A Second Chance at Forever (Eleanor and Bernard) novel Chapter 1215

Hailey stepped out of the elevator and just as she rounded the corner through the lobby, she saw Hertha, slowing her stride.

Upon seeing her, Hertha removed her sunglasses and approached Hailey again.

"Ms. Vulpe, there are some truths you should know about. Let's find a place where I can fill you in," she said.

Faced with Hertha's round two of truth-telling, Hailey found her untrustworthy.

"I don't have the time, and I'm not interested in your so-called truth."

Attempting to sidestep Hertha, she made to leave, but Hertha stopped her in her tracks.

"Hailey, if you're hell-bent on marrying Cedric without a second thought, then be my guest," she said, pulling out a voice recorder. "But you should know the truth."

She thrust the recorder into Hailey's hand.

"This is proof of what I was forced to explain after Latonia threatened me."

The cold recorder in her hand sent a chill up her spine.

"So you're saying your previous explanation was coerced by his mother?"

"Yes," Hertha answered, expressionless, nodding her head. "If I hadn't complied, I would have been attacked and my parents would have been hurt."

To prove her point, Hertha lifted her shirt, grabbed Hailey's hand, and placed it on her own ribs.

"Feel for yourself, several of my ribs are broken, and..."

Hertha extended her limp ring finger in front of Hailey's eyes.

"My finger was permanently fractured."

Then, she pulled back her high-collared shirt to reveal a patch of bruised skin on her neck for Hailey to see.

“All these marks, they were made by Latonia's bodyguards."

When Hertha said this, her eyes flash with defiance, her lips curled in a mocking smile.

“I was just involved with her son, and she went all out against me. She did all this to help her son win you back... Hailey, in this competition, you won, I lost…”

Hailey suddenly pulled her hand back from Hertha's ribs after hearing these shocking words.

"I don't believe you."

She said she didn’t believe it, but her hand gripping the voice recorder tightened unconsciously.

"Just give it a listen," Hertha said, her eyes full of sympathy for Hailey.

Hailey stared into her eyes for a few seconds, then returned the recorder.

"The recording can be faked. How do I know you're not just trying to scam me?"