Ch. 351..360

Chapter 351

Remembering why I came, I asked, "Did you find the cremation document?"

"Not yet," she said, patting my hand. "Wait here. I'll grab it.'

She headed to Matthew

study, and I sat there, glancing at the bottle of pills on the floor. I called for

I

Isabel and told her to take care of it.

About ten minutes later, Lindey came back holding a yellowed piece of paper.

I got up and took it, my hands trembling a little.

Seeing my parents' names and reading the brief lines, my chest tightened painfully.

"Rea," Lindey said softly, folding the document in my hands. "Don't dwell on it. Go take care of your business."

I nodded, ready to leave.

"Rea, be careful," Lindey added as I turned.

I paused, a little confused. She clarified, "Be careful of Tanya."

Lgave a slight nod, not really taking it to heart. But as soon as I left the Johnston residence, a red Mercedes pulled up, blocking my way.

Tanya stepped out. Lindey's warning flashed in my mind as I rolled down the window. "Tanya Twain, what do you want? Here to drag me down with you, or are you here to beg?"

Chapter 352

Earlier at the Johnston residence, I exposed Tanya.

Now she had to be fuming.

Tanya stood by her car, gripping the door like she was ready to either yank me out or take a swing. But then, out of nowhere, she dropped to her knees in front of my car.

I did not see that coming.

I thought she might beg, but actually kneeling? That was a twist.

This woman knew how to play every angle.

Her kneeling didn't faze me. I could handle it, especially since she had stolen my fiancé, But now that she was pregnant, her kneeling could hurt the baby. If anything happened, she'd probably find a way to make it my fault. I wasn't about to let her stay like that.

Still, I wasn't dumb enough to get out and help. She was clearly using her pregnancy as a card to play, and if I showed any concern, she'd milk it for all it was worth.

So, I just smirked and asked, mocking her, "What's all this about?"

"Keira, I'm begging you. Please, spare me. Spare my child. Let them have a chance," she pleaded.

It was 3:30, and the afternoon sun was

blazing, shining right on her face.

Of course, she was using the baby as her excuse. Desmond's unborn kid had become her shield. But I wasn't falling for it. I stayed cool and said, "What exactly did I do to you that you need me to 'spare' you?"

Tanya's lips trembled. "I admit it was wrong to steal Jace from you. But I just wanted a better life. You can't blame me for trying to move up in the world. I don't think I was wrong."

Wow.

cuse

What a neat little excuse for screwing me over.

What a convenient way to justify it all.

I shot her a cold glance. "You step on people to get what you want, and that's supposed to be okay? So why are you on your knees now?"

"We're different," she said, ignoring my jab. "Even though the Johnston family fostered you, they treat you like one of their own. Whether you're with Jace or not, you still have their love and a good life. But me? I've been poor too long." She kept up her sob story, not-so- subtly reminding me I was just a foster kid.

They say playing the victim has levels, and she's definitely a pro.

She would manage to flash her claws when you least expected it-just a little scratch, but enough to leave a mark.

Her logic was laughable. "So, being poor gives you a free pass to act like this? Should we be giving out medals to bank robbers now?"

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The sarcasm was thick, but she didn't flinch.

By the time she dropped to her knees, Tanya must've steeled herself for any humiliation I could dish out. I had to give her credit-this woman was as persistent as she was manipulative.

"My mom's had three strokes, and now she's paralyzed My dad had to quit work to take care of her. And my brother, well, you've seen what he's like. The whole burden's on me. No matter how hard I worked, it was never enough." Tanya dove into her sob story, painting herself as the family martyr.

I'll admit, I didn't expect that. I hadn't known her family situation was this bad.

Given how entitled Brad acted, I figured they weren't rich, but I didn't think they were this bad off.

"Desmond's been the one helping me all these years. His parents? They made my life hell, and it stressed him out. He picked up side gigs for extra cash, and Jace helped him out a lot with that. Of course, he was helping me too."

As she talked, an image of Desmond flashed in my mind-always smiling, calm, and steady, the kind of guy who brought a sense of peace just by being there.

Chapter 353

But who would've thought that behind closed doors, Desmond's life was so rough?

"Desmond was only human. He got tired too. I'd catch him sneaking out at night to smoke, trying to hide it from me. Every time, it broke my heart. I blamed myself for being such a burden," Tanya said, shaking her head like she was the tragic one.

