Ch. 171..180

Chapter 171 I froze.

I hadn't thought about that.

Probably not. I mean, I haven't kissed many people. Even with Jace, who I crushed on for ages, I only ever stole kisses when he was sick, half-asleep, or passed out drunk. And even then, it was just on his cheek or the back of his hand. But earlier with Hayden... our lips actually touched. That wasn't something Jace and I did much.

Jace used to kiss me on the cheek or forehead all the time, but a real kiss? Lips meeting, like really kissing? There was only one time.

I remember him saying, "Rea, we're too close. I just can't do it."

The truth-was, he just didn't love me enough. Someone once told me that when two people kiss, and it's real-like lips and tongues tangling-it's all dopamine. It's supposed to be uncontrollable.

If you can control it, well, that means you're just not that into them.

"I don't like hypotheticals," I finally said to Hayden.

His jaw tightened, and I watched his Adam's apple move as he swallowed. "But I want to know."

The intensity in his eyes was so strong, I could barely breathe under the weight of it.

I let out a sarcastic laugh. "Why's it such a big deal? First time a girl's kissed you?"

"Yes."

That one word hit me like a slap, and my smile totally froze.

A second later, I heard myself say something awful, like a complete jerk: "Well, I'll make it up to you." "How?" Hayden asked, almost instantly.

I was supposed to be the one in control, but suddenly it felt like I was the one being played.

I knew exactly what kind of "make it up" he meant.

I pressed my lips together, made a decision. If I wanted to shut this down, stop whatever hopes he had, there was only one way.

"Hayden, we agreed this was all fake. Even the kissing. If you're gonna start catching feelings, I'll have to find someone else."

"Planning to switch boyfriends every day?" His voice was cold.

1 gave a small, heartless smile. "It's not what I want, but if you can't handle it, then what choice do I have?" Hayden didn't say a word. I could feel this chill rolling off him, like he was trying to freeze me out.

But I pushed on, twisting the knife a little more. "I get it you're all... pure. And yeah, asking you to fake this -holding hands, kissing-you're right, I've been using you. So let's end this whole fake thing right now." Chapter 121 I gave him a shove and pushed open the car door.

He didn't move. I rolled down the window, giving him one last look. "Not gonna leave?"

Nothing.

I was about to say more, but bit it back. Instead, I rolled up the window and slammed on the gas.

As the car sped off, I glanced in the rearview mirror. Hayden was still there, standing alone in the dark. He looked... abandoned, like the world had just dropped him.

For a second, guilt hit me hard.

I wasn't sure if he'd go back to his place across from mine, but I couldn't face going home right now.

I tried calling Lena again-still no answer.

She was probably stuck in surgery again.

With nowhere else to go, I headed back.

When I pulled up to my place, I glanced up at Hayden's window before getting out of the car.

It was pitch black, which meant he wasn't back yet.

I didn't know where he'd gone, but I exhaled a shaky breath and stepped out of the car.

I made my way upstairs, but the second I hit my floor, I froze.

Someone was standing there, in the dark hallway.

Flashes of Pete following me last time raced through my head.

My body went into survival mode. Without thinking, I turned and bolted.

Chapter 172 "It's me!"

A familiar voice echoed down the hallway.

I grabbed the railing, coming to a sudden stop. All the tension drained out of me in an instant.

A second later, I turned around and saw Hayden standing there, half-hidden in the shadows.

The awkwardness from earlier still hung in the air, thick and uncomfortable. I didn't know what to say, so I went with annoyed-always a safe move. "Do you even realize how creepy you look just standing there like that?" He just grunted. That one sound.

God, it was frustrating. He had no idea how cold and dismissive that little "mm" came off, and it drove me insane.

I was ready to snap at him again, but then he spoke, his voice low and soft. "It won't happen again."

That shut me up.

I pulled out my keys, turning to unlock my door. Just as the key slid into the lock, his voice came again, low and quiet. "I had the wrong idea tonight. It won't happen again." Wait, what?

I froze, glancing back, but he was already slipping into his half-open door.

Our eyes met for a split second before he shut it. "Goodnight," he said.

I opened my mouth, but before I could even think of something to say, it was too late. "What do you mean again"?"

I knew exactly what he meant. He wasn't agreeing to end whatever this fake thing between us was.

