I'd been here once before with Jace for some business thing. Back then, it gave off major upscale corporate vibes.But after hearing Demi's take? Yeah, I realized I'd been way too naive.Blending in here was key. Rolling in like a clueless tourist? Total no-go. So, I stuck with the same routine I'd used at that bar.Where there were women offering "questionable services," there were usually guys doing the same.I'd already scoped out "young hunks" before, so asking again wouldn't raise any red flags. Even if the Drago family heard about it, they'd probably shrug it off like, 'Sounds about right.'Sometimes, the best covers just fall into your lap.I booked a private room and waved over a server. "I'm looking for... services. Preferably someone handsome," I said casually.The server didn't blink. "I'm sorry, Miss. We don't provide those kinds of services here. If you want someone to serve drinks, I can arrange that."Locked down tight. Every shady detail buried so deep it barely
I took one step forward, then froze. Demi's words replayed in my head: someone had a secret. Could it be him, the guy I just spotted?If so, was he wrapped up in the Drago family's shady business too?The thought of the Johnstons and Dragos teaming up to take out my parents made my blood boil. I was so caught up, I didn't notice someone behind me until Cole's voice broke through."Lost on the way to the restroom?" he teased.Snapping out of it, I played it cool. "Nah, just got my period. Need supplies."His smirk was straight-up smug. "What a coincidence. I'll have someone grab them for you."And he actually did. A staffer brought me some pads, leaving me no choice but to take a quick restroom break and roll with it.By the time I got back, Cole's so-called "models" had already lined up. All six feet tall, ripped, and ridiculously good-looking, like they'd been plucked straight out of some glossy magazine ad.They greeted me, perfectly synchronized."These guys are pros," Cole
I grabbed Wayne's collar and yanked him down, locking eyes with him as I slurred, "Hayden, you finally showed up... You jerk. What took you so long?"His face hardened, and his grip on my wrist tightened. "Rea, you're drunk. I'm not Hayden.""No, you are Hayden," I said, tracing the curve of his brow with my finger. "You've changed. You don't love me anymore... You left me..."If there's one thing men can't stand, it's being someone else's substitute. And for Wayne, who'd always had feelings for me? My words were like twisting a knife straight into his heart.Pain shot through my shoulder as he pinched it, giving me a small shake. "Look at me. Who am I?"I stared at him for a beat, then let my lips quiver as I broke into full-on sobbing."Hayden, you're such a jerk!" I wailed, tears streaming. "You're the worst! Why are you bullying me?"Tears: the ultimate trump card. Like clockwork, Wayne's grip on my shoulder loosened.I threw a few weak punches at his chest, more for show t
Moments later, Jace barged in, heading straight for the bedroom without even glancing at me on the couch.Wayne wiped the corner of his mouth. For a split second, I saw it—a faint smear of red.Jace returned, and Wayne, as unbothered as ever, spoke up. "You don't always have to assume the worst of me."Jace's eyes finally landed on me. His tense expression eased slightly when he saw I was still fully clothed, but his voice stayed sharp. "You shouldn't have gone after her."Wayne grabbed a tissue, dabbing at his mouth before strolling to the liquor cabinet. He poured himself a drink, taking a slow sip. "She came after me," he replied, calm as ever.His words sent a chill through me. Had he figured out I was trying to get close to him on purpose?"Or is it you who's been watching her all along?" Jace fired back, cutting straight to the chase.Wayne leaned casually against the cabinet, the top two buttons of his shirt undone, giving him an almost devil-may-care edge. "Don't forget,
So, who could I actually turn to for help in exposing the Drago family's shady business?Yara came to mind first, but she was a Drago.She had a strong sense of justice and used to work alongside Hayden, but with him gone, I doubted she'd lift a finger to help me now. The Drago family was her bloodline, her safety net. I couldn't see her betraying them, no matter how noble she once seemed.Then there was Sasha. She'd told me before how much she hated Thorsten, but after the way she stabbed me in the back last time, trusting her again would be delulu. If anything, she'd sell me out before I got a word in.After running through every option, I came up empty. But the Drago family's operation needed to be stopped. This wasn't just about avenging my parents anymore—it was about saving the countless women they'd exploited and destroyed.Demi's story hadn't been detailed, but it was enough to reveal a twisted pattern.The Dragos had created an insidious network. They groomed men like De
