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Chapter 37
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Love's Redemption Chapter 38
That night, I slept like a rock until some noise outside yanked me awake.It wasn't Hayden talking, but some woman with a local accent.From the sound of it, she wasn't young. Younger women usually have soft, clear voices, while older women's voices are heavier and rougher.I had a knack for recognizing people by their voices, yet I couldn't tell that the man I had loved for ten years was actually a jerk.They say you only truly forget someone when you stop thinking about them all the time. Clearly, I wasn't there yet. I still found myself thinking about Jace. Even if it wasn't love anymore, it was resentment. I couldn't help but think of him now and then.I stayed in bed, straining to hear the conversation outside."Macy, where's Hayden?" the woman asked."He left early this morning," Macy replied, the sound of running water in the background."He left, huh? I thought he was still asleep," the woman laughed lightly."Molly, why do you care if Hayden's up or not? He doesn't li
Love's Redemption Chapter 39
I grabbed my toothbrush and a cup, filled it with water, and started brushing my teeth. I didn't look at Molly the whole time, but she didn't take her eyes off me. She checked me out from head to toe."Keira, this is Molly Ruth," Macy said, introducing us. "Molly, meet Keira Kay."With my mouth full of toothpaste, I nodded at Molly.She had a round face but wasn't overweight. She wore a floral dress and had clearly put effort into her makeup."Molly', she's the one you wanted to meet. Didn't I tell you? Look how pretty she is," Macy said, scrubbing some clothes by hand.When Molly and I locked eyes, I caught a flicker of insecurity in her gaze, but she wouldn't show it. "She's younger, of course she's pretty. I wasn't bad at her age either."Macy sneered, and Molly rolled her eyes. Their silent feud felt like I was watching a comedy.As I finished brushing my teeth, Molly spoke up, "Keira, are you visiting relatives here or just traveling?""Traveling," I said, turning on the t
Love's Redemption Chapter 40
I looked up and saw Hayden's rugged, chiseled face. Not only did he catch me, but he also snagged the watermelon from my hand.This surreal scene, straight out of a TV drama, was actually happening to me.He steadied me and let go, but the second I moved, pain shot through my ankle.Grabbing his arm, I said, "It hurts..."Following my gaze, he saw my ankle already turning red. "It's sprained?"Hayden was really close, his deep voice sounding especially sexy and comforting.I nodded, and the next second, he handed me the watermelon and scooped me up in his arms.In all the years I was with Jace, he never held me like this. Hayden carrying me like his princess made my heart race, and even my nose started to sweat.That was my thing; whenever I got nervous or excited, my nose would sweat.I heard gasps around us—it was the neighbors and passersby. In a small town like this, such behavior between a guy and a girl wasn't common.Hayden seemed unfazed by the onlookers, carrying me
Love's Redemption Chapter 41
Not too long ago, Jace had also given me a foot massage. It felt sweet then, but it didn't even come close to what I was feeling now.I couldn't figure out why. Maybe it was Hayden's technique.As Hayden was finishing up, I heard Macy shouting outside, "Listen up, everyone! If anyone tries to mess with my tenants, don't blame me for getting nasty! I'll make your whole family regret it...""What's going on?" I asked quietly.Hayden took my foot off his knee and placed it on another stone bench. As he stood up, I noticed his face was a bit red.I thought he was just hot, but his next words told me otherwise.He said, "From now on, don't wear skirts around here."I looked down at my skirt, a royal blue silk one that clung to my body and had a slit up the side. Sitting the way I was, the slit had ridden up, exposing my thigh. When he was massaging my foot, he must have seen something.My face turned slightly red, but I wasn't about to lose my cool. I feigned indifference. "Why? Doe
Love's Redemption Chapter 42
