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
This was a situation I definitely hadn't seen coming, and suddenly, everything snapped into focus.It was, honestly, super awkward—being stuck between two guys like this.I knew I had to do something to break the tension, and one thing was crystal clear: there was no way I was starting anything with Wayne.If I had to choose between them, it was gonna be Hayden.I'd almost married Jace; no way could I get involved with his brother after that breakup."Wayne, I'm tired," I said softly.Wayne held onto my hand for a moment longer before finally letting go.Hayden took my hand and started walking, and I didn't look back, but I could feel Wayne's eyes on me the whole time.Whether it was the alcohol or my jumbled thoughts, I wasn't sure, but I ended up tripping on the hotel stairs. The next thing I knew, I was in the air as Hayden scooped me into his arms."Put me down," I demanded, grabbing onto his shirt."If you want him to back off, just stay quiet and don't fight it," Hayden
"Mm."I was about to say something when he added softly, "I can't help it. I can't stop myself from wanting to be close to you, to take care of you, and yeah... even flirt with you."He had a point. If love was something you could control, even gods wouldn't stand a chance against it.For a moment, I didn't know what to say, but Hayden let go of me."Make sure you drink plenty of water when you get inside. And if you need anything, just call me," he said.He pointed at my bag. "Your keycard—I'll get the door for you.""No need," I said, snapping out of my thoughts and stepping back to put some distance between us. "I've got it."I quickly fumbled for the keycard, swiped it, and slipped inside. Leaning against the door, I stood there for a bit, trying to pull myself together.By the time Demi got back, I was already in bed. She moved around quietly, probably trying not to wake me.I kept my eyes shut because I wasn't in the mood to talk. I could hear her muttering under her bre
As expected, Lindey was calling to ask me to come back to the Johnston residence for dinner.I knew the dinner invite was just a cover—she definitely had something else on her mind."I already had your gnocchi, but coming home right now isn't really an option," I said, trying to sound apologetic. "I'm working day and night to meet the deadline at the amusement park. I'll come home once I get a break."Lindey sighed dramatically. "Ugh, Jace is really something. Why's he pushing you so hard? It's not like the world's ending tomorrow. I'll give him a piece of my mind later.""It's not his fault, Lindey. This schedule was set ages ago," I explained.Business was business—Jace has never let our personal issues mess with work."Alright, alright, work's important," she said, though I could hear the disappointment in her voice before she hung up.But what can I do? I really am drowning in work. And even if I weren't, I can't just drop by the Johnston residence whenever I feel like it an
"Yeah, we're having some issues with the lighting," I explained as Lindey made her way over to the scaffolding where Hayden was working."This technician isn't even wearing a safety harness. That's incredibly dangerous—safety should always come first," Lindey said, slipping effortlessly into her role as RiverwaveCorp chairman's wife.Actually, Hayden had been wearing a harness earlier, but he took it off when he came down. He only climbed back up for a quick fix, which was why he wasn't strapped in."Noted. We'll definitely keep that in mind," I replied, then called out to Hayden, "What are you doing up there without a harness? Get down now."Surprisingly, Hayden didn't argue. He climbed down right away. "My bad. I'll be more careful from now on. Won't happen again," he admitted.The way he said it, like a kid owning up to a mistake. It made me feel like I'd been too harsh, like I was picking on him.Lindey turned to him and said, "Safety isn't just a rule—it's to protect yoursel
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