Ch. 141..150

Chapter 141 I didn't even know why I felt like crying-my heart felt heavy, like it was too full.

Maybe it was because, in this apartment that had been so empty without my parents, someone was finally showing me some care again.

Or maybe it was because Hayden just got me. He knew that even though I'd left the amusement park project behind, my heart was still tangled up in it.

I kept staring at the note over and over. Finally, I took it down and walked out of the bathroom. That's when I saw it-a thermal container and a plate with a fried egg sitting on the small dining table in the kitchen.

At that moment, I pressed the note to my chest, and the tears I'd been holding back started to spill over.

Hayden had made breakfast for me. I couldn't just ignore that, so after eating, I sent him a quick message: [Thank you.] Two simple words, but I couldn't take his kindness for granted.

As soon as I hit send, I started messing with the trinkets I'd bought at the night market yesterday. But before I could get too far, my phone rang.

My heart skipped a beat, like I'd been hoping for something.

But when I saw the caller ID, that little spark of excitement fizzled out. I sighed and answered the call," Gavin."

"Uh, Ms. Kay," Gavin began after clearing his throat. "Did you find a new job?"

His question caught me off guard. "Yeah, why?"

Gavin hesitated, clearing his throat again like he was stalling. "Have you started yet?"

I could tell something was up. "Just spit it out. What's going on?"

"No, no, it's nothing, really. I was just checking in," he tried to play it off casually.

I let out a small, amused huff. "If you're really worried, then stop dancing around it. Just say what you need to say." Gavin went quiet, and I could almost picture him on the other end, struggling with whether to be upfront with me.

I wasn't in a hurry. I put him on speaker and kept messing with the trinkets.

"Mr. Johnston found out about your new job," Gavin finally said, like it had taken everything in him to get those words out.

I wasn't surprised, but I knew that wasn't the whole story. I paused what I was doing. "So, is he planning something again?" "You really did spend a lot of time with Mr. Johnston," Gavin said, sounding almost imprese It seemed like Jace was up to his usual tricks, trying to mess w Chapter 141 from my new employer yet.

Even though I hadn't started working, I'd already signed the contract. If they were going to back out, they'd have to let me know.

I wasn't even mad; instead, I laughed softly and asked Gavin, "Did he threaten them, saying if they hired me, he'd make them disappear from Seavora?" Gavin chuckled.

So, I'd guessed right. Jace, the CEO of Riverwave Corp, always had that bossy attitude-nobody could mess with him without paying the price.

"Well, he better be ready to wipe out every company in Seavora, then," I shot back with a heavy dose of sarcasm.

Gavin sighed. "Ms. Kay, Mr. Johnston still cares about you, you know."

I managed a faint smile, and Gavin kept going, "You didn't show up at the proposal yesterday. He was really embarrassed. He threw a fit, but later, on the way home, he said something to me. He said if you came back, he'd make Ms. Twain leave." I stared at my phone screen. "Too little, too late, Gavin. That ship has sailed."

"Ms. Kay-" Gavin started, but I cut him off.

"Gavin, I have a boyfriend now."

There was a long, stunned silence on the other end. "What? That fast?"

Chapter 142 Sometimes, you just had to cut through the mess before it swallowed you whole.

I really hoped Hayden could be the one to finally sever my ties with Jace for good.

After hanging up on Gavin, I got back to tidying up my apartment, trying to distract myself. The pink blanket Hayden had used last night was folded neatly on the bed.

I couldn't help but laugh as I pictured him wrapped up in that pink blanket.

Life was going to throw a bunch of challenges our way, but these little random moments of happiness? They made everything worth it.

Even though Gavin's news should've made me anxious, I weirdly felt calm. I was actually ready to wait for the call from my new job, even if it was to let me go.

But I cleaned my tiny apartment, made sure every corner was spotless, and even took care of the plants on the balcony-still, my phone stayed completely silent.

Finally, I brewed some tea and curled up in the rocking chair on the balcony with a book. That's when I heard voices from outside.

Curious, I leaned over and saw a few guys delivering furniture, with a couple of movers taking a smoke break and chatting.

A few minutes later, Ms. Brown rolled up on her electric trike.

It all clicked-this was the furniture for the new tenant she mentioned.

