"What is it?" I asked, still smiling.Yuna bit her lip, hesitating. "Is my surgery going to cost a lot?"My heart sank. I'd been worried she'd ask that. "Not at all," I said quickly. "It's really affordable. Plus, Hayden just landed a great gig as chief engineer, so we're good."She didn't respond, so I slid closer. There's this thing called the "proximity effect"—sometimes trust isn't about words, just being there.I gently ran my fingers through Yuna's hair. "The doctor handling your surgery is my bestie's friend. He's the best. All you need to do is focus on getting better. You're going to be fine."Tears welled up in Yuna's eyes. "Keira, you're too kind."I smiled. "Well, if I wasn't, Hayden wouldn't have stuck around."Yuna giggled. "You and Hayden are like a storybook couple."Thinking of all the romance novels she devoured, I teased, "Once you're better, you'll have your own love story."Her face turned red, and I could tell she'd thought about it.What girl hasn't? It
Hayden and I stood by the river, listening to the water while the wind whipped through the trees.After a while, my legs started giving out. I was exhausted."What's wrong?" Hayden asked."I need to sit. My legs are sore," I admitted.Without missing a beat, he scooped me up by the waist, carrying me over to a big rock like I weighed nothing. Even though he did stuff like this all the time, I still acted shy. "I can walk, you know."He raised an eyebrow. "Didn't you just say your legs were sore? How're you gonna walk?"I stuck out my tongue and let him win that one.He set me down, then sat beside me, but before I could scoot closer, his arm hooked around my waist and pulled me right into his lap. What was he up to now?Before I could ask, he whispered in my ear, "The rock's cold."Seriously, was there a more thoughtful boyfriend than Hayden?"Thanks, boyfriend," I said, giving him a quick kiss. But the second my lips touched his, something felt off. There was this faint trac
Hayden's eyes narrowed, and I instinctively gripped him tighter. "Is it true?""Why would you think that?" he countered.I was about to mention Lindey when, out of nowhere, Yuna's voice called from a distance, "Keira, your phone's been ringing nonstop!"She was hurrying over, despite her heart condition. She wasn't supposed to be running."Okay, I got it!" I quickly jumped off Hayden's lap and rushed over to her.It was Lindey calling—multiple times. Something had to be up."Lindey?" I answered immediately."Rea, why haven't you been picking up? I thought something happened!" Her voice was laced with panic."No, I just didn't have my phone on me."She let out a relieved breath. "You scared me. I was imagining the worst.""I'll keep it with me next time," I promised before asking, "What's going on?""I'm furious!" Lindey's voice came out sharp and full of anger.I couldn't help but smile. "Who got you mad this time? Matthew?""If it were him, I'd knock some sense into him!
Lindey said softly, "Hayden's so lucky to marry you."I gave a small smile, not really feeling the need to say anything. I mean, wasn't I lucky too?After Jace's betrayal, Hayden came into my life like a hero, fixing everything and pulling me out of the mess."How long are you two going to be gone?" Lindey asked.I shrugged, keeping it vague. "No clue."Lindey groaned. "Rea, when you get back, can we hang out? I'm losing it over here."I thought about the whole Jace drama and how Lindey had stepped in, basically kicking Tanya to the curb for me. "Yeah, sure. I'll drop by and see you and Matthew when I'm back."She gave a relieved hum. "Be careful out there, okay? New places and all that.""I will," I promised, before adding, "And, Lindey? Don't stay mad."Another long sigh. "I'll try."After we hung up, I let out a deep breath.Talking to Lindey and Matthew lately felt... draining. I tucked my phone away, glancing at Hayden and Yuna. Whatever they were talking about, Yuna wa
My heart stopped for a second.First, Lindey said Jace was talking like he was leaving some kind of final message. Now Tanya was saying the same thing, like he was getting everything in order for the end. Something was definitely up with Jace.Suddenly, a memory of a dream popped into my head. Jace's voice echoed: 'If I died...'Even though I didn't have any lingering love or hate for him, when it came to life and death, I couldn't just brush it off. Not even if it was about some random dude.Tanya, meanwhile, was a total wreck, crying like the world was ending. But she was sobbing to the wrong person. I couldn't bring myself to feel sorry for her, and honestly, comforting her was so not happening.Still, I told her straight, "Jace isn't that kind of guy."Someone who gives up on life just because of a few rough patches? Yeah, that kind of person isn't exactly responsible. If they can't even handle their own problems, there's no way they could be there for anyone else."I don't
As Wayne's words sank in, an image of Jace from our school days flashed in my mind—back when he was carefree, wild, like nothing could touch him. He had zero worries back then.I used to think he'd always be that way, but somewhere along the line, he changed. And now, here we are.Guess the future's unpredictable for a reason."Jace also told me to take care of our parents... and you," Wayne's voice softened even more. "He said when you get married, I should let him know so he can personally give you his blessings."My chest tightened at that. A wave of frustration hit me. Jace had everyone on edge, thinking he was about to do something drastic, when really it seemed like he just wanted to disappear for a while."So, he wasn't actually making arrangements for the end," I muttered bitterly.Wayne sighed on the other end. "Maybe he's dealing with things we don't understand. Everyone has their struggles."I let out a mocking laugh. "Struggles? He's got a wife, a kid, and a career t
I froze, staring blankly at Hayden.His father had been my dad's driver. If the brakes failed, that meant the driver might've been at fault.For a long moment, neither of us spoke. We just stood there, locked in this strange, heavy silence.Finally, Hayden's hand shifted slightly on my shoulder. "My father was driving, so whether it was human error or a mechanical issue, he's responsible."A chill crept through me—not from the cold air, but from the storm brewing inside.If Hayden and I weren't this close, it'd be easy to hold his father accountable. But now, with things the way they were between us, I had no idea what to do if his dad was to blame."Rea," Hayden's voice was steady, sincere. "You know I've been digging into my dad's death. It's all connected. Once I find the truth, I'll tell you everything."I knew Hayden meant it. He wasn't the type to lie or hide things, even if it was about his own family. But if his father was involved, what kind of closure could he really o
So, no matter what was going on inside me, I had to push it aside.Yuna was so pure, so sensitive—almost saint-like in her kindness. I couldn't let my emotions weigh on her.By the time she and Hayden came back from their little chat, I'd already finished my chia pudding and had conveniently started stealing from Hayden's bowl.It was the perfect scene—me sneaking bites, caught in the act. No one would believe I'd been feeling down just minutes ago.Yuna took one look at me pilfering Hayden's food and probably assumed everything was fine between us. We clearly hadn't fought if I was pulling a move like that.Both Hayden and Yuna blinked at me, surprised, like I'd completely thrown them off.I scooped another spoonful of the warm chia pudding and tried to look innocent. "I think... I could go for another bowl.""Oh! I'll make one right now!" Yuna gasped, first looking shocked, then flustered as she hurried to the kitchen."No need. Let her finish mine," Hayden said, sliding his
"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