I kept my focus on the match playing on the TV. It was intense, two of the best players going head-to-head. Every point felt like a work of art.Without bothering to look at her, I casually asked, "So, who do you think's gonna win this?"Tanya didn't bother answering. Instead, she snapped, "You've got some nerve showing up here."I shrugged and pulled a chair next to her bed, eyes still on the game. "Weren't you waiting for me?"I mean, her whole attack on Lena? That was definitely meant for me."It doesn't matter," she hissed. "I'm gonna make sure you pay for this. Trust me, the pain you'll feel is gonna be way worse than if it happened to you directly."On screen, my favorite player nailed a killer forehand smash, winning the set. The crowd roared.I glanced over at Tanya. She looked like a ghost—pale, gaunt, lips tinged blue. Honestly? Pitiful."I don't know what price I'm paying, but you..." I leaned in a little, lowering my voice. "You're not looking so hot these days, huh
Tanya flinched so fast I couldn't help but laugh out loud.Still chuckling, I grabbed the remote she'd tossed aside. "What, you're scared of me? Relax, I'm just getting the remote."Her face turned a weird mix of red and pale—like she couldn't decide if she was embarrassed or just pissed.I had already turned the TV back on, the match tied at 8-8, both players neck-and-neck. Whoever took the next point was set to win the set."Get out!" Tanya snapped, sounding frustrated as hell.Instead of leaving, I pointed the remote at her like it was some kind of weapon. "Chill. Let me finish watching, and then we can talk."I wasn't even just messing with her—I genuinely wanted to watch the match. Forget pop stars and influencers; I was obsessed with the girl on screen, clawing her way to the top in the world of sports. She was fierce. Unstoppable.To my surprise, Tanya actually quieted down. I smirked and decided to push her a little. "Wanna make it interesting? Let's bet. Pick who you th
I sat there, just as tense as they were. The camera flicked back to the table just in time for the opponent's return shot to fly out of bounds, and the arena exploded. My girl raised her paddle in victory, grinning.I couldn't help but smile too.As the victory music blasted, I spun my chair back to face Tanya. "She won," I said, grinning like a proud mom.Tanya wasn't impressed. "You've watched your dumb match. Now, why are you really here?"I pushed off the floor and slid my chair closer, crossing one leg over the other.I was still rocking the black silk skirt from last night's dinner with Nate and Lena. Standing, the slit was subtle, but now? Sitting? It was showing off most of my thigh.My skin, smooth and flawless, practically glowed against the dark fabric under the harsh hospital lighting.Tanya's eyes went straight to my legs. Even though she was a woman, even though she loved showing off too, I saw the flicker of envy.I got it. She hadn't had the chance to flaunt any
"What the heck are you doing? Give me my phone!"Tanya freaked out, practically launching herself at me, hands outstretched like she was going to tackle me.Yeah, right. If she wasn't hiding something, she wouldn't be acting like this, which made me even more curious.I dodged her, holding the phone just out of her reach. In the chaos, my thumb slipped, and the call connected.It rang once, then whoever it was hung up.Not answering? Suspicious much?I redialed just as Tanya jumped off the bed, barefoot and desperate. "Keira, what the f*ck is wrong with you? Give me my phone!" She was swearing up a storm, lunging at me like a maniac.Finally, someone picked up."Why are you calling again when I already hung up?"Wait...that voice... Retta?I froze for a second, the puzzle pieces clicking into place.No way. Retta? Miss Perfect? And now she's getting shady just to land a guy? Wow."Prof. Roane, sticking your nose into OB-GYN now?" I said, my voice dripping with sarcasm.Dea
I blinked. Was she serious? Did she think this was some kind of easy jackpot?"No," I said, shutting her down without hesitation."Why not?" she pressed.I didn't even bother. But, of course, she couldn't leave it alone. "Is it because Jace gave it to you?"Her imagination was wild."Didn't you hear what his dad said at the grand opening?" I reminded her.Tanya let out this snide laugh. "That was just for show."Ugh, there was no reasoning with her.I wasn't wasting more time, so I cut to the chase, "Why do you even want the park, anyway?""Because it makes money. If I had it, I wouldn't have to worry about anything for the rest of my life," she said, trying to sound all practical.Honestly, it seemed fair enough—except I wasn't buying it."Tanya, let's be real. You want something from me, but you're not being honest. How am I supposed to say yes to that?" I called her out.Her eyes flickered, like she wasn't sure if she should spill the truth. "You really want the truth?"
