Jace looked wrecked—pale, hair a mess, rough stubble shadowing his jaw. I'd never seen him this messed up, like he'd had a night just as brutal as mine.He must've found out about Matthew. Why else would he keep blowing up my phone?Weirdly, I didn't feel the anger I'd expected. Instead, I felt... nothing. Like something in me had finally just burnt out. Maybe I was numb.The doorway wasn't the place for this. I said, "Come in."Jace walked in and dropped onto the couch across from me. "My mom told me everything... Rea, I'm so sorry..."I didn't answer. I knew he hadn't just come here to apologize."Look, I know sorry's not enough. But I came here to ask... no, to beg..." His voice cracked as he looked at me, his face full of something raw. "Please, just... can you spare my dad? Just for whatever time he has left?"Beg? Hearing that word from Jace was rare.For all his recklessness, he'd always been fiercely loyal to his family.I just stared, watching his jaw tighten. "I know
I heard about Jace's car accident two hours later—Wayne was the one to break the news."Rea, Jace was in an accident," he said, his voice tight with worry. "He's in surgery... Can you come to the hospital?"My hand started shaking, and before I knew it, my phone slipped right out of my grip and crashed onto the floor.Wayne must've heard the thud. "Rea, are you okay? What happened?"Lena was in the kitchen, cooking, but at the sound, she rushed over, eyes wide with concern.Wayne's voice came through again. "Rea, we're not asking you to come for, like, a blood transfusion or anything. We just thought... maybe you'd want to see him. Because..."He hesitated. "Because when they put him in the ambulance, the only name he was calling out was yours."Lena shot a look at the phone, then back at me, and picked it up without missing a beat. "Jace and Keira are over. She doesn't need to hear this."Silence from Wayne, and then Lena hung up. She sat down next to me, wrapping an arm aroun
"Then why did you make a wish for everyone?" I asked, puzzled.The smile faded from Lena's face. "Over the years, I've seen too many women fighting cancer, too many babies who never got a chance to see the world, too many heartbreaking goodbyes."Every time I see it, it hurts... I just wish I didn't have to see it anymore."I think I'd be a lot happier that way."She took my hand. "So, in a way, my hope for everyone is also a hope for myself."In that moment, I looked at Lena, and there was something almost radiant about her, like she was shining from within.She didn't seem to notice and asked, "Are you sure you want to climb all the way up? You could just make your wish from here. It's all about what's in your heart, right?""I'm going up," I said, feeling my hesitation disappear."Are you sure you're up for it? You could come back with me," she suggested, watching me closely.I nodded. "I can handle it."I glanced up toward the monastery at the top of the mountain. "Once I
A full day and night...Lindey must've come straight here after I left the Johnston residence.When I saw her kneeling there, hunched over, it felt like my heart was caught in a vice.Abbot Levinsky moved toward her, but I just stood there, frozen.After what felt like forever, I finally made myself move. I knelt down beside her and whispered, "Lindey."She flinched, then slowly looked up at me, disbelief flickering across her face. Her lips trembled, but she didn't say anything—just let the tears fall.I looked at her tear-streaked cheeks and the gray creeping into her hair, and I couldn't believe how much she seemed to have aged overnight."Rea..." Her voice was shaky as she said my name, then pulled me into a tight hug.Her embrace had once been my safest place, the warmest in my world. But now? I couldn't bring myself to lift my arms and hold her back."I came to confess. I've been begging for mercy..." she whispered, her voice breaking between sobs.But her confessions c
Lindey nodded, letting go of my hand. "I'll call and check on him."While she dialed, I offered a silent prayer, hoping everyone could finally find some peace.Her voice drifted through my thoughts. "...Wayne, don't lie to me. Is he really okay?...Alright, I'm coming back. Tell him I was at Cloudscape Monastery, and I saw Rea."She looked back at me as she spoke. "She's... she's doing well. She's fine. Tell Jace that Rea has forgiven our family... Yes, I understand..."I lowered my head, feeling a wave of closure wash over me, finally letting go.After Lindey left, I stayed, listening to Abbot Levinsky's chanting as dusk settled over the mountain. Only then did I finally start down the path.Lena picked me up, grinning as she held out a bunch of sunflowers. "Congrats on your fresh start."She got it—she knew this trip had helped me let go of all the anger and resentment I'd been carrying. I'd finally freed myself.I hugged her, and later, we headed over to Mr. Seth's pub for a
