Ch. 301..310
Chapter 301
Hayden let out this dramatic sigh, like I was too much to handle. "Because you're the only one who makes me forget all my principles "
He wasn't even trying to be smooth, but everything he said sounded like it belonged on some sappy Pinterest board. He didn't say he loved me, but it was written all over his face. I swallowed, still chewin
commeal pancake. "Hayden, get over here."
"What for?" He looked at me, confused.
"Just come here when I tell you to," I demanded, probably a little too bossy.
He stood up and moved closer. As soon as he sat down, I rested my head on his shoulder.
He seemed surprised, but I mumbled, "I can eat better leaning on you."
He laughed softly, this warm sound that made me smile, too.
T
After dinner, we left the hospital and headed home. Once Hayden had me all settled in, I asked, "Are you staying here tonight, or going back to your place?" "Staying here!" he replied without a second thought.
I suddenly remembered him doing push-ups and taking cold showers in the middle of the night. I
narrowed my eyes at him. "Then no push-ups at 2 AM, okay?"
His cheeks turned pink as he tried to act all serious. "Don't bring that up again."
I snuggled closer, wrapping my arms around his waist. "If you don't do it, I won't mention it."
Hayden swallowed hard. "Kiki, don't tease."
"Can't handle it?" I teased, going even bolder.
He grabbed my waist, his grip tightening. "Don't be naughty, and definitely don't... tempt me."
His voice was deep and rough by the end of that sentence.
"Hayden, you want to, don't you?" I asked, each word more daring than the last.
"Kiki...."
My hand slipped under his T-shirt, tracing along his skin like I had all the time in the world.
"Kiki," he breathed out, his voice completely wrecked now.
I stood on my tiptoes, brushing my lips lightly against his ear. "I'm okay now."
Hayden froze.
I really was okay, but he didn't seem convinced. Or maybe he was just scared to go there again.
And I have no idea what got into me. It was like I couldn't stop pushing his buttons, getting more and more excited watching him struggle to keep it together-sweat beading on his nose, veins popping at his temples. Chapter 301
"Just wait a little longer. You're probably still healing. Even if you're fine now, you need more time to recover," Hayden pleaded, his voice tight with restraint.
I shook my head. "No, I want it now."
"Kiki..."
"The more you say no, the more I want it."
He didn't say anything after that. He just stared at me, and my heart raced, like I'd just dared him to cross some invisible line.
A moment later, his hands were on my waist, lifting me off the ground.
My little plan had worked. I giggled, resting my head on his shoulder.
Then I remembered what those two girls at work had said today. I traced my fingers over the hickey I'd left on his neck. "Hayden, I heard you made the rounds of every office today. Were you showing off on purpose?" "Yeah, something like that," he said, his breath still uneven.
"What do you mean, 'something like that?" I asked as he carried me to the bathroom.
"I wasn't showing off. I was making an announcement, Hayden said, setting me down on the sink counter.
That's when it hit me-something was up. "An announcement about what?"
He leaned in, his breath hot against my skin, sending shivers down my spine.
His voice was so deep it made my pulse race. He locked eyes with me, that intense gaze making my stomach flip. "An announcement to anyone who thinks they have a chance with me that I'm already taken.
I burst out laughing, the kind of laugh that would shake your whole body.
It wasn't to mock him; it was pure happiness. No one had ever said something like that to me before, and the fact that it was him? It just made everything sweeter.
Hayden didn't try to stop me. He let me laugh.
When I finally caught my breath, he reached for the collar of my shirt, and that's when I realized where we were. The bathroom.
Was he seriously planning to make our second time happen in here?
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I returned to bed, wrapped up like a human burrito, I realized I was the one with the dirty mind.
n's self-control was something else I couldn't even put a dent in it.
e did was give me a bath. A regular, innocent bath
en though I'd already pushed h
mits, I couldn't resist teasing him. "What, afraid you can't keep up?"
He
hat's the kind of comment that would get under any guy's skin. But Hayden wasn't just any guy. pinned me down, his voice firm. "Knock it off and behave. You're wasting your time."
He saw right through my little game.
