Ch. 161..170

Chapter 161 Ever since I stopped being forced to practice hand lettering under Matthew's watch, I never bothered to do it on my own.

I mean, I wasn't exactly a kid anymore, but I was still just as lazy as one, dodging anything that felt like work whenever I could.

"Relax, just write. However it turns out, it turns out," Matthew said, holding the quill pen out to me again. How was I supposed to say no?

I'd held this pen before when I bought it, but now, taking it from him, it felt so much heavier.

Maybe it was all the ink-or maybe it was the way Matthew was staring at me, like he was expecting something big.

He wanted me to be that girl again. The one who used to write with a heart full of Jace, back when I was that kid always hanging out at their home.

I pressed the pen to the paper, but my hand shook. No matter how hard I tried, the strokes came out all wobbly.

I knew Matthew didn't actually care about my handwriting. What he really wanted was something deeper- he was trying to figure out where my heart was at.

"Embrace the present," he read aloud, his eyes scanning what I'd written.

Earlier, he'd shared his thoughts, and I was just trying to keep up with that vibe.

He didn't say anything else, just nodded, giving me this serious, almost intense look. "I wish you the best." Then, out of nowhere, he stuck his hand out for a handshake.

But instead of shaking it, I pulled him into a gentle hug. Thanks, Matthew."

He gave my back a few light pats. "I'm sorry, I've put you through a lot. It's my fault for not raising my son right."

Just a second ago, when Lindey was tearing into him, he stayed quiet-didn't admit a thing. But now, here he was, apologizing to me.

Suddenly, I felt tears sting my eyes.

Maybe he noticed, because he gently stroked my hair before stepping back and looking at my red, watery eyes. "I know all the dumb stuff Jace has pulled. I've already handled it. "If he tries anything like that again, he's out.

"He should know better by now."

I'd come here to vent, to ask him to get Jace under control, but Matthew beat me to it He really understood me. After ten years of this bond-hot by blood, but in every other way-It felt like we were as close as real family.

Chapter 161 "Thank you, Matthew."

1 wasn't just thanking him for standing up for me-I was thanking him for the love and care he'd shown me over all these years.

Matthew gently pulled me up straight. "Don't say stuff like that. It feels like you're pulling away from us."

I shook my head. "You and Lindey will always be my family, my closest people."

Matthew smiled, that familiar warmth creeping back in. "Good. When we go downstairs, I'll make it clear to Hayden-if he ever crosses the line with you, he's done."

It was the first time I'd ever heard Matthew sound so tough, almost like a mob boss or something.

I couldn't help but laugh. "Okay, I'll make sure he gets the message."

Matthew ruffled my hair again. "Rea, no matter who you end up with, I just want one thing-for you to be happy."

In that moment, he felt more like my real dad than ever.

Tears welled up again, and I nodded.

*Alright, let's head downstairs. I wonder if Lindey's giving Hayden a hard time. She only wants you as her daughter-in-law, you know. She won't settle for anyone else," Matthew said, giving me that classic 'a husband knows his wife best' grin. I looped my arm through his. "It's fine. Let her test him. If he's scared off, he's not the right one anyway." Matthew chuckled softly and started leading me toward the stairs.

But before we could go any further, I stopped him. "Matthew, there's something I need to ask."

"Hm? What is it?"

I bit my lip, my heart suddenly racing for no reason I could explain. "My parents' car accident... was it really an accident?"

Chapter 162 Matthew froze in his tracks, and I could feel him sway, just a little.

I instinctively reached out to steady him. "Matthew!"

He turned to face me, his expression tense. "Why are you asking this all of a sudden?"

I thought about what Hayden had said, but I couldn't bring myself to tell Matthew the truth. So, I played it off with a casual shrug. "I was just curious. No big deal.

The smile vanished from his face, and the way he looked at me sent a cold chill down my spine.

"Rea, your parents' car accident was exactly that-an accident. I went to the scene myself. The police were there, and there's a full investigation report," Matthew said, his voice serious.

I hadn't been at the scene back then. I didn't know the details firsthand.

Matthew had kept me away, told me not to come. He didn't want me to see something so awful, and I knew he was trying to protect me. But still, it left me with this lingering regret that never really ent away.

