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
"Miss, could you help me?"A slightly frail, middle-aged voice startled me, and I looked up to see an elderly woman with graying hair and pleading eyes."How can I help you?" I asked politely.."Oh, I was hoping you could buy me a cup of coffee," she said, catching me off guard and stirring a bit of pity in me. "I haven't had one in so long because I don't have any money."Without thinking, I nodded. "Of course.""Thank you," she replied, gesturing to the chair across from me. "Could I sit here to drink it?"Since I was already getting her the coffee, letting her sit didn't seem like a big deal. But just as I was about to agree, Jace's voice cut in."Excuse me, ma'am, would you mind taking a seat elsewhere?"I looked up, startled to see him still there. I thought he'd left.Before I could fully process it, Jace had guided the woman to another table, slipped some cash into her hand, and sent her on her way.I watched, puzzled, as she walked off without even looking at the coff
"Did you get a ticket for the game?" Jace asked, smoothly dodging whatever I'd been about to say."Not yet. Got any extras? I'll buy one off you," I shot back, not even trying to play coy.Why take the long way when there's a shortcut?Jace just laughed. "I have some, but they're not for sale."He pulled out two tickets from his pocket. "These are reserved for me. Steve hooked me up a while ago."My heart did a little flip. Steve hadn't exactly called to invite me, but he'd saved me tickets anyway. Maybe he was hoping I'd show up?I took the tickets from Jace. "Mind if I grab one more?"Jace paused, then finally pulled out another."You're like a walking ticket booth," I teased, slipping the extra ticket into my pocket.He just smirked, brushing it off. Honestly, I had no clue what else to say to him.Just then, Wade appeared with Yuna, pushing her suitcase. Yuna walked next to him, a little shy but totally glowing. The two of them had this cute vibe going on."Looks like my
It was clear Jace had a reason for telling me all this.His gaze darkened. "Hayden shouldn't have rushed things with Bruno. He should've checked out who he was dealing with first."I got what he meant, but I couldn't help the mocking smile that crept onto my face. "So, what are you saying? That because Bruno's got connections, I should've just tolerated his harassment? Let him walk all over me?"Jace paused, looking a little thrown by the accusation. "That's not what I meant.""I don't think Hayden did anything wrong," I shot back. "Bruno got exactly what he deserved."For a second, Jace looked... almost helpless. "I'm just saying there were other ways to handle it—ways that wouldn't have put you in a vulnerable position. It's not a criticism of Hayden, just the facts."I took a breath, trying not to assume the worst about his intentions. "What's done is done. Talking about it now won't change anything. Bruno's target is me, and if Hayden hadn't stepped in, Bruno would've only go
"Steve's safe for now," Jace said, leaving me puzzled.He explained, "Quartz Cue pretends to be just a cue sports club, but they're deep in illegal betting. Their original plan was to take down Steve to keep their championship status and rake in the gambling profits."I'd heard rumors about underground betting, but snooker? Really?"When they couldn't get to Steve directly," Jace went on, "they switched it up. They're betting big on him, shifting the odds in his favor. If he wins, it looks like they lose—except they're making secret deals to make way more on the back end."I shivered. Something as simple as Steve's snooker career had turned into this dark web of schemes and shady money moves.Steve once told me he started playing because he loved it—like, genuinely loved it. He wanted to prove that someone from our country could go global. Knowing he was just a pawn now... I couldn't imagine how crushed he'd feel."Does Steve have any clue about this?" I asked, feeling a weight i
Should I?Even after everything Jace had said, I wasn't sure.He was watching me, waiting for an answer, eyes steady and patient. Finally, I said, "Let me check with Hayden."His expression shifted, a flicker of something unspoken in his eyes, but he nodded and stepped back, giving me space.It wasn't that I didn't trust Jace. I did. But I trusted Hayden completely. I just needed to hear it from him.When he picked up, Hayden's voice was low, calm—the kind that could make my heart skip a beat without trying. "Something wrong?" he asked, like he already sensed it.I swallowed, forcing myself to sound steady. "Hayden, there are two people watching me from my hotel café. Are they with you?""Table 3A?" he asked, not missing a beat. I glanced over; that was exactly where they were sitting.Even from a distance, he knew everything going on around me, down to the tiniest detail.There was no need to explain that Jace was here. Clearly, Hayden already knew, which saved me from spelli
