In it, there was a man standing beside me, dressed in a tux, holding me close. I was in a wedding gown, glowing like a fairy-tale bride.My smile was soft, joyful, like I was the happiest person in the world.But his face... it was just a blank. No details, no features—nothing. The groom was a mystery.Was it Jace? Had Wayne started this when I was planning to marry him? Maybe it was meant to be a gift for us.Or... was it Wayne himself?I had a strong feeling it was the latter.The whole room was full of portraits of me—memories of my life. If I couldn't figure out Wayne's feelings after seeing all of this, then I was completely clueless.Standing there, I felt a sinking realization. Wayne's feelings for me ran way deeper than I ever realized. And they'd been there a lot longer than I'd imagined.I let out a heavy sigh. This room, filled with memories and emotions, was starting to feel stifling, making it hard to breathe.To be loved—especially to be deeply loved by someone y
A heavy weight settled in my chest. "Mrs. Young, I'm... a friend of Demi's. I heard something happened to her. Do you know how she's doing? What happened?""We... we don't know... she won't say a word," Mrs. Young's voice wavered, breaking."Is Demi's boyfriend there with her?" I asked."Boyfriend?" She sounded surprised, like she didn't even know.My heart sank. I got my answer. Whatever had happened to Demi, it had to do with him—and he wasn't even there.She caught on. "What do you mean by 'boyfriend'?" she asked."That's something Demi should explain herself. For now, can I talk to her? Just tell her it's Keira.""Alright, alright... maybe you can get through to her," Mrs. Young said, sounding a little hopeful.I heard her speak to Demi, "Demi, it's... it's your friend Keira. She wants to talk to you."Then, silence. I assumed the phone was near her, so I spoke. "Demi, I'm in Houston. My phone broke, so I just got your message."Still nothing. My throat tightened. "Demi,
"Haha..."A sinister laugh echoed in response to my question.I knew that laugh. It was Bruno.But why the hell was Jace with him? Could Hernan's claim about the mastermind actually mean Jace was involved?I'd suspected it before, but now it hit me like a punch. Anger flared, and I demanded coldly, "Where's Jace? Put him on the phone.""Tsk tsk, so fierce. Just like when you play snooker," Bruno taunted.I didn't have the time or patience for games. "Bruno, what do you want?""I told you already, didn't I? Just wanted to play snooker. By the way, your game today was impressive. Very nice," he sneered.I should've appreciated the compliment, but coming from him, it made my stomach churn."If you want to play, fine. Just put Jace on the phone," I snapped, my voice sharp. I needed to tell Jace his cheap tricks weren't gonna work anymore. Even if they had him, I wasn't going back to him."Why bother with the phone? Come see him yourself. I'm sure he'd love to see you," Bruno said
Huh?I wasn't just asking him to rescue Jace—I was trying to remind him to watch out for Bruno, too."Send me the location," Hayden said, then hung up.I froze for a few seconds. Then I pulled up our chat app and forward him the location pin. After hitting send, I found myself just... staring at our last conversation, and my chest felt tight.I quickly closed the chat, but of course, my phone rang a second later. It was Steve.My heart did this weird flip, and I felt this sting behind my eyes. I wasn't even sure what I was feeling, but it wasn't good.I took a deep breath and answered. "Hello?""Are you sure Jace was taken by Bruno?" Steve's voice sounded like he was on edge, too.I gave him the quick version of what went down. "Yeah, he was getting beaten up—definitely Bruno. And Hernan mentioned a mastermind behind all this.""Mastermind?" Steve sounded surprised."Yeah. I thought maybe it was Jace, but now that he's been kidnapped by Bruno... it's obviously not him." I fel
I screamed without thinking, and then Yara's voice rang out, "Stop!"Next thing I knew, she was charging forward, taking on both guys like she was in some action movie.For the first time, it hit me—Yara knew how to fight. Every move was so smooth, like she'd done this a million times. The two guys holding me let go and turned to face her.I stood there for a second, totally stunned. Forget being scared, I was just watching her totally kick butt.But it didn't take long for me to snap out of it. I ran back inside, not to hide, but to grab a baseball bat.I wasn't a fighter like Yara, but I sure wasn't weak. No way I was letting her do all the heavy lifting.Fueled by anger, I swung the bat hard, knocking one guy back and getting their attention. They tried to grab it from me, but every time they got close, Yara kicked them back like it was nothing. It was like a tag-team match—I didn't have the skills, but together, we made them back off.We kept going, not sure how long it last
I glanced at the two guys on the floor. "Is it safer here?"Yara paused, then nodded. "I guess so. But let's wait for Hayden to make the call. Not my decision."I wanted to ask, 'Aren't you his fiancée?' but kept it to myself. No need to sound petty."Let's head inside. Standing out here is exhausting," Yara suggested, looking totally chill.I shot another look at the guys, but Yara shrugged. "They're not going anywhere."She was the one who caught and tied them up, so I figured I could trust her confidence.We walked into the villa, Yara scanning the place with a lazy smile. "Nice place. Definitely has a feminine touch."I'd noticed that too."I'm not sure," I said, trying to sound casual.I'd seen Wayne's place earlier—there was no sign of a woman. The only room that screamed "female" was the art studio. And yeah, the woman in those paintings? Me.Yara flopped onto the couch like she owned the place. I sat down next to her. "Those guys outside were probably sent by Bruno,"
