Ch. 331..340
Chapter 331
If they unplugged the oxygen machine, she'd be gone forever.
"You should go be with her, you know, for her last moments," I whispered.
"I know, I'm going." Wade looked up at me. "Sorry for bothering you."
"I still hope for a miracle."
He didn't say anything else. Just turned and walked away, leaving me staring after him, feeling something... different. Not like last night.
"What are you staring at? I've been calling your phone, but you didn't pick up," Hayden said as he walked over, grabbing the flowers from m
1. is.
I wasn't sure how to bring up Wade to Hayden, especially since I hadn't mentioned running into Wade last night. And Wade's story was so complicated.
But mostly, I felt this weird sadness settle in me-Wade's words echoing in my head: 'She might not make it much longer.
"Hey, what do you think it means when two people who aren't even related look a lot alike?" I asked.
"People are made of genes. With so many people in the world, it's normal for some to have similar genes," Hayden replied, all logical and matter-of-fact.
I thought about what Wade said, about why he'd been following me, and then asked, "Do you think there'll ever be a day when you look for traces of me in someone else? Someone who looks like me?" "Why would I do that?" Hayden shot back.
I met his gaze. "I don't know, just what if?"
"To me, you're you."
He always had this way of making me feel like I was one of a kind.
I smiled. "Okay, okay. I was just asking. Don't overthink it."
Hayden softened, brushing a stray strand of hair behind my ear. "I'm serious. I'd never go looking for your shadow in someone else. You're one of a kind."
I let out a small laugh at how sweet he could be sometimes. "Alright, got it. Let's go."
As we started walking, his hand gripping mine, he asked, "So, what made you ask something like that?"
"I saw a picture just now. There's this girl who looks a lot like me," I paused, the image still fresh in my mind. "Like, a ninety-percent match."
At first, I was just shocked at the resemblance, but the longer I thought about it, the weirder it got-she really did look like me.
"That much alike?" Hayden sounded surprised.
"Yeah, so I'm worried one day you'
mix us up," I teased.
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But Hayden didn't laugh or defend himself like usual. Instead, he asked, "Where'd you see this?"
"On a guy's phone.
"A guy's phone?"
"Yeah, he's a postgrad student," I said, keeping it casual as I explained about Wade.
Hayden fell silent.
Sensing something off, I tilted my head and gently scratched his palm. "What's wrong? You're not jealous again, are you?"
"No," he said, but the way he avoided my eyes said otherwise.
I let out a huff. "Then why aren't you saying anything? You totally are-"
"Kiki," Hayden cut me off, stopping
off, stopping is tracks. "Why didn't you tell me about this yesterday?"
"It was just a minor incident. I didn't think it was a big deal," I shrugged. "Plus, I thought he was Lena's secret admirer."
Lexplained, but then added, half-joking, "Don't be so petty, okay? I know your jealousy shows you care, sometimes it feels like I'm in a cage. It's... uncomfortable."
but
"I'm not being petty. I'm worried," he shot back, his voice more serious now. "What if he's up to something bad? If you don't tell me, I can't protect you. What if something happens to you?" Okay, so maybe I was the one overthinking.
"I'm sorry," I said softly. "I'll tell you next time, promise. Reaching up, I ruffled his hair with a smile. "Now, stop being mad."
He smiled faintly, the tension easing. I scratched his palm playfully again. "You know, you're really cute. when you smile."
With that, I tugged him along, ready to move on. But when I glanced ahead, I froze. Three familiar faces stood not too far away, all six eyes locked right on us.
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And it seemed like they'd been watching for a while.
Which meant they'd seen all the little affectionate moments between Hayden and me, Great.
I wasn't sure if I was imagining things, but their expressions didn't seem all that pleasant.
Since we'd run right into them, avoiding a greeting wasn't an option.
Hayden and I walked over, saying hello to Lindey, Matthew, and Wayne.
Lindey was the first to smile. "Rea. Hayden, what are you two doing here?"
I glanced at Hayden. "We're visiting a friend."
I left it vague, not mentioning Yuna. Hayden was big on protecting his sister's privacy, and I knew if Matthew or Lindey found out she the hospital, they'd want to visit. Explaining that to Yuna would
under wraps.
get complicated fast. Best to keep
Then I turned to Matthew. He was leaning on Lindey, looking pale and clearly not doing well.
