"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
"Keira!" Yuna shot up, eyes wide. "What did you just say? You like Prof. Neumann too? No way—you can only like my brother."She wasn't clutching her chest anymore, just staring at me with this sudden urgency.I stifled a laugh, putting on a helpless face. "But he's so good-looking! The first time I saw him, I was like, 'Wait, is this a doctor or did someone rip him straight out of a magazine?'""No way," Yuna clung to my arm, desperate. "Sure, he's good-looking, but if you look closely, he's not as handsome as Hayden."He doesn't have Hayden's... masculinity."And most importantly? Hayden's honest and genuine—unlike this doctor."I raised an eyebrow, totally amused. "Oh? Prof. Neumann's not genuine? How can you tell?"Yuna pouted and shook my arm back and forth. "You can't like anyone other than my brother. You're his."This girl had a serious sense of loyalty."You're a believer in that one true love, ride-or-die kind of romance, huh?" I teased. I knew exactly where she got i
Yuna absolutely refused to let Hayden stay, and I couldn't shake the feeling of unease about leaving her alone. So, I had no choice but to ask Lena for help since she was on the night shift."You're seriously making me use my work hours to babysit Yuna? Aren't you taking advantage of me a little too much?" Lena teased."It's not really 'babysitting,'" I explained, adding a bit of charm to my tone. "Everyone will be asleep anyway. I just need you to check on her every now and then, make sure she's sleeping okay and nothing unexpected happens."Lena huffed dramatically. "After all these years of friendship, it feels like Yuna has officially replaced me in your heart.""Come on, don't be jealous! You know you're irreplaceable. Not even Hayden compares to you," I said, grinning and giving her a thumbs-up."I'm not Hayden—you don't have to sweet-talk me," Lena quipped, grabbing my hand and examining the ring on my finger."It's old, not worth much, but the fact that Hayden gave it to
Hearing Lena's words, I couldn't help but feel a bit sad inside.She'd had this secret crush on Nate forever, and if I hadn't nudged her, she probably would've kept it bottled up.But Nate... the way he responded was so blunt, like he wasn't even trying to spare her feelings. If he wasn't into her, fine, but did he really have to be that harsh?I was just about to step in and defuse the tension when Nate interrupted Lena again, his voice steady but firm. "I'm not bothered by the trouble, and besides, you're only allowed to trouble me."Wait, what?I blinked, totally confused. And by the look on Lena's face, she was just as lost."Nate—"But Nate cut Lena off again. "Didn't you say you liked me?"She froze."If you like me," Nate continued, "then why are you letting other guys give you attention? Why are you accepting someone else's affection?"Oh. My. God.It finally clicked—he was jealous. Like, straight-up, out-in-the-open jealous.Was this his way of confessing? Because
"Ouch!" I winced.A hand gripped my arm, pulling me back a bit. I glanced up and locked eyes with someone I didn't recognize.He looked startled, like really startled. Before I could even say a word, he let go of me and basically bolted down the hall.Rubbing my now throbbing forehead, I watched him scurry off and then glanced back at Lena's office. It hit me—this guy had been eavesdropping. He was so into their convo, he didn't even notice me walk out, which was why we crashed into each other.Wait... could that guy be Sancho? You know, "A Heart for L," Lena's secret admirer?Still trying to wrap my head around it, Hayden appeared. I was about to head over when I heard Lena's voice from inside the room, "Nate, I'm starving."I couldn't help but laugh. Lena had this whole hot-and-cold thing down to a science."What's so funny?" Hayden asked."Lena and Nate. They're finally a thing," I said, jerking my thumb toward the office.He raised an eyebrow but didn't say anything, just
Hayden leaned in, pressing his forehead against mine, his voice low and husky. "But I missed you... missed you so much. I want you."He grabbed my hand, guiding it down to his hardening body.I yanked my hand back, tucking it behind me like I'd just touched something burning. His soft chuckle made me blush harder. "You don't want me?" he asked."No," I lied, trying to sound convincing. "I'm tired. I want to sleep." I pushed him away lightly, fumbling through my bag for the keys.Of course, I couldn't find them. My fingers were shaking, and I could feel Hayden's eyes on me the whole time. He reached over casually, pulling the keys out."Such a nervous little kitten," he murmured, his breath hot against my ear.My face went full-on tomato. Why did he always get to me like this?He unlocked the door, but before I could dart inside, he tugged me back. "You're really not gonna let me in?""N-No, no," I stammered, avoiding his eyes, but of course, he slipped in anyway."Hayden!" I s
After Hayden left, I took a quick shower, then flopped onto my bed and grabbed my phone.Lena had sent me a message with a picture of Yuna, fast asleep, along with a little note:[Yuna is safe.]Of course she knew I'd be freaking out until I knew for sure.I shot back a quick reply: [Thanks for looking out for her.]Almost immediately, Lena's video call lit up my screen. Girl had definitely been waiting for me to respond.I grinned, figuring she was dying to spill all the details about her finally making it official with her long-time crush. I swiped to answer, and there she was—lounging in her chair, practically glowing. Like, I could feel her happiness through the screen.I clicked my tongue playfully. "Whoa, someone's got that post-love confession glow. You're shining, girl."Lena chuckled. "You're being so extra right now."I didn't bother with small talk. I was still thinking about how she kept Nate on edge for so long. "You know exactly how to play a guy, don't you?""D
"Private details are off-limits for sharing," Lena joked, thinking I was teasing her.But I got serious. "Have you made it clear to that admirer of yours that you're not interested?""Of course. I turned him down right away.""Well, it doesn't seem like he got the memo. He's still sending you food and flowers. And..." I hesitated, "he's been spying on you."Lena's face shifted. I told her about running into the guy outside her office, catching him eavesdropping.Recalling when a blind date had almost turned into a stalker situation for me, I felt the need to warn her. "Lena, you gotta be careful. Guys like that can escalate. Watch your back—at work, when you're leaving, even when you're driving."She didn't respond right away. Instead, she stood up from her chair and walked out of her office."Where are you going? Did you even hear what I said?" I asked, feeling a little uneasy.She went straight to the nurses' station, where one of the nurses was resting her head on the counte
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