Yara really had some nerve.Seeing that smug grin, I matched her smile. "I'm not sold on the idea.""Not into Cole?" she asked, bold as ever.I shot back just as bluntly. "Not really. Besides..." I laughed lightly. "If I married Cole, I'd have to start calling you and Hayden 'Aunt Yara' and 'Uncle Hayden.' Kinda a downgrade for me, don't you think?"Yara burst out laughing. "Fair point!""If I had to marry someone from your family, I'd pick your brother," I joked. "Sure, Thorsten's a bit older, but he's loaded. And he probably won't outlive me. Once he's gone, I'd inherit all his cash—and you and Hayden would have to see me as 'the elder.'"She chuckled. "I like your style, but you'd have to get rid of my sister-in-law first, and deal with Sasha."Yara knew all about Thorsten's drama-filled relationships, down to the dirty details.I was done with the banter, though, so I got straight to the point. "Miss Drago, I get what you're trying to do, but I don't need anyone playing mat
I flipped through the journal, curiosity growing with each page, determined not to miss anything.One of the entries was from before Wayne had returned to the country. It read: [Over fourteen hundred days... it's time to go back.]Fourteen hundred days—exactly four years.I kept flipping, then suddenly stopped when my eyes landed on a page that made my heart race. [She's finally not his anymore.]The date? The day Jace and I were supposed to get our marriage license.That was the day I found Tanya in the penthouse Jace and I were meant to move into after our wedding. The day I walked away from Jace for good.My hands shook as I stared at the words. Just as I took a deep breath to steady myself and keep reading, I heard a car engine outside.I didn't know who it was, but I couldn't focus on the journal anymore. Reluctantly, I set it back exactly where I'd found it and headed downstairs.Yara was opening the door for Hayden. He stood there, his foot pressed against one man's chin
Aaron didn’t give Nate an answer, but silence itself was an answer. Lena’s test results came back negative: no traces of snake venom were found in her system. The wound had been treated, and in the end, it turned out to be a false alarm. “Sorry, Uncle,” Lena said apologetically. “I ruined your camping trip.” When she had been bitten by the snake, her screams were so terrifying that they startled everyone else. The others quickly packed up and left, bringing the camping trip to an abrupt, messy end. “It’s fine. You can make it up to everyone another time,” Aaron replied in a way that defied all expectations. Shouldn’t he be comforting her? He didn’t play by the rules, and Lena decided she wouldn’t either. “I’m not making it up to anyone. If anything, you owe me, Uncle.” “How would you like me to compensate you?” This time, he sounded more reasonable. Lena blinked mischievously. “I haven’t decided yet. I’ll let you know when I figure it out.” After saying that, she sigh
Nate stared at her face, carefully observing her expression and movements. He had a rough idea of her condition but still asked, "Bitten on the ankle, right? Let me see the wound." As he spoke, he bent down. However, before he could touch Lena, she was moved away. Nate looked up at Aaron. "Mr. Ace, even if the snake isn’t venomous, its teeth carry a lot of bacteria." Aaron’s response was as sharp as ever. "Oh, so you can see the bacteria and have a chat with them, asking them to leave? Or can you wipe them out with your bare hands?" Without waiting for Nate’s reply, Aaron scooped up Lena and walked off. Nate crouched there for a few seconds, stunned, before standing up and following quickly.-Lena was seated in a chair as the doctor lifted her leg. Just as Nate reached out to roll up her pant leg, Aaron had already done it. Nate had no choice but to awkwardly withdraw his hand. The doctor began cleaning the wound with disinfectant. Meanwhile, Aaron gently placed his hand
The black Cayenne roared through the night, the driver pushing the car to its limits as if his foot might break through the gas pedal. Yet, Aaron wasn’t satisfied. "Faster," he barked. "There’s no need to rush. Safety first," Lena said, her voice calm despite her pale complexion. As a doctor, she knew the basics—judging by the snake that bit her, it was likely just a common green snake, non-venomous. Despite her reassurances, Aaron remained tense, his entire body rigid. The driver, responding to the urgency, raced toward the hospital with record-breaking speed. What should have been a twenty-minute drive was reduced to eight. By the time they screeched to a halt, the driver’s legs were trembling from the adrenaline rush. It was the first time in his life he had experienced such an intense, heart-pounding ride. Aaron didn’t wait for the car to stop completely. He leapt out, carrying Lena straight into the emergency room. "Doctor, she's been bitten by a snake," he said urgently.