Thinking about the guy she talked about, and remembering that creep who stalked me after our blind date, I realized having a male neighbor across the hall might not be such a bad thing after all.

If I ever ended up in a sketchy situation again, I could just knock on his door. He'd probably come running to help.

The thought made me smile, and I went back to my book and tea until there was a knock at my door.

When I opened it, there was Ms. Brown, looking all apologetic. "Keira, I'm so sorry."

She was apologizing for not being able to help with my request.

I smiled, "It's okay, really."

I glanced over at the open door across the hall, noticing the furniture already set up inside. "When's the new neighbor moving in?"

"Today, actually," Ms. Brown said, shaking her head a bit. "Originally, he said there was no rush, but he called me first thing this morning, saying he wanted to move in today and asked me to have everything ready." I nodded, keeping it casual. "In such a hurry, huh?"

Ms. Brown shrugged. "Young people-who knows what goes on in their minds? But he seems like a good guy, so you don't have to worry. I already told him that if he's living here, he needs to be friendly with his neighbors." Chapter 142 I smiled. "Don't worry, I'll do my best to get along with him."

"Oh, Keira, do you happen to have a mop I could borrow? I was in such a rush that I forgot to bring one. I just want to clean up a bit before handing over the keys," Ms. Brown asked, looking a little sheepish.

"Sure, I'll grab it for you," I said, heading to the bathroom to fetch the mop. But by the time I came back out, Ms. Brown had gone back to her apartment, probably to take a call.

I walked across the hall with the mop in hand. The room was pretty simple-freshly painted white walls, just a bed, a computer desk, and a bookshelf.

Ms. Brown finished her call and came over, thanking me while continuing to chat. "The new tenant didn't mind the old furniture at all, except for the bed. He insisted on getting a new bed and bookshelf. Look at that bed! It was perfectly fine, but he just had to replace it." "I didn't agree at first, but he wouldn't take no for an answer, even paid for it himself," Ms. Brown said, shaking her head as she spoke.

I didn't say much, just took a quick look around. When I saw Ms. Brown was about to start mopping, I made up an excuse to head back to my apartment.

By evening, I still hadn't received a termination call from the company, which left me feeling a little confused. I even started wondering if my phone was acting up.

So I called Lena to check, and everything worked fine.

When she heard about what went down last night and how Hayden had saved me, she immediately said, Rea, are you really not going to get serious with him? He's so cool!"

I rocked gently in my chair. "When I'm ready to get serious with him, you'll be the first to know."

Lena clicked her tongue. "Sounds like you're already smitten."

I glanced down at my toes. "I'm not heartless, you know."

Hayden had saved me and helped me more than once already.

"Looks like you're finally letting your guard down. Rea, I'm really glad you're moving on from that jerk," Lena said, her voice full of genuine concern.

She was one of the few people in this world who truly cared about me, with no ulterior motives

Chapter 143 Just as Lena and I were having a great conversation, I heard a door open and close across the hall. Ms. Brown had mentioned a new tenant was moving in today, so I figured my new neighbor had finally arrived.

"Do you think I should introduce myself? You know, just in case something like last night happens again. It might be easier to ask for help," I asked Lena.

"If your new neighbor's a guy and you go knocking on his door right after he moves in, he might think you're either way too friendly or, worse, a total creep," Lena said, making me laugh. ""Really?" I asked.

"Really," she confirmed.

Alright, I guess I'll just wait for a random run-in.

You'd think I'd bump into someone living right across the hall, but nope. For the next two days, I didn't see the new neighbor even once, and Hayden didn't show up either.

So, the hero saved the day once and then just dipped, not caring if that blind date guy might come back for round two?

Yeah, that definitely knocked Hayden down a peg in my book.

By the time the weekend rolled around, I still hadn't gotten a call to cancel, so it looked like I was starting the job tomorrow after all.

As I was picking out my outfit for my first day, Demi called. "Keira, why don't you care about the amusement park anymore?"

"That's not my problem now," I teased.

But, honestly, how could I not care? Hayden had left me a note saying everything was going smoothly, so there wasn't much to stress about.

That's when I realized just how much I trusted Hayden.

Demi scoffed, "Keira, Mr. Hart's been acting super weird lately. He doesn't make us work late anymore."

