He was already delivering himself to her doorstep—how could she not succeed? But Aaron knew he couldn’t give her such an easy answer. She only dared to say such bold words now because she was drunk. Once she sobered up tomorrow, she would turn into an ostrich again, burying her head in the sand. For her to say something like this, it meant her heart had already wavered. She was just holding back, still hesitant, still unwilling to take that final step forward. “You’ve had too much to drink. I’m your Uncle Aaron,” Aaron said, deliberately keeping his expression stern. Lena chuckled. “Oh, now you remember you’re my Uncle Aaron? But when you confessed to me, why didn’t you remember it then?” She was bringing up old accounts now. He couldn’t tell if she was truly drunk or deliberately testing him. But regardless, he couldn’t let her win so easily. If he did, she would just run away again the moment she faced any difficulty. “I realized my mistake, so I corrected it in time,”
Impossible. She felt uncomfortable, sure, but not to the point of crying. Just then, she overheard someone passing by. “It’s snowing.” Lena’s eyes snapped up to the sky. Snowflakes were drifting down, one by one, twinkling under the streetlights. “It’s snowing, Uncle Aaron! It’s snowing!” The excitement of the first snowfall instantly washed away the dull ache in her chest. Aaron hummed in acknowledgment. “It is.” “This is the first snow,” Lena said as she grabbed onto his arm, shaking it lightly. “Uncle Aaron, don’t you remember? First snow wishes always come true.” Drunk and giddy, Lena had completely reverted to her eighteen-year-old self. “Then make one,” Aaron said, indulging her. Lena rocked his arm again. “Let’s wish together! Let’s wish… um…” What should she wish for? For a moment, she blanked. Then, suddenly, she blurted out, “I wish you won’t be able to marry Xandra.” “…what?” Aaron’s sharp gaze locked onto hers. Meeting his eyes, Lena declar
Snowflakes fell in thick clusters, drifting down from the sky in a quiet dance. Aaron gently lowered Lena to the ground, but his hands remained on her waist, steadying her. His gaze locked onto her flushed face, red from both laughter and the cold. “Then… do you want to be with me?” Lena tilted her head up to look at him. Her neck was starting to ache, and the snow landing on her skin was cool to the touch. Had Aaron worn height insoles today? Why did he seem taller than usual? “I do,” she answered honestly. “But I don’t dare to.” His heart gave a sharp thud. Finally—finally—she had given him a response, even if it was just a sliver of acknowledgment. She was afraid. And he knew exactly what she was afraid of. His dark eyes deepened, reflecting the night’s shadows. “Whatever you fear, I’ll take care of it. You just need to be brave enough to move forward.” Lena’s eyes were filled with him—with this man whose face, in her eyes, was the most beautiful in the world.
Did he look like an Ace family member now? She called him Uncle Aaron—even if he didn’t like her, he still shouldn’t just abandon her like this. The two of them stood there in a silent standoff. After a few seconds, it was Aaron who gave in. Her small face was already red from the cold. If she stayed out any longer, she’d freeze. Without another word, he picked her up again, stepping through the wind and snow to place her into the car. This time, he set her in the back seat. She had always sat in the passenger seat before. Now, she wasn’t even worthy of that anymore? Maybe it was the lingering effects of the alcohol, or maybe she was just feeling too hurt, but Lena curled into herself, burying her face against her knees. Aaron saw everything. He even knew exactly what she was thinking. His heart clenched with pain, but he had to be ruthless. Only by forcing her into a corner would she find the courage to move forward—truly move forward. By the time they arrived
Sh*t! He had already left—why was he coming back?! Lena’s first instinct was to hide. Running back to the bedroom wasn’t realistic—Aaron would probably enter before she even made it. In the end, she chose the nearest possible hiding spot—the floor-length curtains. Lena’s fingers dug into the wall behind her. Her chest felt tight. Stifling. Maybe people really were pathetic—never realizing what they had until it was gone. She used to despise people like that. Now, she had become the very thing she hated most. "If you don’t like it, you can redecorate however you want before you move in," Aaron said casually. Lena’s eyes went wide. Move in? They’re moving in together?! It had only been a few days! Their progress was moving way too fast! An icy weight settled over her heart, as if a chunk of snow had been stuffed inside her chest, freezing her from the inside out. “Not at all, I quite like it,” Xandra’s voice was soft, carrying a shy undertone. Lena cle
Just as Lena was about to breathe a sigh of relief, she heard Aaron say— “No need. I’ll do it later.” Lena: … What the hell do you mean, later? Just let her take the damn laundry so I can leave! “Aaron, can I take a look at this plant?” Xandra asked casually, but before waiting for a response, she was already walking toward the curtain—toward her. The plant was right next to where Lena was hiding. With the bright reflection of the snow outside, if Xandra so much as turned her head slightly, she’d definitely spot her. I knew I shouldn’t have hidden here! But where else could she have gone? Aaron was a minimalist—his entire home was pristine, with no unnecessary clutter. Everything was neatly tucked away in cabinets, leaving nowhere to hide. The truth was, she shouldn’t even be here. Lena held her breath, silently praying that Xandra would just glance at the plant and move on. But of course, the more she wished something wouldn’t happen, the more likely it did.
The curtain lifted slightly, and Lena felt a whisper of cold air brush against her skin. Her fingers dug into the wall once more. She didn’t see the look in Aaron’s eyes. He had known she was hiding behind the curtain. But he hadn’t expected her to be dressed like that… There was a saying among men—of all the countless things that could be considered alluring, a woman wearing nothing but a man’s shirt was undoubtedly one of them. “Aaron?” Xandra called out when he didn’t move. Aaron’s fingers loosened, and instead of pulling back the curtain, he let it drop back into place. Stepping in front of it, he said, “I just remembered I have something to take care of. Let’s check it out another time. I’ll take you home.” Xandra hesitated, sensing a brief flicker of something unreadable in his demeanor. Her eyes drifted toward the curtain for a second, but in the end, she nodded and followed him out. Lena waited, listening to the sound of the car engine fade into the distance bef
Aside from the slippery roads, there was also the joy of admiring the snowy scenery. "You haven't had breakfast, have you?" Ron asked as he handed over a bag. Lena glanced at him. Ron, unfazed, smiled and said, “It’s your favorite wheat toast.” She accepted the bag, opened it, and sure enough—it was exactly what she loved. “How did you know I like this?” “Because I’m your boyfriend,” Ron said matter-of-factly. “If I didn’t even know what you like to eat, I’d totally blow my cover if your mom ever interrogated me.” He had an easygoing charm, always carrying a smile. People said those who smiled a lot were the luckiest. Ron seemed like living proof of that. Lena finished the breakfast he had prepared for her just as they arrived at the hospital. Surprisingly, someone—either patients or the hospital staff—had built several uniquely shaped snowmen at the entrance. “I swear, this world is full of hidden talents,” Ron commented in amazement. “Look at these snowmen—each one co
"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
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
"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
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?"
"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
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
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
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
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