At most, I'm just her sister-in-law, but lately? I've felt more like her mom.Maybe it's some latent maternal instinct, or maybe it's just time I started thinking about having a kid of my own. It's strange, though—I've been thinking about it a lot more lately."No need. I just wanted to say thank you," Yuna said suddenly, catching me off guard.I knew what she meant. It wasn't easy for her to stay mad at me yet still offer a genuine thanks.Yuna's always been direct—clear about what she likes and dislikes. I gave her a small nod, accepting her gratitude without overcomplicating it."Where's Hayden? Did he get himself into trouble again?" she asked out of nowhere.I internally groaned. Questions about Hayden were a nightmare. Yuna was relentless, and once she started digging, there was no stopping her. But when it came to him, there wasn't much I could share."Nothing's going on," I said, sticking to Hayden's rule about keeping her out of it."You two love lying to me, don't you
A muffled groan echoed as the man hit the ground, clutching his side.I pressed the bat against him and leaned in to get a better look.It wasn't Hayden.It was a stranger."Who sent you? Who let you into my apartment?" I asked.The man shook his head, refusing to talk. I didn't bother playing nice. Pulling out my phone, I said, "Fine. Let's see what you tell the cops.""Don't call the police!" he blurted, panicking. "I just wanted to steal a few things! I'll give them back right now, okay?"His hand moved toward his pocket, and my instincts flared. "Don't move," I snapped, tightening my grip on the bat.He froze mid-motion, then slowly pulled his hand out, revealing a handful of my jewelry."I only took these. That's it," he said, trying to sound sincere.Just a petty thief? Yeah, right. These were probably the first things he grabbed to make it look that way.I wasn't buying it. My finger hovered over the call button as I stared him down."M-Miss, please! Don't call the c
Cole liked the post within seconds and even dropped a comment: [Chaos has its own beauty.]Wayne, on the other hand, didn't react. Maybe he hadn't seen it, or maybe he was just playing clueless.Deciding to humor Cole, I replied under the post:[Officer Friendly said the same thing.]Cole shot back: [Why bother Officer Friendly for something so minor? I could've handled it for you.]Me: [I was afraid you'd make an even bigger mess.]Cole: [You don't trust me?]Me: [Nope.]Cole: [Great, now I'm hurt first thing in the morning.][Take some painkillers,] I wrote back.Cole: [Nah, I need emotional healing.]His words had a suggestive tone that made me roll my eyes. I was just debating how to respond when my phone buzzed—Wayne's call."What happened? Your place got broken into?" His voice was low and rough, like he'd just dragged himself out of bed."Yeah. I caught the guy. He said someone sent him," I said casually, letting the words hang with just enough weight to drop a hint
I froze, completely stunned.I knew Aunt Abby's condition had been critical—if she'd passed, I could've braced myself for it. But Uncle Damien? He'd been fine. How could he be gone, just like that?"H-how did my uncle... what happened?" I asked, my voice trembling."It's better if you come here. We'll explain everything," the nurse said before hanging up abruptly.I stared at the phone for a long moment, struggling to process the call. The initial shock gave way to a growing wave of unease, one that dragged me back to the day I lost my parents.I remember it like it was yesterday. The day had been so sunny, so perfect, it felt almost cruel. My teacher was mid-lesson when the homeroom teacher came in, whispered something, and pulled me out of class.Standing outside was Matthew.The moment he saw me, he wrapped me in a hug and said softly, "Keira, you still have us from now on."Even as a kid, I knew something was wrong. "Mr. Johnston, what happened?"His eyes filled with tears
The doctor handed me a tiny bottle. "This is the medication they used. Mr. Yule gave it to Mrs. Yule first... then took it himself."My hands tightened around the bottle as I read the label, my throat like sandpaper. "They must've been in so much pain to make a choice like that," I whispered.Uncle Damien had hinted at something like this before, but I thought it was just a "what-if" plan. Never in a million years did I think he'd actually go through with it. The idea of him sparing Aunt Abby from suffering and then following her... it didn't feel real."This is the letter Mr. Yule left for you," the doctor added, offering me an envelope.I unfolded it, my heart sinking as Uncle Damien's handwriting filled my vision:***Rea,I'm sorry I can't stay to take care of you anymore. Ever since Narelle passed, I decided this would be the way I'd go. Abby and I agreed—it was what we wanted.Please don't be sad, and don't think I'm selfish. I just couldn't stay in this world any longer.
