Ch. 381..390
Chapter 381
Could Wade have been talking about Narelle's burial arrangements after she passed?
My mind wandered to that possibility, but only Wade knew the real answer.
It seemed I'd have to wait for another chance to ask him-though, honestly, I wasn't sure if that moment would ever come.
Wade and I had crossed paths twice, but after Narelle. Wade might never come back to this hospital. And in this huge world, our lives would probably never cross again.
I glanced one last time at Narelle's bed, surrounded by her family. 'Miss Yule, I hope you find whispered in my heart.
peace,' I
After leaving the room, I decided to find Lena, but she was in the middle of surgery. With some time to kill, I headed out to the hospital's garden to clear my head. "Miss Kay," someone called out behind me.
I turned to see Mr. Yule. He was alone, slightly out of breath, like he had hurried over,
1 wasn't too surprised. I had a feeling he'd come find me.
"I'm sorry, my wife was... overwhelmed, Mr. Yule said immediately, apologizing.
I shook my head lightly. "It's okay. I understand."
He sighed, his shoulders sagging. "We only had one daughter. And now that she's gone... we'll never have a daughter again."
There was so much heartbreak in his voice that I didn't know what to say. Looking at him, I realized he couldn't have been much older than fifty, but his hair was already streaked with gray.
Narelle had been in this state for almost two years. Two long years of silence-no words, no "Mom" or " Dad," just a heartbeat keeping her body alive. The agony of seeing their daughter but never hearing her must have been unbearable for them. In that moment, Tunderstood why they might be ready to let her go.
Narelle wasn't coming back. Keeping her alive like this wasn't just denying her peace-it was draining her parents' hope, too.
"Miss Kay," Mr. Yule looked at me, hesitating. "If I may ask... who are your parents?"
I knew why he was asking. He wanted to understand why I looked so much like Narelle. I didn't mind. "My parents passed away," I said softly.
Mr. Yule's face filled with shock, and he quickly apologized. "I'm so sorry, I didn't know..."
"It's okay," I said with a gentle smile. "And I've seen Narelle. We really do look alike."
"Yes, you do. You look so much like her," he said, wonder filling his voice. "It's like Narelle came back to life."
Seeing the pain in his eyes, I felt a sudden pull to help. Maybe I could give them a small sense of comfort.
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"Maybe this is some kind of... fate," I said slowly. "We're strangers, but I look like Narelle, and somehow our paths crossed. If it would help, I could visit you from time to time, if you ever miss her."
If my resemblance to Narelle could bring them peace, I was willing to help.
Mr. Yule's eyes welled up, and he nodded eagerly. "Thank you. Thank you. Perhaps it's Narelle herself, Worried we wouldn't be able to handle losing her... that brought you to us."
"Maybe," I said with a soft smile. "You can call me Keira, or Rea, if you like."
"Rea..." he repeated, as if the name. His eyes shone with unshed tears. "The more I
the more you remind me of her."
Hearing that, I smiled even brighter.
you smile,
We exchanged phone numbers, and then Mr. Yule finally walked away. I stood there watching him, feeling a strange sense of peace wash over me.
I tilted my head up, gazing at the sky the way Wade had earlier. As I stared at the clouds, I imagined Narelle smiling down at me, as if saying, "Rea, it's nice to meet you." After leaving the garden, I headed back to Yuna's room. But just as I reached the door, my phone rang-it
Ron.
"Ms. Kay, someone's here at the office asking for you. Can you come back right now?" Ron asked, sounding unusually direct.
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When Ron said someone was looking for me, my first thought was uh-oh, maybe I'd taken too many days off.
Before last night, I'd figured Ron was letting me take time off because I believed Hayden was the mysterious big boss behind him. But now... things felt different.
I shook off the awkwardness and replied, "Is it a client? I can head back right now."
"It's not a client. It's a woman, all dolled up like a femme fatale, and she's storming in like the wife catching her husband with a mistress," Ron said, blunt as ever. Zero filter.
Then, almost as an afterthought, he added, "Ms. Kay, I know about you and Hayden. No judgment here, just giving you a heads-up. You sure you didn't upset someone?" I was confused, but stayed calm. "What's her name?"
"No idea. She said her last name's Grey. But she's got that 'I'm in charge' attitude," Ron sounded like he was still recovering from her entrance.
