I never knew I could laugh like that—as if I was a kid again. Even in my twenties, I was spinning and giggling like a little girl.But after all that twirling, I got so dizzy I could barely stand. I ended up leaning against Hayden's chest. That's when it hit me—this had to be one of his little tricks."When you were little, you loved being spun around like this," Hayden whispered in my ear.I'd met Hayden when I was so young that my memories of those days were fuzzy at best.Curious, I asked, "What else did I like when I was little?""You liked being lifted high in the air and riding on my shoulders, pretending I was a horse," he said.My cheeks burned red.I tried to act skeptical. "I don't remember any of that. You could be making it all up, you know."He just smiled and went on, "You loved playing in the water, too. You'd jump around, splashing everywhere, soaking yourself from head to toe.""Anything else?" I asked, getting more interested.If people were like computers,
Hayden let me turn his face any way I wanted and kept going, "Do you know what you said back then?""I don't know, and you're totally making this up," I protested, refusing to believe I'd been that shameless as a kid."You said it was like stamping a seal on me. That after you kissed me, I was yours. And when you grew up, you'd marry me. You even made me promise not to marry anyone else." He paused for dramatic effect, then suddenly leaned down, bringing his face closer to mine."Kiki, I've followed your orders. I'm in my thirties now, and I've never been in a relationship. Never liked another girl, never even held another girl's hand. I've waited for you all this time, so you've got to take responsibility for me," he said, sounding so earnest and pitiful that I felt guilty just hearing him.I always thought Jace was my childhood friend, but now I realized I was wrong.Hayden was my real childhood sweetheart—the one who, despite the little time we'd had together, managed to leave
Whoa. I froze. That came out of nowhere.Hayden wasn't just bold—he was downright blunt.My heart was hammering, and before I could even process it, I blurted, "Why?"He swallowed, his throat bobbing. "I just don't want to be away from you."It was so simple, almost too honest. I guess when you're into someone, it's like you can't stand to be apart, even for a minute."But I'm not the kind of girl who just casually does stuff like that," I said, not even thinking about it.Hayden's face tightened, and his ears turned this cute shade of pink. It was kind of hilarious how he could be so straightforward yet blush so easily."I didn't mean it like that," he said, tripping over his words. "I just... I want to be with you."I bit my lip, trying not to laugh. Seeing him all flustered made me want to mess with him more. "So, you're saying you want to stay over, sleep in the same bed, but, like, just talk under the covers?"He cleared his throat. "Pretty much.""Can you promise that?"
The way Hayden looked at me made my whole body feel like it was on fire.I thought back to teasing him last time, the way he'd tried to keep his cool. Lena's words echoed in my mind."Hayden, have you ever done it with anyone else?" He'd told me he'd never even had a girlfriend, but I needed to hear it again.His gaze darkened. "...No."That word made my heart skip a beat. "But do you want to?"His jaw clenched, and then suddenly, everything went dark as his lips crashed into mine.When Hayden's breath turned ragged, I already knew his answer.But he didn't push further. Instead, he rested his forehead against mine. "How long are you gonna keep testing me, or are you just trying to torture me?"Seeing his restraint, the way his desire fought with self-control, I reached up to touch his face. "Do you really want this? Is it just me?"Jace's casual rejection still haunted me, and I realized how deeply it had scarred me."Yeah," he panted, "only you."I closed my eyes, feeling
What happened to Jace?Why was he covered in blood?Was he hurt?Dreams like this usually mean something. The night before my parents' car accident, I had a terrible nightmare—I dreamt my two front teeth fell out, blood pouring everywhere. I woke up crying hysterically.The next day, my parents were gone forever.A wave of panic hit me so hard I barely noticed Hayden watching me.It wasn't until he reached out and gently wiped the cold sweat from my forehead that I snapped out of it. "Did you have a nightmare?"His words pulled me back to reality, making me realize he'd heard me calling Jace's name in my sleep.I didn't want him to get the wrong idea, so I said, "I dreamt Jace was standing by the bed, covered in blood. I kept asking what happened, but he wouldn't answer.""It's okay. Dreams are usually the opposite of reality. If you're worried, you can call him now," Hayden said, surprising me.Shouldn't he be upset right now?If it were Jace, he'd definitely be jealous.I
If there was no issue with the park itself, then the problem had to be with Jace.Thinking back to the nightmare and why I called, I asked, "Is this about Jace? Did something happen to him?"Wayne didn't answer right away. There was a pause before he finally spoke. "If you're worried, you should ask him yourself."Classic Wayne—cutting through the nonsense. Nobody's really clueless, after all.His words left me at a loss.Not wanting to make things awkward, he quickly added, "I just mean that even though you guys aren't together anymore, you've been like family for so long."I gave a small, humorless laugh. "Yeah, I'm just worried about making Tanya jealous."Wayne chuckled too."Rea, let's grab lunch sometime," Wayne suggested.Since he'd just said we were like family, I didn't see a reason to say no.After hanging up, I let out a sigh of relief. Looked like Jace wasn't in any trouble after all.But it was still weird that I'd had that dream. Was it because of what he'd ask
