I brought Hayden back to Kehlmark.One evening, as the sun melted into the horizon, I laid him to rest in the place where we'd once dreamed of growing old together.But I couldn't leave—not yet. I stayed, keeping him company, pretending he was still there.When I was a kid, I overheard my mom talking about how a person's soul doesn't just vanish after they die. She said it lingers for a while, staying close to the people it loved—especially for the first thirty-something days.I didn't know if it was true, but I clung to the thought. I didn't want Hayden's soul to feel alone, so I stayed. Watched over him until I felt like he was truly gone. Only then did I let myself think about leaving.During those days, I cut myself off from the world. My phone stayed off. I lived like Yuna used to—reading books, picking wildflowers, brewing tea from petals, and painting.I painted Hayden, again and again. Every stroke reminded me of the portraits Wayne had made of me, hidden in that house.
For someone like me reading medical books was no joke. But somehow, I got into it. Maybe the stillness of the past month had shifted something in me, grounding me in ways I didn't expect.When Lena walked in, she stopped for a second. Then she came right over and hugged me tight. "Welcome back."She was the only person I'd told about Hayden's death—and the only one who knew where I'd taken his ashes.Leaning into her, I caught the faint smell of disinfectant."I want a feast," I said."Say no more! I'll make it happen." Her voice had that slightly stuffy, emotional edge.She'd probably been waiting for me to crawl out of my dark hole.And I was finally doing it.Hayden was gone. But I was still here, and there was a life waiting for me to live.***At the restaurant, I took a bite of my food and asked casually, "Have you seen Jace lately?""Seen him?" Lena snorted. "Try every day. He's been in the hospital this whole time—ever since, you know, the crocodile bite."I frowned
"Rea, you're back?" Wayne's voice carried a mix of surprise and excitement as his eyes met mine."Yeah, just got back today," I replied, putting extra weight on 'today.'Lena didn't miss a beat. "Just got back and already bumped into you? What are the odds?" Her tone was all innocent charm, but the undertone was sharp enough to slice through Wayne's polished demeanor.He gave a quick nod toward the upper level. "Some high school friends organized a get-together here a few days ago."Before I could respond, someone called out to him. "Wayne, we're heading out!"He waved toward the group but lingered, glancing back at our table. "Do you two need anything else?" His tone was casual, but the offer was clear—he was ready to cover the bill.Lena beat me to it, flashing a polite smile. "Already paid through my phone. Thanks, though."Wayne's focus shifted back to me. "Rea, after you've had time to settle, come over for dinner. My parents have been asking about you.""Let me treat you
If Jace actually lost his arm over this, I'd owe him big time—like, a lifetime of "owe you." But honestly, I didn't want to get tangled up with him any further. All I could do was try to talk some sense into him."It's not that bad," he muttered, clearly lying through his teeth. His face was so pale. "A few more treatments, and I'll be good as new."Uh-huh. Sure. But since he looked like he was about to pass out, I held back my argument.Instead, he glanced at me and said, "Now that you're back, I feel like I'll heal faster."I understood the meaning behind his words, but he quickly switched gears like it was nothing. "Steve's been asking about you, by the way. If I hadn't stopped him, he probably would've filed a missing person's report."Cutting everyone off for a few days had definitely caused a ripple effect."Is he coming by today?" I asked, rolling with the topic change."Don't know. Let me check." He started to grab his phone, but the moment he moved, pain shot across his
Jace's gaze darkened, and I gave him a faint smile. "Even if you don't say it, I already know who it is.""And who do you think it is?" he asked, calm but clearly trying to gauge my reaction.I met his eyes and didn't answer.Jace shifted, sitting up straighter—like he was actually about to climb out of bed, injury be damned. "You don't think it's Wayne, do you? Are you seriously planning to be with him just to get back at me or... avenge Hayden?"Of course, after years of dating me, he could still read my mind like a book."If it's not him, then tell me who it is," I shot back."Rea, it's not Wayne. How could you even think that? But honestly..." Jace said, shifting his stance. "I don't know who it is, either. Back then, I just... guessed there had to be someone pulling the strings."I stayed calm, my tone light but deliberate. "If it's not him, even better. At least I won't feel any guilt about being with him."Jace froze. "Rea..."I exhaled slowly. "Jace, we've known each o
"Obviously! Missed you treating us to lunch, too," she shot back, bold as anything."Done. Let everyone know—dinner's on me tonight at SeaView Dining," I said, not even pausing to think."Wait—seriously?" Her eyes went wide. Cute."Dead serious," I said, giving her a nod."Yay!" she squealed, doing a little bounce before running off.I couldn't help but smile. Somehow, her energy seemed to lift the whole office. The vibe felt lighter already.After dropping my bag on my desk and taking a quick look around, I decided to swing by Ron's office."Come in!"I opened the door to find Ron practically buried under a mountain of paperwork. He didn't even glance up to see who had entered.I walked closer, noticing the stacks of documents—most of them from my department.It didn't take a genius to figure out what had been going on. My peaceful break? Yeah, that had been courtesy of Ron's hard work."You've been running yourself ragged. Why not hire someone else to help out?" I asked.
