I Stopped Waiting And Traveled Alone Chapter 08

I Stopped Waiting And Traveled Alone Chapter 08

After that day, Hayes left Hightown. Still, he kept sending texts, claiming I’d left belongings behind at his

place.

At first I told him to ship them over. Eventually I just let them go.

Life fell back into a routine-just without him.

One evening after work, someone was waiting for me outside the office.

Hannah’s eyes were puffy and red. She looked as though she hadn’t slept in days. The second she spotted

me she lunged forward. Security guards reacted fast and held her back.

She started screaming. “You witch! Hayes and I both lost our jobs. Are you happy now?”

I later found out that someone had reported Hayes and Hannah to the research institute for misconduct. Hayes had resigned voluntarily, and Hannah got suspended pending investigation.

She stared daggers at me, then burst into wild, bitter laughter-almost triumphant. “Perfect. I’ve got nothing left. Now Hayes has to take care of me. Jenna, you pushed him straight into my arms all by yourself.”

I looked at her, a quiet sadness welling up inside me.

A taxi pulled up. Hayes hurried out.

Hannah sneered. “If I hadn’t caused a scene here, were you planning on avoiding me forever?”

Exhaustion hung heavy over every inch of him. “Hannah, stop this. Go back to Brampton. I told you we

shouldn’t keep seeing each other.”

“Why? Why!” She spiraled into hysteria. “This woman ruined my life, ruined ours! Why are you still hung up

on her? You said she was boring, clingy, suffocating! Now that she’s gone you regret it? How pathetic can

you be!”

Hayes squeezed his eyes shut in anguish.

He turned toward me. “I’m so sorry. I’ll take her back to Brampton and sort everything out. You won’t be

bothered again.”

Hannah’s gaze turned sharp. She pulled a bottle from inside her coat and lunged at me wildly “Don’t you dare

talk to her!”

Everything unfolded in a heartbeat. I froze and squeezed my eyes shut. Hayes threw himself in front of me a

split second earlier.

An acrid smell hit me instantly. I gasped. “That’s acid!”

Hannah collapsed onto the pavement. “How… I meant to hit her. Hayes, I didn’t mean to, I…”

Hayes turned to me, managing a weak, pained smile. “I’m truly… so sorry.”

Screams and sirens blended into total chaos.

Jesse picked me up after Hannah’s sentencing.

Hannah was sentenced to three years for aggravated assault. Hayes suffered extensive burns across his

back and thighs; he would need ongoing medical treatment for the rest of his life.

The last streaks of sunset vanished behind cloud cover. I tilted my head up toward the sky, lost in thought.

Jesse opened his arms gently. “Come here.”

I laughed softly and sank into his embrace.

He asked no intrusive questions, only said, “Want dinner? I found a new place that serves great fried chicken

nearby.”

I nodded. “Yeah. Comfort food sounds perfect right now.”

Beneath the glowing sunset, we smiled at each other.