Benefactor?!I burst out laughing. Hayden didn't let his playful side show often, and when he did, it always caught me off guard.It was just a joke, but hearing him call me that was surreal. Life really is unpredictable. You never know how things will play out or what roles you'll end up in.The future's a blank slate, and we're all just winging it.With Hayden still recovering and Demi needing her own time to heal, I knew I couldn't handle taking care of both of them. So, I hired caregivers for each instead.Of course, Hayden flat-out refused. "I can walk, move, and feed myself. I don't need anyone," he insisted.It wasn't just stubbornness—I knew he didn't like strangers hovering around him. And let's be real, he probably just wanted me to take care of him.Men can be so extra sometimes, full of their own little schemes, just like us.Lately, though, there was something different about Hayden. It was subtle, but he'd been a bit clingy—showing this softer, almost boyish side
It felt like another riddle waiting to be solved, but honestly? The less I knew, the safer we both were.Hayden kissed my forehead. "Don't worry. I'm not going anywhere—my little monster needs me."Little monster?! Okay, adorable. I grabbed my phone and immediately updated my chat app username to match.Steve noticed in about two seconds flat. [Who are you planning to attack now?] he messaged.I smirked, thinking, 'Monsters don't attack—they just make sure no one messes with them.'It had been a while since I'd heard from Steve. After Houston, all I knew was he'd sold his pool hall and gone off the grid.Considering how messy things got back there, I couldn't blame him for bailing. Honestly, it was probably the smartest move.I fired back two words: [Fighting demons!]Steve replied almost instantly. [How have you been lately?]Whether I was good or not didn't really matter. If he'd been keeping up with the news, he'd already know. The fact he asked meant he hadn't been paying
Yes, I lied to Yuna, but I had my reasons. I'd explained myself, and if she still wanted to hold a grudge, that was her choice.So, I let it go.Yuna was smart. If she was willing to be reasonable, she'd figure it out eventually.Still, as I left her place, I called Wade. Not because I loved sticking my nose in other people's drama, but because Yuna mattered to Hayden—and that made her important to me, too. Like the saying goes: love me, love my dog.Plus, Yuna wasn't a bad person. She was just hurt. Betrayal does that—it makes people lash out.Before Wade could even pick up, I heard his voice behind me."Keira."I turned, slipping my phone back into my pocket. No need to ask why he was here—it was obvious."You're here for Yuna," I said. Then, with zero filter, "Or for the heart inside her chest?"Wade froze, no comeback. I let out a dry laugh. "Still don't have an answer, huh?"He let out a heavy sigh. "I'm struggling with it myself."The guy was wrecked, no point hiding i
Wayne's gaze darkened, heavy and cold. "Of course it matters."If it weren't for Hayden, Wayne might've had his shot. Keira and Jace's breakup had been the perfect opening, but Hayden had slipped in before he could.Wayne had always blamed himself for being just a step too late. If he'd come back sooner—been there when the cracks started between Keira and Jace—would Hayden have ever been part of the picture?But life doesn't deal in what ifs. Wayne had missed his chance, and Hayden had taken it."How surprising—and what an honor—to be someone so important to you," Hayden quipped, his words sharp enough to draw blood.Wayne smirked faintly. "Let's stop playing games and get to the point.""To what exactly?" Hayden's tone was light, almost mocking."I know why you're pretending to be someone else," Wayne said, straight to the point. "But you're not part of Blade Front anymore. That fight? It's not yours. If you keep this up, you'll just end up hurting yourself—and everyone around
I'd barely stepped into the hospital when Hayden called."Where are you?" he asked.I checked the time—three hours since we'd last seen each other. "What, miss me already?"Flirty banter came easy with Hayden. He soaked it up, and honestly, I loved that. Back with Jace? Yeah, not so much. He'd always been so... distant.Funny how you don't know what's missing until you find something better. With Hayden, love actually felt real."Yeah, I miss you," he said, no hesitation.I laughed. "Ten minutes. That's all it'll take.""You're already at the hospital?" he guessed.Before I could confirm, he dropped the real bomb. "Wayne was here. He knows who I am—and that I've been collecting evidence. Now he's pressuring me to hand it over."Great. I knew what that meant. "So, he's gonna think you left the evidence with me. He'll come looking, won't he?""Exactly," Hayden said, his voice edged with worry. "Be careful, okay?"My stomach tightened, but I nodded like he could see me. "Got it
