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
Lindey was on a roll now. "She's only this bold because that idiot Jace keeps protecting her. She's wading in deeper, thinking she'll get away with it. But I swear, I'll make sure she regrets it.""Lindey, let's just figure out what she said to Matthew first," I tried, hoping to calm her down."What else could it be? She wants us to accept her, to let her into this family," Lindey snapped, like Tanya had already made her plans crystal clear."She's delusional. Even if every woman on Earth disappeared and Jace stayed single forever, I'd never let her into this family," Lindey snapped, her words sharp enough to cut through steel.I knew she was just venting, too angry to hold back. So, I didn't try to reason with her. I let her get it all out.After a few more harsh words, she finally started to calm down. "Rea, just wait and see how I deal with that woman."Her words dragged up a memory from my early years with the Johnstons. Back then, Lindey and Matthew had nearly divorced. I'd
"Got it!" Lena responded cheerfully. She washed her hands before sitting back down, picking up the utensils Aaron had prepared for her, and diving into her dumpling-and-dipping-sauce breakfast combo. "Uncle, why aren’t you eating?" She had already eaten two dumplings before realizing he hadn’t touched any. "I’m not hungry." Three words. Which meant he hadn’t eaten yet. "There’s too much food. I can’t finish it all by myself. Eat some too," Lena said casually as she picked up a dumpling with her chopsticks and held it up to his mouth. She did it so naturally—until she realized what she had just done. Aaron froze for a second, surprised by her gesture. The moment of hesitation made her realize too—wasn’t this kind of inappropriate? She was just about to pull her hand back when— He leaned in and took the dumpling straight into his mouth. Lena’s face flushed red in an instant. She hurriedly withdrew her hand, lowered her head, and focused on eating. Meanwhile, Aar
She was shocked to see him here so early. Especially today—a day when everyone was celebrating the new year, spending time with their loved ones—and yet, he was here. With her. Lena wasn’t made of stone. She felt it. A warmth, an unspoken emotion that settled deep in her chest. "Uncle, why are you here so early?" She walked over, hands casually tucked into her coat pockets. "I didn’t want you to go hungry," Aaron replied simply, lifting the bag of food in his hand. He glanced at her break room. "Open the door." She unlocked the door and stepped inside, with him following close behind. Her break room was small—a single desk and chair, a narrow bed, and a tiny wardrobe. Nothing extra, nothing unnecessary. "Sit down, Uncle," she said naturally, settling onto the bed while motioning for him to take the chair. Aaron placed the food down and asked, "Did you sleep at all?" "I did," Lena replied. But as soon as the words left her mouth, she thought of that dream—and let o
"If it weren’t for my goddaughter, I wouldn’t even bother with you," Lena said, gently rocking the baby in her arms. "Right, little Aurora? Your godmother just adores you." "Come on, Aurora, it’s time to eat," Lena said as she carefully placed the baby in Keira's arms. Although it was her first time, Keira wasn’t embarrassed. She followed Lena’s instructions, trying to breastfeed for the first time. But the process was… painful. And since her posture was incorrect, neither of them got it right—Keira ended up covered in sweat from struggling, and her baby still hadn’t eaten properly. Panic set in. Anxiety crept up her spine. "What do I do?" Keira asked, her voice tight with unease. "It’s okay. This happens at first. Let’s transition with formula for now," Lena reassured Keira before glancing at Hayden, who had been standing there the whole time, watching anxiously—and sweating just as much as Keira was. "Go make your daughter a bottle," she told him. Hayden, the man wh
That conversation… Lena shuddered. Yeah, she had definitely come back too early. It was best to leave now before she ruined the mood for those two inside. Not wanting to hear any more, she quickly turned to leave—only to smack her leg against a nearby chair. The pain was real, but worse was the noise it made, drawing attention to her presence. Inside the room, Hayden—already feeling awkward from Keira's teasing—froze. The sound from outside made him even more uncomfortable. Keira couldn’t hold back her laughter. The moment Keira burst out laughing, however, pain shot through her lower abdomen. "Ah—ow!" Keira gasped. Hayden immediately panicked. "What’s wrong? Where does it hurt?" Hearing her cry, Lena rushed in as well. "What happened?" "I laughed too hard and pulled my stitches," Keira explained, gripping Hayden’s hand tightly. Lena glared at Keira. "You’re a mother now, and yet you’re still acting like a child. Do you have any idea what condition you’re in?"
