This time, no tears. It felt like I'd run out—or maybe it was something deeper, finally settling in.I'd accepted it: Hayden and I were done.On the drive back, rain came down hard, like it was trying to drown the whole city. I don't know if I was zoned out or if the roads were just slick, but I didn't hit the brakes in time and bumped the car in front of me.The rain was so intense that neither of us even bothered getting out to check. We just called the police and stayed in our cars.By the time the police and insurance showed up, the rain had finally eased. I stepped out of the car, and so did the other driver—and we both froze when we saw each other."If I'd known it was you, I wouldn't have dragged the cops out in this weather," she said, annoyed, and I could see the young traffic cop roll his eyes."You two know each other?" he asked. "You want to settle it privately or go official?"."Officially," I said."Privately," Sasha snapped, right at the same time.The cop sighe
Milly sure knew how to work her charm. I scooped her up and carried her over to the car Sasha had called.On the way, I used my phone to order her a little birthday gift. Even if Milly insisted she didn't need anything, I still wanted to do something special for her.Sasha and Milly lived in Seavora's most exclusive neighborhood, and when we walked inside, the place was decked out with balloons, toys, and garlands everywhere."Thorsten set all this up," Sasha said.Looking around at all the decorations, I couldn't help but say, "He really does care about her.""Of course," she replied. "But a child doesn't need all this. And..." She glanced over at Milly, then leaned closer. "Milly's getting older, and people always assume Thorsten's her grandfather. She's started resenting him for it."Considering his age, it wasn't surprising people made that mistake. But honestly, who could blame Milly for feeling awkward?Milly tugged me to her playroom, begging me to play with her, and with
Sasha looked different—angry, like she was holding back something big. It was honestly kinda scary to see her like this.I swallowed. "If you hate him this much, and you know what he's done... then why...?"I left the question hanging. I didn't know what she'd even want out of this anymore.The bitterness in Sasha's voice said it all. That kind of anger—you'd think she'd have walked away before bringing a child into it. A kid would only tie her closer to Thorsten, making it nearly impossible to get away. And yet, she'd still had Milly.Sasha caught my thoughts, sighing. "You're wondering why I kept her, right?"I nodded, glancing over at Milly playing innocently across the room. "If things really fall apart between you two... what about her? She's done nothing wrong."Sasha's face twisted as she downed her wine, pain flashing through her eyes. "You think I wanted to have her?"I felt this ache in my chest, watching her."When I was just a few weeks along, he forced a doctor to
I barely managed to get out before Sasha raised her hand, cutting me off and gesturing toward Milly. "She's just... lucky."I blinked, lost. Sasha raised an eyebrow. "You're totally confused, aren't you?""It's... kind of a lot," I admitted.Sasha let out a dry laugh. "Thorsten and his wife had this terrible car accident once. He almost didn't make it, and she was in a coma for, like, ten days—maybe two weeks. We all thought she was done for. But then she woke up."Sasha shook her head like she couldn't even believe the story herself. "And when she woke up, she told everyone she'd dreamed about a little girl—a young girl standing in front of some kind of saint or angel. This girl offered her a 'magic pill' that would save her life."I raised an eyebrow. "And... then what?""Right after she woke up, I found out I was pregnant. She made Thorsten take me to get my blood tested immediately. She said if it was a girl, I could keep it. If it was a boy... well, I'd have to end the pregn
The accident she described—Was it the same one that killed my parents?So, Hayden's father... he was paid off?!Shock twisted inside me, but I forced myself to stay calm. I looked at Sasha, trying to keep my voice steady. "Who told you this? Is there any proof?"She didn't notice my agitation, just shook her head. "I don't know. It's just something people whisper. Anyone close to him is too scared to say it out loud. If Thorsten caught wind of it, they wouldn't live to see another day.""Could you... find out more?" I asked, barely able to hold it together.Sasha turned, finally sensing something was off, and gave me a curious smile. "Why are you so interested?"I hesitated, staring at her, wondering if she could handle the truth. But then I decided she deserved it. "Because those people... they were my parents. And that driver was my ex's father."Her eyes widened.I grabbed her arm, my grip tight. "That's why I need to know if it's true. I need evidence."Her false lashes fl
"Keira, can you come to the library? I have something to tell you," Yuna asked over the phone.Could I really handle more tonight?"Maybe another day. I'm a bit tired," I replied, hoping she'd let it go.She hesitated, and I felt a flicker of guilt. "Is it important?" I asked, almost against my will."Yeah, it is," she said softly, almost unsure. "Keira, I can come to you if that's easier."Great, now she was determined.Maybe she'd found out about Hayden and me, and this was her intervention."Yuna—""Just send me your address, so I can grab a cab," she cut in, and I could hear her gathering her things in the background.I looked out at the downpour, biting back a sigh. Getting a cab right now was impossible, and the last thing she needed after her transplant was to risk getting sick.Even though Hayden and I had split, I couldn't just abandon her. Not until she had someone else to lean on."Never mind," I said, resigned. "I'll come to you.""Okay, I'll wait," she replied,