"Rea, you really wanna lose Hayden again? Staying with him like this—it's reckless. You're putting yourself in danger," Wayne warned, pulling his classic scare tactic card."How am I not taking action? Besides, let's not pretend we don't both know—he's been faking it, refusing to admit he's Hayden," I shot back, matching his energy.Wayne's face twisted, clearly not a fan of my pushback. "I don't want anything to happen to you. If it does, I won't be able to protect you."I snorted. "Protect me? When have you ever done that?"That shut him up.Honestly, Wayne's so-called 'love' for me was more about control than anything remotely romantic. Every move he made always came with strings attached.When he realized I wasn't budging, he gave me a cold nod. "Suit yourself," he said, voice icy, and stormed off.For years, Wayne had played the perfect gentleman—polite, protective, total golden boy vibes. But now? Mask off. It was clear he was ready to go full villain, and he didn't care w
"It hurts?" Aaron asked, though the answer was beyond obvious.Lena nodded, all obedient and small, which was so not her usual vibe. Normally, she was sharp and in control, but around Aaron? She turned into this quiet version of herself. It was weirdly funny, especially since she wasn't even that much younger than him."Yeah, so stop moving my arm around," she said, trying to pull away.Aaron, of course, ignored her and tightened his grip just enough to keep her still. "You need an X-ray."Lena's eyes widened, practically screaming, 'An X-ray? For this? It's just a bruise!'Her reaction was pure drama.She sighed. "I'm fine. That's not necessary.""If you were fine, it wouldn't hurt. Pain means something's wrong." His tone was all logic, zero budging.Standing in the doorway, I had to bite back a laugh. Watching Lena flail against Aaron's unrelenting CEO energy was a whole mood. I'd always thought Lena and Nate were a cute match, but now? Watching her and Aaron was... interesti
Even though Lena and I had been friends forever, this was the first time I'd heard her talk about a childbirth case—especially one with such a heartbreaking ending. Hearing her recount it left this heavy, sinking feeling in my chest.It made sense now why she avoided talking about work. But still, imagining what that family was going through—losing both the mom and the baby—was gut-wrenching.Even so, it wasn't Lena's fault. I knew her too well. She respected life in a way most people didn't. If there was even the tiniest chance to save someone, she'd fight for it."So, what you're saying is the surgeon didn't screw up?" I asked."Exactly," Lena said, sighing. "But that doesn't matter. Someone died, and the family can't accept it. They keep saying everything was fine until she came here—like it's our fault she's gone." Her voice wavered, frustration and sadness written all over her face.I'd read about situations like this. These so-called "medical disputes" could ruin careers."
"Because this love didn’t give me the happiness I imagined," Lena explained with a faint smile. "It’s like going to the supermarket, picking out a snack you’re excited about, and then finding out it doesn’t suit your taste. After that, you just don’t like it anymore and won’t bother with it again." Her metaphor was strikingly apt. "And what does the happiness you imagine look like?" Aaron asked, as though playing the role of a persistent interviewer. Lena, softened by the alcohol, answered obediently, "I don’t know. But whatever it is, Nate didn’t give it to me." Aaron observed the peaceful resignation in her expression and pressed further. "Do you still believe in love? Do you still want to start a new relationship?" "Of course," Lena said, finally lifting her gaze to meet his. Her eyebrows arched into a cheerful expression. "I’m not the kind of person who gets scared off by a bad experience. If I meet someone who makes my heart race again, I’ll love them boldly and passiona
He was waiting for her? What for? "Uncle, you didn’t skip dinner, did you?" Lena’s first thought was his meal. In truth, he hadn’t eaten. After receiving her message, he had been uneasy all evening, unable to focus on food. "You didn’t eat? I’ll make something for you," Lena assumed his silence was confirmation. "There’s no need," Aaron refused. "Then why were you waiting for me? Is something wrong?" In Lena’s view, Aaron would never wait for her without a reason. He gazed at her, his sharp eyes narrowing slightly. "You’ve been drinking?" She nodded, flashing him a sweet, soft smile. She even gestured with her hand, "Just a little." Aaron stepped closer, his tall frame looming over her with an intensity that made her feel small. Though the light above bathed his eyes, they remained dark and inscrutable, filled with a depth that was hard to read. Lena sensed something was off. "Uncle, what’s wrong?" She looked into his deep, clear eyes, untouched by any impurity.
