Ch. 361..370
chapter 361
Lena's face went stone cold. "I've already told you-keep this up, and it's harassment. I'll call the cops."
"Dr. Lane, it's not harassment! I just... I like you. I wanna be with you..."
I cringed so hard I could barely stand it. It reminded me of the guy who sent her flowers signed "Sancho." Was this him? I didn't care he was Sancho now.
"Dr. Lane, I swear, it was love at first sight..." Sancho even raised his hand like he was making some grand, heartfelt vow.
"But she hated you at first sight," I shot back, sliding next to Lena.
Hayden stood up too, looking like he'd be ready to step in if things got any worse.
Sancho glanced at me. "Who are you? I'm talking to Dr. Lane. Could you, like, not?"
If I'd eaten more earlier, I probably would've puked just from his voice.
"And who are you to think just 'cause you say you like her, she has to care?" No way was I letting this go. "Yeah, I like her! It's a pure, sacred kind of love. My feelings are noble!" He actually sounded serious, but he was looking at me like I was too dumb to get it.
I glanced at him, head to toe. His Nike shirt, Under Armour pants, and, and Skechers sneakers-yeah, all knockoffs, like super obvious ones.
Look, you don't need money to be decent, but at least own up to who you are. Don't fake it.
When I first met Hayden, he was just in a plain tee and work pants-nothing flashy, but it was real, you
know?
Meanwhile, Sancho here, strutting around in his bootleg brands like he's some big deal, was straight-up
cringe.
Then my eyes landed on his watch-a phony Rolex Submariner. I almost laughed. "You like Dr. Lane? And what's your qualification? Got the cash to back up those big feelings of yours?"
L
Sancho's mouth opened and closed like a fish out of water. I couldn't tell if he had no idea what to say or just couldn't think fast enough.
Before he could even try, I jumped in. "Dude, you're the type to cry over a five-cent hike in iced tea, and you think you're gonna win over Dr. Lane? Do yourself a favor-go home, and take a long look in the mirror.
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The small crowd that had gathered around us broke into laughter at that.
Sancho's face flushed deep red, and he jabbed a finger at me. "Don't look down on people!"
Before I could fire back, Hayden's arm shot out, grabbing Sancho by the wrist. The guy's hand dropped instantly, his expression shifting from anger to straight-up panic as he stared at Hayden.
"Let's take this outside," Hayden said, his tone leaving zero room for debate. With a firm grip on Sancho's shoulder, he guided him toward the door, not giving the guy a chance to argue. Chapter 36*
Sancho went totally quiet, letting himself get dragged out like he'd just lost the ability to speak. But I knew better-Hayden's grip probably hurt so much he couldn't get a word out if he tried. Through the glass window, I watched as Hayden let go once they were outside. Sancho immediately clutched his shoulder, his face twisted in pain.
Lena saw it too, and with a little smirk, she muttered, "No wonder Jace bailed. He never stood a chance against Hayden."
I nudged her with my elbow. "You're so cold, cracking jokes right now."
Lena chuckled, eyes still locked on the scene outside. We watched as Sancho, now looking thoroughly humiliated, nodded frantically at Hayden like he'd learned his lesson. "I doubt he'll be back," Lena said.
I nodded, feeling pretty proud of how we handled it. "Nate totally owes us dinner for dealing with his wannabe competition."
"If that guy counts as competition, Nate's standards must be seriously low," Lena teased, throwing Nate a subtle compliment.
Her earlier mention of Jace made me think of something, though. "Wait, did Tanya ever go through with the abortion?" Lena's face tightened. "Don't even get me started."
"What? Why?" Now I was dying to
Chapter 362
Lena didn't answer me right away. Her gaze was locked on Hayden outside the window. "How long do you think he'll take?"
I glanced outside. Sancho was practically groveling, completely at Hayden's mercy, while Hayden just stood there with one hand casually tucked in his pocket. The morning sunlight hit him just right, making him look like he was glowing or something. And I couldn't take my eyes off him.
This quiet sense of pride bubbled up inside me, a voice in the back of my mind whispering, 'Keira, that's your guy.
Getting involved with Hayden had been kind of an accident-something that happened when I was still reeling from my breakup with Jace, just looking for a distraction. But now? I realized I'd hit the jackpot. He wasn't just good-looking; he could handle things. "Uh, hello? I asked you a question," Lena nudged me when I didn't respond.