"You've really hurt my feelings," I said, pretending to be all sad and pulling the blanket over my head in frustration.
He pulled it right back and gently pinched my cheek. "It's not that I can't keep up, and trust me, you definitely attract me. I'm just worried about hurting you. Let's wait until you're fully recovered, okay?" My cheeks warmed. "So, what, if I'm always this fragile, you're just never going to touch me again?"
Hayden's lips twitched. "Yeah, I'll just hold back my urges."
I yanked the blanket over my head again, determined to ignore him. But he just wrapped his arms around me, blanket and all, pulling me into his chest. "I won't let it come to that."
My face felt like it was on fire. He kissed me gently and whispered, "You lie down and relax for a bit. I'm gonna take a shower."
Of course, a cold shower!
The thought had barely crossed my mind when he admitted it himself. "A cold shower."
His self-control was seriously next level. He'd rather suffer than risk hurting me.
A bittersweet warmth filled my chest. I watched him walk away and called out, "Hayden."
He turned back, his eyes soft. "Yeah?"
"You're fine. Really fine." I stuck my tongue out, feeling embarrassed, and buried myself back under the blanket.
Hayden laughed softly, "I know."
When he came back, I'd already drifted off. Despite everything that had happened with my parents, his presence had calmed me down. The emotional rollercoaster of the afternoon had worn me out, and I fell into a deep sleep. I didn't know if it was because of Hayden, but I slept better than I had in a long time. When I woke up.
the
sun was already high in the sky. Surprisingly, Hayden hadn't gone for his morning workout. He was lying next to me, reading a book.
→d out even
It was like he had a thousand different sides, and each one fascinated me, making him stand out even more from everyone else.
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I didn't say anything. I just watched him until he turned and caught my gaze.
"Hey, you're awake?" He set the book aside and gently brushed his hand through my hair.
The way he did it felt so comforting, like he was soothing a sleepy child. I nuzzled into his chest. "Why aren't you working out? Why are you reading?"
"I didn't want you to wake up and freak out if I wasn't here," he said, and it made my heart do a little flip.
He was worried I'd have a nightmare or get scared being alone.
I propped myself up, leaning against his chest. "Hayden, you're the best guy I've ever met. Like, ever."
"Oh," he said, like it was no big a
I gaped at him. "Seriously? That's all you've got? I just gave you the biggest compliment, and you're giving me an 'oh'?"
He grinned. "Thank you for the compliment, Mrs. Hart.
My face went red as a tomato. "Who's Mrs. Hart? I didn't agree to marry you! And you haven't even proposed."
"Oh," he said again, this time with a teasing glint in his eyes.
I groaned. "What's with the "oh"?"
Talking to him was like trying to solve a riddle. He barely said anything, and I was always left trying to figure out what was going on in his head.
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"I get it," Hayden said.
I was so exasperated that I let out a laugh. "Now I understand why you're still single in your thirties-you're way too boring!"
"You think I'm boring too?" he asked softly.
I thought about how he seemed pretty clueless when it came to flirting, and I couldn't help but smile. "I mean, you're not exactly Mr. Smooth-Talker," Hayden was quiet for a few seco I always figured sweet-talking was just fancy lying."
I blinked, caught off guard. That was... different.
"Do you want me to sweet-talk you?" he asked again.
I mean, who doesn't like a little flattery? But it should come from the heart, not be some fake act-like it was with Jace.
"Nah, just be yourself," I said, snuggling closer into his chest. "You're kinda perfect just the way you are."
"If I proposed to you, would you say yes?" Hayden suddenly brought up the marriage thing, picking up right where we left off.
I hadn't really thought about it, and now that he was asking so casually, I just blurted out, "You haven't even asked."
As soon as the words left my mouth, he took my hand, pulled it out from under the covers, and started playing with my fingers. "Kiki, will you marry me?"
I snorted. "Seriously? This is your proposal?"
"It's not exactly one, but yeah, kinda," Hayden replied in a way that made me want to smack him.
Wow
I never pictured my first proposal going like this.
I'd always thought it would be Jace down on one knee, not Hayden casually popping the question in bed.