"Huh?" I was confused. We usually did the initial lighting tests during the day, but the final checks were always at night. How could we just skip the night shifts?

"Mr. Hart said we should just do the adjustments for now and save the final checks for later," Demi explained, making me frown.

How was that supposed to work?

If something went wrong during the final checks, it could mess up everything we'd already adjusted. Hayden and I had agreed on this process together-testing as we adjusted-so why would he change it up like that? Even though I'd just said it wasn't my responsibility anymore, the second I hung up with Demi, I called Hayden.

I was the type who would get anxious easily, and even my room felt too cramped at that moment, so I Chapter 143 moved to the balcony while waiting for Hayden to pick up.

As soon as I stepped outside, I noticed a tall figure on the neighboring balcony. I turned to get a better look, but they quickly slipped inside, leaving me with just a glimpse of their profile. Even so, I was stunned.

Was that Hayden? Did I seriously just see him?

But then I thought, nah, that couldn't be right.

Just as I was getting lost in my thoughts, Hayden's familiar voice came through, "Hello-"

"Where are you?" I didn't bother asking about the amusement park; I went straight for the question that was bugging me.

Because I was pretty sure I hadn't imagined it. My eyes weren't playing tricks on me.

That person just now totally seemed like him.

He didn't answer right away and instead asked, "What's up?"

I hesitated for a few seconds, then made up my mind. I walked off the balcony, left my apartment, and headed straight to the door across the hall. I spoke into the phone, "Open the door."

Chapter 144 There was no response on the other end, just the sound of the call disconnecting.

Even though the door in front of me hadn't opened yet, I knew I'd guessed right.

A moment later, the door swung open, and there stood Hayden, dressed in gray loungewear.

So, my new neighbor was Hayden.

So, the past few days, it wasn't like he hadn't been around-he was literally living right across from me.

He wasn't pulling late shifts anymore; instead, he was coming here early, staying in that apartment, quietly watching over me. But even though he was just across the hall, he hadn't said a single word to me. And now it all clicked-he must've decided to rent this place when he was fixing my pipes.

When I saw him, everything finally made sense.

"Come in," Hayden said calmly, not even a hint of embarrassment for getting caught.

Honestly, there was nothing wrong with him renting the place; I was the one making a big deal out of it. But still, I couldn't bring myself to just say, "Hey."

Instead of walking in, I just stood there at the doorway, giving him a hard stare. "Don't you think you owe me an explanation? What's going on?"

"Come in, and I'll explain," Hayden replied, stepping aside to let me in.

I swallowed my frustration and walked in.

Even though I knew deep down he was doing this for me, I couldn't shake the anger bubbling up inside.

Anger that he'd been messing with me.

As I stepped inside, I hesitated. I'd been here before-I remembered exactly what the place looked like. But now, the apartment was totally different.

All the stuff that had been here was gone. The living room was stripped bare, with nothing but a couch left. It looked like the place had been raided, not like someone was actually living here. "Where did all the stuff go?" I blurted out.

Hayden glanced at me. "Did you come in here before?"

He was dodging my question again, and my irritation flared up even more. I shot him a glare.

Under my withering gaze, he finally gestured toward a room off to the side. "I packed everything up and put it in there."

So, all he needed in this apartment was a couch?

In a normal place, you'd at least have a TV stand or a small table-somewhere to put a cup of coffee or your phone.

If he was so into minimalism, why didn't he pack up my parents' stuff when he stayed in their room back in Chiverton?

1/2 Chapter 144 But I didn't ask him that. Instead, I went for the obvious question, "Why'd you rent the apartment right across from mine?"

Hayden didn't even hesitate. "The rent was cheap."

True, rent here wasn't bad.

"But there are plenty of other apartments in this complex. Why rent the one directly across from mine?" As I asked, I remembered overhearing him on the phone in his room that day. Looking back, I realized how clueless I'd been. He must've thought I was an idiot.

Hayden met my gaze, unflinching. "Because you live across the hall."

He was blunt, as usual.

I let out a scoff. "You're creepier than that blind date guy-you actually moved in right next to me."

Hayden's brow furrowed slightly. "I'm not like him. I'm here to protect you. He wasn't."

That was true, and I couldn't argue with it. But I still snapped, "But you're still up to no good."