"What happened to Matthew?"
"He's "Lindey started, but Matthew cut her off. "Just high blood pressure, nothing serious."
Lindey gave him a look that screamed liar, but didn't press him.
It was obvious he was hiding something, just like I had my own reasons for keeping distance lately. We weren't as close as we used to be. I couldn't help but remember how, in the past, even the smallest cold or cough had Matthew texting me first, asking for help. "Rea, anything you need help with?" Wayne jumped in.
"No, we're good," I said with a polite smile.
The silence came back, lingering uncomfortably until Hayden stepped up, smoothing things over. "Mr. Johnston, how about we accompany you to see the doctor?"
It was a thoughtful offer, one that made me look good by association.
Matthew waved it off quickly. "No need, no need. You two go handle your own stuff."
Lindey added, "Rea, come see Matthew again when you're done."
"Alright. Hayden and I will head out now."
Hayden gave Matthew and Lindey a polite nod, and we left, hand in hand.
We hadn't gone far when I heard Lindey sigh. "She has really grown distant from us."
"Stop talking nonsense. You overthink everything." Matthew muttered.
I could feel the lump forming in my throat. Hayden must've noticed, because he squeezed my hand a little tighter, silently reassuring me.
We were spending the day with Yuna as she went through pre-surgery exams. A heart donor had already
been found, and though the tests were exhausting, Yuna was practically glowing, like she'd been set free. Her mood was contagious-Hayden and I couldn't help but smile more with her around.
Of course, because fate's a comedian, we ran into Matthew again while Yuna was getting her heart checked. Naturally, my little white lie from earlier-about who we were visiting-was out in the open. But no one really seemed to care, not with everything else going on. As we were leaving after Yuna's check-up, she suddenly asked, "Keira, were those people relatives of yours?"
"They're my foster parents," I said, giving Matthew and Lindey a whole new identity in Yuna's eyes.
"And that tall guy-is he their son?" Yuna pressed.
I smirked. "Why, you think he's cute? Interested?"
Yuna shook her head quickly. "No way, but he kept staring at you. His expression was... weird. Hard to describe."
I laughed. "You're so nosy! You've been watching him closely, huh?"
"I have to keep an eye out for Hayden," Yuna said with a playful grin. "What if some other guy tries to steal you away?" She was too adorable.
Hayden gave her a gentle tap on the head. "And what would you do if that happened? Think you could stop him?"
"Of course," Yuna puffed out her chest. "I'd tell him Keira's my brother's girl, and if he wants to steal her, he'd have to get my approval first."
Hayden and I couldn't help but burst out laughing. Yuna didn't mind, just looked proud that she'd made us laugh. But after a moment, her face got serious again,
"Keira, do your foster parents have any other kids besides him?" she asked.
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333
My face stiffened at Yuna's question, but Hayden lightly knocked her on the forehead. "What are you, a
census taker?"
Yuna pouted. "I was just asking."
I turned to Hayden. "All the tests are done. Why don't you take her to get something to eat? I need to check on something."
Of course, Yuna, ever curious, asked immediately, "What are you checking on?"
But Hayden understood right away, smoothly guiding her away. "You didn't used to talk this much. Did being here turn you into a chatterbox?"
"I'm just afraid I won't get the chance to uk this much later," Yuna said softly, her words hitting us both like a punch to the gut. Hayden went silent, and my heart twisted painfully. So, Yuna was scared-scared she might not make it through the surgery.
"Don't be ridiculous," Hayden said gently, tapping her head again..
Yuna clung to his arm, and they slowly walked away until they disappeared from view. Only when I couldn't see them anymore did I turn back to go find Matthew.
"Real" Lindey asked when she spotted me.
"I'm worried about Matthew," I admitted.
Earlier, I'd told Yuna that Lindey and Matthew were my foster parents because, in my heart, that's how I saw them-they were my mom and dad.
"I told you, it's nothing." Matthew said, but his voice was weak. No way it was nothing.
"If you think of me as your daughter, then don't lie to me. What's really going on?" My voice cracked as ! spoke.
"He's just been having high blood pressure and some chest tightness," Wayne cut in, trying to cover for him.
Lindey quickly nodded. "Yeah, he's been sneaking some alcohol at wedding receptions lately, and it's caught up with him."
