"I figured if you were in a hurry, you'd come looking for me, so I left it open for you," Hayden replied like it was no big deal.And yet, like an idiot, I asked, "So you came out like that on purpose?"His Adam's apple bobbed as he swallowed. "No, I heard my phone ringing and came out to grab it. I didn't expect... well, the timing..."Yeah, just perfect timing.At least he had a great body, so it wasn't the worst thing to catch a glimpse.On the way to the Johnston residence, Hayden stayed quiet.I figured he was probably nervous. "When we get to the Johnstons', all you have to do is say hello. I'll take care of any awkward questions.""Okay," he nodded."And if Jace is there and tries to be a jerk or make things hard for you, don't hold back," I added."Got it.""Oh, and one more thing—we should get our story straight. We'll say we met in Chiverton, and, um," I paused, feeling my face heat up, "you're interested in me... so you followed me here.""I don't think I'll have
I drove in silence, unsure of what to say.I was scared that saying the wrong thing might hurt Hayden even more. But part of me couldn't stop thinking about my own parents and their crash.Was it really just an accident? Or was there more to it?Back then, I was too young to get what really happened. Matthew handled everything. Maybe he was the only one who actually knew all the details. I figured I could ask him when I saw him later.Since I stayed quiet, Hayden didn't push it, and the rest of the ride was just... well, quiet.As we pulled up to the Johnston residence, the auto gate recognized my car and slid open, letting us drive right into the courtyard.Isabel Zetino, the housemaid, spotted me as soon as I parked. She gave me this big smile and waved. "Rea, you're back! I'll let Mr. and Mrs. Johnston know."I smiled back, shaking my head. "No need. I'll head in myself."Her gaze flicked over to Hayden as he got out of the car and walked over to me. She was definitely curio
But Lindey wasn't buying it. She gave him a little swat. "Oh, please. You think you can use Rea to get out of this? Not happening.""Hey, Lindey." I called out.At the sound of my voice, Lindey froze. She turned around, her eyes lighting up when she saw me, but the second she realized I had probably caught the whole intimate scene with her and Matthew, her face went bright red.She quickly dropped Matthew's hand and made her way over to me. "Rea, you're here! Have you eaten? I'll have Isabel—""I've already eaten," I lied, even though my stomach was growling. It suddenly hit me that I hadn't asked Hayden if he'd eaten either."Why didn't you have your dinner here?" Lindey asked, sounding a little annoyed.She was acting like Hayden wasn't even there, not a single word or glance his way. But I knew Lindey better than that—this was her very subtle way of showing her disapproval.Still, Lindey had too much class to be totally rude. After what felt like an eternity of her ignoring h
Just then, Hayden's eyes shifted to me.His grip on my hand tightened, like for a second, he wasn't just holding my hand—he had my heart too.You know how they say your fingers are connected to your heart? Yeah, right now, that felt way too real."I'll give Kiki everything I have," Hayden said, his intense eyes locked on mine. "I'll love her like I love my own life, and I'll always protect her."His eyes were full of affection. In that moment, I finally understood what people meant when they said, "Love deep as the ocean."And even though this was all supposed to be an act, it felt like Hayden's words were reaching right into my chest, like he was actually confessing.This guy was unbelievable. Blurring the line between what's real and what's fake.With him saying stuff like that, I had no choice but to roll with it. I lifted my hand, planning to squeeze his back.But the way he was looking at me? It made me clench my teeth. I asked him to act, not toss real feelings into the m
Ever since I stopped being forced to practice hand lettering under Matthew's watch, I never bothered to do it on my own.I mean, I wasn't exactly a kid anymore, but I was still just as lazy as one, dodging anything that felt like work whenever I could."Relax, just write. However it turns out, it turns out," Matthew said, holding the quill pen out to me again.How was I supposed to say no?I'd held this pen before when I bought it, but now, taking it from him, it felt so much heavier.Maybe it was all the ink—or maybe it was the way Matthew was staring at me, like he was expecting something big.He wanted me to be that girl again. The one who used to write with a heart full of Jace, back when I was that kid always hanging out at their home.I pressed the pen to the paper, but my hand shook. No matter how hard I tried, the strokes came out all wobbly.I knew Matthew didn't actually care about my handwriting. What he really wanted was something deeper—he was trying to figure out
Matthew froze in his tracks, and I could feel him sway, just a little.I instinctively reached out to steady him. "Matthew!"He turned to face me, his expression tense. "Why are you asking this all of a sudden?"I thought about what Hayden had said, but I couldn't bring myself to tell Matthew the truth. So, I played it off with a casual shrug. "I was just curious. No big deal."The smile vanished from his face, and the way he looked at me sent a cold chill down my spine."Rea, your parents' car accident was exactly that—an accident. I went to the scene myself. The police were there, and there's a full investigation report," Matthew said, his voice serious.I hadn't been at the scene back then. I didn't know the details firsthand.Matthew had kept me away, told me not to come. He didn't want me to see something so awful, and I knew he was trying to protect me. But still, it left me with this lingering regret that never really went away."If you have doubts or don't believe me, y
"Alright," I nodded, then turned to Lindey. "We're heading out."She gave me a quick look, clearly sensing something was up. Her eyes flicked upstairs, probably wondering what had gone down between me and Matthew, but she didn't push it. "Drive safe."Hayden and I slid into the car, and right as I was about to turn the key, he pressed his hand over mine, stopping me. "What's up?" he asked, his tone all gentle but definitely not letting it go."Nothing, we talked about my parents," I admitted, not even trying to dodge it."You asked about the accident, didn't you?" He nailed it, like he always did.I gave a dry laugh. "Yeah, looks like you're rubbing off on me. I had to know.""And?" he pushed, not dropping it.Remembering Matthew's words, I started the car and hit the gas, giving Hayden the answer. "It was just an accident."As we pulled away from the Johnston residence, I added, "There are official reports and everything."Hayden didn't push any further. We drove in silence,
Holding hands, hugging, and kissing—each came with a price. That was the deal I made with Pete, that creep, during our first meeting at the coffee shop.So when Hayden mentioned "charging" for a kiss, he definitely knew about that.That night, after he gave Pete a serious beating, I had a feeling there was more to the story—something Hayden never bothered to fill me in on.Honestly, I had no idea what to even say to him at this point.But instead of kissing me, Hayden just grabbed my hand and pulled me, dragging me out of the crowd as we bolted—sprinting through the bustling streets.It was the first time I'd ever run through a place that packed. People stared in confusion, not sure why we were running, but still stepping aside like we were parting the sea or something.So there we were, in the middle of the busy street, the crowd parting for us as Hayden led the way. He held my hand tight, glancing back every now and then. The whole thing felt surreal, like some scene straight o
Lena had been feigning sleep so perfectly, yet who would’ve thought Aaron would pull a move like this? What was she supposed to do now? She didn’t dare move. Any movement would make things even more awkward. So, she kept up the act, letting Aaron carry her upstairs and open her bedroom door. Her face was pressed against his chest, so she discreetly opened her eyes, but all she could see was his white shirt and catch the clean, refreshing scent of pinewood on him. Yes, pinewood. It wasn’t the scent of makeup, nor was it perfume. Did this mean he hadn’t hugged Xandra? That nothing intimate had happened between them? The thought barely crossed her mind before she mentally rolled her eyes at herself. What are you thinking? If he hugged or kissed his girlfriend, wouldn’t that be completely normal? Lena, come to your senses! This is your Uncle Aaron. Whether he’s part of the Ace family or not, he’s still your Uncle Aaron. Uncle Aaron… As she repeated the title in her mind
"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.