"Should we drink a little today?" Lena asked. Nate nodded. "Let’s have a drink." They warmed a bottle of wine and ordered a few small dishes. Neither of them spoke, simply sitting quietly, gazing out at the river and the occasional boats passing by. "Lena," Nate called her softly. Lena turned to look at him. The warm yellow light above cast a gentle glow on his nose, brows, and lips. His gold-rimmed glasses exuded elegance, and the texture of his shirt spoke of refined taste. Even after their breakup, Lena had to admit that Nate was precisely her type. In all her life, among all the men she had met, only Aaron and Nate could truly be called attractive in her eyes. Even Hayden and Jace were merely "not bad." It wasn’t that her standards were excessively high—it was simply that if someone didn’t resonate with her, no matter how perfect they were, she wouldn’t care for them. "Thank you," Nate said softly. Lena was momentarily stunned, assuming he was referring to their wor
Recently, Lena had been in a constant state of distraction. Aaron's decision to sever ties with the Aces weighed heavily on her mind. He hadn't told her the reason, only saying that she would find out in due time. She could live without knowing why, but she feared the fallout. When the truth came to light, she worried her grandparents and her mother would crumble under the weight of the news, collectively breaking down. Aaron had assured her he would handle everything, but she didn’t trust that he could shield the family from such devastation. Most importantly, she couldn’t understand why he would choose to leave the Aces. Could it really be, as the old saying went, that someone else’s child was like an ungrateful wolf? If it were anyone else, she might believe it, but this was Aaron. She couldn’t bring herself to believe he would be so heartless, so ungrateful. And yet, he had said it to her himself. It felt so unreal that Lena wondered if she had imagined it all. This tur
Mrs. Lane finally pieced together all the questions Lena had asked her and understood everything. Gabriel furrowed his brow and looked at Lena. "Is this really what you think?" Lena stayed silent. She did have those suspicions, but seeing how her mother had reacted so strongly, she began to wonder if she had been overthinking it. Aaron, who had already figured out the situation, looked at Lena and spoke up. "She must have misunderstood something." And he knew it was his fault. "She’s just an ungrateful brat! She doesn’t appreciate the kindness she’s been given and can’t stand seeing me be good to someone else," Mrs. Lane fumed again. Gabriel wiped away her tears gently. "Alright, maybe she was just joking with you." "Ask her if she was joking! Look at the things she’s been asking me—let her tell you herself!" Mrs. Lane pointed an accusing finger at Lena. "Big Sis," Aaron called out softly, "I’ll take Lil' Lena out for some fresh air." Without waiting for a reply, he r
"You’ll find out soon enough," Aaron’s answer echoed in Lena’s ears, leaving her restless and unable to sleep. The next day, Mrs. Lane arrived with chicken soup for Aaron and a bag full of fresh produce. "These vegetables are from a village I visited. They’re all organic, no chemical fertilizers," she gushed proudly. Lena's gaze followed her mother’s every move, scrutinizing her intently. Wherever she went, Lena's eyes followed, making her incredibly uncomfortable. "What are you staring at me for? It’s creepy," Mrs. Lane said. "Mom, why are you so good to my uncle?" Lena finally asked. "He’s my brother. Isn’t it normal for me to care for him? You think everyone’s as heartless as you?" Mrs. Lane scolded her, throwing in an insult for good measure. Lena didn’t retaliate to the insult. Instead, she pressed further, "It’s normal, sure, but the way you care for him doesn’t feel like how you’d treat a brother. It feels more like..." She paused before continuing, "Like how you’d
Keira chuckled softly. "Well, a DNA test isn’t a bad idea. At least then you won’t have to worry about being related to Mr. Ace if you two get together." Lena's eyebrows shot up instantly. "What nonsense are you spouting? Do you want me to hit you?" "Go ahead. If you break anything, you’ll have to compensate me," Keira said smugly, knowing full well she had a trump card—her precious little one growing inside her. Their playful banter caught the attention of the people in the room. They exchanged amused glances. "The things girls find joy in are beyond us," one of them said with a smile. "Let’s hope they stay happy forever," Aaron added, just as his phone began to ring. Glancing at the caller ID, he nodded at Hayden. "I’ll take this call." Aaron walked toward his study. Hayden also pulled out his phone, while Lena and Keira moved to the sofa. Keira recounted Lena’s gossip to him. "Hayden, do you think I could be the person the Mitchell family owes a debt to?" "It’s not
"I don't know them!" Lena shook her head. Was she joking? Keira pinched her lightly and looped her arm through hers as they continued walking inside. Lena began, "I heard some gossip from my colleagues, something about the Mitchell family of Windy City." "Let’s hear it," Keira said, strolling leisurely alongside her. Meanwhile, Hayden had already marched ahead, carrying the luggage into the hall. He was always efficient and precise, a trait ingrained in his very being from his military days. It showed in his every move, even in his stride. "A while back, the only legitimate heir of the Mitchell family in Windy City had an accident. Apparently, he fell from something high, hit his head, and ended up as a vegetable," she said. Keira had already heard Hayden mention this earlier. "That’s it?" she pouted dismissively. Lena huffed. "There’s more." "The Mitchell family has spared no expense trying to treat him. They’ve consulted every expert in the country, flown in wave afte
Hayden took out his phone and made a call. “There’s a car tailing me and my wife. Find out their identity, but make sure they don’t realize we’re onto them,” he instructed. “Why don’t you want them to know we’ve noticed?” Keira asked, puzzled. “Don’t startle the snake. If they really have ulterior motives, taking care of this group might just bring another wave,” Hayden explained. His reasoning made sense, and Keira nodded in understanding. They picked up Lena’s suitcase and were on their way to deliver it when the car behind them got rear-ended. They stopped to check, and Hayden received a message—a series of photos and some information. “Windy City… the Mitchell family?” Hayden muttered under his breath. Keira leaned over to look at the photos. One showed the driver partially visible, cautiously keeping the car windows barely open. The backseat passenger was only captured in silhouette. But Hayden’s people were well-prepared and used high-definition cameras, managing to cap