I blinked, snapping out of my thoughts. "Oh, right. Shouldn't take much longer."
If I had to guess, Sancho was probably begging Hayden to fix his shoulder by now.
Yuna had told me once that Hayden knew how to reset dislocated joints. Some old doctor in Pencetown had taught him. When Yuna was younger, she used to have this issue where her arm would pop out of place easily, and Hayden learned how to fix it after taking her to the doctor so many times.
If he knew how to pop one in, it stood to reason he could pop one out too-probably why Sancho had been so quick to cooperate.
one type sup
Sancho was pleading with Hayden now, but I knew Hayden wasn't the type to waste time. We still had places to be-like checking out those blood test results-so he'd wrap this up fast.
"He's waiting for us," I said, realizing. "Once we head out, it'll be done."
Lena caught on immediately. "Alright, let's walk and talk."
As she said this, Lena grabbed the jacket she'd left on the chair and draped it over my shoulders, her attention shifting to Tanya.
"Right after I called you, and you told me to just let her be, I went ahead and arranged everything-set up the exam, got the paperwork ready for the procedure. But as soon as she paid the fee, she bolted. Never came back," Lena said, shaking her head. "She never planned on going through with it," I scoffed.
"Exactly. So why keep running back to me? You know what she's up to, right?" Lena hinted.
Of course I knew. Tanya wanted me to relay everything to Jace-that was her endgame. She knew full well both Jace and I wanted to keep the baby she was carrying.
"This time, she miscalculated," Lena said with a slight smile.
I smirked too. "She's the type that won't stop until she gets what she wants. She'll keep pushing."
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"Then let Jace deal with it," Lena huffed, rolling her eyes at the mention of his name. "Why should you be the one cleaning up his mess?"
I pressed my lips together. "He'll be back soon."
Lena raised an eyebrow. "What, did he tell you that?"
I thought about Matthew's illness, my voice dropping. "Matthew's sick. Lung cancer."
Lena froze, the weight of my words hanging between us. She didn't say anything after that. She's a doctor, and her silence said it all.
We reached the entrance of the building, and as expected, Hayden was already watching us. The second he spotted us, he grabbed Sancho's shoulder again.
Sancho let out a loud yelp, and Hayden firmly said, "From now on, stay away from this hospital."
Now that was an effective threat.
Lena nudged me with a grin. "Your boyfriend's got serious CEO energy."
Her comment reminded me of Hayden's whole deal-he was the investor behind Ron's company, but he'd pretended to be broke when we first met. That unsettling feeling started creeping up again.
I didn't respond, mostly because Hayden had already walked over. "Let's go check your results," he said.
Lena, always reading the vibe, stepped aside to give us a little space and moved to my other side. Hayden casually took my hand, and Lena shot me a playful wink.
I didn't feel the slightest bit shy. In fact, I saw it as a perfect moment to give her a little lesson on PDA. "Watch and learn. If Nate's too shy to make the first move, you can totally take charge." With a smirk, I slid my hand out of Hayden's and linked my arm through his instead. "Like this."
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Out of nowhere, Lena blurted, "If you'd been this smooth earlier, Jace wouldn't have run off."
It felt like she'd lost her mind for a second, because bringing up an ex in front of your current boyfriend? Major no-no.
I stiffened for a second, but I knew Lena wasn't trying to hurt me. She wasn't clueless either. One glance at her and I caught the mischievous wink she sent my way.
I got it-she was testing Hayden. She wanted to see how he'd react to hearing about Jace. Classic Lena, always pushing boundaries.
Most guys would flinch at the mention of an ex, especially in front of their girlfriend. But I wondered, How far is she gonna take this? What if she pushed too hard, and Hayden just decided to peace out?
I risked a glance at him. His expression didn't change. No flicker of annoyance, no comment, nothing.
Lena wasn't about to let it go. "Right, Hayden? Don't you think?"
I wanted to melt into the floor.
But Hayden just replied, "Kiki only gets clingy with me."
A wave of sweetness filled the air, and just like that, Hayden nailed the moment with his perfect, effortless reply.
Lena clicked her tongue. "You might look like a total science geek, but who knew you had such a romantic side?"