But even though she said it lightly, I wasn't convinced. I glanced at Wayne, looking for confirmation.
"Mom, Dad, why don't you wait here while I step outside to make a call?" Wayne said, making up an excuse to leave.
I followed his lead. "I'll grab some water for you both, I added, stepping out behind him.
Wayne was already waiting for me outside. "Let's sit at the café for a bit. Mom's got things handled here."
We headed to the nearby café. Once seated, I asked quietly, "What's really going on with your dad?"
"He's been coughing a lot. Came in for a check-up last week, and the results suggest it might be small cell lung cancer.
Chapter $33
I couldn't find the words at first, just stared at him in shock. Wayne looked at me, waiting.
"Rea?" he prompted gently.
"Has it been confirmed?" My voice shook.
"Almost," Wayne replied, his tone heavy and somber.
The silence that followed felt endless, but I finally managed to ask, "What do the doctors say? Is there a treatment plan?"
"They're running more tests to see if it's spread. After that, they'll decide on treatment." Wayne took a sip
of his coffee.
"Does your mom know?"
Wayne shook his head. "We've only 1 er it's some inflammation in his lungs. You know how Mom is- she can't keep a secret, especially not from Dad. And we don't want him finding out yet." "And Jace?" I pressed. "He needs to know, right?"
"We'll tell him once it's confirmed." Wayne's reasoning made sense, so I didn't push. I was just an outsider
in all this, after all.
Wayne paused before looking me straight in the eye. "Rea, Jace leaving the company had nothing to do with me. You know that, right?"
Honestly, at this point, it felt so irrelevant. Like, ancient history,
I didn't say a word, and Wayne's smile turned bitter. "Yeah, thought so. Still don't believe me, huh?"
"She doesn't believe anyone," a voice chimed in, and next thing I knew, someone yanked out a chair and dropped into it without even asking.
I glanced over and, surprise surprise, it was Brad. Of course. Just what I needed.
Brad shot me that signature smirk of his. "Keira, playing the field much? How many guys are you juggling these days?"
Seriously? He never knew when to shut up.
Wayne's face darkened. "Who are you?"
"Me? I'm her little boy toy. You know, the kind she pounced on the first time we met-ahhh-"
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Brad's sentence cut off with a scream as I tossed my coffee right in his smug face,
He shot up, dripping, wiping at his soaked shirt. "What the hell, Keira? Are you out of your mind?!"
I held up my now-empty cup. "Next time you pull crap like that, I'll crack this over your head-and then hand you over to the cops. Enjoy that chat."
Brad stood there, a mess in his white T-shirt, coffee dripping from his hair in sad little clumps. Honestly, two words: total loser.
Still, he wasn't done being obnoxious. "You think this is gonna scare me? You've got it all wro-
I didn't stick around for the rest. I turned on my heel and walked right out of the café.
Wayne caught up to me. "Who wa
* guy?"
"Tanya's brother," I muttered, pulling a wet wipe from my bag to clean the coffee off my fingers. "He's been annoying me for a while." "Does he pull this often?"
"A few times," I said, tossing the used wipe into a trash can.
Wayne didn't press any further, and honestly, I didn't feel like getting into it either. Changing the subject, I asked, "Your dad's still in the hospital, right?"
"Yeah, he's admitted. Room 812, Pulmonary Unit," Wayne replied.
I nodded. 'I'll drop by later."
"Okay. I'm gonna grab a few things. You do what you need to," Wayne said, waving me off.
I started to leave, but then paused, remembering how Yuna once mentioned she'd never had milk tea or coffee before. So, I doubled back to the café, deciding to grab one for her. And that's when I spotted Brad, trailing after Wayne like a puppy. I froze for a second.
Wait... Wayne let me go on ahead- was he handling Brad for me?
I let them disappear from view before stepping inside to get a milk tea and a coffee.
When I finally made it to the hospital room, Yuna was sitting up in bed, staring out the window, deep in thought. Seeing her like this h
me harder than I expected, especially after overhearing her conversation
with Hayden earlier.
Taking a deep breath, I plastered on a smile and walked in, trying to lighten the mood. "Princess, your tea
is served!"
Yuna turned to look at me, and just like that, the sadness in her eyes vanished, replaced with that bright, sparkling smile of hers. She was a pro at hiding her feelings. Honestly, she could win an Oscar for that. "Did you
really get this for me?" she asked, her face lighting up.