But I couldn't keep doing this. I didn't want to.

Regret hit me hard. Why had I ever asked Hayden to pretend to be my boyfriend?

It wasn't like I was worried he'd get too attached. No, the problem was me. I didn't want to hurt him.

He'd never had a girlfriend before, and I'd used him like a freaking prop. His first hug, first hand-hold, even his first kiss. All with me.

I felt like the worst person alive.

Cursing under my breath, I stepped into my apartment, guilt gnawing at me like a bad case of heartburn. No way I was getting any sleep tonight.

And when I finally did, my dreams were filled with Hayden. Every time I turned around, there he was, looking lost. "Why'd you kiss me?" he'd ask, over and over. "That was my first kiss."

I woke up suffocating in guilt, even though it was still stupidly early-pitch black outside.

I grabbed my phone. 4:30 a.m.

Chapter 172 Hayden would already be up. If I had my timing right, he'd be on his morning run by now..

This was my chance to avoid him.

I jumped out of bed, threw on some clothes, and bolted out the door.

Driving through the empty streets as the sky barely started to lighten, I couldn't help but feel like a total loser. Here I was, grown, living in my own place, and yet I was sneaking around like some kind of fugitive. I started leaving earlier and coming home later, managing to dodge him day after day.

But every night, like clockwork, there was always a cold breakfast sitting by my door. And with every passing day, the guilt just got worse.

I thought about texting Hayden a bunch of times, telling him to stop with the breakfast thing.

But every time I tried, I'd freeze. What if he asked me something I wasn't ready to deal with? So instead, I just ignored it and left the food untouched.

I figured he'd get the hint.

Sure enough, by day three, I came home, and the breakfast was gone.

I let out a long breath, feeling relieved. But somehow, a tiny part of me felt... empty.

That feeling annoyed the hell out of me, and I couldn't help but mutter a few choice words under my breath.

They say when your love life's a train wreck, your career blows up, right? Turns out, that's pretty spot on.

Work was killing it. I even locked down a huge contract over the phone. Just had to meet the client in person to seal the deal.

"Ms. Kay, is it true you've been rolling in at six every morning?" Ron asked, smirking as he bumped into me in the break room.

Chapter 173 Chapter 173 I chuckled and nodded. "Just trying to catch up on all the company stuff as fast as I can."

"I get it, but you're coming in way too early. You know we don't do overtime, right?" Ron joked. I smiled a little. "Yeah, it's voluntary."

"That's why you're a department head. If everyone was as dedicated as you, OceanixCorp would be unstoppable." His flattery was almost laughable, but with Ron, it was hard to tell if he was joking or serious, so I never really took it to heart.

"But seriously," he added, his tone shifting, "the company can't run on your back alone. I've noticed how hard you've been working, and I've already let the higher-ups know. The boss said no more of this early morning routine. If you burn out, it'd be a real loss for the company."

So, just like that, Ron had made sure I couldn't sneak in those early hours anymore.

But that was fine. I didn't feel the need to dodge Hayden anymore. He hadn't left breakfast at my door for the past few days, so I figured he'd finally gotten the hint.

"I heard you've got a big client coming in today?" Ron asked, switching gears.

"Yeah, they're coming at ten. Just about an hour from now," I said, flashing a quick smile. "Mr. Shane, if you'll excuse me, I need to finish prepping.

"Of course, good luck," Ron said, raising his coffee cup in a laid-back salute.

I headed back to my office and went over all the materials one more time. By 9:50, I was already in the conference room, making sure everything was set, This client was a big deal. If we landed this account, it'd more than make up for the resources Jace had snatched from me recently-and it'd boost our numbers a few percentage points, which wouldn't hurt either. Right on the dot, at ten, the client walked in.

But the moment I saw who it was, my face fell.

It was Jace.

The company I was supposed to negotiate with wasn't RiverwaveCorp, so now he'd come sneaking in under some other name.

He caught the shift in my expression right away but just smiled like he had all the time in the world, extending his hand. "Hello, Ms. Kay."

I didn't take it. I just stared at him, feeling my anger flare. The smug look on his face, the way he acted like he was running the show, made my blood boil.

But I held it together and shot back coolly, "Are you really here to talk business, or just to mess with me?" "Business, obviously. What else would I be here for?" Jace shot back, all bad boy swagger. It was such a sharp contrast from the cold, distant front he used to put up around me.