Grey?
I ran through my mental Rolodex but came up blank. I didn't know anyone named Grey.
I hadn't done anything wrong, so I wasn't exactly worried. In fact, my plans to go back to the office shifted. "I'm at the hospital right now. If she really wants to see me, tell her to come here." "Huh?" Ron sounded thrown off.
"If she doesn't want to, tell her she's free to go wherever she pleases," I added.
I could almost hear Ron's jaw drop. "Isn't that a bit....much?"
I smiled. "If you feel bad for her, you can keep her entertained. But I don't think I'll make it to the office today. Tomorrow sounds better."
Yuna's surgery was coming up soon, and while she had some tests to get through today, Hayden was there to help. I wasn't really needed.
"No rush, no rush. Focus on your family. Things are fine at the company. Your team's top-notch-it's like you're still there even when you're not," Ron reassured me.
"Is that so? Maybe I should come back soon, before the marketing department forgets who their boss is," I teased.
"You can't say that! Your spot is safe, totally safe. No one could ever replace you," Ron said quickly, sounding almost panicked.
His over-the-top indulgence was starting to feel... weird. Like I was being treated like royalty. It was fiattering, but also made me wonder why.
Last night's dinner had pretty much killed the idea that Hayden was the hidden boss, so what was up with Ron being so extra?
Did he have another reason?
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He seemed more invested in my relationship with Hayden than even Hayden's family.
So, what was behind this special treatment? I couldn't quite put my finger on it.
Could it really just be admiration for my "amazing talents?
As I mulled it over, Ron chimed in again. "Ms. Kay, you're really letting this Grey lady come to the hospital?
"Mm-hmm, if she wants to."
Ron clicked his tongue. "You know, people say you become like the company you keep. You and Hayden are starting to feel like a married couple."
I noticed lately Ron had become more comfortable mentioning Hayden, even calling him by his first name. That made me curious. "Mr. Shane, did you know Hayden from before?"
"Hah... no, no, we just hit it off right away," Ron laughed, but it sounded a little too eager. "Alright, I'll go pass along your message to the lady."
As the line disconnected, I shook my head. Ron was starting to feel less like a boss and more like an employee trying way too hard to impress. A woman with the last name Grey...
I thought back, racking my brain, and then-suddenly-à name popped into my head.
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383
I smiled to myself-so it was her.
Thorsten must have told her my name.
When Sasha arrived, I was lounging in the garden, soaking up the sun. She strutted up to me in full "rich wife" mode, her posture screaming arrogance. "Keira Kay, you've got some nerve making me come all the way here to find you." "You've got it wrong." I replied, completely calm. "You came because you wanted to see me."
Sasha's perfectly made-up face twisted into an ugly scowl. "You know why I'm here, don't you?"
She stood there, casting a shadow that blocked my sunlight. I had to admit, from my angle, her hourglass figure was... impressive.
It wasn't hard to see why a guy like Thorsten would be attracted to her. Even I could appreciate her appeal -both visually and practically.
I smiled. "I have no idea. Is your daughter looking for a playdate?"
If it weren't for Milly, Sasha and I would never have crossed paths, and we definitely wouldn't be here having this conversation.
Funny enough, it had also been right here in this garden where I'd first bumped into her and Thorsten.
"Cut the act," Sasha snapped, clearly trying to play the alpha card.
I pursed my lips. "Act? Please, everything about me is 100% original."
Her body was flawless-so flawless that it was obvious she'd had some help from a surgeon.
Sure enough, my comment hit a nerve. Sasha's face turned red as she pointed a perfectly manicured finger at me. "I know you're jealous of me, but for the record, I'm all-natural. If you don't believe me, feel free to get it checked." Pfft!
I burst out laughing. Wow, did she really just say that? She had the looks, sure, but the brains? Not so much.
Then again, it made sense. A smart girl wouldn't end up as Thorsten's side chick
I decided to cut to the chase. "Alright, enough. Why are you here?"
"You know why," Sasha said, barely keeping her anger in check
Honestly? I had no clue. Her fury seemed based on a whole lot of her own imagination.
"Ms. Grey, you've got three minutes. I suggest you get to the point," I said, slipping into the authority I'd been used to for years.