1/2
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"Yep. One coffee, one milk ten. Both yours," I said, handing them over.
She didn't waste any time. She took a sip of each and nodded like a connoisseur. "Both have their own vibe. I like them."
"Good, 'cause once you're better, you can open a coffee or milk tea shop and drink as much as you want," I joked, not really thinking but going with it.
Yuna laughed and held up her hand for a high-five. "Deal"
I'd already said it, so whether Hayden liked the idea or not, I had to raise my hand and seal the promise with a slap.
She started with the coffee but immediately made a face at the bitterness. Still, she kept drinking. "It's not bad."
"You don't have to force it. The milk tea's sweet," I said
"No, I want to drink it. Life's always a
her age.
bitter before the sweetness, right?" she said, way too wise for
Thinking about how much uncertainty she must feel, I sat down next to her. "Yuna, after your surgery, it's gonna be all sweet. I promise."
She smiled. "I know. I've got the best brother ever, and you."
She was being so strong, even for me. I glanced around, realizing Hayden wasn't there. "Where's your brother?"
"He stepped out to take a call," she said, sipping her coffee.
"I'll go find him," I said, getting up
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Hello 335
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"Keira, you're really clingy with Hayden," Yuna teased, giving me a playful smirk. I felt a little awkward, but then she added, "But I really like it."
"You little brat," I shot back, pretending to glare at her. She just giggled.
I stepped out of her hospital room and glanced down the hall. Empty. Hayden must've found somewhere. quieter to take his call. After a second, I headed toward the stairwell. As I got closer, I heard Hayden's voice
The shop's gone, but the mechanics should still be around. Track them down... Yes, it's necessary. I need to give Keira an answer, and clear my dad's name
When I heard that, my chest tightened.
I'd been debating whether to reopen the investigation into the brake failure that caused the accident. I hadn't told Hayden, but it seemed like he'd already started digging into it.
His call ended, but before I could step forward, his phone rang again. I paused,
The stairwell door was cracked open, and through it, I saw Hayden holding a cigarette. "Yeah, I'm back. She's here... What, can't handle things without us? Relax. Don't come; it'd blow the cover... Yeah, I'm still working on the code."
I knew who he was talking to-it had to be Ron. And by the way Hayden was talking, it was clear who the real boss was.
It was Hayden.
A rich guy with the last name 'Hart'...
It seemed... I'd been deceived.
But Hayden swore he wouldn't lie to me.
Why would he keep this from me?
As he finished his calls, Hayden spotted me waiting in the hallway. He walked over, his voice gentle." What are you doing out here?"
"I was looking for you, but I couldn't find you," I lied.
"I was on the phone," he said, his eyes searching mine, "How's Mr. Johnston?"
"Lung cancer," I said, the words catching in my throat.
We both knew what that meant. No amount of money could change the outcome. A colleague of mine, only thirty-three, had died from it in less than a hundred days.
Even though Matthew wasn't my dad; he'd treated me like his own for the last decade. I wasn't ready to lose him either.
Hayden must've sensed how I felt because he pulled me into a hug. "Medicine's come a long way. There's still hope. Cancer treatments have improved."
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I rested my head on his shoulder. "I'm so scared of losing people right now... It feels like they just keep. slipping away."
"That's life-loss and renewal," Hayden murmured, stroking my hair.
"Now I get why you've been scared for Yuna's surgery. I'm... I'm feeling the same fear." My voice faltered.
I didn't need to say more. Hayden knew exactly what I meant.
He kissed the top of my head. "She's strong, and we love her. She'll make it through."
I hoped so, more than anything.
I closed my eyes and silently prayed
T
As we stood there, a soft cough can my attention. opened my eyes and saw Lena standing nearby.
She winked at me, then said, "Mr. Hart, Prof. Neumann is looking for you."
Hayden let go of me, but I held onto his hand for a second. Nate was probably about to confirm Yuna's surgery details.
Hayden didn't need me to say anything. He gave me a comforting look before heading off to find Nate.
Lena walked over, and I braced for a joke, but her face was all business. "Yuna's surgery might not happen
Chapter 336
My heart dropped. "Did something go wrong with the tests?"
Lena shook her head, her hands tucked into her white coat pockets. "No, It's the donor-there's an issue on their side."
I frowned. "What?"
