Honestly, I did want to eat what Ron brought. But if I gave in, Hayden would think his little peace offering worked, that he'd secretly made it up to me.I couldn't let him have that satisfaction. I'd make sure he stayed worried, unable to swoop in and fix things for me.Luckily, I had some snacks stashed in my cabinet. Just as I was reaching for one, the office phone rang.I grabbed a snack with one hand, the phone with the other."...What? How bad? I'll be there right away."By the time I hung up, the snack was forgotten, and I was already on my feet, ready to go.One of my subordinates had called—he was struggling to negotiate a project, and it had escalated fast. Not only was the other side giving him trouble, but things had gotten physical.This was serious.When someone on my team gets bullied, it's like they're picking a fight with me. I grabbed my keys and headed over."Ms. Kay, I swear, I didn't go into their women's locker room. They're setting me up," my injured sub
"Ow! Seriously, it hurts!" The guy on the ground was whining, his hand still trapped under Wayne's foot.Wayne, totally calm, pressed down harder, his gaze fixed right on me. "You okay?"I shrugged, glancing at the shattered remains of my phone. "I'm fine. But my phone? Total goner."Wayne glanced down at the mess."Mr. Johnston... Mr. Johnston..." Sandor, who'd been lurking nearby, practically tripped over himself running over. He half-reached toward Wayne, but stopped, clearly not daring to actually touch him."Dad, help me!" The guy on the floor groaned, grabbing at Sandor with his free hand.One word—"Dad"—explained everything. No wonder this jerk acted untouchable; his dad clearly had his back."Mr. Johnston, please, could you just go easy on my son?" Sandor begged, practically wringing his hands.Wayne didn't even look at him. The guy on the floor let out another yell, and Sandor was practically spinning in panic. "Mr. Johnston! Please!"Wayne, unfazed, just turned to hi
"Yeah, no thanks—wouldn't work with you even if you paid me," I shot back.By the time Wayne strolled out, I was already leaning against my car, waiting. He'd saved me from that trainwreck of a meeting, and I wasn't about to bail without a proper thanks."Waiting to say thank you?" Wayne smirked, all smug.I grinned. "If you hadn't stepped in, I'd probably be in the hospital right now.""Doubt it," he replied with a lazy grin. "That kick you threw? Brutal. Even if his intestines aren't in a pretzel, he's feeling it."I laughed, remembering my infamous "Flying Legs" days back in school when I had a reputation for taking down jerks with a single kick."Guess your skills haven't dulled," Wayne said, amused.I wasn't in the mood for a trip down memory lane, though, so I switched it up. "Didn't expect you to be working with this company too.""Jace actually set it up awhile back. I'm just here for a site check," Wayne said, shrugging.I just chuckled, letting the conversation drift
What?!I blinked, totally thrown. Pregnant?! Where on earth did that come from?He was so close I could catch that clean, familiar scent of his. It made my breath catch, and this dull ache bloomed in my chest.Only now did I realize just how much his absence had hit me. The breakup had been like a slow-brewing cocktail—quietly simmering, only to knock me flat when I least expected it.But no way was I letting him see that. I forced a smirk, trying to play it off. "Mr. Hart, did you wake up from some wild dream or something?"His jaw tightened. "Just answer me."He wasn't playing around.Of course, the answer was no.I'd definitely know if I were. But why did he even think this? Did he hear some wild rumor? Or maybe he was worried a baby would make things messy?The more I thought about it, the more it ticked me off. Part of me wanted to watch him squirm."And what if I said yes?" I shot back, letting the words hang in the air as I watched his face.Hayden's eyes narrowed, an
Otherwise, he wouldn't have come around asking if I was pregnant and insisting on driving me to the hospital. Like, excuse me?He'd hurt me before, sure, but this? This was a whole new level. One sentence, and he'd just crushed me.But I wasn't about to quit my job just because we broke up. Thankfully, I had some fieldwork lined up, so I could avoid the office without raising any flags.Three days into fieldwork, Yuna called. I wasn't sure if she knew about the split, but I really hoped we were still good."Keira, I'm in trouble. Can you help me?" She sounded panicked, like two seconds from crying."Whoa, slow down. What's going on?""I'm at the library, reading, and my period just hit out of nowhere—my skirt's totally stained!" she said.I let out a sigh of relief. Here I was, expecting some disaster."Could you bring me a skirt? I'll send you my location. Meet me in the restroom when you get here," she added, her voice way stronger than it used to be.And by her tone? She cl
Yuna's cheeks turned pink as she bit her lip. "...Yeah."Yeah, right. She was totally lying.I just looked around and shrugged, trying to sound casual. "This place is pretty nice, actually. Maybe I'll start coming here to procrastinate whenever work gets boring."Yuna didn't answer, which was weird. Normally, she'd be all over the idea of us being study buddies.So, she wasn't alone. And from the way she was acting, maybe she'd even been here with...a guy?Could it be Wade?He'd mentioned he only came here sometimes, so maybe I was just overthinking."There's a lot of guys here reading," I said, testing the waters. "Kind of surprising, since I thought most guys these days were glued to video games or esports."Yuna perked up immediately. "That's not true!""Oh?" I raised an eyebrow but I kept my tone light. "So you actually know a guy who likes to study?"Yuna froze, totally busted.This girl had no poker face."N-No," she mumbled, trying to deny it.I couldn't hold back a