"Quantum reactions in chemistry are always unique," Hayden said casually. "It depends on how the particles combine." Trust Hayden to turn love into a science lesson. He was basically saying his romantic side only existed because of me. Classic. "No wonder Kiki fell for you," Lena said with a thumbs-up.
My heart swelled. Meeting Hayden really was one of the best things that ever happened to me..
"Kiki, you know, you should probably thank Tanya," Lena teased, giving me a playful wink.
I knew exactly what she was hinting at. "You're right. If it weren't for her drama, I never would've met Hayden."
I leaned my head against Hayden's shoulder.
"Good thing I didn't eat much, or this PDA would've made,me sick," Lena joked.
"We're just giving you a free lesson. Pay attention," I shot back.
We were still laughing as we reached the hospital's main entrance. But just as we were about to walk in, I spotted Wayne.
He was heading toward another entrance, and for a second, I almost called out to him. But before I could, ho turned away, walking straight toward the patient rooms. Chapter 363
It felt... strange, like we were complete strangers now. A heavy feeling crept in, and it hit me just how
Johnston family was fading.
much my connection with the O
Lena stuck around while Hayden and I picked up my test results. Thankfully, everything came back normal.
Turns out, my random fever
was just from stress-go figure.
Lena had to bounce back to work, so Hayden and I went to check on Yuna. She looked kinda down, probably because her surgery got pushed back.
I didn't go all cheerleader on her, though. Instead, I casually switched topics. "Hey, there's this concert coming up. Wanna go?"
Her eyes darted to Hayden. "Can I?"
With her heart condition, a lot of stuff was off-limits.
"I swear I'll keep it chill," Yuna said, holding up her hand like she was making a promise.
Hayden nodded. "We will go with you."
"Yes!" Yuna squealed, wrapping her arms around me.
She was already buzzing with excitement, and honestly, it had me low-key stressed. If she was this hyped now, what was she gonna be like at the actual concert? I started regretting bringing it up in the first place. I shot a look at Hayden. He walked over and gave Yuna a playful tap on the head. "If you're already this pumped, how are you gonna survive the concert? Maybe you should-"
"I won't overdo it, promise!" Yuna cut him off, raising her hand again. She even shook my arm for backup.
I realized I'd opened Pandora's box and wasn't about to say anything else. Thankfully, my phone buzzed, saving me. It was Ron.
I picked up and listened, glancing over at Hayden as Ron spoke.
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Ron invited me to dinner, and it hit me-Hayden had mentioned the exact same thing earlier when I was getting my blood drawn.
At the time, I thought he was just messing with me, trying to distract me. Turns out, he wasn't kidding.
"It's Mr. Shane?" Hayden asked, like he already knew.
"Yeah," I said, eyeing him suspiciously. "Did you tell him to ask me?"
Hayden was Ron's boss, so it wouldn't take much for Ron to follow orders.
Hayden frowned a little. "No."
I shot him a sarcastic smile, totally convinced he was covering his real identity.
"He told me in advance," Hayden added, trying to clarify.
But was that really it? I wasn't in the mood to dig deeper. Free dinner? I wasn't about to pass that up. I smirked. "I said yes. You coming too?"
"Yeah," he replied, in that classic Hayden way. Seriously, if someone made a list of his most-used words, yeah" would totally top it.
But then he dropped the line that made me roll my eyes: "I don't make a habit of letting my girlfriend have dinner alone with another guy." Classic Hayden, always a little possessive.
Yuna, who'd been silently watching us like she was front row at a rom-com, started grinning. Her eyes flicked back and forth between us, totally fangirling.
"Hayden, you're so sweet. You're really sweet to Keira," Yuna said, all sincere and starry-eyed.
Hayden just shrugged, like it was the most normal thing in the world. "Of course."
Yuna turned to me with a smirk. "Keira, Hayden's smoother than the guys in romance novels! I didn't see that coming."
She probably thought his whole tough, quiet vibe meant he wasn't the type to throw around sweet lines. "Never underestimate the quiet ones," I teased, thinking about how Hayden still hadn't come clean about who he really was. "If we were in a war, Hayden would definitely be a top-tier spy."
The guy could hide his true identity like nobody's business.
Yuna giggled. "A spy? Where's that coming from? You're totally going off on a tangent."
She was too young to pick up on the deeper meaning behind what I said.
