Ch. 441..450

Chapter 441

"Lena-" I started.

But before I could say more, she cut me off. "Do you think I can still catch Nate if I chase after him now?"

She definitely shouldn't, even if she had a shot.

She couldn't go back to work yet, but she also couldn't just leave Kehlmark while the investigation was going on.

"Don't overthink it. Tanya's just lashing out, like a cornered animal." Lena paused, then added, "Honestly, we should be the ones recommending her for a psych evaluation."

Her attempt to lighten the mood didn't land for me. She flicked her fingers against my forehead, reading my mind. "Stop. This isn't your fault."

How could it not be?

Tanya's whole problem with Lena was totally because of me. Plus, I'm the one who called Lena in when Tanya's condition got worse.

If I hadn't called her, Lena might not have even been the one to do the surgery.

"Fault or not, I still have to deal with her," I said, already moving toward Tanya's room.

Lena grabbed my arm. "If you go in now, she'll think she's winning. You know she'll make even crazier demands."

"Let her. I wanna see how far she thinks she can push this." I could feel the anger rising in my chest. Tanya was like one of those snakes you try to help, and it bites you anyway. Lena knew me well enough to recognize that look. "Fine, but keep your head on straight. Don't let her get to you."

"And you?" I asked.

"I'm heading to the director's office to explain everything."

I swallowed down the burning in my throat. "We'll catch up later."

"Keep it together. Just... don't do anything dumb. If you lose it, you're playing right into her hands," Lena warned.

I nodded. "I won't. She's leaving empty-handed."

We split up at the doors, Lena heading for the director's office while I made my way to the OB-GYN wing. Right as I walked in, I ran smack into Brad.

He stopped dead when he saw me, his usual cocky smirk nowhere to be found.

Looks like Wayne had a little talk with him. At least now he knew better than to mess with me.

"So polite today," I teased, flipping the script.

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"Don't start," Brad shot back.

Watching him try to dodge me like I was some kind of curse, I crooked my finger at him. "Come here. I've got a question for you."

Brad swallowed nervously. "I was out of line before, okay? It won't happen again. Can we just let it go?"

It was actually kind of cute, seeing him so nervous.

I stepped closer, and he immediately sidestepped, like he was ready to make a run for it.

"Stop right there. If you try to run, I'm calling Wayne and telling him you're up to no good again," I warned, watching his eyes widen in panic. "You're so full of it," he muttered, finally losing his cool.

I grinned. "Guess I learned from the best."

Brad gave me a wary look, keeping his distance like I might pull something at any second.

His reaction made me laugh. I leaned in just to mess with him. "What? You're that scared of me?"

We both knew it wasn't me he was afraid of-it was Wayne.

That only made me more curious. I gestured for him to come closer. "So, spill. What did Wayne do to you that turned you from a big bad wolf into a little puppy?"

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Chapter 442

Brad's face went full-on tomato at my comment. "Quit talking about wolves or puppies or whatever. Don't insult me. We're even now, okay? It's in the past."

Watching him squirm, trying to keep his cool, had me grinning.

I took a step forward, and he immediately backed up, arms crossed like I was about to actually throw hands. I snorted. "What's wrong? Scared I'll actually do something? Chill out. I'm just curious why you're suddenly playing nice."

"What's wrong with that? Or were you hoping I'd still-" He stopped himself mid-sentence. "Don't even try to bait me. And stop coming any closer, or I'll record this for... evidence."

I rolled my eyes at his empty threat. "Sure. Now spill. What did Wayne do to get you all obedient like this?"

His eyes darted around, avoiding mine. "I have no idea what you're talking about. Now move, I've got places to be."

I stuck my leg out, blocking his path. "Cut the act. I know you're working for him. Why else would you turn on your own sister?"

His face turned beet red again, this time from something other than embarrassment.

I gave him a quick once-over. Head-to-toe designer. Sure, back when Tanya was maxing out Jace's credit cards, it made sense, but now? No way he was affording all this on his own. Definitely Wayne's money.