"I wanted to leave him, not because I didn't love him, but because I loved him too much. I didn't want him to be so worn out." Her words painted her as some kind of martyr.

"Well, he's not tired anymore. He'll never be tired again," I muttered under my breath.

Tanya caught the bitterness in my voice. "You've never lived a day in my shoes. You don't get it," she snapped, her voice rising.

She stared at me, but after a beat, the anger drained from her face. "As for Desmond's death, I swear I didn't hurt him. I just wanted him to see my betrayal, to push him away so he'd leave on his own, set him free."

"The car accident wasn't your fault?" I whispered.

"No, no," Tanya shook her head hard. "Desmond was so good to me-I'm not a monster. How could I ever want to take his life?"

"But he still died because of you," I shot back, not letting her squirm out of the guilt. Desmond's death was on her hands, whether she liked it or not.

Tanya's eyes flickered, and she dropped her gaze. "I'll repay him in the next life."

"Please, you're so vicious-if Desmond sees you in the next life, he'll probably run the other way," I retorted, cold as ice. I didn't hold back.

If she weren't pregnant, I would've already dragged her off the ground and slapped her by now.

I remembered something Jace had once told me-how Desmond loved Tanya more than anything, how he'd give his life for her. He said Desmond treated her like she could do no wrong, like she was his everything. Now, listening to Tanya, all I could feel was pity for Desmond. He was such a fool.

Loving someone is fine, but not when it costs you everything. Once love becomes that lopsided, it's only a matter of time before it all falls apart.

Tanya was lucky. She had Desmond's love in this life. But she was too greedy, and she lost him.

"I know I'm hateful. But I had no choice. Now that you've found your own happiness, please give me a break. Can't you bring Jace back?" Of course, Tanya's plea circled back to Jace. "Hasn't Jace already set you up? You've got a place to live, money to spend. Does it really matter if he comes back or not?" I couldn't understand why she was still so desperate to see him.

Tanya pressed her lips together. "Keira, having a house and money isn't enough to live a happy life."

I got it. She wanted love and happiness, too.

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"You sure do ask for a lot," I shot back, letting the sarcasm drip.

Tanya's hand moved to her belly. "Who doesn't want a complete, happy life? And now, Desmond's parents refuse to acknowledge this child. I wanted to get an abortion, but Jace won't let me. So, he has to come back. My child needs a father." Hearing that, I suddenly thought Jace might be dumber than a brick.

He got caught up in the excitement of Tanya, and now he was stuck for life.

Honestly? It was exactly what he deserved.

"Keira, I'm begging you to bring Jace back. Lknow you can reach him," Tanya said, like it was a fact.

I wasn't sure where she got that confidence, but she wasn't wrong. Jace wasn't answering anyone's calls- except mine.

"You think I'm the only one who can reach him? What does that tell you?" I asked, mocking her.

A flicker of embarrassment crossed her face, but she quickly pulled herself together. "I know he's into you, but I don't care. I just want him around. That's good enough for me."

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Chapter 354

She just wanted him around?

The nerve of her.

I looked at her pitiful face, my voice turning colder. "Tanya, you've got it wrong. It's not Jace's body you want-it's his status, and all the money that comes with it."

Tanya pressed her lips together. "I won't deny that, but..."

She paused, then delivered her next line like a punch straight to the gut. "But over these months, Jace has treated me just as well as Desmond ever did. I've really fallen in love with him. I want to spend my life with him." So, this was her way of telling me Jace cared about her, that she couldn't live without him.

Even now, she saw me as competition.

Yet here she was, begging me for help.

Even while pleading, she couldn't resist twisting the knife. She really thought I was that easy to play.

I gave her a faint smile. "Jace was so good to you, but he still ran off."

Her face froze. I continued, "Are you sure he wants to spend his life with you?"

"As long as he comes back, I'll make it work," Tanya whispered, desperation creeping into her tone.

I nodded slightly. "Well, good luck with that. Go bring him back yourself. I'm not helping you."

Tanya had been kneeling for a while now, and it was starting to show. She wobbled, gripping the car door tighter. Her voice shook. "Why? Is it because you still love him?"

It's sad when a woman blames another woman for a man's lack of love.

I was done with this back-and-forth. I scoffed. "Sure, think whatever you want."

Tanya looked stunned, like she had more to say but couldn't get the words out.