Before joining OceanixCorp, I'd been Jace's assistant, and thanks to our engagement, my position had always been just a step below him, but definitely above most others.
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a moment,
Sasha blinked, a bit thrown off by my sudden shift. The arrogance on her face faded, and for a looked unsure. Her lips trembled as she finally said, "Stop trying to seduce Thorsten," Oh.
I almost laughed again. No wonder Ron had said she was coming at me like a wife catching a mistress. She'd completely misunderstood everything.
I stood up from my chair, meeting her gaze head-on. "If you did your homework, you'd know my background. Do you really think I'd be interested in some old man?"
Sasha's face paled instantly.
She wasn't much older than me-maybe we were the same age-and yet she'd chosen to be with someone like Thorsten.
I could see why, though. With Thorsten's wealth and connections, it made sense. Maybe it wasn't love. Maybe it was survival.
As I started to walk away, I softened my tone, leaving her with one final truth. "I get it. You're scared. If Thorsten ever took an interest in me, it could affect your position. And, to be honest, I bet you're even more worried about the inheritance you and Milly are banking on." Her eyes went wide, her expression crumbling as she realized I'd hit the nail on the head.
It wasn't about love between her and Thorsten. It was about money. I didn't care to dig any deeper, so! smiled and said, "Goodbye."
I'd barely taken two steps before she called out, "Keira."
I turned, seeing her standing there, her confidence shaken. Her gaze wavered as she asked, in a much softer voice, "Can we... Can we be friends?"
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Sasha sounded sincere.
I could tell she was lonely-otherwise, why would she be coming at me with all that attitude one minute and trying to be my friend the next?
"I don't have many friends. Thorsten doesn't let me make any." Sasha said, stepping closer. "But I can tell he treats you differently. So, if I become friends with you, he might be okay with it." I didn't respond to her.
"I really don't have any ulterior motives. I just want to be friends. And Milly really likes you; she talks about you all the time," Sasha added, pulling the "my kid likes you" card.
"I know you probably don't think much of me," she continued, her voice softening. "But can't we at least try? For Milly's sake?"
Gone was the cocky attitude from earlier. Now, she seemed almost... vulnerable, like she was pleading.
I gave her a polite but firm smile. "I'm busy. I don't have time for new friends."
It wasn't that I wanted to be cold, but getting involved with Thorsten's women? That was a mess I didn't need in my life. No good could come from it.
More importantly, I had zero interest in getting tangled up in Thorsten's world of drama.
Sasha's hopeful expression dimmed.
She let out a bitter laugh, lowering her head. "I get it. I'm not the kind of person you'd want to be friends with."
Her little pity play was an obvious attempt to make me feel guilty.
But Sasha didn't know me. If anything, trying to manipulate me only made me less inclined to feel sorry for her.
Without another word, I turned and walked away, feeling her eyes follow me the entire time.
Later that evening, my phone rang. It was Lindey. "Rea, did you know Jace is back?"
I thought about the figure I'd seen in the car last night and replied, "Yeah, I know."
ho come to see!
"Has Lindey asked.
Technically, last night didn't count as him "seeing" me
"No," I said. "Why? Is something wrong?"
Lindey let out an annoyed huff. "I haven't seen him at all. How could something be wrong if I can't even get a glimpse of him?"
I knew exactly why she was calling. She was pissed that Jace was back and hadn't stopped by to see her.
"He's probably handling other things first. I'm sure he'll come by later," I said, slipping into my old habit of making excuses for Jace.
1/2
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"Handling what? That widow, obviously," Lindey muttered, her irritation clear.
I stayed quiet.
"He's been completely bewitched by her. He's forgotten all about his parents," Lindey snapped.
Still silent.
*Sometimes I wonder how I ended up with a son like him. If I'd known he'd turn out this way, I should've-" She cut herself off, but her anger was bubbling over. "Lindey," I said gently, "don't get yourself worked up. It's not good for your health, and Matthew's already not doing well. You need to stay strong for him." "You're the only one who really cares about me. If only you were my real daughter," Lindey sighed.
"I am your daughter," I replied softly, trying to comfort her.
She let out another sigh. We both knew my words were just that-words. Polite, but not real.
If I were truly their daughter, I'd be at Matthew's side 24/7, instead of navigating my own life.