Brad and Tanya were the ultimate freeloading siblings, sucking up everything the Johnstons had to offer. "If you want answers, go ask Wayne yourself," Brad snapped, clearly over me..

He wasn't going to crack. Wayne had definitely warned him to stay quiet.

I smirked. "All that crap you pulled on me before? I didn't really care. Figured you were just a bored kid acting out. But I never thought you'd throw your own sister under the bus. That's a new low, even for you." My words hit hard. His eyes flared, and he jabbed a finger at me. "Say that again."

I raised an eyebrow. "Am I wrong?"

He clenched his jaw, but dropped his hand, too rattled to come up with a comeback.

I wasn't wasting any more time on him. Life's too short to deal with Brad-level drama. So I turned on my heel and started walking away.

"Where are you going? What are you planning to do?" Brad, realizing I was headed toward Tanya, rushed to catch up.

"I'm

gonna have a little chat with your sister."

His whole vibe shifted. "You've already done enough to her! What more do you want?"

No matter what, he was still her brother. Blood runs deep, even when it's a iness.

 

Chapter 442

"You really think we did this to her?" I shot back. "You should be more worried about her biting her own tongue with all those lies."

He opened his mouth, but nothing came out.

I continued, "Tanya's in this situation because of her own choices. If you actually care, maybe try talking some sense into her. Stop enabling her."

Brad ran his hand through his hair, looking completely lost. "It's too late for that. She's gone too far." "So, what, just because she's stuck, she's gonna drag everyone else down with her?"

Brad's lips twisted like a pouty kid. "I can't control her, but I swear, you're not gonna hurt her."

"She won't get hurt if she stops making a mess of things," I said, stepping forward. "Now, move."

He hesitated for a second, but eventually stepped aside, letting me pass. I didn't even look back as I headed straight for Tanya's hospital room.

When I walked in, she was sitting up in bed, eyes glued to the TV. Not that she was really watching. She didn't even look at me when I entered. The TV was showing some women's table tennis match, and one of my favorite players was on.

"You're into table tennis too? Wow, didn't realize we shared taste in both sports and guys," I said, sarcasm dripping.

Finally, she turned to look at me. Her eyes flickered-surprise, maybe a little fear-but she quickly shifted back to her signature smug expression. Chapter 443

Chapter 443

I kept my focus on the match playing on the TV. It was intense, two of the best players going head-to-head. Every point felt like a work of art.

Without bothering to look at her, I casually asked, "So, who do you think's gonna win this?"

Tanya didn't bother answering. Instead, she snapped, "You've got some nerve showing up here."

I shrugged and pulled a chair next to her bed, eyes still on the game. "Weren't you waiting for me?"

I mean, her whole attack on Lena? That was definitely meant for me.

"It doesn't matter," she hissed. "I'm gonna make sure you pay for this. Trust me, the pain you'll feel is gonna be way worse than if it happened to you directly."

On screen, my favorite player nailed a killer forehand smash, winning the set. The crowd roared.

I glanced over at Tanya. She looked like a ghost-pale, gaunt, lips tinged blue. Honestly? Pitiful.

"I don't know what price I'm paying, but you..." I leaned in a little, lowering my voice. "You're not looking so hot these days, huh?" I reached out like I might touch her face.

She flinched, pulling back. "Don't touch me."

I laughed. "What, scared I'll do something right now?"

I pulled my hand back and glanced down at my nails, suddenly remembering what Hayden had said last night, right in the heat of the moment: "Tomorrow, I'm trimming those claws of yours."

Tanya's voice snapped me back. "If you've got the guts, kill me now. If not, just wait-I'll be coming for you.

I lifted my gaze from my nails and locked eyes with her. "So, tell me who's gonna finish who?" She just glared, all hate, no answer.

The match on TV was heating up, and honestly, it was way more interesting than this conversation. The players were in à crazy rally, each shot more intense than the last. I couldn't help but murmur, "This is insane." Right when I was fully into it, Tanya decided to break the silence. "Drop the act. I know why you're here. And FYI, your frie

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your word?"

