"I get it," Hayden said.I was so exasperated that I let out a laugh. "Now I understand why you're still single in your thirties—you're way too boring!""You think I'm boring too?" he asked softly.I thought about how he seemed pretty clueless when it came to flirting, and I couldn't help but smile. "I mean, you're not exactly Mr. Smooth-Talker."Hayden was quiet for a few seconds. "I always figured sweet-talking was just fancy lying."I blinked, caught off guard. That was... different."Do you want me to sweet-talk you?" he asked again.I mean, who doesn't like a little flattery? But it should come from the heart, not be some fake act—like it was with Jace."Nah, just be yourself," I said, snuggling closer into his chest. "You're kinda perfect just the way you are.""If I proposed to you, would you say yes?" Hayden suddenly brought up the marriage thing, picking up right where we left off.I hadn't really thought about it, and now that he was asking so casually, I just blurt
"Why aren't you answering?" I asked casually."I will," Hayden said, like it was no big deal. "I'll take the call in a minute. You should get up, wash up, and have breakfast."I raised an eyebrow. "You made breakfast?"I thought he'd been by my side the whole time. Turns out he'd already whipped something up and then come back to bed to keep me company.As expected, exceptional people are always putting in the work behind the scenes."Yeah, I made some banana oatmeal. It's got extra electrolytes to help you recharge," he said, ruffling my hair.Hayden left to take his call while I slipped my hand out from under the blanket, staring at the ring on my finger. I couldn't resist taking a picture and posting it on social media with the caption: [Limited Edition].I scrolled through my feed for a bit before finally dragging myself out of bed. Hayden was still on the phone, so I didn't think much of it and headed to the bathroom.It wasn't until I got there that I noticed the ointment
I had said that, but I didn't think he'd take it this seriously—like, doing that during a work trip?Noticing my confusion, Hayden leaned back in his chair. "I talked to Mr. Shane about it.""Oh," I replied, not feeling that there was anything wrong, and took another spoonful of oatmeal.But after a few bites, I paused. "Wait, so are you guys, like, super close or something? You asked for time off for me, and he just agreed? And then he personally let me know?"Hayden kept eating his breakfast, completely unfazed. "Not really."I laughed. "Not really? It's like he treats you... like you're royalty or something."I meant more like his dad, honestly. It was like, whatever Hayden asked for, Ron just had to go along with it."Close enough," Hayden said with a smirk. "He needs me to develop new products and make money for him. So if I ask for something, he's not gonna say no."Wow, okay. I gave him a mental double thumbs-up, totally speechless.People who know they've got skills ju
"Yes, this is Keira. Who's calling?" I asked, my eyes drifting back to Jace.He didn't seem to notice me, heading over to a nearby seat on his own."I'm from Amour Eternel Assurance, agent number A8338. Four years ago, you and Mr. Johnston purchased a love insurance policy from us. The policy term has expired, and we need to verify some information with you."A chill ran down my spine. I glanced instinctively at Hayden.He had been holding me close, but the moment I took the call, he stepped back, giving me space.Hayden was always so considerate, always making sure I felt safe and supported, but never stifled."Could you please confirm if you and Mr. Johnston are currently in a relationship or married?" the agent asked.My eyes flicked back to Jace. He was on his own call, a deep frown creasing his forehead."Ms. Kay, are you still there?" the agent pressed, probably wondering why I'd gone silent.I swallowed hard. "Yes, I'm here. We..."'We've already broken up.' I was just
"This is an airport terminal. There are people everywhere, including kids," I reminded Hayden.He just hummed. "I know.""Then why are you still..." My face turned red."Please," he said softly but firmly.I figured he'd noticed Jace too and was probably acting out of jealousy. Maybe he just wanted to send a message, make sure Jace knew to back off for good.Taking a deep breath, I closed my eyes, bracing myself for Hayden's kiss right there in the bustling terminal.But instead of feeling his lips, I felt something heavy slip into my hand.I opened my eyes and looked at Hayden, then down at my hand, now holding a small pouch."What's this?" I asked, totally confused.Hayden nodded toward the pouch, urging me to take a look.Still confused, I opened it and found two bank cards, along with a couple of documents.One was his discharge certificate from the army, and the other was a certificate showing his record of blood donations."What does this mean?" I asked, still not get
Was that even a real question? No one likes being lied to.I looked at him, feeling a little defensive. "So, are you planning to deceive me in the future, or have you already lied about something?"He hesitated, then said, "...No."I couldn't tell if he was being completely honest, but I made my stance clear. "Hayden, I won't put up with being lied to."He swallowed hard, his Adam's apple bobbing. "I understand."It was better to set boundaries upfront. I was making it clear now: if he ever dared to lie to me, he couldn't expect me to just let it go.The boarding announcement came over the loudspeaker, calling for a flight heading overseas.I couldn't help but think of Jace, and sure enough, I spotted him wheeling his luggage toward the security checkpoint.What was he going abroad for? Business? Or... something else?"Kiki, we should head to security," Hayden's voice pulled me back to reality."Oh!" I snapped out of it and looked at him.Guilt washed over me. I was worried
