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
Why was Wayne calling me so late?I frowned as Hayden added, "He's sent you a few messages, too."I still felt groggy as he handed me the phone. Everything was a blur, and I was too drained to think straight. Hayden gave me a reassuring look and said, "You don't have to answer if you don't want to."I hesitated, my thumb hovering over the screen, unsure whether to pick up. Before I could decide, the call went to voicemail on its own.I took the phone and opened the messages. They were the ones from earlier this morning that I hadn't read—all still marked as unread:[Rea, can we meet up?][Rea, there's something I'm not sure if I should tell you.][Rea, please reply when you see this.]He'd sent those in the morning, and there were two more from the afternoon:[Rea, I'm waiting for your reply.][Rea, are you really busy?]Seeing them all lined up, I could practically feel Wayne's anxiety.He'd been waiting for me to respond all day. Whatever he was debating whether or not to
"Wait, are you planning to ditch Hayden now that you've, uh, had your fun?" Lena asked.I couldn't believe Lena actually thought that about me."Uh, what? Where did that come from?"Lena snorted. "Girl, you drained him like a Capri Sun, and now you're gonna act all innocent?"I blinked, still trying to process. Lena pointed to her neck, then plopped onto my bed, grinning like a cat that got the cream. "Didn't know you had it in you. Guess you unleashed twenty years of pent-up energy on poor Hayden, huh?"I cringed, remembering the hickey I'd purposely left on his neck. "It's not like that, okay—"Lena held up a hand, cutting me off. "Nah, save it."I let out a helpless laugh. True, explaining would only dig me a deeper hole."So, are you feeling better now?" she asked, her tone going from nosy to serious in a split second.I knew what she meant—about the whole thing with my parents' accident.I closed my eyes and stayed silent.Lena sat on the edge of my bed and gave my hand
"How'd you end up sick?" Wayne asked as he stepped in, holding a bouquet of flowers, his face etched with worry.I suddenly felt awkward lying down now that he was here, so I grabbed the bed railing, trying to sit up. But Wayne gently pushed me back down. "You don't have to get up.""I'm fine," I protested, still struggling to sit up.With Hayden, lying down didn't feel weird or uncomfortable. I guess that's why he felt different from other guys.Wayne's eyes stayed locked on mine. "Seriously, what happened?"How was I supposed to explain that I'd spiraled after learning more about my parents? It wasn't like I couldn't say it—I just didn't want to.Lately, I'd gotten so used to shrugging things off, keeping it all in. Easier that way."Just low blood sugar. I fainted," I lied.Wayne didn't look convinced, his eyes scanning my face like he was trying to read my mind. Before he could start asking more questions, I cut him off. "So, what did you want to tell me?"His mouth opened
"Wayne, Jace is an adult. He has to deal with the consequences of his choices," I said.Whether Matthew kicked him out or cut ties, it was all on Jace."I get that," Wayne sighed, "but seeing him and Dad at each other's throats is stressful. And if he leaves the company, it's definitely going to affect business."I gave him a small, knowing smile. "Isn't that why you're here?"Wayne looked taken aback. "I've never wanted to run the company. That's why I left in the first place."Only he knew if that was the whole story, but it wasn't my place to judge.Still, I shared my thoughts anyway. "Matthew must have a backup plan. If he's ready to let Jace go, it's because he knows the business will keep running without him," I said, keeping my tone practical. "The world doesn't stop turning for anyone."Wayne just stared at me, speechless. He finally gave a bitter smile. "I guess I've been too narrow-minded.""You just care too much," I said, giving him an out.He looked at me. "Rea, y
The scene was as awkward as you'd expect.Except for Hayden."Just a moment," he said calmly, carrying me over to the couch like it was the most natural thing in the world.He didn't rush out either. Instead, he took his time, wiping my hands with a wet wipe. "Eat first. The soup's a little hot, so take it slow."Wayne hovered awkwardly at the door, clearly unsure if he should step inside or make a run for it. Even I felt the tension."I can manage, thanks," I said, hoping Hayden would take the hint and go see what Wayne needed.Before leaving, Hayden made sure to open all the food containers, even placing the utensils in front of me with such care it almost felt like a final blow to Wayne.Standing there in the doorway, Wayne had to watch this whole display of tenderness. I couldn't imagine how much it must've hurt, considering his feelings for me."What did you want to talk about?" Hayden asked as he walked over to the door.Wayne stepped out, and they started talking in hus
