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Chapter 971

Author: Rosie Steppe
Under the table, Lena felt her mother's foot nudge her—a clear signal: Let Xandra win.

Lena gritted her teeth. Why was everyone fawning over a girlfriend who hadn’t even officially joined the family?

Annoyed, she huffed inwardly. The more you tell me to lose, the harder I’ll fight to win.

The game began, and Lena’s starting hand was exceptional—practically a heavenly draw. She was only one card away from winning while the others still struggled with mismatched cards. It seemed like an easy victory was in the cards for her.

But then, as if under a spell, her luck took a sharp turn. None of the cards she needed showed up. Worse, every time she reached for a card, Xandra would intercept it with a call, blocking her progress entirely.

As the rounds continued, even her mother, Briana, reached a ready hand, while Lena was still stuck with the same cards she started with. Soon, her grandmother joined the fray, and eventually, even Xandra declared readiness.

Three players were now
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  • Love's Redemption   Chapter 972

    "Aaron, I want to add Lena on WhatsApp." Xandra actually asked Aaron, gently tugging on his sleeve with a delicate and endearing expression that made her look pitifully lovable. Aaron glanced at her, his gaze filled with a warmth Lena was all too familiar with. Once upon a time, he had looked at her the same way. Now, he could look at other women like that. So, never believe a man when he says things like, I've liked you for years. "If you want to add her, then add her," Aaron's approval made Xandra look at him with delight. Lena, however, truly didn’t want to add her. She and Xandra weren’t close, and they likely wouldn’t ever be. Lena didn’t enjoy socializing with strangers, so she smiled faintly. "Aren’t you afraid I might tell her something about you, Uncle Aaron?" Aaron’s gaze turned cold and distant, his voice calm. "There’s nothing about me that Xandy can’t know." Ha! Lena sneered inwardly. If that were the case, why had he just warned her earlier? Double stand

  • Love's Redemption   Chapter 973

    Keira stared at the messages Lena had just sent her. She could sense something was up, so she immediately called her, but Lena declined the call. Instead, she replied with another message: [I’m at my grandparents’ house, and my mother is here too.] Keira had no choice but to keep texting her: [Did Aaron upset you today?] Lena sent Keira a string of ellipses. That endless row of dots made her even more curious. [What happened exactly?] Keira pressed. Lena replied: [He brought his girlfriend home today.] After sending that message, she also sent Keira a screenshot of a payment receipt and added: [Spot the highlight.] Keira zoomed in on the image and finally noticed the note: Name Change Fee. [Wow, how generous! 600,000 dollars just for a name change fee. What did you call her to make it worth that much?] Keira was shocked. Lena then sent Keira a voice message, explaining the situation in detail. At the end, she added: [He used to tell me how long he’d liked me, but now he’s

  • Love's Redemption   Chapter 974

    "I'm just amazed that pregnancy has made you smarter. Most people say pregnancy makes women forgetful for three years," Hayden teased Keira with a rare grin. Keira gave him a gentle kick. "Did Aaron ask you to pass on his thoughts?" "No, it's just what I think," Hayden replied earnestly. He would never lie to her. Keira sighed softly. "Love between two people isn’t something outsiders can meddle with. But maybe Aaron’s actions today will help Lena realize what’s in her heart." "Let’s wait and see," Hayden said, finishing the massage before applying lotion and stretch mark cream to Keira's belly. "Baby, give Dad a little kick," Hayden said, stroking her belly. Right after he spoke, the baby really did kick. Keira couldn’t help but laugh; this little one was so obedient to their dad. "Just a few kicks, alright? Mommy needs to sleep, so don’t bother her," Hayden instructed. The baby obediently kicked a few more times before settling down. Keira was curious. "I think our ba

  • Love's Redemption   Chapter 975

    "You silly girl, what nonsense are you spouting?" Briana gave Lena a light slap on the arm. "Mom, if I marry Uncle Aaron, then he won’t have a reason to leave, right? Isn’t that a good thing?" Lena continued to test the waters. "Good thing? What good is there in that? Do you have any idea how many people would gossip about you, me, and the Ace family if that happened?" Briana’s concerns mirrored Lena’s own fears. "But Uncle Aaron has already stated that he’s no longer part of the Ace family. Who would still have anything to say?" Lena argued, trying to persuade her mother. Briana shook her head. "People will always find something to gossip about. Even if he’s not part of the Ace family, they’ll still wag their tongues." "Didn’t you always say, ‘Walk your own path and let others talk’? Let them say what they want. It’s not like we’re losing a piece of flesh," Lena quipped, spouting her own brand of twisted logic. Briana finally realized something was off. She twisted Lena’s

