Wayne paused, looking at me puzzled.I gave a bitter smile. "Your mom had it renovated."Handing him his bag, I said, "You go ahead and settle in. I've got some packing to do too."He nodded, and I headed to my room.The room still had both my and Jace's stuff. It was clear no one had stayed here since I left.'Looks like Jace hasn't been back at all. So where's he been? At Splendor Heights with Tanya?'Thinking about it made my chest tighten again. I thought I had moved on from Jace, but the wound still needed time to heal.I forced myself not to dwell on it and started packing.Over the years, I had developed a habit of minimalism, so my clothes and personal items weren't excessive. Everything fit into one suitcase.As I was almost done, there was a knock on the door. I walked over and opened it to find Wayne standing there.He had changed clothes and glanced past me to see the open suitcase on the bed. His brow furrowed. "Are you moving out of our home?""Yeah, it would b
"Cutie Pie, you still have me," Wayne said, gently patting the back of my head before letting go.I hadn't cried at all until now. Suddenly, my eyes filled up, and the tears just started pouring. I didn't want to cry in front of him, but I couldn't stop. 'I can't let these tears fall, they'll give me away,' I told myself.Swallowing them back only made them flow faster. I turned my head, trying to hide my face. Wayne's hand landed on my head again, gently ruffling my hair. "It's okay to cry in front of me, you remember?"He had said that before. Now, he said it again.But in this moment, his words tore at the last shreds of my dignity. I turned my back to him, quickly wiping away the tears.Sensing my discomfort, he picked up my suitcase. "I'll put this in your car."As he left, I covered my face and let the tears flow freely. When I finally went downstairs, Matthew and Lindey were still busy in the kitchen, their joy at Wayne's return overshadowing their anxiety about losing me
"No, it's for us. Since the best time to see the lighting effects is at night, we need to be prepared for all-nighters. Going back home wouldn't be convenient," I explained.Demi gave me a thumbs up. "Keira, you're so thoughtful.""And if you have a boyfriend, give him a heads-up. We'll be taking up your quality time," I teased her."No worries. It'll be a good test for him," Demi said, smiling happily and sweetly."Alright, let's get to work. To save time, we need to identify all the issues so that when the experts arrive, they can get straight to solving them," I instructed.Demi nodded and pulled out the blueprints. "I'll handle zones A, D, and F.""I'll take the rest," I replied. Even though I was in charge, I had to work just as hard as Demi.The next day, we met with the two representatives from the construction team, Mr. Hudson and Mr. Wyatt.In the afternoon, we welcomed the lighting supplier's reps, Mr. Ziegler and Mr. Larson.We discussed the issues Demi and I had id
Quentin: [Keira, is it true that you and Jace broke off your engagement?]Eric: [Keira, Jace has gone mad with anger. Don't be upset. We'll sort him out for you.]Daniel: [Keira, when you have time, let me treat you and Jace to dinner.]Toby: [Count me in. I can definitely help patch things up between you and Jace.]Andrew: [Guys, stop making a fuss. Couples have their fights and make up. You're just stirring things up.]I stared at the screen, puzzled. 'What have they heard that made them tag me in the group?'The chat had eight members, and all guys were Jace's sworn brothers. Besides who had posted, there were Jace, me, and Steve. Steve was the only one who hadn't said anything, but he knew me best.In the brotherhood, Jace was the third eldest, and Steve was the sixth. I met Steve before Jace and I were officially a couple. It was before Steve and Jace had sworn brotherhood.I sent Steve a private message: [Steve, what rumors have they heard?]Steve replied almost instantl
Steve nodded and started walking deeper into the park, with me right behind him."Why did you leave that group chat?" he asked as we strolled along."It's your guys' group. I don't talk much in there anyway. Plus, when I'm in it, you all have to watch what you say, especially the dirty jokes," I explained honestly. This had happened before, and Jace had to remind them.Back then, Jace had said, "Watch it, guys. My fiancée is here."I'd read that words "my fiancée" many times, feeling like I had the whole world."You're very considerate," Steve's voice brought me back to the present.I didn't reply, and Steve stopped at a roller coaster. "Can I sit?""Of course."After I said that, he really did sit down and started the ride."This is pretty fun," Steve said, transforming into a kid at heart.I watched him, staying quiet. After a few spins, Steve finally spoke up. "Are you really done with Jace?"Leaning against a support beam, I answered, "You know I have a thing about clean
'Hayden Hart?! Isn't he just a taxi driver? How did he end up being the lighting engineer I've been waiting for?!'For a second, I felt like I was hallucinating."Hayden, this is Keira Kay!" Eugene introduced us. "Ms. Kay, this is Hayden Hart!"Hayden extended his hand toward me. "Hello, Ms. Kay."His tone and expression were like he didn't know me at all.I was still seated, and from my angle, I could see his perfect jawline and that... sexy Adam's apple that I'd thought about more than once.Demi nudged me with her elbow, snapping me back to reality. I stood up and shook his hand.Our fingers barely brushed before he spoke again. "Ms. Kay, go ahead and eat. I'll go check the site.""No need, I'll come with you," I said, ready to follow, but Hayden didn't move.He turned to Eugene. "Have you eaten? I haven't had anything yet. Is there something to eat here?"Eugene smiled and said, "I've already eaten," then glanced at me. "We can order takeout."Catching his drift, I turne