"The donor's a brain-dead patient. The family had agreed to donate, but now they've changed their minds."
I got it. The donor was a match. If they backed out, Yunb would have to wait. Again.
And who knew how long?
"Do we know why?" I asked.
Lena pursed her lips. "No clue. The details are confidential. We just got the notice."
I thought about Yuna, how excited she'd been. This would crush her.
"So, Nate called Hayden away for this?"
"Probably," Lena said, giving me a light nudge. "Don't worry. Nate will figure something out. But for now, the transplant's on hold." "Yeah, well, if she can't stay in the hospital for surgery, maybe we could, like, discharge her and take her out for a bit," I said.
"Your future sister-in-law, your call," Lena teased.
I nudged her back. "Speaking of, how did things go between you and Nate? How far have you guys gotten?
"Gotten where? We've had, like, two whole days off. I'm always on call, and he's buried in overtime. There's barely time to get anywhere," Lena joked, making me laugh. "Seriously, if the world doesn't explode, you two don't get a break. How are you even gonna date at this rate? I teased.
"Hey, date or not, we'll figure it out. Challenges are meant to be overcome, right? I've already got some ideas," Lena said, always full of plans, like the true boss she was.
I gave her a curious look. "Oh yeah? Like what? You're not gonna quit your job and follow him around, right?"
"Pfft, no way. I plan on becoming the youngest professor in obstetrics. Why would I chase after a cardiologist?" she replied, super sure of herself.
She had a point. No way would Lena ever give up her career for anyone, especially not love.
"Years of crushing, and now it's happening. You know what you're doing better than I do, so I'm staying out of it." I raised my hands like I was surrendering. Lena's eyes flicked to the ring on my finger. "So... you and Hayden planning the wedding after Yuna's surgery?"
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Honestly, I hadn't even thought about it.
"But Hayden's not exactly swimming in cash. If he covers the surgery, he might not have enough left for the wedding. And knowing his type, he won't want you to settle for anything less than perfect. You might be waiting a while," Lena pointed out
I remembered the phone call I overheard earlier. "Lena, does Hayden strike you as someone who's broke?"
"Not really, but you know what they say-never judge a book by its cover. Some people look all fancy in designer clothes, but their phones are blowing up with debt collection texts. Others keep it simple but have bank accounts loaded with cash," she said, thinking out loud. "So, do you think Hayden's one of the latter?"
Lena shot me a look. "You're asking me if your fiancé is rich or broke? How is that my business?"
"I'm just as clueless as you are, which is w
anted your opinion. You're the one with all the
relationship experience," I teased, laying it on thick. "Isn't that right, Love Guru?"
www
Before Lena could respond, her phone rang. She glanced at the screen and picked up. "Hello?... Wait, what? Okay, I'll be right there."
She hung up, turning back to me. "I've gotta head back to the department. There's an issue with one of the patients and their family." "Sounds serious," I said, waving her off, "Go, go."
But just as Lena started to leave, I suddenly felt a warm sensation... below.
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My period had just started.
"Wait up!" I called after Lena, jogging to catch up. "You totally jinxed me-now my period's here. Can I borrow some of your stuff?"
Lena didn't miss a beat, pulling the key to the break room out of her pocket and handing it to me. "Help yourself."
We got into the elevator, heading to her department, but before we even arrived, shouting echoed down the hall.
"You shameless bitch! You married my son, and now you're running around with another man. You killed my son! And now you're pregnant with some bastard child and have the audacity to claim it's ours? You think we're stupid? You just want Desmon compensation money!"
Lena rushed ahead, but I froze in place for a second. That voice... Why did it sound so familiar?
I really needed to grab some pads and get to the restroom, but my curiosity got the best of me, and I found myself drawn toward the noise instead.
"This baby is Desmond's. Once it's born, we can do a paternity test and prove it," I heard a familiar voice say before I could get any closer.
Tanya
Of course. No wonder it sounded so familiar.
"You think we'll believe that? We know you've latched onto some bigshot now, and with enough money, you could make any test say whatever you want. There's no way that child is Desmond's," Mrs. Blake- Desmond's mom-snapped, her voice full of bitterness, The crowd around them was growing as Mrs. Blake's voice got louder. "Everyone, come see this shameless woman! She cheated on my son, and when he confronted her, he ended up in that car crash!" she cried out, her words turning raw and desperate. "Oh God, who will punish her and bring justice for my
son?"