Hayden gave her a light tap on the head. "You're on your own for dinner tonight. What do you want? I'll make it before I go."
Yuna, staying in her VIP hospital room, wasn't shy about her demands. "I want fish."
"Fish it is," Hayden said, then turned to me. "It's hot outside, and you just got better. Stay here with Yuna,
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or go hang out with Lena."
"Thanks for being so thoughtful. Oh, and don't forget to bring us both boba," I added with a grin, noticing how Yuna's eyes lit up.
"Passion fruit flavor!" Yuna chimed in excitedly.
I smiled and added, "I'll take the mango yogurt one."
"Keira, is that good? Maybe we can share," Yuna said, the classic boba-obsessed girl.
What she didn't know was I ordered it with her in mind. I wasn't that into boba myself, but she loved it.
"Of course," I grinned, then looked at Hayden. "Thank you in advance."
With that, Hayden headed out, and Yuna immediately leaned in, inching closer to me. "Keira, it's like a romance novel come to life with you and my brother. She was completely smitten by the whole thing.
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I smiled softly. "But you know, in novels, the leads also go through a lot of ups and downs."
"No way! You and Hayden will only have sweet moments and a happy ending-no breakups, no heartbreak,
she insisted, her face glowing with that idealistic view of love.
Her innocence made sense; she was still so young. I used to believe the same thing-thinking my story with Jace would be all sunshine and fairy tale endings, too.
Yuna's face grew serious. "Keira, is something wrong? Did you and Hayden fight? Did he do something to upset you?" Her sensitivity kicked in, her worry showing on her face.
Chapter 365
There was nothing wrong between Hayden and me-just the awkward feeling from his secret. But I couldn't dump that on Yuna. She was too delicate, and with her heart condition, she didn't need the extra stress.
"No, nothing's wrong," I reassured her with a smile. "You've seen how Hayden and I are. We're fine."
Yuna studied me with those wide, innocent eyes, and for a second, I had to look away. Her gaze was too pure, like it would expose the mess in my head.
I raised my hand in defense, laughing softly. "Seriously, nothing's wrong. If you don't believe me, you can grill Hayden when he's back."
"Keira," Yuna murmured, hugging my arm and resting her head on my shoulder. "If Hayden ever messes up, just hit him or yell at him-but don't leave him, okay?"
Her soft, pleading tone tugged at my heart. I rubbed my head against hers, affectionate. "Alright, I'll leave it to you to handle him."
Yuna nodded, all serious. "I'll always be on your side."
She was so afraid of me leaving Hayden. It hit me then how much she valued me-how much I meant to someone else.
"If I'm gone and you leave him too, he will be all alone. That'd be so sad," she whispered, catching me completely off guard.
"What are you talking about? You're going to be just fine," I said quickly, trying to reassure her.
Yuna didn't reply, but I could feel the fear behind her silence. She had so much uncertainty weighing on
her.
No one wanted to die-not Yuna, not Matthew. But life had thrown them both into battles they didn't deserve, and they had to keep fighting.
Wanting to shift the mood, I brought up the concert again. We dove into that topic, laughing and chatting until my phone buzzed with Lena's call. "Still with Yuna?" she asked.
""Yep. What's up"
"Someone sent me a box of strawberries. Come grab some for that little girl of yours to snack on," Lena replied. Even though she was a strict department head who always refused gifts, people still showered her with fruit, and she'd pass it along to others. "Sure, I'll swing by now," I said, glad for an excuse to stretch my legs. Yuna and I had worn ourselves out talking.
When I got to Lena's office, her assistant handed me not just the strawberries but also cherries and blueberries. Lena had been called into surgery, so I didn't get to thank her in person.
As I walked back, the bags started to feel way heavier than I'd expected. I was struggling a bit when a pleasant male voice broke through my thoughts.
"Need some help?"
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I looked up and saw Wade. Before I could even answer he had already reached out and taken the fruit from my hands.
"No, really, I've got it," I insisted, even though it was obvious I didn't.
"Where are you headed?" Wade asked, his voice catching for a second, like he was hesitating. I saw his throat tighten as he swallowed. "Which floor?" "Surgical ward, twelfth floor."
"Got it, I'll take it up for you," he said, already moving ahead with those long strides of his.
I stood there for a moment, watching him walk away, before hurrying to catch up. Remembering our conversation from before, I blurted out, "How's your advisor doing?" Wade's grip on the bags tightened a little. "Same as before."