"If you have doubts or don't believe me, you can check the records yourself," Matthew added, his face turning pale. The lightness from earlier had completely disappeared.

I knew he and my dad had been super close, almost like brothers, Mentioning my parents' deaths. probably dragged up old grief, and I could see the pain in his eyes too.

I gently looped my arm through his. "It's okay. I believe you. I was just asking."

Matthew stared at me for a second, like he was about to say something, but then... nothing.

After what felt like forever, he sighed. "You go ahead. I'll sit here for a while."

He'd been all set to go downstairs with me, but now, out of nowhere, he'd changed his mind. My heart sank. "Matthew..."

"I'm fine. Just go," he said, waving me off.

I left the study, but I didn't go downstairs right away. Instead, I leaned against the wall, staring blankly into the hallway, my thoughts racing.

Matthew's reaction had been off. Something didn't sit right. If he was hiding something, why did he seem so open and sincere?

For a moment, I wasn't even sure what to think.

Eventually, I made my way downstairs, and as I got closer, I overheard Lirtdey chatting with Hayden.

I'd been worried they wouldn't have much to talk about or worse, that Lindey might be giving him a hard time. But when I heard her laugh, I felt a wave of relief.

What had Hayden said to make Lindey, who was usually so skeptical of him, laugh like that?

Curious, I headed downstairs and overheard Lindey mid-conversation. "Rea was such a sweet, mischievous little thing when she was younger. She was only about this tall and would always call me Mom' whenever she saw me. Chapter 167 "I remember saying, 'I wish she were my daughter.' And her mom laughed, saying, "Well, you can make her your daughter-in-law-just marry her to Jace or Wayne. "But Wayne was way too old, so we figured Jace would be perfect."

It was the first time I'd ever heard the story of how I ended up "betrothed" to Jace instead of Wayne.

"And right after her mom said that, Rea declared she wanted to marry Jace-even gave him a cute nickname, no hesitation at all," Lindey said with a smug smile.

So, it wasn't Hayden making her laugh-it was Lindey, throwing subtle shade and maybe trying to get under his skin.

"She used to give all the older boys cute nicknames," Hayden replied smoothly. "Always running around, asking for piggyback rides."

1 froze. How did he know what I was like as a kid?

Then it hit me he was probably just saying it to throw it back at Lindey.

I reached the bottom of the stairs, and both Lindey and Hayden turned to look at me. For a second, no one said anything. We just stood there, caught in this quiet moment. After what felt like forever, Lindey broke the silence. "Where's Matthew? Why didn't he come down with you?"

I thought back to how Matthew had been acting earlier "He said he wanted to be alone for a while."

Lindey studied my face, and it seemed like she understood something. "Rea, Matthew loves you like you're his own daughter,"

na "I know," I replied softly, though a wave of sadness crashed over me.

By then, Hayden had already stood up and was suddenly right by my side, slipping his hand into mine. I could feel the intensity in his gaze as he looked at me.

My hand was cold, and he must've noticed.

'Got anything else you wanna say to Mrs. Johnston?" Hayden asked, giving an easy way out. "If not, we should bounce. Don't wanna keep Mr. and Mrs. Johnston up any longer." Hello 162

Chapter 163 "Alright," I nodded, then turned to Lindey. "We're heading out."

She gave me a quick look, clearly sensing something was up. Her eyes flicked upstairs, probably wondering what had gone down between me and Matthew, but she didn't push it. "Drive safe." Hayden and I slid into the car, and right as I was about to turn the key, he pressed his hand over mine, stopping me, "What's up?" he asked, his tone all gentle but definitely not letting it go.

"Nothing, we talked about my parents," I admitted, not even trying to dodge it.

"You asked about the accident, didn't you?" He nailed it, like he always did.

I gave a dry laugh. "Yeah, looks like you're rubbing off on me. I had to know."

"And?" he pushed, not dropping it.

Remembering Matthew's words, I started the car and hit the gas, giving Hayden the answer. "It was just an accident."

As we pulled away from the Johnston residence, I added, "There are official reports and everything. Hayden didn't push any further. We drove in silence, the quiet only broken by the hum of the city as we got closer. The streets were lit up, alive with people, and traffic was already building near the pedestrian street.

At a red light, I broke the silence. "Have you eaten yet?"

"No," Hayden answered honestly.

