Hailey couldn't help but smile as her eyes wandered over the framed photographs hanging on the walls of Flynn's room.
Her fingers lingered on one particular frame. In it, Flynn stood beaming, surrounded by five friends. He looked genuinely happy and free, his smile brighter than she'd ever seen. The background revealed the sea, waves crashing behind them, a coastal memory captured in stillness.
She carefully set the frame back down when she heard the door open. Flynn stepped inside.
"Are Grandpa and the others asleep?" Hailey asked.
"Yes," Flynn answered with a smile, and his grin widened when he noticed her still holding the photo frame. He walked over and pointed at the faces in the picture.
"This is Amanda, then Bea, Delvin, Evadne, and Casadin," he said, naming each one.
"Casadin?" Hailey's voice softened with recognition. "That no-filter, charming friend of yours who bailed you out when your father tried to have you jailed?"
"Yup. That's him," Flynn replied with a half-smile.
The memory was still sharp.
A year ago, Flynn had been accused of sexual harassment by an intern at the Drilon hotel. The girl and her family demanded that he marry her, but Flynn refused. He hadn't done what she claimed, and he told her plainly he was gay, making her accusation impossible. But instead of standing by his eldest son, Finnegan Drilon believed the girl. He threatened to send Flynn to jail if he did not comply and marry her.
That was when Flynn realized his father's scheme. Finnegan had orchestrated the accusation to force him into marriage, desperate to silence the whispers circulating in California high society that the Drilon heir was homosexual, something Finnegan could not accept.
But Flynn would rather rot in prison than marry a woman, especially one who had taken his father's money to play along.
Hailey had been vacationing in Spain when she heard the news. Panicked, she begged the Heavensblade butler to intervene on Flynn's behalf. There were times Michael allowed her to use Heavensblade resources, saying it was practice for when she officially became Mrs. Heavensblade. She thought this would be one of those times.
But Michael had refused. He said it was an internal matter of the Drilon household. The Drilons served under the Heavensblade banner, and Finnegan had every right to "discipline" his child however he saw fit, especially one who had strayed from the path he wanted.
It took Hailey a full week before she could return to California, ready to post bail herself. But when she arrived, she was told Flynn had already been released. His friend had taken care of it, and flown him straight back to New York.
That friend was Casadin Sinclair.
"New York has always been kinder to you than California is," Hailey murmured.
Flynn nodded slowly. "If it weren't for Grandpa, I'd never come back here at all."
Flynn's childhood had been fractured. His parents divorced when he was only six, after Finnegan cheated on his wife. His mother, Ylyana, left California soon after and moved to New York, where she eventually remarried. But Flynn, as the eldest and heir, remained in Finnegan's custody.
Because their families served under the same house, Flynn and Hailey grew up together, becoming inseparable friends. It was Hailey who Flynn confided in first when he realized he liked boys.
At the time, Hailey had already been in love with Michael, and Michael had already promised her she would be his fiancée in the future. Believing she should have no secrets from him, she told Michael about Flynn.
It was a decision she regretted ever since.
It didn't take long for Finnegan to learn the truth about Flynn's sexuality. From then on, Flynn was "disciplined" relentlessly, forced to become the perfect Drilon heir.
But word spread among the children their age, those from other families serving the Heavensblade, and soon Flynn became the target of ridicule. They mocked him, bullied him, hurled cruel words until the weight was too much. One night, Flynn tried to end his own life.
Hailey still remembered the sterile smell of the hospital, the sight of Flynn lying unconscious. Overcome with guilt, she had knelt before Michael, begging him to intervene. That was the moment Michael ordered the Drilons to send Flynn to his mother in New York and train his second son, born of a mistress, to be the next heir instead.
"Hey, why are you crying again?" Flynn's voice pulled her back. He wrapped his arms around her, warm and grounding.
"I just remembered… I never apologized to you for what happened back then. If I hadn't told Michael…" Her voice broke, the words choking in her throat.
"Didn't I tell you already? You have nothing to apologize for," Flynn said gently, brushing her tears away with his thumb. "In fact, I should thank you. Because of what you did, I'm where I am today. It wasn't easy, yes, but it was worth it. It would've been perfect, too, if only Froylan wasn't so stupid. If he'd just step up and let Dad declare him the heir, my father wouldn't be bothering me about the business anymore."
He led Hailey to his bed and nudged her to sit.