Was he seriously teasing me with that straight face?But he was always so principled! It made me wonder if he was serious or if I was just overthinking it."Don't believe me? Try it," Hayden said, his eyes warm and steady, making my cheeks flush even more.I playfully pinched his arm, pretending to be annoyed. "Do you actually want to hear what I have to say or not? Because if not, I'll just keep it to myself.""I'm listening!" he said quickly.I glanced out the window and told him what Wayne had shared with me the other day. After I finished, Hayden nodded, his expression thoughtful. "So, are you worried?""Yeah, but I'm not worried about Jace. I'm concerned about RiverwaveCorp," I clarified quickly."I know," Hayden said, pressing a gentle kiss to the top of my head. "You feel like this whole situation is way more complicated than it seems, right?"He understood me so well."You're not wrong to be concerned. It's possible everything, starting with Wayne's return, was part of
By the time the plane touched down, the sky was already turning a deep shade of orange and pink."Wow, Hayden, this is the most beautiful sunset I've ever seen, " I said, practically glued to the window."It is," he agreed, sounding casual, as always.He was like that—a man of few words—but I'd gotten used to it.It wasn't until we got into the car and I scrolled through my phone that I saw his latest post. He'd snapped a pic of that very sunset and captioned it: [Because you're here with me.]My heart did this weird little flip.It didn't seem to connect at first, but then I got it: I'd said, "This is the most beautiful sunset I've ever seen." And he was saying, "It is, 'because you're here with me.'"Well, alright then!If anyone said Hayden didn't know how to show affection, I'd be the first to call them out.He was way too good at it."Hayden, are you back this time to finally tie the knot?" teased the guy driving us. One of Hayden's friends, he'd been waiting for us at t
"Got it!" Lena responded cheerfully. She washed her hands before sitting back down, picking up the utensils Aaron had prepared for her, and diving into her dumpling-and-dipping-sauce breakfast combo. "Uncle, why aren’t you eating?" She had already eaten two dumplings before realizing he hadn’t touched any. "I’m not hungry." Three words. Which meant he hadn’t eaten yet. "There’s too much food. I can’t finish it all by myself. Eat some too," Lena said casually as she picked up a dumpling with her chopsticks and held it up to his mouth. She did it so naturally—until she realized what she had just done. Aaron froze for a second, surprised by her gesture. The moment of hesitation made her realize too—wasn’t this kind of inappropriate? She was just about to pull her hand back when— He leaned in and took the dumpling straight into his mouth. Lena’s face flushed red in an instant. She hurriedly withdrew her hand, lowered her head, and focused on eating. Meanwhile, Aar
She was shocked to see him here so early. Especially today—a day when everyone was celebrating the new year, spending time with their loved ones—and yet, he was here. With her. Lena wasn’t made of stone. She felt it. A warmth, an unspoken emotion that settled deep in her chest. "Uncle, why are you here so early?" She walked over, hands casually tucked into her coat pockets. "I didn’t want you to go hungry," Aaron replied simply, lifting the bag of food in his hand. He glanced at her break room. "Open the door." She unlocked the door and stepped inside, with him following close behind. Her break room was small—a single desk and chair, a narrow bed, and a tiny wardrobe. Nothing extra, nothing unnecessary. "Sit down, Uncle," she said naturally, settling onto the bed while motioning for him to take the chair. Aaron placed the food down and asked, "Did you sleep at all?" "I did," Lena replied. But as soon as the words left her mouth, she thought of that dream—and let o
"If it weren’t for my goddaughter, I wouldn’t even bother with you," Lena said, gently rocking the baby in her arms. "Right, little Aurora? Your godmother just adores you." "Come on, Aurora, it’s time to eat," Lena said as she carefully placed the baby in Keira's arms. Although it was her first time, Keira wasn’t embarrassed. She followed Lena’s instructions, trying to breastfeed for the first time. But the process was… painful. And since her posture was incorrect, neither of them got it right—Keira ended up covered in sweat from struggling, and her baby still hadn’t eaten properly. Panic set in. Anxiety crept up her spine. "What do I do?" Keira asked, her voice tight with unease. "It’s okay. This happens at first. Let’s transition with formula for now," Lena reassured Keira before glancing at Hayden, who had been standing there the whole time, watching anxiously—and sweating just as much as Keira was. "Go make your daughter a bottle," she told him. Hayden, the man wh
That conversation… Lena shuddered. Yeah, she had definitely come back too early. It was best to leave now before she ruined the mood for those two inside. Not wanting to hear any more, she quickly turned to leave—only to smack her leg against a nearby chair. The pain was real, but worse was the noise it made, drawing attention to her presence. Inside the room, Hayden—already feeling awkward from Keira's teasing—froze. The sound from outside made him even more uncomfortable. Keira couldn’t hold back her laughter. The moment Keira burst out laughing, however, pain shot through her lower abdomen. "Ah—ow!" Keira gasped. Hayden immediately panicked. "What’s wrong? Where does it hurt?" Hearing her cry, Lena rushed in as well. "What happened?" "I laughed too hard and pulled my stitches," Keira explained, gripping Hayden’s hand tightly. Lena glared at Keira. "You’re a mother now, and yet you’re still acting like a child. Do you have any idea what condition you’re in?"