I chuckled. "The way you're acting... kinda feels like you might have a little crush.""Keira..." Yuna blushed, looking away, clearly embarrassed.Yep, I was right—she totally had a thing for him."Hey, there's nothing wrong with that. It's normal to be interested in someone at your age," I said, glancing over at a nearby couple studying together. They were sneaking each other little looks, wrapped up in that sweet, low-key intimacy.It reminded me of school days, watching couples like that and wishing Jace would do the same. I'd begged him to come study with me so many times, but he'd always bail after a few minutes. Maybe even then, deep down, I knew we weren't really a match. We just moved at totally different paces."Keira?" Yuna's voice pulled me back to reality.I shook off the memories and grinned. "So... are you gonna tell me this guy's name?"Okay, I really wanted to know if it was Wade.She hesitated. "Can I... not say?"I smiled, waving it off. "Of course, you don't
"Hayden, what's wrong with Keira? Is she sick?" Yuna's voice broke through the haze around me."Hayden, why aren't you saying anything? Keira wouldn't come home with me—are you two fighting?""How much longer until she wakes up?"I slowly opened my eyes, finding Yuna clinging to Hayden, her eyes red with worry. She must have been terrified when I fainted like that.Hayden's face was tense, his jaw set. "Stop overthinking. The doctor said she's fine.""Then what about you two? Are you fine?" Yuna pressed, clearly not buying it.Hayden hesitated. "I'll explain later.""Hayden!" Yuna raised her voice, almost scolding him. "So, you are fighting with Keira. Why? You promised you'd take care of her the way you do for me!""Yuna, there are things you don't understand. Please, don't make a fuss. Just go home, okay?" Hayden softened his voice, trying to calm her."No way. I'm staying until Keira wakes up," she said stubbornly.Hayden looked frustrated but kept his cool, trying to be p
Mrs. Lane finally pieced together all the questions Lena had asked her and understood everything. Gabriel furrowed his brow and looked at Lena. "Is this really what you think?" Lena stayed silent. She did have those suspicions, but seeing how her mother had reacted so strongly, she began to wonder if she had been overthinking it. Aaron, who had already figured out the situation, looked at Lena and spoke up. "She must have misunderstood something." And he knew it was his fault. "She’s just an ungrateful brat! She doesn’t appreciate the kindness she’s been given and can’t stand seeing me be good to someone else," Mrs. Lane fumed again. Gabriel wiped away her tears gently. "Alright, maybe she was just joking with you." "Ask her if she was joking! Look at the things she’s been asking me—let her tell you herself!" Mrs. Lane pointed an accusing finger at Lena. "Big Sis," Aaron called out softly, "I’ll take Lil' Lena out for some fresh air." Without waiting for a reply, he r
"You’ll find out soon enough," Aaron’s answer echoed in Lena’s ears, leaving her restless and unable to sleep. The next day, Mrs. Lane arrived with chicken soup for Aaron and a bag full of fresh produce. "These vegetables are from a village I visited. They’re all organic, no chemical fertilizers," she gushed proudly. Lena's gaze followed her mother’s every move, scrutinizing her intently. Wherever she went, Lena's eyes followed, making her incredibly uncomfortable. "What are you staring at me for? It’s creepy," Mrs. Lane said. "Mom, why are you so good to my uncle?" Lena finally asked. "He’s my brother. Isn’t it normal for me to care for him? You think everyone’s as heartless as you?" Mrs. Lane scolded her, throwing in an insult for good measure. Lena didn’t retaliate to the insult. Instead, she pressed further, "It’s normal, sure, but the way you care for him doesn’t feel like how you’d treat a brother. It feels more like..." She paused before continuing, "Like how you’d
Keira chuckled softly. "Well, a DNA test isn’t a bad idea. At least then you won’t have to worry about being related to Mr. Ace if you two get together." Lena's eyebrows shot up instantly. "What nonsense are you spouting? Do you want me to hit you?" "Go ahead. If you break anything, you’ll have to compensate me," Keira said smugly, knowing full well she had a trump card—her precious little one growing inside her. Their playful banter caught the attention of the people in the room. They exchanged amused glances. "The things girls find joy in are beyond us," one of them said with a smile. "Let’s hope they stay happy forever," Aaron added, just as his phone began to ring. Glancing at the caller ID, he nodded at Hayden. "I’ll take this call." Aaron walked toward his study. Hayden also pulled out his phone, while Lena and Keira moved to the sofa. Keira recounted Lena’s gossip to him. "Hayden, do you think I could be the person the Mitchell family owes a debt to?" "It’s not
