Ch. 151..160

Chapter 151 Chapter 151 Doubt flickered in my head, but before I could say anything, Ron beat me to it.

"Ahem, ahem..." He cleared his throat, flashing this awkward grin. "Were you, like, listening at the door? You kinda freaked me out."

He was trying to be funny, but I kept it serious. "No, I wasn't eavesdropping. I just got here and didn't even have time to knock." Ron's smile stretched wider. "I'm just messing with youl Chill. So, what's going on?"

He waved me in, and I stepped into his office..

Even though I'd been at the company a few days, this was my first time here. And... wow. First impression? Not what I expected.

Ron might be the deputy CEO, but since the CEO was barely around, he was basically running the show. You'd expect his office to scream sleek and professional, right? Nope.

The couch was shaped like a crescent moon, all bold and bright with clashing colors. Instead of those stiff office plants, there were real flowers everywhere, the bright blooms that totally caught your eye. And his desk? Covered in quirky little trinkets.

The whole setup had this soft, almost feminine vibe. If hadn't known this was Ron's office, I would've thought I was in the wrong place.

"You like it?" Ron asked, catching me eyeing everything.

I forced a small smile. Honestly, I wasn't feeling it. His office didn't exactly scream "serious deputy CEO." But, hey, it was his space. If he liked it, that's what counted.

"Your office has a very... unique style," I said, trying to sound nice.

Des. Even Ron laughed, gesturing for me to sit on that funky couch. "Yeah, I'm not into boring, corporate our big boss says that about me. Oh, and about that call earlier? That was actually with him. You really gave me a heart attack when you popped up out of nowhere."

I chuckled, though inside I was still wrapping my head around how he just called the CEO "Bro" on the phone. From the sound of it, their relationship was tight-like not actual family, but pretty close. No-wonder Ron practically ran the show. "I'll make sure to knock next time," I said, keeping it professional.

"No biggie, no biggie. I'm just a little jumpy," Ron joked, making.me laugh for real this time.

He was so easygoing and relatable, a complete 180 from the aloofness you'd expect from someone at his level. Definitely not-like Jace.

Back when I worked at RiverwaveCorp, Jace was the CEO. During work hours, it didn't matter if we were in the office or at a meeting-he always insisted on being called "Mr. Johnston." To him, I was just his assistant, just another employee. Looking back now, the way he treated me... it wasn't about keeping things professional. He just didn't love me enough.

3.2 Chapter 151 That thought hit like a punch to the gut, but I snapped out of it, remembering why I'd come to see Ron in the first place. "Mr. Shane, I'd like to take the afternoon off."

"Time off?" Ron raised an eyebrow.

"Yeah, I've got something I need to handle," I replied, keeping it vague.

Ron nodded. "Sure, go ahead. Don't stress about the clients. I already talked to the boss, and he said he'll take care of it himself. Just focus on your stuff, and we've got the rest covered."

"Huh?" I blinked, a little thrown. I hadn't even met the CEO yet. Why was he being so considerate?

Ron chuckled. "He's a good-looking guy with a big heart. Once you meet him, you'll probably fall for him." Fall for him?!

My face heated up, but after a second, I realized Ron probably just meant the CEO was as chill and nice as he was. So, I played along. "With a boss that amazing, I bet everyone does."

Chapter 152 "No, no, he doesn't care about being loved by everyone. He only wants the people he loves to love him back."

Ron's words kept replaying in my head as I left the office.

For some reason, my curiosity about this mysterious CEO was starting to get the best of me. What did he even look like? What kind of person was he?

It was weird that the company files had nothing on him. Was he hiding something sketchy?

Or maybe, like one of those billionaire romance heroes, he was crazy private-so much so that he dodged photos and stayed out of the public eye completely?

These questions swirled around my mind as I drove toward Inkwell Atelier, the boutique with all the fancy hand lettering supplies. By the time I got there, I was still trying to figure out who this elusive CEO really was.

I parked the car but didn't get out right away. Instead, grabbed my phone and called Hayden.

Of course, no answer-he was probably busy. So, I opened up the chat app and shot him a message: [Can you come with me to the Johnston residence tonight? Is that cool for you?] Since he didn't pick up, I wasn't expecting a quick response to the message either. After sending it, I slipped my phone back into my bag and finally headed into Inkwell Atelier. "Ms. Kay, great to see yo u!" Mr. Parker, the shop owner, greeted me the second I stepped through the door.

