Chapter 7 Go Get a Doctor
699 Words
Dexter remained unconscious for a long time, trapped in a series of nightmares that made him feel as if he were drowning in a vast, endless ocean.
In his dream, he seemed to return to the past, and Arianna's eyes were still bright, her smile carrying none of the calculation that would come later.
They held each other tightly, and Arianna spoke to him in a gentle voice, "Dexter, I promise I'll marry you before you turn thirty."
The memory did not last. The warmth shattered, and the affection in her eyes disappeared completely, fading into something colder and more distant, driven by ambition and self-interest.
When Dexter woke again, it was already the next morning. He looked down and saw a woman asleep beside his bed, and a complicated mix of emotions stirred within him.
The woman was beautiful, with pale skin and long, wavy hair that spread across her shoulders. Even in sleep, she carried a quiet, distant elegance that softened nothing of her presence.
Her name was Hailey Allison, and she had grown up with him.
Their families had once arranged a childhood engagement between them, but that arrangement had quietly fallen apart for reasons neither of them ever spoke about.
The past that followed was not simple. Dexter's mother died in a car accident after a violent argument with his father, and that day left a mark that never truly healed.
Dexter had been consumed by grief and had blamed his father without hesitation. He believed his father had been unfaithful, and in a moment of anger, he cut ties with him completely and even changed his name.
It took him years to learn the truth. His father had never betrayed his mother. The argument that day had only been about trivial matters at the company, but it had spiraled into something irreversible.
The memory faded as Dexter returned to the present, and Hailey opened her eyes at that exact moment.
Their gazes met, and neither spoke.
After a brief silence, Hailey was the first to break it. "Dexter, your mother's death was an accident. You shouldn't keep blaming your father. And as for Arianna, she's not someone who belongs in your life after everything she's done to you..."
Dexter interrupted her with a faint smile. "I've already figured it out."
Hailey looked surprised—she had prepared herself to say much more, but it was no longer necessary.
Dexter continued calmly. "No matter how much you love someone, you still need to keep your dignity. I no longer love Arianna, and I've already spoken to my father."
He spoke simply, and Hailey asked no further questions.
Silence settled between them again, but this time Dexter broke it. "Thank you for what you did yesterday. Why were you there?"
Hailey smiled lightly. "I was there to have dinner with an investor too."
Dexter suddenly remembered that Hailey had also entered the entertainment industry after graduation, but she had never relied on her family's influence, and she had always kept a low profile.
He found himself asking without thinking, "Why did you choose this industry?"
Hailey fell silent for a moment before answering softly, "Because there is someone I wanted to see."
Before he could process the weight of her words, she quickly changed the subject. "I'll go get a doctor."
Dexter watched her leave, and something shifted quietly inside him.
His thoughts drifted back to the past, remembering that Hailey had once liked him.
Dexter remained in the hospital for several days, and Hailey took care of him the entire time. Neither of them brought up what had happened before.
As for Arianna, who was still his girlfriend in name, she never visited him even once.
During those days, she stayed with Bruce, using his influence to raise her popularity, and endorsements came to her one after another.
Bruce seemed to enjoy humiliating another man and sent Dexter explicit photos every time he was with Arianna.
When Dexter did not respond, Bruce began sending more graphic videos and audio recordings.
Dexter remained completely indifferent to the provocation. He did not block Bruce, only muted the conversation, not expecting that Hailey would accidentally see those messages.
- Writer