"Kneeling this long isn't good for the baby. You should get up. I need to leave," I said, glancing at the clock on my dashboard. She had already wasted ten minutes of my time.

"If you don't call Jace, I'll stay right here, kneeling," she shot back, doubling down on her shameless tactics.

They say even the strongest guy is no match for a clingy woman, and in that moment, I understood why Jace ran. Maybe it wasn't just because of his fallout with Matthew-maybe he was sick of Tanya constantly hounding him. "Then stay there." I revved the engine twice, making my point.

Tanya flinched, her body trembling, but her hands stayed clenched around the car door.

She was betting I wouldn't dare run her over..

Her stubbornness lit a spark of anger in me. "If you don't move, that's your problem. You really think if I

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accidentally ran you over today, the Johnston family would send me to jail?"

Her eyes widened in shock.

"If you were really gone, the Johnstons would probably throw a party. Got it?" I added with a sweet, but dangerous smile.

Tanya's face paled, and her body swayed as she collapsed to the ground.

In the end, she didn't have the guts to challenge me. She knew better than anyone that between the two of us, the Johnston family would always have my back.

Watching her like this, I grabbed my phone off the passenger seat. "Didn't you want Jace to come back? I'll call him right now. You can hear for yourself."

I wasn't doing this out of pity. I was about to crush her hopes completely.

"Rea," Jace answered within three seconds. His voice came through on speaker.

"Jace, Tanya showed up at your home today. She's standing in the middle of the street, blocking my car. She wants us to send you back," I said, not sugarcoating a thing. "Where is she now?" Jace's voice was calm, eerily so, without a trace of emotion.

But I knew him. After ten years together, I could tell-this was him at his angriest.

Hearing his voice, Tanya scrambled off the ground and lunged for my phone. "Jace, please come back! If you don't, Desmond's parents are going to make me get rid of this baby!"—

hapter 355

Jace stayed silent. Tanya, already bawling, tried again, her voice shaky. "Jace, I can't do this without you. I don't even know what to do anymore..." Still, nothing. Tanya panicked, thinking he'd hung up. "Jace? Are you there?"

She glanced at my phone, saw the call was still connected. "Jace?"

Finally, his voice cut through-cold and sharp. "Who told you to go to my house? Did you forget what I said?"

Tanya's hand shook as she held the phone. "I didn't have a choice. I'm just trying to protect the baby. You said nothing could happen to it."

I had to bite back a laugh. Just days ago, she was ready to ditch the baby in front of Desmond's parents. Now she was all protective mom mode? Please.

"Tanya, this is the last time," Jace warned, his voice like ice.

"Jace, wait-"

But the call ended with a cold, empty dial tone. Tanya just stood there, gripping the phone tighter. "Jace.. Jace..."

"Yeah, he hung up. Give me my phone back." I snatched it from her hand.

She staggered, looking like a ghost of herself, drained and empty. But I wasn't sticking around for her meltdown. I had my own problems. Without another word, I drove off.

As I drove, my head swirled with everything she said and Desmond's death. By the time I pulled into the parking lot, I realized I didn't even remember how I got there. I'd been so lost in thought lately, everything felt like a blur. No accidents yet, but at this rate, I was tempting fate.

'Get it together,' I told myself.

At the counter, I handed over the documents. The clerk gave them a quick glance, stamped them, and started typing something into her computer.

"Wait," I called out suddenly.

"What is it?" The clerk looked at me, confused.

I glanced at the screen showing my parents' info, then pulled out my phone and snapped a quick pic. Just want to keep it as a memento."

11

The clerk shrugged and finished up the process. But I found myself staring at that photo, my emotions swirling. They say someone only truly dies when they're forgotten, when every trace of them is wiped

away.

As long as I'm alive, I won't forget my parents. But everything connected to them-it was disappearing. The deregistration certificate in my hand, the house about to be torn down-it was like they were being erased piece by piece. "It's done. Here are the documents," the clerk said, sliding them over.

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I took the papers and walked back to my car. But instead of starting the engine, I just sat there for a while, staring at the final page of their registration info.

Finally, I took a pic and posted it on my social feed with the caption: [I don't have you anymore.]

I wasn't sure why people posted stuff online, but for me, it was like a marker. So one day, when I look back, I'll remember.

Just as I pulled into the demolition office, my phone rang. It was Hayden. I ignored it-had too much to do right now.

