The second I raised the fire extinguisher, I made up my mind—I'd take Wayne down with me if it came to that.He was unhinged, a ticking time bomb ready to explode and take us all out."Rea," Jace said weakly, his voice soft, like he was trying to stop me from doing something reckless.It wasn't Wayne he was worried about—it was me.But Wayne wasn't fazed. He gave us that same condescending look, like we were ants scrambling under his shoe.Why wouldn't he? Jace was barely conscious, Isabel wasn't young anymore, and I was a pregnant woman. He thought he had all the power.Wayne smirked. "Rea, think about it. You've seen how things are. Come with me, and you and your baby will be safe. Do you really want your child to grow up without parents—or worse, not grow up at all? Hand over what Hayden gave you, and I'll make sure you live in wealth and comfort. Stay here or move wherever you want—it's your choice."Even now, he was trying to play the nice guy."Wayne," I said, "if I did t
"If Lena hadn't stuck her nose where it didn't belong, we wouldn't even be here," Wayne grumbled, clearly trying to wrap this up. "Take her and leave. End of story."Aaron just smiled. "So that's how you handle things? Snatch someone up whenever you feel like it, then pretend it's no big deal when you let them go?"Wayne knew Aaron wasn't here just for Lena—this was about more than her.Both of them were playing it cool, trying to keep things from blowing up, but Wayne was clearly hoping Aaron would take the hint and back off.Too bad for Wayne—Aaron wasn't going anywhere.Wayne finally sighed, sizing up his options. With Cole gone and Jace refusing to back him, Wayne knew he didn't have much leverage. Last thing he needed was to tick off someone like Aaron Ace."What do you want from me? An apology?" Wayne muttered, taking a small step back.Aaron just glanced at Lena. "Not my call. You should be asking her."Wayne's face twisted like he'd swallowed a lemon. He hated being hum
Aaron wasn't backing down. Not even a little.Wayne wasn't looking for more trouble, but Aaron? He wasn't budging. If this guy kept pushing, Wayne was ready to go all out.Still, there was something about Aaron's confidence—like he knew something Wayne didn't.But what could Aaron even have? He'd only been back a few months. No way he'd built up serious power that fast. Right?Wayne couldn't figure it out. Aaron had always been a ghost, flying under the radar, no alliances, no moves worth noticing. Wayne had written him off as a non-issue.Big mistake.Wayne wasn't reckless, though. He'd faced down bigger threats and messier situations. Aaron might've been an unexpected wildcard, but Wayne wasn't convinced he could actually cause problems.Wayne let out a sly smirk. "Since you're so eager to stick around, how about you wait here for tomorrow's funeral?"With a dramatic wave of his hand, Wayne called in more backup. Instantly, the room exploded into chaos as his guys stormed in,
Aaron bowed respectfully in front of Matthew's portrait, his expression so solemn it almost had me fooled into thinking he was here purely to pay respects.But after the whole car garage showdown? Yeah, this was definitely more than a funeral visit."Mom," Jace said softly, stepping up to Lindey.She barely looked at him, her eyes glassy with tears. "Go change and stay by my side for the memorial," she murmured.Jace, looking steadier now, left to change. When he came back, fresh and composed, he quietly stood by her side, the picture of a dutiful son.The room wasn't exactly packed, though. Makes sense—when a family's power crumbles, the people who once flocked around them tend to scatter.The Johnston empire had been on a downhill slide ever since Jace handed the reins to Wayne. And with Wayne's sketchy dealings with the Dragos? Let's just say people were keeping their distance.After all, Matthew was already gone. Paying respects or not wouldn't change anything.When Aaron f
That slap wasn't just aimed at Wayne—it was Thorsten's way of smacking down the whole Johnston family.Classic Thorsten move. No subtle shade, just a straight-up way of venting on his son's behalf."Kid," Thorsten sneered, taking a silk handkerchief from his assistant, "even when your dad was alive, he knew better than to cross me. And you? You're still too green to change the game."Wayne's lip was bleeding, but instead of blowing up, he plastered on this calm, submissive smile. Wiping the blood away, he said, "You're absolutely right. My mistake. I'll be more careful."Ugh. Watching Wayne grovel was awkward.But I knew him too well—this wasn't submission. It was strategy. With Aaron already stirring the pot, Wayne wasn't about to pick another fight with Thorsten, not with everything riding on tomorrow.Thorsten wasn't here to mourn Matthew. He was here to send a message: 'stay in line.' And Wayne got it, loud and clear.Tomorrow was supposed to be about peace, but now? It was
Aaron must've felt her staring because he turned, locking eyes with Lena.She immediately dropped her gaze. "Uncle Aaron.""What are you doing hovering in the doorway?" he asked, and she shuffled inside without protest."Thanks," she mumbled. If he hadn't shown up, who knows how long Wayne would've kept her tied up.This whole mess started with her stalling Wayne, pretending she was helping as a doctor to buy Keira time to save Jace. But Wayne caught on and didn't hesitate to have her restrained."Let me see your hand," Aaron said, holding out his own."I'm fine. No injuries," she insisted. "I'm a doctor, remember?"He wasn't buying it. "If you're fine, then what's the harm in letting me check?"Under his intense stare, Lena caved, holding out her hand.His fingers brushed over her wrist, and he immediately noticed the damage—red marks, swelling, raw scrapes where the ropes had bitten into her skin."This is fine?" he asked, raising an eyebrow."Not like I'll die," she mutte
Aaron and Hayden working together? Lena couldn't wrap her head around it.She tried to figure out how it happened, but no matter how she turned it, the puzzle pieces didn't fit."I met Hayden four years ago," Aaron said, almost like he could read her mind.His voice was deeper now, smoother, like it had aged with him. Back then, it had been rough around the edges, just like him.They say wine gets better with age. Guess men do, too."Back then, I was being blackmailed by some foreigners," Aaron started. "When I refused to pay, they came after me. Things got ugly, and they nearly killed me. Hayden's the one who saved my life."Lena froze. He'd never mentioned this—not to her, not to her mom, not even to their grandparents. All she'd ever heard about his time abroad were the headlines: success stories, promotions, starting his own company. Nothing about struggles, let alone life-threatening ones.He'd hidden the bad and only shared the good."Hayden took me to the hospital," Aaro
It had been years since she'd been this close to him—close enough for him to ruffle her hair, like when she was a kid.***Lena and I barely slept that night. The tension was unbearable.We weren't the only ones. Lindey stayed in the mourning hall all night, ignoring Jace's repeated attempts to get her to rest.Wayne? Completely MIA. At one point, Lena even joked he might've bailed for good.But I knew better. Wayne had burned every bridge; running wasn't his style. Another shady move? Totally possible.We needed proof—something solid to bring him down."Rea, you up?" Lindey's voice came from behind my door.I got up to open it. "Yeah?"She smiled faintly. "Come eat. You'll need energy for today."She was wearing an apron. Cooking? Now?Lena raised a brow. "What if she poisoned the pancakes for Wayne's sake?"I smirked. "You're a doctor. You'll survive."Still confused, we went to the table. Wayne's spot was set, like he'd pop in any second."Wait for him?" I asked.Lind
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