Lena had hung up on purpose— Keira could tell. She was probably worried Keira would keep talking and make things awkward between her and Aaron.Aaron walked in, a glass of milk in his hand. His frame cast a long shadow as he moved, every detail of him so impeccably proportioned that even his shadow looked like it belonged to someone out of a painting.Lena straightened immediately, setting down her phone and greeting him in her most polite tone. "Uncle Aaron.""Drink this," Aaron said, offering her the milk.His long fingers wrapped around the glass with ease, the cuffs of his shirt rolled up just enough to show his toned forearms. Veins traced faint patterns along his skin.Her mind flashed to the moment he'd saved her from Wayne.When the hideout had been surrounded, Wayne had tried to use her as a human shield. But Hayden had acted fast, shoving Lena out of Wayne's grasp. She had been seconds from hitting the ground when Aaron appeared out of nowhere, catching her like some ac
"Who else?" Hayden's voice was low, like the night itself, pulling me in. "I was missing, my fate up in the air, and you still kept the baby."Oh. So, that's what this was about—he thought I'd been silly."I don't know if it was silly or not," I shot back. "But this is my baby. The baby came to me, and I'm going to love them with everything I've got."Honestly? I'd never thought of him as our baby. He was mine, plain and simple."Alright," Hayden said softly, then kissed me. "From now on, we'll love him together. Kiki, thank you."Thank me? For keeping the baby? For trusting him? Either way, it didn't matter anymore.After everything—the heartbreak, the revenge plots, the power games—I finally felt... light. Like none of it really mattered.What mattered now was living a life that felt like mine.***The next morning, I woke up alone.My chest tightened. Had he disappeared again? Panic surged as I called out, "Hayden!""I'm here." His voice came from outside the room, instan
"Do you want the truth?" Hayden's voice was calm."You promised you wouldn't lie to me," I replied, bitterness creeping into my tone as I threw his broken promise back at him."Kiki, I lied before because I didn't have a choice," he said, his eyes locked on mine, clear and unflinching. "But from now on, I swear I'll never lie to you again."I dropped my gaze. "Let's not talk about the future anymore."I forced a faint smile. "Let's just focus on the present."When I was little, my parents painted big dreams of the future for me, but they were gone before any of it could happen. Jace promised me forever, then shattered it. Even Wayne once vowed to always take care of me, only for his love to spiral into something dark and possessive.And Hayden? He said forever, too—right before almost marrying someone else.So, no. I don't think about the future anymore. I don't trust it. All I want is to live in the now.Hayden's face clouded for a second before he nodded. "Alright."When he
This wasn't unfamiliar. I'd been here countless times with Jace over the years, sitting through gatherings at Cloudscape Monastery.But I never imagined I'd one day be sitting here, listening to him deliver a sermon—not as Jace Johnston, but as a spiritual guide of the Harmonist faith.Hayden helped me into a seat quietly, and Jace began to speak, reciting teachings from Harmonism. But I couldn't focus. Not a single word registered.I just watched him, piecing together his recent strange behavior. It all made sense now—he'd been on this path for a long time. Even while dealing with the chaos around him, his heart had already detached from the world.That's why, when his parents died, he didn't grieve or lash out. He just... accepted it. Jace had let go of everything, seeing life and death as part of some larger cycle.When his sermon ended, he walked over to us.Tears spilled down my cheeks before I could stop them. "Jace... how could you do this?"I thought I'd made peace with
I never imagined the boy who had shaped so much of my life would one day wear the robes of a Harmonist guide, dedicating himself to a life of reflection.Jace had cut himself off from the chaos of the world. Whether it was peace or simply his way of escaping love and attachment, he'd left everything—and everyone—behind.***After returning from Cloudscape Monastery, I fell ill. A relentless fever knocked me out for two days, leaving me trapped in a swirl of disjointed dreams—my parents, Matthew, Lindey, Jace, Wayne... all of them.In the dream, it felt like I was drowning. No matter how hard I tried to wake up, something kept pulling me deeper.At some point, I thought I heard voices. Jace's. Hayden's. Were they real? They spoke in muffled tones I couldn't make out.But when Jace left—if he was ever really there—the dreams stopped.***When I finally opened my eyes, sunlight flooded the room, blindingly warm. I raised my hand to block it, but my fingers brushed against somethin
Lena gave me a quick glance and smiled. "Don't worry, the baby's doing great. I'll check on you again later."***After leaving my room, Lena headed straight to the director's office. The moment she stepped inside, her breath caught—Nate was sitting on the couch next to Dr. Warren.But Lena, ever composed, quickly recovered. "Dr. Warren. Professor Neumann."The formal title hit Nate like a punch. He wanted to call her Lena, but the name stuck in his throat."Dr. Lane, please take a seat," Dr. Warren said warmly, gesturing to the chair next to Nate.Lena sat down, calm and professional, while Dr. Warren's gaze bounced between the two of them, clearly sensing the tension."You already know Professor Neumann, so I'll skip introductions," Dr. Warren began. "He's made a groundbreaking breakthrough in fetal cardiac correction during pregnancy, and he's chosen our hospital as the pilot site. Dr. Lane, you'll be collaborating closely with him on this project."Lena's heart clenched. Sh
