"Don't get up," Yuna pressed my head back onto Hayden's shoulder, a playful smile on her face. "Keira, just stay like this with Hayden. I love seeing you two all lovey-dovey."This girl..."Hayden, Keira," Yuna's bright eyes turned serious. "I was going to wait a few more days to say this, but since we're already here, I'll say it now.""Don't start saying crazy stuff," I cut in, already sensing where this was headed.But Hayden, ever calm, just said, "Let her talk."Yuna flashed him a grin. "You really are my brother. You always get me."Then she looked back at me. "Keira, just hear me out, okay?"She giggled lightly, as if she was about to spill some silly secret, but then she coughed, squeezing both our hands tighter."I'm starting now," she announced, and the room suddenly felt heavier.Neither of us spoke, but I could feel the tension in our breathing as we waited for her to go on."Hayden, Keira... I want to be an organ donor." Her words hit like a shockwave."What are
I was kinda shocked that Hayden agreed so fast, but honestly, it just made my heart hurt more. He clearly wasn't into it, but he was doing it because Yuna wanted him to.Yuna, like she was scared Hayden might change his mind, whipped out her phone and started filling out the organ donation form right away. Watching her so focused, I realized how much light and positivity this girl had. It was impossible not to admire her."Hayden, let's do it too," I said before I could stop myself.Both Yuna and Hayden froze, eyes on me. "Keira?" Yuna asked, her voice laced with concern."Okay," Hayden replied, not even hesitating, pulling out his phone.Yuna glanced between the two of us, excitement and worry mixing on her face.It's funny how, when it's about ourselves, we can make these big decisions without blinking. But when it's someone we care about? Total hesitation.Still, Yuna didn't stop us. Instead, she grinned, turning her worry into something more playful. "Alright, we'll do this
"Take the main seats," Ron waved for Hayden and me to sit down.He didn't look anything like our deputy CEO right now. More like a guy trying way too hard to be laid-back.Honestly, if it weren't for the fact that I knew Hayden was the real power behind the company, I doubt Ron would be this chummy."Mr. Shane," I started, raising an eyebrow, "You're the boss. We're just employees. Isn't this a bit... much?"Ron paused, glancing at Hayden before giving this easy smile. "What's wrong with being friendly? We're colleagues, like family."I let out a short laugh. "Yeah, but you're still the boss. Treating us like this makes things feel kinda weird.""Mr. Shane, really, you don't have to be so polite. We won't be able to enjoy the meal like this," Hayden added.Ron waved him off like it was nothing. "Don't overthink it. That's just my style—no formalities, no drama. Right, Mr. Hart?""Maybe too informal," Hayden replied, keeping it short like usual.It was funny, the contrast betwe
"Ouch!"Ron quickly turned his head away, covering his eyes with his hand, like we'd blinded him or something.Hayden straightened up, totally unbothered. "What? Never seen two people in love before?"Ron lowered his hand. "Oh, I've seen it. Just never quite... this type of PDA."Then he turned to me. "Ms. Kay, you really do live up to your job in marketing—always coming up with something fresh."I just blinked, completely speechless."And why are you still standing there? Maybe you're good, but your guest is tired just watching," Hayden threw out, his deadpan shutting Ron up instantly.Ron slapped his forehead like it had all been a big mistake. "Look at me! You two flustered me so much, I almost forgot about the main event."He stepped to the side, making a sweeping gesture toward the door. "Boss, please."Wait, boss?!I froze as this short, round man waddled into the room, looking like he was about seven months pregnant.I had no clue who this guy was, so I instinctively
"No, he doesn't.""Honestly, I don't think he looks much like a big boss either," Ron puffed out his chest, standing taller like he was comparing himself. "I mean, come on, look at me. In terms of body and presence, how could he ever compete with this?"I rolled my eyes. "But, like, he's the one who invested all the money to start the company, right?""Yup, he's the real majority shareholder," Ron said. "Me?" He chuckled, "I may look like I run things, but I'm just another glorified employee—same as you and Hayden."His easy, playful tone actually made him seem pretty down-to-earth."Then why doesn't he run the company himself?" I asked, still not totally getting it.Ron scoffed. "What, are you dense? The guy's loaded. He owns a bunch of companies. Who has the time to micromanage all of them?"I glanced back at the private room door, still trying to wrap my head around the fact that the short, stocky guy inside was some rich business mogul.I'd spent years around the upper crus
The dinner ended smoothly, with Kylian showing none of the arrogance you'd expect from a big boss. He was laid-back, almost too casual for someone with his status.Hayden, though, stayed mostly quiet the whole meal. Besides offering me food and checking if I needed water, he barely said a word. His cool, distant vibe made it seem like he was the one in charge.Once the meal wrapped up, Kylian left in his understated Maybach, and Ron, a little tipsy from the drinks, booked a sober driver service.While waiting, Ron slung an arm over Hayden's shoulder. "So, Hayden, what do you think? Everything go smoothly tonight?"Hayden brushed his arm off with a calm look. "You've had too much to drink.""I'm not that drunk," Ron laughed, lifting his hand to clap Hayden on the shoulder again. "I know you're worried I'll say something dumb, but I got it under control."This time, Hayden caught Ron by the wrist, stopping him. "I don't like people touching my shoulders. And you probably shouldn't
