of Mila and her ex, and one of the article she posted an hour ago."

I look at my phone and quickly scroll through the article on display. It's very elaborate, explaining how I'm publicly cheating on Hayden with my ex-boyfriend. They sell it like we're reliving our past romance. "That fucking bitch," I mutter, and my dad instantly clears his throat, obviously not liking my words. "Sorry, Dad, but I mean... What the hell?"

"I swear." Jasmine looks about ready to explode when she gesticulates furiously. "I didn't think she'd go to such lengths. I really underestimated how much of a bitch she is."

"Jasmine." Dad sighs again, but she just disregards him.

"No, Sam. You know I love you," she mutters, already snatching her phone and typing in numbers before she looks back up at him, "but this is war. The bitch will burn."