I'd been a regular here for years. Every year, I ordered a custom set of hand lettering supplies, and yeah, they weren't exactly cheap.

In Kehlmark, hand lettering was considered an art form, especially among the upper class, admired for its elegance.

Matthew loved hand lettering and painting. He went through tons of ink and brushes every year, so getting him this kind of gift was always a safe bet-I knew he'd actually use it. "Mr. Parker, do you have any new premium sets this year?" I asked, the same question I asked every time, just to make small talk while I browsed the shelves.

"Of course, of course! But don't waste your time with those, you're not gonna like them. The best ones are over here," he said, motioning me over.

Even though he said that, I still took my time scanning through everything, mostly out of habit. Eventually, I followed him to the section he was pointing to.

And there it was-a stunning set of emerald green supplies that instantly grabbed my attention. "Let me check this one out."

"Sure!" Mr. Parker carefully lifted the set off the shelf. This is the latest release, just came in."

He was complimenting my taste in the subtlest way.

Chapter 152 +25 BON I took a closer look. The craftsmanship was top-tier, the materials were exactly what I had in mind. Without hesitation, I made my decision. "I'll take this one, Mr. Parker."

But instead of the usual easygoing smile and quick agreement, he paused. I glanced up and noticed a troubled look on his face..

"Ms. Kay... this set has already been reserved by someone else."

Ah, of course. That explained it. There was only one set.

For a second, disappointment flickered through me....

But honestly, life's full of them, right?

Unrequited love? Disappointment. Wanting something you can't have? Yeah, another one. Seasons changing, time slipping away-it's all tinged with regret. Even kings probably wished for a little more time at the end of their reign. I let the thought go, ready to move on. Just as I put the set back on the shelf, I heard footsteps at the shop's entrance.

"Take your time. I'll go attend to the other customer," Mr. Parker said.

"Yeah, sure," I replied, not thinking much of it. But from the corner of my eye, I saw him grab the set I'd been eyeing and head toward the door.

I turned back to the shelves, trying to focus on the other options, sifting through the remaining sets. "Mr. Parker, has my order arrived yet?" Tanya's voice suddenly broke through my concentration, making me freeze.

I turned my head just in time to see Mr. Parker handing the emerald green set-the one I wanted-to her. Tanya had been the one to reserve it?!

I did not see that coming.

Chapter 153 These fancy hand-lettering supplies weren't something you just picked up on a whim like a carton of milk. My first thought? She was probably getting them for Matthew too.

Not even a week ago, Jace swore up and down he was done with Tanya, saying she was leaving the company and that they wouldn't be involved anymore. But now? Here she was, likely prepping for Matthew's birthday, still very much in the picture. Good thing I never believed his crap in the first place.

Tanya was busy examining the set Mr. Parker gave her me, and I sure wasn't about to make myself known. So, the other options.

acting like she knew her stuff. She didn't notice turned back around and kept browsing through T "Mr. Parker, are you sure this is the best? I'm gifting it to someone really important, and I can't afford to embarrass myself," Tanya asked.

"best' is subjective, right? There's always something better out there. But I can promise you, this set will impress and keep your reputation spotless, Mr. Parker reassured her smoothly.

"True, Tanya muttered, "but I need this gift to really stand out. It has to be the best."

From the way she talked, it was obvious this gift was for someone who really mattered to her.

"In all of Seavora, you won't find a better selection of hand-lettering supplies than in my shop. No one will top this," Mr. Parker said with a confident smile. "When they open this, they'll know you put some serious thought into it." "Good," Tanya paused before adding, "it's for my future father-in-law."

I almost froze when I heard that. Had she officially started dating Jace?

But if that were true, why was Jace still putting pressure on my new employer? What game was he playing? It felt like he wanted to have it all.

I shook my head, trying to shake off all the messy thoughts, and attempted to focus on picking a gift. But now, none of the sets on display felt right anymore.

Just as I was about to call it quits, a set in the corner of the cabinet caught my eye. Without even thinking. I spoke up, "Mr. Parker, can I check this one out?"

"Go ahead, take whatever catches your eye," Mr. Parker said, totally cool with me browsing.