"It’s fine. I can do it," Hayden said naturally as he picked up the basin and went to fetch warm water. The moment he stepped out, Lena turned to scold Keira. "You went through so much pain to give birth to his child. Why would you feel bad about letting him do something for you?" "It’s not that I feel bad—I just feel embarrassed," Keira whispered in defense. Lena rolled her eyes. "So dramatic." Keira shot her a glare in return. "Just wait until it’s your turn. When your husband has to handle your private matters, you’ll understand how awkward it is." The moment the words left Keira's mouth, she saw Lena’s face turn red. Lena quickly hugged the baby and turned away. But Keira caught it. Something was off. "Wait… why are you blushing?" Keira asked suspiciously. "I am not blushing," she denied immediately. What Keira didn’t know was that her words had triggered the memory of Lena's ridiculous dream—where she had been lying on the delivery bed, cursing Aaron while gi
The moment she finished cursing, Lena jolted awake. She sat there, dazed. What kind of ridiculous dream was that? She had assisted in delivering countless babies before, but this was the first time she had ever dreamed of giving birth herself. And not only that—she had dreamed of giving birth to Aaron’s child? That was beyond outrageous. Absolutely absurd! What a way to start the new year. That dream was anything but beautiful. Lena ran a hand down her face, shaking off the lingering unease. She quickly got up, poured herself a glass of water to calm down, and then left the break room. Back in the hospital room, Hayden was feeding Keira. Keira was perfectly capable of eating on her own, but he insisted on feeding her, saying that she was in a special period and should be treated like a queen. That this was the time to learn how to be spoiled properly. Fine. If this was how he wanted to make up for the suffering she endured giving birth to their daughter, she’d give
Keira looked at Lena and smiled as she followed up on Hayden’s words. "You’re family. It’s different." Lena shot her a subtle glare before stuffing the red envelope into her pocket and saying, "Give me the rest. I’ll hand them out for you later." Hayden passed her the prepared stack of red envelopes, and as she took them, she asked, "What about the other departments?" Hayden and Aaron exchanged a glance and chuckled. "Of course. Every medical staff member in this hospital gets one." "President Hart, you’re too generous," Lena said, giving him a thumbs-up. With that, she took the envelopes and left. Aaron glanced at the time. "If there’s nothing else, I’ll be heading back now." "Mm. Happy New Year!" Hayden said, offering his holiday wishes. "Happy New Year to your whole family," Aaron replied, adding a few extra words that made both Hayden and me instinctively turn toward the baby in the bassinet. From today onward, we were officially a family of three. Outside the h
When Keira returned to the hospital room, she was greeted by a sight that made her pause. The room was decorated with fresh flowers and balloons, and beside her bed, there was a small cart filled with various gift boxes. The atmosphere was so festive that if someone walked in, they might have thought it was a birthday party rather than a postpartum recovery room. "What’s all this?" Lena asked on Keira's behalf. "A reward for my wife," Hayden answered, his hand still holding Keira's as he gazed at her with deep affection. "She went through so much. This is my way of thanking her." Keira smiled faintly. "I don’t need any of this." "Whether you need it or not is one thing. Giving it to you is my choice," Hayden said, pressing a kiss onto Keira's fingertips. "Even if everything I have already belongs to you, I still want to give you more." "Such a loving husband—honestly, what more could a woman ask for?" Lena teased before patting Keira's hospital bed. "But if President Hart r
Elder Mitchell wasn’t buying it. "That just means you guys didn’t really want to give anything. If you truly wanted to, there’s no such thing as a gift that can’t be delivered." The two old men started bickering again, but Hayden ignored them. Instead, he kept his eyes on the infant bathing room. Before long, the nurse finished bathing the baby and carried her out. Hayden reached out to take her, but the two elders immediately moved to get closer. He blocked them without hesitation. "Don’t you know old people’s eyes are toxic? You shouldn’t be staring at her for too long." Elder Hart: "…" Elder Mitchell: "…" With that, Hayden carried the baby and walked away. The two old men trailed after him, hoping to catch another glimpse, but Hayden wasn’t about to give them the chance. "Congratulations," Aaron, who had been standing nearby, offered his well wishes. "It’s a daughter. Take a look," Hayden said, his pride practically radiating off him. Aaron lowered his gaze to the