"Keira! Wait, you're going to Houston too?" Yuna beamed, her usual sunshine self.She acted like she hadn't seen any of the news online about Hayden. But I knew better. She'd totally seen it—she just wanted to keep things easy between us, like nothing had changed.Sure, she was Hayden's sister, but she had her own take on things. Our mess was ours, and it didn't mess with how I felt about her."You should probably start thinking of me as your ex-sister-in-law," I said with a dry smile. "Since, you know... your brother's marrying someone else."Her smile froze, her face dropping like she might actually cry."No." She shook her head, eyes fierce. "You'll always be my sister-in-law. I don't care what Hayden does; that spot's taken, and it's yours."It didn't exactly erase my heartache, but her words took the edge off, just a little. This girl... all the times I'd looked out for her? Worth it."Hayden still loves you, you know," Yuna suddenly said, lifting her hand like she was swea
Yuna nodded, then went on. "Keira, it's wild, but I actually do like snooker now. I never cared about it before, but suddenly, it's fun. And it's not just that... ever since my surgery, my tastes in food, my opinions, even some random preferences—they've all shifted."She looked at me, eyes wide with curiosity. "Do you think it's because of the heart I received? I read somewhere that organ transplants can bring some of the donor's habits along with them."Her face was all lit up, hoping I had an answer.I'd heard stories like that on TV, and even if science says it's a stretch, there are plenty of stories that make you wonder. Some people even say their taste in food changes after a liver transplant, like suddenly craving spicy stuff they couldn't stand before."Maybe," I replied, glancing at her chest, where a stranger's heart was now beating."Oh, we got off track," she realized, shaking her head. "We were talking about Hayden, right? Keira, I know he's keeping an eye on you, no
"Huh?!"Wait, Hayden went missing before?He'd never mentioned that. Now that I thought about it, in all the time we'd been together, he'd rarely talked about his family or his past, aside from Yuna.I'd always figured he felt self-conscious about his family background, and I didn't want to mess with his pride by asking. But now... maybe he'd kept quiet to hold me at a distance.The thought of that kinda stung."So... how did he go missing? Like, was he kidnapped by traffickers or something?" I half-joked."Worse. He was actually kidnapped. But my parents wouldn't let anyone talk about it."I blinked, stunned. "Wait, kidnapped? But wasn't he old enough back then? How did that even happen?""I don't know much," Yuna admitted. "My parents kept it all hush-hush. I just overheard things here and there. Later, they managed to find him, but right after that, they sent him off to join the military."She shook her head. "You have no idea how much I cried when he left for boot camp."
"Kiki, where's Yuna? Is she okay?" His voice softened, almost pleading.Hearing him call me "Kiki" hit somewhere deep. It'd been ages since he used that nickname.Just then, the exam room door opened, and Yuna came out. I handed her the phone. "It's for you."She looked surprised but took it, putting it to her ear. I stepped back, trying to give her some space, but I could still catch bits of her conversation."...I get so motion-sick, so Keira brought me to the hospital just to be safe... Don't worry, doc says my heart's fine. Just need some rest."...I know, with Keira around, what's there to worry about? And Hayden, heads up—I'm only accepting one sister-in-law. If you try to replace her, I'm cutting you off!"Her words made my chest ache, like I'd forgotten how to breathe."...Hayden, seriously. Don't stress. I'll take care of Keira too..."She raised her voice a bit on that last part, making sure I'd hear it. She was trying so hard to play matchmaker, but she didn't get th
So, I was being tracked this whole time.But what was his plan? Retaliate against me?I gripped my phone tighter, staring at the screen. Bruno hadn't sent anything else, but his silence felt like a threat hanging in the air.After a second of debating, I took a screenshot and sent it to Hayden. If Bruno was coming after me, and Yuna was here too, whatever mess he started could end up hurting her. Hayden needed to know. Even if he didn't care about me anymore, he couldn't ignore a risk to his sister.In that moment, it felt natural to reach out to Hayden. Maybe it was habit, or maybe, deep down, I still trusted him—whether he wanted me or not.As soon as I hit send, my phone rang. Hayden.I picked up but stayed quiet, waiting. He broke the silence first. "You don't need to worry. I'll have people watching you."His words hit me with a mix of relief and something warmer, though I tried not to show it."I don't need your protection," I said, keeping my voice steady. "I just don't
"Will Steve's match go on as planned? Is he still in danger?" I couldn't help but worry about him."He'll be fine," Hayden replied, sounding sure.I stared out into the dark night beyond the window. "Do I really have to go back home?"There was a pause, then Hayden said, "Wait for my update. And... delete that contact."For a second, it felt like he was about to say more, but then he just hung up.Between being in a foreign country and all this chaos, I knew sleep wasn't happening anytime soon.I took Hayden's advice and deleted "BX" from my chat app.Then I opened Steve's chat, tempted to send him a quick message, just to make sure he was okay. But knowing he was deep in training, I didn't want to distract him. So, I closed the chat without a word.Lying there, I forced my eyes shut even though my mind was spinning. When Yuna woke up early, I could hear her talking softly on the phone.Her voice was already gentle, but there was this sweetness to it when she was talking to so
Wade stayed quiet, clearly wrestling with something—or just unwilling to admit it.I decided to cut to the chase. "Wade, did you come into Yuna's life on purpose?"His head snapped up, panic flashing in his eyes. That look alone was answer enough.Thinking of how I resembled Narelle, and remembering how Wade had been close by after her passing—even following me into the hospital for Yuna's surgery—I couldn't help but ask, "Were you hoping that by spending time around Yuna, you'd get to see me more often? To... imagine Narelle through me?""No." His denial came out fast, almost desperately. "I haven't done that. Not even once."He took a big gulp of coffee, like he was trying to calm himself or bury something.I didn't say anything, just watched him carefully."Believe me or not," Wade said, his voice serious, "I've never thought of you as Narelle. You may look alike, but I know you're not the same person."His honesty reassured me—at least a little.I'd always worried that Wad
Thinking of the main reason I'd wanted to see Wade today, I said, "Wade, Yuna came to this game mainly to see you. This is a rare chance for you two to spend time together, so for the next few days, she'll be with you. Take care of her—and use this time to figure out how you really feel."He looked a little startled. "Isn't that... a bit inappropriate?"It was, considering why he'd gotten close to Yuna in the first place. But right now, I didn't have any other options.Keeping Yuna with me was too risky. The only solution was leaving her in Wade's care."There's nothing inappropriate about it. I trust you," I said, giving him a look that let him know I meant it.Wade's expression softened, a little awkward, but he nodded. "Thank you for trusting me."I raised my coffee cup toward him, and he managed a small smile.After a beat, I remembered Narelle's parents. "How are her folks doing?" I asked suddenly."They're okay," he said, glancing away. "I think they've mostly come to ter
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