I couldn't wait to get a closer look. I opened the cabinet and gently pulled out the set. As I ran my fingers over it, appreciating the craftsmanship, I suddenly felt someone standing next to me. "You're getting something for Jace's dad too?" Tanya's voice came.

The moment I spoke earlier, it had immediately caught her attention. I didn't bother glancing her way. keeping my focus on the items in my hands.

The set wasn't the latest or flashiest, but the craftsmanship was top-tier.

After spending ten years at the Johnston place, I knew what Matthew liked. When I first moved in, he'd 1/2 Chapter 153 invite me to join him while he practiced, trying to help me adjust during those rough first few months.

Over time, I'd picked up more than a few things about these supplies, helping him with his practice sessions whenever I could.

"Yeah," I replied, keeping my voice flat.

But then Tanya added, "I've already picked out the best set for him. So... you might want to rethink that. Wouldn't want us both showing up with the same gift, right? And..."

She let her words hang for a beat before continuing, "Besides, I'm giving him the best, and if yours doesn't measure up, it might seem like you didn't put enough effort into it." Wow, I almost laughed out loud. Was she actually trying to help me?

The set in my hands wasn't anything over-the-top, but it had this quiet elegance. It fit Matthew's style perfectly-nothing too bold, just classic and dignified.

That's the thing about hand lettering supplies: they didn't need to scream for attention to show their value.

Tanya's smug tone only made my decision easier. "Mr. Parker, I'll take this one. Please wrap it up for me."

I finally turned to face her, catching the sour expression on her face-she was clearly not happy.

"Ms. Twain, you give your gift, and I'll give mine. No need to stress about whether mine measures up," I said with a smile.

Then, with a little extra sweetness, I added, "Besides, if mine doesn't stand out, it'll only make you, as the future daughter-in-law, look even more thoughtful. Right?"

Tanya's face flushed bright red, and in that moment, it hit me-everything she'd said to Mr. Parker earlier was just her way of boosting her own ego.

Chapter 154 As I was paying for my purchase, my phone buzzed. It was Hayden calling me back, "Sorry, I was busy earlier and just saw your message," he explained.

"Yeah, I figured. Are you free now?" I asked.

"What time?" Hayden replied.

I paused, thinking it over. If we went at six, we'd show up right in the middle of dinner, and Matthew and Lindey would definitely invite us to stay. I wouldn't mind, but Hayden might feel weird about it.

"Seven-thirty," I finally said. By then, the Johnston family would be done with dinner, and it'd be less awkward.

"Alright, I'll come pick you up at seven. Sound good? Hayden offered.

I couldn't help but laugh. "How are you planning to pick me up? Ride a shared bike?"

It was meant as a joke, but when Hayden didn't respond right away, I realized maybe it didn't land the way I thought.

"Wait, I didn't mean anything by that," I quickly said, trying to backtrack. "I'll come pick you up instead."

"I'll be home half an hour early. We can leave together, Hayden replied, then paused before asking, "Do I need to bring any gifts?"

"No, I've already taken care of that," I said, then hung up. When I looked up, I caught Tanya staring at me. No matter how much time passed, I could always sense that mix of envy-and maybe even jealousy- whenever her eyes landed on me. There was nothing left to say, so I grabbed my things and headed out.

Instead of going straight home, I stopped by a men's clothing store. Since I was bringing Hayden with me tonight, I couldn't have him show up in his usual everyday clothes.

I wasn't sure if he had anything suitable to wear, but considering I was already dragging him into this whole charade, buying him a nice outfit felt like the least I could do.

By six, I scarfed down a quick dinner and then settled in to wait for Hayden to get home.

But instead of him, my phone lit up with a call from Demi. "Keira, do you have time tonight? I really wanna catch up."

1 kinda didn't "What's up? We can talk now if it's quick. I'm headed over to the Johnstons' later," I said, being upfront.

"Oh, seriously? That sucks," Demi sighed, sounding bummed.

I took a bite of the apple sitting in front of me. "I'll take you out for dinner another time, promise."

"I don't care about dinner," she groaned. "I've been losing it the last few days. I didn't want to bug you, but if I don't vent, I'm gonna explode." Chapter 154 I frowned "What happened? [ Did Mr. Hart pull something again?"

"No, it's not him-it's that bitch, Tanya," Demi hissed, and I froze mid-bite.

