"He's not over it yet, even if you are," Lena said. "Right now, his head's probably a total mess."Lena always had a knack for cutting to the truth.Aaron finally took his seat just as the light show started, and wow—it was next-level. Fifty minutes of stunning effects, each one unique.The finale? That was pure magic. The human light performance had the whole crowd hooked, showcasing just how cutting-edge OceanixCorp's work really was.When the models ended by forming our company logo, the applause was deafening."Such a creative and refreshing display," Aaron said, the perfect polished client. "The human light show was a standout.""That was all Ms. Kay from marketing," Ron said, giving credit where it was due.Every eye turned to me as the clapping grew even louder. I nodded, keeping it cool.And then Cole—because of course, Cole—jumped in with a smirk: "Brilliant concept, no doubt, but let's not forget the real stars here—our male models.""Absolutely," I replied smoothly.
Cole chuckled, waving Xander forward. "You tell me. Or do you need to look closer to figure it out?"Xander stepped closer, stopping just shy of Jace and Wayne. At this distance, they could see everything—every line, every feature, every little detail.And so could I. My breath hitched, and that voice deep in my chest screamed louder than ever: He was Hayden."You've really gone all out for this. Where'd you dig up someone like him?" Jace sneered.Cole's smile didn't waver. "Fate," he said casually, then turned to me. "Wouldn't you agree?"I didn't bite. My eyes stayed on Xander, searching, digging past the surface, desperate for even the faintest sign that he was Hayden."Xander," Cole said, finally cutting to the chase, "Ms. Kay has taken quite the liking to you. She wants to keep you. What do you say?"Xander's answer was sharp and direct. "Mr. Drago, you know my rules. I don't provide those kinds of service."The implication landed hard. Wayne and Jace's faces darkened imme
I wasn't sure if Jace was actually going to throw a punch, but standing there felt like its own kind of humiliation. Without saying a word, I spun on my heel and walked off, ditching the wheelchair for good."What a waste of oxygen," Lena snapped at the crowd before rushing over to help me.Once we were clear, she blurted out, "Rea, didn't he have a mole on his neck? Could he have had it removed? Did you check for scars?"Her question made it obvious—she still didn't believe Xander wasn't Hayden. I mean, that face was way too similar to his.I shook my head. I hadn't believed it either, at first. I'd touched his neck, searching for anything—a scar, a clue, something—but there was nothing.Lena caught my expression and frowned. She helped me sit down and asked again, "So, what do you think? Is it him or not?"I hesitated. Sometimes your gut knows what your eyes can't, especially when anything can be faked these days."I don't know," I admitted quietly.At first, I was so sure he
I muttered a half-hearted reply and headed for the meeting room without bothering to ask who was waiting."Wait up," Ron called after me. "That model from yesterday—he's seriously not Hayden.""I know," I said, biting the edge of my coffee cup. "I buried him myself."Ron just nodded and let me go. That's when I saw who was waiting inside.Jace.His eyes fixed on me like he was trying to read my mind.Too bad for him, I was in a great mood today. For the first time in weeks, I'd actually put on makeup. Heck, I'd even looked in the mirror before leaving and thought, 'Dang, I look good.'Even the pain in my injured leg decided to chill out. Walking didn't hurt for once."You're late," Jace broke the silence as he checked me out, his tone super casual."Yeah, but my boss is cool. No pay dockings here," I shot back. His face froze for a second.Back at RiverwaveCorp, being late meant fines, CEO's fiancée or not."I called yesterday, but you didn't answer. I even swung by your pla
I stared at Jace's face—so familiar, so tangled up in my past. How was I supposed to see him as a stranger?But he needed to drop the idea. Forcing a faint smile, I said, "I already do."His hand trembled against mine before I pulled away, stood up, and walked out.Later, I skimmed the file he'd sent me. It matched what Cole told me the day before, with extra details about Xander's family. Clearly, Jace wanted me to know one thing: Xander wasn't Hayden.When I finished reading, I laughed.Around noon, I called Cole back. Maybe he was salty I'd ignored him last night because he didn't pick up.Whatever. I didn't bother calling again.That evening, I headed to DracoLux. This time, I went straight to the lobby manager. "I'm here to see Cole. Tell him Ms. Kay is looking for him.""Right this way, Ms. Kay!" The manager practically tripped over himself to help me—Cole had clearly prepped them for my arrival.Smart move on his part. He probably figured I was digging for dirt and want
First thing I did? Check Xander over. No blood, no cuts, but his face was pale—scared pale.Hayden wouldn't have looked like that, I thought before I could stop myself. Yeah, just one more reminder—Xander wasn't him.Still, that didn't mean I could just bounce and leave him there. I stepped through the mess, crunching glass under my high heels, and stopped at his side. "What happened?"Xander didn't answer, just stared at me. Disgust flickered in his eyes.Before I could say anything else, one of the big guys barked, "Who the hell are you?"Another guy yanked him back, whispering, "She's with the Johnston family."The first guy squinted at me like I was under a microscope, then sneered. "Didn't Jace Johnston already ditch her?"God, how gross.And yet, Jace had the gall to think we could start over? If I did go back, this? This ridicule would never stop."Keira Kay," I said, my voice sharp. "And he's with me. Whatever he did, I'll handle it.""Handle it? Who even are you?" th
