"No, no way. It was just us at home, and even the pets don't stress him out anymore," Lindey said, then suddenly went quiet.I raised an eyebrow, sensing something was off. Before I could ask, Lindey grabbed my hand like she was hanging onto a lifeboat. "Wait... after I massaged him and he said he'd lie down on the couch, my phone rang. I picked it up, and... I think I heard him on a call too."My stomach dropped. Could that phone call have set him off?"Where's his phone?" I asked, trying to keep calm.Lindey patted her pockets and frowned. "Ugh, I didn't bring it. It's probably at the house."Perfect. No way to grab it now, but something about that call wasn't sitting right. Like, what if that triggered all this?Before I could spiral further, Wayne and Jace came back, looking super serious. Whatever Wayne told Jace while I was with Lindey must've been bad. They both looked like they knew more than they were saying, and it made my chest tighten.I wanted to ask them what they'
Seeing Matthew struggle so hard to speak, I couldn't hold back my tears anymore.I'd seen him in so many ways—confident, strong, always in control—but never like this, never this weak."Don't cry, Rea... don't cry," Matthew whispered, lifting his hand with all the strength he had left, trying to wipe my tears away.I quickly grabbed his hand, wiping my tears on my sleeve instead. But then I froze.Wait—this wasn't my jacket.It was Jace's.He'd dragged me out of the hotel earlier, and I was still in my nightgown. Once we got in the car, he handed me his jacket. I wanted to refuse, but it's not like I could go out in just a camisole, so I put it on. And I'd been wearing it ever since."Mm, I won't cry," I promised, lifting my tear-streaked face and forcing a small smile.Matthew looked at me with an expression that was both gentle and complicated, the kind that made my stomach twist. I tightened my grip on his hand. "You'll be okay. You have to be okay.""I know my own body," M
"No," Matthew insisted, shaking his head. "Don't let your thoughts run wild... I just think you should focus on your work, and your future with Hayden."His voice grew weaker with every word. The nurse stepped forward, clearly ready to step in, but Matthew stopped her with just a look. She sighed and said, "One more minute, at most."I knew how bad things were with him, and even though I needed to know what he was hiding, I couldn't push him now. His health had to come first. "We can talk later. You need to rest."But Matthew gripped my hand, tighter than I expected. "Rea, promise me."His desperation hit hard. The more he insisted, the more certain I became—there was something off about my parents' accident.But I could see it in his eyes—he wasn't going to say anything more. It felt pointless to push him. With how fragile he was, I could only let it go, at least for now. "Alright, I promise."The tension in his face finally eased, but he still didn't let go of my hand. "Rea, lo
The familiar scent of him hit me, and so did that suffocating feeling.I stood frozen for a moment, until his low voice cut through the tension. "Do you really care about him that much now?"My fingers curled at my sides. There was a time when I cared this much about Jace, too. I used to text him just to let him know I was having dinner with Lena, even though he never really appreciated it.And now, when my care was for someone else, he had the audacity to get upset and ask me this?"Yeah, I do. Of course I care about him. He's my man. Why wouldn't I?" I locked eyes with him as I said it, letting it sting.A direct hit, a trick I'd learned from him.Even though Jace and I had been over for a while, it didn't erase the pain he'd left behind.There were moments when those scars still burn.So if I can throw a verbal punch and make him feel even a sliver of what I went through, why not?Of course, that only would work if he still cared. Otherwise, my hit wouldn't land at all.Ja
Since I couldn't shove Jace off, there wasn't much else I could do. He really was something—so full of himself.But if he wanted to live in his little fantasy, fine. Let him. The deeper he clung to his delusions, the harder he'd fall. Maybe that was karma catching up with him. Or maybe it was my parents, watching over me, making sure he stayed stuck in the past while I kept moving forward."Gavin will bring you a phone soon. Get some rest," Jace finally said, releasing me.He turned and walked away, back straight—just like always.There was a time I'd watch him walk away and feel a rush of happiness. Now, I felt nothing. Detached. Like he was a stranger.I headed downstairs, and as soon as I hit the lobby, there was Gavin already waiting for me. "Ms. Kay, Mr. Johnston asked me to get you a new phone, the same brand you prefer, but it's the latest model," he said, handing me a bag.I didn't even look at it. "I don't need it. Just give me your phone," I replied, not in the mood for
"Baked pears. He specially ordered them in the middle of the night," Gavin explained, placing the still-warm bag of pears. "He said your throat sounded hoarse, so he got this to help."The warmth seeped into my palms as I stared down at the bag and tea. It was such a thoughtful gesture—one that left me more confused than comforted.Gavin had already started the car. "Ms. Kay, should I take you to Emberholm?" he asked, referring to Willow Residences, where I lived.Hearing that, I suddenly realized how Jace had found me outside my place that night. Clearly, Gavin had done some digging and passed the info along."No," I said flatly.Gavin paused, his eyes meeting mine in the rearview mirror. "Then... where should I take you?""Pull over," I said quietly.Gavin jolted slightly at my request but obediently pulled the car to the curb. He glanced back, clearly confused. "Ms..."I cut him off. "I'm not going home. I'll head to the surgical recovery unit."For a moment, I had been so
Yuna nodded. "Yeah, I'm feeling so much better now, like I'm actually healthy. I just want to live a normal life and catch up on everything I've missed."Hearing that from her was seriously heartwarming."Good, I'm all for it," I said, then added cautiously, "But are you sure you can understand all this? We could always get you a tutor if you need help.""I can!" Yuna grinned, practically glowing. "Keira, I swear, I feel like I've gotten smarter since the heart transplant. I understand everything just by looking at it."I froze for a second, caught off guard. Yuna placed her hand over her chest, her expression thoughtful. "Do you think the person who had this heart was a genius?""What? No, come on," I laughed, trying to steer her away from that thought. "Being smart comes from the brain, not the heart."Truthfully, I'd felt something strange earlier too, but I didn't want Yuna dwelling on it. The last thing she needed was unnecessary worries."You've always been smart. Hayden's
It was Jace.The second he appeared, my first thought was that something had happened to Matthew. I jumped up. "What happened to your dad?"Jace's gaze didn't shift; his eyes were locked on me. "He's fine."He held out his phone. "My mom wants to talk to you."The anxiety that had been building in my chest slowly eased. "What does she need?""It's urgent. She told me to find you and have you call her back right away," Jace said, pushing the phone closer.Just as I reached for the phone, Yuna's voice rang out behind me. "Keira, who is he?"My breath hitched. Yuna had already been suspicious that something was off between Hayden and me. And with all the romance novels she devoured, if she found out Jace was my ex, she'd definitely start jumping to conclusions."He's... my brother," I said, the word tumbling out awkwardly. The second it left my mouth, I swear the room temperature dropped.I refused to meet Jace's eyes. Instead, I forced a smile and turned to Yuna. "I'm just gonna
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