Collide Into Ruin

Hallie slammed her phone down onto the couch, her frustration boiling over as she let out a huff. She had been trying to get a hold of Sabrina all morning, but her best friend was MIA. No replies. No updates. Nothing. And Ryder? Even worse. She had sent him at least ten texts in the past hour, and he hadn't acknowledged a single one.

Hallie: Ryder? 

Hallie: Are you alive? 

Hallie: You better not be ignoring me. 

Hallie: Seriously? 

Hallie: This is getting ridiculous. 

Hallie: Ryder, answer me!

Still nothing.

She felt a sharp kick in her belly, her annoyance deepening as she shifted uncomfortably on the couch. Pregnancy was supposed to be this magical experience, or at least that's what people claimed. But right now, all it meant for Hallie was that she was exhausted, stuck in her hotel room, and entirely at the mercy of the tiny human currently waging war on her insides.

She had spent the morning pacing, hoping to distract herself, but there was only so much walking she could do before her feet ached and her back screamed in protest. Now, she was restless, frustrated, and just about ready to throw a full-blown tantrum.

And honestly? Why shouldn't she?

"Ugh!" Hallie groaned, shoving the throw pillows off the couch in an immature but satisfying act of defiance. "I swear, everyone is useless!"

She grabbed her phone again, thumbs flying over the screen as she sent Ryder yet another barrage of texts.

Hallie: You know what? Fine. Ignore me. See what happens. 

Hallie: Oh wait, I forgot. You're already an expert at that. 

Hallie: Not that I need you or anything. But it'd be nice if you acted like a halfway decent boyfriend for once. 

Hallie: Or are you too busy doing absolutely nothing to respond?

She let out a sharp breath, glaring at the screen as if sheer force of will, could make him respond. But, of course, there was nothing. Just the same stupid message thread, filled with her increasingly desperate and irritated texts and Ryder's complete and utter silence.

Hallie threw the phone onto the couch, crossing her arms tightly over her chest. She could feel the resentment creeping in, the tiny voice in the back of her head whispering things she didn't want to admit out loud.

Ryder was useless.

Sure, he was around. Technically. But what good was he if he couldn't even be bothered to answer her texts? To check in? To care?

Hallie scowled at the ceiling, blinking back frustrated tears. She hated feeling this way—needy, demanding, entitled, even—but was it really so much to ask for some attention? Some reassurance that she wasn't in this alone?

The baby kicked again, harder this time, as if agreeing with her.

"At least you acknowledge me," Hallie muttered, running a hand over her stomach. "Unlike your father."

She exhaled sharply, then sat up, determination flashing in her eyes. Fine. If Ryder wasn't going to be there, she'd find something else to do—something that didn't involve waiting around for him like some pathetic, lovesick fool.

But first, she was going to send one last text.

Hallie: You know what? Don't bother replying. I get it now.

Satisfied, she tossed her phone aside and stood up. It was time to take control of her day—because clearly, no one else was going to step up.

_________________________________________________________

Ryder sat on a weathered wooden bench by the docks, his gaze flicking toward the horizon where the ocean stretched endlessly. His phone vibrated in his hand—again. Another text from Hallie. He barely glanced at it before rolling his eyes and locking the screen.

Jesus, she was relentless.

For the past hour, she had bombarded him with messages, each more irritating than the last. He couldn't believe this woman caused him so much damn grief. If someone had told him years ago that one fleeting decision at an Oscar party would lead to this mess, he never would've believed them. And yet, here he was, suffocating.

He thought back to that night. Hallie had been electric—bold, confident, and fun in a way that made him feel weightless. Fresh off his move from Boston, he had been chasing a modeling career, caught up in the glamour of Hollywood, and Hallie fit right into that world. For a while, things had been exhilarating. [This story is exclusively available for free on 抖阴社区. If you see it anywhere else, it has been stolen.] They partied, they laughed, and for a moment, he let himself believe it was something real.

But then Scarlett happened.

Scarlett, with her easy grace, her quiet strength—everything Hallie wasn't. When he met her, he knew he wanted something different, something deeper. He had tried to break it off with Hallie, but she always found a way back in, weaving herself into his life, refusing to let go. And like an idiot, he let her.

The truth was, Hallie wasn't just some girl he met at a party. She was his first serious relationship in this city. She had been there when he was struggling to figure out who he was, when he realized he liked acting more than modeling, when he first started landing real roles. Hallie had been part of his story from the beginning—and that was the problem. He was sick of living in a past he no longer wanted.

The hum of an approaching boat pulled him from his thoughts. He stood as a sleek black vessel pulled into the dock, the engine humming before cutting out completely. A tall, broad-shouldered figure stepped off; his face shadowed beneath the brim of a baseball cap.

Ryder crossed his arms and raised a brow. "You got the stuff?"

The man smirked, nodding once. "Time to take back what's mine."

___________________________________________________

Hallie had just settled back down when a sharp knock at the door startled her. She groaned, dragging herself off the couch, her irritation still simmering beneath the surface. Who the hell was showing up unannounced?

She swung the door open and froze.

A sleek black box sat at her doorstep, wrapped in an elegant crimson ribbon. A cold shiver ran down her spine as she hesitated, staring at it. There was no return address, no sign of who had sent it. Just the ominous presence of the gift itself.

Cautiously, she picked it up and brought it inside. Her fingers trembled slightly as she unwrapped the ribbon and lifted the lid.

Inside, nestled in black tissue paper, was a breathtaking red dress. Silk. Expensive. Designed to hug curves in all the right places.

And beneath it, a small white card with a message scrawled in dark ink:

"Wear this tonight. It's time to settle unfinished business."

Hallie's breath caught in her throat. Her grip tightened around the note.

What the hell was going on?