In this world, only one person had ever called her "Twinkle"—Aaron. And that had been a relic of their shared childhood.Nate's gaze shifted to Aaron, and his hand fell back to his side. "Uncle Aaron.""Professor Neumann," Aaron replied coolly. "Given your current situation, you can just call me Mr. Ace." His words were a subtle reminder that Nate's connection to Lena was no longer valid.Aaron then turned to Lena. "If it's convenient, I'd like to talk to you about something.""Sure," Lena agreed, glancing at Nate briefly before walking off with Aaron.Standing beside Aaron, who loomed over her like a shadow, Lena looked smaller than usual. "Is this about my parents?"Since returning, Carol and Gabriel had been pushing her to move back home, claiming it was the only way they'd feel at ease. Even her grandparents had joined in."They want to know if you've thought it through," Aaron said, confirming her suspicion.Lena put on a tone of consideration. "I don't want to move back,"
"Uncle Aaron, did you stir things up with my parents?" Lena asked.Aaron didn't bother denying it, and his silence was all the answer she needed."Aaron Ace! Are you kidding me? I trusted you!"Her voice echoed with frustration, but deep down, Lena knew arguing was pointless. Carol and Gabriel weren't exactly known for backing down. If she couldn't convince them to chill, they'd probably show up at the hospital and haul her home themselves.Taking a breath, Lena tried a different approach. "Okay, what's it gonna take for me to not move back home?"Aaron's answer was maddeningly casual. "Stay at my place."Lena blinked, stunned into silence."Just for a bit," Aaron added. "Once your parents ease up, you can go back to your apartment."Lena's stomach did a little flip. Living with Aaron? Yeah, no thanks. Sure, things weren't as awkward between them anymore, but this? Way too weird.Still, her options were basically nonexistent."I'll think about it," Lena said, even though she
It was evening when Lena had just wrapped up her shift, only to find the nurses buzzing about something. Curious, she asked, "Alright, what's all the excitement about?""Dr. Lane, there's a ridiculously handsome man waiting outside!" one nurse gushed.Just like guys get a rush from seeing a gorgeous woman, girls feel the same buzz when a total dreamboat walks in.Lena couldn't help but tease, "Well, no matter how hot he is, if you don't make a move, he's still someone else's."Despite her usually no-nonsense demeanor at work, Lena loved joining in on the fun when the day was done. A little playful banter was the perfect way to unwind after a marathon of patients."So, are we making a move?" one nurse joked as the group headed toward the hospital's entrance, giggling.But when Lena stepped outside, she froze.There, bathed in the golden glow of sunset, stood Aaron.Dressed in a black coat over a sharp suit and crisp white shirt, he looked like he'd walked off the cover of GQ. Th
The caller was Aaron.Thank God.Lena answered. "Uncle Aaron, you want to help me move? Not now—I'm at work treating a very important patient..."Aaron didn't even pretend to buy it. "Your mom's at your office?""Wow, psychic much? Yeah, she's here. Says she's 'sick everywhere.' I gave her a referral for some tests, and now I'm the heartless daughter." Lena jerked her chair back as Carol reached over to grab her phone. "Hey!"Carol swiped it anyway. Of course she did. Bringing it to her ear, she said, "Aaron.""Carol, Lena said you're not feeling well?" Aaron's voice was calm, smooth—annoyingly unflappable.Carol coughed lightly, throwing a sharp look Lena's way. "I'm fine. She just made me mad. If she doesn't agree to move back home, I'm not leaving.""Actually, Lena already agreed to move in with me," Aaron replied, his tone so breezy it sounded like he wasn't lying through his teeth. "My place is close to the hospital, so her commute will be easier."Carol whipped her head
Lena had just finished with her last patient and was finally about to sip her water when a knock interrupted her peace."Come in!" she called, expecting another patient.The door swung open, and the moment Lena saw who it was, her stomach dropped."Mom?!" she blurted. "What are you doing here?""I'm here to see a doctor!" Carol's tone wasn't exactly friendly.Lena craned her neck, glancing at the hallway behind her mom. "Where's Dad? Didn't he come with you?"Carol scoffed. "There's a sign outside that says no men allowed, isn't there?"Lena laughed. "That doesn't apply to Dad.""What, is he not a man?" Carol shot back.Lena's smile froze. Great. Mom wasn't just here—she was on a mission.For weeks now, her parents had been nagging her to move back home. Lena hadn't budged—she'd even stopped answering their calls. It looked like Carol had reached her breaking point and decided to stage a full-on ambush."Mom," Lena started, trying to sound professional, "I'm at work. If you
