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
“Lena, you’re back! Aaron…” Mrs. Lane immediately waved at Lena, signaling her to come over quickly. Lena had a sinking feeling and didn’t step forward. Just then, Aaron walked over and stood beside her, his gaze sweeping over everyone in the room. As his sleeve brushed against Lena’s hand, the accidental touch gave her a sudden boost of courage. What was there to be afraid of? With Aaron here, her mother wouldn’t dare go overboard. It was a confidence she had grown up with—so long as Aaron was around, her mother was nothing more than a paper tiger. To this day, Lena couldn’t quite figure it out. Aaron wasn’t even biologically related to the family, yet everyone seemed to hold him in unusually high regard. Whatever he said, no one would dare contradict. It was precisely because of this unique favoritism that Lena often rode on his coattails, benefiting from his influence. “Chairman Goodwick, Mrs. Goodwick,” Aaron greeted the unfamiliar guests first, acknowledging the fa
“It doesn’t hurt anymore. It’s completely healed,” Lena said as she sat down. “Any new issues or discoveries today?” “None,” Nate replied, his dark, deep gaze lingering on her with a complex expression. Lena noticed but pretended not to. She had no intention of asking. When she lowered her head to focus on work, Nate withdrew his gaze. For the rest of the day, he didn’t say another word to her. This behavior was unusual for him. Ever since he returned to promote his research project, Nate had always carried himself with humility, desperately seeking her forgiveness. But today, he acted like just another colleague, a completely different person from before. Although this change was what Lena had hoped for, she couldn’t help but feel unsettled. What had brought on this sudden shift? She thought back to the incident yesterday when she had asked Nate and Aaron to leave while her wound was being treated. Could it be that her uncle had said something to Nate? On the drive bac
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