I worried that Demi would totally stir things up between Hayden and me later, making it super awkward.Besides, Hayden's attitude earlier made it clear he wanted to act like he didn't know me, so no one would find out we had any connection."I don't know him," I lied."Then how do you—" Demi started, but I cut her off."I'm just guessing."Demi barely touched her food, her mind totally fixated on Hayden. Normally, she could eat a ton, and today she had ordered her favorite chicken chop.But with a hot guy around, even her favorite food lost its charm."Guess?" Demi was the type to dig until she got to the bottom of things. "How did you guess? Did Mr. Hart have it written on his face?"That was a tough one to answer, but if I didn't say something, Demi would keep prying.As I was pondering what excuse to give, I noticed a small charm on Hayden's bag. It was a cute little white bunny, absolutely adorable."That," I pointed my lips toward the charm, "that's proof enough.""That
I thought, 'Girlfriend? A few days ago, he was on a blind date with me and talking about marriage. And now he already has a girlfriend?'Thinking about how he wanted to marry me right away, it seemed he was desperate for a woman. Since I rejected him, he immediately found someone else.Maybe it was for the best. Now I could face him without any worries.I tossed the takeaway box into the trash and waited off to the side.Demi showed up in under two minutes, still holding her half-eaten chicken chop. She'd lost her appetite because the guy she liked was already taken.Demi sighed as she walked over. "All the good guys are always taken. No chance to even have a little fun."I laughed at her. "Demi, good thing your mom had you as a girl. If you were a guy, you'd be such a playboy."Just as I said that, Hayden walked over. He was rocking a black T-shirt, cargo pants, and ankle boots, standing tall and radiating serious hotness."He's so hot!" Demi sighed. "Keira, look at those musc
"I'm just amazed that pregnancy has made you smarter. Most people say pregnancy makes women forgetful for three years," Hayden teased Keira with a rare grin. Keira gave him a gentle kick. "Did Aaron ask you to pass on his thoughts?" "No, it's just what I think," Hayden replied earnestly. He would never lie to her. Keira sighed softly. "Love between two people isn’t something outsiders can meddle with. But maybe Aaron’s actions today will help Lena realize what’s in her heart." "Let’s wait and see," Hayden said, finishing the massage before applying lotion and stretch mark cream to Keira's belly. "Baby, give Dad a little kick," Hayden said, stroking her belly. Right after he spoke, the baby really did kick. Keira couldn’t help but laugh; this little one was so obedient to their dad. "Just a few kicks, alright? Mommy needs to sleep, so don’t bother her," Hayden instructed. The baby obediently kicked a few more times before settling down. Keira was curious. "I think our ba
Keira stared at the messages Lena had just sent her. She could sense something was up, so she immediately called her, but Lena declined the call. Instead, she replied with another message: [I’m at my grandparents’ house, and my mother is here too.] Keira had no choice but to keep texting her: [Did Aaron upset you today?] Lena sent Keira a string of ellipses. That endless row of dots made her even more curious. [What happened exactly?] Keira pressed. Lena replied: [He brought his girlfriend home today.] After sending that message, she also sent Keira a screenshot of a payment receipt and added: [Spot the highlight.] Keira zoomed in on the image and finally noticed the note: Name Change Fee. [Wow, how generous! 600,000 dollars just for a name change fee. What did you call her to make it worth that much?] Keira was shocked. Lena then sent Keira a voice message, explaining the situation in detail. At the end, she added: [He used to tell me how long he’d liked me, but now he’s
"Aaron, I want to add Lena on WhatsApp." Xandra actually asked Aaron, gently tugging on his sleeve with a delicate and endearing expression that made her look pitifully lovable. Aaron glanced at her, his gaze filled with a warmth Lena was all too familiar with. Once upon a time, he had looked at her the same way. Now, he could look at other women like that. So, never believe a man when he says things like, I've liked you for years. "If you want to add her, then add her," Aaron's approval made Xandra look at him with delight. Lena, however, truly didn’t want to add her. She and Xandra weren’t close, and they likely wouldn’t ever be. Lena didn’t enjoy socializing with strangers, so she smiled faintly. "Aren’t you afraid I might tell her something about you, Uncle Aaron?" Aaron’s gaze turned cold and distant, his voice calm. "There’s nothing about me that Xandy can’t know." Ha! Lena sneered inwardly. If that were the case, why had he just warned her earlier? Double stand