The burning ache in my throat spread straight to my heart. As silence hung on Hayden's end, I forced myself to say, "I won't bother you while you're picking out rings. Goodbye."Then I hung up, pressing the button so hard it felt like I was crushing my own heart along with the call.I stood there, frozen, until Jace walked over. The second he got close, I dropped my head and hurried toward the elevator. "Wait here. I'm just going to pack my things," I mumbled as I passed him."I'll go up with you," he said."There's no need. I can handle it myself," I replied, voice sharper than I intended, quickening my pace.But Jace followed anyway. "What's wrong?"He could tell something was off.The bitterness clawing at my chest nearly broke me then and there. I felt myself on the edge, seconds from falling apart, from letting everything spill out in front of him.But I couldn't. Not in front of Jace.When I'd chosen to be with Hayden, I'd been so sure, practically bragging to Jace that
Sometimes people just... zone out. And right now, that was me.Normally, I'd be halfway to the door by now, maybe screaming a little. But instead, I just sat there, curled up on the floor, blinking up at him and asking who he was."Feeling heartbroken, are we?" he asked. His face was intense—chiseled jaw, deep-set eyes, high cheekbones. He looked like someone straight out of a movie, and apparently, he could see right through me."Who are you?" I asked again, still dazed.Then, like a lightbulb flicking on, I remembered what Jace had told me about the leader of Quartz Cue.Only, I'd imagined someone totally different—rough, kinda brutal-looking, like Thorsten. But this guy? He was almost elegant, in that rugged, model-like way.If I'd seen him on the street, I'd probably think he was a Calvin Klein ad or something.And then I remembered Jace had said something about the leader of Quartz Cue being injured, so I squinted, looking him over. But I didn't see any scars or bandages. J
"Got it!" Lena responded cheerfully. She washed her hands before sitting back down, picking up the utensils Aaron had prepared for her, and diving into her dumpling-and-dipping-sauce breakfast combo. "Uncle, why aren’t you eating?" She had already eaten two dumplings before realizing he hadn’t touched any. "I’m not hungry." Three words. Which meant he hadn’t eaten yet. "There’s too much food. I can’t finish it all by myself. Eat some too," Lena said casually as she picked up a dumpling with her chopsticks and held it up to his mouth. She did it so naturally—until she realized what she had just done. Aaron froze for a second, surprised by her gesture. The moment of hesitation made her realize too—wasn’t this kind of inappropriate? She was just about to pull her hand back when— He leaned in and took the dumpling straight into his mouth. Lena’s face flushed red in an instant. She hurriedly withdrew her hand, lowered her head, and focused on eating. Meanwhile, Aar
She was shocked to see him here so early. Especially today—a day when everyone was celebrating the new year, spending time with their loved ones—and yet, he was here. With her. Lena wasn’t made of stone. She felt it. A warmth, an unspoken emotion that settled deep in her chest. "Uncle, why are you here so early?" She walked over, hands casually tucked into her coat pockets. "I didn’t want you to go hungry," Aaron replied simply, lifting the bag of food in his hand. He glanced at her break room. "Open the door." She unlocked the door and stepped inside, with him following close behind. Her break room was small—a single desk and chair, a narrow bed, and a tiny wardrobe. Nothing extra, nothing unnecessary. "Sit down, Uncle," she said naturally, settling onto the bed while motioning for him to take the chair. Aaron placed the food down and asked, "Did you sleep at all?" "I did," Lena replied. But as soon as the words left her mouth, she thought of that dream—and let o
"If it weren’t for my goddaughter, I wouldn’t even bother with you," Lena said, gently rocking the baby in her arms. "Right, little Aurora? Your godmother just adores you." "Come on, Aurora, it’s time to eat," Lena said as she carefully placed the baby in Keira's arms. Although it was her first time, Keira wasn’t embarrassed. She followed Lena’s instructions, trying to breastfeed for the first time. But the process was… painful. And since her posture was incorrect, neither of them got it right—Keira ended up covered in sweat from struggling, and her baby still hadn’t eaten properly. Panic set in. Anxiety crept up her spine. "What do I do?" Keira asked, her voice tight with unease. "It’s okay. This happens at first. Let’s transition with formula for now," Lena reassured Keira before glancing at Hayden, who had been standing there the whole time, watching anxiously—and sweating just as much as Keira was. "Go make your daughter a bottle," she told him. Hayden, the man wh
That conversation… Lena shuddered. Yeah, she had definitely come back too early. It was best to leave now before she ruined the mood for those two inside. Not wanting to hear any more, she quickly turned to leave—only to smack her leg against a nearby chair. The pain was real, but worse was the noise it made, drawing attention to her presence. Inside the room, Hayden—already feeling awkward from Keira's teasing—froze. The sound from outside made him even more uncomfortable. Keira couldn’t hold back her laughter. The moment Keira burst out laughing, however, pain shot through her lower abdomen. "Ah—ow!" Keira gasped. Hayden immediately panicked. "What’s wrong? Where does it hurt?" Hearing her cry, Lena rushed in as well. "What happened?" "I laughed too hard and pulled my stitches," Keira explained, gripping Hayden’s hand tightly. Lena glared at Keira. "You’re a mother now, and yet you’re still acting like a child. Do you have any idea what condition you’re in?"
