The Empty House He Created
876 Words
Chapter 14
Nathaniel Hayes finally brought Hailey home from the hospital three days later.
The moment they walked through the front door, exhaustion was written all over his face.
Meanwhile, Hailey acted like she already owned the place.
She kicked off her heels near the entryway, dropped onto the couch dramatically, and rested a hand over her stomach.
“Nate,” she whined softly, “I’m starving. The baby’s been kicking nonstop.”
Then she smiled sweetly.
“Can you make that soup again? The one you made for me last time?”
Nathaniel paused halfway through loosening his tie.
Something about her tone suddenly irritated him.
Too natural.
Too entitled.
Like she’d already decided this house belonged to her.
Still, after a few seconds, he nodded tiredly and walked toward the kitchen.
Hailey watched his back and slowly smiled.
For the past week, she’d been floating.
Claire was gone.
The divorce was finalized.
Nathaniel had publicly promised to marry her.
Everything was finally falling into place.
Soon enough, she’d officially become Mrs. Hayes.
And once the baby was born?
The Hayes family fortune would belong to her son.
Just thinking about it made excitement rush through her chest.
She casually picked up her phone and opened i********:.
Her newest post was already blowing up.
A black-and-white selfie.
One hand resting dramatically on her stomach.
Caption:
Sometimes love comes with pain… but at least I’m not alone anymore. ♡
The comments flooded with sympathy.
Stay strong, queen.
Nathaniel had etter marry you.
Claire sounds toxic as hell.
Hailey’s lips curled upward in satisfaction.
Exactly what she wanted.
Public opinion mattered.
And right now?
People were already starting to see her as the victim.
Perfect.
She was just about to reply to another comment when a voice suddenly cut through the room.
“Having fun?”
Hailey looked up instantly.
Nathaniel stood at the kitchen entrance, staring at her phone.
His face was unreadable.
For some reason, her heart skipped.
She quickly turned the screen off and forced a smile.
“I was just talking to my followers.”
Nathaniel’s eyes lingered on her for several seconds before he walked over and placed a bowl of soup in front of her.
“You should stay off social media for a while.”
His tone sounded casual.
But Hailey still caught something underneath it.
Coldness.
Distance.
Her fingers tightened slightly around the spoon.
“Nate…” She lowered her lashes carefully. “Are you mad at me?”
“No.”
Too fast.
Too flat.
He sat across from her instead of beside her this time.
That tiny detail alone made Hailey uneasy.
Because Nathaniel Hayes used to hover around her constantly.
Touching her shoulder.
Holding her hand.
Watching her as she might break.
But now?
He looked distracted.
Elsewhere.
Hailey forced herself to smile again.
“You’ve barely talked to me since we left the hospital.”
Nathaniel rubbed his forehead tiredly.
“I’ve had a lot on my mind.”
Claire’s face flashed through his head again before he could stop it.
Claire is crying in the hospital hallway.
Claire was standing there while he shoved her cancer diagnosis into a shredder without even looking at it.
Claire is bleeding on the kitchen floor.
His stomach twisted violently.
For days now, he’d barely slept.
Every time he closed his eyes, he heard her voice again.
Nate… please… the baby…
And every single time
He walked away.
Hailey noticed him zoning out again, and panic started creeping into her chest.
“Are you thinking about Claire?”
Nathaniel didn’t answer immediately.
Which was answer enough.
Something sharp flashed across Hailey’s eyes before she quickly covered it with hurt.
“She left you, Nate.”
Her voice softened deliberately.
“She chose to abandon you.”
Nathaniel finally looked at her.
And for the first time
those words didn’t comfort him.
They made him angry.
“Abandon?” He let out a bitter laugh. “You think Claire abandoned me?”
Hailey froze slightly.
Nathaniel leaned back slowly, exhaustion carved deep into his face.
“She almost died.”
The words came out rough.
“She was eight months pregnant, Hailey.”
“And I…”
His voice suddenly stopped.
Because for the first time, he couldn’t even finish the sentence out loud.
I left her.
I chose someone else.
I failed her.
Hailey’s heartbeat sped up.
This wasn’t good.
Nathaniel was slipping away from her faster than she expected.
She immediately stood up and walked around the table, wrapping her arms around him from behind.
“Nate…”
Her voice turned soft and trembling again.
“You’re just overwhelmed right now.”
“You did the best you could.”
Normally, those words would've worked perfectly.
Nathaniel always wanted reassurance.
An excuse.
A reason not to feel guilty.
But now?
Now they sounded rehearsed.
Carefully chosen.
Manipulative.
Nathaniel slowly removed her hands from his shoulders.
A tiny motion.
But it hit Hailey like ice water.
“I’m tired,” he said quietly.
Then he stood up and walked away.
Leaving her alone at the dining table.
Hailey stared after him in disbelief.
For the first time since Claire disappeared—Shee felt something she hadn’t expected.
Fear.
- Writer