I glanced over at him. "You've worked hard today. Let me treat you to dinner."

"Alright," he agreed, no hesitation at all.

I found a spot and pulled over. As we stepped out, I looked around at the busy food trucks and pop-up stands lining the street.

With a dramatic sweep of my arm, I pointed at them. "Everything here's on me-go grab whatever you want!"

Just as I finished, someone bumped into me from behind, knocking me off balance. Without thinking. I grabbed onto the closest thing-Hayden.

When I finally regained my footing, I realized I had him by the collar.

The whole thing felt like something straight out of a cheesy rom-com. And the worst part? Hayden's face was just inches from mine, our noses almost touching, and our lips barely a breath away. Neither of us moved.

In the middle of the crowded street, the little mishap instantly turned into a spectacle. People around us started cheering, and I could hear whistles cutting through the noise.

A kid's voice piped up, "They're gonna kiss!"

Chapter 163 I felt my face heat up as more people stopped to watch. I quickly let go of Hayden and tried to push him away, but he didn't move an inch.

That's when I realized-he had an arm wrapped around my waist.

Not only did he not let go, but he pulled me even closer, leaning in to whisper in my ear, "If you're embarrassed, stop squirming. I'll get us out of here."

For once, I actually listened. Instead of shoving him off, I let him steer me through the crowd.

B But of course, the onlookers weren't going to let it go. They started chanting, "Kiss! Kiss! Kiss!"

Classic, right? People love stirring up drama just for fun.

Hayden and I had held hands, hugged-stuff like that-but a kiss? That was uncharted territory.

The more we tried to slip away, the louder the crowd got.

"Do something!" I hissed, pinching Hayden's arm in frustration.

"There's too many people. Kinda hard to get out," he said, like this wasn't a big deal.

Sweat started trickling down my back as anxiety kicked in. Then, Hayden leaned in close again. "How about we just kiss? I won't even charge you."

I blinked, completely caught off guard, momentarily forgetting about the chanting crowd. I looked up at him, wide-eyed.

Chapter 164 Holding hands, hugging, and kissing-each came with a price. That was the deal I made with Pete, that creep, during our first meeting at the coffee shop. So when Hayden mentioned "charging" for a kiss, he definitely knew about that.

That night, after he gave Pete a serious beating. I had a feeling there was more to the story-something Hayden never bothered to fill me in on.

Honestly, I had no idea what to even say to him at this point.

But instead of kissing me, Hayden just grabbed my hand and pulled me, dragging me out of the crowd as we bolted-sprinting through the bustling streets.

It was the first time I'd ever run through a place that packed. People stared in confusion, not sure why we were running, but still stepping aside like we were parting the sea or something.

So there we were, in the middle of the busy street, the crowd parting for us as Hayden led the way. He held my hand tight, glancing back every now and then. The whole thing felt surreal, like some scene straight out of a movie.

The wind whipped my hair in all directions as I watched Hayden pull me along. For a second, it felt like we were running away together-like we were eloping or something.

We kept running until I could barely catch my breath. That's when Hayden finally slowed down, coming to a stop.

Both of us stood there, panting, trying to catch our breath. His hand was still wrapped tightly around mine. My heart was racing like crazy.

Yeah, some of it was from the running, but most of it? That was all Hayden, and this unexpected rush he'd given me.

We didn't say a word. We just stood there, breathing hard, waiting for our breath to even out.

But Hayden still hadn't let go of my hand. I watched his Adam's apple move as he swallowed. Without thinking, I did the same.

The air between us was thick with unspoken feelings.

My heart pounded even faster. In the midst of the tension, I swallowed hard again, and finally, I broke the silence. "Um... why did you make me run?"

"What, were you gonna kiss me for the crowd if we didn't?"

My face went bright red. I had no snappy comeback, so I just yanked my hand, trying to pull free, but of course, he didn't let go. Frustrated, I stomped on his foot.

He winced, finally letting go, and I made a quick escape.

Behind me, I could hear him chuckling, which only made my face heat up even more.

Hayden trailed after me until my embarrassment started to cool off. He stopped in front of a tart stand.

Chapter 164 "I'm getting this one," he said.

I had been the one to offer to treat him, so I couldn't exactly back out now, could I?