25 BONUS Chapter 173 "Fine. Let's get started on the terms of the deal," I said, knowing full well he had an agenda. But still, I went through the motions, keeping it professional, even if I didn't trust a word he said.

I had already gone over the details of this new company, EverRise Energy. It was a young startup, only. two years old, but with major potential and rapid growth.

It was obvious Jace wasn't putting all his eggs in the RiverwaveCorp basket. And it wasn't hard to see why -RiverwaveCorp was his father's legacy, and Wayne always had a say in things. Jace played along smoothly, agreeing to every single one of my terms without batting an eye.

His cooperation was almost too smooth, which instantly set off alarms in my head. There was no way Jace was here just to talk business.

Sure enough, after we wrapped up negotiations and it came time for him to sign the contract, he pulled me aside and said, "Rea, why are you wasting your time as a small department director at this tiny company?" I stayed silent, just pressing my lips together and staring at him.

"Stop being so stubborn," Jace continued, his tone casual but dripping with that air of superiority he always carried. "I'll make you the boss. EverRise Energy could be yours."

"Looks like you're not here to talk business after all," I shot back sarcastically. "You're trying to poach me. "I'm just trying to bring you back to my side," Jace said, showing a rare flicker of genuine emotion.

I glanced at his thin lips. Old folks in Kehlmark always said men with thin lips were heartless, and maybe there was some truth to it.

"There's no point in saying it again. You get that we're done, right?" I said, keeping my tone steady. Jace's face twisted in frustration. "I've done all of this for you, and you still want more?"

"What I want," I replied, calm but firm, "is for you to quit holding on to the past and end this stupid back-and-forth."

His fake smile faded, and the tension between us hit a whole new level.

Before he could fire back, Ron strolled up, standing next to me. He gave Jace a quick nod, then turned to me. "Ms. Kay, just got word from the boss. He's not signing off on the deal."

Chapter 174 The mysterious big boss of OceanixCorp-always out of sight, yet somehow knew everything.

Jace's anger flipped to Ron in an instant. "No deal? Do you even know who you're talking to? Do you know who I am?"

Right then, Jace was the perfect example of an arrogant, new-money jerk.

Ron, casually sipping his water like some old pro, smiled that polite but totally patronizing smile. "Oh, my boss knows exactly who you are. That's why he's not going forward with this deal." It was barely anything, but it hit Jace hard.

Jace looked like he was gonna explode. His eyes narrowed, and he practically hissed, "Who the hell is your boss? Does he not want to do business in Seavora anymore?"

"Mmm, my boss said even if he couldn't do business in Seavora, he still wouldn't work with you," Ron's voice was smooth, but there was a sharpness beneath the polite surface.

Jace's face turned an ugly shade of purple. "Fine! Just wait. And tell your so-called boss the same."

"Will do," Ron replied. "Oh, and my boss said to tell Mr. Johnston he's more than welcome to bring it on.

That line was enough to make anyone's blood boil, and I swear the veins on Jace's forehead were about to burst. I half-expected him to take a swing at Ron's annoyingly calm, ever-smiling face.

But he held back. After a few tense seconds of glaring at Ron, he turned back to me. "Rea, I know you're soft-hearted. You hate dragging other people into your problems.

"If you come with me right now, I'll let this go.

"But if not, don't blame me when this company ends up paying for your stubbornness."

When sweet talk didn't work, he switched to threats. Typical Jace.

Yeah, I grew up in the Johnston family, ate their food, lived under their roof, but my parents didn't raise me to back down.

If Jace thought he could scare me into submission, he wouldn't be standing here right now. "If you go through with that, whatever respect I have left for you will be gone. Completely." "You've already fucking thrown me away. What the hell is there left to respect?" He snapped.

I wasn't about to argue with Jace in front of everyone, and I definitely wasn't going to give my coworkers more fuel for gossip. I straightened up, eyes cold. "Mr. Johnston, you can leave now."

His hands twitched in the air, like he was seriously debating whether to strangle me or drag me out of here by force.

Ron chose that exact moment to step in. "Ms. Kay, if you're not planning to walk Mr. Johnston out, would you mind joining me in my office? There's something I'd like to discuss."

The timing was spot-on, and honestly, I wanted to talk to him, too.

