"Smashing his head wasn't enough! You should've just killed that son of a bitch! He didn't want you when you were right there in his bed, but now he tries to force himself on you? You did the right thing cracking his skull!" Lena raged, ditching every bit of that cool, composed elegance you'd expect from a top-tier OB-GYN."He's just bitter. He always thought I'd never leave him, and now that I'm really done, he's losing it," I said.Lena agreed with me and added, "Yeah, now he's probably realizing he's madly in love with you and can't stand the thought of you with someone else."Wasn't that the truth?First Wayne, then Tanya—both sent over to keep me from working with Hayden, making it impossible to finish the last few tasks at the amusement park.But Hayden promised he'd handle it, so I knew he would."Rea, listen to me: if Jace even thinks about messing with you again, you hit him back. Every. Single. Time. Once he's scared of you, he won't dare try anything again," Lena advis
"Your resignation is invalid," Wayne's words were commanding.I knew he could make that happen if he wanted. Even if he couldn't, he could just get Matthew to overrule Jace. But that wasn't what I wanted.So, I decided to shut that down. "Jace already signed off on it."Jace was the one running RiverwaveCorp now, not Wayne.There was silence on the other end. After a few seconds, Wayne asked, "Where are you?"Only Lena and Hayden knew where I'd moved, but Wayne had a way of figuring things out. He was the kind of guy who remembered every detail, so he might even guess where I was.But I wasn't about to tell him. "I've been all about the amusement park for the last two years. Please help wrap up the last bits.""Rea...""Wayne, don't. Just don't."I hung up and turned back to the oat porridge bubbling away in the pot. It smelled pretty good.No fancy dinner tonight, though—I hadn't bought groceries, so oat porridge was all I had.I sat down with my laptop, spooning oat porrid
In the end, I couldn't stand the idea of the amusement park being anything less than perfect. This place was my dad's dream—a promise he made before he died in that car accident. I needed it to be flawless, so I agreed to help.But now, instead of being an official part of the team, I was just some unpaid consultant, working behind the scenes.Whatever, as long as the amusement park turned out amazing in the end.Besides, I had nothing better to do. Staying busy was way better than just sitting around.That evening, I headed to the Holiday Inn to meet Hayden about the amusement park project. As I was leaving, I noticed the door across the hall was locked up tight. The idea of some random guy moving in there soon gave me the creeps.Then it hit me: why not rent that apartment?Luckily, the landlord's name and number were right on the door. I called her up right away, but when I pitched my idea, she hesitated. "Well... I already took a deposit from someone else. I can't just back o
This really happened, but the guy who called him a "dumb husky" got kicked out of the circle by Jace ages ago. Jace didn't stop there, either—he made sure that guy couldn't even stay in Seavora.Jace was petty like that. Lucky for everyone, he didn't have much real power or influence; otherwise, anyone who crossed him would be totally screwed.A guy like him would've been a sneaky, backstabbing minister in ancient times, whispering in a king's ear.Tanya's face got even more grim. She knew that by trash-talking Jace like this, I was indirectly insulting her too.Her face flushed with anger. "How can you talk about him like that? After all, he was a man you once loved. The least you could do after breaking up is not to slander him. I can't believe you're like this."Defending Jace right now, huh?"Decency?" I gave her a faint smile. "That should be reserved for people who deserve it. You were making out with your husband's close friend while you were still married, and then while
Tanya stood there, completely speechless, her humiliation written all over her face.But honestly, she kind of deserved it."Ms. Twain, if there's nothing else, you should head back early. You're carrying a 'one-of-a-kind' after all. If something happened, that wouldn't be good," I added, not to mock her but as an actual heads-up.'She decided to keep this baby, so she must have her reasons. But she should be more careful, not hanging around places like the amusement park. Unless, deep down, she doesn't actually want this baby.' That thought hit me like a punch to the gut as I looked at Tanya's face.But she was too lost in her shame to show any emotion.I'd said what I needed to say and got my anger out, so I turned to leave."Do you really not love Jace anymore? Do you really not want to be with him?" Tanya's voice called out behind me.I smirked, not bothering to turn around. "Yeah, I'm giving him to you."I was giving him to her, but I seriously doubted she could keep him.
