Chapter 2 Kieran's Influence

Kieran kept talking into the phone, but his gaze stayed fixed on Hailey, cold and unrelenting.

Hailey's pupils tightened in dread-ending her mother's treatment was his punishment for her, and she knew it.

In front of him, she was stripped of all power, trapped beneath his quiet cruelty.

The weight of humiliation pressed down on her, each breath catching like a vice around her ribs.

Kieran ended the call with casual precision, sneering, "Once you admit your mistake, I'll order your mother's treatment to continue."

Pain tore through Hailey's chest, yet she forced her chin up. "I did nothing wrong," she said through clenched teeth. "And I won't confess to something I never did. Kieran, now I finally see you for what you are-a cold, heartless bastard!"

His icy eyes held no trace of emotion. "I'll wait for you to come begging," he replied smoothly.

Then he turned away, leaving her in the silence he'd carved around her.

A single phone call-that was all it took for him to wreck her world.

Hailey sank into the sofa, her body trembling with exhaustion and despair.

But she couldn't afford to crumble. Her mother's treatment had just been cut off; she needed to get to the hospital immediately.

After her family business's collapse and her father's death, her mother had tried to take her own life.

The rescue had come in time, but her mother never woke again. Now, her mother's fragile body survived only through expensive machines, their rhythmic hums the thin line between life and death.

Hailey rushed to the hospital, withdrawing every cent she had to cover the medical bills.

Three years of relentless work had barely built her any savings. What little she possessed could only sustain her mother's care for three more months.

If she truly wanted freedom, she needed to cut every financial tie to Kieran.

She pulled out her phone and made a call. "Ruby, I really need your help."

Ruby Burton, half friend and half manager, had been working with her since her first magazine feature.

As Hailey's name rose in the wildlife photography world, Ruby had handled everything from sponsorships to exhibition deals.

With her wide network and sharp instincts, Ruby was one of the few people Hailey could still rely on. During the phone call, Ruby promised to back her all the way.

By seven that evening, Hailey's car pulled up outside Genius Tower.

Ruby had set up a meeting with the contest organizers-an opportunity for Hailey to reclaim what was hers.

Inside Hailey's bag lay the evidence of Malinda's theft, every photograph, ticket stub, and negative ready to expose the truth.

Hailey headed straight for Room 2203.

Moments later, the door creaked open, revealing a portly man with slicked-back hair and a face that gleamed with oil.

Hailey offered a polite nod. "Good evening, Mr. Stevens. I'm Hailey Bennett, one of the contestants. My work was plagiarized, and I need your help. Ruby should've filled you in."

Simon Stevens' eyes raked over her, his mouth curling into something between a grin and a leer. "So you're the famous Hailey Bennett? Quite the beauty for someone who risks her life in the wild. Such a pity, really. You've got the kind of face that belongs on magazine covers, not buried behind a lens in the dirt."

His fingers started reaching toward her.

The faint curve of Hailey's lips faltered, her smile turning brittle. She sidestepped just enough to avoid contact, holding out a neatly organized folder instead.

"Please take a look, Mr. Stevens," she said, her tone cool but steady. "As the competition's organizer, you must understand how much we risk to capture these shots. I'm only asking for what's fair."

With a careless flick, Simon sent the file skidding across the table, a smug grin on his face. "Hailey, you can't possibly be naive enough to think I'd go against Mr. Riley for the sake of justice-unless there's something in it for me."

Hailey's hands tightened until her nails dug crescent marks into her palms. "Money isn't the issue..."

Her words were cut off by his mocking laugh.

"You really don't understand Kieran's standing in this industry, do you?" asked him.

In that instant, the last flicker of hope in her chest went out. Of course she knew his influence-five short years had taken Riley Group from obscurity to a powerhouse just beneath Fuller Group, dominating nearly every corner of Grosford's business world.

Simon's lips twisted into a wicked grin. "Still, with a face like yours, one night with me might just change your luck."

Before Hailey could react, his bloated body lurched forward.

But the moment his hand reached out, the door burst open. A sharp, forceful kick sent Simon crashing hard against the wall.

Her gaze darted to the doorway, and the moment she recognized the figure, Hailey went still in disbelief.

Standing there, framed by the light, was Chris Fuller-Kieran's ruthless nemesis.

What in the world was he doing here?