It was the bluntest thing I'd ever said.Hayden looked slightly stunned, then replied in a super chill tone, "You're overthinking it.I did not say anything.He turned around and started cutting the watermelon, arranging each piece on the plate like little soldiers ready for inspection.Looking at the perfectly cut watermelon, I suddenly felt this weird urge to snoop around his room."Why aren't you eating? Just staring at it won't help," Macy teased as she walked over.Macy was such a character—hands on hips when scolding, but super caring and gentle when she showed concern. She could crack a dirty joke like nobody's business."I was waiting for you. You really stood up for me earlier," I said playfully, handing her the biggest piece of watermelon.Macy didn't hesitate. She took a bite and said, "Sweet, but I can't have too much. My blood sugar's high."I started on my piece, but Hayden went back to his room and stayed there.When it was time for dinner, he left again. I wan
Love's Redemption Chapter 43
I'd been here for days and hadn't seen any of Macy's kids or grandkids visit. I didn't ask much about it. She seemed to think of Hayden and me as her own.One night, while I was getting ready for bed, Lena called, asking when I planned to come back."I haven't decided yet. I'm really happy here. It's the happiest I've been since my parents passed away," I told her.I even considered extending my leave, staying until I got tired of the place."Maybe you don't want to leave because of that soldier," Lena teased.Thinking about my few but oddly heart-stirring interactions with Hayden, I said, "I wouldn't say I can't leave, but when he's around, my heart definitely feels more alive.""Sounds like you're healing pretty well," Lena joked.I stayed quiet for a moment, then Lena asked, "Has that jerk Jace contacted you at all? Not even a text?"I licked my lips. "...No."Lena scoffed, "He thinks you'll never leave him."I knew she was right. Staring at the moonlight outside my window
Love's Redemption Chapter 44
I thought, 'Messed up? How bad can it be?'Staying chill, I asked, "Okay, slow down. What's going on?"Demi said the lights didn't match the design specs at all. Either the lights from the manufacturer were junk, or there was a problem with the installation."Look, you know what might be causing it, so just call the right people to fix it. Even if I were there, that's all I'd do," I replied, trying to keep things calm."Keira, please come back. I can't handle this alone. And I don't know what's gotten into Mr. Johnston lately. He's been coming to the amusement park every day, and every time he leaves, there are more problems. I'm about to lose my mind," Demi's voice was cracking.Thinking about the message Jace sent me, I wondered if he was deliberately causing trouble for Demi to pressure me.After all these years together, he knew me well. He knew I had a soft heart and couldn't stand seeing others suffer because of me."Handle it for now," I said, still not agreeing to go bac
Love's Redemption Chapter 45
Demi had taken the video from the highest point. Through it, I saw the amusement park all lit up. It didn't look too bad, but the base color of the lights was completely different from the design plan.Originally, the lights were supposed to be a gradient of blue, like the ocean at night turning into dawn. Now, it was just a solid blue—a deep, heavy blue.Sure, the color was rich, but it lacked soul."Demi, this is the overall view. Any idea if it's a construction issue or a problem with the lighting supplier?" I asked. "Have you talked to both parties? What did they say?""The construction team insists they followed the specs, and the manufacturer says the lights meet our requirements. No one's admitting fault, so I'm totally clueless about where the problem is," Demi said, clearly frustrated."Keira, please come back. I can't handle this alone, and I know you don't want this kind of mess for the amusement park you've put so much effort into," Demi pleaded again."Okay, I'll com
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Love's Redemption Chapter 974