Lena felt weighed down after hearing about Keira's uncle and aunt. It wasn't guilt—it was the unsettling idea of two people who couldn't share life but chose to share death that stuck with her.People had been romanticizing dying for love since Romeo and Juliet, but Lena didn't buy it. To her, real love wasn't about leaving the world together; it was about staying in it, growing old side by side.When she'd never been in love, it seemed so simple: love was enough. But now she knew better. Finding a love that could survive life's curveballs was hard. Finding one that lasted into old age? Almost impossible.By the time Nate got home, it was late. Lena sat on the balcony, lost in her thoughts."Why are you still up? I told you not to wait," Nate said, wrapping his arms around her from behind and resting his chin on her shoulder."Are you exhausted?" she asked.He hummed in reply, too tired to say much.Lena could feel the weight of his exhaustion, like he might fall asleep right th
Nate wrapped Lena in his arms. "I'm sorry..."He'd said that more times than "I love you," and honestly, she was over it."Then go," she said, gently peeling his arms off.He kissed her neck softly, lingering. "I'll try to make it back for lunch.""There's no need," she replied, her voice steady. "Nate, let's break up."Nate froze. "Lena...""Keira's uncle and aunt passed away. Yesterday," she said, her voice breaking just enough to show the weight of it.Nate's brows knit. "What? That's impossible—her aunt wasn't that bad—""They ended their lives. Hand in hand."The words hit like a punch, and Lena's face twisted with pain he'd never seen before.He'd noticed her mood shift last night, but he was too caught up in work to ask. Now it all made sense."Why?" he whispered. "They could've waited—the surgery might've helped—""Maybe they didn't want to survive just to keep suffering," she said quietly.His throat tightened. "Lena, are you saying this is my fault?"He'd visite
"You broke up with Nate, and he just... said nothing?" I blinked at Lena, low-key stunned.She gave this tiny, tired smile. "Maybe he's done, too. Now he can live his life however he wants—no nagging, no guilt trips."Yeah, right. That sounded more like her venting than anything."Be real. Was breaking up just you blowing off steam? Or did you mean it?"Lena shook her head. "No, I've actually thought it through."I snorted, and she laughed. "Seriously. Since I told him to come back to Kehlmark, I've been asking myself—what do women really want from love and marriage?"Stability, someone to rely on, right? If he can't give me that, I can give it to myself. So why hold on to love or marriage?""Uh, maybe for keeping things... physically interesting?"She cracked up. "Oh, please. If that's all you want, you can 'buy' it—any flavor, any style, swap it out when you're bored."That sent me over the edge. "Dr. Lane, you're wild."Still, I got her point. "Lena, I'm with you, no matte
"Got it!" Lena responded cheerfully. She washed her hands before sitting back down, picking up the utensils Aaron had prepared for her, and diving into her dumpling-and-dipping-sauce breakfast combo. "Uncle, why aren’t you eating?" She had already eaten two dumplings before realizing he hadn’t touched any. "I’m not hungry." Three words. Which meant he hadn’t eaten yet. "There’s too much food. I can’t finish it all by myself. Eat some too," Lena said casually as she picked up a dumpling with her chopsticks and held it up to his mouth. She did it so naturally—until she realized what she had just done. Aaron froze for a second, surprised by her gesture. The moment of hesitation made her realize too—wasn’t this kind of inappropriate? She was just about to pull her hand back when— He leaned in and took the dumpling straight into his mouth. Lena’s face flushed red in an instant. She hurriedly withdrew her hand, lowered her head, and focused on eating. Meanwhile, Aar
She was shocked to see him here so early. Especially today—a day when everyone was celebrating the new year, spending time with their loved ones—and yet, he was here. With her. Lena wasn’t made of stone. She felt it. A warmth, an unspoken emotion that settled deep in her chest. "Uncle, why are you here so early?" She walked over, hands casually tucked into her coat pockets. "I didn’t want you to go hungry," Aaron replied simply, lifting the bag of food in his hand. He glanced at her break room. "Open the door." She unlocked the door and stepped inside, with him following close behind. Her break room was small—a single desk and chair, a narrow bed, and a tiny wardrobe. Nothing extra, nothing unnecessary. "Sit down, Uncle," she said naturally, settling onto the bed while motioning for him to take the chair. Aaron placed the food down and asked, "Did you sleep at all?" "I did," Lena replied. But as soon as the words left her mouth, she thought of that dream—and let o
"If it weren’t for my goddaughter, I wouldn’t even bother with you," Lena said, gently rocking the baby in her arms. "Right, little Aurora? Your godmother just adores you." "Come on, Aurora, it’s time to eat," Lena said as she carefully placed the baby in Keira's arms. Although it was her first time, Keira wasn’t embarrassed. She followed Lena’s instructions, trying to breastfeed for the first time. But the process was… painful. And since her posture was incorrect, neither of them got it right—Keira ended up covered in sweat from struggling, and her baby still hadn’t eaten properly. Panic set in. Anxiety crept up her spine. "What do I do?" Keira asked, her voice tight with unease. "It’s okay. This happens at first. Let’s transition with formula for now," Lena reassured Keira before glancing at Hayden, who had been standing there the whole time, watching anxiously—and sweating just as much as Keira was. "Go make your daughter a bottle," she told him. Hayden, the man wh
That conversation… Lena shuddered. Yeah, she had definitely come back too early. It was best to leave now before she ruined the mood for those two inside. Not wanting to hear any more, she quickly turned to leave—only to smack her leg against a nearby chair. The pain was real, but worse was the noise it made, drawing attention to her presence. Inside the room, Hayden—already feeling awkward from Keira's teasing—froze. The sound from outside made him even more uncomfortable. Keira couldn’t hold back her laughter. The moment Keira burst out laughing, however, pain shot through her lower abdomen. "Ah—ow!" Keira gasped. Hayden immediately panicked. "What’s wrong? Where does it hurt?" Hearing her cry, Lena rushed in as well. "What happened?" "I laughed too hard and pulled my stitches," Keira explained, gripping Hayden’s hand tightly. Lena glared at Keira. "You’re a mother now, and yet you’re still acting like a child. Do you have any idea what condition you’re in?"