So, Tanya wanted to drag me down with her, huh?Classic. This was the same woman who used her husband's death to climb the ladder, so of course she'd try to use someone else. She wasn't bluffing. I knew she'd do exactly what she said.I'd have to keep my guard up around her.I leaned in, locking eyes with her. "Alright, let's see who crashes and burns first."Then, with a swift kick to her hand, I turned and strode out.As I reached the door, I couldn't help thinking about the baby she caused to be born early with all her drama, so I said, "Oh, and Tanya? If you've got even a shred of decency left, maybe take a look at the kid you brought into this world. At least let him know who his mom really is."She froze, and I turned away, leaving without another word.I headed straight to Lena's break room to wait for her. Ten minutes later, she finally showed up."You're still here?" she grinned. "Didn't think you'd actually wait for me."I gave her a look. "Cut the act. What did your
I caught on quick. "And when you walk out, the director's gonna freak. You're Seavora's top OB-GYN—they'll be begging you to stay.""Exactly. I'm hitting two birds with one stone. By the end of this mess, I might even snag the deputy director spot."Lena's ambition wasn't off the charts—she was just gunning for deputy director.I couldn't help but laugh. "When life throws mud, you make a whole garden out of it."Lena shot a look at my phone and tilted her head toward it. "Use that VIP status of yours and book me a flight."Classic Lena. She made a move, and the world would scramble to catch up.I pulled out my phone and had her ticket booked before she even finished her water. Then I drove her home so she could pack.As we pulled up to the airport, I raised an eyebrow. "Didn't the director tell you to stay for the investigation?"She just laughed. "And you're only asking now? Does it even matter?"I laughed too. "So, this was the plan all along?""Duh. The whole surgery's rec
My heart skipped a beat. "What happened?"Jace's face darkened. "He got into a fight."A fight overseas, right before a major competition? That didn't sound like Steve. "Did he ask you to come?"Jace hesitated. "He's been detained."I blinked, stunned. "That serious?""Yeah, and if things don't go well, he could be facing long-term imprisonment." His words knocked the wind out of me for a second.Seeing the worry on my face, Jace added, "I don't know all the details yet. One of his teammates called. I'm heading over to figure things out."I nodded slightly. "Let me know if anything—""Do you want to come with me?" Jace cut in, eyes locked on mine.I wasn't expecting that. My mouth opened, but before I could answer, Jace continued, "His teammate said Steve's not doing well. He's been really agitated. If you're there, maybe you could calm him down."Steve wasn't just a friend—he was family. Someone who'd always had my back. Now he was in trouble, far from home, and of course I
Aaron meant what he said—he truly didn’t bother Lena again. It was as if life had reverted to how it was when he’d gone abroad. Lena even started wondering if he had left the country again, until she received a call from Briana. “Your uncle is going to announce his true parentage this Sunday. Your grandparents haven’t been eating well these past few days. Come back and keep them company, will you? You’re the only one who can cheer them up,” Briana said. Hearing this made Lena feel uneasy. Knowing Aaron’s intention to sever ties with the Ace family, she found herself perplexed. Hadn’t he already given up on her? If so, why was he still doing this? Unless... he had always wanted to cut ties with the Ace family, regardless of her. “Why would he do this?” Lena murmured under her breath. “What did you say?” Briana asked, not catching her words. “Mom, has uncle… been in the country this whole time?” Lena asked cautiously. “Of course. Where else would he go? His career here ha
“To put it simply, when I’m with him, my heartbeat isn’t the same. I know what that means. But our relationship is what it is. Even if there’s no blood relation, it’s still not possible,” Lena admitted, finally revealing her feelings. Her ties and concerns all revolved around Aaron’s identity. “What if he could handle everything? Including your parents and grandparents?” Keira pressed further. Lena gave a bitter smile. “And could he stop others from gossiping?” “Are you living for others? Who doesn’t talk about others, and who hasn’t been talked about behind their back?” Keira tried to reason with her. “Rea, humans are social creatures. It’s impossible not to care what others think,” Lena sighed, blowing at her bangs and sending them flying upward. At that moment, Nina ran over, her face brimming with joy. “I found a drawing on a leaf!” She held up a leaf and pointed to it. “Doesn’t this look like a turtle lying down?” She wasn’t wrong—it really did look like a turtle.
Keira knew Sasha had no ill intentions, but what about others? In this society, there were very few who genuinely wanted the best for you. Even if they wished you well, they rarely wanted you to do better than them. Had she been too high-profile lately? Did she provoke envy and jealousy? Actually, she hadn’t done anything to promote herself—not even for this little courtyard. But she couldn’t control the guests who came here and spread the word. Maybe the stalker Hayden mentioned showed up because of this. Sasha only left in the afternoon, but Nina refused to go no matter what. She insisted on staying with Keira. Since Keira had already promised to take her out to play, she let her stay. Besides, Nina was well-behaved and not mischievous. Her lively energy brought a unique vitality to the courtyard. When Lena arrived, Nina stood at the entrance and greeted her adorably, “Welcome!” “Oh my, where did this little beauty come from? Is your boss hiring child laborers now?