Under the table, Lena felt her mother's foot nudge her—a clear signal: Let Xandra win. Lena gritted her teeth. Why was everyone fawning over a girlfriend who hadn’t even officially joined the family? Annoyed, she huffed inwardly. The more you tell me to lose, the harder I’ll fight to win. The game began, and Lena’s starting hand was exceptional—practically a heavenly draw. She was only one card away from winning while the others still struggled with mismatched cards. It seemed like an easy victory was in the cards for her. But then, as if under a spell, her luck took a sharp turn. None of the cards she needed showed up. Worse, every time she reached for a card, Xandra would intercept it with a call, blocking her progress entirely. As the rounds continued, even her mother, Briana, reached a ready hand, while Lena was still stuck with the same cards she started with. Soon, her grandmother joined the fray, and eventually, even Xandra declared readiness. Three players were now
Lena’s heart fluttered in panic. Why was he standing here? Had he overheard what she’d said earlier? There was no use regretting it now. She could only pretend he hadn’t heard anything and called out, trying to sound natural, “Uncle!” She had just given herself a pep talk in the bathroom, but seeing him standing so close now, her heartbeat still faltered. Aaron’s deep, starry eyes fixed on her. “Xandy is very simple and innocent. She doesn’t take well to certain things. I trust you understand what I mean?” Lena’s chaotic heartbeats suddenly settled. So this was why he had waited for her—to make sure she wouldn’t tell Xandra about his past feelings for her. A strange, sharp pain twisted in her chest, so intense it stole her breath for a moment. Clenching her fist by her side, she pinched herself hard to suppress the ache and avoid showing any emotion. “What ‘certain things’ are you referring to, Uncle? I don’t believe there’s anything you’ve shared with me that’s worth m
“Come here,” Deborah called, motioning for Lena to approach. She introduced her to Xandra with a cheerful smile. “The two of you may be the same age, but from now on, you must properly call her your aunt. Understand?” Xandra’s face flushed red. “There’s no need for that. Just call me Xandy.” Nervously, she tugged at Aaron’s sleeve. He glanced at her before responding calmly, “Our family values etiquette. Generational hierarchy matters.” Etiquette? Wasn’t this just a ploy to make her call Xandra “Aunt”? Was he in such a rush to give her a title to avoid any misunderstandings? Whether it was to clarify things for Xandra or to distance himself from her, Lena couldn’t help but feel a petty frustration bubbling up. Fine. If Aaron wanted her to say it, she would. “Aunt Xandra,” Lena said, her tone neutral but deliberate. Xandra’s face turned even redder. “No, really, you can just call me Xandy.” “I should call you that, and it’s not for free. As my elder, you owe me a red e
“Mr. Ace, why the sudden preference for plain water?” Elaine asked as she poured a glass. “It’s not for me. It’s for Xandy,” Aaron replied, his eyes flicking toward Lena, who kept her head down, still rinsing the same tomato. Elaine chuckled. “Your girlfriend is very pretty. She seems like a sweet and kind young lady. I bet your parents can finally relax now.” “Mm, everyone can be at ease,” Aaron replied, his tone carrying a subtle undertone. Lena didn’t lift her head, but she heard the implication clearly. “Not just at ease—happy too,” Elaine said as she handed him the glass of water. Taking it, Aaron thanked her. “Thank you, Elaine.” Then he left the kitchen. Elaine watched him go, sighing wistfully. “His parents have been waiting for this day for so long.” Turning back, she noticed Lena was still rinsing the same tomato—again. Elaine reached over and turned off the faucet. “Miss Lena, if you keep washing that tomato, it’s going to lose all its skin,” she teased.
"Do I need to change my shoes?" A gentle female voice came from the doorway. Lena thought she must be hearing things. She snapped her head up, and her eyes landed on a tall girl in casual attire standing by the entrance. Next to her was Aaron, dressed in a dark coat. They hadn’t looked into the house yet, as the entryway was positioned just out of sight from the main living area. However, from her spot on the sofa, Lena had a clear view of them. “No won't be necessary. My parents don’t wear slippers at home,” Aaron explained patiently. Lena felt as if she were frozen in place, her mind going blank as she stared at the two of them. Hearing the commotion, Briana walked out from the kitchen, and she, too, stopped in her tracks. It was rare—unheard of, even—for Aaron to bring a girl home. The implications were obvious. “Sister,” Aaron greeted Briana first, then introduced the girl beside him. “This is my friend.” Briana nodded quickly, her surprise evident. “Hello!” The g
The weekend had arrived, coinciding with the end of the year. The timing couldn’t have been more fitting—or more ominous. At the hospital, Lena’s colleagues were busy making plans for New Year’s Eve celebrations, but she sat at her desk, preoccupied with how to get through the weekend. Tomorrow, Aaron was going to formally announce his decision to sever ties with the Ace family. Even though she had tried to comfort her grandparents and they seemed to accept it, she feared the actual impact would be far greater than any preparation could soften. “Dr. Lane, any plans for tomorrow? Join us!” someone invited her. Lena snapped out of her thoughts. “No, I’ll be at home with my grandparents.” She’d even be taking an emergency kit, just in case her grandparents couldn’t handle the shock. Her mother, Briana, had been equally anxious, sending multiple reminders throughout the day to ensure Lena would go to the Ace house right after work. The last time she visited, she’d managed to