"It’s fine. I can do it," Hayden said naturally as he picked up the basin and went to fetch warm water. The moment he stepped out, Lena turned to scold Keira. "You went through so much pain to give birth to his child. Why would you feel bad about letting him do something for you?" "It’s not that I feel bad—I just feel embarrassed," Keira whispered in defense. Lena rolled her eyes. "So dramatic." Keira shot her a glare in return. "Just wait until it’s your turn. When your husband has to handle your private matters, you’ll understand how awkward it is." The moment the words left Keira's mouth, she saw Lena’s face turn red. Lena quickly hugged the baby and turned away. But Keira caught it. Something was off. "Wait… why are you blushing?" Keira asked suspiciously. "I am not blushing," she denied immediately. What Keira didn’t know was that her words had triggered the memory of Lena's ridiculous dream—where she had been lying on the delivery bed, cursing Aaron while gi
The moment she finished cursing, Lena jolted awake. She sat there, dazed. What kind of ridiculous dream was that? She had assisted in delivering countless babies before, but this was the first time she had ever dreamed of giving birth herself. And not only that—she had dreamed of giving birth to Aaron’s child? That was beyond outrageous. Absolutely absurd! What a way to start the new year. That dream was anything but beautiful. Lena ran a hand down her face, shaking off the lingering unease. She quickly got up, poured herself a glass of water to calm down, and then left the break room. Back in the hospital room, Hayden was feeding Keira. Keira was perfectly capable of eating on her own, but he insisted on feeding her, saying that she was in a special period and should be treated like a queen. That this was the time to learn how to be spoiled properly. Fine. If this was how he wanted to make up for the suffering she endured giving birth to their daughter, she’d give
Keira looked at Lena and smiled as she followed up on Hayden’s words. "You’re family. It’s different." Lena shot her a subtle glare before stuffing the red envelope into her pocket and saying, "Give me the rest. I’ll hand them out for you later." Hayden passed her the prepared stack of red envelopes, and as she took them, she asked, "What about the other departments?" Hayden and Aaron exchanged a glance and chuckled. "Of course. Every medical staff member in this hospital gets one." "President Hart, you’re too generous," Lena said, giving him a thumbs-up. With that, she took the envelopes and left. Aaron glanced at the time. "If there’s nothing else, I’ll be heading back now." "Mm. Happy New Year!" Hayden said, offering his holiday wishes. "Happy New Year to your whole family," Aaron replied, adding a few extra words that made both Hayden and me instinctively turn toward the baby in the bassinet. From today onward, we were officially a family of three. Outside the h
When Keira returned to the hospital room, she was greeted by a sight that made her pause. The room was decorated with fresh flowers and balloons, and beside her bed, there was a small cart filled with various gift boxes. The atmosphere was so festive that if someone walked in, they might have thought it was a birthday party rather than a postpartum recovery room. "What’s all this?" Lena asked on Keira's behalf. "A reward for my wife," Hayden answered, his hand still holding Keira's as he gazed at her with deep affection. "She went through so much. This is my way of thanking her." Keira smiled faintly. "I don’t need any of this." "Whether you need it or not is one thing. Giving it to you is my choice," Hayden said, pressing a kiss onto Keira's fingertips. "Even if everything I have already belongs to you, I still want to give you more." "Such a loving husband—honestly, what more could a woman ask for?" Lena teased before patting Keira's hospital bed. "But if President Hart r
Elder Mitchell wasn’t buying it. "That just means you guys didn’t really want to give anything. If you truly wanted to, there’s no such thing as a gift that can’t be delivered." The two old men started bickering again, but Hayden ignored them. Instead, he kept his eyes on the infant bathing room. Before long, the nurse finished bathing the baby and carried her out. Hayden reached out to take her, but the two elders immediately moved to get closer. He blocked them without hesitation. "Don’t you know old people’s eyes are toxic? You shouldn’t be staring at her for too long." Elder Hart: "…" Elder Mitchell: "…" With that, Hayden carried the baby and walked away. The two old men trailed after him, hoping to catch another glimpse, but Hayden wasn’t about to give them the chance. "Congratulations," Aaron, who had been standing nearby, offered his well wishes. "It’s a daughter. Take a look," Hayden said, his pride practically radiating off him. Aaron lowered his gaze to the