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Chapter 131
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Love's Redemption Chapter 132
Was Hayden actually stunned by how I looked?I'd always seen him as this guy with an unshakable inner strength, like nothing superficial could get to him. But I guess even the toughest guys have a weak spot when it comes to beauty.Maybe there was some truth to that saying, "Men are creatures of sight."Seeing that I had Hayden's full attention, I decided to push it a little further. I tossed my wavy hair back, all flirty-like, and noticed his gaze deepening. His face even seemed to grow colder.The sudden shift in his expression was hard to read, and I wasn't about to waste time trying to figure it out. I got straight to the point. "Are you going to agree to it or not?""Agree to what?" he asked, his eyes already shifting away from me.I smiled.Wasn't he the one who hung up on me last night, saying we'd talk when I sobered up? And now he's acting like he didn't know what I meant?I could tell he wasn't being serious—just teasing me."To be my boyfriend, temporarily," I repea
Love's Redemption Chapter 133
I smiled. "I've made myself clear. We're not on the same page, so let's just drop it.""But you need a boyfriend, right?" Hayden shot back."Yeah, I do. But I'm not about to mess around with someone like you. I'll figure something else out," I said, noticing the way his expression darkened.I expected him to stop me or at least try to meet me halfway, but I totally misjudged the situation. He didn't say a thing."Goodbye. That was out of line," I mumbled before spinning around and getting into my car. As I drove off, it felt like I was fleeing the scene.I didn't pull over until I was sure he couldn't see me anymore. My heart was racing, and I had to take a few deep breaths to calm down. Regret hit me hard—I'd been so impulsive after drinking last night.I could've asked Steve to pretend to be my boyfriend. Involving Hayden was a huge mistake.But what's done is done. No point in dwelling on it now.After pulling myself together, I drove to a flower shop, picked out a bouquet,
Love's Redemption Chapter 134
"In a few days, it'll be Matthew's birthday. You're coming, right?"Lindey's words caught me off guard, reminding me that Matthew's birthday was indeed coming up.Even if she hadn't brought it up, I wouldn't have forgotten. I had reminders set for everyone's birthdays in the Johnston family. Living with them, I always tried to make sure everything was perfect, just to keep everyone happy.I wasn't exactly treated like an outsider, but I still walked on eggshells, always worried that one wrong move might make them think less of me or, worse, dislike me.Lost in thought, I didn't answer right away, so Lindey added, "Rea, you know we've always thought of you as our daughter. Every year, we've appreciated your gifts and well wishes on our birthdays. If you don't come this year, Matthew will be really disappointed."I hadn't planned on going, but I'd already arranged for a gift to be delivered.Now that she was asking directly, it was hard to say no, especially with Jace acting like a
Love's Redemption Chapter 135
"Really? But who could it be? Your parents have been gone for so long, and their old friends have probably forgotten all about them. They haven't even mentioned your parents in forever, let alone visited their graves." Lindey's words hit harder than I expected.The whole "out of sight, out of mind" thing? Yeah, it's pretty real.Before, it didn't really get to me, but hearing Lindey put it so bluntly? That stung."Maybe it was just a mistake," Lindey suggested, trying to make me feel better.I glanced at the tombstone, where my parents' names and photos were etched so clearly. How could anyone possibly make a mistake like that?It was the kind of thing you'd say to a kid to stop them from freaking out."Maybe," I echoed, just going along with Lindey's words to avoid dragging the convo out any longer.I'd already confirmed the flowers weren't from Lindey or Matthew, and it didn't seem likely they were from any of my parents' old friends. That left one option: this bouquet was def
Love's Redemption Chapter 136