But thinking about proposals reminded me of that day not too long ago when Jace had invited me to the amusement park. He'd planned this whole big proposal there.
I didn't go, but later, pictures popped up online. People thought it was some kind of event rehearsal, but I knew it was meant for me. Jace's big, grand gesture that I never showed up for.
"Hayden, do you really think you can win me over with just a few words? A real proposal needs at least some flowers and a ring..." Before I could finish saying right?" he lifted the hand he'd been holding.
I glanced down and saw a ring sparkling on my finger.
My jaw dropped. I looked at Hayden, then back at my hand. There was no way he just put this on.
I slipped it on last night. I asked if you wanted to wear it, and you nodded," he said, looking way too pleased with himself.
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"That's not fair! I was asleep! How can that even count? I smacked him lightly.
marry me?"
"I know, that's why I'm asking now," Hayden said, gently tracing the ring on my finger. "Will you marry
This guy...
If I said yes right away, I'd look way too easy,
So, I glanced at the ring with mock disdain. "Hayden, if you're serious about proposing, at least put in some effort. Did you just grab some old family heirloom?"
He went quiet, and after a moment, he said softly, "It is. It was my mom's. She said it was for her future daughter-in-law."
I froze, feeling like a complete idiot. "I'm sorry, I was just joking. I didn't mean-
"It's okay," he cut me off, his smile gentle. "This one's from my mom to you. I've got another one from me."
I let out a relieved breath. "Then I'll wait for your ring before I give you an answer."
He chuckled, eyes sparkling. "So that's a yes?"
I pouted, wanting to say no, but I didn't want him
have the ring yet. How could that be a yes?"
to read too much into it, so I just huffed. "You don't even
"You're so stubborn," Hayden muttered before leaning down and kissing me.
The kiss deepened, and everything else seemed to fade away until his phone started ringing.
He pulled back, both of us breathing heavily, and I blushed. "You should probably get that."
He brushed his thumb over my cheek, then grabbed his phone from the nightstand. He glanced at the screen but didn't answer. Instead, he put it on silent and tossed it aside.
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will"Hajden made to dent. Til take the call in a minute. You should get up, wash up, and
was
Frised an eyebrow. You made breakfast?"
I thought he been by my side the whole time. Turns out he'd already whipped something up and then come back to bed to keep me company
As expected, exceptional
always putting in the work behind the scenes.
Yeah, I made some banana al It's got extra electrolytes to help you recharge," he said, ruffling my
hair
Hayden left to take his call while I slipped my hand out from under the blanket, staring at the ring on my Tinger couldn't resist taking a picture and posting it on social media with the caption: [Limited Edition).
T
I scrolled through my feed for a bit before finally dragging myself out of bed. Hayden was still on the phone, so I didn't think much of it and headed to the bathroom.
It wasn't until i got there that I noticed the ointment Lena gave me was down to half a tube, even though I'd only used a little bit before. Did Hayden put some on for me?
When did that happen?
Was it last night after I fell asleep?
My face tumed bright red, and I suddenly felt all kinds of awkward.
"Why are you still not done? Hayden's voice came from the doorway.
The best way to dodge embarrassment? Play dumb. "I was waiting for you."
Hayden looked momentarily stunned, then his Adam's apple bobbed.
I could tell my words had gotten to him-in a good way.
Not wanting to stir up anything this early in the morning I quickly turned away, pretending I hadn't noticed I finished washing up in record tune and nudged him. "Go get that oatmeal ready for me, or we're ""We won't be " he said calmly
T
"How can we not be late at this hour? I grumbled
"Our flight's at ten. We've got time" His response made me freeze, mid-face-wipe.
I'd been watching him through the mirror, but now I turned to face him directly, eyes wide. "Wait, what? A fight? Where to? Business trip?"
"Mm-hmm, Hayden hurmed, casually turning to serve the patmeal.
I trailed after him, still totally confused Hold on exple Where are we going? Why didn't I know about
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this?"
"Didn't Ron-I mean, Mr. Shane-tell you?" Hayden asked.
I thought back to Ron mentioning I should wrap up my current tasks. I nodded slowly. "Yeah, he did."
