"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
As Hayden and I got out of the car, Yuna was chilling in the yard, rocking in a chair, totally absorbed in her book.The breeze played with her dress, making the scene almost unreal, like something out of a movie.She was so deep in her book, she didn't even notice we'd pulled up until Zach yelled, "Yuna, guess who's here!"Without even looking up, Yuna fired back, "Zach, your car sounds like a lawnmower. I knew it was you."I laughed as Zach scratched his neck, embarrassed. "Yeah, well, it's not just me. I brought someone."Yuna just flipped another page, still not looking up.Zach was about to say more, but I waved him off and walked over to her. Standing behind her, I peeked at the book. "Still reading this? Thought you'd finished it."I remembered seeing it on her nightstand last time I was here—one of those sappy romance novels.She froze for a second, then turned. Her face lit up when she saw me. "Keira!"I laughed as Yuna jumped up, but the second she spotted Hayden beh
Lena was so startled that she was about to ask what he was doing when, suddenly, her wrist tightened. A sharp pain shot through her wrist bone, and the heavy weight in her hand disappeared. Aaron held the bracelet, staring at her for two whole seconds before turning around and walking away. Watching his retreating figure, Lena’s lips parted slightly, but in the end, she said nothing. After all, she had planned to return it anyway. Since he wanted to take it back himself, she might as well let him. At least it saved her the trouble of dealing with it. She just wondered what excuse he would come up with to return it on her behalf. Naturally, after that, it would be awkward for her to go back inside. So, she sent a message to Ron, saying that an emergency had come up at the hospital and she had to rush back. At times like this, she was grateful for her profession. No matter when she used this excuse, no one would question it—after all, it was a matter of life and death. Afte
Lena: “...” Who said that just because someone delivers vegetables, the garden is guaranteed to have a bountiful harvest? She glanced at Ron, silently signaling for help. He immediately understood—but instead of refusing on her behalf, he reached out, took her hand, and assisted his grandmother in slipping the bracelet onto her wrist. Lena: “...” She had wanted him to help her reject it! Why was he helping her wear it instead? "If you don’t accept it, my grandma will think you don’t like me and will scold me," Ron whispered, his fingers gently pressing against her hand. Then he lowered his voice even more and added, "Be good." His words weren’t loud, but they were just enough for everyone to hear. Lena shuddered. The sheer cheesiness of it sent a wave of goosebumps across her skin. Left with no other choice, she forced out a polite, "Thank you, Grandpa and Grandma." As she spoke, she unintentionally lifted her gaze—and locked eyes with Aaron. Bright sunlight streamed
Lena didn’t need to turn around to recognize the voice—she had just heard it last night. "Aunt Xandra," Lena greeted Xandra, who approached her excitedly. "It really is you!" Xandra looked at Ron in surprise. "Cousin, so Lena is your girlfriend?" Ron raised an eyebrow. "Why is she calling you ‘Aunt Xandra’?" Xandra blushed slightly, and Lena explained, "She’s my uncle’s girlfriend." "Oh? What a coincidence. Looks like we’re about to become one big happy family," Ron teased, his tone laced with amusement. Lena hadn’t expected to run into Xandra there. Fortunately, her relationship with Ron was fake—otherwise, things would get complicated. If she called Xandra "Aunt Xandra" while Xandra called Ron "Cousin," their family connections would become a mess. "Your uncle will be here soon. I’m waiting for him," Xandra said cheerfully, making Lena’s head ache. Why did she keep running into Aaron wherever she went? There was no avoiding him. "Well, you wait here. We’re heading i
Perhaps he had made the announcement and left early to avoid any awkward encounters. Lena’s mind spun with possibilities as she made her way downstairs and into the courtyard. "Good morning, my dearest Grandpa, Grandma, and Mother." Their moods were bright, so she decided to match their cheerfulness. "Awake already?" her grandmother responded first. Lena ran over to her, wrapping her arms around her shoulders and planting a kiss. "Grandma, you smell amazing." "Of course I do! I used the perfume Xandra gave me—it’s from the Little Carriage collection. Isn’t it divine?" her grandmother replied with a proud smile. The "Little Carriage" her grandmother referred to was a designer perfume brand. Her grandmother had always loved dressing up, doing her makeup, and using YSL international perfumes. Xandra clearly knew how to cater to her tastes. No doubt Aaron had told her exactly what to buy. Lena moved over to Briana, wrapping her in a hug as well and lowering her voice to ask