"Still with her every day?" I asked, even though I knew the answer.
"Yeah."
It was just one word, but hearing it from Wade felt different. The way he said it-it felt heavier, like the weight of everything was packed into that one syllable.
I took a deep breath. "Is there anyone else staying with her?"
He was quiet for a few seconds before answering, "Yes, but she's been like that for almost two years now. The family's patience is running thin."
His words hit me hard, a wave of sadness washing over me. Before I even knew what I was saying, I asked, "Can I visit her?"
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Wade stopped in his tracks, turning to look at me with a hint of surprise
I suddenly realized how forward I'd been and quickly tried to backtrack. "I didn't mean to overstep, I just thought-
That's fine, Wade cut me off
She was so lively before, Wade murmured, almost to himself. 'Loved meeting new people. If you visit her, she'll be happy, I'm sure."
The way he spoke tugged at my heart.
"Come with me," he said, leading the way.
As I followed, I couldn't help but notice how heavy his steps seemed, as if the quilt and sadness were dragging him down. We made our way to a rehabilitation room that looked almost like the VIP suite Yuna stayed in-spacious, comfortable, clearly a place for someone from a well-off family.
When we reached the door, Wade turned to me, his eyes holding something unsaid.
1 thought maybe he was having second thoughts. "If it's not convenient, we can come back another time," I offered quickly.
"You really do look like her," Wade said, "But she's thinner now."
I had almost forgotten-there was a girl out there who looked eerily like me.
I smiled lightly. "True beauty doesn't fade that easily."
Wade let out a faint chuckle, then opened the door.
The first thing I saw was a caregiver gently massaging the girl on the bed. She looked up when she saw us and immediately stood.
"Take a break. I'll call you back in a bit," Wade said, his tone respectful.
The caregiver nodded and quietly left, though not without giving me a curious glance.
noticed the resemblance too.
She must've
"Does the caregiver take care of her when you're not here?" I asked, trying to break the thick silence that hung over the room like a cloud.
Wade seemed even more weighed down since we entered.
"Yeah. I still have to work, so I can't always be here," he said, setting the fruit down on a small table before sitting beside the bed.
followed, stepping closer, and when Wade sat down, I finally got a good look at the girl lying there.
Her skin was pale, almost translucent, and her hair fanned out on the pillow. Her eyes were barely closed. lips slightly parted. She didn't look comatose-she looked like she was simply sleeping. And she was beautiful. Like a real-life Sleeping Beauty
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The most striking thing about her was a tiny, tear-shaped mole at the corner of her eye, making her delicate beauty even more heartbreaking
"She was brilliant," Wade began, his voice soft, his gaze never leaving her face. "Skipped grades, didn't even take the college entrance exam-KRA recruited her early. By twenty-six, she was already our advisor... His words were laced with pain, his regret hanging in the air.
"If that accident hadn't happened, she'd probably be the youngest professor by now," he added, his voice
thick with sorrow
"What happened? Was it really an accident?" I asked, curiosity slipping out before I could stop it.
Wade didn't answer right away. He just stared at her, silent for a long moment, before finally saying, "It was my fault."
The guilt in his voice was so heavy, it felt like it was suffocating him.
"Wade," I said gently, trying to reach him, "your advisor sacrificed herself to save you. Do you think she'd want you to spend your life drowning in guilt?"
He looked up at me, but I kept my eyes on the girl in the bed. "She protected you because she wanted you to live. If you get stuck in the guilt, her sacrifice loses its meaning."
I turned to face him, speaking softly. "Don't let it eat away at you. It can't change what happened. She had big dreams, and if she can't achieve them now, maybe it's on you to carry them forward. As long as you're moving toward her dreams, she'll always be a part of your life."
I had no idea where those words came from, but they just spilled out, straight from my heart. Wade's eyes went wide, almost startled, like something had clicked inside him.
"Miss," he said softly, his voice thick with emotion.
I snapped out of my thoughts and looked at him. His gaze was intense, filled with... surprise, maybe even
disbelief.
I furrowed my brow. "What? Did I say something wrong?"
Wade swallowed hard. "No. It's just... when you were talking just now, you looked even more like her."
My heart skipped a beat. I turned to look back at the girl in the bed.