  • Love's Redemption   Chapter 976

    Lena had been feigning sleep so perfectly, yet who would’ve thought Aaron would pull a move like this? What was she supposed to do now? She didn’t dare move. Any movement would make things even more awkward. So, she kept up the act, letting Aaron carry her upstairs and open her bedroom door. Her face was pressed against his chest, so she discreetly opened her eyes, but all she could see was his white shirt and catch the clean, refreshing scent of pinewood on him. Yes, pinewood. It wasn’t the scent of makeup, nor was it perfume. Did this mean he hadn’t hugged Xandra? That nothing intimate had happened between them? The thought barely crossed her mind before she mentally rolled her eyes at herself. What are you thinking? If he hugged or kissed his girlfriend, wouldn’t that be completely normal? Lena, come to your senses! This is your Uncle Aaron. Whether he’s part of the Ace family or not, he’s still your Uncle Aaron. Uncle Aaron… As she repeated the title in her mind

  • Love's Redemption   Chapter 977

    Perhaps he had made the announcement and left early to avoid any awkward encounters. Lena’s mind spun with possibilities as she made her way downstairs and into the courtyard. "Good morning, my dearest Grandpa, Grandma, and Mother." Their moods were bright, so she decided to match their cheerfulness. "Awake already?" her grandmother responded first. Lena ran over to her, wrapping her arms around her shoulders and planting a kiss. "Grandma, you smell amazing." "Of course I do! I used the perfume Xandra gave me—it’s from the Little Carriage collection. Isn’t it divine?" her grandmother replied with a proud smile. The "Little Carriage" her grandmother referred to was a designer perfume brand. Her grandmother had always loved dressing up, doing her makeup, and using YSL international perfumes. Xandra clearly knew how to cater to her tastes. No doubt Aaron had told her exactly what to buy. Lena moved over to Briana, wrapping her in a hug as well and lowering her voice to ask

  • Love's Redemption   Chapter 978

    Lena didn’t need to turn around to recognize the voice—she had just heard it last night. "Aunt Xandra," Lena greeted Xandra, who approached her excitedly. "It really is you!" Xandra looked at Ron in surprise. "Cousin, so Lena is your girlfriend?" Ron raised an eyebrow. "Why is she calling you ‘Aunt Xandra’?" Xandra blushed slightly, and Lena explained, "She’s my uncle’s girlfriend." "Oh? What a coincidence. Looks like we’re about to become one big happy family," Ron teased, his tone laced with amusement. Lena hadn’t expected to run into Xandra there. Fortunately, her relationship with Ron was fake—otherwise, things would get complicated. If she called Xandra "Aunt Xandra" while Xandra called Ron "Cousin," their family connections would become a mess. "Your uncle will be here soon. I’m waiting for him," Xandra said cheerfully, making Lena’s head ache. Why did she keep running into Aaron wherever she went? There was no avoiding him. "Well, you wait here. We’re heading i

  • Love's Redemption   Chapter 979

    Lena: “...” Who said that just because someone delivers vegetables, the garden is guaranteed to have a bountiful harvest? She glanced at Ron, silently signaling for help. He immediately understood—but instead of refusing on her behalf, he reached out, took her hand, and assisted his grandmother in slipping the bracelet onto her wrist. Lena: “...” She had wanted him to help her reject it! Why was he helping her wear it instead? "If you don’t accept it, my grandma will think you don’t like me and will scold me," Ron whispered, his fingers gently pressing against her hand. Then he lowered his voice even more and added, "Be good." His words weren’t loud, but they were just enough for everyone to hear. Lena shuddered. The sheer cheesiness of it sent a wave of goosebumps across her skin. Left with no other choice, she forced out a polite, "Thank you, Grandpa and Grandma." As she spoke, she unintentionally lifted her gaze—and locked eyes with Aaron. Bright sunlight streamed

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  • Love's Redemption   Chapter 1013

    "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

  • Love's Redemption   Chapter 1012

    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

  • Love's Redemption   Chapter 1011

    "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

  • Love's Redemption   Chapter 1010

    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?"

  • Love's Redemption   Chapter 1009

    "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

  • Love's Redemption   Chapter 1008

    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

  • Love's Redemption   Chapter 1007

    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

  • Love's Redemption   Chapter 1006

    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

  • Love's Redemption   Chapter 1005

    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

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