I left with Ron, not sparing Jace another glance. Let him stew in his own anger.

Chapter 174 Once we were in Ron's office, I didn't waste any time. "Mr. Shane, who exactly is the big boss? And how did he know about what went down today?"

Whoever the CEO of OceanixCorp was, he wasn't just mysterious-he was watching out for me. Canceling a deal that could've been worth a lot just because Jace was involved? That felt personal, and I was getting suspicious. "I told him," Ron said casually, leaning back in his chair like it was no big deal. "How else would he know? He's not some omniscient being."

"Why did he cancel the deal? Does he know Jace? I pressed.

Ron sat there grinding coffee, his fingers-more graceful than most women's-moving effortlessly against the dark machine. The whole thing was strangely mesmerizing.

"Maybe. I don't know the details," Ron said with a quick, practiced smile.

That smile threw me off. He might look sunny and masculine, but there was something soft about that smile that didn't sit right.

I glanced around Ron's office, searching for any clues about the mysterious CEO. But nothing in here gave away a single hint about the big boss.

I took a deep breath, deciding to go straight for it. "When's the big boss coming to the office?"

"Hmm... hard to say. Maybe around the end of the year, but honestly, he doesn't really care about the day-to-day stuff."

I had to stop myself from rolling my eyes. Not interested in the company's affairs? And yet, he personally tanked a major deal because of me?

I let out a small, sarcastic laugh. "So, from what I'm hearing, the big boss is just a figurehead?"

Ron nodded, amused. "More or less," he agreed, before flashing that sly grin again. "Except when he feels like flexing his authority, like today.

Chapter 175 "Do you have any information about the big boss?" If I couldn't meet him, at least knowing his name would clear up some of the mystery.

Ron glanced up at me. "Getting curious about the boss now?"

"Yeah, he's way too mysterious. It makes people naturally curious," I admitted.

Ron finished grinding the coffee beans and brought them up to his nose for a sniff. "Smells good."

Then, looking at me, he offered, "How about I brew you a cup?"

"No, thanks." I didn't have time to drink coffee. My curiosity about the elusive CEO of this company had already taken over my thoughts.

Ron, undeterred, lifted the jar of freshly ground coffee beans toward me. "These are from the boss himself. You sure you don't want to try some?"

"I'd rather meet him in person than drink the coffee he sent," I said bluntly, voicing my true thoughts. Ron just laughed, not saying a word.

His laugh totally threw me off. "What's so funny? Did I say something ridiculous, or am I just missing the joke here?"

He shook his head. "Nah, not at all. It's just funny how our big boss works his magic. He's got you hooked, and he hasn't even shown his face yet. Smooth, right?"

I just stared at him. Speechless.

I knew Ron was messing with me, but I wasn't about to lose focus.

When he set a cup of coffee in front of me, I cut right to the chase. "If you're worried I'll fall head over heels for the guy, just show me his résumé. That way I can get to know him without all the mystery." "Yeah, that's not gonna happen," Ron said, shutting me down like I knew he would.

I smirked. "And why's that?"

He put on that fake 'sorry, nothing I can do' face. "Boss's orders."

"Seriously?" I asked, feeling like he was totally playing me.

"He's worried people might get a crush on him," Ron said with a straight face, the smell of the coffee filling the room.

Growing up in the Johnston family, I knew fancy coffee when I smelled it. This stuff? t was high-end. Clearly, the CEO wasn't just some average guy.

"You have no idea," Ron added. "Our boss? Total heartthrob. Forget the girls-honestly, every time I see him, I can barely... keep it together. No shame, zero hesitation.

I had to laugh to myself. Ron was going in circles, but the message was clear. I wasn't meeting the boss. Yeah, I was curious about the guy, but pushing it any further would just make things awkward. Chapter 175 And the last thing I wanted was for Ron to think I was trying to social climb.

"Try the coffee," he offered. "One sip, and you'll never go back."

I gave a small smile. "If it's that good, I should probably pass. Pretty sure I can't afford a new addiction."

I got up and made my way to the door.

"You sure you don't want it? This stuff's not something Just anyone gets to try. Don't come crying to me later!" Ron called after me.

I walked out of his office, letting out a long, frustrated sigh.

Half of my stress was from Jace, and the other half? Ron.