Hayden shrugged, like that explained everything. "Then that's it."
That's it? I was still totally lost. "But he didn't say where, or that... you'd be going with me.
Hayden gave me a small smile. "You're coming with me. Wherever I go, you go."
His words were laced with a sweet, ambiguous promise.
I opened my mouth to say something, but Hayden raised his hand and brushed the damp hair off my forehead. "Dry your face and come eat."
He headed to the kitchen, leaving - standing there, still processing everything.
I didn't ask any more questions, just quickly finished washing up and even put on a little makeup before heading out.
By the time I got to the dining room, Hayden had already set the table. He was sitting there, casually scrolling through the news on his tablet, like he had all the time in the world.
I couldn't help but admire his patience. No matter how long I took, he never seemed to mind or rush me.
I glanced at the clock. It was already eight. He mentioned a ten o'clock flight, and it took over half an hour just to get to the airport. We'd need to be there at least forty minutes early, and we hadn't even had breakfast yet. How was he not freaking out about this?
"Hayden, are we seriously going on a business trip?" I asked, starting to think he was just messing with
1. me.
"Not exactly a business trip. I'm just borrowing you," he teased, keeping things annoyingly vague.
I sat down and eyed the fruit platter in front of me. Spearing a piece of apple, I popped it into my mouth. Just tell me where we're going."
He turned off his tablet and picked up his utensils. "We're going to pick up Yuna."
My eyes widened in surprise, and he gave me a small smile. "Didn't you say you wanted to bring her over sooner?"
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305
I had said that, but I didn't think he'd take it this seriously-like, doing that during a work trip?
Noticing my confusion, Hayden leaned back in his chalt. I talked to Mr. Shane about it."
"Oh," I replied, not feeling that there was anything wrong, and took another spoonful of oatmeal.
But after a few bites, I paused. "Wait, so are you guys, like, super close or something? You asked for time off for me, and he just agreed? And then he personally let me know?" Hayden kept eating his breakfast, completely unfazed. "Not really."
I laughed. "Not really? It's like he treats you... like you're royalty or something."
I meant more like his dad, honestly. It was like, whatever Hayden asked for, Ron just had to go along with
1. it.
"Close enough," Hayden said will smirk, "He needs me to develop new products and make money for him. So if I ask for something, he's not gonna say no."
Wow, okay. I gave him a mental double thumbs-up, totally speechless.
People who know they've got skills just have this next-level confidence. That's real power right there.
"Hayden, aren't we gonna be late?" I asked as we finished breakfast.
"It's fine. If we miss the flight, we'll just reschedule."
He was seriously spoiling me.
I was puzzled. "Why aren't you freaking out? Can't you at least try to hurry me up?"
"Girls should be spoiled," he said, like it was the most obvious thing ever.
Feeling a little guilty, I scrambled to pack my stuff, but I couldn't resist grumbling. "You could've warned me last night so I'd be ready."
"Last night, I didn't really get a chance to say much."
His words brought back memories of my antics, and my cheeks went hot.
I clamped my mouth shut, and Hayden chuckled softly. Watching me rush around, he added, "Relax. If we forget anything, we'll just buy it there."
"If you'd said that earlier, I wouldn't have bothered packing." I shot back.
Hayden didn't seem bothered. "But I like watching you pack."
I blinked, "What?"
"It's comforting," he added.
I paused, thrown off. People say a woman looks her best not in fancy clothes or with perfect makeup, but when she's lost in the little things, like cooking or folding laundr Not that Hayden ever let me do any of that. He said that watching me like this was comforting. Maybe it
Chapter 305
reminded him of his mom.
of his mon
We ended up making it to the airport right on time. It wasn't until we had our boarding passes in hand that it really hit me-this was happening. It all felt surreal. "Does Yuna know we're coming to get her?" I asked, picturing her in that light green dress she always
wore.
"No, I haven't told her."
I thought about her fragile health. "You're worried if she finds out too soon, she might get too excited, and it could be too much for her, right?"
Hayden turned and kissed my forehead. "Kiki, you're getting good at reading my mind."
I placed my hand over his heart, silently letting him know I understood.