"The Hart family wants me to come back," Hayden said. I immediately got it without him needing to explain further.The Harts had stayed weirdly quiet through all the chaos Hayden had been through. Why? No clue."What are you thinking?" I asked. Then, with a sly smile, added, "Let me guess—you don't want to go, but you feel like you should?"Hayden noticed I wasn't eating and nudged my plate closer. "Eat first.""Talk, and I'll eat," I shot back.He pushed my favorite dishes right in front of me. "No one can make me do something I don't want to.""Then it's me you're worried about?" I asked, the thought hitting me mid-bite.Hayden didn't answer, which, of course, was the answer. My mind raced for a moment before I teased, "Wait—don't tell me going back means you'd have to marry Yara?"Hayden sighed. "The Hart heir and the Drago heir are supposed to marry. It's been decided for years."So if he didn't want that, all he had to do was step down as the Hart heir. Easy, right? Excep
I was laughing so hard my sides hurt, tears streaming down my face. Lena just sat there, arms crossed, waiting for me to finish."You good now? Because I actually need your help."If Lena was asking me for advice, she must've been really stuck. Normally, she's the one with all the answers."Okay," I said, catching my breath. "First, spill. Does Nate even still have a shot?"She grabbed an orange off the table and started peeling it. "What do you think?"When she's done with someone, she's done. No second chances, no rewrites. Nate clearly hadn't gotten that memo, though, because here he was, pulling out all the stops to win her back.And then there was Aaron—her technically-not-really-blood-related uncle and childhood friend. Cue the awkward-family-ties-turned-unexpected-complication drama."If you're not giving Nate any hope, just move in with your uncle," I said.She arched a brow. "Why?""Because Nate's literally working at this hospital to be near you. Daytime interactions
"Uncle Aaron, did you stir things up with my parents?" Lena asked.Aaron didn't bother denying it, and his silence was all the answer she needed."Aaron Ace! Are you kidding me? I trusted you!"Her voice echoed with frustration, but deep down, Lena knew arguing was pointless. Carol and Gabriel weren't exactly known for backing down. If she couldn't convince them to chill, they'd probably show up at the hospital and haul her home themselves.Taking a breath, Lena tried a different approach. "Okay, what's it gonna take for me to not move back home?"Aaron's answer was maddeningly casual. "Stay at my place."Lena blinked, stunned into silence."Just for a bit," Aaron added. "Once your parents ease up, you can go back to your apartment."Lena's stomach did a little flip. Living with Aaron? Yeah, no thanks. Sure, things weren't as awkward between them anymore, but this? Way too weird.Still, her options were basically nonexistent."I'll think about it," Lena said, even though she
In this world, only one person had ever called her "Twinkle"—Aaron. And that had been a relic of their shared childhood.Nate's gaze shifted to Aaron, and his hand fell back to his side. "Uncle Aaron.""Professor Neumann," Aaron replied coolly. "Given your current situation, you can just call me Mr. Ace." His words were a subtle reminder that Nate's connection to Lena was no longer valid.Aaron then turned to Lena. "If it's convenient, I'd like to talk to you about something.""Sure," Lena agreed, glancing at Nate briefly before walking off with Aaron.Standing beside Aaron, who loomed over her like a shadow, Lena looked smaller than usual. "Is this about my parents?"Since returning, Carol and Gabriel had been pushing her to move back home, claiming it was the only way they'd feel at ease. Even her grandparents had joined in."They want to know if you've thought it through," Aaron said, confirming her suspicion.Lena put on a tone of consideration. "I don't want to move back,"
Lena gave me a quick glance and smiled. "Don't worry, the baby's doing great. I'll check on you again later."***After leaving my room, Lena headed straight to the director's office. The moment she stepped inside, her breath caught—Nate was sitting on the couch next to Dr. Warren.But Lena, ever composed, quickly recovered. "Dr. Warren. Professor Neumann."The formal title hit Nate like a punch. He wanted to call her Lena, but the name stuck in his throat."Dr. Lane, please take a seat," Dr. Warren said warmly, gesturing to the chair next to Nate.Lena sat down, calm and professional, while Dr. Warren's gaze bounced between the two of them, clearly sensing the tension."You already know Professor Neumann, so I'll skip introductions," Dr. Warren began. "He's made a groundbreaking breakthrough in fetal cardiac correction during pregnancy, and he's chosen our hospital as the pilot site. Dr. Lane, you'll be collaborating closely with him on this project."Lena's heart clenched. Sh
I never imagined the boy who had shaped so much of my life would one day wear the robes of a Harmonist guide, dedicating himself to a life of reflection.Jace had cut himself off from the chaos of the world. Whether it was peace or simply his way of escaping love and attachment, he'd left everything—and everyone—behind.***After returning from Cloudscape Monastery, I fell ill. A relentless fever knocked me out for two days, leaving me trapped in a swirl of disjointed dreams—my parents, Matthew, Lindey, Jace, Wayne... all of them.In the dream, it felt like I was drowning. No matter how hard I tried to wake up, something kept pulling me deeper.At some point, I thought I heard voices. Jace's. Hayden's. Were they real? They spoke in muffled tones I couldn't make out.But when Jace left—if he was ever really there—the dreams stopped.***When I finally opened my eyes, sunlight flooded the room, blindingly warm. I raised my hand to block it, but my fingers brushed against somethin