"Rea, don't bother going after Jace. Don't try to talk sense into him either. Let's see how stubborn he really Is," Lindey said.
"Okay," I agreed.
After one final sigh, Lindey reminded me to visit Matthew when I had time, then hung up.
Later, when I caught up with Lena, I asked, "Has Tanya come by lately?"
"Nope. And even if she does, she's not coming to me," Lena replied, giving me a curious look. "Why? You bored without her drama?"
"You think I have time for that?" I rolled my eyes before filling her in about Jace being back but not visiting Matthew.
"Stay
out of it," Lena said flatly. "You don't need to waste your energy on their family drama."
I knew she was right.
But some people are impossible to avoid. Despite my best efforts, I ran into Jace again the day of Yuna's. transplant.
He stood in the crowd, watching from a distance as Hayden and I held Yuna's hand together. Our eyes met briefly, but it was just a fleeting glance.
As Yuna was wheeled into the operating room, I felt Hayden's hand grow cold in mine.
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I held Hayden's hand, silently trying to give him strength.
Nate had warned us the surgery would last at least six hours. After three hours of waiting, Hayden suddenly got a nosebleed.
It was his anxiety breaking through, and it hit me just how much Yuna meant to him.
"I'll get you some water," I said. We hadn't had a thing to drink in hours.
The night before, Yuna couldn't eat because of her surgery prep, and Hayden, in solidarity, hadn't eaten either.
"I'm fine," he muttered, still trying to be the strong one. "You should rest a bit and come back later."
I nodded and headed to the hospital's convenience store to grab some water.
On my way back, I was surprised to spot Wade leaning against the wall near the surgical floor, staring at the ground, looking completely lost in thought. Considering what I had seen in Narelle's room two days ago, I was sure she must have passed. Wade shouldn't be here
But there he was, standing quietly, like a shadow.
I glanced around. This floor was full of ORS. Was someone else in his family sick? Or... had Narelle. somehow made a miraculous recovery?
That flicker of hope made my heart skip, and I walked over to him. "Wade."
He lifted his head, and for a second, I saw panic flash across his eyes.
Wade's face was even more hollow and gaunt than before-so much that it tugged at something deep inside me.
I tightened my grip on the water bottle. "Why are you here? Is someone in surgery?"
Wade straightened from the wall, his eyes dark with exhaustion, the bags under them severe, as if he hadn't slept-or stopped crying-in days.
He didn't answer, so I asked again, a bit more carefully. "Is it Narelle? Is her... situation still unresolved?"
I wanted to believe in a miracle, but I knew better. That was just wishful thinking.
"It's over," Wade rasped, his voice hoarse.
"Then why are you still here?" I asked, gesturing to the ORs around us.
Wade's eyes flickered briefly before he said, "I'm waiting for you."
Waiting for me?
"What for?" I asked, confused.
He shook his head. "I just wanted to see you."
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His words left a knot in my chest. He wasn't really looking at me-he was looking at Narelle, through my
face.
I didn't want to be anyone's replacement. I definitely didn't want Wade hanging onto memories through me. "Wade, you need to move on. That's what Narelle would have wanted."
"I know," he muttered, his eyes dropping to the floor again.
It was so clear how much the past few days had taken out of him. His hair was messy, his clothes crumpled. He was barely holding himself together.
I reached out and squeezed his arm gently. "It's over now."
"Yeah," he nodded faintly.
"You've got to look forward," I said, trying to encourage him to take that next step.
Wade looked at me, holding my gaze for what felt like a long time. "Can I add you on social media?"
It wasn't an unreasonable request given everything, but I knew what it meant. My face-so similar to Narelles-would keep pulling him back.
I shook my head. "You need to say goodbye to the past. Cut ties completely. It's the only way you'll really be able to move forward."
His eyes dimmed slightly, and then he looked over at Hayden.
I followed his gaze and saw Hayden sitting nearby, waiting. I decided to share something personal, hoping it might help Wade. "That's my boyfriend. Before him, I had a previous relationship-someone I was with for ten years" I wasn't saying this out of obligation, but to show Wade that even after deep connections, life could still
move on.
"Let it go. You've seen me now-you can leave," I said, holding up the water bottle. "My boyfriend's waiting for his drink."