He smiled, and I leaned into his ch
together, just waiting to board.
as he held me gently. We sat in the waiting area, cuddled up
Lost in our little bubble, I suddenly noticed someone coming into view.
It was Jace.
He was pushing a suitcase, looking like he was about to head off on a long trip.
I remembered what Wayne had mentioned about Jace having a fallout with Matthew. Could he really have cut ties with his family and be leaving for good? "What's wrong?" Hayden asked.
I quickly looked away and shook my head. "Nothing.
He didn't buy it. "Are you feeling okay?"
"I'm fine," I insisted, just as my phone rang.
"Hello?" I answered.
"Hello, is this Keira Kay?" An unfamiliar man's voice came from the other end.
Not interesting of all
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Chapter 306
"Yes, this is Keira. Who's calling?" I asked, my eyes drifting back to Jace.
He didn't seem to notice me, heading over to a nearby heat on his own.
"I'm from Amour Eternel Assurance, agent number A8338. Four years ago, you and Mr. Johnston purchased a love insurance policy from us. The policy term has expired, and we need to verify some information with you."
A chill ran down my spine. I glanced instinctively at Hayden.
He had been holding me close, but the moment I took the call, he stepped back, giving me space.
Hayden was always so considerate, always making sure I felt safe and supported, but never stifled.
"Could you please confirm if you and Mr. Johnston are currently in a relationship or married?" the agent
asked.
My eyes flicked back to Jace. He was oi, own call, a deep frown creasing his forehead.
"Ms. Kay, are you still there?" the agent pressed, probably wondering why I'd gone silent.
I swallowed hard. "Yes, I'm here. We..."
"We've already broken up.' I was just about to say it when Jace, who hadn't even glanced at me this whole time, suddenly looked up and locked eyes with me.
I didn't have time to look away.
We locked eyes across the room, and the words I was about to say got caught in my throat.
"Ms. Kay?" the agent repeated.
Without thinking, I blurted, "Why don't you ask him?"
"We did. Another colleague is speaking with him now. I realized Jace was getting the same call.
Talk about a small world.
I swallowed, trying to clear the dryness in my throat. "We broke up."
"Are you sure?" The question sounded almost accusatory.
I glanced away from Jace and looked at Hayden, then down at the ring on my finger. "Yes. I'm already
married."
The agent was silent for a couple of seconds. "Alright, Ms. Kay. If Mr. Johnston's response matches yours, then, according to the policy terms, your love insurance will be invalidated."
"Okay!" I said, ready to end the call.
But then he continued, "Ms. Kay, I wish you a lifetime of love and happiness in your marriage. You and your spouse might want to consider a marriage insurance policy. It's available in one-year terms, and the longer your marriage lasts, the greater the benefits-" "Thanks, but we're not interested," I cut off his sales pitch.
1/2
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"Ms. Kay..." He clearly wasn't giving up and kept trying to convince me.
I didn't let him continue, "Can your insurance guarantee love and marriage will last?"
Of course, the answer was no. Jace and I were proof of that.
I hung up amidst the awkward silence, and when I looked up again, Jace had already ended his call too.
But he was still looking at me. Just staring.
I quickly averted my eyes and walked over to Hayden,
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"This is an airport terminal. There are people everywhore, including kids," I reminded Hayden.
He just hummed. "I know."
"Then why are you still..." My face turned red.
"Please," he said softly but firmly.
I figured he'd noticed Jace too and was probably acting out of jealousy. Maybe he just wanted to send a message, make sure Jace knew to back off for good.
Taking a deep breath, I closed my eyes, bracing myself for Hayden's kiss right there in the bustling
terminal.
But instead of feeling his lips, I felt somethin
vy slip into my hand.
I opened my eyes and looked at Hayden, then down at my hand, now holding a small pouch.
"What's this?" I asked, totally confused.
Hayden nodded toward the pouch, urging me to take a look.
Still confused, I opened it and found two bank cards, along with a couple of documents.
One was his discharge certificate from the army, and the other was a certificate showing his record of blood donations.
"What does this mean?" I asked, still not getting it.