"Then why are his photos identical to yours?" Keira demanded. Lena didn’t answer immediately. She understood what Keira meant, opened her social media app, and found Aaron’s post. Sure enough, he’d shared the exact same photo as hers. To make things worse, the comments underneath included a particularly mortifying one from her mother: [You’re with Lena, huh?] Her mother probably didn’t mean anything by it, but the comment still felt inappropriate. As Lena silently cursed her mother’s lack of tact, she noticed another reply under that comment. This one, from Aaron himself, read: [Wherever she goes, I’ll take her with me and make sure she’s well taken care of. Don’t worry, Sis.] Lena was absolutely speechless. These two siblings were a perfect match: one was clueless, and the other oblivious. Her mother, as an older woman, could be excused for her lack of social awareness. But Aaron? Why was he commenting like this, knowing full well that their mutual friends could see it?
Lena hastily withdrew her hand, but her movements were too abrupt. As she stepped back, she tripped over the support pole of the tent and fell backward. Just as she braced herself for a painful landing, Aaron’s long arm reached out and caught her waist, pulling her into his embrace. Her cheek pressed against his chest, and the rhythmic thumping of his heartbeat filled her ears, blending with her own erratic pulse. This suffocating feeling... It was almost intoxicating. It reminded her of the time she had accidentally walked in on him while he was showering. Awkward. So awkward that she didn’t even know how to extricate herself, nor did she have the courage to pull away from his arms. “You’re already an adult, yet you’re still so clumsy,” Aaron scolded lightly, his voice coming from above her. Then he released her and added, “No wonder your mom worries about you so much and insists on you staying at home.” Lena’s suffocating embarrassment was instantly eased by his rem
“Don’t randomly go into the tents. Some employees brought their families or significant others. It’d be awkward if you interrupted them,” Aaron reminded from behind her. “Wow, Uncle, how considerate of you—allowing employees to bring their families,” Lena teased, her tone light. She walked through the array of pitched tents, but with so many scattered around, she had no idea which one belonged to Aaron. Still, since he insisted she find it herself, she was determined to try. Approaching one tent, she suddenly heard muffled voices inside—intimate murmurs between a man and a woman. The woman’s hushed voice carried a hint of urgency. “Be gentle, don’t let anyone hear…” Even though Lena was a gynecologist, her cheeks flushed uncontrollably. She couldn’t help but think that if she had brought a stash of "protection" tonight, she might have made a small fortune. Meanwhile, Aaron stayed back, standing a short distance away and watching her from afar. In the moonlight, she looked l
“Reconciled with Nate?” In the quiet car, Aaron’s voice broke the silence as he glanced at Nate standing motionless in the rearview mirror. “No,” Lena denied softly. “He came back this time because of you, didn’t he?” Aaron asked as the car turned a corner. His hands moved fluidly on the steering wheel, the motion revealing a gray-gold watch on his wrist. The watch’s polished edges caught the light streaming through the window, casting a fleeting glimmer. Lena’s gaze lingered on the watch, her thoughts momentarily drifting. If she remembered correctly, she had given him a watch as a coming-of-age gift years ago. It had cost her all her savings back then. But that was over a decade ago. Surely, the watch she gave him would have broken by now. This one likely just resembled it—or maybe she was remembering it wrong after so much time. “Hm?” Aaron’s voice pulled her out of her thoughts, his eyes briefly flicking to her. Lena quickly recovered. “He came back for a research pro
“No problem. Let’s schedule the simulations after work each day. It’ll mean some extra hours, but I appreciate everyone’s effort,” Nate said, nodding to the team to show his gratitude. “If anyone has concerns or special circumstances, please let me know in advance so I can make adjustments,” Lena added. As the primary surgeon responsible for the operation, she not only had to ensure the procedure’s success but also maintain the morale of the entire medical team. Everyone shook their heads, indicating they had no issues. “Great. In that case, you can all head home and get some rest. Dr. Lane and I will stay back to finalize a few details,” Nate said, dismissing the team but keeping Lena behind. The two went over the finer points of the plan, and by the time they finished, it was nearly 9 p.m. “I noticed this morning that Mr. Ace dropped you off. Is your car broken?” Nate asked. He had seen her getting out of Aaron’s car earlier. “Flat tire,” Lena replied, realizing she hadn’
Lena wanted to sleep early, but the more she tried, the harder it was to fall asleep. She tossed and turned until dawn and only managed to sleep for a short while. Naturally, she woke up late. Rushing downstairs in a flurry, she saw Aaron calmly eating breakfast in the dining area. "Good morning, Uncle!" she greeted as she hurried toward the door. "Your car has a flat tire," Aaron said nonchalantly, stopping her in her tracks. Without even looking up, he continued cutting his steak with precision. "I’ve contacted a repairman, but it’s too early for them to come over." In other words, there was no way she could drive to work this morning. But she had already arranged with Nate to conduct an examination on the pregnant woman whose fetus had an underdeveloped heart. They needed to finalize the surgical plan and decide on the team. Being late would be unacceptable. "Then I’ll call a cab," Lena said, quickly coming up with a solution. "It’s rush hour—good luck finding one," Aa