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 stormed over to Hayden and demanded an explanation. "What's the deal? Why are we suddenly taking a break?""Two days off a week are government-mandated," Hayden replied, annoyingly calm. "Considering how tight our schedule is, one day off shouldn't be a big deal, right?"His calmness only made me more frustrated. "I get it, but we're up against a serious deadline here. I've already told you we have to meet it. Can't we just push the break back? I'll even pay you extra."Hayden didn't break eye contact, his gaze unwavering. "It's not about the money, Ms. Kay. We're not machines. People need rest if you want them to do good work."Ugh, he wasn't wrong, but this wasn't just any project.I exhaled slowly, trying to steady my nerves. "So you really need to rest today?""Yes," Hayden said, his tone leaving no room for argument. Knowing there was no winning this one, I turned to walk away."And you all need to rest too," he added.I spun around, my anger bubbling over as I shot him
"What's your deal? Are you seriously using our acquaintance and last night's incident to blackmail me?" I confronted Hayden."No," he said, but his eyes didn't quite meet mine.His guilty expression was all I needed to see. I clenched my fists, resisting the urge to punch him."I'm unfamiliar with this place. What's wrong with asking for your help? I've helped you before too," Hayden added, his tone softening, almost like he was trying to guilt-trip me.He was right. Debts had to be repaid, whether it was money or favors.I let out a sigh. "Okay, Mr. Hart, where do you want to go today? What do you need to buy? Just tell me, and I'll take you.""I want to check out some apartments," he said, catching me totally off guard.I blinked at him. "Looking for an apartment? Aren't you heading back once your work here is done?""I might not be going back, so I'm planning ahead," Hayden's words hit me like a sudden jolt.I couldn't explain it, but something about that felt off, unsettli
"You'll never get it to turn!""It's been rusted shut for years.""The ground's so hard now, the valve's practically buried."People were whispering among themselves, but I couldn't take my eyes off Hayden.I definitely didn't expect him to go full-on flat on the ground like that. His veins were popping out of his temples and arms as he pushed with everything he had, muscles straining under the effort.But even with all that, the valve wouldn't budge. His face started turning red from the strain."Young man, save your energy. A few strong guys already tried, and they couldn't get it," an older neighbor said, noticing how hard Hayden was pushing himself.I started feeling worried. "Hayden, maybe we should just leave it and call someone else to handle it."Just as I said that, Hayden suddenly relaxed, and with a calm tone, he said, "It's done."Then, in one quick move, he got up, casually brushing off the dirt and grime. "Let's head upstairs and check."Water was still pouring
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.
"Then why are his photos identical to yours?" Keira demanded. Lena didn’t answer immediately. She understood what Keira meant, opened her social media app, and found Aaron’s post. Sure enough, he’d shared the exact same photo as hers. To make things worse, the comments underneath included a particularly mortifying one from her mother: [You’re with Lena, huh?] Her mother probably didn’t mean anything by it, but the comment still felt inappropriate. As Lena silently cursed her mother’s lack of tact, she noticed another reply under that comment. This one, from Aaron himself, read: [Wherever she goes, I’ll take her with me and make sure she’s well taken care of. Don’t worry, Sis.] Lena was absolutely speechless. These two siblings were a perfect match: one was clueless, and the other oblivious. Her mother, as an older woman, could be excused for her lack of social awareness. But Aaron? Why was he commenting like this, knowing full well that their mutual friends could see it?