I stopped and stared at the lineup of tarts in front of us. There were tiny ones, huge ones, chocolate, fruit- so many choices it was almost overwhelming. My mouth started watering just looking at them.

I loved tarts, but I played it cool. "Which one do you want?" I asked Hayden.

"What about you?"

I scanned the options and pointed to a bunch of different fruit tarts. "One of each of these."

Then I glanced back at him. "And you?"

He pointed to the cheese tarts. "Those."

with our picks settled, I paid.

Hayden didn't fight me over the bill, which was a relief. I'd said I'd treat him, and if he insisted on paying, it would've thrown off the whole vibe. Plus, eating the tarts wouldn't be nearly as fun if I felt like I owed him. "Is yours good?" Hayden asked, right as I was mid-bite a strawberry tart.

I glanced at his untouched cheese tart. "Why, do you want mine now?"

"Yeah, it looks really good," he said, and I had to fight the urge to roll my eyes.

If it looked so good, why didn't he just get the same thing to begin with? And now he wanted mine?

"Yours is probably delicious too," I said, trying to talk him down like you would with a little kid.

loved my fruit tarts, and there was zero chance I was giving them up.

Chapter 165 Chapter 165 "Then try it," Hayden said, pushing his cheese tart toward my mouth.

II instinctively turned my head, but he raised it again, giving me that look that said he wasn't letting it go until I took a bite. With a sigh, I gave in and took a bite.

Honestly, it wasn't bad, but it didn't come close to the sweet fruit tarts I had. Definitely not worth trading for.

Still, with Hayden watching me so closely, I forced a smile and mumbled through a mouthful of cheese tart, "It's really good."

"I wanna try yours, too," he said, completely ignoring his own tart.

Without even thinking, I shoved the strawberry tart behind my back like some kid guarding their favorite candy.

Hayden cracked up. "Relax, I just want a bite, not the whole thing. Look at you, freaking out. You're being really stingy." Okay, maybe I was being a little dramatic. It was just a tart.

Fine, he could have some.

I pulled out the box of mini fruit tarts. Five in total, all different flavors. "Here, take your pick."

But Hayden didn't even glance at them. His eyes were locked on the one in my hand. "I want that one." I froze.

That was the one I'd already taken a bite from.

Before I could even react, Hayden leaned in and took a bite, snagging the part with the strawberry right off the top like it was no big deal.

By the time he finished chewing. I just stared at the half-eaten tart in my hand, not sure if I should still eat It or toss it.

Hayden didn't say anything. He just turned and started walking ahead.

I stared at his back, then glanced down at my half-eaten tart.

No way I was throwing it out.

I quickly shoved the last bite into my mouth, hoping to finish before he noticed. But as soon as I looked up, Hayden turned back, his expression amused. He was grinning in a way I'd never seen before.

My face flushed-again, for what felt like the hundredth time.

"It's too sweet. I need some water," Hayden said, nodding toward a nearby drink stand, breaking the awkwardness.

Chapter 165 get it," I offered, probably sounding way more generous than I felt.

After what happened with the tarts, I didn't even try to pick something out with him. I let him choose whatever he wanted and paid for it right away. "You're not getting anything?" he asked, sounding either genuinely confused or just messing with me.

Nope, not thirsty," I replied, then made the payment and took off, not even waiting for a response.

Hayden followed behind me in silence. He didn't say a word, and after a while, it almost felt like he wasn't even there anymore..

But every time I glanced back, there he was-keeping a steady pace just far enough behind me. Not too close, not too far.

Finally, I couldn't take it anymore. I stopped and turned to face him. "Why are you walking behind me? This is Seavora. What if you get lost?"

I could barely keep a straight face after saying that. He wasn't a kid, after all.

"I can see you better from behind," Hayden said, his words stopping me cold, heat rushing to my face again.

Lately, it felt like I was blushing every five minutes. They say that could be a medical thing. Maybe I should see a doctor.

But I couldn't let Hayden see how flustered I was, so I kept my voice steady. "Who said you need to watch me? Walk in front, and if you want to eat something, tell me now. Otherwise, the food's gonna be gone." So far, all he'd had was a bite of two tarts and some water.

"What do you want to eat?" Hayden asked, totally out of the blue.

I barely had a second to think before he added, "Whatever you eat, I'll eat."

