Chapter 19

Hailey’s POV

I dragged my exhausted body out of the dingy warehouse, Miles' parting words still ringing in my ears. "Be back here at 8: 00 AM tomorrow... There won't be any applause or charity then."

The veiled threat sent a shudder down my spine, but I couldn't let him rattle me. Not when I'd already come this far.

I enter my beat-up Honda, letting out a sigh.

Feeling the day's torments weighing on me like a heavy cloak.

Yet alongside the weariness, an ember of fierce determination flickered to life. I would not be cowed by Miles' sadistic mind games.

I arrived at my cramped studio apartment nearly 9pm.

I fired off a terse text to my best friend Anna: "Sorry, crazy day at the audition. Will catch you up later, need to recharge."

Her reply was instantaneous: "Girl you better spill the Deets! Was it crazy good or crazy bad?"

I grimaced, toying with how to condense the harrowing events into a brief response. Eventu