Hayden was silent for a few seconds, then he said, "... Yeah."

He admitted it?!

I shouldn't have been surprised, considering his background-he was a guy who'd worn a soldier uniform, someone who faced things head-on, no matter what.

I didn't know how to respond to that. It just made me even angrier. "What does 'yeah' mean?"

"It means I'm weaving my way into your world." His words sounded weirdly poetic.

Chapter 145 My heart pounded like crazy. "I already told you, we can't happen. If this is how you feel, we should stop pretending to be a couple. I'll find someone else."

As soon as those words slipped out, Hayden, who'd been standing there like a statue, suddenly took a big step toward me. "And who exactly do you plan on finding?"

I instinctively stepped back, but he just kept coming, his voice low and intense. "Another blind date? Or maybe some friend?"

The jealousy was practically dripping off him.

"Hayden Hart!" I tried to stop him, but I ended up backing right into a corner, nowhere left to go.

Before I could say anything else, he was like, "Yeah, I have feelings for you. But you turned me down, so I'm not gonna push it."

Wait, what?

Now I was the one who was totally confused.

Hayden's expression stayed serious, his eyes locked on mine. "I'm just your neighbor now. If you don't overthink things, there's nothing to worry about."

I stood there, speechless.

Was he saying I was the one overthinking?

Before I could even find something to say, Hayden spoke up again, "So, why'd you call earlier?"

His question broke the awkward tension, and I jumped on it. "What time is it that you're already off work? Is everything at the amusement park done?"

"No," he answered flatly, like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

I couldn't help but smirk. "Not done, and you're leaving early? This is how you plan to finish on time or even ahead of schedule?"

"I keep my promises," Hayden said with absolute confidence.

I retorted, "But if you're switching up how you're doing things now, what if something goes wrong during the final inspection? That could waste even more time "I'm aware, but I'll handle it. If any issues come up, I'll take full responsibility," Hayden said, like he could carry the weight of the world on his shoulders.

Where does he get this unshakable confidence?

But considering he was the lead on the lighting setup now, I guess he earned the right to talk like that.

After hesitating for a second, I shot him a pointed reminder, "Hayden, even though I'm not on the project anymore and I'm no longer in charge of the lighting, if the final result isn't what I envisioned, I'll never forgive you." Hayden's expression stayed exactly the same. "I promised you, and I'll deliver."

1/2 Chapter 145 At this point, there wasn't much left to say.

"Alright, I hope so," I said, ready to leave. But then Hayden stepped in front of me, blocking my way.

I had no idea what he was up to, but I was in no mood to stick around and find out. I tried to move past him, but he just shifted along with me, keeping me blocked.

Annoyance started bubbling up. "Hayden Hart."

"There's something I need your help with," Hayden said, suddenly looking almost... sheepish.

This was the same guy who could fix pipes like a pro and handle anything thrown his way. What could he possibly need my help with?

Curious, I asked, "What is it?"

"I made too much food. Can you help me finish it?" His request was so unexpected, I almost burst out laughing..

All the irritation that had been building up since finding out he was living across from me just evaporated. I playfully kicked at him, my hands not staying idle either as I swatted him, "You're messing with me, aren't you? Do you think I'm a kid?" He let me kick and hit him a couple of times before gently catching my hand. "New neighbor, let's get along from now on."

""Hayden Hart!"

Ignoring my protests, he led me over to the dining table, where four dishes and a cream soup were laid out.

Did he really make all this just for himself?

Or had he planned for me to find out he was living here today all along?

No way he could've known I'd find out today. So, was this his way of deciding that, even if I didn't notice, he'd tell me by the end of the night anyway?

The thought that he had me all figured out sparked my frustration again. "You..."

I was about to scold him when his deep, smooth voice cut in, "Just do me this favor and help me finish it, okay?"

Chapter 146 At five in the morning, I dragged myself out of bed for a yoga session, trying to get my head in the game for my new job.

By six, after a quick shower and throwing on some clothes, I was about to make breakfast when my phone buzzed.

It was a text from Hayden.

[Breakfast's ready. Key's by your door.] I blinked at the message, totally caught off guard. Was he serious? I opened my door, and yep, there was the key. I grabbed it and headed over to Hayden's place, finding breakfast all set up.

