Lena's face went stone cold. "I've already told you—keep this up, and it's harassment. I'll call the cops.""Dr. Lane, it's not harassment! I just... I like you. I wanna be with you..."I cringed so hard I could barely stand it. It reminded me of the guy who sent her flowers signed "Sancho." Was this him? I didn't care—he was Sancho now."Dr. Lane, I swear, it was love at first sight..." Sancho even raised his hand like he was making some grand, heartfelt vow."But she hated you at first sight," I shot back, sliding next to Lena.Hayden stood up too, looking like he'd be ready to step in if things got any worse.Sancho glanced at me. "Who are you? I'm talking to Dr. Lane. Could you, like, not?"If I'd eaten more earlier, I probably would've puked just from his voice."And who are you to think just 'cause you say you like her, she has to care?" No way was I letting this go."Yeah, I like her! It's a pure, sacred kind of love. My feelings are noble!" He actually sounded serious,
Lena didn't answer me right away. Her gaze was locked on Hayden outside the window. "How long do you think he'll take?"I glanced outside. Sancho was practically groveling, completely at Hayden's mercy, while Hayden just stood there with one hand casually tucked in his pocket. The morning sunlight hit him just right, making him look like he was glowing or something.And I couldn't take my eyes off him.This quiet sense of pride bubbled up inside me, a voice in the back of my mind whispering, 'Keira, that's your guy.'Getting involved with Hayden had been kind of an accident—something that happened when I was still reeling from my breakup with Jace, just looking for a distraction. But now? I realized I'd hit the jackpot. He wasn't just good-looking; he could handle things."Uh, hello? I asked you a question," Lena nudged me when I didn't respond.I blinked, snapping out of my thoughts. "Oh, right. Shouldn't take much longer."If I had to guess, Sancho was probably begging Hayden
Out of nowhere, Lena blurted, "If you'd been this smooth earlier, Jace wouldn't have run off." It felt like she'd lost her mind for a second, because bringing up an ex in front of your current boyfriend? Major no-no.I stiffened for a second, but I knew Lena wasn't trying to hurt me. She wasn't clueless either. One glance at her and I caught the mischievous wink she sent my way.I got it—she was testing Hayden. She wanted to see how he'd react to hearing about Jace. Classic Lena, always pushing boundaries.Most guys would flinch at the mention of an ex, especially in front of their girlfriend. But I wondered, How far is she gonna take this? What if she pushed too hard, and Hayden just decided to peace out?I risked a glance at him. His expression didn't change. No flicker of annoyance, no comment, nothing.Lena wasn't about to let it go. "Right, Hayden? Don't you think?"I wanted to melt into the floor.But Hayden just replied, "Kiki only gets clingy with me."A wave of sweet
Ron invited me to dinner, and it hit me—Hayden had mentioned the exact same thing earlier when I was getting my blood drawn.At the time, I thought he was just messing with me, trying to distract me. Turns out, he wasn't kidding."It's Mr. Shane?" Hayden asked, like he already knew."Yeah," I said, eyeing him suspiciously. "Did you tell him to ask me?"Hayden was Ron's boss, so it wouldn't take much for Ron to follow orders.Hayden frowned a little. "No."I shot him a sarcastic smile, totally convinced he was covering his real identity."He told me in advance," Hayden added, trying to clarify.But was that really it? I wasn't in the mood to dig deeper. Free dinner? I wasn't about to pass that up. I smirked. "I said yes. You coming too?""Yeah," he replied, in that classic Hayden way. Seriously, if someone made a list of his most-used words, "yeah" would totally top it.But then he dropped the line that made me roll my eyes: "I don't make a habit of letting my girlfriend have
There was nothing wrong between Hayden and me—just the awkward feeling from his secret. But I couldn't dump that on Yuna. She was too delicate, and with her heart condition, she didn't need the extra stress."No, nothing's wrong," I reassured her with a smile. "You've seen how Hayden and I are. We're fine."Yuna studied me with those wide, innocent eyes, and for a second, I had to look away. Her gaze was too pure, like it would expose the mess in my head.I raised my hand in defense, laughing softly. "Seriously, nothing's wrong. If you don't believe me, you can grill Hayden when he's back.""Keira," Yuna murmured, hugging my arm and resting her head on my shoulder. "If Hayden ever messes up, just hit him or yell at him—but don't leave him, okay?"Her soft, pleading tone tugged at my heart. I rubbed my head against hers, affectionate. "Alright, I'll leave it to you to handle him."Yuna nodded, all serious. "I'll always be on your side."She was so afraid of me leaving Hayden. It