Then Lena called. Twice.

I sighed, figuring she saw my post. I picked up. Before she could even ask, I said, "I'm fine. Just signing the papers. I'll call you later."

"Papers? Tanya's at the clinic for an abortion. You gonna stop her this time or what?" Lena asked.

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Chapter 356

An abortion?! Seriously?

Tanya was still out here stirring up drama, as usual.

But, whatever. If she wanted to be extra, let her. I've got enough problems right now. There was no way I was about to go play hero.

"Let her be," I said, shrugging it off.

"Whoa, not playing the saint today?" Lena teased, reminding me just how much I used to butt into everything.

I smirked. "The saint went rogue."

She burst out laughing. "I love it."

After she hung up, I dragged myself to the demolition office to deal with the final paperwork. They handed me a form, saying I had three days to pack and bounce.

I thought I'd been ready for this since I first saw that demolition notice. I even started packing. But now, with the deadline set in stone, it hit me like a truck-my apartment was about to be torn down, for real.

When I got back to the complex, I just stood there, staring up at the building like an idiot. The old ladies I used to see hanging around? Gone. Probably moved already.

I was so deep in my head that I didn't even realize Hayden was next to me until I finally gave up and started heading inside.

"Hungry?" he asked, skipping over any small talk.

I shook my head, not in the mood.

I didn't know why, but right then, I was just done-too wiped to even talk.

"Tired?" Hayden could always read me like a book.

From."

I let out a soft "mm."

Hayden looked like he was about to say something, but I was already halfway up the stairs. He didn't push

it, just followed quietly and grabbed the bag from my hand without a word.

He knew me too well to force a conversation. We climbed the steps in silence.

At the last step, I held out my hand for the bag. He didn't give it back right away, just looked at me,

waiting. He knew what I meant, but he wanted me to say it.

I sighed, lowering my hand. "I went and dealt with my parents' deregistration today. It was... exhausting. I just need some space tonight."

Hayden's eyes darkened a bit. "At least eat something first."

I'm not hungry," I muttered, holding my hand out again,

After a pause, he finally handed me the bag.

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I slipped into the apartment, leaning against the door once it shut behind me. I didn't bother turning on the lights. The dim, fading sunset poured in through the windows, casting long shadows over the familiar furniture.

Three months ago, when I came back here, I'd done the same thing-just stood in this spot, taking it all in. Nothing had changed. Even after living here for three months, I'd kept everything exactly as it was before. Hayden, thankfully, hadn't touched a thing either. He got it. I looked around at the familiar furniture, and for a moment, it felt like my parents were still here. I could picture it all so clearly.

My dad was on the couch with his newspaper. The second he'd hear me come in, he'd glance up, smile, and say, "Hey, come here! You've gotta check out this article."

And from the kitchen, my mom in her apron, calling out, "Kiki, wash your hands and have some fruit! Dinner's almost ready."

Caught up in the memory, I walked over and sat down on the couch where Dad used to sit. I reached under the coffee table and pulled out an old, yellowing newspaper from ten years ago. It was still folded to the article Dad had pointed out to me back then. I started reading it aloud, just like I had that day. When I finished, I found myself repeating what I'd said all those years ago: "This is what you call good writing? I could be a famous author one day."

And then, as clear as day, I heard my dad's voice. "That's right, my daughter could be a famous author."

I froze, turning to the empty spot next to me. That's not what he had said back then. He'd tapped me on the head and laughed, saying, "Stay humble if you wanna improve."

But I had heard him just now. Something different.

I stood up, scanning the room. No one was there. Just me.

But I know I heard it.

"Dad? Mom?" I whispered, my voice shaky, as I hurried into the kitchen.

But the kitchen was empty. No one was there.

I turned back to the couch, my heart racing, but the room was as still as ever. No one. Just me.

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357

So, it was all just in my head. Even my dad's voice-it was nothing more than an illusion.

They'd been gone for ten years. How could I have possibly heard them?

I stood there, feeling completely lost. The last rays of light disappeared, and the room was swallowed by darkness. The weight of losing them-of never seeing them again-hit me hard, and the tears finally came, unstoppable. That night, I barely slept. My dreams were filled with flashes of my mom and dad, haunting and

bittersweet.

