My breath caught in my throat, and I couldn't move.Hayden stayed put too, his eyes locked on mine.We were staring straight into each other's eyes, totally frozen.Neither of us budged—no stepping closer, no pulling away.It was like I could feel our hearts racing together...Until some old lady's voice outside shattered the moment: "That new tenant's boyfriend sure knows how to clean. Look at that staircase!"Reality crashed down on me. I shoved Hayden away and bolted for the living room.But once I got there, I just stood around, totally clueless about what to do next. My mind was a total mess.Hayden followed me, breaking the silence with a casual, "Is this your parents' old place?"I paused, confused about how he knew that, until I noticed him standing by the wall where all our family photos were hung."You still look a lot like you did as a kid," he said, almost like he was stating the obvious.The wall was covered with my childhood awards and family portraits. In one
"Got any wet wipes?" Hayden asked. "Or another towel? I need to clean up."He was clutching my towel, but it was pretty obvious he wasn't about to use it on his dirty clothes."I've got some face towels," I offered, digging out a couple. "You can wet them and use them the same way."He hesitated, staring at the face towels like they were alien tech or something.I couldn't help but laugh. "Seriously? You've never seen these before?""Yeah, first time," he admitted, which somehow made him even more likable.It kinda made sense, though. He hadn't been in a relationship and didn't have any women in his life. And honestly, face towels were a pretty recent trend anyway."They're disposable face towels, mostly for women," I explained, wetting one and handing it to him.Hayden nodded, finally getting it, and started wiping the dirt off his clothes. As he did, I noticed a smudge on his shoulder, so I grabbed another towel and reached out to clean it off.The second I touched him, he t
Some people were truly shameless—like, they just couldn't help themselves.As Tanya marched toward me, that thought flashed through my mind.Anyone with a shred of decency would avoid the ex of the person they cheated with. But nope, not Tanya. In today's world, people like her just didn't care.It was like she needed to show off, to prove how much better she thought she was."Keira, what a surprise! Here for dinner too?" Tanya chirped, but her eyes were locked onto Hayden.Honestly, ever since she strutted over, she hadn't stopped staring at him.I didn't need to go into detail about how hot Hayden was. Let's just say he was the kind of guy who would turn heads wherever he went, even earlier today when the old ladies in my neighborhood were practically drooling over him."Yeah, I am. What, you think I'm just here for a tour?" I shot back, my tone dripping with sarcasm.It wasn't that I was being petty—I just couldn't stand the sight of her. She was the type who played innocent
I should've known better than to look—it just messed with my head.Right when I was about to turn away, Jace glanced back, locking eyes with me through the floor-to-ceiling window. His brows were furrowed.I quickly shifted my gaze to Hayden, who'd just handed my phone back after finishing our order. I glanced down at the dishes he picked.To my surprise, they were all my favorite foods.But how could Hayden know what I liked? We didn't know each other that well. Maybe we just had similar tastes?I looked up, ready to ask, but stopped myself. Asking too many questions would make it obvious I cared, and I didn't want to give Hayden that idea.Instead, I casually asked, "Want to drink something?""I don't drink," he declined. "And I've got stuff to do this afternoon."Oh, right. He still had to check out apartments.I figured that's why he wasn't drinking and said, "No worries. I'll come with you this afternoon, so no one's gonna rip you off.""There's no need. I've already..."
