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
For the next few days, I kept crashing in Yuna's room.Hayden, the guy who could hold me all night and still stay cool, was handling it just fine. But I couldn't wait to see how he'd manage once we were back in Emberholm, where Yuna would be living with us.We ended up staying at Pencetown for four days, which totally caught me off guard. I figured Hayden would rush to get her surgery scheduled ASAP so she could start recovering. But nope, he took his time. We spent the days fishing, and every evening, he'd cook us these insanely good meals.Yuna and I were living like total princesses, soaking in every minute like we'd stepped into some magical escape, miles away from real life. If we stayed any longer, I wasn't sure I'd ever want to leave."Hayden, when we're old, we should retire here," I said. "I swear, I could live to be 150 in a place like this."Hayden laughed. "Alright.""And me! I want to live to 150 too!" Yuna added, grinning with this bright, newfound excitement for he
Yuna totally understood how serious things were. If this surgery worked, it was like hitting the reset button on her life. If not, well, all this would just turn into a memory."You've got plenty of time for days like this," I said, leaning my head against hers. "Seriously. Trust me."But then, out of nowhere, she switched gears. "Keira, don't be too hard on Hayden. He's stubborn, yeah, and not exactly Mr. Feelings, but he means well. So, go easy on him, okay?"I thought she was spiraling about the surgery and was ready to reassure her when she kept going, "I know you've been low-key punishing him lately."Her words hit, and I felt my face heat up. I gave her a playful poke. "Where do you even come up with this stuff? Stop overthinking.""Don't let my age fool you. I've read so many romance novels. I know exactly what's going on here," Yuna said with this confident little smirk.I didn't even try to deny it. "Yeah, well, he acted all tough, so I let him. Besides, he's been single
"Lie down, let me have a listen," Nate said, slipping the stethoscope from around his neck.We all stood there, watching nervously. Even Hayden—who usually had this calm, unshakable vibe—was visibly tense. But it was just a routine check-up, not the surgery itself.I could feel how much Hayden cherished Yuna in that moment, so I reached for his hand. He glanced at me, and I gave him a reassuring nod.Yuna, though, was frozen, staring at Nate like she'd been turned to stone.Noticing, Lena walked over and leaned in slightly. "Lie down and let Prof. Neumann check your heartbeat. It won't hurt," she said gently.Yuna had already bonded with Lena earlier, so it didn't take much. After a second, she blinked, then finally lay down like an obedient kid.I couldn't help but notice Yuna's cheeks were flushed. There was this tightness in my chest as I saw the way her eyes sparkled—brighter than I'd ever seen.I glanced over at Nate, fully absorbed in his task, pressing the stethoscope 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