Guys can't handle it when a girl cries, and girls freak out when a guy shows he's vulnerable.And let's be real, when it comes to sex, it's not surprising if he was a little rough the first time. It's all new, right?Plus, Lena texted me this really sweet message, saying it's totally normal to feel a bit sore the first time and not to blame Hayden.Honestly, Hayden owes Lena a big thank you. She not only calmed me down without even trying, but she also helped his sister by hooking her up with Nate for that surgery.I was still healing, so no matter how much Hayden wanted me, he had to chill.I thought he'd be good and go back to his own room, but instead, he stayed and wrapped me up in his arms."Hayden, isn't this driving you crazy?" I teased, leaning against his chest.He just muttered, "Don't talk. Go to sleep."I giggled. "But can you really fall asleep like this?""Kiki," he groaned, his voice all gravelly, "don't push it."He was totally uncomfortable, struggling to kee
In the morning, I woke up to the smell of breakfast, and there was Hayden, already in the kitchen.He'd changed into a short-sleeve shirt and cargo pants.Apparently, he really liked this look. It gave off major special agent vibes, and honestly, it fit him perfectly.It wasn't just his build but all that training he did. I remembered him doing push-ups last night.I had to admit, his form was seriously on point."Why are you staring at me? Eat," Hayden said, catching me in the act.I grabbed a bite of the beef macaroni soup he'd made and, curious, asked, "Do you hit the gym a lot?"He scooped some more side dish into my bowl. "Nah, I work out on my own.""No wonder your push-up form is so perfect," I blurted out before I could stop myself.He paused, then looked down. I thought he was embarrassed or something, but then he just asked casually, "You saw me?"Now it was my turn to feel awkward, so I just focused on my pasta and nodded like I'd suddenly forgotten how to talk.H
He looked a little nervous.So, he's feeling guilty, huh?I guess no guy's ever really chill when another guy's in the picture. Seeing Hayden all nervous—it was kinda funny. He almost never looks like this. But I kept my face serious on purpose.I stood there, staring at him, not saying a word.Hayden's lips moved, like he wanted to say something, but he held back, unsure if he should.This usually straightforward guy, hesitating like a kid who's been caught doing something wrong.I couldn't hold it in anymore and started laughing.My laughter only confused him more. "Kiki..."I took the cup of milk he made and stood on my tiptoes to kiss him on the cheek. "Thanks."Then I turned to leave, tossing over my shoulder, "Grab my bag."Hayden followed me all the way downstairs, looking way more relaxed now.When we got to the car, I switched things up and didn't head for the driver's seat. Instead, I walked over to the passenger side.I threw the keys to Hayden. "You're driving."
I got the hint. "Is there something coming up? Do I need to travel?"Ron nodded. "Yeah, you'll be out for a couple of days."Great. I hadn't heard about any new projects, so this had to be a last-minute thing."Where to? What's the job?" I asked, needing the scoop."Uh... we'll figure that out later," he said, looking all mysterious, which was not helpful at all.I could tell he wasn't in the mood to share more, so I just nodded and got back to work. If this was coming from management, I'd better get all my stuff sorted and be ready for anything.I didn't get a break until around ten-thirty. Grabbing my cup, I made a beeline for the break room. Just as I reached the door, I heard two girls inside gossiping over their tea."Mr. Hart just keeps getting hotter. Those cargo pants he's rocking today make his legs look like they go on forever.""Are you serious? I think you're just totally obsessed with Mr. Hart. Weren't you crushing on Mr. Shane, like, last week?""Yeah, I thought
"Hiss—" Hayden let out a soft sound.I knew it wasn't pain but sensitivity. Shivers...I could almost picture him trying to keep it together. Honestly, I was getting pretty wicked, more and more mischievous by the day.After stirring things up, I straightened, took a casual sip of my coffee, and turned to leave like it was no big deal.Hayden seemed too stunned to react. He just sat there, probably trying to figure out what the heck just happened.Back in my office, I sat down, set my coffee cup on the desk, and rubbed my face, chuckling softly.I didn't even know why I was laughing, but I just felt like it.It was that kind of pure, genuine happiness that bubbles up from your heart—the joy of pulling off a little mischief.Like a kid who can't stop giggling after a prank.Just as I was enjoying myself, my phone buzzed with a new message.I picked it up and saw it was from Cole: a location pin.I opened it and saw it was an address in an industrial park on the outskirts of t
"Seriously, it was huge!" one of them said, wide-eyed. "Either his girlfriend's got some serious lung capacity, or—""—Or he's just that good in bed, making her all crazy," the other finished with a knowing smirk.I blinked, momentarily speechless. These two definitely knew way too much."You two sure don't miss a thing," I chuckled, though it came out kind of flat."He wanted us to see it. His shirt was practically hanging open," one of them said, nudging her friend. "Right?""Totally. It wasn't just us. Every girl in the company saw it—even the cleaning lady!"I didn't know what to say."Mr. Hart's usually so low-key. He barely leaves his office. But today, it was like he was on a parade or something.""For real. You think he's trying to make a point or something?""Maybe..." The other girl gave a knowing look. "Or maybe he's just crushing any fantasies we might've had about him.""Yeah, like, 'Sorry, ladies, but I'm very taken.'"I couldn't help but be impressed by their
I half-expected to get turned away.Guess dropping Matthew's name still worked like a charm, especially with Thorsten.Taking a deep breath, I stepped inside and was greeted by the sight of an old man with graying hair, moving through slow, deliberate self-defense routines in the middle of the room.He's Thorsten?!I'd done my homework. He wasn't even sixty yet, around the same age as Matthew. In the photos, he looked younger and sharp, but now he seemed to have aged a whole generation beyond Matthew.Even though I'd read everything I could find on Thorsten, it was hard to reconcile that image with the man in front of me, focused on his forms like he was one with the air around him. For a second, I wondered if I'd gotten the wrong guy."So, what do you want?" Thorsten asked, not even pausing his movements, executing each form with precision.That voice left no doubt—it really was Thorsten Drago.Why he looked so different now, I didn't want to guess. I took a deep breath and sa
I couldn't help but wonder if, when no one's around, Matthew secretly enjoyed this kind of pampering too.My mind tended to wander, and in that brief moment, I pictured all sorts of scenarios."Come, have a seat," Thorsten said, motioning to the chair across from him.I walked over, and the attendant immediately poured me water, fussing over me like I was royalty.I wasn't used to being waited on like this, but I reminded myself to just go with it and respect Thorsten's way of doing things."You're not married, are you?" he asked, taking a sip of his tea."No."He smiled. "So, when are you joining the Johnston family?"I was caught off guard. Did he not know that Jace and I had already broken up? And his own son had tried to trick me into becoming his daughter-in-law.I couldn't help but wonder what would've happened if I'd shown up last time as Cole's fiancée. Would Thorsten have blown a gasket?"Not happening," I said bluntly.Thorsten didn't seem fazed. He just let out a
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