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
Hayden shot Yara a look, his expression darkening.Yara raised an eyebrow, totally unbothered, like she already knew what was coming.She was way too comfortable around him. Like, seriously, where was the fear?"Just tell her already. Stop playing games," Yara said, all casual like this was no big deal.Hayden turned to me, eyes intense. "If you're leaving, then go pack your stuff..."I cut him off. "Hayden, seriously. Why can't you just answer me?"Yara sighed dramatically. "I'll leave you two alone." She gave us some space and walked off.Hayden stayed right where he was, locking eyes with me. "So, what do you think my reason is?"He actually wanted me to guess?I was so done. Yara had been vague and cryptic, and now Hayden was doing the exact same thing.He didn't want to talk. It was so obvious."Fine. If you're not gonna say it, then don't," I shot back. "Whatever your reasons are, they don't matter anymore. Even if I knew, it wouldn't change anything."Why was I still
My passport was still back at the hotel, waiting for me.Yara shot me a quick look, then flicked her gaze to Hayden before going back to scrolling on her phone.Hayden didn't even blink. He totally ignored me like I hadn't said a word.I didn't bother repeating myself—he definitely heard me.Sure enough, half an hour later, we pulled up to the hotel. Just as I was about to open the door, Hayden's voice cut through the silence. "Yara, go up with her."Guess he was still freaking out about the whole Hernan-kidnapping thing.But Yara just shrugged. "I'm hungry. I'll grab something to eat." She wasn't having it.Hayden shot her a look, but Yara didn't even flinch. She just walked off, like it was no big deal.She was fearless. I guess that's part of what made her so... irresistible to Hayden.I mean, someone once said a woman shouldn't make a guy the center of her world. Only then will he value her.Maybe there's truth in that. Looking back, I definitely gave too much weight to J
It was Bruno on the line.At the same time, the security footage showed Yara sitting there with a coffee, only to be grabbed by two guys and shoved into a car. Bruno's men were on top of it, no time for her to react."So, you really can't wait to see me?" Hayden's voice was icy, his eyes locked on the screen."I'm dying to see you," Bruno replied, each word dripping with malice.I could feel the venom in his voice. If Hayden actually went to meet him, this wasn't gonna end well."Alright, I'm coming," Hayden said."Oh, and bring Keira with you," Bruno added, sending a chill down my spine. I instinctively scanned the shop.It was nearly empty, but when I glanced out the window, I spotted a car across the street with its window down.Someone inside waved at me."There!" I pointed out the window.Hayden saw it too. He walked out of the store, stopping just at the edge of the street, with Bruno's car across the road, almost within reach.Bruno hung up, then yelled across the str
I stared at the tips of my shoes, lost in thought. "Let's go."Steve loaded my luggage into the car, opened the door for me, and closed it once I was inside. Only then did he get in and start driving."Steve, how did things get so out of hand? It was just a snooker game..." I wasn't blaming him, just lost in the mess we were in.What should've been a simple thing had blown up, dragging in Hernan, and now Bruno was involved too. It felt like danger was everywhere, and everyone was on edge.I remembered what Jace had said. "Who do you think is behind all this? Why target you specifically?""I've been wondering the same thing," Steve replied, clearly following my train of thought. "The key is figuring out their endgame."I let out a bitter laugh. "Seems like they want to catch us all in one go.""Especially every guy connected to you," Steve added, making me sit up straighter.Right... Jace, Steve, Hayden—they were all tied to me.."I'm starting to think this person has some twis
We were boxed in. Cars surrounded us, leaving no escape route. Trying to break free would be reckless—we'd never make it.Steve was right. Hayden had been pulled away, leaving me vulnerable. And without Hayden's skills, Steve was at a serious disadvantage.Bruno's real target? Me.As the men climbed out of their cars, surrounding us, I turned to Steve. "In a minute, I'll go with them. Don't do anything stupid—just call Hayden.""No way!" Steve shot back, his protective instincts kicking in."Listen," I insisted, "Jace is already in Bruno's hands, and Hayden's gone after him. If you get taken too, Bruno will have all of us, and no one to save us."He hesitated, but I gave him a calm, reassuring smile. "We talked about this earlier. If Wayne's behind this, I won't be harmed. So don't worry about me.""But what if it's not him?" Steve didn't seem convinced."If it's not him, then we're good. You can reach out to him for help."I could see the shift in his eyes."This is our chan
I knew exactly who had a thing for feeding fish—it was Wayne. Thinking about what I suspected, I decided to throw Bruno off a bit. "Can your fish actually understand human words? 'Cause before you dragged me here, I was feeding some fish that, believe it or not, actually respond when you talk to them."I chose my words carefully, hoping to get under his skin.Bruno was way too competitive, especially after the way Hayden had humiliated him. Losing to anyone, even fish, seemed to get under his skin."Oh, really?" Bruno smirked, like he had the upper hand. "Bet those fish only know one phrase: 'Rea, dinner time.'"I froze. His words hit too close to home—was he mocking me, or did Wayne actually use that exact line when feeding his fish?Bruno saw my reaction and burst out laughing, that same, knowing laugh. It was clear now—he knew Wayne.Otherwise, how would he know what Wayne said to his fish?I had always been creeped out by Wayne's obsession, the paintings he'd made of me, and
"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