I'd already bumped into Tanya earlier today, and now her name was popping up again. Seemed like she was determined to ruin my day.

"What did she do this time?" I asked casually.

And that's when Demi started going off, talking a mile a minute like she'd been holding it in forever." Tanya's acting like she's some kind of queen because she's pregnant.

"You'd think she needs a palanquin or something, scared to take a single step like the ground's gonna break under her.

"If she's that fragile, why not just stay in bed? Problem solved!"

I let out a small laugh. "Gotta earn that baby formula money somehow."

"Please, she's just showing off! Making a huge deal out of nothing, trying to convince everyone she's carrying Mr. Johnston's future heir," Demi's rant made my apple taste a little less sweet. "It's possible," I said, playing it cool.

"Wait, you're serious?" Demi's voice practically jumped through the phone. "If she's really carrying his kid, that means Mr. Johnston's been cheating on you this whole time. What a complete dirtbag!"

I couldn't even swallow the bite of apple in my mouth, I put it down, staying quiet.

"Keira, come on. I don't think that's actually happening. Demi went on, sounding uncertain now. "If she was really pregnant with Mr. Johnston's baby, she'd be living large by now. But every time she sees you, she acts like she's walking on eggshells, all nervous and fake polite."

I had to give it to Demi-she somehow managed to roast Tanya and drag me into it at the same time.

Chapter 155 I shook my head, "Who the father is... well, that's her business. If you're that curious, why don't you just ask her yourself?"

Demi snorted. "Yeah, right. I don't have time for that drama. I'd rather spend my free moments swooni over Mr. Hart."

Hearing Hayden's name made me glance at the clock. He still wasn't back. Casually, I asked, "So, are y calling me after work now? Or sneaking off to the restroom again to avoid it?" "Keira! What do you take me for? I'm not that kind of person!" Demi protested. "Besides, Mr. Hart's beer surprisingly chill lately-he let us off early again today.

"Oh, really? How long ago?"

"Like, half an hour. I'm already home, chilling on the couch.

As Demi kept talking, I did the math on Hayden's commute. He should've been back by now.

But his place was still dead quiet. Maybe he got held up.

"You guys are finishing work this early and not doing any OT? Are you sure the project's gonna be done c time?" I asked.

There was a pause, then I heard what sounded like Demi swallowing, probably drinking water or munchir on something. "Mr. Hart said it would be."

"And you believe him? Don't let him fool you," I warned. "If it doesn't get done by the deadline, you're the one who'll get penalized. They'll dock your bonus, not his."

Demi coughed twice. "I think we'll be fine. We're already testing in Section D, and everything's running smooth-no new issues so far. Honestly, it's just been about checking things off the list every day."

Then she made that little clicking sound with her tongue. "It's so weird, though. When you were still around, there were always issues popping up.

"Like, every other night, you'd be rushing to Mr. Hart's hotel room to fix something. But ever since you left, everything's been smooth sailing. "Now I I'm just over here, praying something goes wrong so I can... you know.... hehehe." She was naughty daydreams again.

totally drition in I cut her off before she could spiral too far. "Maybe I'm just a bad omen, Mr. Hart and I never clicked, so we had constant issues. But now that I'm out of the picture, everything's perfect." "Hmph," Demi sounded unconvinced. "You're not fooling me. I think there's something going on between you two. Come on, be real-did you and Mr. Hart have a little... secret arrangement?" Thinking of our fake relationship, I folt a twinge of guilt but quickly shut it down. "You're talking nonsense."

"Don't hide it from me! Honestly, if something did happen between you and Mr. Hart, I'd totally support it," Demi said, way too excited about the idea "Nothing happened, so stop making things up," I shot back.

Chapter 155 "Well, Mr. Hart's moved out of the hotel," Demi said, her voice all secretive. "Word is, he rented a place."

I played dumb. "Oh, really?"

"Yeah, and get this-he's sticking around Seavora for a while. Apparently, he's looking into his father's death." Demi's voice dropped. "Do you know anything about that?"

I honestly didn't. When Hayden mentioned getting a place, I had no idea it was because of his father's accident.

"I heard he died in a car crash."

I'd lost my parents the same way. Just hearing about Hayden's situation made my chest tighten.