When I woke up, I felt like I'd been hit by

a truck. My body was heavy, aching, like I'd spent the night doing

hard labor. I tried to drag myself out of bed but couldn't manage it.

That's when it hit me-I was sick. I touched my forehead. Warm. Fever, probably.

"Kiki, you up?" Hayden's voice came from outside the door.

15

I opened my mouth to answer, but all that came out was a raspy whisper. My throat felt like I'd swallowed glass.

I grabbed my phone and typed out a message: [I'm sick. You can come in.]

He had a key-I'd given it to him a while back.

Within seconds, the door creaked open, and I heard his footsteps rushing over. His cool hand pressed against my forehead, and for a moment, the relief was so good, I almost leaned into it. But then he pulled away. "You've got a fever. We're going to the hospital."

I was too out of it to argue. I just grabbed his hand and pressed it to my face, needing the comfort. A second later, I felt his lips brush my forehead. "I'm here. Don't worry. We'll get you to the hospital." My throat hurt like hell, but I forced out, "Medicine. I just need medicine."

"Okay, we'll do that first," Hayden said, his voice soft as he stroked my cheek. "But we're still going to the hospital." Then he headed off to find the meds.

A little while later, Hayden came back with water and medicine, gently helping me sit up. After H swallowed the pills, he let me settle for a moment before saying, "Okay, now let's head to the hospital for a check-up."

I started to shake my head, but he pressed a soft kiss to my forehead, firm but gentle. "Be good. You spiked a fever out of nowhere-we need to figure out why."

I knew Hayden was super careful about health stuff, especially after everything with Yuna.

I sighed, not wanting to argue anymore, and let him take me to the hospital. By the time we got there, the meds had kicked in, and I could already feel my fever dropping.

"I'm feeling better. No need for tests," I said, trying to avoid the inevitable-because 1 hated needles, especially blood tests.

"Let's just see the doctor," Hayden insisted.

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There was no winning with him, so I went along with it. As expected, the doctor recommended a blood

test.

This was the part I dreaded, but I'd almost forgotten Hayden was with me. As the nurse prepped the needle, his large hand covered my eyes, blocking my view. Leaning close, he whispered, "I'm taking you to dinner tonight. Mr. Shane invited us." Wait, a dinner? Out of nowhere? Ron invited us?

Before I could even question it, the nurse spoke up, "All done."

Hayden's hand moved from my eyes to lightly press against my arm.

I blinked, glancing down at my arm and back at the nurse. Had it really just happened? I didn't feel a thing. Sure, the nurse was skilled, but I knew Hayden's little distraction worked better than anything else. Having a boyfriend who truly loves you makes even the crappiest moments feel just a little easier. "You just gave a lot of blood. Let's get you something good to eat," Hayden said, guiding me toward the café across from the hospital while we waited for my results.

As soon as we stepped inside, I spotted someone familiar.

Lena.

I was about to head over and say hi, but Hayden tugged at my arm, stopping me. He gave a small nod in another direction, signaling for me to look.

Chapter 358

"I'll have two orders of pasta. One without tomato sauce, sub black pepper sauce. A mango juice, plain water, and a blueberry mousse-light on the cream."

Nate placed the order with such ease, and it was clearly meant for two.

One of those dishes? Tailored exactly to Lena's tastes. She was all about black pepper sauce, but hated tomatoes. A detail only someone close to her would know. Lena never made a fuss about food in public, but she'd never touch anything with tomatoes. Nate hadn't seen her in years, and they'd only recently made things official. Yet here he was, already tuned into her preferences. It was sweet how much attention he was putting into this relationship.

I used to joke that watching them was like watching two clueless people stumble into love, but clearly, they were way more serious than I gave them credit for.

"We should order," Hayden squeezed my hand gently, bringing me back to reality.

I nodded, realizing now wasn't the time to interrupt Lena and Nate. They were probably squeezing in a quick meal near the hospital, fitting it into their busy schedules. If I went over, I'd just be crashing their moment.

Hayden led me to the counter, picking out dishes that wouldn't be too harsh on my sore throat. Light, soothing foods to help me feel better.

"No dessert for now. Your throat's already hurting, and sweets could make it worse," Hayden said, his concern obvious. His level of care easily matched Nate's.

I glanced over at Nate and Lena, sitting quietly as they ate. No conversation, just awkward silence. I couldn't resist teasing Hayden, "But what if I really want dessert?"

