The Man She Hated

. Her mom, worried sick, hovered quietly by her side. By morning, the c

to work today," he

but honestly, I'm relieved. I don't want to d

r's face was pale, and the dark circles under her eyes s

"You know... I wouldn't be surprised if

y think so?" Her voice had that

his name-maybe he was just being mysterious on purpose. The kind o

but the thought fo

g they weren't listening for footsteps in the stairwell. Every

n the door finally creaked open

dn't stand not knowing what happened to you, Fair!" she said, plopping down without waiting f

e a shee

I told the girls at work, 'That had to be

constant questioning, she ended up tel

ic. Like straight out of a Netflix drama, I swear! Wh

eks turned

tell me-you fell in love with him

trying to sound chil

tle disappointed when you found out he wa

d. "Wait-what are

ooked surprised. "He didn'

thing. He hurt his arm-I

e she didn't want anyone to s

y. "We expect he'll call soon.

one. He's literally on a shi

ng frowned.

ead the paper

," Mrs. Fielding said f

here-front page. His name's Bayard Lorraine. Like, the Bayard Lorraine. Super rich. Old-money kind of rich. Apparently, he was head

ps parted

e put you in his car, took you home, and barely made it to the docks before the boat left.

ing to Europe to get mar

too. His fiancée's already over there

y a word. Her

ic thing I've heard in forever. If some guy saved me like

htly. But inside, so

ut he hadn't asked her name. H

she kn

other exchanged a look-Mrs. Fielding's eyes dim with

herself was gone in an instant. The ache in her chest

he same sad th

name. Sounds fancy. And he's l

ust one meeting-and yet she knew her heart had already

he shift in both their faces.

tasy about this guy falling in love with her. And Fair believe

y any of that. She just st

better. Think you'll be

y, trying to sound calm. "She wanted to go

morning," Fair adde

opped her head into her hands, and let out a sigh

d, aren't you, hone

in her throat. Then she said, with as much st

idden behind the words just tired. She didn't push. She jus

me again. Just like that, he was gone from their live

rget him. His name, his voice, the way he'd looked at her-it all stayed

? Was she beautiful? Was she rich? Was she k