Bruno kicked back in his chair, flashing that smug, devil-may-care grin. "So, how do you wanna settle this score?"It was obvious he already had something planned—this whole thing was just him messing with Hayden, trying to get under his skin.Hayden, as usual, didn't flinch. "However you wanna settle it."I could see it now—Hayden was the kind of guy who never cracked. No matter how much Bruno or Hernan tried to mess with him, he just stayed cool, like nothing could phase him.Bruno twirled a colorful snooker ball in his fingers. "We're enemies now, right?" he said, looking at Hayden.Hayden didn't reply.Bruno's gaze drifted over to me."How about you and I play a few rounds?" Bruno suggested, his grin widening. "If you win, I'll grant you one condition. That includes letting Hayden off the hook."I knew what he was up to. Ever since the first time he saw me, he'd been obsessed with playing against me. This guy was relentless.But seriously, what was it about me?I'd never
"Alright, here's the deal—clear the table in one go. If you sink every ball, you win. Miss even one, and it's your loss. You've got fifteen minutes," Bruno announced, his tone dripping with confidence.I didn't have much of a choice, so I shot back without hesitation, "Fine.""Once you're ready, we'll start the clock," he said, settling back on a couch like some VIP.I stepped up to the table, took a deep breath, and nodded at the timer. At their signal, I went for it.Thud, thud, thud...Ball after ball sank smoothly into their pockets. Ten minutes in, only two balls were left on the table.Victory was practically mine. I focused, steadying myself for the final shots. One more strike, and it was done. With a precise hit, another ball dropped in, leaving just one remaining.Clap, clap...Bruno started clapping again, trying to throw me off. I ignored him and lined up for the last shot. But just as I was about to strike, something cold and slithery brushed against my foot, like
When Hayden found himself surrounded by dozens of men, each with a bucket of balls in front of them, I knew exactly what Bruno had planned.They were going to turn Hayden into a human target."If you've got any guts, face Hayden one-on-one! This gang-style ambush... what kind of man does that make you?" Yara shot at him, unable to hold back."This isn't something a real man would do. Word will get around, and people will laugh at you," Jace added, his voice steady despite the fresh bandages on his arm.I stayed silent.It wasn't that I didn't care or didn't want to speak up for Hayden. I just knew the more we tried to reason with Bruno, the more he'd dig in his heels.Bruno wasn't someone you could easily talk sense into. I'd barely been around him, but already, I could tell he was unpredictable—like a storm waiting to tear through everything in his path. The more you tried to stop him, the harder he pushed.Sure enough, Bruno's answer was exactly what I expected. "People haven'
I knew how heavy a snooker ball was. It wouldn't break bones, but it could definitely leave a mark if it hit you hard enough.I tried to dodge, but the second I moved, strong arms wrapped around me. There was this huge thud, then more thuds, one after another.Balls were flying at me—like, everywhere. I was spinning with them. And Hayden—Hayden was the one spinning me.His hand was clutching my waist, yanking me this way and that as we tried to avoid the chaos.I'd only ever seen stuff like this in action movies, but now it was real. Balls were coming straight for my face, and all I could do was watch. But Hayden? He was either pulling me out of the way or taking the hits himself."Bruno, enough!" I heard Jace yelling through the noise, but it didn't matter.I had no idea how long this was going on, only that the balls felt endless, pounding down on us. And I could feel Hayden getting slower, his grip on me weakening.He was getting tired.The sounds of the collisions started t
'Hayden! Hayden!' I tried to scream, but it felt like something was crushing my throat.I couldn't even move to check on Hayden."Hayden, please, talk to me!" Yara's voice cracked as she shook him, but he stayed dead silent, not even a twitch.I'd never seen him like this. Even when we shared a bed before, he always moved, always woke up at the slightest sound, telling me, "Don't move."But now, nothing.What the hell is happening?!"Bruno, call an ambulance! Now!" Yara screamed, her face wet with tears.The word "ambulance" sliced through the fog in my brain, and suddenly, everything hit me like a shock to the chest. It was like a breath I hadn't been able to take before, and for the first time, I could actually move. I shoved myself up, scrambling toward Hayden."Rea, Jace," Steve's voice cut through the chaos, and then people were everywhere.He grabbed me, pulling me back, blocking me from getting to Hayden.By the time I turned to look again, Hayden was being hauled out
"He..." I opened my mouth, but I had no idea what to say.Yara must've read my mind because she jumped in."You know he was in the military, but what you don't know is that he was in some super secret ops squad. For three years, he ran these insane international missions. Took down the biggest crime syndicate out there. Bruno and Hernan? Just small-time compared to what he's dealt with."She went on. "Once his mission was done, Hayden went back to normal life. But with Steve's mess, Hayden realized those small-timers are starting to come back, and people are out for revenge. He knows how dangerous they are. They can't go after him directly, so they'll target the people he cares about instead."Yara looked at me. "That's why he broke up with you. That's who he really is.""Have you...and him..." My brain was a mess, but all I wanted was to know how Yara knew so much about Hayden. Had they worked together?But the words wouldn't come.Yara gave a bitter smile. "Our relationship wa
"What do you mean it wasn't successful?"Yara looked just as stunned. She grabbed the doctor, her voice sharp, demanding the answers I was too afraid to ask."You can go in and see for yourselves," he said, giving us nothing but a cold response.Yara didn't let go, pushing for more, but it was the assistant doctor who spoke up. "The back of his skull was severely crushed. We repaired the fracture, but the brain hemorrhaging was uncontrollable, with multiple active bleed sites. You should see him now—there's very little time left."Yara finally released her grip on the doctor's arm.She was trying to stay composed, but her body shook as she took a step forward. Then she stopped, like she'd remembered something, and turned back to help me stand, leading me into the room.The bright lights inside were blinding, almost painful to my eyes.Hayden was lying there in a surgical gown, an oxygen mask over his face, and his head wrapped in bandages.I couldn't bring myself to move closer
I tried to move closer, but just as I did, Yara let out a choked sob. "Hayden."It felt like my heart had been ripped out. Slowly, I lifted my head to look at him. His eyes were half-closed now, no longer fluttering. The hand that had been resting by the bed hung limp at his side."Hayden," I whispered.But he didn't respond.I shook my head, disbelief crashing over me. I cupped his face, frantic. "Hayden, please. You haven't finished talking—just say something. Please!"The words caught in my throat, choking me. I leaned in, kissing him everywhere—his nose, his eyes, his cheeks, his lips—desperately trying to wake him.But he didn't move.He wasn't going to say, "Kiki, stop it," ever again."Hayden, don't leave me. You're all I have left," I screamed.The emptiness inside me was unbearable, swallowing me whole.This was worse than losing my parents. Back then, I was too young to fully get it—but now? Losing Hayden was like being dragged underwater, suffocating, helpless.Th
"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