Wade nodded slowly, his expression unreadable. We shared one last look before I turned and walked back toward Hayden.
I hoped this would be our final encounter. It was better that way. If we never saw each other again, maybe he could stop seeing Narelle every time he looked at me. Maybe then, he could finally let go of the guilt that was weighing him down. When I reached Hayden and handed him the water, I glanced back to see Wade still standing there, watching.
I turned my back on him, and this time, I didn't look back.
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Hayden had just cracked open a water bottle and taken a sip when the OR doors flew open. Retta rushed out, looking serious. "Who's the patient's family?" She was assisting Nate in the surgery today.
"I am!" Hayden jumped to his feet so fast he almost lost his balance.
I caught his arm and walked with him toward Retta. "What's happening?"
"There was major bleeding during the surgery. You need to prepare yourselves." She handed him a consent form.
Her words hit like a truck, freezing us both.
"How bad is it? What's happening now?" Lena, still in her scrubs, walked up, right on time. She wasn't even supposed to be here, but had to fill in last minute. "We're doing blood transfusions and trying to find the source of the bleeding," Retta explained, passing another form to Hayden.
He didn't move, his hands frozen with fear.
I had no clue what to do, so I glanced at Lena.
She shot me a look, silently telling me to grab the form.
But before I could, Hayden snatched it up himself. He looked at Retta. "Is there a risk of... complications?"
"There is, but Prof. Neumann and I are doing everything we can. Please, sign quickly-we don't have time. to waste," Retta's voice was steady, but urgent.
I squeezed Hayden's hand, hoping it would help. He glanced at me for a second, then scribbled his name.
"Thanks for all your hard work," Lena said for both of us as Retta turned to leave.
Retta just gave a quick nod and hurried back into the OR.
Once the door shut, Lena turned to us. "Don't panic. It's just a formality. Prof. Neumann's got this."
Hayden couldn't sit still. He just kept pacing, so I stayed close, matching his steps.
Two hours crawled by. Finally, the light above the OR flicked off.
For a second, it felt like the world stopped.
Lena had stayed with us the whole time, still in her scrubs, not leaving our side for a second.
We all stared at the door like it held our entire world behind it.
Finally, it opened, and Nate and Retta walked out, still in their gear.
They looked like heroes stepping into the light, and all eyes were on them.
Hayden and I rushed over. "How did it go?"
Nate smiled. "The surgery was a success. But his eyes flicked behind us-toward Lena.
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But we were too focused on Yuna's condition to notice. "When can my sister come out?" Hayden asked, voice tight.
Nate didn't answer, just glanced at Retta. She took the hint and stepped forward while Nate moved aside.
Lena walked up, hands tucked into her scrub pockets, her eyes shining as she looked at Nate. "Thanks for all your hard work, Prof. Neumann."
Simple words, but the way she said them had a teasing edge.
Nate smirked. "Well... Dr. Lane, aren't you gonna say something more?" He held out his hand to her.
Lena laughed and walked right into his arms.
Right there, in front of us all, they hugged, like it was the most natural thing. No drama, just pure, easy love.
It was the kind of love where they were on the same level, like partners. They held onto each other for a while, not in some big, sweeping romantic way, but in a way that felt real-happy.
If Nate and Retta walking out together looked like a high-powered team, there was no warmth-just two doctors sharing a stage.
Nate and Lena felt totally different. Their hug, standing there in scrubs, was real, raw, and human.
Retta seemed more like a partner in work, while Lena was clearly a partner in life.
I couldn't help but smile, and without even thinking, I leaned into Hayden.
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As I did, I caught a glimpse of Retta. Her face was tight with jealousy, fists clenched at her sides. The envy was written all over her, and it made my chest tighten.
Before I could think, I said, "Prof. Roane."
Retta snapped out of her daze. She looked at me, her voice icy, almost robotic. "The patient will be moved to recovery in thirty minutes."
Then she turned and walked away, frustration practically radiating off her.
I nudged Hayden and whispered, "She's jealous."
Relieved about Yuna, Hayden squeezed my hand. "Yeah, Prof. Neumann handled that perfectly."
Wait, what?
I blinked, looking between Nate, still wrapped around Lena, and Hayden, who just nodded like he e was in on something.