Thinking back, something about today felt... off. I hadn't been to DracoLux in days, but the second I show up, Xander's there, and chaos breaks loose? Yeah, no way that's a coincidence. Someone had to be pulling strings.I spotted the guy from earlier—my ashtray victim—lingering in the parking lot. Stepping in front of him, I snapped, "Talk. Who sent you to start this mess?"His face was still smeared with blood. It might've freaked me out once, but these days? Not so much. Guess I'd grown tougher than I realized."I-I don't know what you're talking about," he stammered, though his panicked eyes said otherwise.Look, violence isn't ideal, but let's be real—it gets results. One ashtray to the face, and suddenly this guy had a whole new attitude.I glanced around the dim parking lot, a chuckle slipping out.He flinched. "Ms. Kay, please—don't make this harder than it has to be.""It's not hard. You tell me the truth, I leave. Easy, right?" I said, fixing my gaze on him.His panic
"Returning the favor."Xander's reply was blunt, and I immediately caught the hint of that earlier misunderstanding he had about me."So, you just happened to show up when I was in danger? Should I be suspicious you staged the whole thing?" I shot back, using his own accusation against him.He didn't flinch, his eyes fixed on the road. "I'm sorry. I was wrong about you."Wait—what? I froze. He'd figured it out that fast?"Earlier, I overheard that fat guy on the phone. Today's setup was orchestrated by Wayne Johnston of RiverwaveCorp."I froze. That guy had clearly mentioned Jace..."You don't believe me?" He glanced my way briefly. "I recorded it."Without missing a beat, he handed me his phone. The screen lit up, and I tapped the recording.[Boss, it's done. Ms. Kay thinks it was Jace Johnston...]My hand trembled slightly, but it wasn't fear—it was disbelief. Wayne had really gone this far?It all added up now. Jace refusing to let me go must've pushed Wayne to the edge,
Tonight, Lena had stayed late at the hospital for surgery. When she returned, she didn’t see Aaron’s car and assumed he wasn’t home. Without having eaten dinner, she cooked some noodles and was chatting with Keira while eating. Out of nowhere, Aaron appeared. He was dressed in loungewear, his hair slightly damp as if he’d just showered—clearly, he had been home all along. “Uncle… you, you’re home?” Lena stammered, hurriedly trying to turn off her phone. In her flustered state, she accidentally knocked over the bowl of noodles she had barely touched. She was embarrassed, frustrated, and downright annoyed. What a mess—starving to death, and now the noodles were gone too. Aaron, having clearly overheard Keira's voice message, seemed completely composed. He walked over and stopped her from grabbing at the spilled noodles. “Let me handle this. Did you burn yourself?” “No burns, just scared by you,” Lena replied as she finally managed to turn off the voice message. As Aaron clean
“Kiki, I promise to give you an opening ceremony that will surprise and delight you. Please agree, will you?” Hayden pleaded, holding Keira's hand like a spoiled child. He rarely pressed her for anything, and his insistence puzzled her. But seeing his sincerity, she could only nod. “Fine, but don’t turn my courtyard into a chaotic mess, and definitely don’t invite irrelevant people.” This small courtyard was her serene haven. She enjoyed making tea for visitors and watching the sunrise and breeze when alone—it was enough for her. “As you wish, Mrs. Hart,” he exclaimed, excitement lighting up his face before he kissed her swiftly on the cheek. However, after the kiss, he didn’t let go. Instead, he gazed at her for a few seconds before his lips landed on hers again. It had been a long time since they kissed so passionately. As his kisses deepened and his arms tightened around her, she could clearly feel the changes in his body. Keira was already past her third month of pregna
“What did Sasha come to talk to you about?” That evening, as Hayden dried Keira's hair, he asked her softly. He rarely pried, but he must have noticed her low spirits ever since Sasha left and figured something was on her mind. “Do you think the Drago family’s influence has been completely eradicated?” Keira asked, her question making Hayden pause mid-motion. “On the surface, it seems so,” he replied, turning off the hairdryer. “But Thorsten had loyal confidants over the years. It’s possible there are still remnants left unchecked. Did Sasha notice something?” Keira shook her head slightly. “She told me she opened a private bank account, one that no one knows about. She said if anything happens to her—if she’s gone suddenly or meets with some accident—I should ensure the money is kept for Nina.” Hayden frowned, his gaze turning serious. “For her to bring this up out of nowhere, something must be wrong. Do you think she’s worried the Drago family's remnants might target her?