Hayden pulled out the discharge certificate. "This is proof that I've been through a lot and made it out the other side-more dependable than any insurance. And this," he said, holding up the blood donation record, "shows that I've got a heart full of passion. And these cards? They hold everything I have to give."
I couldn't help but think of those dramatic scenes in novels where the hero hands over everything to show his love. But this wasn't just about money-Hayden was giving me his trust, his beliefs, his whole self.
Looking at the blood donation record, I felt a sudden tightness in my chest. "Hayden, why are you giving me all this?"
"It's my promise to you. This is more real than any love Insurance," he said, and I couldn't help but wonder if he somehow knew about the love insurance Jace and I had bought all those years ago.
But whether he knew about the insurance or not didn't matter anymore. What mattered was that he was willing to give me everything now.
"I'll keep these," I said, holding onto the documents. "But you should hold onto the cards." I wasn't going to take his money.
I wasn't someone who chased after money. If I were, I would've stayed with Jace no matter what.
Hayden didn't take the cards back. Instead, he looked a little sheepish and said, "This money probably isn't even enough to cover Yuna's surgery."
I blinked, then burst out laughing. "Oh, so you're asking me to chip in?"
Chapter 907
He took my hand. "Kiki, I'm sorry."
But I just laughed harder, a genuine, bright laugh.
Hayden looked completely confused. "Why are you laughing? Do you think I'm adorably broke?"
That made me laugh even more.
He was really using phrases like that now?
I nodded, still giggling. "Yes, adorably broke."
"Kiki..."
"Hayden," I said, sobering up. "Did you know I used to think you had a secret Identity?"
"A secret identity?" He looked confused. "What kind of secret identity?"
"You know that big boss at our company? The c "I admitted.
hose last name is Hart? I thought maybe that was you,
Hayden raised an eyebrow. "And now you're sure I'm not?"
I nodded. "Right, considering you're so broke you can't even cover Yuna's surgery, there's no way you're secretly the big boss funding Ron."
Hayden fell silent.
"But our big boss is kind of strange," I continued, filling the quiet. "It felt like he was favoring me for some reason. Now that I see how Ron treats you, I get it. He probably just values talent, which is why he was good to me. I guess I was overthinking things." Hayden still didn't say anything. I shook his arm lightly. "Why aren't you saying anything?"
"Kiki," he said softly, "do you really hate it when people lie to you?"
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Was that even a real question? No one likes being lied to.
I looked at him, feeling a little defensive. "So, are you planning to deceive me in the future already lied about something?"
or have you
He hesitated, then said, "...No."
I couldn't tell if he was being completely honest, but I made my stance clear. "Hayden, I won't put up with being lied to."
He swallowed hard, his Adam's apple bobbing. "I understand."
It was better to set boundaries upfront. I was m ng it clear now: if he ever dared to lie to me, he couldn't expect me to just let it go.
The boarding announcement came over the loudspeaker, calling for a flight heading overseas.
I couldn't help but think of Jace, and sure enough, I spotted him wheeling his luggage toward the security checkpoint.
What was he going abroad for? Business? Or... something else?
"Kiki, we should head to security," Hayden's voice pulled me back to reality.
"Oh!" I snapped out of it and looked at him.
Guilt washed over me. I was worried he'd notice I'd been watching Jace, even though my concern wasn't about love anymore.
But Hayden's expression was neutral, giving nothing away. His lack of reaction made me feel even more uneasy. I squeezed his hand. "Let's go."
We passed through security without any issues and boarded the plane without a hitch.
Right before I turned off my phone, I noticed an unread message. It was from Jace: [Safe travels.]
I stared at those two words, remembering how I used to send him the same message every time he went on a business trip.
Until one day, he'd scoffed, "That's so old-fashioned. Next time, try to be more creative. If you can't, don't bother."
After that, I really did stop sending those messages.
"Safe travels-those words may have seemed a bit old-fashioned, but they carried my deepest hope.
Ever since my parents' car accident, I've dreaded every goodbye with the people I love. I was always scared it might be the last time.
But Jace never understood that. He just found it annoying, so I stopped sending them.
1 never imagined that today, he'd remember those words and send them back to me.
