In the distance, a figure was retreating into the shadows.Under the moonlight, that silhouette stood out—familiar, clear, yet so far away."Jace, thank you," I murmured softly, my words carried only by the wind. Without his help, getting close to Mrs. Drago wouldn't have been so easy. Maybe part of the reason she had agreed so readily was because of him.Even when he wasn't visible, even when I had no idea what he was doing, he was always helping me in silence.Maybe this was his way of loving me.I tilted my head up to the glowing moon, and in that moment, I felt something I hadn't expected: release.Release from the ten years of my life tied to Jace.People always say breaking up with an ex feels like losing your youth. But for me, it wasn't.Back in my room, I didn't go to sleep right away. Instead, I snapped a picture of the moon outside my window and posted it to social media with a single word: [Released.]Lena liked it almost instantly and messaged me: [Released what?]
Me: [👊]No response.I fired off a couple more messages, but still nothing. She was probably swamped—again.And yep, nailed it. Turns out the mom of the 1,385th baby had a serious postpartum bleed, so Lena had to ditch her phone and bolt back into the OR.***By the time Lena finally stepped out of the OR, the sun was up, and she was still wearing the chaos of the night—scrubs streaked with blood, hands showing traces of the battle. But the mother had made it."Have the family meet me in my office," she told a nurse on her way to the locker room.During the surgery, Lena found out the real reason for the mother's bleeding: stress. And not just any stress.Turns out, the husband had completely lost it over the baby being a girl. He'd spewed garbage about how they'd "wasted ten months" on her, pampering her with good food and care, just for her to pop out something "worthless." Oh, and the cherry on top? He casually mentioned selling the baby—apparently, someone out there would
He spun her around, their laughter cutting through the chaos of the airport like a rom-com on full blast. The crowd? Totally eating it up. A few claps, some knowing smiles—yeah, they were that couple.Lena clung to Nate, grinning like she'd just won the lottery.Nothing else mattered. Not even Retta, who strutted out of arrivals with her patented death glare. Lena clocked her but brushed it off. Retta could sulk all she wanted; Lena was too wrapped up in her "main character moment.""Dr. Lane, your boyfriend's so handsome!" a voice called.Turning, Lena spotted a woman juggling a baby. Oh, right—one of her patients. Flashing a smug smile, she leaned into Nate. "Of course he is. He's mine.""Congrats! And I hope you two have an adorable baby soon—just like mine!" the woman added, grinning."Noted!" Lena shot back with a playful thumbs-up.Unbothered by the interruption, they walked out hand in hand."You're still mad at me, huh?" Nate asked, his voice cautious. He wasn't clueles
"Alright, today, I'm all yours." Lena stretched up on her toes and left a quick kiss on Nate's chin.But Nate wasn't about that half-hearted action. He pulled her in, kissing her slow and deep, making sure she felt it.Neither of them noticed the black sedan parked nearby, idling for a second before quietly rolling away.With his phone on silent, Nate was all in for their day together. They hit up a movie, stuffed themselves with amazing food, and cruised on bikes as the sunset painted the sky.For once, it was just about her. No interruptions. No distractions. And honestly, it felt perfect—everything Lena had secretly wished for.But while Nate's phone stayed quiet, Lena's buzzed unexpectedly. A message from Retta popped up:[Lena, if you don't want Nate's career to crash and burn, make him call me back.]Yikes. Retta wasn't just mad—she was nuclear. Apparently, Nate had been dodging her calls all day.Later, as the sun dipped low, they flopped onto the grass, sitting back-to-
Even Nate, with his ice-cool composure, couldn't keep it together when Lena turned up the heat.Lena burst into laughter, her soft giggles breaking the tension. "You're adorable," she teased.***Lena led Nate to the hospital room where Keira's aunt was resting.Once there, Nate flipped straight into doctor mode, scanning the records. After a beat, he looked up, his expression serious. "With everything going on—her heart, the cerebral infarction—I wouldn't recommend another surgery. It's too risky."As a fellow doctor, Lena knew no physician would crush a patient's hope without reason. If Nate was this firm, it meant more procedures weren't the right call.She nodded. "I'll talk to Keira. Whether to hang on to this slim chance will be up to her and the family. But... if they insist on the surgery, could you take it on?"Nate hesitated, visibly torn. His plate was already overflowing.Lena picked up on it immediately and didn't push. "I'll speak with Keira first.""Alright," Na