After Keira's checkup, Hayden returned. The first thing Keira did was look him over from head to toe, relieved to find he hadn’t acquired any new injuries. “Did you get anything out of him?” “He confessed he was broke and was looking to steal some money,” Hayden replied. “That simple?” Lena was skeptical. Keira doubted it too, and judging by Hayden’s expression, he wasn’t convinced either. She looked at him, seeking confirmation. “Do you think that’s all there is to it?” “This man does have a prior record of theft and robbery,” Hayden said. “I let him go but had someone tail him. We’ll investigate further by tracking his contacts.” With that, he took the checkup report from Lena. Lena explained, “It’s nothing serious, just pregnancy-related. Make sure she gets foot massages, soaks her feet, and avoids standing too much.” After the checkup was completed, Keira arranged for Lena to visit them later at the courtyard and left with Hayden. - When they arrived at the courty
“What happened? Did you get into a fight?” That was Keira's first reaction upon seeing Hayden’s injury. Lena glanced at his wound. “Come over and sit down. I’ll take care of it for you.” “It’s nothing,” Hayden brushed off the offer and turned to Keira instead. “You were right. Someone was watching us from the courtyard.” Keira's heart skipped a beat. “What? Did they follow us to the hospital?” “Yes, I caught them. I’ll get to the bottom of this soon.” A cold, menacing glint flashed in Hayden’s eyes—something Keira hadn’t seen in a long time. The fact that he was injured meant whoever had been following them wasn’t ordinary. A shiver ran down Keira's spine. But at least they’d caught the person. “How’s the checkup? Is everything okay?” Despite the situation, Hayden’s first concern was still his wife. Knowing he had just dealt with the stalker, Keira decided not to mention the additional tests Lena had ordered. “It’s fine. With Lena here, what could possibly go wrong?”
Aaron had a knack for handling people, never revealing all his cards at once. "I'm pursuing Lil' Lena," he said calmly. Ron's eyes widened, his breath catching in his throat. A few seconds later, he finally reacted, and everything became clear. Lena had asked him to play the role of her boyfriend. Out of respect for her privacy, he hadn’t pried into the reason. Later, he’d asked Hayden, who simply told him to go along with it and not ask too many questions. Now he understood—it was because Aaron was pursuing her. “You’re already aware of my situation with her,” Aaron continued. “This process won’t be smooth, so it’s a good idea for her to use you as a stand-in boyfriend for now.” Ron understood perfectly. His role was to act as a cover, fooling the fake mother-in-law like yesterday while giving Aaron and Lena space to start a secret relationship. This was precisely Aaron’s plan. He wanted Lena to first accept him, to spend time together, and build their connection before
This question—"Willing?"—kept echoing in Lena’s mind. It haunted her so much that she spent yet another sleepless night. Her answer was clear: she couldn’t. She knew Aaron had made his move and wouldn’t give up easily. But she simply couldn’t agree. And if she didn’t say yes, there was nothing he could do about it. Besides, she truly saw him as her younger uncle—there was no way she could see him as a boyfriend. “Dr. Lane, not sleeping well lately?” the hospital director asked as soon as he saw her. One glance, and he could tell she looked exhausted. “A bit of insomnia,” Lena admitted honestly. “Is it because you don’t have a boyfriend? Want me to introduce you to a few?” The director, ever so responsible, even took it upon himself to worry about her personal life. Lena glanced at the sparse hair on his head and chuckled. “Director, I’ll find someone myself. No need for you to concern yourself.” Aaron hadn’t gotten an answer from her, nor had he pursued her aggressively
"I've thought about it, and I have a plan. I’ll make them accept it. This is something I need to consider. You don’t have to worry," Aaron said with a tone of responsibility. Lena fell silent. A few seconds later, she replied, "Even if they accept it, I can't... Uncle, I’ve always seen you as my uncle and never felt anything else." Ron’s apartment was on the fifth floor, giving Lena a clear view of his face. His expression was slightly tense as he continued looking up at her. Though she couldn’t see his eyes, she could still feel the depth of emotion in them, and the loneliness he must have felt after being rejected. Lena lowered her gaze, unable to watch any longer. "Uncle, we have such a good relationship, don’t ruin it, please." "Do you know how many years I’ve liked you?" Aaron suddenly asked. Lena’s heart skipped a beat. How many years had he liked her? Did that mean he’d had feelings for her all along? But he had never mentioned it, and she had never sensed it. He
"Cough, cough..." Lena started coughing uncontrollably as Ron casually spoke. Even a real son-in-law wouldn’t start calling his girlfriend’s mother "Mom" right away, let alone someone pretending to be one. Lena stared at him blankly, and Ron winked at her with a gesture that seemed to say "Don’t worry." He then turned to speak to Briana on the phone. "Mom, I’ve been with Lena for a few months now. She’s been too shy to introduce me to you because she was afraid you wouldn’t approve of me... Yes, yes, we’re basically an underground couple." Lena rolled her eyes in disbelief. What kind of nonsense was this? She tried to grab his phone, not wanting to hear any more of his fabrication, but Ron dodged and continued speaking to Briana. "Mom, I’m really her boyfriend, not fake... Otherwise, why would she be here with me so late at night, right?" Ron certainly had a way with words, and Lena realized that asking him to pretend to be her boyfriend might be the best decision she’d made