Chapter 78
~ Hailey ~
Just as the tension between Yvonne and me was reaching its peak—tight, brittle, like a wire pulled too far—there was another knock on the door.
Perfect timing, as always.
For a split second, I considered pretending I hadn’t heard it. Letting Yvonne finish whatever silent, venomous message she was trying to deliver with her glare. But relief washed over me instead, immediate and undeniable.
“Come in,” I called, grateful for the interruption, for anything that broke this suffocating moment.
The door opened and Nathaniel stepped in, already mid-motion, holding up two ties like trophies. One was navy blue with subtle silver threads woven through it, understated but elegant. The other was a deep burgundy, rich and dramatic.
“Hailey, I need your expert opinion on…” H
