"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
Even though I knew he was right, and I was totally at fault, why did I feel so wronged crying like that?Hayden turned back and saw me in full meltdown mode. He sighed and pulled me into his arms. "It's my fault. I said something too harsh... I won't do that again."The more he comforted me, the worse I felt.I raised my hand and smacked his chest. "You're not wrong! Why are you blaming yourself? It's clearly my fault.""No, you did nothing wrong. It's me... I let my stupid thoughts take over, and I wasn't satisfied, so I said something dumb," Hayden replied, taking all the blame like it was his job.That only made me feel more guilty, so I kept hitting him—lightly, of course. But still, I kept at it. Finally, frustrated, I bit him."Ow, that hurts," Hayden whispered.It was the first time I'd ever heard him admit pain.I let go, staring at him through tear-filled eyes. He gently wiped away my tears. "You've bitten me now, so no more crying, okay? If your eyes get all swollen t
"Yuna can have the surgery—within the next couple of days!" Lena's voice practically burst out of the speakerphone.Hayden immediately turned to me, and I nodded, my heart pounding with the good news."They found a donor heart?" Hayden asked.There was a pause before Lena's teasing voice chimed in, "What are you still doing at Keira's this late, huh?"I rolled my eyes. Seriously? Now was not the time for jokes. "Focus, Lena. Update. Now."Lena chuckled but got back on track. "It's not a new donor. The family of the previous donor changed their mind again.""What did Professor Neumann say?" Hayden asked."He said Yuna's tests all came back perfect. So as long as nothing pops up—like a cold or infection—she can have the surgery in three days," Lena replied, sounding hopeful. She must've already spoken with Nate.Hayden and I exchanged a look of excitement, both of us buzzing with nervous energy. I squeezed his hand as he asked, "Is there anything else we need to do?""Not really
“What happened? Did you get into a fight?” That was Keira's first reaction upon seeing Hayden’s injury. Lena glanced at his wound. “Come over and sit down. I’ll take care of it for you.” “It’s nothing,” Hayden brushed off the offer and turned to Keira instead. “You were right. Someone was watching us from the courtyard.” Keira's heart skipped a beat. “What? Did they follow us to the hospital?” “Yes, I caught them. I’ll get to the bottom of this soon.” A cold, menacing glint flashed in Hayden’s eyes—something Keira hadn’t seen in a long time. The fact that he was injured meant whoever had been following them wasn’t ordinary. A shiver ran down Keira's spine. But at least they’d caught the person. “How’s the checkup? Is everything okay?” Despite the situation, Hayden’s first concern was still his wife. Knowing he had just dealt with the stalker, Keira decided not to mention the additional tests Lena had ordered. “It’s fine. With Lena here, what could possibly go wrong?”
Aaron had a knack for handling people, never revealing all his cards at once. "I'm pursuing Lil' Lena," he said calmly. Ron's eyes widened, his breath catching in his throat. A few seconds later, he finally reacted, and everything became clear. Lena had asked him to play the role of her boyfriend. Out of respect for her privacy, he hadn’t pried into the reason. Later, he’d asked Hayden, who simply told him to go along with it and not ask too many questions. Now he understood—it was because Aaron was pursuing her. “You’re already aware of my situation with her,” Aaron continued. “This process won’t be smooth, so it’s a good idea for her to use you as a stand-in boyfriend for now.” Ron understood perfectly. His role was to act as a cover, fooling the fake mother-in-law like yesterday while giving Aaron and Lena space to start a secret relationship. This was precisely Aaron’s plan. He wanted Lena to first accept him, to spend time together, and build their connection before
This question—"Willing?"—kept echoing in Lena’s mind. It haunted her so much that she spent yet another sleepless night. Her answer was clear: she couldn’t. She knew Aaron had made his move and wouldn’t give up easily. But she simply couldn’t agree. And if she didn’t say yes, there was nothing he could do about it. Besides, she truly saw him as her younger uncle—there was no way she could see him as a boyfriend. “Dr. Lane, not sleeping well lately?” the hospital director asked as soon as he saw her. One glance, and he could tell she looked exhausted. “A bit of insomnia,” Lena admitted honestly. “Is it because you don’t have a boyfriend? Want me to introduce you to a few?” The director, ever so responsible, even took it upon himself to worry about her personal life. Lena glanced at the sparse hair on his head and chuckled. “Director, I’ll find someone myself. No need for you to concern yourself.” Aaron hadn’t gotten an answer from her, nor had he pursued her aggressively