Lena hastily withdrew her hand, but her movements were too abrupt. As she stepped back, she tripped over the support pole of the tent and fell backward. Just as she braced herself for a painful landing, Aaron’s long arm reached out and caught her waist, pulling her into his embrace. Her cheek pressed against his chest, and the rhythmic thumping of his heartbeat filled her ears, blending with her own erratic pulse. This suffocating feeling... It was almost intoxicating. It reminded her of the time she had accidentally walked in on him while he was showering. Awkward. So awkward that she didn’t even know how to extricate herself, nor did she have the courage to pull away from his arms. “You’re already an adult, yet you’re still so clumsy,” Aaron scolded lightly, his voice coming from above her. Then he released her and added, “No wonder your mom worries about you so much and insists on you staying at home.” Lena’s suffocating embarrassment was instantly eased by his rem
“Don’t randomly go into the tents. Some employees brought their families or significant others. It’d be awkward if you interrupted them,” Aaron reminded from behind her. “Wow, Uncle, how considerate of you—allowing employees to bring their families,” Lena teased, her tone light. She walked through the array of pitched tents, but with so many scattered around, she had no idea which one belonged to Aaron. Still, since he insisted she find it herself, she was determined to try. Approaching one tent, she suddenly heard muffled voices inside—intimate murmurs between a man and a woman. The woman’s hushed voice carried a hint of urgency. “Be gentle, don’t let anyone hear…” Even though Lena was a gynecologist, her cheeks flushed uncontrollably. She couldn’t help but think that if she had brought a stash of "protection" tonight, she might have made a small fortune. Meanwhile, Aaron stayed back, standing a short distance away and watching her from afar. In the moonlight, she looked l
“Reconciled with Nate?” In the quiet car, Aaron’s voice broke the silence as he glanced at Nate standing motionless in the rearview mirror. “No,” Lena denied softly. “He came back this time because of you, didn’t he?” Aaron asked as the car turned a corner. His hands moved fluidly on the steering wheel, the motion revealing a gray-gold watch on his wrist. The watch’s polished edges caught the light streaming through the window, casting a fleeting glimmer. Lena’s gaze lingered on the watch, her thoughts momentarily drifting. If she remembered correctly, she had given him a watch as a coming-of-age gift years ago. It had cost her all her savings back then. But that was over a decade ago. Surely, the watch she gave him would have broken by now. This one likely just resembled it—or maybe she was remembering it wrong after so much time. “Hm?” Aaron’s voice pulled her out of her thoughts, his eyes briefly flicking to her. Lena quickly recovered. “He came back for a research pro
“No problem. Let’s schedule the simulations after work each day. It’ll mean some extra hours, but I appreciate everyone’s effort,” Nate said, nodding to the team to show his gratitude. “If anyone has concerns or special circumstances, please let me know in advance so I can make adjustments,” Lena added. As the primary surgeon responsible for the operation, she not only had to ensure the procedure’s success but also maintain the morale of the entire medical team. Everyone shook their heads, indicating they had no issues. “Great. In that case, you can all head home and get some rest. Dr. Lane and I will stay back to finalize a few details,” Nate said, dismissing the team but keeping Lena behind. The two went over the finer points of the plan, and by the time they finished, it was nearly 9 p.m. “I noticed this morning that Mr. Ace dropped you off. Is your car broken?” Nate asked. He had seen her getting out of Aaron’s car earlier. “Flat tire,” Lena replied, realizing she hadn’
Lena wanted to sleep early, but the more she tried, the harder it was to fall asleep. She tossed and turned until dawn and only managed to sleep for a short while. Naturally, she woke up late. Rushing downstairs in a flurry, she saw Aaron calmly eating breakfast in the dining area. "Good morning, Uncle!" she greeted as she hurried toward the door. "Your car has a flat tire," Aaron said nonchalantly, stopping her in her tracks. Without even looking up, he continued cutting his steak with precision. "I’ve contacted a repairman, but it’s too early for them to come over." In other words, there was no way she could drive to work this morning. But she had already arranged with Nate to conduct an examination on the pregnant woman whose fetus had an underdeveloped heart. They needed to finalize the surgical plan and decide on the team. Being late would be unacceptable. "Then I’ll call a cab," Lena said, quickly coming up with a solution. "It’s rush hour—good luck finding one," Aa
After finishing their rounds, Lena and Nate sat down together, joined by the family of the pregnant woman. They carefully explained the risks and possible complications of the surgery, ultimately leaving the decision to the family. The family member immediately signed the consent form and said, "We trust you, Dr. Lane and Professor Neumann. As long as you do your best, the rest is up to fate." Their trust and composure reminded Lena of a previous case where both mother and child had died. The circumstances were similar, but the family’s attitude and understanding were vastly different. What no one realized was that such trust placed immense pressure and responsibility on them. The greater the trust, the greater the fear of making a mistake and disappointing the family. “Professor Neumann, I know medicine isn’t a guarantee, but for this surgery, I hope you can…” Lena’s voice carried a formal tone mixed with a faint plea as she addressed Nate. “I will give it my all and ensure
On Monday, the atmosphere was tense and bustling, with everyone moving as if their feet were powered by jet wheels. The start of the week brought a whirlwind of responsibilities. As the head of obstetrics and gynecology, Lena had to lead the entire team of doctors on their rounds. This wasn’t new for her, but today, she had an extra companion—Nate. Nate was here for a research collaboration, aiming to promote his scientific project. To fully grasp its application, he needed a deep understanding of maternal and fetal conditions. His presence didn’t faze Lena, though. While she was playful and lively in her personal life—sometimes resembling a child—she transformed completely in her white coat. Her professionalism, warmth, and exceptional medical expertise were nothing short of godlike. “Dr. Lane, we admitted a pregnant woman yesterday with fetal tetralogy of Fallot at 24 weeks of gestation. She also has pregnancy-induced hypertension,” the on-call doctor reported. Lena reached