Matthew and Lindey had always been so good to me—so good that even thinking about doubting them made me feel guilty.But now, even Lena was starting to suspect something.It felt like my heart was free-falling from the sky, crashing into a pit of panic I couldn't escape."I need to find out the truth."The more uncertain things got, the more desperate I was to know. Not just for my dad, but to clear Matthew's name—if he was innocent.Lena didn't say much, just gave me a small nod. "Whatever happens, I've got your back."Her words hit me harder than I expected, like she already knew what I might uncover.But I couldn't stop until I found the truth.After leaving the ER, I stepped outside to catch a cab. To my surprise, Edward was still there. He stood a little ways off, clutching the meds he'd bought me, his phone glued to his ear."...Yeah, she accessed the car's display... said she was just looking for music..."My entire body went cold, even with the sun beating down on me.
The silence between Lindey and me was suffocating.I was just about to come up with an excuse to end the call when Lindey's voice cut through, trembling with anger. "Matthew's like this because of that bitch. For that alone, I'll never forgive her."She was practically spitting the words out. I had never heard Lindey sound so vicious before. It sent a chill down my spine, leaving me completely speechless."Rea," she said, "when you can, visit Matthew more often. You're the only one who can give him some peace."Her words weighed heavy on me, but I agreed.After the call ended, I leaned back in my car seat, feeling completely drained, like something was crushing my chest, making it hard to breathe.When I got home, I curled up on the couch, my mind racing, trying to piece everything together.Everything pointed to Thorsten. But the connection between him and Matthew—their business ties—and the fact that Thorsten's location was password-protected? That just made things feel even m
"I don't know!" Hayden answered briskly.I laughed. "You don't know, but you showed up at my door anyway?"He finished chopping and tossed the veggies onto a plate. "The old lady downstairs told me. She was like, 'Your girlfriend's back.'"I froze for a second, caught off guard.Sipping my tea, I watched Hayden work with quiet admiration.Suddenly, he turned and caught me staring. "What? Why are you giving me that look?"I smiled lightly. "Just wondering if you're stalking me."His eyebrows shot up. "What?""I'm kidding, chill. I know you've got better things to do," I teased, wandering back into the living room.After a few more sips of tea, I set my cup down and started scrolling through my phone. Before I knew it, my eyes started getting heavy. I fell asleep fast.Then the nightmare hit. Darby grabbed me, and Thorsten Drago was there, telling him to kill me. A knife flashed, and I thrashed, trying to escape..."Kiki! Kiki, wake up..."I jerked awake, my heart pounding, b
Sometimes, girls put in effort to look good for someone they care about. At that moment, I realized I cared about Hayden.After washing my hands, I stepped out of the bathroom. Sure enough, Hayden came over, ready to help.I brushed it off, trying to seem chill. "I'm good."He didn't push, just followed me to the table. Along with the risotto, spinach, and chicken breast he'd mentioned, there were a few more sides and a fruit platter that made the whole spread look even more tempting."Your sister must be really lucky," I said. It was my way of acknowledging his effort.He didn't respond, and I remembered his sister's heart condition. A random thought popped into my head. "Where's your family from? Where does your sister live?"Hayden glanced at me, staying quiet.I grinned, biting my spoon. "What, are you afraid I'm gonna hunt her down?""Pencetown. It's near Chiverton," he finally answered, offering more than I expected.I nodded. "I got some unexpected time off. My boss dec
That evening, I left home. Hayden wasn't around—his windows were completely dark.By the time Wayne called, I was already at the train station, sitting in the waiting room.I decided against flying. Took the high-speed rail instead. Sure, it was a couple hours longer, but I liked the idea of staying grounded. It felt safer."Rea, your car's fixed. Where are you? I can drop it off," Wayne's voice came through, warm as always.I glanced around the station—people were either glued to their phones or zoned out. "Just leave it at the shop. I'll pick it up later."There was a pause. I could feel his concern before he spoke again. "The mechanic said your car was tampered with."My stomach dropped, even though I knew it already—it was me who arranged the whole thing."Seriously?" I faked surprise."Has anyone else driven it recently?" Wayne asked, sounding more worried now.I bit my lip, trying to think fast, but Wayne jumped in before I could. "Whoever did it wasn't trying to hurt yo
This place was seriously a hidden gem, like the perfect spot for a low-key getaway.I was zoned out, taking in the courtyard's beauty, when a soft voice snapped me back. "Um, miss, are you looking for someone?"I turned to see a girl, probably around my age, standing there in a simple white dress. Her long braid draped over her shoulder, and her eyes? They sparkled like the place itself."You're Miss Hart, right?" I asked, already knowing I was right.She looked surprised. "Yeah, that's me. Are you here to see... my brother?"Yep, definitely Hayden's sister. She didn't exactly look like him, but they both had that annoyingly good-looking thing going on.While Hayden had this rugged, tough vibe, Yuna's was softer—like she was made of sunshine and fresh air."Yeah, I'm a friend of Hayden's," I said with a smile, reaching out my hand.Yuna hesitated for a sec, like she wasn't expecting me, but then shook my hand with both of hers, all polite. "I'm Yuna Hart."She seemed a little
"Thanks for loving my brother, for accepting him!"Yuna's voice was soft but full of emotion as she handed me the tea with this careful, almost formal gesture. Her eyes shimmered like she was holding back tears.My chest tightened a bit, but I still grinned. "You act like Hayden's unlovable or something."Yuna gave a little pout, and I took the tea from her, sipping it. The taste hit me—sweet, light, and almost magical. Way better than anything I'd had before."Keira, Hayden doesn't look for girlfriends because of me," Yuna said, her voice quieter now. "He's scared that whoever he marries might not like me... might hate me for being sick."I could tell she hesitated, unsure if Hayden had even told me. She was probably worried that knowing about her illness might change how I saw him—like it'd be too much baggage or something.I took another sip, letting the warmth settle inside me. "Do I seem like the kind of person who'd judge someone for being sick? Especially someone as sweet
Yuna looked at me with bright, hopeful eyes. "Keira, do you have a plan?"I hesitated.There were options, sure, but could I really take a chance even Hayden wasn't willing to? If the surgery worked, everything would be great.But if it didn't... the thought of Hayden never forgiving me was the least of my worries. The real fear was breaking his heart in a way that couldn't be fixed.Yuna must've picked up on my hesitation because her face fell. "You don't have a way, do you? Hayden's too scared to try 'cause it's too risky. I get it. No one can be sure it'll work with how bad things are for me."She sighed, but then gave me this weak smile, like she was trying to shake off her own sadness.It wasn't that she was great at hiding her feelings—it's just that she didn't want to drag me down with her."It's fine. I'm happy with my life as it is. However long I live, I'm gonna make the most of it. Who knows? Maybe I'll surprise everyone and live to be a hundred," she joked, though he