Chapter 166 I spotted a dessert truck and made a beeline for it, ordering my go-to-iced coffee jelly.

Hayden glanced at my cup, frowning.

"What? You don't like it?" I asked, smirking.

"Too much cold stuff's bad for your stomach," he said, all serious.

I laughed. "Wow, look at you being all considerate. Are you sure you've never had a girlfriend before?"

""Nope," he said, totally confident.

I shot him a look, totally not buying it.

"I've got a lit a little sister to take care, so I know some things," he added, and I paused mid-bite.

Wait, what? He has a sister?

He'd never mentioned her before.

Suddenly, these lyrics popped into my head- Talkin' all that, but I know you're caught.

'Every girl's just "like a sis"?

'Boy, you ain't slick, can't play me like this.' It was like Hayden could read my mind because he quickly said, "My actual sister. Same mom, same dad."

I turned my attention back to my coffee jelly, taking another bite. "You've never mentioned her."

"I just never found the right moment," Hayden said, taking a bite of my coffee jelly. I watched him grimace a little He didn't like it.

Jace hadn't liked it either.

Out of spite, he used to say coffee jelly was invented just to torture people.

The thought of Jace left a sour taste in my mouth. "If you don't like it, don't force yourself. You can choose something else."

"It's fine. It's just a little cold," Hayden said, locking eyes with me. "It's late, and this cold stuff isn't gonna sit well with your stomach."

I didn't respond, opting for silent defiance.

Hayden must've sensed my mood because he dropped the subject. We ate our coffee jelly quietly, the tension thick between us.

"Rea," a familiar voice, surprised and slightly confused, sounded from behind me.

I turned to see Steve, a girl on his arm with makeup so perfect it looked airbrushed. Chapter 166 "Hey, Steve," I greeted him.

"Out here enjoying some street food, huh?" Steve asked, not noticing Hayden yet.

Before I could answer, Hayden's spoon slid into my bowl, scooping up a bite of my coffee jelly. As he tasted it, he commented, "It's too cold. You shouldn't eat so much."

Steve's eyes widened as he glanced between me and Hayden, clearly thinking, What's going on here? Knowing his connection with Jace, I smiled slightly and said, "I'm here with my boyfriend."

As I spoke, I casually linked my arm through Hayden's. He played along smoothly, nodding at Steve like this was the most normal thing in the world.

"It's you?" Steve finally gave Hayden a real look and recognized him.

They'd seen each other at the amusement park last time.

Hayden nodded but didn't say a word.

Steve looked totally thrown. Shaking his head in disbelief, he blurted, "Rea, what's going on here? Explain."

There's not much to explain. I'm dating him. And tonight, we had dinner at the Johnston residence. Matthew and Lindey invited us," I said, making sure Steve knew this wasn't just some casual thing. "T-This is way too fast, don't you think?" Steve sounded like he couldn't believe what he was hearing.

I smirked to myself. Jace had hooked up with Tanya before we'd even officially broken up. Wasn't that faster?

"Didn't you tell me to move on? Have you forgotten already?" I shot back.

Steve scratched his head, laughing. "I knew you weren't as soft as you looked. Guess I was right-you've got some bite."

He gave Hayden another look, then said two words. "Good choice."

I knew Steve had my back in this whole little revenge plot against Jace. He'd been on my side through all the drama, Dude was a real friend.

"Alright, you two have fun. Bring this guy by my place sometime-we'll see if he's got what it takes," Steve said with a grin, walking off with some girl on his arm.

Chapter 167 Chapter 167 I didn't even bother asking who she was. With that tight dress and way too much makeup, it was obvious she wasn't his real girlfriend-just some fling for the night.

Once Steve was gone, I glanced back at my coffee jelly, only to realize Hayden had eaten the rest.

"Let's grab something else," Hayden said, not the least bit apologetic.

I clenched my jaw. "Sure, whatever."

He dragged me over to a food truck selling some kind of soup, and this time, he ordered two bowls. At least he didn't steal from mine again-probably because it was not cold food.

So, it wasn't even about him liking the coffee jelly. He just didn't want me to eat too much of it..

This guy could be so annoying, but I had to admit-he was weirdly thoughtful.

After we finished the soup, we kept walking, passing stalls selling vintage clothes, handmade crafts, and potted plants.