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Wade stood up and moved toward the window, his back to me. I wasn't sure what he was doing, but i found myself quietly stepping closer to the bed.
Now that I was up close, I could really see it she wasn't just gorgeous, she looked a lot like me.
If my parents were still alive, I would've gone straight to them and asked if I had a long-lost sister.
As those thoughts ran through my mind, my eyes drifted to the nameplate on the bedside: Narelle Yule, 28 years old.
Miss Yule, hello. I'm Keira, I silently introduced myself,
Wade's voice broke the stillness. "Come back in," he said into his phone, calling the caregiver back.
The caregiver returned quickly, and I took that as my cue to slip out of the room. Wade followed silently, and we walked side by side in heavy quiet. It wasn't until we'd walked some distance that he finally spoke. "The doctors say there's no chance she'll recover. Her family... they've already given up."
"But you haven't," I said.
Wade's steps slowed, his voice barely a whisper. "People always say there's a chance for a miracle, right?"
Miracles did exist, sure. We see them on TV, hear about them in stories, but in real life, they're rare-rarer than winning the lottery.
"You told me she's been like this for a year, right?"
"Almost two years now," Wade corrected, his voice hollow.
Two years. If a miracle was going to happen, it would have by now. The fact that even her family had given up said everything.
"You could still try to convince them," I suggested, hoping to offer some kind of comfort.
Wade lowered his gaze. "I already did. Last week, they wanted to pull the plug. I begged them for more time. They gave me one more week. Now... there are only three days left."
it all made sense now. The deadline was looming, and with Narelle still unresponsive, hopelessness was
closing in on him.
"Are you holding on because you can't let go of her? Or is it because you don't want to live with the guilt?" I asked, trying to understand what was driving him.
Wade swallowed hard. "Even if she wakes up, I'll still owe her."
He was right. From the moment Narelle sacrificed herself to save him, that debt became part of him. Even if she woke up perfectly fine, that burden would always be there. So, it was not just guilt; he didn't want to lose her.
You can't convince her family, and it's making you feel powerless, isn't it?" I asked, already knowing the
answer.
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Wade's steps slowed almost to a stop. "I'm not anyone important to her. I don't have the right to decide
His voice cracked 1 don't even have the right to protect her
Seeing him so defeated, I hesitated for a moment before asking the question that had been hanging in the ant "Do you love her?
Wade looked up at me, his eyes wide with shock and panic. He didn't need to answer-his reaction said it
I didn't know the full story between Wade and Narelle, but from the looks of it, it was a tragic one
trange wave of empathy washed over me. I felt for Wade, for the weight he was carrying, but i alen
that no words from me could truly ease his pain Everyone has their own wounds, and only they can reel and heal from them
Wade stayed quiet as he walked me back to Yuna's room. When we got there, he handed me the fruit with a soft, sincere. "Thank you"
I knew what he meant and just nodded lightly. "Keep moving forward."
He gave a faint hum, then turned and walked away. I watched him disappear around the comer
I didn't move until I felt a sudden lightness in my hand. Looking up, I saw Hayden standing in front of me
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"Boba tea's here. Let's head in," Hayden said, balancing the fruit in his hands.
He didn't ask about Wade, but I knew he probably saw everything. I wasn't in the mood to explain, so I just followed him inside.
Yuna's voice lit up as soon as I walked in. "Keira! I waited for you to get here before drinking mine!"
Hayden set the fruit down in the kitchen. I glanced at him before walking over to Yuna.
"I've got everything ready!" she said, motioning to the drinks lined up on the table, her eyes sparkling.
But I couldn't even think about drinking anything. "You can have mine," I said, my heart still heavy.
"Really?" Yuna's eyes sparkled, and she laughed. "I'm not that greedy."
Even so, she started splitting the drinks. "Why'd it take you so long? Hayden was worried. As soon as he dropped off the groceries, he went looking for you." "I ran into a friend," I said, half-truthfully.
"You've got so many friends. I hope I can make more someday," Yuna said, sliding a boba toward me.
"You will, Yuna. You've got such a great personality," I said, trying to smile as I took a sip.
She was already sipping her own. "This flavor's so good! There are so many I wanna try...'
"Keira?" She waved her hand in front of my face. "You okay? You look kinda out of it."
Before I could answer, she called out, "Hayden, come check on Keira!"
