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
People scattered everywhere, total panic mode.I grabbed Yuna's hand, and we bolted, trying to keep up with the crowd heading for higher ground.But the flood was way faster. Before we knew it, the water was right behind us, closing in like some freak tidal wave."Keira, Keira..." Yuna's voice wobbled as she clung to my arm, her face white with fear.I was just as scared, but I knew flipping out wouldn't help. I spotted a flagpole platform a few yards away and yanked her toward it, moving as fast as we could.I managed to lift her up onto the platform, but before I could pull myself up, the water hit—hard. It swept me right off my feet.Luckily, I didn't get dragged too far. I fought to stay above water, clawing for anything solid to grab. The current roared around me, icy and fierce, but I held on, just trying to keep my head above the waves."Keira! Keira!" Yuna's voice broke through the chaos, shrill and panicked as she clung to the pole, crying and calling for me.Debris an
Well, if his goal was to make my heart shatter just a little more... mission accomplished.Two hours later, after all the tests, I spotted Yuna and Hayden in the waiting area.Yuna rushed over and grabbed my hand. "How are you feeling? Are you hurt anywhere?""No," I lied with a smile. "The doctor said I must have, like, superpowers or something—no injuries, not even a scratch."Truth was, I had scrapes and bruises all over, but I wasn't about to make her feel worse. She already felt guilty enough that I'd almost gotten swept away saving her, and I wasn't going to make it worse by telling her the details. Besides, Hayden had already made it clear he was done with me."I don't believe you," Yuna said, reaching to check for herself.I pressed her hands down gently. "Yuna, I'm exhausted. I just want to sleep for a while. Really, I'm fine. Go home and get some rest.""I'm not leaving," she insisted. "I'll stay here with you. Hayden's here too."She tugged at his arm, trying to pull
But I couldn't keep hiding forever.The tougher things got, the less I could afford to run.I let go of the blanket, and Wayne pulled it back just a little, studying my face. "I heard you got swept into the water. You scared the hell out of me." That was his way of explaining why he was here.I managed a weak smile. "What, did I make the news?"I mean, it's the internet age—of course someone filmed the whole thing instead of helping."Yeah, looking like a poor little thing," Wayne replied, lifting his hand.Instinctively, I leaned back, but he just gave me a gentle smile. "Relax, I was just going to fix your hair. Look how jumpy you are."I stayed quiet as he sat down on the edge of the bed. "How are you feeling?""I'm fine. They already checked me over.""Doesn't look like it went too well. You even cried, huh?" he said, noticing my red, puffy eyes.Wayne probably knew it wasn't fear that had me crying, but he phrased it that way to give me an easy out.I forced a smile. "L
Wayne's eyes darkened slightly. Just a minute ago, I'd leaned away when he'd tried to fix my hair, but with Jace, I hadn't even flinched. The difference in how I reacted to each of them was probably hard to miss.But since we'd just cleared the air, Wayne kept his cool. When he noticed me looking, he even gave me a calm smile and teased, "Guess you're still more comfortable with Jace's touch."I had no idea how to respond to that.Jace smirked, chiming in, "Well, she almost became my wife."I couldn't respond to that either.Wayne's smile didn't waver. "Yeah... almost."Jace shot him a look, eyebrow raised, as if to say, 'Did I say anything untrue?'"You feel a little warm," Jace said, pulling his hand back before calling over a passing nurse. "Could we get a thermometer?""I'm fine, it's probably just—" I started, but Jace cut me off."Whether you're fine or not isn't up to you," he said firmly. The nurse returned with a thermometer and pressed it to my forehead."99.9 degre
"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