At some point, I ended up grabbing two flower pots for Hayden, "Your place is seriously dead. Thought these might liven it up a bit."

"Oh, so you think I'm not lively enough?"

"Fine, fine. Maybe the flowers will just add a little fragrance to your space. Who knows, could even help with your love life," I teased.

Hayden smirked, and there was something in that look like he was about to say something flirty. I immediately threw my hand up. "Don't. Just don't."

He stayed quiet, like a good boy.

With Hayden carrying the plants, we kept wandering around the market. It was almost midnight, but the streets were still buzzing with energy. Knowing he had work in the morning, I finally said, "We should probably head back."

"You sure? You don't wanna walk around a bit longer?" he asked.

"Nah, I'm getting tired," I said, throwing in a fake yawn.

We started walking back, but Hayden was unusually quiet. I didn't really notice, though-I was too distracted by all the food stands and random trinkets.

At one point, I spotted a stall with these cute floral headpieces. Feeling silly, I grabbed one and popped it on my head. How do I look?"

Silence. I turned around to see Hayden staring, looking a little... off.

He gave a slow nod and, after a beat, mumbled, "Uh... It looks nice."

1 frowned and stepped closer. "You don't look nice. What's going on? Are you okay?"

That's when I saw it-the beads of sweat all over his forehead. Like, a lot. My heart skipped a beat as I +25 BC Chapter 167 grabbed his wrist. "Hayden, are you sick?"

"My stomach's acting up a bit," he admitted, not even trying to hide it.

My mind flashed back to earlier-Hayden scarfing down that coffee jelly. "It's the coffee jelly, isn't it?" I asked.

He hesitated, not answering right away, so I tightened my grip on his wrist. He finally gave me a small, guilty, "Mm."

I felt frustration bubble up. "How long has it been hurting?"

"Since we started walking..."

I raised my hand, fully prepared to smack some sense into him, but when I saw his face-pale and sweaty - I stopped myself. Instead, I grabbed his arm. "Alright, we're going to the hospital. Now."

But Hayden didn't move. Instead, he gently pulled me back, then casually paid for the flower headpiece I'd thrown on earlier as a joke.

I wasn't even planning on buying it. But now, thanks to him, I guess I was stuck with it.

I didn't bother arguing. He was looking worse by the second, so I dragged him toward the nearest hospital It was late, and I wasn't sure if we'd even find the right doctor at this hour, so I tried calling Lena.

No luck. She didn't pick up.

With no other options, I rushed Hayden straight to the ER. After a quick check-up and some tests, the doctor said he had acute gastroenteritis-most likely from that contaminated coffee jelly. Weirdly enough, I was totally fine. Maybe he had more of it than I did. The solution? Hook him up to an IV drip and let it run its course.

Since Hayden got sick because of me, there was no way I was leaving him alone.

I sat with him in the infusion room, watching as the usually tough, unshakable Hayden looked surprisingly vulnerable. The pain had softened him-he seemed weak, but in a weirdly endearing way. It was kind of funny, but also a little sad.

I couldn't resist. Pulling out my phone, I snapped a quick picture of him in this rare, helpless state. Hayden- noticed right away, reaching out to stop me. "Hey, stop messing around."

"You're the one messing around," I teased, dodging his hand.

What started as him trying to grab my phone turned into a playful little scuffle. Even with the IV in his arm, we were laughing and joking like a couple of kids-until someone else walked into the room. We both froze instantly.

When I saw who it was, the smile on my face tightened

Chapter 168 Jace's expression mirrored mine-totally frozen.

Ever since we broke up, it seemed like every time we crossed paths, it was some messy, dramatic scene that left us both pissed.

And now, here I was, laughing and messing around with Hayden, while he had Tanya glued to his side.

This was the same Jace who swore up and down he was done with her. Honestly, the whole "guys and their lying tongues thing? Never felt more real.

I only hesitated for a second before forcing myself to look away. Some people are just better off not seen. Out of sight, out of mind, right?

Hayden, on the other hand, acted like Jace wasn't even in the room. He gently took my hand-not to grab my phone this time, but to say, "If you wanna take pics, just ask. I'll make sure I look good."

His voice had that teasing vibe, the kind that made you wonder if there was something more going on. For a second, it almost felt like we were couple.