For all his chill vibes and harmless look, Ron could seriously get under your skin sometimes.

Back in my office, I tried casually asking around about the elusive big boss. Everyone I talked to said the same thing: since they'd started working here, they'd only ever seen Ron. No one had even heard of the CEO, let alone met him. Could the CEO of OceanixCorp be, like, some urban legend? Was this whole thing just Ron messing with me?

I was still lost in thought, trying to make sense of it, when my phone rang. Demi's voice came through, all frantic and shaky, like she was about to cry. "Keira, something's happened!"

Chapter 176

That really gave me a scare.

Demi's voice had my heart racing instantly. "What happened? Take a breath and tell me what's going on."

"Some guys showed up at the amusement park looking for Mr. Hart. A whole group of them, covered in tattoos-scary looking." Hearing that actually made me relax a bit.

At least it wasn't some other serious accident.

From the way she described it, it sounded like just some punks trying to start trouble with Hayden.

Even though Demi was clearly freaked out, and yeah, the guys sounded pretty intimidating, I wasn't exactly worried.

Because Hayden? He could handle himself.

That unshakable faith I had in him-it kind of confused me too. But deep down, I just knew no one could

hurt him.

"Have they done anything yet?" I asked.

"No, not yet. They haven't found Mr. Hart, but they're asking around. It won't be long before they track him down," Demi's voice was shaky. "What should we do? Should we call the police?" I thought for a second. "Go find Mr. Hart and ask him what he wants to do. Let him decide whether to call the cops or not."

I had no idea what those guys wanted with Hayden, so it was better to let him make the call on how to

handle it.

"Okay," Demi said, then paused. "Keira, are you coming?"

I didn't hesitate. "Of course!"

If something was going down with Hayden, there was no way I was sitting this one out.

Plus, I had a feeling this might be tied to Jace. He'd stormed out earlier, all pissed off, threatening to make my employer pay. If Hayden got caught up in that mess, I wouldn't be shocked.

I hung up and grabbed my bag, heading straight for the door. As I made my way down the hallway, I called Jace. Just as I passed Ron's office, he stepped out and saw me with my bag. "Where are you going?" he asked.

I was waiting for Jace to pick up, so I didn't answer right away.

"Ms. Kay, I'm talking to you. Where are you headed?" Ron asked again.

Before I could respond, Jace's voice came through the phone. "What now? Changed your mind already?"

I didn't waste time. "Did you send people to the amusement park?"

Jace scoffed on the other end. "What are you talking about? What people?"

Chapter 176

+25 BO

His answer made me stop in my tracks.

For all his faults, Jace was usually pretty direct-aside from that one time with Tanya. If this was his move, if he was trying to use Hayden to get me back, he wouldn't be playing dumb. So, whatever was happening at the amusement park? It had nothing to do with Jace..

But then who were these guys, and why were they after Hayden?

"Jace, you better not be lying to me, and you better stay the hell away from Hayden," I warned before hanging up.

Almost immediately, Jace called me back, but I didn't bother answering.

I drove straight to the amusement park, my mind racing the whole way.

T

When I got there, I saw exactly what Demi had described-Hayden was surrounded by a group of burly, tattooed men. Just looking at them, it was obvious they were trouble.

Demi grabbed my sleeve, her voice shaky. "Mr. Hart didn't want me to call the police, but I'm freaking out. Should we call them now?"

I didn't answer right away. Instead, I stepped forward to get a better feel for what was going on.

One of the men was talking to Hayden. "If you wanna keep breathing, you better stay in your lane. You know what's at stake here."

didn't even flicker. "What's the problem? Did someone get nervous and send you

Hayden's expression guys to do their dirty work?"

"Don't play dumb. By now, you should know your place, the bald dude-clearly the boss-snapped, his shiny head catching the sunlight like a freaking mirror. half-expected a bug to skid off it.

"If I've done something, trust me, I've already weighed the consequences. If you wanna stop me, you're gonna have to kill me. And just so you know, I'm not backing down. So go ahead. I'm more than welcome to bring it on." Hayden's voice was calm but carried a weight to it, leaving goosebumps prickling my skin.

Chapter 177 Chapter 177 The words felt weirdly familiar-like something I'd just heard earlier today. Not straight from Ron, but him quoting the big boss.