I never thought that today, he would remember those words and send them to me.
25 BONUS
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I pretended not to see the message and turned off my phone. Hayden had already powered off his, staring off into space.
Irested my head on his shoulder. "Hayden, safe travels
He smiled and rubbed his cheek against my hair. "Safe travels."
"There's something I haven't told you," I said. I'm not the type to hide things, and this was one of those things I didn't want to keep to myself. If I don't want him lying to me, I need to be honest with him first. "You don't have to say it if you're not ready," Hayden said softly, not wanting to push me.
I rolled my eyes. "But I want to say it now."
"Then I'm all ears."
I almost laughed in frustration. "Do you know what you're like?"
""What?"
"You're like a Weeble. No matter how hard I push, you never fall," I teased, making him crack a small smile.
"If you really want me to fall, I'll just have to listen and do as you say," he replied, his eyes serious but with a playful glint.
The look he gave me suddenly reminded me of that night-the one that was not exactly PG-rated.
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Was he seriously teasing me with that straight face?
But he was always so principled! It made me wonder if he was serious or if I was just overthinking it.
"Don't believe me? Try it," Hayden said, his eyes warm and steady, making my cheeks
haven more.
I playfully pinched his arm, pretending to be annoyed. "Do you actually want to hear what I have to say or not? Because if not, I'll just keep it to myself." "I'm listening!" he said quickly.
I glanced out the window and told him what Wayne had shared with me the other day. After I finished, Hayden nodded, his expression thoughtful. "So, are you worried?" "Yeah, but I'm not worried about Jace. I'm conce
about RiverwaveCorp," I clarified quickly.
"I know," Hayden said, pressing a gentle kiss to the top of my head. "You feel like this whole situation is way more complicated than it seems, right?" He understood me so well.
"You're not wrong to be concerned. It's possible everything, starting with Wayne's return, was part of a plan," Hayden suggested, and my eyes widened.
"Do you really think so?" I had my suspicions, but hearing him say it so directly still caught me off guard.
I knew Wayne pretty well. He'd always been honest and kind. Whether when we were kids or later on, he always looked out for me and Jace, as an older brother would. Four years ago, he left without saying a word, and when he came back, he made it clear: if he'd wanted the company, he wouldn't have left in the first place
"Maybe he wouldn't have before, but now, things could be different," Hayden said, his tone calm and measured. "Kiki, you don't really understand men." I couldn't argue with that. "Then tell me from a man's perspective."
"Wayne likes you, right?" Hayden asked directly.
"Yes, but I didn't know that before. I only found out when he came back this time," I admitted.
"He's liked you for a long time-probably not much later than Jace did. His feelings for you are just as strong, if not stronger," Hayden said with certainty.
1 stayed quiet, letting him continue.
"He left for a few years, didn't he?"
"Four years," I confirmed. "He left right after Jace and I got together."
Hayden said, "Exactly. You made your choice, and he realized he didn't stand a chance.
"So, as the supportive 'older brother,' he stepped back and left, probably hoping that putting distance between you two would help him get over it.
10
Chapter 309
"But clearly, he couldn't. That's why he came back as soon as he heard you and Jace had broken up, hoping to take his shot."
Hayden's analysis made perfect sense. When Jace and I first started having problems, and Jace dismissed it as me just being dramatic, Wayne had been the one to take my call seriously and reach out to me immediately.
I wasn't clueless. I'd sensed something back then.
But Hayden wasn't even close to Wayne, and yet he could see all of this so clearly, almost like he was reading Wayne's mind.
I followed Hayden's logic. "But he didn't expect someone like you to come along and steal the spotlight, right?"
Hayden's lips curled into a small smile, and he made a sound of agreement.
"But what does that have to do with his plan?"!sked, trying to steer the conversation back to the point.
"You know how you girls love your TV dramas auu novels, right? Ever seen those stories where the king has a bunch of sons, but only one can be the future ruler? The brothers start scheming and betraying each other, all trying to grab the throne," Hayden explained, his analogy hitting home. I nodded, starting to understand. No one's content playing second fiddle, not even to their own brother.