When Lena saw me, her eyes widened. "Did you mug someone last night or something?"Even with makeup, my dark circles were glaringly obvious. I didn't bother pretending. "Just couldn't sleep."Lena didn't pry further, probably assuming it was about Hayden again."Where's Nate? Why isn't he here?" I asked, steering the conversation. I'd invited Nate to discuss something about Yuna."What, missing him already?" Lena teased."Yep, been pining away for him forever," I shot back, grinning.She poured me a glass of water and slid it across the table. "He got called in to check out some case for a friend. Said he'd swing by after he's done."I sipped the water. "So, how did meeting his parents go? All smooth?""Smooth enough. My parents love him—already pushing us to tie the knot as soon as possible."Her tone was far from excited.I'd known her long enough to catch it instantly."You don't sound too thrilled about that.""It's not that I'm unhappy. It's just... everything feels ru
Tanya had been trying to outdo me forever, but honestly, all she'd managed was digging herself deeper into her own mess.This was on her, 100%, but would she ever own up to it? Nah. She'd just blame me like always.And me? I showed up tonight for one reason—to stir the pot, to make her hate me even more.She avoided me the whole time I was there, which was classic Tanya. But just as I was about to leave, I made sure to call her over.She walked up, looking like she was about to bite my head off. "Keira, I'm not serving you," she snapped.At least she had her pride. Props for that. Imagine turning down my money."I want to sign up for a VIP membership—the yearlong one. If you're not gonna help me, find someone who will." I leaned into the moment, letting the weight of my wallet do the talking.A VIP membership here meant Tanya would pocket 25 percent of the fee. If I threw down $30k, that was, like, two months of her salary. She'd feel that."You think flashing some cash makes y
Hooking Tanya was easy. Buying the bar? Not so much.This place was booming every night, packed with customers. No sane owner would hand it over without a fight.I needed a different angle.Sure, I could've looped in the Johnstons and made it a done deal. But that wasn't happening. I was done with them.So, I called Ron. The second I finished explaining, he hit me with, "If you wanna be a boss, I'll step aside."Typical Ron—chill to the point of reckless. Giving up a cushy gig without blinking? He made life look so easy.I laughed it off. "I'm not looking to run the place. I just don't want to pay for my drinks every time I show up."He snorted. "Ms. Kay, the money you're thinking of dropping on this could fund your drinking habit for, like, ten lifetimes."He teased, but then his tone shifted. "Don't be impulsive. Owning a bar isn't just a fun side hustle.""I know what I'm doing," I cut in before he could go full dad-mode. "Just tell me if you've got any connections to the o
“Hey, pretty lady, want to move this party somewhere else?” In the center of the dance floor, a man leaned closer to Lena with an inviting smile. Lena tossed her rarely unbound long hair over her shoulder, swaying slightly as she replied, “To your bed, perhaps?” “If that’s what you want,” the man said with a grin, moving even closer. Lena pressed a single finger to his forehead, stopping him in his tracks. “I think my bed would be more suitable.” “Your bed works too,” the man smirked. Leaning in closer, Lena gave a sly smile. “My bed happens to be a surgical table.” The man laughed, assuming she was teasing him. “So, what’s on the menu? Heart or liver?” “Heart and liver,” Lena replied smoothly, her finger pressing precisely on the corresponding points on his body. The man hesitated, clearly startled by her precision, but before he could react, Lena pushed him away with a flick of her finger. She had danced enough and left the floor, catching her breath. From the cro
Lena’s father and grandfather poured themselves some wine, but before they could take a sip, they were scolded. “When it’s time to talk, you’re mute, but when it comes to lifting a wine glass, you’re the most enthusiastic.” “Aaron, when you find a wife, don’t pick someone like your sister or your mom, or you’ll spend your whole life getting nagged,” Lena’s father teased, earning laughter from everyone at the table. Although the homecoming had started awkwardly, the evening turned out enjoyable, with a lively and pleasant conclusion. “Why don’t you both stay the night? Don’t leave,” suggested Mrs. Lane after dinner. Lena: “No way!” Aaron: “I’ve got work!” Their simultaneous refusals drew the attention of everyone at the table. Lena kept her composure, her face impassive as she explained, “I’m currently preparing for a fetal surgery on a pregnant patient. There’s a lot of prep work involved. I was supposed to work overtime tonight, but you called me here at the last minute.