My eyes drifted to Hayden, and for a second, I wondered. But from what I knew about him, there was no way he had any connection to the mysterious CEO. "Tough guy, huh?" The bald leader let out this cold, almost amused laugh. "Let's see what being tough costs you today."

He cracked his neck, each pop sounding like a warning, before giving the command. "Smash it!"

In seconds, his crew started wrecking the amusement park. But Hayden didn't move an inch. I knew why.

He wasn't scared. He was calculating. These guys weren't just wrecking the park for fun-this was a direct hit on Jace's business. The stakes just got real.

Right on cue, the amusement park's security team rushed in. They might not have cared about stepping in for Hayden, but when it came to protecting the park? That was their job.

Even though the intruders were tough, they were outnumbered, and it didn't take long for the security team to start taking them down.

But these punks weren't rookies. Just when things seemed under control, the bald leader grabbed the head of security and yanked him close, pressing a knife to his throat. "Everyone back off, or I'll spill his blood right here!" he barked.

I hadn't expected things to blow up like this. My heart raced as I signaled the security team to let the other thugs go.

They did, releasing the rest of the gang.

But the bald guy? He still had a firm grip on the head of security. His eyes locked on Hayden. "Think you're tough? I love breaking tough guys. How about you get on your knees and beg? Do that, and maybe I'll let him go. Otherwise, he's done." I couldn't stay quiet anymore. "You can't just hurt people like that!"

His eyes snapped to me, a sleazy grin spreading across his face. "Well, well, where'd this hottie come from? If you're so good at looking out for people, why don't you come over here, sweetheart? I promise! won't hurt you-or him." People always say two out of three punks are total creeps, and this guy was proving it spot on.

He started dragging his hostage closer, like he wasn't planning to let me off the hook whether I moved or not. I braced myself, ready to act if he came any closer But before I could do anything, Hayden moved-so fast I barely caught it. One second, he was beside me; the next, he was right in front of the bald guy. In one smooth motion, Hayden's leg shot out.

The bald guy yelped as Hayden's kick slammed into his chest, launching him backward.

With a solid thud, he hit the ground hard, his head bouncing off the pavement with a satisfying thwack- twice, for good measure.

Chapter 177 All I could think was: Lots of meat, lots of bounce. It was ridiculous, but also weirdly accurate.

The other thugs froze, staring at their leader in shock. Then they snapped out of it, shouting, "Darby!" as they rushed to his side.

Seeing their boss taken down so easily, the rest of the gang looked like they'd lost all their nerve. They seemed ready to charge at Hayden, but he cut them off with a sharp, commanding. "Get lost!" They stopped cold.

A moment later, they were scrambling to help their bleeding leader, hauling him to his feet before slinking off, looking pretty shaken.

I exhaled, my eyes scanning the damage they'd left behind. Shattered glass, wrecked rides-everything was trashed.

Turning to Hayden, I asked, "What's going on here?"

He didn't bother hiding it. "It's about my dad's car accident. They don't want me looking into it any further.

I stared at him, stunned. If they were going this far to shut him down, then something was definitely up with his father's death.

Instinctively, I asked, "What have you found out so far?

Hayden stayed quiet, his silence stretching out. That's when I realized how awkward my question was, especially since I'd been avoiding him for days. Maybe it was too much to ask.

I gave a nervous, embarrassed smile. "Never mind, 1- Before I could finish, someone called out, "Mr. Johnston."

Chapter 178 "What's going on here?"

Jace's voice sliced through the air, icy and commanding.

Gone was the shameless guy who'd been messing with me back at OceanixCorp.

People always said women could switch their attitudes in a snap, but guys? They were no different. The head of security, still looking freaked out from whatever went down earlier, rushed over and explained everything, his voice shaky. Jace's gaze locked onto Hayden. "So, all of this is because of Mr. Hart's personal grudge?"

I could already tell Jace was gonna twist this to come after Hayden, and I had a bad feeling about it. But Hayden didn't even flinch. Jace's lips curled into this smug, mocking smile. "That right, Mr. Hart?" "Yeah," Hayden said.

Jace bent down, picking up a broken piece of debris from the ground. "So, how do you think we should handle this?"

"What do you want?" Hayden clearly saw through Jace's intentions.

I stayed quiet. Saying anything now would only make things worse.

If it weren't for me, Jace wouldn't have made such a big deal out of this. He probably would've defended Hayden.

