Sunlight poked through the curtains, harsh and unforgiving. Hailey woke up with her heart pounding. The memory of the balcony—the cold glass, his heavy hands, the way he filled her up—everything hit her all at once. Guilt washed over her like ice water. He was her mother’s fiancé. He was a monster.
She tried to sit up, but her body betrayed her. A deep, throbbing ache settled between her legs, mixed with a lingering, electric tingle that made her skin prickle. It was a sweet, disgusting reminder of last night. She forced herself to stand, ignoring the way her muscles protested. She determined she would confess to her mom, and she would never let him touch her again.
As Hailey walked to the kitchen, her movements were stiff. Her mom was already there, humming a song, her face bright with