That must've set Jace off because he stormed forward "Rea, come outside with me," he said, like he had the right to boss me around. He didn't even care Tanya was watching.

I didn't bother looking at him. "I don't have time for this I said.

I really didn't. Hayden was hooked up to an IV, and there was no way I was leaving him alone.

But of course, Jace wasn't done. He reached out, clearly about to try and drag me away. Before he even touched me, though, Hayden stepped in, blocking him. Their eyes locked, and the air got thick with tension, heavy enough to cut with a knife. Neither of them said a word, but the standoff was impossible to ignore.

This wasn't going anywhere good, and I could feel it. Hayden was still hooked up to the IV, and while I knew he could take Jace down without breaking a sweat, if they actually started throwing punches, his treatment would be completely pointless.

I also knew if I tried to step in, it would only make things worse, I was the reason they were ready to throw down in the first place, and jumping in would just light the match.

I glanced over at Tanya, who was visibly unhappy. "Aren't you gonna pull him off?" I snapped, At first, she just stood there, but then I guess something in my voice must've freaked her out, because she flinched. Without saying anything, she grabbed Jace's arm. "Jace, I'm not feeling well. You need to take me to get my IV." Without a word, she grabbed Jace's arm. "Jace, I'm not feeling well. You need to take me to get my IV." Wait-what? She needed an IV too? What kind of IV?

I was still trying to wrap my head around it when the nurse called out, "Who's here for the fetal protection TV? Come over here."

It was late, so the infusion room was practically empty Other than Tanya, there was literally no one else Chapter 16 the nurse could be talking to.

Fetal protection?

Was her baby in trouble?

I glanced at her stomach without thinking. Tanya clung to Jace, looking fragile and scared. "Jace, the doctor's calling me," she mumbled. She tugged him away, forcing Jace to tear his angry glare off me and follow her.

I could see it in Jace's face-he was ready to explode, to come at me, to go after Hayden. But because of Tanya, he held it all back and left.

Jace, the Johnston family's second son, had always been treated like royalty. People practically fell over themselves to make him happy. He was never the one bending for anyone-but with Tanya, it was different.

If he wasn't head-over-heels for her, no way he'd be acting like this.

But if he really loved her, why was he so jealous of me and Hayden in front of her?

I couldn't make sense of their whole deal, and honestly, I didn't want to waste any more energy trying. Once they were gone, I turned to Hayden. "Just focus on your IV."

I didn't want things to escalate with him and Jace. Even though Hayden would easily win that fight, it wasn't worth it.

Hayden sat down, and I stayed close, like earlier on. But the teasing and easy vibe between us had totally disappeared.

I could still hear the nurse talking to Tanya and prepping her IV not too far away. I tried to tune it out, but their conversation was impossible to ignore.

Chapter 169 As I listened to Tanya and the nurse chat, I found out she'd taken a nasty fall at the amusement park earlier today, messing with her pregnancy.

In the end, something did happen to her. But really, who was she gonna blame? 'You reap what you sow fits her situation perfectly.

After the nurse got her IV set up, Tanya and Jace sat down right across from Hayden and me.

It was clear Jace wasn't about to let this go tonight.

At first, he didn't say anything, just glared in our direction.

Hayden and I acted like he didn't even exist. But we both knew he wasn't gonna stay quiet forever.

Sure enough, barely two minutes passed before Jace spoke up, his voice dripping with accusation. "Rea, what's the deal with bringing him back to my home tonight?"

I'd already guessed he was gonna lose it over what happened this evening, and he just proved me right. I stayed calm, my face blank. "It means I'm starting a new life" Jace let out a scoff, his eyes flicking disdainfully toward Hayden.

"Yes, with him," I placed my hand over Hayden's as I spoke. nb him?"

Jace let out a bitter laugh. "You've been turning red at the ears every time you lie since you were a kid. When you fix *that* habit, maybe I'll start believing you! Crap. I had actually forgotten about that. His comment made me want to touch my ears, but I forced myself not to.

If I showed any sign of being flustered, this whole fake thing with Hayden would come crashing down.

Jace kept staring at me, a smug smile creeping onto his face. The look screamed, 'Rea, I'm not buying any of this.

"Her ears turn red when she's mad too," Hayden chimed in.

