The past two days have been hard for Hailey, she had tried to talk to him multiple times but he wasn't giving her a chance to speak, it's like they were back to the beginning all over again.
But this hurt way more than before cause she actually thought things could work between them.
She was supposed to be angry at him, especially with what Cole said in the restaurant but he was the one getting mad at her.
He didn't even let her explain herself and Hailey was frustrated.
She sat on the couch, waiting for him to come back from work, it was already 9pm and he wasn't back yet.
She wasn't surprised cause he has been coming back late for the past two days just to avoid her, Hailey but her lips.
Can't things be okay between us?
She heard the door open and she stood up from the couch.
"Welcome" she said in a low voice but loud enough for Hardin to hear.
Hardin didn't answer, he simply paused and walked towards the stairs after a while.
"Can we talk? After you take a bath, come down for dinner so we can talk," Hailey said, holding her fingers together in hope.
He didn't reply but continued up the stairs and Hailey sighed, she walked towards the kitchen and stared at the dinner she made.
"I just have to hope he comes down" she muttered as she sat on the chair.
Hailey waited for almost an hour with no sign of Hardin, she guessed he wasn't coming, when she stood up to clear the table she heard his footsteps and a glimmer of hope blossomed in her chest.
Hardin walked toward the dining area and sat down.
"I'm glad you came," Hailey said with smiles but Hardin didn't reply.
"I'm sorry about what happened two days ago, I know I should have told you I was going to meet him but I just wanted to make things clear with him and I know you wouldn't agree for me to meet with him that's why I didn't Tell you and that was my fault, I am sorry" Hailey rambled.
She made a pause to catch her breath and let out a breath.
"No matter how hard we try, things would never work out" Hardin said and Hailey blinked.
Hailey's heart pounded as she processed Hardin's words.
She felt a lump in her throat as she shook her head. "What are you saying?"
Hardin didn't reply immediately. Instead, he reached into his slack pocket, pulled out a brown envelope, and placed it on the table between them.
Hailey's fingers trembled as she picked it up and opened it. Her eyes widened in shock as she stared at the bold words at the top of the document.
Divorce Agreement.
Her breath hitched.
"You… you want to divorce me?" Hailey asked in shock and Hardin leaned back in his chair, his face impassive.
"I'm giving you freedom, Hailey. From all of this, from me." Hardin said, forcing the words out of his throat.
A cold shiver ran down her spine.
"But why?" she whispered, her voice barely audible
"Because you deserve better."
His jaw tightened.
"And because this was never supposed to last." he said again, his words cutting, not only to Hailey but to him.
Hailey felt like the air had been knocked out of her lungs. Her fingers clutched the papers so tightly they crumpled at the edges.
"I don't want this," she said, her voice shaking.
"I don't want a divorce." she said again.
Hardin's brows furrowed slightly, like he hadn't expected her response.
"You don't have to force yourself to stay, Hailey, am giving you freedom, isn't that what you want?" Hardin asked and she let out a shaky breath.
"I'm not forcing myself." She swallowed hard and looked him straight in the eyes, finally voicing the truth she had been too afraid to admit even to herself.
"I love you, Hardin."
His entire body tensed.
Hailey blinked back the tears threatening to fall.
"I don't know when it happened, or how, but I love you.
And no matter how much I try to deny it, it won't change the fact that I do." she said.
Hardin stared at her, his expression unreadable, but she could see the flicker of something in his eyes, shock, disbelief… and something deeper.
He let out a slow breath and leaned forward, resting his arms on the table. "You're serious?"
"Yes," she whispered.
"And I'm not signing those papers." she said, squeezing the paper in her hand.
A long silence stretched between them. Then, to Hailey's surprise, Hardin reached out and gently took the papers from her hands, setting them aside.
"Hailey…" He exhaled and raked a hand through his hair, as if struggling with what to say. Then, finally, he spoke.
"I love you too."
Hailey's breath hitched.
Hardin's voice was rough, like he wasn't used to saying those words.
"I fought it for so long. I told myself it was impossible. But I can't lie to myself anymore." Hardin said a tear slipped down Hailey's cheek, but she didn't care.
"Then why are you trying to push me away?" she asked
"Because I want you to make a choice, Hailey." His voice was firm but gentle.
"I don't want you to stay because you feel trapped. I want you to stay because you choose to." Hardin replied
Hailey didn't even need time to think. She already knew her answer.
"I'm not leaving, Hardin. I choose you." Hailey said quickly.
"No... You need to think about it" Hardin tried to explain.
Hailey walked towards him and hugged him tightly.
"I don't need time to think, I need you, I want you" Hailey said her hands tighten against him.
Hardin hugged her back, he was happy she wanted to stay with him but he couldn't shake off that this wouldn't last.
He doesn't trust himself, she looked too much like his ex and no matter what he would always remember it.