I made up some excuse to end the call. After I hung up, I just sat there, staring at the family photo on the wall. It was from years ago-me and my parents, all smiling like nothing could ever go wrong. But then a thought crept in, one I hadn't really let myself consider before.

Was my parents' accident really just that-an accident?

I sat there, lost in my thoughts, until I realized it was almost seven. Still no sound from across the hall. A little worried, I called Hayden, but he didn't answer.

Was he caught up with something? Or had he bailed on our plans?

Not wanting to wait around, I grabbed the gift I'd wrapped and decided to head to the Johnston's on my own. But as I stepped out of my apartment unit, I noticed Hayden's door was slightly open. He was home?

How'd I miss him coming back?

My curiosity got the better of me. I walked over and gently pushed the door open. "Hay-" The rest of his name stuck in my throat as I froze, completely stunned by what I saw inside.

Chapter 156 The scene in front of me took over my brain.

Never in a million years did I think I'd walk in on Hayden fresh out of the shower.

He was only wearing a towel, slung low around his waist, leaving his entire chest bare-and not much else covered. Just the basics, really.

Hayden looked just as shocked, a faint blush spreading across his tan skin.

For a few seconds, we just stood there, staring at each other. Neither of us said a word, neither of us moved. It was like the world had completely frozen.

Hayden was the first to snap out of it, retreating back into his room. Only then did I finally manage to move, stiff as a board, swallowing hard-twice, That's when I realized my face was burning up.

Watching him close the door, I figured he was probably getting dressed. And before I could think, I blurted, "Hayden, wait! Don't put anything on yet, just wait for me."

The second the words left my mouth, I spun around, but then it hit me-what did I just say?

I told him not to put on clothes. And to wait for me..

Technically, the words made sense. But in this situation? What was I thinking? What kind of weird, suggestive nonsense had just come out of my mouth?

If I could disappear into the floor, I totally would.

But I couldn't, and it was way too late to take it back. So, I hurried back to my apartment, grabbed the clothes I'd bought for him, and went straight to Hayden's door. Knocking twice, I called out, "I got you some clothes. I left them outside the door. They should fit better." No way was I about to explain what I said earlier. That would just make things a million times worse.

I was about to set the bag down when the door suddenly swung open. Hayden stood there, fully dressed.

He wore a crisp white dress shirt and black slacks. No tle, and the top two buttons of his shirt were undone, giving him this casual but kind of polished look.

It was the first time I'd seen him dressed like that. With his tan skin, I'd figured this style wouldn't really work for him. That's why, when I picked out clothes for him, I'd gone for something more chill and casual.

But looking at him now, I was starting to think maybe my fashion sense was seriously off. He pulled off the look effortlessly-like one of those low-key, stylish CEOs.

I was so caught up in my thoughts that I didn't even notice when his fingers brushed mine as he took the bag from my hand. He glanced inside at the clothes. "Is this what you wanted me to wear?"

I shook my head. "No, no... you look great just like this, Hayden looked into the bag again. "Then I'll wear what you bought next time."

He casually took the clothes and put them away in his closet while I stood awkwardly by the door, my 1/2 Chapter 156 eyes wandering around his room-or more specifically, his bed.

The place wasn't that big, and the bed pretty much took up most of the room. It was one of those things he'd convinced the landlord to buy, and the blanket on top was folded so neatly it looked military-level perfect. Just looking at it made me want to stand at attention and salute.

Hayden came back after stashing the clothes. "Alright, let's go."

As he walked toward the door, I couldn't help but ask, "Hayden, do you have OCD or something?"

"Huh?" He looked confused.

I pointed at the perfectly folded blanket. "You're not in the army anymore, so why do you still fold your blanket like that?

"How much time do you spend doing that every day?

"Isn't it, like, a little... unnecessary?"

"Just a habit," he said, short and to the point as usual.

"I think it's more like an obsession," I muttered. I mean, habits are one thing, sure. But most habits are, like, easy and quick to do.

Folding a blanket into a perfect square every single day? That sounded exhausting. Honestly, I kinda wanted to mess it up just to see how he'd react.

He didn't even argue. "Maybe so."

With that, his eyes flicked to the gift I was holding for Matthew. He reached out. "I'll carry that."

I smiled a little. "It's fine, I got it."

But Hayden reached for it again. "I'm not the kind of guy who lets his girlfriend carry stuff." His fingers brushed mine again, sending this weird, electric buzz through me.

