Chapter 421

I had Steve check it out instead of just waiting for Hayden's conclusion. I mean, it was his dad driving that day, and I couldn't shake the feeling he might lie to protect him.

Now, though? Yeah, I was totally overthinking it.

"You're thinking the brakes failed that day, huh?" Hayden asked.

We were officially together now, so no more dodging the truth. "Yeah. I need a real answer, though. Like, no guessing."

Hayden went quiet for a second, then asked, all soft, "Rea, if—and I'm just saying if—the brake thing had something to do with my dad, would you... would you leave me?"

The words hit like a punch in the gut, tightening my throat like someone was choking me. I knew why he asked, but honestly? I hadn't thought about it. It was too scary to even go there.

"Hayden, I really don't know."

There was a part of me that believed—even if the accident was tied to his dad—that Hayden wasn't his dad. I couldn't blame him for something his dad might've done. But just because I could think