After all, this was happening on RiverwaveCorp's turf, and those thugs were wrecking the company's amusement park. The whole 'you don't mess with someone's property thing definitely applied. These thugs causing a scene? I t was a straight-up hit on Jace's pride.

Jace tossed the broken piece aside and brushed his hands off, like he was wiping away something disgusting. "You've got personal issues to handle, so it's probably best you focus on that. Wayne will be taking over here until you've sorted everything out." I was stunned. Jace was basically kicking Hayden off the project.

The lighting setup was almost finished, so whether Hayden stayed or not wouldn't make much of a difference. Jace knew that. This wasn't about the work it was like throwing him away after he'd served his purpose.

Suddenly, my stomach dropped. What if those guys from earlier were sent by Jace, just so he'd have an excuse to get Hayden fired?

"I don't work for you, Mr. Johnston," Hayden said, standing his ground. "You don't get to decide if I stay or go."

Jace smirked, totally smug. "Oh yeah? Wanna bet?"

He whipped out his phone, and I knew exactly what he was doing-calling Hayden's boss, trying to get him kicked off the project.

Chapter 128 I jump 1. in. " Johnston, isn't it a little reckless to make a decision without getting the full story? Plus..." I hesitated, then pushed forward, "I mean, sure, the lighting's almost done, but are you really sure it's gonna turn out the way you want without Mr. Hart?"

Just then, Wayne came rushing over, probably after hearing the commotion.

I saw my opening and went for it. "Wayne, Mr. Johnston's thinking about letting Mr. Hart go and having. you finish up the lighting. You think you're ready for that?" I tossed the challenge right at him.

Okay, not my most ethical move. But I was counting on Wayne backing me up.

Wayne's face shifted, just for a second, before he turned to Jace. "There's still the system test after the lighting. It'd be smarter if Mr. Hart stayed on until the final inspection."

Jace's smirk vanished. He shot Wayne a death glare, clearly pissed that his own brother wasn't backing him up.

But Jace had already made up his mind. He wasn't about to let it go. Cold and businesslike, he looked at Wayne and said, "If you're dead set on keeping him, we're not even making it to the final test. The whole amusement park's gonna get wrecked by then."

Chapter 179 Wayne, clearly in the loop, glanced at Hayden before saying, "Mr. Hart will handle this. His personal stuff won't mess with his work. Our security team also dropped the ball today, so we can't blame him entirely." Jace's face turned an alarming shade of purple, like he couldn't believe Wayne was backing Hayden and ignoring his authority.

"I'm in charge of the park now, so I'll deal with it," Wayne added, basically telling Jace to stay in his lane.

Jace looked ready to explode. If anyone else had said that, they'd be fired on the spot. But it was Wayne- his brother-so he had to hold back. "Fine," Jace spat through gritted teeth. "But if this happens again, both of you will pay for it."

He stormed off.

As soon as he was gone, I let out a long breath of relief.

Wayne turned to Hayden. "You'll need to submit a report about what happened. I'll handle the but you or your company will cover the costs."

His tone was firm but fair, keeping personal feelings out of it.

Hayden, never one to dodge responsibility, just replied, "Alright."

rk repairs, Wayne nodded and walked off. He didn't look my way, but I knew that if it weren't for me, he wouldn't have taken Hayden's side.

Wayne's feelings for me were clear but carefully held back. The fact that he stood up to Jace for my sake made me feel both guilty and unsure how to repay him. ading out.

With everything settled, I didn't have a reason to stay. I shot Hayden a quick glance before heading But just as I pulled out of the parking lot, Jace's car swerved in front of me, cutting me off. He jumped out, stormed over, and yanked open my door, sliding into the passenger seat. ""Drive," he ordered.

I had no clue what his deal was. "If you've got something to say, just say it. I don't have time for this."

"I said, drive!" Jace barked, tugging at his collar, clearly on edge.

He looked pissed, like really pissed, and pushing him any further definitely wasn't a good idea. I tightened my grip on the wheel. "Fine. Where to?" "Just drive!" he shouted again.

Seeing no point in arguing, I pressed on the gas and took off. He didn't give me a destination, so I figured I'd head toward the Johnston residence.

A few minutes in, Jace realized where we were headed, "Who said I wanted to go home?"