"I don't know them!" Lena shook her head. Was she joking? Keira pinched her lightly and looped her arm through hers as they continued walking inside. Lena began, "I heard some gossip from my colleagues, something about the Mitchell family of Windy City." "Let’s hear it," Keira said, strolling leisurely alongside her. Meanwhile, Hayden had already marched ahead, carrying the luggage into the hall. He was always efficient and precise, a trait ingrained in his very being from his military days. It showed in his every move, even in his stride. "A while back, the only legitimate heir of the Mitchell family in Windy City had an accident. Apparently, he fell from something high, hit his head, and ended up as a vegetable," she said. Keira had already heard Hayden mention this earlier. "That’s it?" she pouted dismissively. Lena huffed. "There’s more." "The Mitchell family has spared no expense trying to treat him. They’ve consulted every expert in the country, flown in wave afte
Hayden took out his phone and made a call. “There’s a car tailing me and my wife. Find out their identity, but make sure they don’t realize we’re onto them,” he instructed. “Why don’t you want them to know we’ve noticed?” Keira asked, puzzled. “Don’t startle the snake. If they really have ulterior motives, taking care of this group might just bring another wave,” Hayden explained. His reasoning made sense, and Keira nodded in understanding. They picked up Lena’s suitcase and were on their way to deliver it when the car behind them got rear-ended. They stopped to check, and Hayden received a message—a series of photos and some information. “Windy City… the Mitchell family?” Hayden muttered under his breath. Keira leaned over to look at the photos. One showed the driver partially visible, cautiously keeping the car windows barely open. The backseat passenger was only captured in silhouette. But Hayden’s people were well-prepared and used high-definition cameras, managing to cap
Ever since the matter with the Drago family and Wayne was resolved, and Hayden returned safely, Keira thought all the danger was behind them. But now, with Hayden’s sudden remark, unease crept back into her. It wasn’t fear; it was something else. Now that she had a baby on the way, she just wanted to get through each day peacefully, ensuring her child could come into this world happy and safe. Through the rearview mirror, she saw the car tailing them. It was a large SUV—imposing and sturdy. "If you were to collide with them head-on now, what are our chances of winning?" she asked Hayden. He let out a soft chuckle. "What do you think?" To make getting in and out of the car more convenient and comfortable for Keira, Hayden had chosen to drive a corporate vehicle. In terms of size, the car behind them was far larger than theirs. "Even if we could win a collision, we won’t do it," Hayden said, taking her hand in his. "Don’t worry. Once we reach the next stop, I’ll let you out
Keira hung up the phone, chuckling to herself. When Hayden returned, he found her smiling. “What’s got you in such a good mood?” he asked, glancing at the TV, which was off, and then at her phone, which she wasn’t using either. Keira reached for the durian he had bought her. Lately, she’d been craving it like an addict. No idea why—it was as if she couldn’t get enough of it. “I’ll wash my hands and cut it for you,” Hayden said, stopping her from handling it. “You just need to eat.” He pulled her along to wash her hands as well. Hayden stood behind her at the sink, his arms wrapping around her protectively. As he washed her hands, she recounted the story about Lena. “The car accident on the news is probably the same one,” he commented. “But it only mentioned the White family.” “Aaron has always kept a low profile,” Keira replied, but as she turned her head, her words were cut off. Her lips brushed against his. It was completely unintentional, yet somehow, it was a perfect
Going back to her family’s home was out of the question. Lena would rather move her luggage back to Aaron’s place and stay with him. Though Mrs. Lane could pressure her, she couldn’t do the same with Aaron. In the end, she had no choice but to relent, though her frustration was evident. Grinding her teeth, she snapped, “You’re both so stubborn!” As she left the room, Mrs. Lane gave Lena a pointed glare, clearly displeased that she hadn’t sided with her or tried to convince Aaron otherwise. “Lena,” Mrs. Lane said sternly, “from today until your little uncle fully recovers, you’re responsible for taking care of him. This includes changing his bandages, accompanying him to check-ups, and handling all of his daily needs—everything from meals to mobility.” Mrs. Lane’s commanding tone reminded Lena of why she’d often likened her mother to a tyrant. At least to her, Mrs. Lane had always been domineering and overbearing. Lena had clashed with her mother many times over the years, par
"How’s your injury? Are you alright?" Lena asked James. “I’m fine… well, nothing serious,” James said, rubbing his head. He hadn’t thought much of it initially, but now, with the bandages wrapped around his head, he suddenly felt his injury was far worse. Even his head started to feel a bit dizzy. “Make sure to rest. I’m going to see my little uncle. Which room is he in?” Lena asked. “He’s over there. I’ll take you,” James offered enthusiastically. “No need. You should rest,” Lena said, sparing him the trouble. Just then, James’s phone rang. Holding his head, he answered and walked ahead, leaving Lena to her thoughts. Watching him walk away, she felt a heavy weight in her chest. If James, sitting in the backseat, ended up like this, Aaron, who had been driving, must be in much worse shape. With a deep breath, she made her way to Aaron’s hospital room. She had just taken a few steps when the treatment room door opened behind her, and two nurses walked out chatting. “It’s s