My Missing Boyfriend Was Alive, So I Chose His Best Friend Chapter 14

My Missing Boyfriend Was Alive, So I Chose His Best Friend Chapter 14

The whole thing snowballed. More and more people came forward to trash Tyler. He was basically done. Handily enough, Tyler had a younger brother-Ethan.

The Vances saw the writing on the wall and immediately shifted their focus-and their money-to

the backup son.

Without his family’s protection, Tyler’s life went into a free fall. He hit rock bottom fast. He drifted through his days in a fog, drinking nonstop. He’d always loved the bottle. I used to beg him to slow down; he said I was nagging. Eventually, the alcohol bit back.

One night, blind drunk, he stumbled into traffic. A car hit him. His leg was wrecked. The doctor said he’d walk with a limp for the rest of his life. Traffic cams reviewed by the cops showed Tyler ran a red light, jaywalked-the driver bore zero responsibility.

A few days later, uninvited guests arrived. Tyler’s parents. I wasn’t a stranger to them. We’d met plenty of times. They’d always been wolves in sheep’s clothing-smiles on the surface, quiet contempt underneath. They’d even helped Tyler with his act. Now here they were, begging.

“Hailey, honey. We’ve always treated you well, haven’t we?”

I smiled. “Why don’t you just get to the point?”

“Tyler screwed up, big time. We’ve dealt with him seriously. But sweetheart, me, his father, our company-we’re innocent in all this.”

“So you’re asking me to…?”

“Could you possibly give us a written statement? Just saying you forgive Tyler and you’re putting

this behind you.”

I wanted to laugh.

The audacity. The sheer nerve to actually say that out loud.

But-I already had a plan. I sniffled twice, and within seconds, my eyes were swimming.

“Mr. and Mrs. Vance, I know you’ve been kind to me. I don’t want to drag you down.”

“But what Tyler did to me is too much! I’ve been having nightmares nonstop. My friends keep telling me to see a therapist!”

Tears poured down my face. “I’m so hurt. So miserable. I loved him so much-how could he do this

to me!”

“Yes, yes, it’s all Tyler’s fault.” The two exchanged a look. “Hailey, how about we give you a little compensation? How much would help?”

I waved my hands in exaggerated horror. “No, absolutely not. I don’t want money.” As if I’d be stupid enough to name a price and make it extortion.

“Thirty thousand?”

“Money can’t fix this.”

“Fifty?”

“My feelings for Tyler weren’t something you could buy!”

“A hundred thousand.”

I sighed. “I think I should just go see that therapist.”

I refused to take money. I only emphasized, over and over, the severe emotional toll I’d suffered. The next day, two hundred thousand dollars appeared in my bank account. The note read: Voluntary emotional distress settlement.