I quickly let go.

As we headed out, I couldn't help but think about how awkward it was when I caught him fresh out of the shower, so I blurted, "Why didn't you close the door all the way when you got home?"

Chapter 157 "I figured if you were in a hurry, you'd come looking for me, so I left it open for you," Hayden replied like it was no big deal.

And yet, like an idiot, I asked, "So you came out like that on purpose?"

His Adam's apple bobbed as he swallowed. "No, I heard my phone ringing and came out to grab it. I didn't expect... well, the timing... Yeah, just perfect timing.

At least he had a great body, so it wasn't the worst thing to catch a glimpse.

On the way to the Johnston residence, Hayden stayed quiet.

I figured he was probably nervous. "When we get to the Johnstons', all you have to do is say hello. I'll take care of any awkward questions." "Okay," he nodded.

"And if Jace is there and tries to be a jerk or make things hard for you, don't hold back," I added.

"Got it."

"Oh, and one more thing-we should get our story straight. We'll say we met in Chiverton, and, um," I paused, feeling my face heat up, "you're interested in me... so you followed me here." "I don't think I'll have any trouble with that."

"Huh?" I blinked, not quite catching what he meant at first, but it quickly dawned on me.

After that, there wasn't much else to say, and the silence between us grew. The air felt tense, and my nerves crept up as I kept driving.

I must've been more anxious than I realized, because when the car in front of me slammed on its brakes out of nowhere, I nearly rear-ended it.

Hayden reacted instantly. His hand shot out, grabbing the steering wheel and jerking it to the side, turning the car into a sharp 45-degree angle, narrowly avoiding the crash.

By the time we came to a stop, I was still frozen in shock.

His reflexes were so quick, it almost didn't feel real.

"Focus when you drive. A car accident's not the worst thing, but what if you get hurt?" Hayden scolded lightly, and once the car in front of us started moving again, he handed control back to me.

I'd been driving for three years, but right then, I felt like a total rookie.

We drove in silence for a while longer, my pulse finally calming down after the adrenaline rush. Out of curiosity, I asked, "Your driving skills are amazing. Were you the designated driver in the army or something?" "No."

Chapter 157 I glanced over at him, intrigued. "Then what did you do?"

*Special forces."

I didn't know much about that, but I'd seen enough movies to get the gist-special forces guys were the ones who charged headfirst into danger, always looking ridiculously cool while doing it.

And Hayden? Yeah, he definitely looked ridiculously cool.

There was this unshakable toughness about him, something you didn't see in most guys these days.

"So, why'd you leave the military? How come you didn't become a SWAT officer or something?" I couldn't help it-I was extra curious about him today.

Hayden didn't answer right away, and then Demi's words popped into my mind.

Could this have something to do with his father's accident?

I didn't want to ask him directly, so I tried to ease into it. "Hayden, you've never really mentioned your parents or siblings. Can you tell me a little about them? You know, just in case the Johnstons ask-"

"My parents are both gone," he cut in before I could finish.

"My father died in a car accident while driving his boss and his boss's wife. None of them made it," he said, his gaze locking onto mine.

My heart skipped a beat. Both my parents died in a car accident too, and hearing him say that hit me hard. "My mom passed away after that. She was sick for years... grief tore her apart," Hayden's voice softened. I could tell he was in pain, and I immediately regretted bringing it up. "I'm sorry."

"I don't think my dad and his boss's car accident was an accident," Hayden added.

Chapter 158 Chapter 158 I drove in silence, unsure of what to say.

I was scared that saying the wrong thing might hurt Hayden even more. But part of me couldn't stop thinking about my own parents and their crash.

Was it really just an accident? Or was there more to it?

Back then, I was too young to get what really happened. Matthew handled everything. Maybe he was the only one who actually knew all the details. I figured I could ask him when I saw him later.

Since I stayed quiet, Hayden didn't push it, and the rest of the ride was just... well, quiet.

As we pulled up to the Johnston residence, the auto gate recognized my car and slid open, letting us drive right into the courtyard.

Isabel Zetino, the housemaid, spotted me as soon as I parked. She gave me this big smile and waved." Rea, you're back! I'll let Mr. and Mrs. Johnston know."

I smiled back, shaking my head, "No need. I'll head in myself."