Hayden appeared with a plate of cherries and strawberries. "What's wrong?" he asked, pressing his cool hand to my forehead.
His hand was still damp from washing the fruit, and the touch was calming. "I'm fine," I said, pulling him to
sit next to me.
Not caring that Xuna was watching, I leaned into Hayden's shoulder. "I went to see Narelle-Wade's
advisor."
I didn't need to explain more; Hayden already knew the story.
"Did something happen?" he asked softly.
I cuddled closer to him, letting his calm energy ground me. "Narelle's about to be let go. Wade's a wreck, and I feel awful too."
No one deserves to be abandoned, but holding on for Narelle didn't seem to make sense anymore.
Hayden didn't say anything, just rubbed his cheek against my head in quiet support.
"We all need to be okay," I whispered, gripping his arm tighter. I glanced at Yuna.
She sat quietly, her boba tea forgotten. I reached out for her hand, and she took it, squeezing gently. "Keira, what's wrong with Narelle?" Yuna asked.
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"She's been sick for a while. She hasn't woken up," Hayden answered, his voice soft, trying not to overwhelm her.
But Yuna was sharper than that.
"Is she in a coma?" Yuna asked, her voice serious.
Hayden gave a quiet "Mm."
Yuna scooted closer, holding both our hands. "There's something I need to tell you."
Her sudden shift in mood made Hayden and me exchange a glance. She was usually so playful, so seeing her like this made us both worry.
I sat up, ready to hear what she had to say.
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"Don't get up," Yuna pressed my head back onto Hayden's shoulder, a playful smile on her face. "Keira, just stay like this with Hayden. I love seeing you two all lovey-dovey." This girl...
"Hayden, Keira," Yuna's bright eyes turned serious. "I was going to wait a few more days to say this, but since we're already here, I'll say it now."
"Don't start saying crazy stuff," I cut in, already sensing where this was headed.
But Hayden, ever calm, just said, "Let her talk."
Yuna flashed him a grin. "You really are my brother. You always get me."
Then she looked back at me. "Keira, just hear me out, okay?"
She giggled lightly, as if she was about to spill some silly secret, but then she coughed, squeezing both our hands tighter.
"I'm starting now," she announced, and the room suddenly felt heavier.
Neither of us spoke, but I could feel the tension in our breathing as we waited for her to go on.
"Hayden, Keira... I want to be an organ donor." Her words hit like a shockwave.
"What are you saying?" Hayden's voice was sharp, immediately filled with concern.
"I want to be an organ donor," Yuna repeated, calm and steady. "Only if my surgery fails, or if something happens later."
My heart clenched. "Why are you even thinking like this?"
"Because I'm about to get someone else's heart. If I don't make it someday, even if my heart can't be used, my liver, kidneys, and corneas can still help others. I want to give someone else a shot at life," Yuna explained, her face so sincere, her eyes pure and unflinching. Her words felt too big, too heavy for someone who always seemed so carefree. It hit me like a wave, knocking the wind out of me.
Hayden stayed silent. I turned to him, trying to read his thoughts.
He was staring at Yuna, his eyes betraying how shaken he was. His little sister, the girl he'd protected for so long, was saying something no brother should have to hear.
"Hayden, why aren't you saying anything?" Yuna asked, her voice tinged with anxiety. She knew that in the end, he had the final say over her decisions.
"Whether you agree or not, I've made up my mind. I'm an adult. I get to make my own choices," Yuna said, her tone firmer now.
I stayed quiet, my eyes flicking between them. This was too much for me to process, let alone speak on.
After a long, tense pause, Hayden finally spoke, his voice soft but strained. "You've already decided?"
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"Yes, I've thought about this for a long time," Yuna said, nodding.
"Then why didn't you tell me before?" Hayden asked.
Yuna glanced at me briefly, then looked down. "I was scared you'd say no."
"Hayden," Yuna said, her voice growing serious again. "If something happens to me-if I end up like Narelle, or stuck in a vegetative state-don't leave me like that. Don't wait for a miracle. Just do what I'm asking. Donate whatever can be used, and then... take my ashes to our garden. Bury me under the peach tree."
Her words squeezed my heart, making it hard to breathe.
But Yuna, ever herself, just smiled, her eyes twinkling. "That way, I'll be the prettiest blossom every spring."