"I'm just amazed that pregnancy has made you smarter. Most people say pregnancy makes women forgetful for three years," Hayden teased Keira with a rare grin. Keira gave him a gentle kick. "Did Aaron ask you to pass on his thoughts?" "No, it's just what I think," Hayden replied earnestly. He would never lie to her. Keira sighed softly. "Love between two people isn’t something outsiders can meddle with. But maybe Aaron’s actions today will help Lena realize what’s in her heart." "Let’s wait and see," Hayden said, finishing the massage before applying lotion and stretch mark cream to Keira's belly. "Baby, give Dad a little kick," Hayden said, stroking her belly. Right after he spoke, the baby really did kick. Keira couldn’t help but laugh; this little one was so obedient to their dad. "Just a few kicks, alright? Mommy needs to sleep, so don’t bother her," Hayden instructed. The baby obediently kicked a few more times before settling down. Keira was curious. "I think our ba
Love's Redemption Chapter 973
Keira stared at the messages Lena had just sent her. She could sense something was up, so she immediately called her, but Lena declined the call. Instead, she replied with another message: [I’m at my grandparents’ house, and my mother is here too.] Keira had no choice but to keep texting her: [Did Aaron upset you today?] Lena sent Keira a string of ellipses. That endless row of dots made her even more curious. [What happened exactly?] Keira pressed. Lena replied: [He brought his girlfriend home today.] After sending that message, she also sent Keira a screenshot of a payment receipt and added: [Spot the highlight.] Keira zoomed in on the image and finally noticed the note: Name Change Fee. [Wow, how generous! 600,000 dollars just for a name change fee. What did you call her to make it worth that much?] Keira was shocked. Lena then sent Keira a voice message, explaining the situation in detail. At the end, she added: [He used to tell me how long he’d liked me, but now he’s
Love's Redemption Chapter 972
"Aaron, I want to add Lena on WhatsApp." Xandra actually asked Aaron, gently tugging on his sleeve with a delicate and endearing expression that made her look pitifully lovable. Aaron glanced at her, his gaze filled with a warmth Lena was all too familiar with. Once upon a time, he had looked at her the same way. Now, he could look at other women like that. So, never believe a man when he says things like, I've liked you for years. "If you want to add her, then add her," Aaron's approval made Xandra look at him with delight. Lena, however, truly didn’t want to add her. She and Xandra weren’t close, and they likely wouldn’t ever be. Lena didn’t enjoy socializing with strangers, so she smiled faintly. "Aren’t you afraid I might tell her something about you, Uncle Aaron?" Aaron’s gaze turned cold and distant, his voice calm. "There’s nothing about me that Xandy can’t know." Ha! Lena sneered inwardly. If that were the case, why had he just warned her earlier? Double stand
Love's Redemption Chapter 971
Under the table, Lena felt her mother's foot nudge her—a clear signal: Let Xandra win. Lena gritted her teeth. Why was everyone fawning over a girlfriend who hadn’t even officially joined the family? Annoyed, she huffed inwardly. The more you tell me to lose, the harder I’ll fight to win. The game began, and Lena’s starting hand was exceptional—practically a heavenly draw. She was only one card away from winning while the others still struggled with mismatched cards. It seemed like an easy victory was in the cards for her. But then, as if under a spell, her luck took a sharp turn. None of the cards she needed showed up. Worse, every time she reached for a card, Xandra would intercept it with a call, blocking her progress entirely. As the rounds continued, even her mother, Briana, reached a ready hand, while Lena was still stuck with the same cards she started with. Soon, her grandmother joined the fray, and eventually, even Xandra declared readiness. Three players were now
Love's Redemption Chapter 970
Lena’s heart fluttered in panic. Why was he standing here? Had he overheard what she’d said earlier? There was no use regretting it now. She could only pretend he hadn’t heard anything and called out, trying to sound natural, “Uncle!” She had just given herself a pep talk in the bathroom, but seeing him standing so close now, her heartbeat still faltered. Aaron’s deep, starry eyes fixed on her. “Xandy is very simple and innocent. She doesn’t take well to certain things. I trust you understand what I mean?” Lena’s chaotic heartbeats suddenly settled. So this was why he had waited for her—to make sure she wouldn’t tell Xandra about his past feelings for her. A strange, sharp pain twisted in her chest, so intense it stole her breath for a moment. Clenching her fist by her side, she pinched herself hard to suppress the ache and avoid showing any emotion. “What ‘certain things’ are you referring to, Uncle? I don’t believe there’s anything you’ve shared with me that’s worth m