Wade stopped in his tracks, turning to look at me with a hint of surprise.I suddenly realized how forward I'd been and quickly tried to backtrack. "I didn't mean to overstep, I just thought—""That's fine," Wade cut me off."She was so lively before," Wade murmured, almost to himself. "Loved meeting new people. If you visit her, she'll be happy, I'm sure."The way he spoke tugged at my heart."Come with me," he said, leading the way.As I followed, I couldn't help but notice how heavy his steps seemed, as if the guilt and sadness were dragging him down. We made our way to a rehabilitation room that looked almost like the VIP suite Yuna stayed in—spacious, comfortable, clearly a place for someone from a well-off family.When we reached the door, Wade turned to me, his eyes holding something unsaid.I thought maybe he was having second thoughts. "If it's not convenient, we can come back another time," I offered quickly."You really do look like her," Wade said, "But she's thinn
Wade stood up and moved toward the window, his back to me. I wasn't sure what he was doing, but I found myself quietly stepping closer to the bed.Now that I was up close, I could really see it—she wasn’t just gorgeous; she looked a lot like me.If my parents were still alive, I would've gone straight to them and asked if I had a long-lost sister.As those thoughts ran through my mind, my eyes drifted to the nameplate on the bedside: Narelle Yule, 28 years old.'Miss Yule, hello. I'm Keira,' I silently introduced myself.Wade's voice broke the stillness. "Come back in," he said into his phone, calling the caregiver back.The caregiver returned quickly, and I took that as my cue to slip out of the room. Wade followed silently, and we walked side by side in heavy quiet. It wasn't until we'd walked some distance that he finally spoke."The doctors say there's no chance she'll recover. Her family... they've already given up.""But you haven't," I said.Wade's steps slowed, his voi
"Boba tea's here. Let's head in," Hayden said, balancing the fruit in his hands.He didn't ask about Wade, but I knew he probably saw everything. I wasn't in the mood to explain, so I just followed him inside.Yuna's voice lit up as soon as I walked in. "Keira! I waited for you to get here before drinking mine!"Hayden set the fruit down in the kitchen. I glanced at him before walking over to Yuna."I've got everything ready!" she said, motioning to the drinks lined up on the table, her eyes sparkling.But I couldn't even think about drinking anything. "You can have mine," I said, my heart still heavy."Really?" Yuna's eyes sparkled, and she laughed. "I'm not that greedy."Even so, she started splitting the drinks. "Why'd it take you so long? Hayden was worried. As soon as he dropped off the groceries, he went looking for you.""I ran into a friend," I said, half-truthfully."You've got so many friends. I hope I can make more someday," Yuna said, sliding a boba toward me."Yo
No girl could resist a gesture of kindness, especially when it came with a dessert. "Can I sit for a moment?" Keira asked the girl, seeking her permission even though this was her place. "Of course. You’re the owner here, right?" she replied, recognizing Keira immediately. Keira glanced down at her work apron, smiling lightly. "How did you guess? Is it written on my face?" "You look even better in person than in the photos," the girl said candidly, studying her with an open gaze. Keira gave her a puzzled look. "Hmm?" She pulled out her phone and opened a video. "This is how I found this place. It’s amazing." It turned out that a blogger had visited the café and shared a video and photos online. In his post, he wrote: The air here is soft; it calms your weary heart as you breathe it in. The leaves on the trees are alive, reminding you that every day has its colors. The coffee is bittersweet, much like life, and the owner is a stranger who genuinely cares. When she greets
The message Keira had asked Hayden to pass on was simple: "My father is no longer here. I will speak of his origins at his gravesite, and nothing more is needed." Over the years, only the Johnston family had given her warmth and familial love. She didn’t feel any attachment to the other so-called relatives, nor did she see a need to force a connection. Having gone through so much, Keira had come to understand that no matter how strong blood ties might be, they require companionship and nurturing to truly matter. - When Hayden returned, Keira was busy at the café. For some reason, business was particularly good today, with an unusually large crowd. Even the staff were struggling to keep up. "Quite a crowd today," Hayden remarked, sounding as puzzled as Keira felt. "Right? Look at this," she said, glancing at the full tables inside and outside the café. Her heart brimmed with satisfaction. Over the years, Keira had held high-ranking, well-paying positions, whether working f
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