Jace shot him a death glare, like, 'Who the hell asked you?

But Hayden's words were a lifesaver. He was right-my ears totally turned red when I got pissed, so I didn't need to freak out.

But wait... how did Hayden even know that?

We hadn't known each other that long. Had he really picked up on something so tiny?

If so, he was more observant than I gave him credit for "My ears are red right now because you make me mad I said calmly.

Jace's anger flared, but instead of going off, he sneered "You're just doing this to piss me off 'cause you know, no matter what, you'll always be my girl."

Wow. Seriously?

+25 BONU Chapter 169 The whole "my girl" thing was so cringe, and the way Tanya's face turned bright red made it obvious she felt totally humiliated.

Just as I was about to snap back, Hayden grabbed my hand. Before I could even process it, he kissed the back of it.

The warmth of his lips spread across my skin.

Jace might've thought he had the last word, but Hayden's move? Way louder. And yeah, I knew Hayden was just playing along with our whole fake thing, but still, the feel of his lips left this warm, lingering sensation that had my cheeks totally heating up. Hayden's boldness only made Jace more pissed. He shot up from his seat, but Tanya grabbed his arm, stopping him halfway. She looked up at him, eyes filled with tears. "I just want to finish my treatment in peace. If you don't wanna stay, I'll pull out the IV myself." She actually reached for the IV like she meant it, and Jace immediately stopped her.

Her tears fell, each one hitting the floor with this heavy, dramatic weight.

It worked. Jace instantly calmed down:

Right then, the nurse came over to remove Hayden's IV. He was finally done.

Hayden stood up, and after sitting for so long, his shirt was a little wrinkled. Without thinking, I reached me with his stare.

out and smoothed it down, all too aware that Jace was still drilling holes into?

If I really wanted Jace to get over this twisted idea that I still loved him, I had to do something drastic. So, I made my move.

Grabbing Hayden by the collar, I pulled him down and, standing on my tiptoes, pressed my lips to his.

Chapter 170 Chapter 170 Hayden's body went rigid when I kissed him. Clearly, he hadn't expected me to be that bold, but within seconds, his hand found my waist, pulling me closer.

I pulled back, smirking up at him. "That's your reward for being such a good patient."

As soon as the words left my mouth, a memory of Jace hit me-back when he was sick and had to get an injection. He'd always been terrified of needles, so much that he'd rather suffer through the illness than set foot in a hospital.

For Jace, getting a shot was like facing his worst nightmare. He'd practically throw a fit, almost crying at the idea of it. Every time, I had to coax him for what felt like forever, treating him like a kid-covering his eyes, distracting him with random stories, even letting him bite my arm once just to get through it.

After every hospital trip, it felt like I'd just survived some epic battle. And, of course, Jace would expect a reward afterward-whether it was a dance, a song, or some kind of gift.

Whenever he was sick, he'd turn into a total baby.

It was exhausting. And honestly? Super childish.

In contrast, Hayden had been calm, totally chill, and didn't need any babying. When they gave him the injection, he actually told me to turn around so I wouldn't have to watch.

He even told me to go walk around and not worry about him while he quietly got his IV.

The difference between Hayden and Jace was painfully obvious: Jace never treated me like his girlfriend. I was basically his "personal maid."

Hayden's grip on my waist tightened after my little comment, his voice dropping low. "So, I should get sick more often, huh?"

I knew exactly what Hayden meant. I didn't bother responding and just ready to head out with him.

As we were about to head out, Jace's voice cut through the air. "Rea, so this is what makes you feel better, huh? Now we're even."

I stopped in my tracks, turning back to face him.

His face was tight with anger, though his voice remained calm. He repeated, "We're even now."

Even? What kind of messed-up logic was that? This guy had really lost it.

"Jace Johnston, did you lose your mind?" I shot back, not bothering to stick around for his reply as I walked out.

Hayden's arm stayed around me the whole way to the parking lot. Just as we reached the car, I went to open the door, but Hayden's hand suddenly tightened on my shoulder, spinning me around and pinning me against the car.

He didn't say a word, just looked at me, and that look made my heart race so fast it felt like it was about to leap out of my throat.

I wasn't dumb-I knew that kiss had stirred something in him. So, I couldn't let him get the wrong idea.