Medicine really is a lifesaver.After using the spray, the burning in my mouth finally eased up. By lunchtime, even drinking water wasn't torture anymore. But still, I wasn't about to risk eating anything solid. Salt and spices? Yeah, no way."Keira, how about we stick to porridge, maybe some eggs or a salad on the side?" Demi suggested, trying to keep things simple for me.I knew how much she loved her meat. "I'll just have porridge. You can get whatever sides you want."Demi was about to respond when Hayden strolled over. "Mind if I join you for lunch?" he asked.Hearing a guy like him ask to "join" us for lunch felt so weird.I was on the verge of turning him down—I was still feeling a little awkward after he helped me with the spray earlier. He didn't seem fazed, but I sure was.Before I could say anything, though, Demi—ever the fangirl—nodded eagerly. "Of course, Mr. Hart. What would you like to eat?""I'll..." Hayden glanced at me and continued, "have what Ms. Kay is havi
I decided to shut down Demi's persistent matchmaking with a blunt statement. "I'm all about the money. If he doesn't have it, even if he's drop-dead gorgeous, it's pointless."As soon as the words left my mouth, I caught Hayden glancing over.Perfect. He heard me.I didn't dodge his gaze. There was zero chance between us anyway, so it was better if he got the message loud and clear.I wasn't clueless. His casual touches, and even spraying the ulcer relief spray on me today—those small gestures made it obvious he had feelings for me."Keira, you're so shallow. Too shallow," Demi huffed, clearly annoyed.I didn't bother responding or looking at Hayden.Demi's phone rang, and after a quick glance at the screen, she said, "It's Mr. Lawson."Gavin?!"Yes... I'm in the family area of Section A at the amusement park. Do you need something? Okay, see you soon," Demi finished the call and shot me a look. "Mr. Lawson says he's coming to see you."Gavin's looking for me? I wondered what
Not washing my hands—that was directed at both Wayne and me.I was cool with it, but Wayne looked a little awkward."I won't get sick from a little dirt," I said, trying to lighten the mood.Hayden walked over, holding a pack of wet wipes.Wayne reached out to grab it, but Hayden kept his grip tight. So, I just took the pack myself and handed Wayne a wipe before grabbing one for me."Rea, who's this?" Wayne asked, eyeing Hayden, clearly wondering why this guy with such a strong vibe wasn't exactly being friendly."This is Hayden Hart, our lighting engineer," I introduced him, feeling the weight of Hayden's intense gaze on me. It pushed me to add, "And this is... my friend, Wayne.""Nice to meet you," Wayne said, extending his hand to Hayden.But Hayden just gave a nod, and before things could get more awkward, Demi jumped in, "Mr. Hart's got a bit of a germaphobia."Wayne smiled faintly, withdrawing his hand and turning to me. "Let's sit down and eat before the food gets cold.
I just smiled. "In my next life, I'll be born as their daughter. Then we can actually be real siblings."Wayne's smile wavered, but he quickly nodded toward the gnocchi. "Eat a little more. You've been losing weight.""Okay," I replied, digging into the gnocchi in front of me.Wayne kept watching me the whole time. I finally had to stop when I was too full, so I sipped on some soup instead."Jace still cares about you," Wayne said, trying to sound casual. "He even made cucumber soup for you, pretending it was from my mom."I forced a small smile. "Better late than never... but barely."The sore inside my mouth made eating a struggle, so I packed up the leftover gnocchi and soup. "Thanks for coming, Wayne. Let your parents know I'll visit them once this project's wrapped up."I gestured around the amusement park. "We're supposed to finish in less than a month, but the lighting hasn't even been tested yet. It's insane.""Jace mentioned it, but don't forget to take care of yoursel
When Hayden stepped in from the balcony, he caught sight of me, asleep at my desk. The soft, warm glow from the lamp spilled over my face, and I could feel his eyes on me.I could sense him nearby, but I couldn't bring myself to wake up.After what felt like forever, I heard his voice—low and gentle—whispering, "Kiki..."Kiki?!Was he talking to me?Yeah, he was.Before I moved in with the Johnstons, my parents called me Kiki, not Rea. But it had been forever since anyone used that name."Hey, I'm Kiki."In my dream, I saw a little girl with two buns and a chubby face, calling out to an older boy.The boy didn't say much, just kind of kept to himself.Suddenly, I was that little girl, and Hayden was the boy. I was riding on his back."Haddy, you smell nice..." I said, "There's a little black bean on the back of your neck. I'll get it for you.""Don't pinch it, Kiki. That hurts," said the boy. "Kiki, I'm tired. Can we stop running?"..."Mommy, I like Haddy. I want to marr