Usually, Hayden treats me pretty well, so I figured he wouldn't act any different with Demi, right?I mulled it over for a bit before deciding to head to Hayden's room, waiting a good twenty minutes just to be safe. He'd told me to wait ten, probably because he needed to shower and change.When he opened the door, I wasn't surprised to see his hair still damp and him dressed in loose clothes, hotel slippers on his feet."Come in," he said, as brief as ever.I immediately noticed his laptop open on the desk. Skipping the small talk, I went straight for it. "What's the new issue?""It's in a document on the desktop. Open it and take a look," Hayden replied, just as the kettle clicked off.I sat down and logged onto the desktop, expecting it to be all neat and organized, given his personality. But nope—it was a chaotic mess of documents and files.Good thing I'm not squeamish about clutter, or I might've passed out right then.Staring at the overwhelming sea of icons, I had no cho
As soon as those words left my mouth, a wave of embarrassment crashed over me.I cringed inwardly, thinking I'd been way too blunt. I bet Hayden felt super awkward, too.But instead of backing off, he just stared at me for what felt like forever before saying, "Oh."Just Oh?!Seriously, how was he so chill?I glanced up at him, watching as he slowly straightened up. Then he added, "Your eyesight sucks, and even after I showed you exactly where it was, you still missed it. How else was I supposed to help you without getting closer?"His logic was so on point that it made me feel like I was the one with the dirty mind.Hayden then casually walked over to the side, sat down, and picked up his tablet to work on something. I stole a few glances at him before taking a couple of sips of water, trying to get my brain back on track.Sure, there were a few minor issues in the document that Hayden had flagged, but nothing major.He could've easily handled them on his own. Even if he need
As soon as the word left my mouth, Hayden's grip tightened. His eyes narrowed, and for a split second, I saw something flicker in them before it disappeared.Then, just like that, he let go, and the pressure on my hand vanished.I quickly stepped aside, rubbing the spot where his grip had stung. "I made all the changes you asked for. Do you want to check them now?"Hayden didn't budge, still lounging in the chair with his eyes shut. "No need. You should get some rest.""Oh... Goodnight," I mumbled, turning to go."Kiki," Hayden suddenly called out.I froze mid-step. Did he just call me...?Kiki...That was my childhood nickname. The only people who ever called me that were my parents when they were alive, and Lena sometimes—but even she usually calls me Rea.But I heard him clearly—he just called me Kiki.I spun around, staring at him in shock. "What did you just say?""Nothing," he replied, still with his eyes closed. "Just... make sure you close the door properly."I star
"I'm just trying to figure out what kind of divine blessing you’ve got going on," Lena teased, her eyes twinkling. "You’re like some reincarnated Goddess of Wealth—everything you touch turns to gold." Her words made Keira laugh, and she didn’t bother with modesty. "It’s true, I’m under divine favor. Blessed by the Bodhisattva! Not only do things go my way, but anyone who sticks around me prospers too." “Really? Then I’m clinging to your golden coattails. By the way, when’s your grand opening? I need to show up and soak in the good luck vibes.” “I didn’t even want an opening ceremony; it’s Hayden who insists,” Keira replied, leaning closer to her with a conspiratorial whisper. “Honestly, he’s becoming more and more conventional these days.” “That’s not conventional; that’s called a sense of occasion. I’m siding with Hayden on this,” Lena declared confidently. Keira shrugged. “Fine, we’ll do it if it makes you guys happy.” “Look at you, acting all reluctant. You’ve clearly be
Because it’s impossible to open a business without a ceremony—at least, that was the answer he gave Kiera. Aside from that, he went on and on about how setting off fireworks during an opening was auspicious. He even claimed that since Keira believed in Buddhism, she should understand that there was a certain mysticism in the world. It was the first time Keira realized how persuasive he could be. He was insistent, and she couldn’t keep arguing against it. However, she made it clear that it wouldn’t be a grand affair—just a few close friends. Thanks to a blogger's promotion, her little courtyard became popular before it even officially opened. Visitors came in an endless stream every day, and weekends were especially crowded. With all this activity, Keira hadn’t had time to visit Lena. Lena came to see her instead, but it was obvious she had something on her mind. Keira made her a cup of coffee and carefully crafted a pretty cloud-shaped latte art."Here, your exclusive specia
No girl could resist a gesture of kindness, especially when it came with a dessert. "Can I sit for a moment?" Keira asked the girl, seeking her permission even though this was her place. "Of course. You’re the owner here, right?" she replied, recognizing Keira immediately. Keira glanced down at her work apron, smiling lightly. "How did you guess? Is it written on my face?" "You look even better in person than in the photos," the girl said candidly, studying her with an open gaze. Keira gave her a puzzled look. "Hmm?" She pulled out her phone and opened a video. "This is how I found this place. It’s amazing." It turned out that a blogger had visited the café and shared a video and photos online. In his post, he wrote: The air here is soft; it calms your weary heart as you breathe it in. The leaves on the trees are alive, reminding you that every day has its colors. The coffee is bittersweet, much like life, and the owner is a stranger who genuinely cares. When she greets