Relationships need a little playfulness, right? Being doted on is part of the fun of being in love.

Looking at Lena's overly quiet, stiff romance, it reminded me of all the boring, flavorless food I'd been eating lately-no spice, no excitement.

"If you insist, you can have a little," Hayden smirked. "Just not too much."

I turned to look at Hayden. When he noticed me staring without saying anything, he assumed I was still upset. "Be good," he coaxed, "Once you're feeling better, you can have as much as you want." "Hayden," I said softly, "I was just kidding."

I mean, come on, I'm sick. Asking for sweets right now would just be setting myself up for more misery. That's something a teenage girl might do, but I was past that phase.

He froze for a second, then smiled, tapping my nose lightly. "You little troublemaker."

To my surprise, when the food arrived, so did dessert.

"You can have a little bit," Hayden said, his eyes flicking briefly to Lena and Nate before adding softly," Whatever anyone else gets, you'll have too. Even what others don't get-you'll still have." Hayden always came off so serious, with that sharp, no-nonsense vibe. But the way he spoke right now?

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His words were like a feather, brushing against my heart.

I took a small bite of the dessert, then grinned at him. "It's so sweet."

But the sweetness wasn't from the dessert-it was all him.

"Did you notice them?" I asked, glancing over at Lena and Nate. "They've barely said a word. They look more like strangers awkwardly sharing a table than a couple on a date." Hayden smiled faintly. "You can ask Lena about it later."

I huffed, watching Lena. "She's too passive. It's weird-when she's with me, she's this fierce, unstoppable force. But the second she's around the guy she likes, she turns into this shy little kitten. It's like she becomes someone else." "Everyone's got different sides to them," Hayden said, handing me my fruit juice and nodding for me to take a sip.

I looked at him, the guy who always had my back. "Yeah, just like you."

On the outside, he seemed all tough and strict. But when it was just the two of us, he was the kindest, most patient person I knew-always knowing exactly what I needed, even before I did. "I've gotta give her a nudge," I said, grabbing my phone.

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I opened my social media and noticed a new friend request. Normally, I don't accept random adds unless they got my number, but I clicked on it out of habit. The name? Cedric Sawyer. Apparently, he's a cop.

I racked my brain, trying to place him. Then it clicked-he was the officer from yesterday, the one who handled my parents' case. I didn't catch his name at the time, but yeah, that had to be him. Plus, he'd asked for my number, so it made sense. I shrugged and hit accept. A notification popped up, saying we were now connected. I didn't message him, though. If he had something to say, he'd reach out first.

I flipped over to Lena's profile and shot her a message: [Girl, you need to tone down the superhero vibe. Be playful, maybe even a little flirty. Let him feel like he's gotta protect you or something. Right now, you're making him feel like he's the sidekick.] After sending it, I glanced across the café at Lena, but she was totally absorbed in her drink. Classic Lena -always oblivious. I didn't expect her to respond right away anyway. It was more of a note for her to think about next time.

"Stop staring at your phone and eat," Hayden nudged me, snapping me back to reality.

"Okay, okay." I mumbled and poked at my pasta. My throat was still sore, so I wasn't really into it.

But the juice? Absolute heaven. Sweet and warm, perfect for my throat. It would've been better cold, but Hayden insisted on warm since, you know, I was on my period.

Even though I wasn't really hungry, I sipped my juice and watched Hayden. He was totally zoned in on his food, eating fast but neat. For someone who looked so rough around the edges, his table manners were surprisingly on point. Not a crumb left behind. This wasn't just a one-off thing. Ever since I met Hayden, he always cleaned his plate like it was his life's mission.

I knew it was a habit. Growing up, my parents drilled the whole "no wasting food" thing into me too. I remembered it... didn't always follow through, though. Maybe that's the one rule I actually rebelled against.

Watching Hayden scrape his plate clean like always, I couldn't resist teasing. "Hayden, you're a little too od at this whole 'clean your plate' thing. Sure, at home, it's practical-fewer dishes to wash. But here? People might think you're too cheap to order seconds." "It's not about being cheap," he said, reaching over and grabbing my half-finished plate like it was no big deal. "It's just unnecessary to waste food."

This wasn't the first time he'd finished my leftovers, but we were in public now. "Hayden..."

"Doesn't matter. Wasting is still wrong," he said, all serious.