"It’s fine. I can do it," Hayden said naturally as he picked up the basin and went to fetch warm water. The moment he stepped out, Lena turned to scold Keira. "You went through so much pain to give birth to his child. Why would you feel bad about letting him do something for you?" "It’s not that I feel bad—I just feel embarrassed," Keira whispered in defense. Lena rolled her eyes. "So dramatic." Keira shot her a glare in return. "Just wait until it’s your turn. When your husband has to handle your private matters, you’ll understand how awkward it is." The moment the words left Keira's mouth, she saw Lena’s face turn red. Lena quickly hugged the baby and turned away. But Keira caught it. Something was off. "Wait… why are you blushing?" Keira asked suspiciously. "I am not blushing," she denied immediately. What Keira didn’t know was that her words had triggered the memory of Lena's ridiculous dream—where she had been lying on the delivery bed, cursing Aaron while gi
The moment she finished cursing, Lena jolted awake. She sat there, dazed. What kind of ridiculous dream was that? She had assisted in delivering countless babies before, but this was the first time she had ever dreamed of giving birth herself. And not only that—she had dreamed of giving birth to Aaron’s child? That was beyond outrageous. Absolutely absurd! What a way to start the new year. That dream was anything but beautiful. Lena ran a hand down her face, shaking off the lingering unease. She quickly got up, poured herself a glass of water to calm down, and then left the break room. Back in the hospital room, Hayden was feeding Keira. Keira was perfectly capable of eating on her own, but he insisted on feeding her, saying that she was in a special period and should be treated like a queen. That this was the time to learn how to be spoiled properly. Fine. If this was how he wanted to make up for the suffering she endured giving birth to their daughter, she’d give
Keira looked at Lena and smiled as she followed up on Hayden’s words. "You’re family. It’s different." Lena shot her a subtle glare before stuffing the red envelope into her pocket and saying, "Give me the rest. I’ll hand them out for you later." Hayden passed her the prepared stack of red envelopes, and as she took them, she asked, "What about the other departments?" Hayden and Aaron exchanged a glance and chuckled. "Of course. Every medical staff member in this hospital gets one." "President Hart, you’re too generous," Lena said, giving him a thumbs-up. With that, she took the envelopes and left. Aaron glanced at the time. "If there’s nothing else, I’ll be heading back now." "Mm. Happy New Year!" Hayden said, offering his holiday wishes. "Happy New Year to your whole family," Aaron replied, adding a few extra words that made both Hayden and me instinctively turn toward the baby in the bassinet. From today onward, we were officially a family of three. Outside the h
When Keira returned to the hospital room, she was greeted by a sight that made her pause. The room was decorated with fresh flowers and balloons, and beside her bed, there was a small cart filled with various gift boxes. The atmosphere was so festive that if someone walked in, they might have thought it was a birthday party rather than a postpartum recovery room. "What’s all this?" Lena asked on Keira's behalf. "A reward for my wife," Hayden answered, his hand still holding Keira's as he gazed at her with deep affection. "She went through so much. This is my way of thanking her." Keira smiled faintly. "I don’t need any of this." "Whether you need it or not is one thing. Giving it to you is my choice," Hayden said, pressing a kiss onto Keira's fingertips. "Even if everything I have already belongs to you, I still want to give you more." "Such a loving husband—honestly, what more could a woman ask for?" Lena teased before patting Keira's hospital bed. "But if President Hart r
Elder Mitchell wasn’t buying it. "That just means you guys didn’t really want to give anything. If you truly wanted to, there’s no such thing as a gift that can’t be delivered." The two old men started bickering again, but Hayden ignored them. Instead, he kept his eyes on the infant bathing room. Before long, the nurse finished bathing the baby and carried her out. Hayden reached out to take her, but the two elders immediately moved to get closer. He blocked them without hesitation. "Don’t you know old people’s eyes are toxic? You shouldn’t be staring at her for too long." Elder Hart: "…" Elder Mitchell: "…" With that, Hayden carried the baby and walked away. The two old men trailed after him, hoping to catch another glimpse, but Hayden wasn’t about to give them the chance. "Congratulations," Aaron, who had been standing nearby, offered his well wishes. "It’s a daughter. Take a look," Hayden said, his pride practically radiating off him. Aaron lowered his gaze to the