Her gaze flicked over to Hayden as he got out of the car and walked over to me. She was definitely curious, so I linked my arm with his and introduced him. "This is my boyfriend, Hayden. And Hayden, this Is Ms. Zetino."

Even though Isabel was just the housemaid, she'd been at the Johnston residence way longer than I had, and she was close with Lindey. So, yeah, I had to keep up the act, even in front of her.

Hayden gave her a polite nod. "Ms. Zetino."

"Ah," she replied, but her expression said it all-she wasn't thrilled.

In this house, I was still considered Jace's fiancée. So, me showing up with another guy? It was bound to stir things up. Isabel wasn't the only one-I'd have to deal with Matthew and Lindey soon enough.

With Hayden on my arm, we walked past Isabel and headed toward the main hall of the house.

We hadn't even reached the door when I heard Lindey's sharp voice cutting through the quiet. She was in full lecture mode. "You're the chairman, managing thousands of people, but you can't even keep your two sons in line. One's more rebellious than the other." Typical. I could imagine Matthew just sitting there, probably scrolling through his phone, pretending not to hear her.

"Matthew!" Lindey's voice spiked with frustration. "Are you pretending to be deaf again?"

Even though they were a loving couple, that didn't mean they didn't have their share of arguments. Today, though, Lindey seemed genuinely upset, and I couldn't help but wonder what set her off.

"I'm not pretending. If I respond, you'll just nag me more," Matthew finally answered.

"Oh, so now you're tired of my nagging? Typicall You men are all the same-no gratitude. I gave you children, and now I'm old and worn out, and you find me annoying. Matthew, you're such a jerk! Don't touch me-get off!" Chapter 158 Just as Hayden and I stepped into the main hall, we saw them-Matthew sitting in a chair with Lindey on his lap, her hands half-heartedly pushing him away as he held her close.

It was kind of surprising to see that kind of affection, especially from a couple their age. Most people would settle into routines, and moments like this usually happen behind closed doors, if at all.

Hayden and I froze in the doorway, not sure if we should interrupt or just sneak back out.

I felt my face heat up instantly. Here we were, faking this whole relationship, and we'd just stumbled into a super real moment between a married couple. Talk about awkward.

I thought maybe we could quietly back out...

But, of course, Lindey's Toy Poodle spotted me and went nuts, barking like crazy and wagging its tail, totally excited. I'd spent way too much time spoiling that little thing when I stayed here, and clearly, it hadn't forgotten. The barking got Matthew's attention. He looked up, and when he saw us standing there, his expression shifted-definitely as awkward as I felt-before he let go of Lindey.

"You're such a goof," Lindey muttered, tugging on his ear with a playful grin.

Matthew grabbed her hand, lowering his voice. "Rea's here."

Chapter 159 But Lindey wasn't buying it. She gave him a little swat. "Oh, please. You think you can use Rea to get out of this? Not happening."

""Hey, Lindey." I called out.

At the sound of my voice, Lindey froze. She turned around, her eyes lighting up when she saw me, but the second she realized I had probably caught the whole intimate scene with her and Matthew, her face went bright red.

She quickly dropped Matthew's hand and made her way over to me. "Rea, you're here! Have you eaten? I'll have Isabel-"

"I've already eaten," I lied, even though my stomach was growling. It suddenly hit me that I hadn't asked Hayden if he'd eaten either.

"Why didn't you have your dinner here?" Lindey asked, sounding a little annoyed.

She was acting like Hayden wasn't even there, not a single word or glance his way. But I knew Lindey better than that-this was her very subtle way of showing her disapproval.

Still, Lindey had too much class to be totally rude. After what felt like an eternity of her ignoring him, she finally turned her attention to Hayden, "You must be Rea's friend?"

I squeezed Hayden's arm lightly, giving him the signal to step in. He caught on and greeted her politely. Hi, Mrs. Johnston."

Lindey gave him a quick nod. "Since you're Rea's friend, you're not a stranger. Come in, don't just stand there."

Matthew stood up as well, and I made my way over, handing him the gift with both hands. "Matthew, happy early birthday."

"You're always so thoughtful," Matthew said with a warm smile, accepting the gift like it was the best thing he'd seen all day. Then, his eyes shifted to Hayden.

"Hi, Mr. Johnston," Hayden greeted, keeping it respectful.