If I could've disappeared on the spot, I would've done it in a heartbeat.But I couldn't.And I knew that the longer I dodged this, the more Hayden would overthink it.He was the type who never held back—always said whatever popped into his head, no matter how bold or out-of-line it was. He didn't treat me like an outsider, that was for sure.With that in mind, I forced myself to look up casually. "Really? Words alone don't prove anything.""Mm," Hayden hummed, taking a sip of water. "I can--"The second he started, alarms went off in my head. "Hayden, shut up."I surrendered."I was going to say, if you need proof, I can go to the hospital," Hayden finished.Even though it sounded innocent, it still felt loaded with all sorts of hidden meanings.Why would I need him to prove anything? I wasn't his girlfriend."Save that proof for your future wife," I shot back, standing up abruptly and heading to the restroom.Just as I rounded the corner, a hand grabbed my arm, and the fa
Yeah, Jace was definitely jealous just now.What a jerk. On one hand, he was fooling around with Tanya, and on the other, he wouldn't let go of me. He seriously thought he could have it all.I stayed in the restroom for a few minutes, trying to pull myself together, but when I finally stepped out, I overheard Tanya's voice.She sounded pitiful, almost like she was about to cry. "Jace, you still love Keira, don't you?""She's my fiancée," Jace replied, just confirming what I already suspected—he still had feelings for me."But she's already broken up with you," Tanya's voice was soft.I had to hand it to her—she really knew how to play the helpless card in front of a guy. Even her voice was perfectly tuned to get sympathy."That's just something she said out of anger. I didn't agree to the breakup. Besides, she can't live without me. She's just mad right now; once she cools down, she'll come back," Jace's words caught me off guard.So, he thought the breakup was just me throwing
I spent the whole evening at this little dive bar, from three in the afternoon until nine, just sipping away. I didn't go overboard, but I drank for hours, enough to feel that numb buzz where everything else faded away.The bar's owner, Mr. Seth, knew me well enough by now. I didn't have to worry about getting too wasted, even if I was on my own."When are you heading out? Is someone picking you up?" Mr. Seth asked. I never knew his first name—everyone just called him Mr. Seth.He looked like he was in his fifties. If my dad were still around, he'd probably be about the same age."I guess I should get going," I said, though honestly, the last thing I wanted was to leave.But I had work tomorrow. I needed to get home and at least pretend to sleep. Tonight's drinking was my way of saying a final goodbye to whatever I had left for Jace.I tried to steady myself as I stood up, but Mr. Seth stepped in front of me, blocking my path. "I'm not letting you leave like this. I'll have someo
It felt like forever since I last rode a bike."Bike," I mumbled, pointing at one nearby.Now, we could rent them with just a scan of your phone, so Wayne pulled out his and scanned one.I reached for my phone to scan another, but he stopped me. "You've been drinking—you shouldn't be riding.""They seriously check for drunk driving on bikes now?" I asked, tilting my head."Yeah, they do. And besides..." Wayne gently grabbed my arm. It was so different from Jace, who always gripped hard enough to leave marks. "It's dangerous to ride after drinking."Gentle and kind—those words might as well have been made for Wayne.I smiled. "Isn't that why you're here?""If you want to ride, we can do it some other time. But not tonight. I'll take you," Wayne said, guiding me to the bike he'd just rented.Wayne got on the bike and pulled me onto the back seat. "Hold on tight, okay?"I clutched his shirt around his waist. "Got it."The night breeze brushed against us as we rode. The memory o
Aaron didn’t give Nate an answer, but silence itself was an answer. Lena’s test results came back negative: no traces of snake venom were found in her system. The wound had been treated, and in the end, it turned out to be a false alarm. “Sorry, Uncle,” Lena said apologetically. “I ruined your camping trip.” When she had been bitten by the snake, her screams were so terrifying that they startled everyone else. The others quickly packed up and left, bringing the camping trip to an abrupt, messy end. “It’s fine. You can make it up to everyone another time,” Aaron replied in a way that defied all expectations. Shouldn’t he be comforting her? He didn’t play by the rules, and Lena decided she wouldn’t either. “I’m not making it up to anyone. If anything, you owe me, Uncle.” “How would you like me to compensate you?” This time, he sounded more reasonable. Lena blinked mischievously. “I haven’t decided yet. I’ll let you know when I figure it out.” After saying that, she sigh
Nate stared at her face, carefully observing her expression and movements. He had a rough idea of her condition but still asked, "Bitten on the ankle, right? Let me see the wound." As he spoke, he bent down. However, before he could touch Lena, she was moved away. Nate looked up at Aaron. "Mr. Ace, even if the snake isn’t venomous, its teeth carry a lot of bacteria." Aaron’s response was as sharp as ever. "Oh, so you can see the bacteria and have a chat with them, asking them to leave? Or can you wipe them out with your bare hands?" Without waiting for Nate’s reply, Aaron scooped up Lena and walked off. Nate crouched there for a few seconds, stunned, before standing up and following quickly.-Lena was seated in a chair as the doctor lifted her leg. Just as Nate reached out to roll up her pant leg, Aaron had already done it. Nate had no choice but to awkwardly withdraw his hand. The doctor began cleaning the wound with disinfectant. Meanwhile, Aaron gently placed his hand
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