All of a sudden, it felt like every cell in my body lit up, a desire spreading through me that I couldn't quite put into words...This overwhelming feeling left me feeling a little ashamed, like I wasn't being a "good" girl.I had never felt this with Jace. Even when we were together, undressed and close, it was just nerves. There was never this deep, raw hunger—this fire.But with Hayden? It was like something had been unleashed inside me, something I didn't even know existed.I couldn't wait any longer. I reached for his lips, but he pulled back, teasing me. Frustrated, I wrapped my arms around his neck, my voice a breathy whisper, "Hayden..."My voice sounded desperate, needy, like someone I didn't even recognize.I never sounded like this before. It shocked me, but I couldn't stop. This burning desire was too strong to ignore, and with Hayden, I didn't want to hold back. With him, I felt free to be exactly who I was, no pretending."Hayden..." I whispered again, kissing him
Hayden didn't ask any questions and stopped immediately.But I added, "It's fine. Let's go upstairs."In the darkness, I lowered my head, and the image of the person by the car flashed before my eyes.I didn't expect Jace to find me here—this apartment's about to be demolished. But somehow, he knew. And he came anyway.What's the point of showing up now?Hayden's strides were long, his pace quick, taking two steps at a time."Open the door," he said, slightly out of breath.I fumbled with the keys and opened the door. The second we stepped inside, Hayden lifted me onto the shoe cabinet, his eyes locked on mine.In the dark, his gaze was intense, like the ocean at night—deep, dangerous, as if it could pull me under.I swallowed, trying to say something, but before I could, his lips were on mine."Kiki, you can have it however you want now," Hayden muttered, shrugging off his jacket, fingers tugging at his collar.Earlier, by the car, I had been the one craving him, desperate
Aaron didn’t give Nate an answer, but silence itself was an answer. Lena’s test results came back negative: no traces of snake venom were found in her system. The wound had been treated, and in the end, it turned out to be a false alarm. “Sorry, Uncle,” Lena said apologetically. “I ruined your camping trip.” When she had been bitten by the snake, her screams were so terrifying that they startled everyone else. The others quickly packed up and left, bringing the camping trip to an abrupt, messy end. “It’s fine. You can make it up to everyone another time,” Aaron replied in a way that defied all expectations. Shouldn’t he be comforting her? He didn’t play by the rules, and Lena decided she wouldn’t either. “I’m not making it up to anyone. If anything, you owe me, Uncle.” “How would you like me to compensate you?” This time, he sounded more reasonable. Lena blinked mischievously. “I haven’t decided yet. I’ll let you know when I figure it out.” After saying that, she sigh
Nate stared at her face, carefully observing her expression and movements. He had a rough idea of her condition but still asked, "Bitten on the ankle, right? Let me see the wound." As he spoke, he bent down. However, before he could touch Lena, she was moved away. Nate looked up at Aaron. "Mr. Ace, even if the snake isn’t venomous, its teeth carry a lot of bacteria." Aaron’s response was as sharp as ever. "Oh, so you can see the bacteria and have a chat with them, asking them to leave? Or can you wipe them out with your bare hands?" Without waiting for Nate’s reply, Aaron scooped up Lena and walked off. Nate crouched there for a few seconds, stunned, before standing up and following quickly.-Lena was seated in a chair as the doctor lifted her leg. Just as Nate reached out to roll up her pant leg, Aaron had already done it. Nate had no choice but to awkwardly withdraw his hand. The doctor began cleaning the wound with disinfectant. Meanwhile, Aaron gently placed his hand
The black Cayenne roared through the night, the driver pushing the car to its limits as if his foot might break through the gas pedal. Yet, Aaron wasn’t satisfied. "Faster," he barked. "There’s no need to rush. Safety first," Lena said, her voice calm despite her pale complexion. As a doctor, she knew the basics—judging by the snake that bit her, it was likely just a common green snake, non-venomous. Despite her reassurances, Aaron remained tense, his entire body rigid. The driver, responding to the urgency, raced toward the hospital with record-breaking speed. What should have been a twenty-minute drive was reduced to eight. By the time they screeched to a halt, the driver’s legs were trembling from the adrenaline rush. It was the first time in his life he had experienced such an intense, heart-pounding ride. Aaron didn’t wait for the car to stop completely. He leapt out, carrying Lena straight into the emergency room. "Doctor, she's been bitten by a snake," he said urgently.