Matthew nodded. "Take a seat."

Lindey called for Isabel to bring tea and fruit while we settled in. Her gaze bounced between me and Hayden before she spoke again. "Rea, just because you brought your gift early doesn't mean you're off the hook for the actual party. Matthew and I still expect you there." She totally read my mind. There went my plan to skip out. No way she was letting me dodge this one.

But I was ready. With a smile, I nodded. "Of course. Hayden and I will definitely be there."

I made it clear-if Lindey wanted me at the party, she'd have to accept that Hayden and I came as a package deal.

Her smile faltered for a split second, but she recovered quickly. "That's great. There'll be plenty of young men from our circle attending. You all can network and get to know each other."

Chapter 159 Network?

Yeah, right. That was just her way of saying, 'Hayden doesn't belong here, and the party's gonna be full of rich, single guys, so he better not get comfortable."

In her eyes, no matter how successful Hayden was, he'd always be just another worker-totally beneath her fancy crowd.

I wasn't about to step in and save him. I wanted to see how he'd handle her subtle snobbery.

I glanced over at him. He was completely unbothered, as usual. "I'd love to meet some of Seavora's finest. I'm planning to stick around for a while."

I could barely hold back a smirk. He was too good at this.

Lindey's attempt to throw him off? Total fail. It was like trying to knock over a brick wall with a marshmallow.

I caught a flicker of annoyance in her eyes, but her face stayed locked in that polite smile. "So, Hayden, you're staying in Seavora?"

Before I could even react, Hayden slid his hand into mine, lacing our fingers together like. "Yeah, Kiki's here, so of course I'm sticking around."

Did he just call me Kiki?

Yup, I heard it. Loud and clear. And I wasn't the only one. Matthew and Lindey's faces froze, their surprise almost comical, like Hayden had just dropped some huge bombshell.

Lindey didn't miss a beat though. Her words cut sharper now. "Hayden, what exactly do you have to offer Rea?"

She sounded like a protective mom, totally serious. I glanced at her, but her eyes stayed locked on Hayden, waiting for him to answer.

I followed her stare, curious how he'd handle it.

Chapter 160 Just then, Hayden's eyes shifted to me.

His grip on my hand tightened, like for a second, he wasn't just holding my hand-he had my heart too.

You know how they say your fingers are connected to your heart? Yeah, right now, that felt way too real.

"I'll give Kiki everything I have," Hayden said, his intense eyes locked on mine. "I'll love her like I love my own life, and I'll always protect her."

His eyes were full of affection. In that moment, I finally understood what people meant when they said, Love deep as the ocean."

And even though this was all supposed to be an act, it felt like Hayden's words were reaching right into my chest, like he was actually confessing.

This guy was unbelievable. Blurring the line between what's real and what's fake.

With him saying stuff like that, I had no choice but to roll with it. I lifted my hand, planning to squeeze his But the way he was looking at me? It made me clench my teeth. I asked him to act, not toss real feelings into the mix.

So, instead of giving him a sweet hand squeeze, I pinched his cheek.

He was always so serious, I figured this would embarrass him. Maybe knock him down a peg.

But, of course, Hayden didn't react the way I thought. Nope. Instead of pulling back or flinching, he leaned into it. Literally pressed his cheek into my hand like a puppy wanting attention.

Shameless! Completely shameless! I never thought he would ever act like this.

After his little display, Hayden turned back to Matthew and Lindey, his expression totally composed. "And just like Mr. Johnston loves Mrs. Johnston, I'll love Kiki for the rest of my life."

The first part had been this heartfelt confession, but the second? Yeah, that was a power move. A clear response to Lindey's earlier challenge.

I caught the slightest flicker of discomfort cross Lindey's face. Hayden had shut her down so smoothly she didn't have much of a comeback. Matthew, who had been quiet this whole time, finally spoke up. "Rea, let Hayden and Lindey chat for a bit Come with me to the study."

He didn't wait for my answer, just gave Hayden a quick nod before heading upstairs.

I knew why Matthew wanted to talk. Steeling myself, I took a deep breath and followed him.

When we got to the study, I expected him to start grilling me right away. But instead, he handed me the gift I'd brought him. "Why don't you open this up? Use the new set you got me, and let's do some hand Jettering together." Lettering with Matthew? We hadn't done that in years.