Wayne may have given up the Johnston family inheritance and me out of 'good intentions' four years ago, choosing to walk away. But time changes people. Now, he might want it all back.
A realization hit me like a punch to the gut: I might have become just a pawn in Wayne's power play.
A heavy feeling settled in my chest, and I fell silent.
Just then, a plane roared down the runway and took off. If I wasn't mistaken, that was probably Jace's flight.
As I watched it climb into the sky, I couldn't help but think about how Wayne might be plotting against him. And now, even Matthew and Lindey were distancing themselves from him. Despite everything, I felt a pang of sympathy for him.
As the plane flew higher and farther away, I silently wished him, 'Safe travels."
Chapter 310
By the time the plane touched down, the sky was already turning a deep shade of orange
and pink.
"Wow, Hayden, this is the most beautiful sunset I've ever seen, "I said, practically glued to the window.
"It is," he agreed, sounding casual, as always.
He
e was like that-a man of few words-but I'd gotten used to it.
It wasn't until we got into the car and I scrolled through my phone that I saw his latest post. He'd snapped
a pic of that very sunset and captioned it: [Because you're here with me.]
My heart did this weird little flip.
It didn't seem to connect at first, but then It I'd said, "This is the most beautiful sunset I've ever seen.
And he was saying. "It is, "because you're
with me."
Well, alright then!
If anyone said Hayden didn't know how to show affection, I'd be the first to call them out.
He was way too good at it.
"Hayden, are you back this time to finally tie the knot?" teased the guy driving us. One of Hayden's friends, he'd been waiting for us at the airport.
"No, not this time," Hayden answered with that perfectly cool vibe.
Wait, so... next time?
"Your girlfriend is gorgeous," the guy said, stealing quick glances at me.
"Yeah," Hayden said, like it was the most obvious thing in the world.
One of them had no problem saying it, and the other had no problem agreeing, leaving me feeling a little awkward.
"Hi, I'm Zach Dutton," the guy said, flashing me a friendly smile.
I smiled back, trying to be just as chill. "Keira Kay."
"I know, I know," Zach said, repeating himself. "Yuna talks about you all the time. Everyone in town knows your name."
Great, now I was blushing again.
I let out an awkward laugh. "Really? Guess that saves me the trouble of introducing myself then."
"No need, no need. A beautiful lady like you? People remembered you from the last time you were here," Zach kept going, each compliment making me squirm a little more.
So, I decided silence was probably the best option.
But then Hayden leaned in and whispered, "Looks like your bold move paid off."
I couldn't exactly clap back with Zach right there, so I just gave Hayden a light pinch, telling him to cut it
out without saying a word.
While I went quiet, Zach turned out to be a total chatterbox, filling the car ride with every bit of gossip your could think of. Who had a cat that looked like a weird science experiment, who caught a huge fish, which boy was crushing on which girl, and which widow had just moved in with some guy....
The last time I'd been here, trailing behind Yuna, this place seemed like a peaceful little haven, completely untouched by the outside world. But listening to Zach now, I realized even this "paradise" had its share of drama.
"Alright, enough with the gossip," Hayden finally cut in, giving Zach a pointed look. "Even if it's true, it's not your place to spread it. Remember what happened the last time you got carried away?"
Zach scratched his head awkwardly. "I just got excited seeing you guys and couldn't wait to share everything. I'd never say any of this to anyone else."
It was pretty clear Zach looked up to Hayde
But since Hayden's scolding left him looking a bit embarrassed, I decided to play nice. "Zach, with how smooth you are, I bet you have a girlfriend, right?"
"No, no," Zach shook his head fast. "But with you being so pretty, I'm sure your friends are too. You could set me up, right?"
Wow, he really didn't hold back.
I just laughed and said, "Sure, why not?"
Hayden leaned in, his voice low and teasing. You know he's serious, right? Next time he sees you, he's gonna be all over you, asking about it." Really?
I glanced at Zach's back. Was he actually that serious?
"You didn't tell Yuna we were coming, did you?" Hayden asked as we drove into the village.
"Nope, I kept quiet just like you said," Zach replied, glancing at me with a smile.