"Hey, Keira!"Brad waved at me with that signature cheeky grin of his."I've been waiting for almost an hour. You're late today," he said, shaking his wrist like I hadn't noticed the time.I took a deep breath, trying not to snap at him, and walked over.I wasn't in my usual heels but wearing flats instead since my legs were still sore and shaky."Not feeling great today?" Brad asked, surprising me with his sudden concern.I hesitated for a second, caught off guard, but there was no way I was getting into that. I sat down across from him, refusing to let him get under my skin. "Just cut to the chase, Brad. What do you want?"He ignored my question. "Rough night?"This brat was getting bolder with each question, like he knew more than he was letting on.I straightened up, forcing myself to stay calm. "If you've got something to say, say it. If not, get out before I call the cops and report you for harassment.""Heh," Brad chuckled. "Still holding a grudge, huh?""Enough with
Hearing that, I let out a quiet sigh of relief. Thank God, Hayden wasn't going to do anything reckless."Yeah, could you please see him out?" I said, turning away. As I walked off, it hit me—I had no clue what his job was here. But judging by the way he carried himself, he had to be at least some kind of engineer or something.Brad, totally unbothered by Hayden's presence, kept up with his sleazy act. "Keira, I'm looking forward to seeing you this weekend. You're the best gift I could ask for."Before I could even process his words, Hayden brushed past me and stepped right up to him. "It's time for you to go," he said firmly.Brad didn't even flinch, just grinned at me like Hayden hadn't said a thing. "Keira, I'll wait for you after work. Let's grab lunch, okay?"I froze in my tracks, wanting to knock that smug look off his face.But before I could do anything, Hayden's voice cut through the air, ice-cold. "Get out."Brad, still as cocky as ever, sneered, "Who the hell are you?
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
Recently, Lena had been in a constant state of distraction. Aaron's decision to sever ties with the Aces weighed heavily on her mind. He hadn't told her the reason, only saying that she would find out in due time. She could live without knowing why, but she feared the fallout. When the truth came to light, she worried her grandparents and her mother would crumble under the weight of the news, collectively breaking down. Aaron had assured her he would handle everything, but she didn’t trust that he could shield the family from such devastation. Most importantly, she couldn’t understand why he would choose to leave the Aces. Could it really be, as the old saying went, that someone else’s child was like an ungrateful wolf? If it were anyone else, she might believe it, but this was Aaron. She couldn’t bring herself to believe he would be so heartless, so ungrateful. And yet, he had said it to her himself. It felt so unreal that Lena wondered if she had imagined it all. This tur
Mrs. Lane finally pieced together all the questions Lena had asked her and understood everything. Gabriel furrowed his brow and looked at Lena. "Is this really what you think?" Lena stayed silent. She did have those suspicions, but seeing how her mother had reacted so strongly, she began to wonder if she had been overthinking it. Aaron, who had already figured out the situation, looked at Lena and spoke up. "She must have misunderstood something." And he knew it was his fault. "She’s just an ungrateful brat! She doesn’t appreciate the kindness she’s been given and can’t stand seeing me be good to someone else," Mrs. Lane fumed again. Gabriel wiped away her tears gently. "Alright, maybe she was just joking with you." "Ask her if she was joking! Look at the things she’s been asking me—let her tell you herself!" Mrs. Lane pointed an accusing finger at Lena. "Big Sis," Aaron called out softly, "I’ll take Lil' Lena out for some fresh air." Without waiting for a reply, he r
"You’ll find out soon enough," Aaron’s answer echoed in Lena’s ears, leaving her restless and unable to sleep. The next day, Mrs. Lane arrived with chicken soup for Aaron and a bag full of fresh produce. "These vegetables are from a village I visited. They’re all organic, no chemical fertilizers," she gushed proudly. Lena's gaze followed her mother’s every move, scrutinizing her intently. Wherever she went, Lena's eyes followed, making her incredibly uncomfortable. "What are you staring at me for? It’s creepy," Mrs. Lane said. "Mom, why are you so good to my uncle?" Lena finally asked. "He’s my brother. Isn’t it normal for me to care for him? You think everyone’s as heartless as you?" Mrs. Lane scolded her, throwing in an insult for good measure. Lena didn’t retaliate to the insult. Instead, she pressed further, "It’s normal, sure, but the way you care for him doesn’t feel like how you’d treat a brother. It feels more like..." She paused before continuing, "Like how you’d
Keira chuckled softly. "Well, a DNA test isn’t a bad idea. At least then you won’t have to worry about being related to Mr. Ace if you two get together." Lena's eyebrows shot up instantly. "What nonsense are you spouting? Do you want me to hit you?" "Go ahead. If you break anything, you’ll have to compensate me," Keira said smugly, knowing full well she had a trump card—her precious little one growing inside her. Their playful banter caught the attention of the people in the room. They exchanged amused glances. "The things girls find joy in are beyond us," one of them said with a smile. "Let’s hope they stay happy forever," Aaron added, just as his phone began to ring. Glancing at the caller ID, he nodded at Hayden. "I’ll take this call." Aaron walked toward his study. Hayden also pulled out his phone, while Lena and Keira moved to the sofa. Keira recounted Lena’s gossip to him. "Hayden, do you think I could be the person the Mitchell family owes a debt to?" "It’s not