Hayden let out this dramatic sigh, like I was too much to handle. "Because you're the only one who makes me forget all my principles."He wasn't even trying to be smooth, but everything he said sounded like it belonged on some sappy Pinterest board. He didn't say he loved me, but it was written all over his face.I swallowed, still chewing on my cornmeal pancake. "Hayden, get over here.""What for?" He looked at me, confused."Just come here when I tell you to," I demanded, probably a little too bossy.He stood up and moved closer. As soon as he sat down, I rested my head on his shoulder.He seemed surprised, but I mumbled, "I can eat better leaning on you."He laughed softly, this warm sound that made me smile, too.After dinner, we left the hospital and headed home. Once Hayden had me all settled in, I asked, "Are you staying here tonight, or going back to your place?""Staying here!" he replied without a second thought.I suddenly remembered him doing push-ups and taking c
This question—"Willing?"—kept echoing in Lena’s mind. It haunted her so much that she spent yet another sleepless night. Her answer was clear: she couldn’t. She knew Aaron had made his move and wouldn’t give up easily. But she simply couldn’t agree. And if she didn’t say yes, there was nothing he could do about it. Besides, she truly saw him as her younger uncle—there was no way she could see him as a boyfriend. “Dr. Lane, not sleeping well lately?” the hospital director asked as soon as he saw her. One glance, and he could tell she looked exhausted. “A bit of insomnia,” Lena admitted honestly. “Is it because you don’t have a boyfriend? Want me to introduce you to a few?” The director, ever so responsible, even took it upon himself to worry about her personal life. Lena glanced at the sparse hair on his head and chuckled. “Director, I’ll find someone myself. No need for you to concern yourself.” Aaron hadn’t gotten an answer from her, nor had he pursued her aggressively
"I've thought about it, and I have a plan. I’ll make them accept it. This is something I need to consider. You don’t have to worry," Aaron said with a tone of responsibility. Lena fell silent. A few seconds later, she replied, "Even if they accept it, I can't... Uncle, I’ve always seen you as my uncle and never felt anything else." Ron’s apartment was on the fifth floor, giving Lena a clear view of his face. His expression was slightly tense as he continued looking up at her. Though she couldn’t see his eyes, she could still feel the depth of emotion in them, and the loneliness he must have felt after being rejected. Lena lowered her gaze, unable to watch any longer. "Uncle, we have such a good relationship, don’t ruin it, please." "Do you know how many years I’ve liked you?" Aaron suddenly asked. Lena’s heart skipped a beat. How many years had he liked her? Did that mean he’d had feelings for her all along? But he had never mentioned it, and she had never sensed it. He
"Cough, cough..." Lena started coughing uncontrollably as Ron casually spoke. Even a real son-in-law wouldn’t start calling his girlfriend’s mother "Mom" right away, let alone someone pretending to be one. Lena stared at him blankly, and Ron winked at her with a gesture that seemed to say "Don’t worry." He then turned to speak to Briana on the phone. "Mom, I’ve been with Lena for a few months now. She’s been too shy to introduce me to you because she was afraid you wouldn’t approve of me... Yes, yes, we’re basically an underground couple." Lena rolled her eyes in disbelief. What kind of nonsense was this? She tried to grab his phone, not wanting to hear any more of his fabrication, but Ron dodged and continued speaking to Briana. "Mom, I’m really her boyfriend, not fake... Otherwise, why would she be here with me so late at night, right?" Ron certainly had a way with words, and Lena realized that asking him to pretend to be her boyfriend might be the best decision she’d made
Lena took a deep breath. As expected, her mother was not going to let this slide, but she still didn’t give up and continued testing her. "So why is it okay for others but not for me?" Briana scoffed. "If you’re looking for a man ten years older, are you looking for a husband or another father? And if you want someone younger, they’re not even of legal age yet—are you planning to take advantage of them? And what’s with all this talk about uncles or cousins? You want your dad and me to jump into the river?" Lena deflated. If she were to really get together with Aaron, they wouldn’t need to jump into a river—their blood pressure would probably be enough to do them in. "Lena, have you done something that goes against ethics and morals?" As sharp as ever, her mother quickly turned the tables and started questioning her. "What are you talking about? What could I have done? You tell me," Lena denied with all the confidence she could muster. Briana didn’t believe her. "Really? If yo