"Hayden, please promise me. Say yes," Yuna pleaded, her voice soft but sure.
Then she looked at me. "Keira, help me convince him."
How could I convince him? Yuna made it sound so simple, but for Hayden, this was brutal. How could he ever agree to let his sister be divided up like that?
Before I could even think of what to say, Hayden shocked me.
"Alright," he said.
I looked at him, completely stunned.
"I promise," Hayden repeated, his words barely holding together.
Chapter 370 Chapter 370
I was kinda shocked that Hayden agreed so fast, but honestly, it just made my heart hurt more. He clearly wasn't into it, but he was doing it because Yuna wanted him to.
Yuna, like she was scared Hayden might change his mind, whipped out her phone and started filling out the organ donation form right away. Watching her so focused, I realized how much light and positivity this girl had. It was impossible not to admire her. "Hayden, let's do it too," I said before I could stop myself.
Both Yuna and Hayden froze, eyes on me. "Keira?" Yuna asked, her voice laced with concern.
"Okay," Hayden replied, not even hesitating, pulling out his phone.
Yuna glanced between the two of us, excitement and worry mixing on her face.
It's funny how, when it's about ourselves, we can make these big decisions without blinking. But when it's someone we care about? Total hesitation.
Still, Yuna didn't stop us. Instead, she grinned, turning her worry into something more playful. "Alright, we'll do this together. But let's hope none of us need these forms for, like, the next hundred years."
Her joke made both Hayden and me laugh, lightening the mood instantly. I couldn't resist teasing her. "So all that talk about selfless love was just for show, huh? Not as deep as you made it sound?"
Yuna laughed, eyes sparkling. "Keira! You're supposed to be smart enough to see through me, but polite enough not to say it out loud! Right, Hayden?"
The heavy vibe shifted into something way lighter-almost fun.
"Let's toast," Yuna said, lifting her Boba tea like it was champagne. "To being good people and staying safe and healthy."
Hayden and I lifted our drinks, clinking them with hers.
"Mmm, so sweet," Yuna sighed, taking a sip, a smile spreading across her face.
Watching her find joy in something as simple as a drink made my heart swell. I silently prayed her surgery would go well, and that she'd live a long, healthy life.
Later, Hayden cooked something amazing for Yuna. We planned to stick around and eat with her, but Yuna waved us off with a grin.
"Don't stay! If you eat with me now, you'll ruin your dinner later. What a waste!" She said it with a playful smile that just made her more adorable.
"Go have your dinner. I've been eating alone for years; I'm totally used to it," she added casually. But her words hit different.
It dawned on me just how lonely she must've been, even with people around. It reminded me of how I felt after losing my parents. No matter how busy the Johnston household was, I still felt a part of me missing. Hayden and I left to meet Ron at the restaurant. He was quiet the whole ride, clearly deep in thought. I
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Chapter 370
knew Yuna's decision weighed on him, even though he'd agreed.
"Why'd you say yes if you didn't want to?" I asked as we neared the restaurant. "If you said no, I don't think Yuna would've pushed it."
Hayden stared ahead. "I had no reason to say no. Why should she be allowed to receive a donation but not give one if it comes to that? It's only fair."
His words were full of logic, that give-and-take belief he held onto.
I got it. I reached over, squeezing his hand. He looked at me, and we shared a small smile-no words
needed.
When we arrived at the restaurant, I saw the familiar logo and sighed. "Mr. Shane invited us to dinner at one of the fanciest spots in town. Think it's a setup?" Hayden chuckled. "Kiki, you always expect the worst."
"Or," I teased with a smirk, "maybe I just like the perks of rolling with a VIP," hinting at his secret identity.
"Maybe," Hayden shot back with his own smirk, going along with the joke.
I'd stopped expecting him to fess up about being a big deal. If he wanted to keep playing this game, I'd play along.
Ron hadn't mentioned a room number, but places like this? You just drop the host's name and they take care of the rest.
Sure enough, Hayden gave Ron's name, and the staff led us to a private room.
Before we could even knock, Ron opened the door, like he had some sixth sense or something. "Come in, "he greeted, smiling wide.
The room was huge, with a fancy round table in the middle. But the weird part? Ron was sitting there... alone.
As I looked at the massive, over-the-top table set, my first thought was: 'What a waste.'