When Keira's parents first passed away, she missed them so much it felt like self-inflicted torture. She clawed at my own skin until it bled, as if the physical pain could dull the ache of losing them. The saying "longing cuts to the bone" couldn’t be truer. “She’s impossible—just like her father, stubborn as a mule,” Sasha muttered. Patience had never been her strong suit. “Bring her here next weekend when she’s not at school,” Keira offered. “I like Nina.” “Great, I’ll pay you babysitting fees.” Keira gave her a faint smile. “My rates are very high, you know.” They strolled around the courtyard, and Keira eventually led her to a tea table where they sat down. She started preparing tea for her, letting the tranquil act of brewing set the tone. “Keira,” she suddenly said, her tone unusually serious. “You’re living such a peaceful and carefree life now.” Around the fire, brewing tea—it wasn’t just about the drink itself. It was about savoring the taste, reflecting on lif
What an entrance! Everyone turned to look at the source of the bold voice. A tall woman strutted in, dressed in a mix of luxury and extravagance: a fur coat on top, leather pants on the bottom, and a pair of oversized sunglasses perched on her nose. No one seemed to recognize her, and whispers began to ripple through the courtyard. “Who is she?” One of the bolder ones shot Hayden a look and joked, “Is this one of your unresolved affairs?” Unfazed, Hayden replied calmly, “She’s not here for me.” Keira, however, wasn’t surprised by the woman's sudden appearance. Nor did she hold back. “Who are you, and why would we need to notify you?” This remark drew curious glances toward her. The woman, unfazed, swayed her hips dramatically and smirked. “You’re acting all high and mighty already, and you’re not even Mrs. Hart yet?” Her words immediately shifted the attention to Hayden. It was a clear jab at him for not having formally married Keira yet, suggesting he’d shortchanged he
When Keira first learned that Jace had entered the Carthusian monastery, she didn’t understand. She even thought he was doing it for Abbot Levinsky or because he had become disillusioned with life after the family turmoil. Only now did she realize he knew his time was limited. He had gone there to spend the remainder of his days in peace. Jace lived his life with pride and abandon. He had stood at the pinnacle, admired by all, and had also fallen from grace when love led him astray. He had once gone to extremes to win her back and later turned against his own brother to protect her. His life was brief—only a third as long as others’—but it burned brightly, full of passion and color. No matter how much it hurt, no matter how much she missed him, he was gone. - When Gavin arrived and learned of Jace’s passing, tears streamed down his face. Then, in a sudden outburst, he slapped himself twice. "It’s all my fault. How could I not have noticed something was wrong with him?" "Y
Keira couldn’t accept that Jace was gone. That he had chosen to leave like this. Even though he said it was his way of taking responsibility for himself, she couldn’t reconcile it. And his illness? Keira knew nothing about it... No! She had noticed. The blood he coughed up in front of her, the nosebleeds, the repeated hospital stays, his increasingly thin frame—these were all signs. But she ignored them. She didn’t care enough, didn’t pay attention enough, and brushed it all aside. Though the romantic love between Jace and Keira had long since faded, he remained one of the most important people in her life. He was her family. He was there as she grew up, bringing her warm sugar water when she had her first period, standing up for her and kicking bullies away without hesitation. Jace wasn’t just a past lover. He was the person who witnessed her youth, shared her journey, and taught her how to navigate life. And now, he had slipped out of her world without a word, witho
Hayden’s dedication to the courtyard was no less than hers. On any other day, Keira would have been thrilled to follow his lead and share in the excitement. But today, she couldn’t muster any enthusiasm. Her attention was fixed entirely on the temple gates. Even as the sun rose higher into the sky, the gates remained shut, and the unease in her heart grew heavier. When Abbot Levinsky was still here, he opened the gates every morning without fail. After Jace arrived, he took over the task and once told her that opening the temple gates each day was like opening the door to one’s heart. But today... why hadn’t he come? Was he unwell? The thought sent a ripple of panic through her. Unable to wait any longer, Keira stepped forward and knocked on the door. After what felt like an eternity, someone finally answered—a lay disciple living at the monastery. "Apologies," he said with a slight bow. "Master Gregory might have overslept today." Gregory. That was Jace’s monastic name
They say what you thought about during the day would appear in your dreams at night. The night before Keira planned to visit Jace, she dreamed of him. He stood at the foot of her bed, dressed in a pure white monk’s robe. "Rea, look at me," he said softly. Hearing his voice, Keira opened her eyes. The moment she saw him, she felt a wave of disorientation, as if the person before her wasn’t him but a celestial being descended from the heavens. "Why are you here? I was just about to visit you," Keira said, sitting up slowly. "Mm, I know. That’s why I came to see you first," Jace replied. He was the same as Keira remembered, but thinner, and an air of ethereal detachment clung to him. "But you didn’t answer my calls. I was so worried about you," Keira said with a smile, though her heart felt heavy, as though something was pressing down on it. "My fault," he said, reaching out to pat her head. "But from now on, you don’t need to worry about me anymore." "Jace, I bought a cou