Last night, I didn't exactly have the willpower to turn him down. Plus, the food looked way too good to pass up, so I stayed and "helped" him finish dinner.

But now, what was up with this breakfast? Was he trying to be my personal chef or something?

It was cool having someone take care of me like this, but it also felt kinda weird to just go along with it.

So I shot him a text: [What's this? Looking for a side hustle?] Hayden fired back: [Yep, just throw me some cash, whatever feels right.] He sure knew how to play along.

I knew that wasn't what he meant, so I took a second and replied: [You're overstepping. We're just pretending to be a couple, remember?] Hayden responded almost immediately: [The relationship might be fake, but I'm responsible for you while it lasts. Otherwise, as your fake boyfriend, I'll just stress about you.] I didn't ask him to take care of me, so I texted back: [You're overthinking it. You're just here for the act- nothing more. My life and health are my business. And about the cooking? This is the last time. If you do it again, I won't eat it.] It wasn't that I was trying to be cold or ungrateful, but I couldn't let myself get used to his care when I knew it wouldn't lead anywhere. He needed to understand that too, so he wouldn't keep putting effort into something that was never going to happen.

I ate the breakfast, and yeah, it was amazing. It gave me the boost I needed to get through the morning.

On my way to work, I couldn't shake the worry that the company hadn't called to cancel my job. Maybe they were just waiting for me to show up to fire me in person.

That thought kind of killed my mood, but I headed to the office anyway.

"Welcome, Ms. Kay," Ron greeted me as soon as I walked in, shaking my hand with this ridiculously warm enthusiasm.

He didn't look like someone ready to fire me, so I decided to cut to the chase. "Mr. Shane, I heard my old employer might've tried to mess with my hiring. Is that true?"

Ron smiled, not even a little surprised, and answered straight-up. "Yes."

Chapter 146 His friendly vibe didn't change a bit, which got me even more curious. "But you don't seem like you're planning to let me go."

"Why would I fire you?" Ron asked, throwing the question back at me.

'Because my former boss pressured you,' I thought but kept to myself.

Ron's bright smile shifted to something more professional as he continued, "We take pride in standing on our own two feet. We don't rely on anyone, and we don't fear anyone either. Our success is our own, and we face challenges head-on. No outside force can bring us down."

His words, though simple, filled me with a surge of determination. I felt a renewed sense of purpose. "Mr. Shane, I won't let you down."

Ron's smile lit up again. "No worries. Just do your best. Even if things don't go perfectly, that's fine."

While I appreciated his confidence in me, his laid-back attitude made me wonder if I was missing something.

Ron then took me on a tour of the company, introducing me to the team and specifically telling the deputy director and marketing supervisor to work closely with me.

They say new hires usually have to prove themselves before earning their spot, but 1 didn't feel any of that pressure. Instead, it felt like I was some kind of VIP

Chapter 147 I had always counted on my skills, not who I knew. Even back at Riverwave Corp, where everyone saw me as the future CEO's fiancee, I refused to just be arm candy.

After a week, I dug through all the marketing clients' files and checked out what the company had going on. I even took the time to see how each person in the marketing team was doing, focusing on what they'd pulled off over the past six months. Then I switched up the workload and introduced a new reward-and-punishment system based on incentives.

They say a new boss comes in ready to shake things up, but I wasn't here to scare anyone. My goal was to inspire-to get everyone to give their best, not just for themselves but for the company too. It was also my way of paying back the company for taking a chance on me, despite the pressure Jace put on them.

Just when I was feeling good about where the marketing department was headed, I got hit with some bad news. The team reported that all our current clients were suddenly trying to bail on their contracts. Even the ones we were in talks with were now coming up with excuses to back out.

I knew right away-this had Jace written all over it.

When Jace couldn't pressure the company into dropping me, he switched to sneakier moves-stealing our clients to push the company to ditch me.

Since this mess was on me, I went straight to Ron to spill the tea. After listening, he just smiled. "Don't stress about it. Any client he can snatch wasn't really ours to begin with. We'll find new ones."

Ron's chill reaction threw me off. I showed him the reports, making it clear that Jace had taken almost eighty percent of our clients.

"It's all good. As long as they don't take you away, I'm sure you'll bring in new clients to replace the ones we lost," Ron said, his confidence in me shining through.