Lena’s mother’s face flushed with embarrassment at the questioning but quickly retorted, “Aaron, what kind of talk is that? Lena is my daughter. I gave birth to her and raised her. How could I possibly harm her?” “Then what do you call what you’re doing today?” Aaron’s voice and gaze were both ice-cold. “Your sister is just worried that Lena hasn’t moved on from Nate,” Lena’s father chimed in, trying to mediate. “That’s right, Aaron. Your sister and brother-in-law would never hurt Lena. Besides, the Goodwick family isn’t bad. It’s just that from the moment you two walked in, you’ve been giving them attitude, making sharp remarks at every turn,” added Aaron’s father, who had been silent until now. As the person in question, Lena couldn’t remain silent any longer. “Grandpa, Grandma, Mom, Dad, I know you all care about me and want the best for me, but I really don’t want to start a new relationship right now. That doesn’t mean I’m stuck in the past with Nate, though. Can you just
“Yes!” Lena and Aaron replied in unison. Mrs. Goodwick froze for a moment, then gave an awkward laugh. “You two are uncle and niece, having grown up together, but now that you’re adults, you should have your own spaces. What if Mr. Ace brings a girlfriend home? It wouldn’t be convenient, would it?” She certainly knew how to mind others' business. “I don’t have a girlfriend, so there’s no inconvenience,” Aaron replied flatly, blocking her attempts at argument like swatting away a fly. “But men and women are different,” Arthur said, his gaze toward Lena taking on a peculiar edge. “Only dirty-minded people think that way,” Lena shot back without hesitation. The back-and-forth between Aaron and Lena left no room for the Goodwick family to save face. Their expressions darkened considerably. Mrs. Lane had to step in to smooth things over. “It’s just that Lena had some trouble with a medical dispute recently. We were worried about her safety, so we let her stay with her uncle fo
“Lena, you’re back! Aaron…” Mrs. Lane immediately waved at Lena, signaling her to come over quickly. Lena had a sinking feeling and didn’t step forward. Just then, Aaron walked over and stood beside her, his gaze sweeping over everyone in the room. As his sleeve brushed against Lena’s hand, the accidental touch gave her a sudden boost of courage. What was there to be afraid of? With Aaron here, her mother wouldn’t dare go overboard. It was a confidence she had grown up with—so long as Aaron was around, her mother was nothing more than a paper tiger. To this day, Lena couldn’t quite figure it out. Aaron wasn’t even biologically related to the family, yet everyone seemed to hold him in unusually high regard. Whatever he said, no one would dare contradict. It was precisely because of this unique favoritism that Lena often rode on his coattails, benefiting from his influence. “Chairman Goodwick, Mrs. Goodwick,” Aaron greeted the unfamiliar guests first, acknowledging the fa
“It doesn’t hurt anymore. It’s completely healed,” Lena said as she sat down. “Any new issues or discoveries today?” “None,” Nate replied, his dark, deep gaze lingering on her with a complex expression. Lena noticed but pretended not to. She had no intention of asking. When she lowered her head to focus on work, Nate withdrew his gaze. For the rest of the day, he didn’t say another word to her. This behavior was unusual for him. Ever since he returned to promote his research project, Nate had always carried himself with humility, desperately seeking her forgiveness. But today, he acted like just another colleague, a completely different person from before. Although this change was what Lena had hoped for, she couldn’t help but feel unsettled. What had brought on this sudden shift? She thought back to the incident yesterday when she had asked Nate and Aaron to leave while her wound was being treated. Could it be that her uncle had said something to Nate? On the drive bac
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.