"It’s fine. I can do it," Hayden said naturally as he picked up the basin and went to fetch warm water. The moment he stepped out, Lena turned to scold Keira. "You went through so much pain to give birth to his child. Why would you feel bad about letting him do something for you?" "It’s not that I feel bad—I just feel embarrassed," Keira whispered in defense. Lena rolled her eyes. "So dramatic." Keira shot her a glare in return. "Just wait until it’s your turn. When your husband has to handle your private matters, you’ll understand how awkward it is." The moment the words left Keira's mouth, she saw Lena’s face turn red. Lena quickly hugged the baby and turned away. But Keira caught it. Something was off. "Wait… why are you blushing?" Keira asked suspiciously. "I am not blushing," she denied immediately. What Keira didn’t know was that her words had triggered the memory of Lena's ridiculous dream—where she had been lying on the delivery bed, cursing Aaron while gi
The moment she finished cursing, Lena jolted awake. She sat there, dazed. What kind of ridiculous dream was that? She had assisted in delivering countless babies before, but this was the first time she had ever dreamed of giving birth herself. And not only that—she had dreamed of giving birth to Aaron’s child? That was beyond outrageous. Absolutely absurd! What a way to start the new year. That dream was anything but beautiful. Lena ran a hand down her face, shaking off the lingering unease. She quickly got up, poured herself a glass of water to calm down, and then left the break room. Back in the hospital room, Hayden was feeding Keira. Keira was perfectly capable of eating on her own, but he insisted on feeding her, saying that she was in a special period and should be treated like a queen. That this was the time to learn how to be spoiled properly. Fine. If this was how he wanted to make up for the suffering she endured giving birth to their daughter, she’d give
Keira looked at Lena and smiled as she followed up on Hayden’s words. "You’re family. It’s different." Lena shot her a subtle glare before stuffing the red envelope into her pocket and saying, "Give me the rest. I’ll hand them out for you later." Hayden passed her the prepared stack of red envelopes, and as she took them, she asked, "What about the other departments?" Hayden and Aaron exchanged a glance and chuckled. "Of course. Every medical staff member in this hospital gets one." "President Hart, you’re too generous," Lena said, giving him a thumbs-up. With that, she took the envelopes and left. Aaron glanced at the time. "If there’s nothing else, I’ll be heading back now." "Mm. Happy New Year!" Hayden said, offering his holiday wishes. "Happy New Year to your whole family," Aaron replied, adding a few extra words that made both Hayden and me instinctively turn toward the baby in the bassinet. From today onward, we were officially a family of three. Outside the h
When Keira returned to the hospital room, she was greeted by a sight that made her pause. The room was decorated with fresh flowers and balloons, and beside her bed, there was a small cart filled with various gift boxes. The atmosphere was so festive that if someone walked in, they might have thought it was a birthday party rather than a postpartum recovery room. "What’s all this?" Lena asked on Keira's behalf. "A reward for my wife," Hayden answered, his hand still holding Keira's as he gazed at her with deep affection. "She went through so much. This is my way of thanking her." Keira smiled faintly. "I don’t need any of this." "Whether you need it or not is one thing. Giving it to you is my choice," Hayden said, pressing a kiss onto Keira's fingertips. "Even if everything I have already belongs to you, I still want to give you more." "Such a loving husband—honestly, what more could a woman ask for?" Lena teased before patting Keira's hospital bed. "But if President Hart r
Elder Mitchell wasn’t buying it. "That just means you guys didn’t really want to give anything. If you truly wanted to, there’s no such thing as a gift that can’t be delivered." The two old men started bickering again, but Hayden ignored them. Instead, he kept his eyes on the infant bathing room. Before long, the nurse finished bathing the baby and carried her out. Hayden reached out to take her, but the two elders immediately moved to get closer. He blocked them without hesitation. "Don’t you know old people’s eyes are toxic? You shouldn’t be staring at her for too long." Elder Hart: "…" Elder Mitchell: "…" With that, Hayden carried the baby and walked away. The two old men trailed after him, hoping to catch another glimpse, but Hayden wasn’t about to give them the chance. "Congratulations," Aaron, who had been standing nearby, offered his well wishes. "It’s a daughter. Take a look," Hayden said, his pride practically radiating off him. Aaron lowered his gaze to the