They say men don't cry easily, especially not in front of women.But I saw it with my own eyes—Ron's face crumpling, his reddened eyes filling with tears until they spilled down his cheeks..I didn't try to comfort him. I just walked out, leaving him to grieve Hayden in his own way.Ron had said this company belonged to Hayden, though on paper, Ron was the official owner. That said everything about their bond. Hayden had trusted him enough to put everything in his hands.And now Hayden was gone. How was Ron, who'd clearly been waiting for him to come back, supposed to accept that?The pain he felt couldn't be much different from my own.I left his office and headed to Hayden's workspace. As a chief engineer, Hayden had always been hands-on for R&D, so his office was packed with experimental tools and equipment. Yet, despite all the chaos of his work, the room was immaculate, every item in its place—so very him.My gaze landed on the notebook on his desk, left open to a page of d
It seemed that, aside from Yara, Ron was another person who truly knew Hayden.At least, he knew more about the dangers Hayden had faced than I ever did.But I wasn't ready to dig into Hayden's past struggles. Just thinking about the pain he might have endured made my chest tighten. Knowing more would only make me miss him more."I don't believe it," Ron said again.I got it. Deep down, I didn't fully believe Hayden was gone either. To me, it felt like he'd just gone somewhere out of reach."Then let's just think of it as him taking a long trip," I said softly, shaking the little bell on my bracelet.Its crisp, clear chime filled the silence, soothing the ache in my chest like a gentle touch.How strange. How wonderful.This little bell, the one Hayden left me, felt like a lifeline pulling me back from the edge."Let me process this, and then I'll give you something," Ron said suddenly."What is it?""You'll see when I give it to you," he replied before walking away.I want
"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
Aaron’s voice carried through the phone, reaching Lena’s ears. Her eyes lit up—if he wasn’t home tonight, she could visit her grandparents without worry. - By evening, Lena arrived at the Ace residence, carrying a bag of nutritional supplements and her grandparents’ favorite desserts. The well-maintained courtyard had been recently equipped with solar-powered lights, casting a warm glow across the space and brightening every corner. She first glanced into the yard, ensuring that Aaron’s car wasn’t there, before pushing the gate open. “Grandpa, Grandma, I’m here!” Lena called as she stepped inside. The lonely old couple looked up at the sound of her voice. Even the housekeeper, who had been cooking in the kitchen, peeked out to greet her warmly. “Is that Lena? Come in, come in!” the housekeeper, Elaine, said cheerfully. “Elaine, you’re busy. Just make an extra serving for me at dinner,” Lena teased without a hint of shyness. Her grandparents, still in disbelief, confirme
Aaron meant what he said—he truly didn’t bother Lena again. It was as if life had reverted to how it was when he’d gone abroad. Lena even started wondering if he had left the country again, until she received a call from Briana. “Your uncle is going to announce his true parentage this Sunday. Your grandparents haven’t been eating well these past few days. Come back and keep them company, will you? You’re the only one who can cheer them up,” Briana said. Hearing this made Lena feel uneasy. Knowing Aaron’s intention to sever ties with the Ace family, she found herself perplexed. Hadn’t he already given up on her? If so, why was he still doing this? Unless... he had always wanted to cut ties with the Ace family, regardless of her. “Why would he do this?” Lena murmured under her breath. “What did you say?” Briana asked, not catching her words. “Mom, has uncle… been in the country this whole time?” Lena asked cautiously. “Of course. Where else would he go? His career here ha