It hit me then-Nate's little PDA wasn't just about loving on Lena. It was a clear message to Retta, who clearly had a thing for him, setting boundaries. And at the same time, it reassured Lena where she stood. Hayden didn't need to spell it out, guys just get each other in ways we sometimes miss.
"Mr. Hart," Nate began, shifting back into full doctor mode, "during the operation, your sister lost a lot of blood.
"We had to perform two full transfusions. She'll be in the recovery room for close observation. The first 78 hours are critical to monitor any signs of rejection.
"A nurse will be with her constantly to address anything that comes up immediately."
That's the kind of professionalism you expect from someone who knows their stuff.
Even though we'd braced ourselves for the risks, Nate's words still had our stomachs in knots. "What if rejection happens?" I asked, my voice shaky.
"We've got a detailed plan in place. Don't worry-we're ready for anything." Nate said, so calm and confident.
He was the expert, and seeing him so chill about it actually made us both feel a little better.
Thank you, Prof. Neumann. We really appreciate it," Hayden said again, full of gratitude.
Nate turned slightly, catching Lena's eye with a soft smile. "You're Lena's friends. No need to be so formal.
Lena, usually so bold and fiery with me, was suddenly this quiet, gentle version of herself standing beside Nate. It was wild how love could make even the strongest people soften like that.
I couldn't help but tease. "Lena, why don't you help Pro Neumann get some rest? We'll head to the recovery room and wait."
Lena smiled, but there was something softer about it. He doesn't get to rest. The real work starts now
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with post-op care."
She looked at Nate and nudged him lightly. "Go on, get back to it. We'll catch up at dinner."
Nate gave a small nod, and as Lena turned to leave, she shot me a playful wink before walking off.
Now, with just Hayden and me left, we glanced at the OR, then at each other.
The hours of anxious waiting had drained us, and only the two of us really understood how exhausting it had been.
Finally, we could breathe.
"Come here," I said, opening my arms.
Hayden didn't hesitate, pulling me into a tight embrace-way more affectionate than Nate had been with Lena. His hug was warm and intense, like he was letting go of all the tension from the past six hours. He pressed a soft kiss to the top of my head, comforting me, but also finding his own relief.
I held him just as tight, feeling the knots in my chest start to loosen.
"Alright, let's go wait for Yuna," I said, my voice quiet as I gently pulled back.
But as I turned, something-or someone-caught my eye.
Wade.
What the hell?
He was still here?
Had he been waiting this whole time?
Was he seriously trying to turn me into Narelle's replacement now that she was gone?
The thought made my blood boil.
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Three days later, Yuna was moved out of the recovery room.
No signs of rejection, no discomfort-her recovery was going faster than even Nate expected.
"It seems like someone else's heart suits her just fine," Lena said with a touch of admiration.
"Maybe the heart's original owner wasn't ready to leave just yet," I joked, holding a bouquet of fresh
flowers.
The thought lingered in my mind, so I leaned closer to Lena and whispered, "Do you know anything about
the donor?"
Lena gave me a quick, sideways glance. "That's confidential."
I knew that, of course. I wasn't asking to pry-just amazed at the fact that someone's sacrifice had saved Yuna's life. It was the kind of selflessness you don't see every day.
The door to the recovery room swung open, and Yuna was wheeled out.
Even though Hayden and I had visited Yuna a few times over the past days, seeing her finally come that room felt completely different.
This wasn't just a door from the recovery room-it was the start of her new life, one where she could finally be as healthy as anyone else.
*Hayden! Keira! Lena!" Yuna squealed, her voice so high-pitched it was almost dolphin-like with
excitement.
Hayden stepped forward and hugged her, giving her a gentle pat on the head.
I handed over the bouquet, then pulled her into my arms. "Congrats on your new beginning."
Lena stepped up next, shaking Yuna's hand firmly. "Keep pushing forward-your future's waiting."
Yuna nodded, her eyes filling with tears.
out of
She'd been so strong, even heading into surgery without crying. But now, after being given a second chance, she finally let herself cry. These weren't tears of fear-they were tears of rebirth, like a newborn's first cry as it steps into the world. Half a month after Yuna's transplant, the amusement park was finally set to open. The invitation came from Wayne.
"Rea, you're not going to bail on this, are you?" Wayne asked.