Yuna's eyes went red, soft and vulnerable—a total contrast to how I'd ever dealt with feelings.With both Jace and Hayden, I'd always been upfront, no games, no second-guessing.But Yuna? She was cautious, showing just enough to hint at her feelings, then pulling back, like she was scared to give too much away.Seeing her like this, I softened. "Did he say something that hurt you?"She shook her head, barely. "He didn't reject me outright, but ever since I told him... he hasn't come back here once."Ouch. That was still rejection.It was obvious Wade's heart was still stuck on Narelle."How many days has it been?" I asked, drumming my fingers lightly on the table."Three," she said, eyes misting up. "Honestly... I regret it. I regret telling him."I frowned. "Why? Are you unsure how you feel?""No." Her nose turned pink as she held back tears. "I really like him. I just wish I hadn't said it... because now he won't even look at me."She dropped her gaze, nervously picking at
Yuna's eyes flickered with a flash of panic, then she shook her head again. Seemed like that was her go-to move.I raised an eyebrow. "If he didn't touch you or kiss you, what makes you think he's in love?"Her cheeks flushed as she looked down. "He... well, there was one time he almost kissed me.""Almost?" I tried to picture Wade's usual, reserved self. "Was he drinking?"Guys get weird when they're tipsy, sometimes mixing up reality with whoever's on their mind.Yuna didn't shake her head this time. Instead, she nodded slightly. "Yeah, last week he was kinda down and had a few drinks."I asked what was wrong, and he said it'd been a hundred days since his advisor passed."He said he missed her... then he looked at me and leaned in like he was going to kiss me."Right—exactly a hundred days since Narelle had passed.Hearing all this, I realized Wade must've been seeing Narelle in Yuna's place, which made my heart sink.Hearing this, it hit me: Wade must've been seeing Narel
"Because this love didn’t give me the happiness I imagined," Lena explained with a faint smile. "It’s like going to the supermarket, picking out a snack you’re excited about, and then finding out it doesn’t suit your taste. After that, you just don’t like it anymore and won’t bother with it again." Her metaphor was strikingly apt. "And what does the happiness you imagine look like?" Aaron asked, as though playing the role of a persistent interviewer. Lena, softened by the alcohol, answered obediently, "I don’t know. But whatever it is, Nate didn’t give it to me." Aaron observed the peaceful resignation in her expression and pressed further. "Do you still believe in love? Do you still want to start a new relationship?" "Of course," Lena said, finally lifting her gaze to meet his. Her eyebrows arched into a cheerful expression. "I’m not the kind of person who gets scared off by a bad experience. If I meet someone who makes my heart race again, I’ll love them boldly and passiona
He was waiting for her? What for? "Uncle, you didn’t skip dinner, did you?" Lena’s first thought was his meal. In truth, he hadn’t eaten. After receiving her message, he had been uneasy all evening, unable to focus on food. "You didn’t eat? I’ll make something for you," Lena assumed his silence was confirmation. "There’s no need," Aaron refused. "Then why were you waiting for me? Is something wrong?" In Lena’s view, Aaron would never wait for her without a reason. He gazed at her, his sharp eyes narrowing slightly. "You’ve been drinking?" She nodded, flashing him a sweet, soft smile. She even gestured with her hand, "Just a little." Aaron stepped closer, his tall frame looming over her with an intensity that made her feel small. Though the light above bathed his eyes, they remained dark and inscrutable, filled with a depth that was hard to read. Lena sensed something was off. "Uncle, what’s wrong?" She looked into his deep, clear eyes, untouched by any impurity.
"Should we drink a little today?" Lena asked. Nate nodded. "Let’s have a drink." They warmed a bottle of wine and ordered a few small dishes. Neither of them spoke, simply sitting quietly, gazing out at the river and the occasional boats passing by. "Lena," Nate called her softly. Lena turned to look at him. The warm yellow light above cast a gentle glow on his nose, brows, and lips. His gold-rimmed glasses exuded elegance, and the texture of his shirt spoke of refined taste. Even after their breakup, Lena had to admit that Nate was precisely her type. In all her life, among all the men she had met, only Aaron and Nate could truly be called attractive in her eyes. Even Hayden and Jace were merely "not bad." It wasn’t that her standards were excessively high—it was simply that if someone didn’t resonate with her, no matter how perfect they were, she wouldn’t care for them. "Thank you," Nate said softly. Lena was momentarily stunned, assuming he was referring to their wor
Recently, Lena had been in a constant state of distraction. Aaron's decision to sever ties with the Aces weighed heavily on her mind. He hadn't told her the reason, only saying that she would find out in due time. She could live without knowing why, but she feared the fallout. When the truth came to light, she worried her grandparents and her mother would crumble under the weight of the news, collectively breaking down. Aaron had assured her he would handle everything, but she didn’t trust that he could shield the family from such devastation. Most importantly, she couldn’t understand why he would choose to leave the Aces. Could it really be, as the old saying went, that someone else’s child was like an ungrateful wolf? If it were anyone else, she might believe it, but this was Aaron. She couldn’t bring herself to believe he would be so heartless, so ungrateful. And yet, he had said it to her himself. It felt so unreal that Lena wondered if she had imagined it all. This tur
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