"I never blamed you, Hail. Not once. Not when Dad was 'disciplining' me. Not when the other children mocked me. And not even when your beloved Michael looked at me like I was lower than dirt. I never blamed you," Flynn said softly.
Hailey bit her lip hard. "If I had only known Michael was a homophobe…"
Flynn frowned. "Your fiancé isn't a homophobe, Hail."
She blinked at him in confusion.
"He's a humanphobe," Flynn clarified. "He hates all humans. Maybe there are a few exceptions… but I doubt it. I honestly believe he thinks everyone is beneath him." He ruffled Hailey's hair playfully, trying to lighten her mood. "If I were you, I'd think hard about this. I really don't think he's worth it. I'm sure the right person for you is just around the corner, you just can't see him yet, because you're too focused on that douchebag. And sorry for calling him a douchebag in front of you."
Hailey burst out laughing through her tears.
"It's fine. I called him a douchebag earlier too. He just didn't hear me," she admitted.
"Well, I don't think there's anyone brave enough to call him that to his face," Flynn said, handing her a soda can.
"Actually… there is," Hailey said, her tone shifting as though they were sharing juicy gossip.
"Seriously? To his face? In front of him?" Flynn asked in disbelief.
Hailey nodded, sipping her drink. "Just tonight. While we were having dinner. This drop-dead gorgeous woman, like a model, walked right up to our table. Her name is Calyn. She said she and Michael were considered 'family.' And she called him, Your Royal Douchebag."
Hailey chuckled at the memory, which made Flynn laugh with her. But just as quickly, her smile faded. A sudden thought pulled her expression into sadness once more.
"Is this Calyn the reason you 'threw' a tantrum? Did you argue because of her?" Flynn asked, his voice tinged with concern.
Hailey shook her head. "No… Seeing them earlier, the way they spoke to each other, I could tell they weren't on good terms. Michael even said he didn't want to be associated with her. But…" her throat tightened, "he was looking for information about another girl. Someone named Seraphadneel. He told me not to ask questions because it was none of my business, that it wasn't my concern. He said whoever this Seraphadneel is, she won't threaten my position. But…"
Her tears spilled again. "When he mentioned her name, I saw it… warmth in his eyes. Just for a moment. But it was there, Flynn. And I don't think he even realized it himself."
Her voice broke as she confessed, "Do you know what my birthday wish has been, year after year? That Michael would look at me with warmth in his eyes. That when he smiles at me, it would reach his eyes. That's all I've ever wanted. And still, until now, it's the same wish every year."
Hailey's shoulders trembled as she clutched her chest. "I've tried everything… I've done everything to be the perfect fiancée, but still, nothing changes. And yet, the warmth I've dreamed of with all my heart, year after year after year, I saw it tonight… just at the mention of another girl's name." Her sobs grew heavier. "Am I really that hard to love? What's wrong with me? What am I lacking? What's my flaw?" She pounded her fists against her chest, her sobs tearing out of her.
"Hey, stop." Flynn immediately caught her wrists, pulling her into his arms and holding her tight. "There's nothing wrong with you, Hail. You're more than enough. You're not hard to love at all." He pulled back slightly, wiping her tears with his thumbs. "If I liked women, you'd be the one. I'm sure of it. Too bad I just don't get turned on by you," he added with a crooked grin, trying to lighten the heaviness.
Hailey let out a shaky laugh through her tears.
Flynn's smile softened. "It's not your fault Michael's heart is made of stone. Don't ever doubt your worth because of him. It's not that you're unlovable, it's that he's not capable of love. He doesn't even love his own parents, Hail. Do you think he'll love anyone else? But…" Flynn tilted her chin so she'd meet his eyes. "I have an idea."
Hailey blinked, listening.
"They say you never truly appreciate someone's value when you know they'll always be there for you. Maybe that's why Michael doesn't care how he treats you, because he knows you'll always stay. So what if… you put some distance between you two? I'm going back to New York next week. My place isn't big, it's just a one-bedroom apartment, but you can have my bed, I'll take the couch. Come stay there for a while. Maybe you'll meet someone who'll treat you the way you deserve. And if not… maybe the distance will make him realize your worth, make him face his true feelings for you."
Hailey went quiet, thinking deeply.
It wouldn't be easy to get her parents' approval. But if Michael allowed it, they wouldn't be able to say no.
Maybe Flynn was right.
She wasn't searching for a new love, she only loved Michael.
But maybe… just maybe, if she left, the distance would finally make him see her value.
Maybe then… he'd realize his feelings for her.