Later that evening, I was halfway through my second cup of coffee at a café when my blind date, Pete Bundy, finally showed up.Pete wasn't overweight or balding. His light blue shirt was clean, and he looked pretty much like his profile had described.I wasn't catfished, but Pete's tardiness definitely knocked down my first impression of him. Luckily, I wasn't actually interested in dating him. I'd only hired him to deal with Jace."Sorry I'm late," Pete apologized."No problem. I'm not really here for a date anyway. I'm looking to hire a guy to pretend to be my boyfriend," I said bluntly.Pete froze. "Hire a boyfriend?""Yes. I'm not interested in a real relationship, but I urgently need a boyfriend for my current situation," I explained, laying it all out for him.Pete remained silent, and I thought he might be upset. So I added, "I'll pay you.""Seems like you have money," Pete said, squinting slightly as he looked into my eyes.That reaction, the kind that showed excitemen
Love's Redemption Chapter 137
"Not many times. My main goal with these dates is to find a like-minded partner," Pete said, and I almost rolled my eyes.Like-minded?Pete's idea of a "like-minded partner" probably meant someone who was also into making money off this, so they could hustle together.People said it was tough to find a job these days, but if you were clever, there were plenty of ways to make easy money, sometimes without spending a dime upfront."So, are you sure you wanna hire me as your boyfriend, or do you wanna try dating me for real?" Pete asked again.I pressed my lips together, staying silent. He took a sip of his coffee, all smooth and graceful. "Usually, a smart girl would go for dating. That way, you don't have to pay anything. And if it doesn't work out, you can always break up later.""If everyone did that, wouldn't you be losing out?" I stirred my coffee."Not everyone gets the option. If someone has certain requirements, I'll weigh their situation before deciding," Pete explained.
Love's Redemption Chapter 138
No answer. A chill crept down my spine.But now wasn't the time to chicken out. I forced myself to sound braver than I felt. "Who the hell are you?""It's me, Pete!"Footsteps followed, and then he added, "Your date from the café earlier."Wait, what?Of all people, Pete? After just one coffee date, he was out here creeping on me? That made this whole thing even creepier.The hallway was pitch black because the lights were out. I could barely see a thing, just some vague shapes barely lit by the moonlight sneaking in through the window.He wasn't close enough for me to see his face yet.I gripped my key tight, ready to defend myself if I had to. "Why are you following me?""Don't freak out, okay? I'm not here to hurt you. I just wanted to make sure you got home safe. It's late, and it's not exactly safe for a girl to walk alone at this hour," he said as he finally stepped into view.I almost laughed at that.Like, seriously? Stalking me in the dark was supposed to make me fe
Love's Redemption Chapter 139
Hayden had been popping up in my life a lot lately, but this was the first time he'd actually shown up at my doorstep. "What do you want this time?""I agreed," he said, throwing me off for a second.Agreed to what?"To pretend to be your boyfriend. To be your temporary boyfriend," Hayden clarified.I was taken aback, especially since he'd turned me down before. "Why did you change your mind?""If I didn't, you'd just keep going on ridiculous dates and end up being stalked again like today, wouldn't you?" Hayden's tone started off resigned, but by the end, there was a sharp edge to it.I couldn't help but notice the mix of frustration and concern on his face, barely visible in the dim light. It was almost... amusing."Aren't you going to be miserable, doing something you don't even want to do?"He caught the teasing in my voice and took a step closer. Instinctively, I stepped back, only to bump into the railing behind me—no escape.He leaned in, his arm trapping me between the
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Love's Redemption Chapter 975