Retta's words were definitely meant to pressure Nate.For once, he didn't argue. Yeah, he was crazy talented, but the world didn't always care. Even the best could get left in the dust if they didn't play the game right.Lena wasn't about to make it worse for him. Even if Retta was laying it on a little thick, better safe than sorry. The last thing she wanted was for his career to tank because of them. That kind of strain could mess up everything."Retta's right, Nate. You should go," Lena said, her voice calm.This wasn't about Retta—it was about him.Nate hesitated, like he wanted to argue, but instead, he brushed his fingers along her cheek. "I'll make it quick and come right back to you.""Okay," she murmured.He leaned in, kissing her slow and steady. "Wait for me."Smiling, Lena nudged her forehead against his before giving him a playful shove. "Now go. Don't drag it out."As Nate walked away, Retta nodded briefly at Lena before falling into step beside him.Lena watche
"The number you are trying to reach is currently unavailable."Nate stared at his phone, frustration creeping in as the automated message played for the fifth time.Something wasn't right. Even if Lena was in surgery, her phone would usually just ring. Completely unreachable? That wasn't like her.Could her phone have died? Maybe, but in their line of work, that was rare. They always stayed connected—for emergencies, if nothing else."Nate." Retta's voice cut through his thoughts.He slid his phone into his pocket and looked up, his expression cold and unreadable. He didn't bother saying anything.Retta noticed his mood but pressed on anyway. "Mr. Jahn's family still has a few questions for you.""Didn't I already explain everything?" Nate's voice was sharp, a warning in every syllable.Retta's lips curved into a faint, almost resigned smile, her tone softening with a coaxing edge. "I get it, but you know how families are. They just want to be sure—see if there's any way to fin
Glancing at his watch, Nate realized it was nearing midnight. His fingers hovered for a moment before he dialed Keira's number."Keira, is Lena with you?""No... why?" Keira's voice was thick with sleep, but her tone sharpened. "What's going on? You can't find Lena?""I just finished up, but I can't reach her. Maybe she's home," Nate replied, keeping his voice steady before quickly ending the call.Next, he dialed Lena's dad.He and Mr. Lane had exchanged numbers during a previous visit, so he knew it was worth a shot."Nate, what's up?" Mr. Lane's voice answered, groggy."Has Lena come home?" Nate kept his tone light."No, she hasn't been home in a while. Why? Did something happen? You two fight?" Mr. Lane sounded casual."No, no fight. I just got back today," Nate said quickly, but Mr. Lane wasn't fooled. He could tell Nate wouldn't have called unless he was desperate.After a few pointed questions, Nate cracked."This is serious!" Mr. Lane's voice went razor-sharp. "If so
Peter's expression darkened at Hayden's playful jab, but Hayden merely smiled lightly, as if relishing the discomfort. "From what you’ve said, Mr. Mitchell, you must be quite the romantic," he teased. The tea began to boil, releasing a rich fragrance into the air. Hayden had done his homework on Peter. Despite his dignified reputation, Mr. Mitchell had married three times, fathered no children with his wives, and even had an illegitimate child with a mistress. This mistress had borne him a son and then tried to leverage the child to gain the title of "Madam Mitchell." Peter, stubborn and prideful, refused her demands and even sent people to take the child by force. But the mistress, knowing Peter’s methods, preemptively entrusted the child to someone else. When Mitchell’s men came to seize the boy, an explosive argument broke out. In a fit of rage, Mitchell struck her, and in defiance, the mistress stabbed herself in the chest, intending only to scare him. Unfortunately, the blad
When Hayden arrived at the teahouse, Ron glanced at his watch and tapped it meaningfully before saying in a low voice, "The man’s been waiting for half an hour." "Getting impatient?" Hayden asked casually, his tone devoid of concern. His attire was simple and understated, nothing to draw attention. If not for his sharply defined features and the naturally aloof aura he carried, his outfit would have rendered him almost invisible in a crowd. "No, not at all. I’m quite patient," Ron replied with an exaggerated expression of innocence, as though pleading not to be falsely accused. Hayden gave him a glance that seemed to say, Then why bother pointing it out? "But arriving this late does come across as impolite, doesn’t it?" Ron added, his tone that of a model citizen, someone who might have been a class leader or an exemplary student back in the day. "I did it on purpose," Hayden replied, cutting him off with five simple words that silenced Ron. Hayden pushed open the door an
"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