The message Keira had asked Hayden to pass on was simple: "My father is no longer here. I will speak of his origins at his gravesite, and nothing more is needed." Over the years, only the Johnston family had given her warmth and familial love. She didn’t feel any attachment to the other so-called relatives, nor did she see a need to force a connection. Having gone through so much, Keira had come to understand that no matter how strong blood ties might be, they require companionship and nurturing to truly matter. - When Hayden returned, Keira was busy at the café. For some reason, business was particularly good today, with an unusually large crowd. Even the staff were struggling to keep up. "Quite a crowd today," Hayden remarked, sounding as puzzled as Keira felt. "Right? Look at this," she said, glancing at the full tables inside and outside the café. Her heart brimmed with satisfaction. Over the years, Keira had held high-ranking, well-paying positions, whether working f
Peter's expression darkened at Hayden's playful jab, but Hayden merely smiled lightly, as if relishing the discomfort. "From what you’ve said, Mr. Mitchell, you must be quite the romantic," he teased. The tea began to boil, releasing a rich fragrance into the air. Hayden had done his homework on Peter. Despite his dignified reputation, Mr. Mitchell had married three times, fathered no children with his wives, and even had an illegitimate child with a mistress. This mistress had borne him a son and then tried to leverage the child to gain the title of "Madam Mitchell." Peter, stubborn and prideful, refused her demands and even sent people to take the child by force. But the mistress, knowing Peter’s methods, preemptively entrusted the child to someone else. When Mitchell’s men came to seize the boy, an explosive argument broke out. In a fit of rage, Mitchell struck her, and in defiance, the mistress stabbed herself in the chest, intending only to scare him. Unfortunately, the blad
When Hayden arrived at the teahouse, Ron glanced at his watch and tapped it meaningfully before saying in a low voice, "The man’s been waiting for half an hour." "Getting impatient?" Hayden asked casually, his tone devoid of concern. His attire was simple and understated, nothing to draw attention. If not for his sharply defined features and the naturally aloof aura he carried, his outfit would have rendered him almost invisible in a crowd. "No, not at all. I’m quite patient," Ron replied with an exaggerated expression of innocence, as though pleading not to be falsely accused. Hayden gave him a glance that seemed to say, Then why bother pointing it out? "But arriving this late does come across as impolite, doesn’t it?" Ron added, his tone that of a model citizen, someone who might have been a class leader or an exemplary student back in the day. "I did it on purpose," Hayden replied, cutting him off with five simple words that silenced Ron. Hayden pushed open the door an
"Because this love didn’t give me the happiness I imagined," Lena explained with a faint smile. "It’s like going to the supermarket, picking out a snack you’re excited about, and then finding out it doesn’t suit your taste. After that, you just don’t like it anymore and won’t bother with it again." Her metaphor was strikingly apt. "And what does the happiness you imagine look like?" Aaron asked, as though playing the role of a persistent interviewer. Lena, softened by the alcohol, answered obediently, "I don’t know. But whatever it is, Nate didn’t give it to me." Aaron observed the peaceful resignation in her expression and pressed further. "Do you still believe in love? Do you still want to start a new relationship?" "Of course," Lena said, finally lifting her gaze to meet his. Her eyebrows arched into a cheerful expression. "I’m not the kind of person who gets scared off by a bad experience. If I meet someone who makes my heart race again, I’ll love them boldly and passiona
He was waiting for her? What for? "Uncle, you didn’t skip dinner, did you?" Lena’s first thought was his meal. In truth, he hadn’t eaten. After receiving her message, he had been uneasy all evening, unable to focus on food. "You didn’t eat? I’ll make something for you," Lena assumed his silence was confirmation. "There’s no need," Aaron refused. "Then why were you waiting for me? Is something wrong?" In Lena’s view, Aaron would never wait for her without a reason. He gazed at her, his sharp eyes narrowing slightly. "You’ve been drinking?" She nodded, flashing him a sweet, soft smile. She even gestured with her hand, "Just a little." Aaron stepped closer, his tall frame looming over her with an intensity that made her feel small. Though the light above bathed his eyes, they remained dark and inscrutable, filled with a depth that was hard to read. Lena sensed something was off. "Uncle, what’s wrong?" She looked into his deep, clear eyes, untouched by any impurity.
"Should we drink a little today?" Lena asked. Nate nodded. "Let’s have a drink." They warmed a bottle of wine and ordered a few small dishes. Neither of them spoke, simply sitting quietly, gazing out at the river and the occasional boats passing by. "Lena," Nate called her softly. Lena turned to look at him. The warm yellow light above cast a gentle glow on his nose, brows, and lips. His gold-rimmed glasses exuded elegance, and the texture of his shirt spoke of refined taste. Even after their breakup, Lena had to admit that Nate was precisely her type. In all her life, among all the men she had met, only Aaron and Nate could truly be called attractive in her eyes. Even Hayden and Jace were merely "not bad." It wasn’t that her standards were excessively high—it was simply that if someone didn’t resonate with her, no matter how perfect they were, she wouldn’t care for them. "Thank you," Nate said softly. Lena was momentarily stunned, assuming he was referring to their wor