Ron’s apartment was a three-bedroom place, with two bedrooms and a study, all clean and neatly organized. Lena was staying in the guest room. The curtains and furnishings in the room, especially the vanity, looked as if they were specifically chosen for a girl. "Dr. Lane, don’t misunderstand. This room isn’t my ex-girlfriend’s, and you're the first woman, aside from my mom, to stay here," Ron quickly explained. He told Lena that this room was reserved for his mother. Sometimes, when she had an impulsive moment or got into a fight with his dad, she’d stay over for a while. That’s why the room was decorated in a feminine way. Lena could feel it too; the room had a distinctly maternal scent. It made her think of the times she used to sleep in her mother’s room when she was a child. Her mother had told her to sleep in her own bed, but Lena refused and would sneak back into her mother’s room in the middle of the night, a habit that continued until she was ten. One day, her mother
Keira didn’t know what it was like for other women during pregnancy, but for her, it was just swollen, aching legs. "Seems like the news is pretty well-informed. Yep, you’d better get the red envelopes ready," Hayden's tone was surprisingly similar to Lena’s. "Dr. Lane wasn’t serious with you. Don’t take it to heart," Hayden reminded him. Ron laughed. "Why can’t I take it seriously? I’m sincere with her, and she’ll definitely see it. Who knows, she might even fall in love with me, and then my fake relationship might turn real." He sounded pretty confident. "I’m serious, not joking," Hayden and Keira both assumed he was just playing around, trying to tease them. On the other end of the call, Ron fell silent. "I’m serious too. Actually, I’ve liked Dr. Lane for a long time. I feel like this is a sign from fate, that the heavens are helping me because of my sincere feelings." Keira was speechless, glancing at Hayden. He raised an eyebrow. "Are you serious, or are you just j
When Lena opened the video call, Keira saw she was in a three-bedroom apartment. Keira was surprised. She hadn’t realized Lena had already moved into Ron’s place so quickly. Curiously, she asked, “Where are you?” “At my husband’s house,” she said without any shame at all. Seeing her carefree attitude, Keira could tell she had gotten what she wanted, but was still shocked. “Ron agreed, and you’re already living with him?” “Yeah, get the red envelopes ready. Make sure you load them up with a lot of cash,” Lena said, acting as if it were all part of the plan. Keira didn’t laugh with her. “Lena, it’s easy to get on the ship, but hard to get off. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.” “Don’t worry, Mr. Shane and I have a contract. It’s a clear-cut transaction,” Lena said, speaking as if she were very clever. Keira wasn’t sure what Ron was thinking or how Lena had managed to convince him, but it seemed like they were both on the same page, and the deal was done. Since it was already d
"Sure!" Ron agreed without hesitation. Lena silently gave herself a thumbs-up. She had always said Ron was a good guy, and now she could tell he was genuinely pleasant. She sent him the address of a café, which was not far from where Ron worked. Before she had even prepared what she was going to say, Ron had already arrived. He immediately apologized, "Sorry for keeping you waiting." This man's charm and good nature instantly shot up. Lena felt more and more certain that asking him to help was the right decision. Lena wasn't unfamiliar with him, but she still couldn't help but focus on Ron's face. He wore frameless glasses, a casual suit jacket, and neat trousers. He wasn't the type to blind people with his good looks, but he was still very attractive. What stood out most was that he had a warm smile that made anyone around him feel happy. They said a smiling woman was lucky, and a smiling man brought good fortune as well. "Did you ask me here just to admire a handsome ma
Lena's scalp tingled, and she didn't dare look her mother in the eye. "Don't act like a quail. Lift your head and look at me when you speak," Briana, her mother, was very perceptive. She could read Lena's small gestures clearly. Lena still didn't lift her head. She just replied, "I don't know. Don't ask me." Briana walked over and grabbed her hand as she tried to pack up her things. "Stop fooling me." "Mom, this is a personal matter. It's between me and my uncle. If you ask me about his business, how would I know? What do you think I am to him? Does he tell me everything?" Lena said in frustration. Briana was taken aback by her harsh response. After a few moments of silence, she said, "I suppose that's true." Lena secretly breathed a sigh of relief. She knew that with Briana's persistent nature, she'd probably go find Aaron. If he revealed anything, she'd be in trouble again. She quickly tried to calm her mother down. "Mom, no matter how much you care about your brother,