"Then why are his photos identical to yours?" Keira demanded. Lena didn’t answer immediately. She understood what Keira meant, opened her social media app, and found Aaron’s post. Sure enough, he’d shared the exact same photo as hers. To make things worse, the comments underneath included a particularly mortifying one from her mother: [You’re with Lena, huh?] Her mother probably didn’t mean anything by it, but the comment still felt inappropriate. As Lena silently cursed her mother’s lack of tact, she noticed another reply under that comment. This one, from Aaron himself, read: [Wherever she goes, I’ll take her with me and make sure she’s well taken care of. Don’t worry, Sis.] Lena was absolutely speechless. These two siblings were a perfect match: one was clueless, and the other oblivious. Her mother, as an older woman, could be excused for her lack of social awareness. But Aaron? Why was he commenting like this, knowing full well that their mutual friends could see it?
Lena hastily withdrew her hand, but her movements were too abrupt. As she stepped back, she tripped over the support pole of the tent and fell backward. Just as she braced herself for a painful landing, Aaron’s long arm reached out and caught her waist, pulling her into his embrace. Her cheek pressed against his chest, and the rhythmic thumping of his heartbeat filled her ears, blending with her own erratic pulse. This suffocating feeling... It was almost intoxicating. It reminded her of the time she had accidentally walked in on him while he was showering. Awkward. So awkward that she didn’t even know how to extricate herself, nor did she have the courage to pull away from his arms. “You’re already an adult, yet you’re still so clumsy,” Aaron scolded lightly, his voice coming from above her. Then he released her and added, “No wonder your mom worries about you so much and insists on you staying at home.” Lena’s suffocating embarrassment was instantly eased by his rem
“Don’t randomly go into the tents. Some employees brought their families or significant others. It’d be awkward if you interrupted them,” Aaron reminded from behind her. “Wow, Uncle, how considerate of you—allowing employees to bring their families,” Lena teased, her tone light. She walked through the array of pitched tents, but with so many scattered around, she had no idea which one belonged to Aaron. Still, since he insisted she find it herself, she was determined to try. Approaching one tent, she suddenly heard muffled voices inside—intimate murmurs between a man and a woman. The woman’s hushed voice carried a hint of urgency. “Be gentle, don’t let anyone hear…” Even though Lena was a gynecologist, her cheeks flushed uncontrollably. She couldn’t help but think that if she had brought a stash of "protection" tonight, she might have made a small fortune. Meanwhile, Aaron stayed back, standing a short distance away and watching her from afar. In the moonlight, she looked l
“Reconciled with Nate?” In the quiet car, Aaron’s voice broke the silence as he glanced at Nate standing motionless in the rearview mirror. “No,” Lena denied softly. “He came back this time because of you, didn’t he?” Aaron asked as the car turned a corner. His hands moved fluidly on the steering wheel, the motion revealing a gray-gold watch on his wrist. The watch’s polished edges caught the light streaming through the window, casting a fleeting glimmer. Lena’s gaze lingered on the watch, her thoughts momentarily drifting. If she remembered correctly, she had given him a watch as a coming-of-age gift years ago. It had cost her all her savings back then. But that was over a decade ago. Surely, the watch she gave him would have broken by now. This one likely just resembled it—or maybe she was remembering it wrong after so much time. “Hm?” Aaron’s voice pulled her out of her thoughts, his eyes briefly flicking to her. Lena quickly recovered. “He came back for a research pro
“No problem. Let’s schedule the simulations after work each day. It’ll mean some extra hours, but I appreciate everyone’s effort,” Nate said, nodding to the team to show his gratitude. “If anyone has concerns or special circumstances, please let me know in advance so I can make adjustments,” Lena added. As the primary surgeon responsible for the operation, she not only had to ensure the procedure’s success but also maintain the morale of the entire medical team. Everyone shook their heads, indicating they had no issues. “Great. In that case, you can all head home and get some rest. Dr. Lane and I will stay back to finalize a few details,” Nate said, dismissing the team but keeping Lena behind. The two went over the finer points of the plan, and by the time they finished, it was nearly 9 p.m. “I noticed this morning that Mr. Ace dropped you off. Is your car broken?” Nate asked. He had seen her getting out of Aaron’s car earlier. “Flat tire,” Lena replied, realizing she hadn’
Lena wanted to sleep early, but the more she tried, the harder it was to fall asleep. She tossed and turned until dawn and only managed to sleep for a short while. Naturally, she woke up late. Rushing downstairs in a flurry, she saw Aaron calmly eating breakfast in the dining area. "Good morning, Uncle!" she greeted as she hurried toward the door. "Your car has a flat tire," Aaron said nonchalantly, stopping her in her tracks. Without even looking up, he continued cutting his steak with precision. "I’ve contacted a repairman, but it’s too early for them to come over." In other words, there was no way she could drive to work this morning. But she had already arranged with Nate to conduct an examination on the pregnant woman whose fetus had an underdeveloped heart. They needed to finalize the surgical plan and decide on the team. Being late would be unacceptable. "Then I’ll call a cab," Lena said, quickly coming up with a solution. "It’s rush hour—good luck finding one," Aa