I had always counted on my skills, not who I knew. Even back at RiverwaveCorp, where everyone saw me as the future CEO's fiancee, I refused to just be arm candy.After a week, I dug through all the marketing clients' files and checked out what the company had going on. I even took the time to see how each person in the marketing team was doing, focusing on what they'd pulled off over the past six months.Then I switched up the workload and introduced a new reward-and-punishment system based on incentives.They say a new boss comes in ready to shake things up, but I wasn't here to scare anyone. My goal was to inspire—to get everyone to give their best, not just for themselves but for the company too. It was also my way of paying back the company for taking a chance on me, despite the pressure Jace put on them.Just when I was feeling good about where the marketing department was headed, I got hit with some bad news. The team reported that all our current clients were suddenly trying
I checked my calendar—Matthew's birthday was in three days.Bringing up something heavy on his birthday? Yeah, no. I didn't want to mess up his big day, so I figured I'd visit him early, drop off a gift, and get it over with. That way, I wouldn't have to deal with it on his actual birthday.But before I could even get started, Wayne showed up.I hadn't seen him since we left the amusement park, and honestly, I almost didn't recognize him."Did I turn into a coal miner or something? You don't even know who I am?" Wayne joked, throwing in some classic self-deprecation to break the ice.Seeing him like this brought back memories of Hayden, and I couldn't help but smile. "If your mom saw you right now, she'd totally freak.""Nah, she actually said I look more manly now," Wayne replied, clearly trying to keep things light.I bit back a laugh. "You do have that whole rugged, manly vibe going on."Wayne rubbed his face, grinning. "Glad you noticed."Despite his attempts to keep thing
Having lived with the Johnstons for years, I knew Matthew inside out.He was the kind of guy who kept business and personal stuff totally separate. If Jace messed up, Matthew wouldn't hesitate to come down on him—just like he would with anyone else.But thinking about the reports I'd just gotten—Jace was still out there, aggressively poaching clients, hell-bent on taking down my company—I couldn't help but say, "Looks like your dad's warning didn't really do much."Wayne picked up on the seriousness in my tone. "Jace hasn't stopped?""No," I said, my voice shaking a bit. "It's like he's trying to destroy my company in one hit."I couldn't hide the anger in my voice.The fact that my involvement was putting the company at risk, even losing clients—it was really weighing on me."This is beyond reckless. I'll talk to my dad," Wayne said, his own frustration creeping in."Let me handle it," I offered. "I was already planning to visit your dad today, with a birthday gift in hand. I
I froze for a second, wanting to pull away from Wayne's grip, but his grip was too tight, not giving me a chance to break free.The whole vibe of being controlled by someone else totally freaked me out, and I hated it. I scrunched up my face. "Wayne—"Before I could even get the words out, Wayne cut me off. "Rea, Jace is my brother. I can't talk bad about him, but he's different. You can't just throw away your principles because of him."His grip tightened even more, and I could feel the tension radiating off him. His hands shook slightly, and the way he looked at me was intense, his eyes dark and serious, his voice almost desperate. "Dating isn't some game. One wrong move could mess everything up."Seeing how serious he was, I started to feel a little bad for him. I almost thought about telling him that Hayden was just a temporary thing.But that thought disappeared as fast as it came. I brought Hayden into this mess to shut down any lingering hopes they had, and if I told Wayne
Doubt flickered in my head, but before I could say anything, Ron beat me to it."Ahem, ahem..." He cleared his throat, flashing this awkward grin. "Were you, like, listening at the door? You kinda freaked me out."He was trying to be funny, but I kept it serious. "No, I wasn't eavesdropping. I just got here and didn't even have time to knock."Ron's smile stretched wider. "I'm just messing with you! Chill. So, what's going on?"He waved me in, and I stepped into his office.Even though I'd been at the company a few days, this was my first time here. And... wow. First impression? Not what I expected.Ron might be the deputy CEO, but since the CEO was barely around, he was basically running the show. You'd expect his office to scream sleek and professional, right? Nope.The couch was shaped like a crescent moon, all bold and bright with clashing colors. Instead of those stiff office plants, there were real flowers everywhere, the bright blooms that totally caught your eye. And his
"No, no, he doesn't care about being loved by everyone. He only wants the people he loves to love him back."Ron's words kept replaying in my head as I left the office.For some reason, my curiosity about this mysterious CEO was starting to get the best of me. What did he even look like? What kind of person was he?It was weird that the company files had nothing on him. Was he hiding something sketchy?Or maybe, like one of those billionaire romance heroes, he was crazy private—so much so that he dodged photos and stayed out of the public eye completely?These questions swirled around my mind as I drove toward Inkwell Atelier, the boutique with all the fancy hand lettering supplies. By the time I got there, I was still trying to figure out who this elusive CEO really was.I parked the car but didn't get out right away. Instead, I grabbed my phone and called Hayden.Of course, no answer—he was probably busy. So, I opened up the chat app and shot him a message: [Can you come with
These fancy hand-lettering supplies weren't something you just picked up on a whim like a carton of milk. My first thought? She was probably getting them for Matthew too.Not even a week ago, Jace swore up and down he was done with Tanya, saying she was leaving the company and that they wouldn't be involved anymore. But now? Here she was, likely prepping for Matthew's birthday, still very much in the picture.Good thing I never believed his crap in the first place.Tanya was busy examining the set Mr. Parker gave her, acting like she knew her stuff. She didn't notice me, and I sure wasn't about to make myself known. So, I turned back around and kept browsing through the other options."Mr. Parker, are you sure this is the best? I'm gifting it to someone really important, and I can't afford to embarrass myself," Tanya asked."'best' is subjective, right? There's always something better out there. But I can promise you, this set will impress and keep your reputation spotless," Mr. P
As I was paying for my purchase, my phone buzzed. It was Hayden calling me back."Sorry, I was busy earlier and just saw your message," he explained."Yeah, I figured. Are you free now?" I asked."What time?" Hayden replied.I paused, thinking it over. If we went at six, we'd show up right in the middle of dinner, and Matthew and Lindey would definitely invite us to stay. I wouldn't mind, but Hayden might feel weird about it."Seven-thirty," I finally said. By then, the Johnston family would be done with dinner, and it'd be less awkward."Alright, I'll come pick you up at seven. Sound good?" Hayden offered.I couldn't help but laugh. "How are you planning to pick me up? Ride a shared bike?"It was meant as a joke, but when Hayden didn't respond right away, I realized maybe it didn't land the way I thought."Wait, I didn't mean anything by that," I quickly said, trying to backtrack. "I'll come pick you up instead.""I'll be home half an hour early. We can leave together," Hayd
"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
"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
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
"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
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
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
“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
“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.
"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