Lena had been feigning sleep so perfectly, yet who would’ve thought Aaron would pull a move like this? What was she supposed to do now? She didn’t dare move. Any movement would make things even more awkward. So, she kept up the act, letting Aaron carry her upstairs and open her bedroom door. Her face was pressed against his chest, so she discreetly opened her eyes, but all she could see was his white shirt and catch the clean, refreshing scent of pinewood on him. Yes, pinewood. It wasn’t the scent of makeup, nor was it perfume. Did this mean he hadn’t hugged Xandra? That nothing intimate had happened between them? The thought barely crossed her mind before she mentally rolled her eyes at herself. What are you thinking? If he hugged or kissed his girlfriend, wouldn’t that be completely normal? Lena, come to your senses! This is your Uncle Aaron. Whether he’s part of the Ace family or not, he’s still your Uncle Aaron. Uncle Aaron… As she repeated the title in her mind
"You silly girl, what nonsense are you spouting?" Briana gave Lena a light slap on the arm. "Mom, if I marry Uncle Aaron, then he won’t have a reason to leave, right? Isn’t that a good thing?" Lena continued to test the waters. "Good thing? What good is there in that? Do you have any idea how many people would gossip about you, me, and the Ace family if that happened?" Briana’s concerns mirrored Lena’s own fears. "But Uncle Aaron has already stated that he’s no longer part of the Ace family. Who would still have anything to say?" Lena argued, trying to persuade her mother. Briana shook her head. "People will always find something to gossip about. Even if he’s not part of the Ace family, they’ll still wag their tongues." "Didn’t you always say, ‘Walk your own path and let others talk’? Let them say what they want. It’s not like we’re losing a piece of flesh," Lena quipped, spouting her own brand of twisted logic. Briana finally realized something was off. She twisted Lena’s
"I'm just amazed that pregnancy has made you smarter. Most people say pregnancy makes women forgetful for three years," Hayden teased Keira with a rare grin. Keira gave him a gentle kick. "Did Aaron ask you to pass on his thoughts?" "No, it's just what I think," Hayden replied earnestly. He would never lie to her. Keira sighed softly. "Love between two people isn’t something outsiders can meddle with. But maybe Aaron’s actions today will help Lena realize what’s in her heart." "Let’s wait and see," Hayden said, finishing the massage before applying lotion and stretch mark cream to Keira's belly. "Baby, give Dad a little kick," Hayden said, stroking her belly. Right after he spoke, the baby really did kick. Keira couldn’t help but laugh; this little one was so obedient to their dad. "Just a few kicks, alright? Mommy needs to sleep, so don’t bother her," Hayden instructed. The baby obediently kicked a few more times before settling down. Keira was curious. "I think our ba
Keira stared at the messages Lena had just sent her. She could sense something was up, so she immediately called her, but Lena declined the call. Instead, she replied with another message: [I’m at my grandparents’ house, and my mother is here too.] Keira had no choice but to keep texting her: [Did Aaron upset you today?] Lena sent Keira a string of ellipses. That endless row of dots made her even more curious. [What happened exactly?] Keira pressed. Lena replied: [He brought his girlfriend home today.] After sending that message, she also sent Keira a screenshot of a payment receipt and added: [Spot the highlight.] Keira zoomed in on the image and finally noticed the note: Name Change Fee. [Wow, how generous! 600,000 dollars just for a name change fee. What did you call her to make it worth that much?] Keira was shocked. Lena then sent Keira a voice message, explaining the situation in detail. At the end, she added: [He used to tell me how long he’d liked me, but now he’s
"Aaron, I want to add Lena on WhatsApp." Xandra actually asked Aaron, gently tugging on his sleeve with a delicate and endearing expression that made her look pitifully lovable. Aaron glanced at her, his gaze filled with a warmth Lena was all too familiar with. Once upon a time, he had looked at her the same way. Now, he could look at other women like that. So, never believe a man when he says things like, I've liked you for years. "If you want to add her, then add her," Aaron's approval made Xandra look at him with delight. Lena, however, truly didn’t want to add her. She and Xandra weren’t close, and they likely wouldn’t ever be. Lena didn’t enjoy socializing with strangers, so she smiled faintly. "Aren’t you afraid I might tell her something about you, Uncle Aaron?" Aaron’s gaze turned cold and distant, his voice calm. "There’s nothing about me that Xandy can’t know." Ha! Lena sneered inwardly. If that were the case, why had he just warned her earlier? Double stand