I couldn't really argue with that, so I just watched him devour the rest of my pasta.

It was kinda embarrassing seeing him finish my food like that, so I nudged him under the table with my foot. He froze mid-bite, his eyes locking on mine, turning all intense.

He swallowed hard, his Adam's apple bobbing, and muttered, "Stop messing around."

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I just smiled, sipping my juice like I was innocent, lightly biting down on the straw.

"Don't laugh while you're drinking," he warned, eyeing me. "You'll choke."

Naturally, I didn't listen. Instead, I grinned wider. "Choking would be perfect. Then you could give me CPR."

"Ugh!" Hayden almost choked instead of me, which made me burst out laughing.

I was still laughing when I felt a shadow looming behind me. I jumped, almost spilling my juice.

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Hayden, quick as ever, caught my juice before it could spill all over the table. Before I could even turn around, I heard a voice I knew way too well.

"Kiki, you're something else. Maybe I should start taking notes," Lena teased, sliding up beside me with that mischievous grin.

I lightly swatted her arm. "You know, scaring people isn't cool."

"If you're scared, I definitely can't afford the compensation. Right, Hayden?" Lena shot him a playful look.

This girl-around Nate, she was all sweet and innocent, but with anyone else, it was like she got a license for sass. How she managed to flip the switch in front of Nate, I'd never know. "Where's Nate?" I asked, glancing at the empty seat he'd been in earlier.

"He left," tena shrugged, plopping down next to me. Her eyes flicked to Hayden. "Hayden, seriously? Two plates, and Kiki's got none? Not exactly boyfriend of the year material." She said it on purpose, totally knowing Hayden had eaten my leftovers.

Tnudged her under the table, hoping she'd chill. It's one thing for us to joke around, but I didn't want Hayden feeling awkward. He might take it personally, like some weird guy pride thing.

But nope. Hayden didn't even blink. He just kept eating, super chill. "Her plate's right here," he said without missing a beat.

Lena's grin widened. "Oh, so you two are sharing a meal now? That's cute."

"Yeah? Maybe you and Professor Neumann should try it next time," Hayden shot back, totally unfazed.

I cracked up, and Lena gave me a playful pinch, but she hit the spot where I'd had my blood drawn earlier.

I winced. "Ow!"

Hayden immediately jumped in. "She just had blood drawn from that arm."

Lena froze for second, her teasing gone in an instant. Her eyes softened as she looked at me. "Wait, what? Are you okay?"

"I had a fever," I said, leaning my head dramatically on Lena's shoulder. "And now you're bullying a sick person."

Lena instantly went into mom-mode, feeling my forehead. "Why'd you get a fever? Where's it hurting?"

"My throat feels like I swallowed razor blades," I pouted, exaggerating for effect.

"Sounds like a viral infection. How long ago did you get the blood test?" she asked, all concerned now. "Like, 8:30 this morning. We're still waiting for the results," I said, glancing over at Hayden, who was still quietly finishing his meal, acting like everything was totally normal. He was always so calm-no matter what.

Lena glanced at the tiny watch pinned to her shirt. "The basic blood test results should be out by now." She turned back to me, smirking. "You're looking pretty lively for someone who's supposed to be sick-

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Chapter 360

especially with all that flirting you've been doing with Hayden. I think you'll survive."

Classic Lena-never missing a chance to roast me, even in front of Hayden. But I wasn't gonna back down. "Well, duh. With Hayden taking such good care of me, how could I not get better in no time?"

"Exactly. Love cures all," Lena teased as she stood up. I'll head out for now. Once you get your results, come find me."

I waved her off with a playful little claw gesture. She rolled her eyes at my goofiness, but before walking away, she asked, "Which department did you go to? I can check in for you."

"Fever clinic," I replied, but before I could say more, I noticed a guy walking straight toward us.

At first, I thought he was coming to talk to Hayden, but then I heard him call out, "Dr. Lane."

Lena's whole vibe shifted instantly-her face darkened, and her eyebrows knit together like she'd just seen something nasty. I caught the flicker of irritation in her eyes.

Being her best friend. for years, I knew something was way off. I stood up, ready to back her up.

"Dr. Lane, I've been looking for you these past few days. Didn't expect to bump into you here," the guy said, his eyes glued to Lena in a way that made my skin crawl. The sleazy vibe rolling off him was impossible to miss.

chapter 361