I'd made my decision a while ago, so I didn't hesitate. "No, I won't."
Because the park's opening also marked my farewell.
A farewell to RiverwayeCorp, to everything tied to Jace and our past.
From now on, I'd only look forward, leaving everything from the past behind. No more looking back.
-25 BONUS
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"Is Jace going to be there?" I asked.
Since Jace came back, he hadn't reached out, and I had no idea what was going on with him. Even Lindey had gone silent after that one phone call.
"He will," Wayne said, confident.
It was Jace's baby, after all. When the board at RiverwaveCorp fought him on it-saying prime real estate should be used for a resort or a mall-Jace had dug in his heels for the amusement park. Even though he broke my heart, I couldn't help but feel thankful for this.
"My parents will be there too," Wayne added.
Hearing Matthew's name hit me with a wave of guilt. I'd only visited him twice since he got sick.
"How's your dad doing?" I asked.
"He's on targeted meds and doing okay. Mostly 'cause he doesn't know how bad it really is, so his mindset's still pretty positive," Wayne said, adjusting his glasses. "The doc says he needs to avoid stress." I knew exactly what he meant.
Wayne was telling me my distance was for the best. Seeing me would just mess with Matthew's emotions, and that wouldn't help his recovery.
"You're looking pretty good lately," I said, trying to shift the mood.
Wayne gave a soft, self-deprecating laugh. "Not too bad."
We didn't have much more to say, so I found an excuse to wrap things up.
That excuse
was Steve.
He had messaged me, asking if I could swing by his place. When I got there, Steve wasn't around, but his receptionist handed me an envelope. Inside were two tickets to a game. "You probably don't have time for this, right?" I said, handing them to Hayden, trying to sound casual.
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Even though Yuna's surgery was a success, her recovery still came with risks, so she needed round-the-clock care. Hayden hired a caregiver, but only for the daytime. At night, he stayed by her side.
So lately, I hadn't spent much time with Hayden-after all, we both had work during the day.
To my surprise, Hayden said, "I'll go."
"But what about Yuna-" I started, but he cut me off.
171 take care of it," he said in that reassuring way.
"I haven't spent enough time with you lately," he murmured, pressing his forehead against mine. His words made my heart ache a little.
Wasn't that the truth?
He'd been with Yuna every night, and of course, that meant there wasn't much time for us.
I couldn't really be jealous of that-but still, I felt a little neglected.
The game Steve invited us to was in Ferndale, a few hours away, so Hayden and I flew out. When we landed, we were surprised to see someone holding a sign with my name. Hayden and I exchanged a look, but the driver quickly explained Steve had arranged it. I hadn't expected Steve to be this thoughtful.
Good thing I came, or I would've missed out on his sweet gesture.
The flight was full of people, and it soon became clear most of them were Steve's fans. It was the first time I realized just how big of a deal he was
We hadn't even reached the stadium yet, but the energy from his fans was contagious, and I started getting excited too.
"I never would've guessed Steve was this famous. All these years, I just thought of him as the guy running a pool hall," I said, still amazed at the buzz.
Hayden stayed quiet, and that was fine. His quietness never bothered me.
Since Hayden didn't know Steve that well, I pointed out the banners and posters of him all over the city, sharing stories about his crazy skills-whether it was snooker, billiards, or anything involving a cue. I even mentioned the time I managed to beat him. When the car finally pulled up in front of the hotel, I asked the driver, "Is Steve staying here too?"
ore excited.
"That's the word," the driver replied, which only made me more
"I'll introduce you to him tonight," I said, giving Hayden a playful pat on the shoulder.
But he didn't respond. I glanced over and noticed his expression had darkened.
His mood was so off, I couldn't just brush it aside. "What's wrong?" I asked.
Hayden didn't answer. Instead, he got out, grabbed the luggage from the trunk, and headed toward the
Chapter 329
hotel.
Silent treatment? This wasn't like him at all. Since we'd been together, he'd never acted this way-except maybe when we first met.
"What's going on?" I stepped in front of him.
00
Still nothing, which only frustrated me more. "Hayden, talk to me."
Finally, he spoke, and his words completely threw me. "Do you like Steve?"
"What?" I let out a laugh.
"You've been talking about him non-stop this whole trip, Hayden muttered, sounding... sulky?