I appreciated his trust, but something about his attitude felt a little... off.

"Shouldn't you let the CEO know about this?" I asked carefully. "I'm not trying to overstep, but losing this many clients at once without a heads-up could put you in a tough spot if he finds out later."

Ron chuckled, a laugh that made me feel like I was missing something. "Ms. Kay, I think I finally get it-"

He paused for a moment, then continued, "I finally understand why RiverwaveCorp's CEO doesn't want to let you go."

Is that so?

I couldn't shake the feeling that wasn't exactly what he meant to say.

Ron then added, "About your concern, I've already reported everything. And ever since RiverwaveCorp tried to mess with your hiring, the higher-ups have been in the loop. We knew these issues might come up, so no need to stress. We've got it all under control." So, I was just overthinking it.

With the conversation at this point, there wasn't much more to say. I gave a small nod. "I just don't want 1/2 Chapter 147 to be the one who drags the company down."

Ron waved his hand like it was no big deal. "Don't worry, don't worry. You can be as much of a troublemaker' as you want." What?

He grinned at me, flashing a perfect set of white teeth. "What I mean is, we trust your skills. You won't let the company down."

I forced a smile. "I'm not a miracle worker."

"Sure you are!" Ron quipped, his smile turning playful. "You're a goddess."

I sighed to myself.

Even though the company wasn't pressuring me, the lack of it was actually making me more frustrated.

I never thought Jace would stoop this low. To think he'd put his own ego above the company's, treating its well-being like some kind of game. His actions weren't just hurting this company-they could mess up the entire industry.

From what I've learned since joining, this company might not be the biggest name out there, but its strength and technical skills are top-notch.

If it had more people like Hayden, it could really take off.

I couldn't let Jace's reckless behavior ruin such a promising company-or let myself be the reason it goes down.

I needed someone who could stop Jace, and the only person who could do that was Matthew. But this wasn't a conversation I could have over the phone-I'd need to meet him in person. Which meant I had to go to the Johnston residence.

Chapter 148 I checked my calendar-Matthew's birthday was in three days.

Bringing up something heavy on his birthday? Yeah, no. I didn't want to mess up his big day, so I figured I'd visit him early, drop off a gift, and get it over with. That way, I wouldn't have to deal with it on his actual birthday. But before I could even get started, Wayne showed up.

I hadn't seen him since we left the amusement park, and honestly, I almost didn't recognize him.

"Did I turn into a coal miner or something? You don't even know who I am?" Wayne joked, throwing in some classic self-deprecation to break the ice.

Seeing him like this brought back memories of Hayden, and I couldn't help but smile. "If your mom saw you right now, she'd totally freak."

"Nah, she actually said I look more manly now," Wayne replied, clearly trying to keep things light.

I bit back a laugh. "You do have that whole rugged, manly vibe going on."

Wayne rubbed his face, grinning. "Glad you noticed."

Despite his attempts to keep things chill, I still felt a bit awkward, not really sure how to keep the conversation going.

Thinking about my plan to visit Matthew, I decided to switch gears. "So, how are your mom and dad doing?"

"They're good, but they miss you," Wayne said, and that hit me right in the guilt zone.

I used to go to the Johnston residence every day after work. They practically saw me more than my own family. But ever since I moved out, I hadn't been back even once.

"I'm actually planning to visit them today," I said, hesitating before adding, "I also need to talk to your dad about something."

Wayne looked at me, his expression practically begging to know what was up. I wasn't about to keep anything from him, so I just laid it out. "Jace has been coming after the company I joined, doing everything he can to crush them-even stealing clients." Wayne didn't look surprised at all. Clearly, he was already in the loop.

Sure enough, he said, "I already told my dad about it. And about you quitting? My dad was totally against -it."

He watched me closely, and when I didn't say anything, he added, "I'm here today because my dad sent me to convince you. Rea... please, come back to the company."

Even with the serious look on his face, I couldn't help but smile. "So, if you don't complete your mission today, is your dad gonna give you a hard time?"

I said it because I remembered something from my third year with the Johnston family. Matthew had sent Wayne on some errand, and when he didn't get it right, Matthew kicked him twice.

