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
Matthew and Lindey always treated me like family, like I was their own daughter.I knew that. I really did.But ever since I found that contract, it's like there's this constant knot in my chest whenever I'm around them.I just want to untangle it. I want to love them freely and accept their love without holding back.Thorsten chuckled. "Like father, like daughter."I froze. He'd just claimed he didn't remember my dad.So, he was lying to me.And why...My chest tightened as I dug my nails into my palm.Thorsten let out a soft laugh. "It's because Matthew keeps bringing it up. Otherwise, why would I remember someone I met twice, over ten years ago?"My throat tightened. "Why does Matthew keep bringing up my dad?"Thorsten got up. His bodyguard started to move, but Thorsten waved him off. He walked over to the floor-to-ceiling window, looking out at the lush lawn outside. "What do you think Matthew would say about your dad?"He really knew how to play this game.I had no id
Matthew and Lindey had been like family to me, but I'd been terrified that all that love might've just been a lie.Could I really trust Thorsten's word on this?I knew I shouldn't have been so paranoid, but after losing my parents, it was hard not to be.I wanted to ask more, to get to the bottom of everything, but the words got stuck in my throat. So I'd stayed quiet."You probably didn't know this, but Matthew had a secret stash," Thorsten said, catching me off guard.He chuckled softly. "Relax. It's not what you think. Matthew and I are completely different."I couldn't help but smile a little. So Thorsten did have some self-awareness after all.The internet had been full of gossip about his playboy antics. They said he'd had more girlfriends than he could count, but only one kid—Cole."Matthew and Lindey had a great relationship," I'd said, trying to steer the conversation somewhere safer.Thorsten had laughed again, and I couldn't tell if he'd found me amusing or just nai
"Keira!"Brad flashed me a cheeky grin, his eyes sparkling with mischief.Great. You really can run into jerks anywhere. I forced a smile. "What, did you get yourself in trouble again?"Someone like him wouldn't be here otherwise.He nodded without an ounce of shame. "Yep, driving without a license."That reminded me of him inviting me to his birthday party. He was still underage."Congratulations," I said dryly."Thanks!" he replied, completely ignoring my sarcasm.I had more important things to focus on, so I turned back to the officer, who was still glued to the computer screen. My dad's case must have been too old; they hadn't found anything yet."What are you doing here?" Brad leaned closer, clearly intrigued."Just handling some business," I brushed him off."What kind of business? Need any help? If it's something tricky, I can get someone to assist you," Brad offered, like he was trying to be some kind of hero.I shot him a mocking smile. "You should probably focus o
Brad's six-foot frame practically knocked me over.I stumbled, ready to go off on him, but then Tanya stormed over, her face twisted with rage.For a split second, I thought, 'Wow, she looks awful.' I couldn't believe I'd ever thought she was pretty.I guess it's true what they say: looks can show what's inside. Tanya's heart was twisted and ugly, and now her face matched."Brad Twain, get over here," Tanya barked at Brad."Keira, help me," Brad whimpered from behind me, sounding like a scared little kid.This was getting out of hand."Let go!" I snapped, feeling beyond frustrated."Please, help me!" Brad whined, clinging to me like some kind of human Velcro.I gritted my teeth, lifted my foot, and stomped on his."OW!" He yelped, finally letting go. I wiped my arm like I could scrub off his clinginess and took a step back.But Tanya blocked me again. I shot her a glare. "Move.""I didn't know you could be so heartless," she hissed.I felt my blood start to boil. "Tanya Tw
People like Jace and Tanya only picked on those they thought wouldn't fight back.They treated me like this because my silence and indifference made them think I was an easy target, never realizing it was just because I didn't give a damn.But if they wanted to see me as weak, it was time to show them that even the quietest knife had a sharp edge.My words made Jace's expression darken instantly. "Rea...""Let. Go." I snapped again.But he still held on, his grip tight. "I'm not blaming you. I just... wanted to let you know.""Are you trying to piss me off?" Each word was like a dagger, meant to cut deep. "Save it. I don't want to hear it."Jace's jaw clenched, and a vein pulsed at his temple. He was trying so hard to keep his cool.The way he looked at me... In the past, he would've walked away by now.But today, he didn't. He held my gaze for a moment before finally saying, "The amusement park is opening as planned. I want you to be there."I felt my breath hitch, the refus
"Kiki, tonight Daddy will watch the stars with you.""Kiki, be a good girl and take your medicine.""Kiki..."..."Dad, Mom..." I reached out for them, but my hands were pinned down, and I heard a familiar voice calling, "Kiki, Kiki, wake up, wake up..."I felt two hands gently cup my face.Hayden's anxious face came into focus. His thumb brushed softly across my cheek. "Kiki, it's me."It was Hayden.I was finally pulled out of the heartbreaking dream, but as reality set in, the pain only got worse.I bit down on my lip, so hard I could taste the metallic tang of blood.In the next second, Hayden pried my mouth open. "Kiki, stop. Don't hurt yourself. Please, listen to me..."His voice kept calling my name, but all I could see were my parents' faces."Ah!" I screamed again.Hayden pulled me into his arms, and I collapsed against his shoulder, sobbing uncontrollably.I pounded my fists against him, but no one could understand the depth of my pain, how much I just wanted to
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