Love's Redemption Chapter 969
“Come here,” Deborah called, motioning for Lena to approach. She introduced her to Xandra with a cheerful smile. “The two of you may be the same age, but from now on, you must properly call her your aunt. Understand?” Xandra’s face flushed red. “There’s no need for that. Just call me Xandy.” Nervously, she tugged at Aaron’s sleeve. He glanced at her before responding calmly, “Our family values etiquette. Generational hierarchy matters.” Etiquette? Wasn’t this just a ploy to make her call Xandra “Aunt”? Was he in such a rush to give her a title to avoid any misunderstandings? Whether it was to clarify things for Xandra or to distance himself from her, Lena couldn’t help but feel a petty frustration bubbling up. Fine. If Aaron wanted her to say it, she would. “Aunt Xandra,” Lena said, her tone neutral but deliberate. Xandra’s face turned even redder. “No, really, you can just call me Xandy.” “I should call you that, and it’s not for free. As my elder, you owe me a red e
Love's Redemption Chapter 968
“Mr. Ace, why the sudden preference for plain water?” Elaine asked as she poured a glass. “It’s not for me. It’s for Xandy,” Aaron replied, his eyes flicking toward Lena, who kept her head down, still rinsing the same tomato. Elaine chuckled. “Your girlfriend is very pretty. She seems like a sweet and kind young lady. I bet your parents can finally relax now.” “Mm, everyone can be at ease,” Aaron replied, his tone carrying a subtle undertone. Lena didn’t lift her head, but she heard the implication clearly. “Not just at ease—happy too,” Elaine said as she handed him the glass of water. Taking it, Aaron thanked her. “Thank you, Elaine.” Then he left the kitchen. Elaine watched him go, sighing wistfully. “His parents have been waiting for this day for so long.” Turning back, she noticed Lena was still rinsing the same tomato—again. Elaine reached over and turned off the faucet. “Miss Lena, if you keep washing that tomato, it’s going to lose all its skin,” she teased.
Love's Redemption Chapter 967
"Do I need to change my shoes?" A gentle female voice came from the doorway. Lena thought she must be hearing things. She snapped her head up, and her eyes landed on a tall girl in casual attire standing by the entrance. Next to her was Aaron, dressed in a dark coat. They hadn’t looked into the house yet, as the entryway was positioned just out of sight from the main living area. However, from her spot on the sofa, Lena had a clear view of them. “No won't be necessary. My parents don’t wear slippers at home,” Aaron explained patiently. Lena felt as if she were frozen in place, her mind going blank as she stared at the two of them. Hearing the commotion, Briana walked out from the kitchen, and she, too, stopped in her tracks. It was rare—unheard of, even—for Aaron to bring a girl home. The implications were obvious. “Sister,” Aaron greeted Briana first, then introduced the girl beside him. “This is my friend.” Briana nodded quickly, her surprise evident. “Hello!” The g
Love's Redemption Chapter 966
The weekend had arrived, coinciding with the end of the year. The timing couldn’t have been more fitting—or more ominous. At the hospital, Lena’s colleagues were busy making plans for New Year’s Eve celebrations, but she sat at her desk, preoccupied with how to get through the weekend. Tomorrow, Aaron was going to formally announce his decision to sever ties with the Ace family. Even though she had tried to comfort her grandparents and they seemed to accept it, she feared the actual impact would be far greater than any preparation could soften. “Dr. Lane, any plans for tomorrow? Join us!” someone invited her. Lena snapped out of her thoughts. “No, I’ll be at home with my grandparents.” She’d even be taking an emergency kit, just in case her grandparents couldn’t handle the shock. Her mother, Briana, had been equally anxious, sending multiple reminders throughout the day to ensure Lena would go to the Ace house right after work. The last time she visited, she’d managed to