Lena had already stepped in, trying to calm things down. "Ma'am, this is a hospital. You need to stop yelling like this, or you'll disturb the other patients."
Stop yelling here? So, it's fine to yell somewhere else?
I couldn't help but chuckle to myself. Lena had clearly recognized Tanya, which explained why she was handling this with such delicate phrasing.
"Doctor, I'm not making a scene. It's her and her lover who killed my son! He was our only son..." Mrs. Blake's voice cracked with grief, and honestly, it was hard not to feel a little sympathy for her.
"This kind of thing is a family matter," Lena said, still calm. "It's not appropriate to discuss it in a public space like this. Why don't you take this outside?"
Mrs. Blake shook her head. "No! I'm staying right here. I want everyone to know what a disgrace this
Chapter 317
woman is! She cheated on my son and killed her own husband"
Lena sighed. "Please, lower your voice"
"I won't lower my voice! I want the whole world to hear me. And not just here-III follow her wherever she goes! I'll shout and curse at her every step of the way!"
I couldn't help but smirk. Classic Lena, always having my back. This wasn't calming things down-it was like tossing a match into a gas tank
This was going nowhere good, and from the tiny smirk Lena gave, she knew it too. She turned to Tanya, her face more serious. "Ma'am, maybe it's best if you leave for now. Let her calm down." Tanya's face was flushed red, her eyes brimming with tears. It was obvious that nothing she said would help right now. She turned around, full of ration and helplessness.
Tanya's face was flushed, her eyes brimming with tears. She knew nothing she said would make a difference. She turned to leave, her frustration and helplessness clear in every step.
But Mrs. Blake wasn't done. The moment she saw Tanya trying to walk away, she lunged forward, grabbing a fistful of Tanya's hair.
Tanya let out a sharp cry as Mrs. Blake, either blinded by rage or drowning in her grief, started clawing at her, slapping and scratching with wild abandon.
Most of the people around were pregnant women, and as soon as the chaos broke out, they instinctively backed away, not wanting to get caught in it.
No one stepped in to help. Tanya was left to fend for herself as Mrs. Blake's hands landed on her, slapping her face and pounding her head. Even from a distance, I could feel the sting of those hits.
"You think you can fool us with this bastard child for money? Today, I'll make sure you lose that baby!" Mrs. Blake screamed. Then, with terrifying speed, she bent over and charged straight at Tanya's stomach.
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If Mrs. Blake actually rammed into Tanya like that, the baby would be gone for sure..
Even though she refused to believe it, Jace had already made it clear the baby wasn't his-it was Desmond's. If something happened to that baby, their family line would end for good. My heart skipped a beat, and before I even realized it, I was sprinting forward.
Lena, who was closest to Mrs. Blake, moved fast too, grabbing hold of her just in time. "Mrs. Blake, you cannot do this."
Tanya, who'd been silent until now, suddenly snapped Let her hit me! This is her own grandchild. If she kills it, her family line's gone for good."
"You still claim that child's ours?" Mrs. Blake was wild with rage, her eyes blazing. "I'll beat it out of you right now and prove if it's really my grand "Fine! Let's settle it right here!" Tanya shot back, just as furious.
I didn't want to jump into this mess, but the baby was innocent-and it was Desmond's last link to world.
this
I took a deep breath and stormed over, grabbing Tanya by the arm. "Do you really want to lose this baby?" Tanya blinked, momentarily stunned, her face flushing even redder.
"Come with me," I said, yanking her away from the chaos.
"You can't take her away! She needs to pay for what she did to my son!" Mrs. Blake was full-on hysterical
now
I shot Lena a look. She tightened her hold on Mrs. Blake and, in her usual calm but firm voice, said, "If your son really died unjustly, then fight for him through legal channels. Acting like this is only hurting yourself." Lena was seriously killing it today with the way she handled these things.
But instead of calming Mrs. Blake down, her words only seemed to light an even bigger fire. "My only son is dead! Who's gonna bury me when I die? I don't care about living anymore!" Mrs. Blake's voice cracked with despair. She was in full-on "take everyone down with me" mode.
"Move!" I hissed at Tanya.
This time, she followed me without resisting. As we hurried away, Mrs. Blake's curses grew louder, echoing down the hall like venom.