You didn't say you didn't," I shot back.

"Rea, are you trying to drive me crazy? Did you even see Hayden? He's not as harmless as he looks. He's Chapter 170 mixed up with dangerous people-the kind who don't hesitate to mess with RiverwaveCorp's property. Do you have any idea what they might do next?" Jace wasn't one to talk this much at once.

I got what he was trying to say: he didn't want me getting too close to Hayden, worried that Hayden's enemies might come after me too..

"Mr. Johnston, do you remember that girl who had a thing for you? The one who locked me in a hospital morgue, trying to scare me off? She said if I didn't leave you, I'd end up as one of the bodies. And yet, after I got out, I still stayed. I didn't walk away." Jace's expression darkened even more at my words.

"I'm not someone who scares easily. I'm definitely not the type to run off the moment things get messy," I said, locking eyes with him, my voice steady.

"Rea, don't be so damn ungrateful!" Jace snapped, ripping off his tie and wrapping it around his wrist.

"We don't owe each other anything anymore. Whether I live, die, or get tied up, it's none of your business. You've got other people to worry about."

Just as I finished, my phone buzzed. The screen lit up on the car's display, showing a message Tanya:

from [Keira, I'm waiting for you.] There was a location link attached

Chapter 180 Just because Tanya said she was waiting for me, did that mean I had to drop everything and go? Who did she think she was?

I ignored the message, not giving it a second thought. Meanwhile, Jace kept staring at me, completely unaware of the notification that had flashed across the screen.

"Rea, are you seriously done with me? Jace asked, his eyes bloodshot.

I was so tired of this conversation. How many times did I have to say it? "What do I have to do to make you get it? Marry Hayden just to prove I'm serious?"

I'd already kissed Hayden just to get Jace off my back, but he still refused to believe I meant it.

"Keira Kay!" he growled my name.

That tone used to make me nervous. But now? I didn't feel a thing.

It's weird how things shift when you stop caring about someone.

I glanced down for a second before looking him straight in the eye. "Jace, it's really over. I don't know how else to say it. Even if every guy on this planet disappeared and you were the last one standing, I still wouldn't choose you." Yeah, it was harsh-maybe even cruel-but I was so over his constant pushing.

Jace's face went pale, like I'd just thrown a bucket of ice water at him. For a second, he just stared at me, speechless.

I didn't even have to look to know what was written all over his face-anger, frustration, and that look of you're breaking me.

"You're gonna regret this," he muttered.

gripped the steering wheel tighter. "I won't. I don't."

"Even if something happens to me-if I get hurt, or worse-still won't regret it?" His words came out of nowhere.

I shot him a confused glance. His eyes were red. "I know I messed up. I know I hurt you. I've tried everything to fix it, to get you to forgive me, but you won't give me another chance."

He shook his head, his eyes getting glassier with unshed tears. "What, do you want me to get down on my knees and beg?"

This was real regret-I could feel it.

I'd known for a while that Jace regretted what he did. He wouldn't be acting like this otherwise, going so rout of his usual tough-guy persona. But some things, once broken, can't be put back together.

"Jace, I don't need you to do anything." I said calmly. "Because nothing you do is going to change things now."

Jace let out a bitter laugh. "So, that's it, huh? You're just sentencing me to death. No trial, no appeal. Just done." Chapter 180 I didn't say anything, because honestly, yeah, that was pretty much what I was doing.

"Fine. Fine," he muttered, nodding. He turned away, staring out the window.

I saw him wipe the corner of his eye.

Was he crying?

For a second, my chest tightened.

"Pull over," Jace said.

I slammed on the brakes, and the car jerked to a stop. Jace threw open the door and got out without even glancing back.

I just sat in my car, watching him toss his jacket over his shoulder and kick at the air. He kept walking, getting smaller and smaller, and I knew right then-whatever Jace and I had? It was done. Completely over.

Tanya must've gotten impatient. After not seeing me or getting a reply to her texts, she called me directly. Already on edge, I sent it straight to voicemail. Not even a minute later, another message popped up: [Keira, I just want to talk. I swear, I don't mean any harm. I'll wait for you as long as it takes.] That last line? Totally just a way to guilt-trip me, like some passive-aggressive threat.

But I wasn't falling for it. If she wanted to wait, that was her choice. It had nothing to do with me.