I trailed behind Tanya all the way to my building. She waltzed in through the front door like she owned the place and hopped on the elevator.When the elevator dinged to her floor, I could only think of two words: soap opera.She was living right above me.Like, was this some weird coincidence? Or was the universe just playing a bad joke on me?Either way, it was seriously annoying.Luckily, my neighbors were pretty much ghosts, so fingers crossed I'd never run into Tanya. But with the way she waddled—super pregnant and looking like she was about to pop—I wasn't sure how long my luck would last.Tanya, broke-as-a-joke Tanya, suddenly living in a fancy building like this? Yeah, I didn't even need to guess who was bankrolling her lifestyle.Jace. He was a pro at this. Pretending he still cared about me while being a complete jerk behind the scenes.Thinking about it, dumping him and walking away from his lies was probably the best decision I'd ever made.That's why Hayden didn't
Back when I was still with Jace, I'd always tell him to stop being so closed off, to try and be more chill so people wouldn't think he was some kind of untouchable.He used to listen, kind of. But now? He was standing there, totally cut off from everyone."Ever since you guys broke up, Jace has been like this," Steve grumbled, shaking his head. "Dude walks around like the world owes him something."I gave him a small smile, dodging the comment. "Steve, I need a favor."I knew he was swamped with competitions and all, but this wasn't something I could ask anyone else.Steve raised a brow, immediately suspicious. "Let's hear it."I bit my lip. "I need help figuring out what really happened with my parents' car accident."His face immediately darkened as I handed over the accident report, along with my theory. "You're the only one I trust to do this.""Rea, what's the point?" Steve asked.I looked down at the floor. "I know it won't bring them back, but I need to know. I need som
"Keira, are you with Jace right now? Could you ask him to take my call?" Tanya's voice cut through the silence in the room.You could practically hear everyone gasp, their eyes bouncing between me, the phone, and Jace.I didn't care what they were thinking, and I definitely wasn't looking at Jace. Keeping my cool, I replied, "Did you call the wrong number? Why are you asking me to chase down your boyfriend?"The room was so quiet, it felt like time had frozen."He's not answering my calls," Tanya's voice was all shaky and pathetic.I smirked. "Oh, and you think he'll answer just because I tell him to?"Before she could respond, Jace stormed over, snatched the phone out of my hand, and ended the call.I glanced up at his furious face, my amusement barely hidden. "Wow, Mr. Johnston, doing that's just gonna make her think I'm the one keeping you from talking to her."Without a word, he grabbed my wrist and started dragging me toward the door."Jace," Steve stood up, his voice ful
But I didn't even have to say no to Jace—Someone else was already waiting for me.Hayden stood by a sleek black motorcycle, rocking a black T-shirt and cargo pants, looking effortlessly cool.It was the first time I'd seen Hayden like this. And, okay, I wasn't blind. The whole bad boy vibe? Yeah, Jace used to nail that, too. All cocky, like he owned the world or something.I still remember the way my heart would practically sprint every time I hopped on the back of Jace's bike, arms wrapped tight around his waist, the wind whipping past us as we tore through the night."You're still into motorcycles?" Jace's voice pulled me out of the memory, and it had that same old edge, like he was daring me to answer.I just gave him a small smile and didn't bother responding. Instead, I walked straight to Hayden.Hayden spotted me and started making his way over. But before he could get close, someone else swooped in.Of course. Kylian.My big boss, stepping out of some fancy car. He was w
I wasn't exactly shocked when Tanya showed up. What did catch me off guard? The fact that she actually came to my job, instead of lurking outside my apartment or waiting at my door.It was obvious why she was here—Jace, of course.But I didn't have time for her drama, so I told my assistant to handle it. "Tell her I'm not available."Yet, when I stepped outside after work, guess who was still there? Yep, Tanya."Ms. Kay, she's been waiting half the day. She hasn't even touched the water we gave her, and she's pregnant. If something happens to her, it'll look bad," the receptionist warned me, clearly nervous.Great. Tanya was pulling the classic guilt trip move, trying to force me into meeting her.But I wasn't about to fall for it. If I gave in now, she'd make it a regular thing."If something happens, it's not our problem. Let her wait if she wants to." I breezed right past her without a second glance."Keira!" Tanya's voice sliced through the air, loud enough to make me freez
Could she really be here just to mess with me?Nah, Tanya had to have some other reason for showing up like this.I was about to say something when Hayden and Ron appeared. Hayden stepped right next to me, his expression ice-cold as he locked eyes with Tanya. "What's your child got to do with us?"Tanya flinched, clearly not ready to face Hayden's intensity. She pointed a shaky finger at me. "If she hadn't gone after Jace, none of this would've happened.""They've known each other for ten years—where were you then?" Hayden's comeback was so sharp, even I blinked. "Who cares who's chasing who?"Tanya's shock was written all over her face. Clearly, she didn't expect Hayden to go in so hard or to care so little about her drama.I started piecing it together—Tanya wasn't here just to cause chaos. She was trying to stir things up between me and Hayden. But what was her endgame? If she broke us up, did she seriously think I'd run back to Jace? That would just make things worse for her.
Of course I was going.I didn't even have to think about it.That amusement park? It was practically my baby—two years of blood, sweat, and tears. It held so many of my hopes, regrets, and... maybe even my second chance.The second I got the invite, old memories hit me like a movie reel that wouldn't quit."Can I bring someone with me?" I asked Jace.There was a pause. "Hayden?"I stayed quiet, and he let out a low laugh. "Bring whoever you want. Just... make sure you come."That was new. Before, Jace would've tried to charm me into coming alone. No compromise. But now? He was different."Thanks," I said, about to hang up, when his voice stopped me."Rea, my parents will be there tomorrow, too... We'll be waiting for you." His words carried a weight, like he wanted to make sure I couldn't back out."Okay," I agreed.But he didn't hang up. It felt like there was more he wanted to say, but he held back. I didn't push it.In the end, I was the one who ended the call.The amus
Hayden had one of those faces that just screamed "trust me." Even if he was lying, you wouldn't doubt him. And right now, he was giving me that same look, all sincere and serious.I couldn't help teasing him. "You really took that 'playing house' thing seriously? Hayden, you're so extra."He paused, mid-chop, then said, "Only when it's about you."Well, okay then.This guy had a real talent for mixing serious and cheesy at the same time."Keira, I wanna go too! I've never been to an amusement park!" Yuna chimed in, practically bouncing as she made her announcement.Honestly, I'd been thinking the same thing. That's why I'd asked Jace earlier if I could bring someone. Of course, he just assumed I meant Hayden.Not that it mattered—Hayden would've come anyway. He'd helped with the park's lighting design, so there was no way he'd miss the big opening.The place was packed, but the marketing team had been smart. They set up timed entry so it wasn't a total madhouse. Hayden, Yuna, a
"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