Once we turned the corner and were out of sight, I let go of her.
Tanya looked like a wreck-hair all over the place, her face swollen with angry red handprints, and blood -trickling from the corner of her mouth. It was pitiful, really.
But there's a saying: "Those who are pitiful must have done something to deserve it." And Tanya, well, she'd played her part in Desmond's death. This was her consequence.
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"Do you think I deserve this?" Tanya's voice was tight, led with barely-contained emotion.
I scoffed. "Yes."
Her eyes flared with anger, but I wasn't about to sugarcoat it. "you think a few slaps are enough to make up for the life you cost Desmond?"
Tanya's face twisted with frustration, and she snapped, "It was an accident! Why is everyone blaming me for it?"
The thing was, she actually believed it wasn't her fault No gullt, no regret-just a woman defending herself after pushing Desmond to the edge, to the point where his life ended because of her betrayal.
I didn't know the whole story, but what I did know was enough. Her cheating had driven him to that crash. Desmond had loved her so much, and this was what he got in return? Betrayal. No remorse. And now, she was ready to throw away the last piece of him in the world-his child.
sure as
A wave of anger surged through me. De...und didn't deserve this. He didn't deserve her. And he sure hell didn't deserve to die for her mistakes.
"If you hadn't slept with Jace, would Desmond have had that accident?" I spat, my words slicing through the tension.
Tanya froze, her lips trembling, but no words came out. She just stared at me, speechless.
I didn't stop. "You don't want this baby because you think it'll ruin your perfect future, right? Well, let me spell it out for you: without this baby, Jace wouldn't even look your way," I shot back, my tone sharp enough to cut.
Tanya's face flushed deep red, like I'd slapped her. She struggled to hold it together. "What gives you the right to say that? You don't know what Jace feels for me!" she snapped, her voice shaky with anger.
Chapter 339
#25 BONUS
Seeing Tanya refuse to accept reality, I couldn't help but sneer. "You don't believe me? Fine. How about this-I've known Jace for over ten years. We practically grew up together. I probably even know his bathroom schedule."
I borrowed a line Steve used to tease me and Jace.
Tanya's face paled, her body swaying like she might lose her balance. She shook her head, like if she just denied it enough, it wouldn't be true. "No, that's not possible. It's not like that."
"Don't believe me? Go ahead, try it for yourself," I said, my voice cold and cutting.
She didn't respond. She just stood there, staring at me, frozen in place. Then, without another word, she turned and stumbled away, her steps shaky as she walked off.
I watched her retreat, but something at
er erratic behavior stayed with me. After a few seconds of
hesitation, I pulled out my phone and diacu Jace.
I almost forgot he'd been dodging everyone's calls, going MIA
"Rea," Jace's voice came through the line.
He actually answered. Hearing his voice pulled me back to reality, and I thought of all the people worried about him-about Matthew's condition. Without thinking, I snapped, "Where the hell are you? How old are you that you're still pulling these disappearing acts?" I hadn't even meant to scold him, but the words just flew out. I guess I'd been angrier than I realized.
Silence on the other end, which only fueled my frustration. "Jace Johnston!" I snapped again.
"You called just to yell at me?" His voice was low and worn out.
I scoffed. "I'm not that bored."
"Right. I'm not even worth your time to yell at anymore, Jace replied, sounding almost... defeated.
His self-pitying tone made my blood boil. "What's with the melodrama, Jace? Running off every time things get tough-who even are you anymore?"
He let out a bitter laugh. "I'm human too. Even I need a break sometimes."
That caught me off guard. I had no comeback for that. Fine," I said, my voice calmer but still firm. "But at least clean up your mess before you disappear next time."
There was a brief pause before Jace asked, "What happened with Tanya?"
Of course, his mind immediately went to her. I couldn't help but let out a bitter laugh before replying. "She wants to get rid of the baby. And she had a pretty nasty confrontation with Desmond's mom today."
"Is she trying to get herself killed?" Jace's voice hardened, anger creeping in.
His sudden shift in tone caught me off guard, leaving me speechless for a second. Before I could even respond, the line went dead.
I stood there, staring at my phone in shock. Slowly lowering it from my ear, I realized I hadn't even
Chapter
mentioned Matthew.
"Why are you just standing there?" Hayden's voice broke through my thoughts.