I turned to the guy who'd popped up beside me.Curly black hair, bright blue eyes—definitely not local.He said we'd met before, but I couldn't place him at all. Yet he called me "Snooker Girl."So, he knew I played."Huh?" I raised an eyebrow."Name's Bruno. I saw you playing with Steve at his pool hall. You were... awesome! No, wait—slay. That's it!" He gave me a thumbs-up.Okay, that explained it, but something still felt weird. Jace had taught me to play, and anytime I played with Steve, it was usually just the three of us, no randoms hanging around.If this guy had been there, I'd have noticed. Yet he was acting like he'd really seen it.I didn't feel like getting into it, especially with a stranger bringing up snooker."You must have the wrong person," I said coolly."No way. It's definitely you," he insisted, his blue eyes locked on me. "Your name's Kei... Keira, right?"The fact that he even knew my name sent a chill through me. A stranger who knew that much? Yeah, n
"Snooker? Dude, this is a fancy party, not some run-down pool hall. If you're here for games, you're in the wrong place," Ron scoffed, tightening his grip on Bruno's arm. "Let. Go."Bruno's face flushed, clearly feeling the pain, but he still didn't let go of me. Just then, a voice I'd know anywhere broke through the tension."What's going on here?" Hayden's voice was low, dangerous, as he strode over, gaze locking onto Bruno's hand on mine.Dressed in a sharp black suit, he looked at Bruno with an intense, unreadable expression.Bruno plastered on a smug grin. "Mr. Hart, I was just inviting this lovely lady to a little game, but she's not exactly feeling friendly."Hayden's eyes flicked back to me, then pinned Bruno in place. "And why should she be?" His voice was ice. "Who are you, and who let you in?"Just as he said it, someone whispered in Hayden's ear. He gave a quick nod. "Make an announcement," he said firmly. "Remove this man and whoever he came with from the event."Br
"The other big announcement today," Chadwick declared, "is the union of the Hart family and the Drago family. Hayden will be marrying Yara Drago in three months."His words hit like a freezing cold slap, leaving me totally numb.So that was why Hayden really wanted to end things with me.Yara Drago—yeah, I knew who she was. Thorsten's sister, studying abroad. I'd come across her info once when I was looking into Thorsten. She was insanely smart and gorgeous, with a PhD and everything—a total catch.I looked at Hayden across the room, letting a bitter smile cross my face before I spun on my heel and walked away.I moved too fast, wobbling in my heels as I reached the door, almost twisting my ankle.They say when you're down, even a glass of water can mess with you. Guess it's true.Gritting my teeth, I limped out to the entrance and threw up my hand to hail a cab. I just needed to get out of there. Every second felt like I couldn't breathe.But before I could catch one, a car ro
Peter's expression darkened at Hayden's playful jab, but Hayden merely smiled lightly, as if relishing the discomfort. "From what you’ve said, Mr. Mitchell, you must be quite the romantic," he teased. The tea began to boil, releasing a rich fragrance into the air. Hayden had done his homework on Peter. Despite his dignified reputation, Mr. Mitchell had married three times, fathered no children with his wives, and even had an illegitimate child with a mistress. This mistress had borne him a son and then tried to leverage the child to gain the title of "Madam Mitchell." Peter, stubborn and prideful, refused her demands and even sent people to take the child by force. But the mistress, knowing Peter’s methods, preemptively entrusted the child to someone else. When Mitchell’s men came to seize the boy, an explosive argument broke out. In a fit of rage, Mitchell struck her, and in defiance, the mistress stabbed herself in the chest, intending only to scare him. Unfortunately, the blad
When Hayden arrived at the teahouse, Ron glanced at his watch and tapped it meaningfully before saying in a low voice, "The man’s been waiting for half an hour." "Getting impatient?" Hayden asked casually, his tone devoid of concern. His attire was simple and understated, nothing to draw attention. If not for his sharply defined features and the naturally aloof aura he carried, his outfit would have rendered him almost invisible in a crowd. "No, not at all. I’m quite patient," Ron replied with an exaggerated expression of innocence, as though pleading not to be falsely accused. Hayden gave him a glance that seemed to say, Then why bother pointing it out? "But arriving this late does come across as impolite, doesn’t it?" Ron added, his tone that of a model citizen, someone who might have been a class leader or an exemplary student back in the day. "I did it on purpose," Hayden replied, cutting him off with five simple words that silenced Ron. Hayden pushed open the door an
"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