All Chapters of A Heart No Longer Waiting: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

Belgrave, Novastra."Ms. Medici, you've officially purchased the island. It's completely off the grid—once you're in, no one can find you. Also, the custom-made family you requested is ready. They're professionally trained to give you nothing but unconditional love."The staff member's voice came through the phone, smooth and respectful. Yara Medici hummed in response."I'll move in after I wrap things up here. Thirty days."She hung up and glanced at her reflection. Wrapped in a pristine white wedding gown, she looked almost unreal. The fabric sparkled with embedded diamonds—each one an obvious fortune."Ms. Medici, have you finished trying on your gown? Mr. Lopez has been waiting outside to see you."The sales associate's soft voice pulled her back to reality. She hesitated, then said, "I'm ready."The associate swept back the curtain. Yara turned just in time to catch Mateo Lopez's expression. For a split second, his eyes flickered with something—maybe awe."Yara, you look s

Helen didn't get the reaction she wanted. A new idea flashed in her eyes. "If it weren't for Mateo, I don't even know how swollen my ankle would've gotten. Since we're all here, why don't we have dinner together? Consider it my way of saying thanks!"Her tone was bright, cheerful—a sharp contrast to Yara's silence.No one asked Yara if she wanted to stay. The decision was already made for her.When dinner was finally served, she took her seat at the table and immediately noticed—every dish was spicy. Helen's favorite.She wasn't surprised.She had once told Benjamin and Milada, in passing, that her stomach couldn't handle spicy food. Their response? "Stop being so dramatic."Later, when she was with Mateo, he had always been careful with her food. He even learned to cook dishes that wouldn't upset her stomach.But tonight, though he sat right beside her, he never even glanced her way. His attention was fixed entirely on Helen. At the slightest movement, he rushed to pass her a n

The rescue team barely arrived before Mateo stumbled out—bloody, wrecked, and cradling an unconscious Helen like she was the most precious thing in the world.He laid her on the stretcher with unbearable gentleness, not even collapsing until he was sure she was okay.That's when everyone saw the wounds on his back.Yara's eyes burned, but not out of pity. No, it was something else—something that dragged her straight into the past.Mateo had chased after her for ages. And yeah, she'd noticed. She wasn't blind. But back then, she'd been too wrapped up in waiting for Steven to ever let Mateo in.Then came the collapse. The hospital. The diagnosis—kidney failure.She'd called her parents, sobbing, begging them to get tested.They hadn't even hesitated.No.They were taking Helen on a trip.Kidney failure wasn't fatal.And even if it was—well, they told her to call after she was dead. Then they hung up.She'd been drowning in hopelessness when Mateo had quietly stepped in. Got t

Yara knew it was all nonsense, but when she caught Helen eyeing the wishing bottles like they were priceless treasures, she wasn't shocked when the group started buying them one by one.Then came Mateo.He didn't just buy one—he bought all of them.His friends immediately jumped in."Mateo, you really think you can fill out that many wishes? Mind sharing a few?""Seriously, man, you already have everything. What more do you need to wish for? Greedy much?"Mateo just smirked, then turned to Yara, eyes soft. "I don't need anything. I just want Yara to have everything."That one line sent the whole group into chaos."Mateo! No wonder you're the biggest simp in our crew!"If it were anyone else, they might've turned red. Maybe laughed it off.Yara? She just stared at the cart full of bottles, silent.She focused on writing her own wish, tuning out the noise around her.Mateo, nosy as ever, leaned in to peek.She caught him and yanked the paper away. "It won't come true if you

Before Yara could process why Steven—of all people—was the one saving her, the darkness swallowed her whole.***When she woke up, she was in a hospital bed.Her dry eyes blinked against the harsh white ceiling. Slowly, she turned her head—And saw Steven sitting beside her.She stared at him, half-convinced he wasn't real. Out of everyone, why was he the only one here?Pushing down her surprise, she spoke calmly. "Shouldn't you be with Helen?""I just came from there. She's surrounded by people. Mateo's there too."Steven waited for some kind of reaction. Anger, frustration—something.But Yara barely blinked. Her response was simple."Then you should go too. I like my peace and quiet."She expected him to leave.He didn't.Instead, he just looked at her, something unreadable in his expression. Finally, after a long pause, he spoke."Don't marry Mateo."His voice was low, firm. And once he started, he couldn't stop."He doesn't love you. He never did. He only got close