I looked up at him, trying to find words, but they just... didn't come.
"Mommy, that lady has blood on her butt," a little kid's voice piped up from nearby.
"Shh!" the mom quickly hushed her.
I froze. Glancing over, I saw the mother and daughter storing right at me.
That's when it hit me.
Oh no.
I instinctively grabbed Hayden's arm. "My pants... they're stained."
He blinked, confused for a second, then looked down. You..."
Mortified, I buried my face in his
It's my period)
Without missing a beat, Hayden pulled back just enough, then in one smooth motion, he yanked off his t-shirt and tied it around my waist, covering the stain.
My eyes couldn't help but linger on his bare chest-his chiseled muscles, the perfectly defined abs....
Even though he was mine, this was the first time I'd seen him like this, out in broad daylight.
Suddenly, I felt a warmth trickle from my nose. Before I even knew it, a drop of blood hit the ground. Oh no...
Chapter 340
I couldn't believe it-I was actually having a nosebleed. Seriously, who does that?
I'd only seen it happen in movies or cartoons, always thinking it was some over-the-top gag. Never thought it'd be me standing there, blood running down my face like a total weirdo. "Kiki, you're bleeding!" Hayden's eyes went wide as he reached for my face.
But nope, I beat him to it. Pinched my nose, head back. "I'm fine, just... overheated." I tried to sound cool, but I could feel my cheeks burning. So much for that.
"Not enough water?" he asked, his voice full of concern.
"Yeah... sure." Dehydration sounded v
tter than admitting the real reason.
He fished some tissues out of his pocket and handed them over: "You've been running around too much. I should've noticed you weren't drinking enough water." Ugh, there he goes again-blaming himself.
To be fair, maybe he should have noticed. Not that dehydration caused this whole thing, but still... it was definitely his fault.
Once the bleeding stopped, Hayden did the most ridiculous thing. He scooped me up, right there in the middle of a crowded hospital. Like, full-on bridal carry. People were totally staring. "Put me down!" I squirmed.
He just ignored me. And the more I struggled, the more people looked, so I gave up and hid my face in his chest. Maybe if I couldn't see them, they couldn't see me, right? Instead of taking me to Lena's break room like I thought, he carried me straight back to Yuna's hospital
room
Yuna, being a girl, of course had pads ready. And then-because my life clearly needed more cringe- Hayden actually went out and bought me panties.
I know some girls might find it sweet, but I was dying of secondhand embarrassment.
Yuna must've been totally wiped because she slept through everything, like, deep sleep. We didn't even come close to waking her.
"Are you in pain?" Hayden asked, sounding way too familiar with period stuff for a guy.
I shook my head. "No, I'm good."
Now that I thought about it, I hadn't even realized my period was coming-it showed up two days early. which is how I ended up in this whole embarrassing mess.
"Hayden, I meddled today," I said, cupping my hands around the warm water he'd given me, thinking back. to everything with Tanya.
"No, you didn't," he said, not missing a beat.
I shot him a wry smile. "I know you like to spoil me, but you can't just brush it off when I screw up."
He shook his head, meeting my eyes seriously. "It's not that. You didn't do anything wrong. Stopping her from hurting the baby was the right move. No matter what mistakes adults make, the kid shouldn't have to suffer. Protecting life-it's important." His words hit me harder than I expected, a warm feeling spreading through my chest.
I nudged his leg with mine, flashing a grin. "You really were a soldier."
His Adam's apple bobbed as he swallowed, suddenly tense. "Don't tempt me."
I knew exactly what he meant, and I burst out laughing.
Since I'd been with Hayden, I noticed something about myself-I laughed out loud a lot more. I felt free to tease and be playful around him in ways I never did before.
He
e watched me with that rare smile pull his lips, Hayden was so serious most of the time, especially with Yuna still being sick, so seeing him si....e? It felt like a win.
They say the best kind of love is when you're being a total goof, and he's just there, smiling like you're his whole world.
I used to be all about finding that perfect love, but it totally blew up in my face. Then, out of nowhere, I found a love that gave me everything I didn't even know I needed. Life's full of surprises, so don't be too guarded. You never know-something way better might be waiting just around the corner.
"I heard from Lena that Yuna's surgery might get delayed. Is that true?" I asked.
Hayden nodded. "Yeah, Prof. Neumann's already looking into other heart donors."