Chapter 216
~ Hailey ~
One agonizing week had passed since the kidnapping.
One week since I’d woken up in a hospital bed with a pounding head, fragmented memories, and a truth that had split my life cleanly in two. One week since I’d learned I was pregnant. One week of existing in a strange, suspended state — no longer fully part of my old life, but not yet settled into whatever new reality was waiting for me.
Everything felt temporary. Fragile. Like I was holding my breath without realizing it.
And Nathaniel had been there for all of it.
He’d basically moved into my apartment, despite my repeated insistence that he didn’t need to stay. He slept on my couch every night, blanket thrown over him, phone always within reach. He was there when I woke up from nightmares soaked in sweat, th