I knew Lena wouldn't reply right away, not at this hour. So, I closed the chat and scrolled through my social media feed.The first thing that popped up was a post from Steve—candid shots from last night, everyone clinking glasses and laughing.But what caught my eye wasn't the celebration. It was a hand in the corner of the photo. Jace's hand. I recognized it instantly because of the ring. The one I gave him.A weird mix of embarrassment and regret hit me hard. That ring was part of a matching set. I still had the other one. I'd bought them for $99.90 with my first paycheck when I turned eighteen.I'd worn the women's version and gave him the men's. He teased me back then, saying I was trying to lock him down or something. But after that, he never wore it again.When I hinted at it, he just brushed it off, saying wearing something like that would only invite ridicule.It was too cheap.I got it. A guy like Jace couldn't be caught dead with a cheap ring.But that ring meant som
Ugh, so awkward!I could practically feel the secondhand embarrassment radiating from Demi.She was definitely flustered, but she covered it with a laugh. "Sure thing, Mr. Hart, thanks a ton!"Demi set my bag down and rushed over to me, practically dragging me along as we sped away. Under her breath, she muttered, "Did Mr. Hart wake up on the wrong side of the bed or something? He's so moody today."I stayed quiet, but while Demi picked up on Hayden's harsh tone, I caught something different... Maybe he told her to get her own breakfast so she wouldn't trouble me.'Was he concerned about me?' The thought sent a shiver down my spine, and I started worrying I was overthinking things, turning something small into a big deal."Let's sit separately," I suggested once we had our food, trying to avoid any more awkward encounters with Hayden after last night."Why? Wouldn't it be better to sit together? We can go over today's plans," Demi countered, using work as the perfect excuse I co
"You probably don't know this, but I've never been in a relationship before. I'm as pure as they come. Not like you, with your complicated love life—an ex-fiancé, that guy who keeps messing with your hair, and let's not forget Wayne." Hayden's voice was so calm it almost drove me crazy.I opened my mouth to snap back, but before I could get a word out, he dropped his gaze. "So, really, I should be the one worrying. If people find out we shared a room last night, they might think I'm not so innocent anymore.""Are you saying I ruined your precious purity?" I shot back, feeling my temper flare up."Not at all. You were very well-behaved last night—no improper advances toward me whatsoever," Hayden said, his tone dripping with fake innocence, like he was some damsel in distress and I was the sleazy villain who'd taken advantage of him.'Unbelievable. This guy is so full of it!' I fumed silently, too angry to even find the right words.I took my frustration out on the custard roll in
"I'm just amazed that pregnancy has made you smarter. Most people say pregnancy makes women forgetful for three years," Hayden teased Keira with a rare grin. Keira gave him a gentle kick. "Did Aaron ask you to pass on his thoughts?" "No, it's just what I think," Hayden replied earnestly. He would never lie to her. Keira sighed softly. "Love between two people isn’t something outsiders can meddle with. But maybe Aaron’s actions today will help Lena realize what’s in her heart." "Let’s wait and see," Hayden said, finishing the massage before applying lotion and stretch mark cream to Keira's belly. "Baby, give Dad a little kick," Hayden said, stroking her belly. Right after he spoke, the baby really did kick. Keira couldn’t help but laugh; this little one was so obedient to their dad. "Just a few kicks, alright? Mommy needs to sleep, so don’t bother her," Hayden instructed. The baby obediently kicked a few more times before settling down. Keira was curious. "I think our ba
Keira stared at the messages Lena had just sent her. She could sense something was up, so she immediately called her, but Lena declined the call. Instead, she replied with another message: [I’m at my grandparents’ house, and my mother is here too.] Keira had no choice but to keep texting her: [Did Aaron upset you today?] Lena sent Keira a string of ellipses. That endless row of dots made her even more curious. [What happened exactly?] Keira pressed. Lena replied: [He brought his girlfriend home today.] After sending that message, she also sent Keira a screenshot of a payment receipt and added: [Spot the highlight.] Keira zoomed in on the image and finally noticed the note: Name Change Fee. [Wow, how generous! 600,000 dollars just for a name change fee. What did you call her to make it worth that much?] Keira was shocked. Lena then sent Keira a voice message, explaining the situation in detail. At the end, she added: [He used to tell me how long he’d liked me, but now he’s
"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