4/2 Chapter 148 That memory stuck with me. It was the first time I'd seen Matthew lose it like that, and he did it so harshly.

Wayne didn't really react-no tears, no excuses-but when he noticed me watching, I could see the embarrassment written all over his face, a slight blush creeping up his cheeks.

That's when I realized I should've looked away, to give him a little dignity.

"Making fun of me?" Wayne laughed, and I wondered if he was thinking of that day too.

"No, I-" I started to deny it, but Wayne cut me off.

"But I'm not here to pressure you today, even if it means getting in trouble when I go back."

Wait, what?

I looked at Wayne, confused. He pressed his lips into a thin line before continuing, "I know why you left, why you even gave up on the amusement park you cared so much about. How could I try to force you to go back?"

Wayne smiled, that bright, warm smile that took me back to the carefree kid he used to be. "Besides, even if I asked, you wouldn't go back. So why make things awkward for both of us?"

He really did know me too well.

Honestly, before Wayne left for his assignment, I always got along with him way better than I ever did with Jace.

Jace was nice to me, sure, but he also had this habit of teasing me, playing pranks that sometimes went way too far. But Wayne? He never pulled that kind of stuff. He always had my back, even scolding Jace more than once for scaring me. He was like the big brother I never had.

"Does your dad actually back Jace in all this nonsense?" I asked, remembering how Wayne mentioned that Matthew knew about Jace's antics.

"No, my dad totally tore into him and warned that if he keeps causing trouble, he'll be kicked out," Wayne said, and I believed him.

Chapter 149 Having lived with the Johnstons for years, I knew Matthew inside out.

He was the kind of guy who kept business and personal stuff totally separate. If Jace messed up, Matthew wouldn't hesitate to come down on him-just like he would with anyone else.

But thinking about the reports I'd just gotten-Jace was still out there, aggressively poaching clients, hell-bent on taking down my company-I couldn't help but say, "Looks like your dad's warning didn't really do much."

Wayne picked up on the seriousness in my tone. "Jace hasn't stopped?"

"No," I said, my voice shaking a bit. "It's like he's trying to destroy my company in one hit."

I couldn't hide the anger in my voice.

The fact that my involvement was putting the company at risk, even losing clients-it was really weighing on me.

"This is beyond reckless. I'll talk to my dad," Wayne said, his own frustration creeping in.

"Let me handle it," I offered. "I was already planning to visit your dad today, with a birthday gift in hand. I can bring it up then, see if the gift sweetens the deal."

My words lit up a spark in Wayne's eyes.

A warm smile spread across his face. "Awesome. Today, then? We can head back together."

Seeing the hopeful look in his eyes, I hesitated for a second before replying, "Yeah, today. But I'm bringing someone with me."

"Who?" Wayne asked, still smiling. "A friend of yours?"

"Yeah, my boyfriend," I said.

Wayne's smile froze.

The shock and pain in his eyes hit me like a punch to the gut.

I could see how he felt about me-something Lindey had hinted at before. It was better to hurt him now, to make him face the truth, and end any thoughts he shouldn't have had.

It took a few seconds before Wayne, his voice shaky, asked, "Rea... your boyfriend is..."

""Hayden Hart."

Wayne's expression darkened even more. "Rea..."

"I know what you're going to say, but I'm not messing around with my happiness, and I'm definitely not doing this out of spite," I said, forcing the words out, even though they felt like lies. Wayne, who was usually so composed, looked like he was breaking inside. "But I can't believe you've moved on from Jace so fast."

His words almost made me want to laugh. If he understood that, why did he let himself catch feelings for 4/2 Chapter 149 me?

No, Wayne's feelings for me must've started way before he left Kehlmark.

Maybe that's why he stayed away for so many years.

The thought weighed on my chest, making it hard to breathe. I turned my head, avoiding his gaze, and said coldly, "You're wrong. I won't waste my time on someone who isn't worth it or on feelings that don't matter."

After a brief pause, I added, "Besides, Hayden is better than Jace in every way. What's there to hold onto?"

I could feel Wayne's eyes on me, and my body tensed under the weight of his stare.

Finally, he spoke again. "Even if you've moved on from Jace, how long have you known Hayden? Do you really know him?"

Wayne was still trying to talk me out of it, genuinely wanting me to reconsider Hayden. Maybe it wasn't just about Hayden-maybe he just didn't want to see me with anyone else.