"You silly girl, what nonsense are you spouting?" Briana gave Lena a light slap on the arm. "Mom, if I marry Uncle Aaron, then he won’t have a reason to leave, right? Isn’t that a good thing?" Lena continued to test the waters. "Good thing? What good is there in that? Do you have any idea how many people would gossip about you, me, and the Ace family if that happened?" Briana’s concerns mirrored Lena’s own fears. "But Uncle Aaron has already stated that he’s no longer part of the Ace family. Who would still have anything to say?" Lena argued, trying to persuade her mother. Briana shook her head. "People will always find something to gossip about. Even if he’s not part of the Ace family, they’ll still wag their tongues." "Didn’t you always say, ‘Walk your own path and let others talk’? Let them say what they want. It’s not like we’re losing a piece of flesh," Lena quipped, spouting her own brand of twisted logic. Briana finally realized something was off. She twisted Lena’s
Love's Redemption Chapter 974
"I'm just amazed that pregnancy has made you smarter. Most people say pregnancy makes women forgetful for three years," Hayden teased Keira with a rare grin. Keira gave him a gentle kick. "Did Aaron ask you to pass on his thoughts?" "No, it's just what I think," Hayden replied earnestly. He would never lie to her. Keira sighed softly. "Love between two people isn’t something outsiders can meddle with. But maybe Aaron’s actions today will help Lena realize what’s in her heart." "Let’s wait and see," Hayden said, finishing the massage before applying lotion and stretch mark cream to Keira's belly. "Baby, give Dad a little kick," Hayden said, stroking her belly. Right after he spoke, the baby really did kick. Keira couldn’t help but laugh; this little one was so obedient to their dad. "Just a few kicks, alright? Mommy needs to sleep, so don’t bother her," Hayden instructed. The baby obediently kicked a few more times before settling down. Keira was curious. "I think our ba
Love's Redemption Chapter 973
Keira stared at the messages Lena had just sent her. She could sense something was up, so she immediately called her, but Lena declined the call. Instead, she replied with another message: [I’m at my grandparents’ house, and my mother is here too.] Keira had no choice but to keep texting her: [Did Aaron upset you today?] Lena sent Keira a string of ellipses. That endless row of dots made her even more curious. [What happened exactly?] Keira pressed. Lena replied: [He brought his girlfriend home today.] After sending that message, she also sent Keira a screenshot of a payment receipt and added: [Spot the highlight.] Keira zoomed in on the image and finally noticed the note: Name Change Fee. [Wow, how generous! 600,000 dollars just for a name change fee. What did you call her to make it worth that much?] Keira was shocked. Lena then sent Keira a voice message, explaining the situation in detail. At the end, she added: [He used to tell me how long he’d liked me, but now he’s
Love's Redemption Chapter 972
"Aaron, I want to add Lena on WhatsApp." Xandra actually asked Aaron, gently tugging on his sleeve with a delicate and endearing expression that made her look pitifully lovable. Aaron glanced at her, his gaze filled with a warmth Lena was all too familiar with. Once upon a time, he had looked at her the same way. Now, he could look at other women like that. So, never believe a man when he says things like, I've liked you for years. "If you want to add her, then add her," Aaron's approval made Xandra look at him with delight. Lena, however, truly didn’t want to add her. She and Xandra weren’t close, and they likely wouldn’t ever be. Lena didn’t enjoy socializing with strangers, so she smiled faintly. "Aren’t you afraid I might tell her something about you, Uncle Aaron?" Aaron’s gaze turned cold and distant, his voice calm. "There’s nothing about me that Xandy can’t know." Ha! Lena sneered inwardly. If that were the case, why had he just warned her earlier? Double stand
Love's Redemption Chapter 971
Under the table, Lena felt her mother's foot nudge her—a clear signal: Let Xandra win. Lena gritted her teeth. Why was everyone fawning over a girlfriend who hadn’t even officially joined the family? Annoyed, she huffed inwardly. The more you tell me to lose, the harder I’ll fight to win. The game began, and Lena’s starting hand was exceptional—practically a heavenly draw. She was only one card away from winning while the others still struggled with mismatched cards. It seemed like an easy victory was in the cards for her. But then, as if under a spell, her luck took a sharp turn. None of the cards she needed showed up. Worse, every time she reached for a card, Xandra would intercept it with a call, blocking her progress entirely. As the rounds continued, even her mother, Briana, reached a ready hand, while Lena was still stuck with the same cards she started with. Soon, her grandmother joined the fray, and eventually, even Xandra declared readiness. Three players were now