Wait-was he jealous?
I'd never seen him like this. Not even when it came to Jace. But here he was, jealous over Steve of all people..
I couldn't help myself. "Obviously I like him. Why else would I have talked about him the entire way here?"
Hayden's face got even darker, and for a second, I thought he might snap. Instead, he grumbled, "Let's go, and started dragging the suitcase.
I didn't move.
He stopped and turned around. "Why aren't you coming?"
"Because I'm annoyed," I huffed, letting my bratty side show. "You're being super petty, and it's totally killing my vibe."
Back when I was with Jace, I'd never have done this-always playing the perfect girlfriend.
But now? With Hayden? I was a whole lot more... bratty
He sighed and came back over. "You keep talking about another guy. Of course, it bugs me."
Chapter 390
Hayden's tone was serious, and for a second, my teasing mood completely evaporated. I looked at him closely-he seemed worn down, probably from dealing with Yuna's recovery and now this drama with me. I softened a bit, pulling him closer. "Steve and I are just friends, that's why I can joke about him. There's literally nothing to worry about."
The second the words left my mouth, I realized they came out wrong. I didn't mean to say there was nothing to hide-it wasn't about hiding anything. I just didn't care because it wasn't that deep. Hayden's face relaxed a little. "I know," he said quietly, "but it still bothers me."
And yeah, I got it. If he were talking about some girl non-stop, I'd probably be annoyed too. Heck, I might've kicked him out of the car by now.
"Sorry, that was wrong of me," I apologized quickly, feeling a little guilty.
Hayden's expression softened, but there was still a glint in his eyes. "Saying sorry isn't enough around here," he said, his tone teasing but with that hint of something more.
T
I caught on right away and leaned in closer, lowering my voice. "I'll make it up to you room."
His Adam's apple bobbed, and his ears went red. Yeah, he definitely got the message.
ater-back in the
Seeing him flustered like that made my playful side kick back in. "Hayden, I'm tired," I said, pretending to yawn dramatically.
"I'll carry you," he shot back without even thinking, totally serious.
We were in the middle of a crowded hotel lobby, and while he might've been all about that grand gesture, I wasn't ready for it. "No, I was just teasing. I don't need-"
Before I could finish, Hayden swept me off my feet-but instead of carrying me, he plopped me right on top of the suitcase and started pushing me along.
I burst out laughing. I'd never been pushed on a suitcase before.
Back when I traveled with Jace for work, I was always the one hauling the luggage. I'd be in heels, dragging bags that were way too heavy, and yeah, sometimes I wished he'd do something silly like push me on a suitcase. But I never asked. It felt too childish. Too silly. Now, with Hayden, I didn't even have to ask. He just did it, making me feel like a carefree kid as he pushed me through the lobby, both of us laughing.
When we got to the elevator, I started to slide off, but Hayden held me there.
"You won't be able to push me in while I'm
ing on it," I said.
"How do you know if we don't try?" he said, flashing that stubborn side of his.
J couldn't help but grin back. "Alright, let's see what you've got."
Hayden's expression shifted, and I could tell he was thinking of something else. I laughed, realizing how easily my teasing had thrown him off track.
Chapter 390
Just as I was enjoying the moment, the elevator doors slid open-and my smile froze.
Jace was standing there.
His eyes narrowed when he saw me, but he quickly pulled himself together, especially when he noticed Hayden. He wasn't alone either; someone was trailing behind him, looking almost nervous. "Mr. Johnston, after we check out the venue, I've arranged a dinner. If there are any other friends or relatives you'd like to invite, please let me know."
"I have no one else," Jace said, his gaze never leaving me as he stepped out of the elevator.
The guy started to say something but froze when he saw me, his face lighting up. "Ms. Kay?!"
He practically buzzed with excitement. "Mr. Johnston, I didn't know your fiancée was here."
I wasn't expecting to get recognized so fast, but honestly, it wasn't surprising. Jace and I had been together for so long, people still saw me as his fiancée.
Jace's words from long ago echoed in my mind: 'Rea, in everyone's eyes, we're already married.'
Suddenly feeling awkward, I started to slide off the suitcase, ready to stand, but Jace's voice cut through the moment. "You've got the wrong person."
I froze, one foot hovering above the floor, and looked up at him.