"I've thought about it, and I have a plan. I’ll make them accept it. This is something I need to consider. You don’t have to worry," Aaron said with a tone of responsibility. Lena fell silent. A few seconds later, she replied, "Even if they accept it, I can't... Uncle, I’ve always seen you as my uncle and never felt anything else." Ron’s apartment was on the fifth floor, giving Lena a clear view of his face. His expression was slightly tense as he continued looking up at her. Though she couldn’t see his eyes, she could still feel the depth of emotion in them, and the loneliness he must have felt after being rejected. Lena lowered her gaze, unable to watch any longer. "Uncle, we have such a good relationship, don’t ruin it, please." "Do you know how many years I’ve liked you?" Aaron suddenly asked. Lena’s heart skipped a beat. How many years had he liked her? Did that mean he’d had feelings for her all along? But he had never mentioned it, and she had never sensed it. He
"Cough, cough..." Lena started coughing uncontrollably as Ron casually spoke. Even a real son-in-law wouldn’t start calling his girlfriend’s mother "Mom" right away, let alone someone pretending to be one. Lena stared at him blankly, and Ron winked at her with a gesture that seemed to say "Don’t worry." He then turned to speak to Briana on the phone. "Mom, I’ve been with Lena for a few months now. She’s been too shy to introduce me to you because she was afraid you wouldn’t approve of me... Yes, yes, we’re basically an underground couple." Lena rolled her eyes in disbelief. What kind of nonsense was this? She tried to grab his phone, not wanting to hear any more of his fabrication, but Ron dodged and continued speaking to Briana. "Mom, I’m really her boyfriend, not fake... Otherwise, why would she be here with me so late at night, right?" Ron certainly had a way with words, and Lena realized that asking him to pretend to be her boyfriend might be the best decision she’d made
Lena took a deep breath. As expected, her mother was not going to let this slide, but she still didn’t give up and continued testing her. "So why is it okay for others but not for me?" Briana scoffed. "If you’re looking for a man ten years older, are you looking for a husband or another father? And if you want someone younger, they’re not even of legal age yet—are you planning to take advantage of them? And what’s with all this talk about uncles or cousins? You want your dad and me to jump into the river?" Lena deflated. If she were to really get together with Aaron, they wouldn’t need to jump into a river—their blood pressure would probably be enough to do them in. "Lena, have you done something that goes against ethics and morals?" As sharp as ever, her mother quickly turned the tables and started questioning her. "What are you talking about? What could I have done? You tell me," Lena denied with all the confidence she could muster. Briana didn’t believe her. "Really? If yo
Ron’s apartment was a three-bedroom place, with two bedrooms and a study, all clean and neatly organized. Lena was staying in the guest room. The curtains and furnishings in the room, especially the vanity, looked as if they were specifically chosen for a girl. "Dr. Lane, don’t misunderstand. This room isn’t my ex-girlfriend’s, and you're the first woman, aside from my mom, to stay here," Ron quickly explained. He told Lena that this room was reserved for his mother. Sometimes, when she had an impulsive moment or got into a fight with his dad, she’d stay over for a while. That’s why the room was decorated in a feminine way. Lena could feel it too; the room had a distinctly maternal scent. It made her think of the times she used to sleep in her mother’s room when she was a child. Her mother had told her to sleep in her own bed, but Lena refused and would sneak back into her mother’s room in the middle of the night, a habit that continued until she was ten. One day, her mother
Keira didn’t know what it was like for other women during pregnancy, but for her, it was just swollen, aching legs. "Seems like the news is pretty well-informed. Yep, you’d better get the red envelopes ready," Hayden's tone was surprisingly similar to Lena’s. "Dr. Lane wasn’t serious with you. Don’t take it to heart," Hayden reminded him. Ron laughed. "Why can’t I take it seriously? I’m sincere with her, and she’ll definitely see it. Who knows, she might even fall in love with me, and then my fake relationship might turn real." He sounded pretty confident. "I’m serious, not joking," Hayden and Keira both assumed he was just playing around, trying to tease them. On the other end of the call, Ron fell silent. "I’m serious too. Actually, I’ve liked Dr. Lane for a long time. I feel like this is a sign from fate, that the heavens are helping me because of my sincere feelings." Keira was speechless, glancing at Hayden. He raised an eyebrow. "Are you serious, or are you just j
When Lena opened the video call, Keira saw she was in a three-bedroom apartment. Keira was surprised. She hadn’t realized Lena had already moved into Ron’s place so quickly. Curiously, she asked, “Where are you?” “At my husband’s house,” she said without any shame at all. Seeing her carefree attitude, Keira could tell she had gotten what she wanted, but was still shocked. “Ron agreed, and you’re already living with him?” “Yeah, get the red envelopes ready. Make sure you load them up with a lot of cash,” Lena said, acting as if it were all part of the plan. Keira didn’t laugh with her. “Lena, it’s easy to get on the ship, but hard to get off. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.” “Don’t worry, Mr. Shane and I have a contract. It’s a clear-cut transaction,” Lena said, speaking as if she were very clever. Keira wasn’t sure what Ron was thinking or how Lena had managed to convince him, but it seemed like they were both on the same page, and the deal was done. Since it was already d