As long as I wasn't with someone else, he could still hold onto some hope.

But I couldn't give him that.

So I let out a bitter laugh. "Does knowing someone really matter? I was with Jace for ten years. I knew exactly how long it took him to pee, how hot he liked his bathwater-could I have known him any better? And what did that knowledge get me?" As I said this, a wave of bitterness washed over me. I'd once adored Jace, loved him so much that I even grew attached to the things he liked, like the stray dogs and cats he'd occasionally take notice of.

I had loved Jace-truly, deeply loved him-so much that I lost myself in that love.

Maybe that's why his betrayal hurt so much, why I had to cut him out of my life so completely.

"Jace is an exception. Not all guys are like him," Wayne said, and then he placed a hand on my shoulder, gently turning me to face him.

Chapter 150 Chapter 150 I froze for a second, wanting to pull away from Wayne's grip, but his grip was too tight, not giving me a chance to break free.

The whole vibe of being controlled by someone else totally freaked me out, and I hated it. I scrunched up my face. "Wayne-" Before I could even get the words out, Wayne cut me off. "Rea, Jace is my brother. I can't talk bad about him, but he's different. You can't just throw away your principles because of him."

His grip tightened even more, and I could feel the tension radiating off him. His hands shook slightly, and the way he looked at me was intense, his eyes dark and serious, his voice almost desperate. "Dating isn't some game. One wrong move could mess everything up." Seeing how serious he was, I started to feel a little bad for him. I almost thought about telling him that Hayden was just a temporary thing.

But that thought disappeared as fast as it came. I brought Hayden into this mess to shut down any lingering hopes they had, and if I told Wayne the truth, what would be the point?

"I'm not a kid anymore, Wayne. I know what I'm doing," I shot back.

"But you've only known Hayden for a few days!" Wayne's voice got louder, like he was starting to lose it.

Seeing the disbelief in his eyes, I decided to drop a bombshell. "It's true I've only worked with him for a few days, but our thing started way before, back when I was in Chiverton."

I kept my words vague, thinking of Wayne like an older brother. Some things were better left unsaid.

But Wayne wasn't clueless. He got it right away, his eye's going wide in shock as he stared at me. His grip on my shoulder tightened, like he might actually leave a bruise.

He didn't say another word, just kept looking at me with this mix of disbelief, disappointment, and a deep, raw hurt...

I met his gaze, fully understanding just how much he was feeling, then shifted a little. "Wayne, some things are just out of our control. Maybe Hayden and I are meant to be."

As soon as I said it, I felt Wayne's body sway slightly.

But even then, his hands stayed on my shoulders, though not as tightly as before, Just as we were stuck in this awkward standoff, Ron popped up out of nowhere, grinning like he had no idea what was going on. "Ms. Kay, you've got a guest! Why don't you bring him to the office?"

He glanced at Wayne as he spoke. "Come on, I'll have someone bring some tea."

Wayne pulled himself together quickly. He let go of me and nodded at Ron. "No need, thanks."

Without even looking back at me, Wayne walked away. The sense of loss he left behind was suffocating.

Jstood there, kinda dazed, for what felt like forever before finally heading back to my office. As I passed by Ron's office, I decided to ask for the afternoon off. I needed to pick out a gift and then head over to the Johnston residence. 1/2 Chapter 150 But just as I was about to knock, I overheard Ron talking on the phone. "Bro, it's done... Yeah, he's outta here... Haha, don't worry, you're way ahead of him. He couldn't catch up even if he tried... M-Ms. Kay-"

Ron suddenly walked out of his office mid-call and almost crashed right into me. He was so startled, he nearly dropped his phone.

I had no idea why he looked so freaked out. I quickly caught his phone before it hit the floor and noticed that the call was with someone saved as "Bro".

I handed the phone back to Ron, who looked like he'd just seen a ghost, and motioned to him that the call was still connected.

Ron fumbled with the phone, pressing it back to his ear, "Bro, I'll call you back later. Ms. Kay's here to see me," he stammered before hanging up, his eyes full of obvious panic.

All this over a phone call?

And it wasn't even with some secret lover or a sketchy business deal. Even if I overheard something, why was he so rattled?