Love's Redemption Chapter 970
Lena’s heart fluttered in panic. Why was he standing here? Had he overheard what she’d said earlier? There was no use regretting it now. She could only pretend he hadn’t heard anything and called out, trying to sound natural, “Uncle!” She had just given herself a pep talk in the bathroom, but seeing him standing so close now, her heartbeat still faltered. Aaron’s deep, starry eyes fixed on her. “Xandy is very simple and innocent. She doesn’t take well to certain things. I trust you understand what I mean?” Lena’s chaotic heartbeats suddenly settled. So this was why he had waited for her—to make sure she wouldn’t tell Xandra about his past feelings for her. A strange, sharp pain twisted in her chest, so intense it stole her breath for a moment. Clenching her fist by her side, she pinched herself hard to suppress the ache and avoid showing any emotion. “What ‘certain things’ are you referring to, Uncle? I don’t believe there’s anything you’ve shared with me that’s worth m
Love's Redemption Chapter 969
“Come here,” Deborah called, motioning for Lena to approach. She introduced her to Xandra with a cheerful smile. “The two of you may be the same age, but from now on, you must properly call her your aunt. Understand?” Xandra’s face flushed red. “There’s no need for that. Just call me Xandy.” Nervously, she tugged at Aaron’s sleeve. He glanced at her before responding calmly, “Our family values etiquette. Generational hierarchy matters.” Etiquette? Wasn’t this just a ploy to make her call Xandra “Aunt”? Was he in such a rush to give her a title to avoid any misunderstandings? Whether it was to clarify things for Xandra or to distance himself from her, Lena couldn’t help but feel a petty frustration bubbling up. Fine. If Aaron wanted her to say it, she would. “Aunt Xandra,” Lena said, her tone neutral but deliberate. Xandra’s face turned even redder. “No, really, you can just call me Xandy.” “I should call you that, and it’s not for free. As my elder, you owe me a red e
Love's Redemption Chapter 968
“Mr. Ace, why the sudden preference for plain water?” Elaine asked as she poured a glass. “It’s not for me. It’s for Xandy,” Aaron replied, his eyes flicking toward Lena, who kept her head down, still rinsing the same tomato. Elaine chuckled. “Your girlfriend is very pretty. She seems like a sweet and kind young lady. I bet your parents can finally relax now.” “Mm, everyone can be at ease,” Aaron replied, his tone carrying a subtle undertone. Lena didn’t lift her head, but she heard the implication clearly. “Not just at ease—happy too,” Elaine said as she handed him the glass of water. Taking it, Aaron thanked her. “Thank you, Elaine.” Then he left the kitchen. Elaine watched him go, sighing wistfully. “His parents have been waiting for this day for so long.” Turning back, she noticed Lena was still rinsing the same tomato—again. Elaine reached over and turned off the faucet. “Miss Lena, if you keep washing that tomato, it’s going to lose all its skin,” she teased.
Love's Redemption Chapter 967
"Do I need to change my shoes?" A gentle female voice came from the doorway. Lena thought she must be hearing things. She snapped her head up, and her eyes landed on a tall girl in casual attire standing by the entrance. Next to her was Aaron, dressed in a dark coat. They hadn’t looked into the house yet, as the entryway was positioned just out of sight from the main living area. However, from her spot on the sofa, Lena had a clear view of them. “No won't be necessary. My parents don’t wear slippers at home,” Aaron explained patiently. Lena felt as if she were frozen in place, her mind going blank as she stared at the two of them. Hearing the commotion, Briana walked out from the kitchen, and she, too, stopped in her tracks. It was rare—unheard of, even—for Aaron to bring a girl home. The implications were obvious. “Sister,” Aaron greeted Briana first, then introduced the girl beside him. “This is my friend.” Briana nodded quickly, her surprise evident. “Hello!” The g