"Timeout's over. You missed your shot. Now hush, till the match ends," I said, eyes glued to the screen.

"Keira, you wouldn't dare-"

"Shut up!"

I cut her off, pointing the remote at her like I was about to zap her with it.

Tanya glared but, for once, stayed quiet.

I focused back on the match. The players were at it again, the ball flying across the table so fast it was a blur.

Then the crowd exploded. My player had just scored-10-9. One more point, and she'd win it all.

The camera panned to the audience, people clenching their hands together like they were praying, faces full of hope. nd's gonna pay for what you did."

Still watching the game, I replied, "Yeah, I know."

"And don't think for a second I'm backing down."

"Yeah, that too," I said, not even bothering to look away from the screen.

Honestly, the match was so good, I almost forgot why was here in the first place. Missing this game would've been tragic.

"What else do you know?" she spat, clearly annoyed at my chill attitude.

"You sure you wanna know?" I smirked.

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I sat there, just as tense as they were. The camera flicked back to the table just in time for the opponent's return shot to fly out of bounds, and the arena exploded. My girl raised her paddle in victory, grinning. I couldn't help but smile too..

As the victory music blasted, I spun my chair back to face Tanya. "She won," I said, grinning like a proud

mom.

Tanya wasn't impressed. "You've watched your dumb match. Now, why are you really here?"

I pushed off the floor and slid my chair closer, crossing one leg over the other.

I was still rocking the black silk skirt from last night's dinner with Nate and Lena. Standing, the slit was subtle, but now? Sitting? It was showing off most of my thigh.

My skin, smooth and flawless, practically glowed against the dark fabric under the harsh hospital lighting.

Tanya's eyes went straight to my legs. Even though she was a woman, even though she loved showing off too, I saw the flicker of envy.

I got it. She hadn't had the chance to flaunt anything in months- pregnancy didn't exactly lend itself to

mini-skirts and stilettos.

But there was something else grabbing her attention. The faint marks Hayden left on me last night-still visible near the top of my thigh. Subtle, but clear enough for someone like Tanya, who knew exactly what kind of fun left marks like that. Her cheeks turned red, her face shifting from embarrassed to pissed. "So, that's why you came? To show off? Did Jace leave those?"

Classic Tanya-her insults hit without even needing to curse.

But I wasn't gonna let her have the upper hand. I smirked, leaning in just a little. "Not everyone's like you, Tanya. Daydreaming about someone else while lying next to your own husband."

Her face went pale. "As if you're any better," she hissed. "You spent ten years in Jace's bed, got bored, and moved on."

I just smiled, completely unfazed. People could believe whatever they wanted about Jace and me. No one would ever guess the truth-that we never even went there.

Explaining it to her? Not worth the breath.

"Who I'm with is my business. But trust me, I'm not lacking company," I said casually, brushing her off. There was zero point in getting into a whole back-and-forth with her. It'd just make me look like I was trying way too hard to defend myself. And honestly, I didn't come here to argue about guys.

"Tanya, you wanna know why I'm here?" I sat back, draping myself over the chair like I owned the place." I'm here to give you a heads-up."

"Warn me?" She tilted her chin up, trying to stay tough. So you are scared of me."

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I stood up slowly, closing the distance between us. Still holding the remote, I gently lifted her chin with it so she had no choice but to look me in the eye. "You can mess with me all you want. I don't care. But you mess with my people? That's where it ends. If Lena walks out of this fine, cool. But if anything happens to her..." I leaned in, lowering my voice. "I'll make sure someone buries you."

Tanya let out a cold laugh. "You think you can scare me?"

I didn't say a word. Just stared her down until I saw the flicker of doubt in her eyes.

Then I pulled out a phone and glanced at the screen. It was recording.

Her face drained as she lunged for the phone. I dodged easily, laughing. "Seriously? You're gonna try that?"

With one quick tap, I deleted the recording. But I wasn't finished. I scrolled through her recent calls.

Tanya panicked, making another desperate grab, but I leaned back, lifting my legs to block her, grinning as she fumbled.

One unmarked number from last night caught my attention. Ignoring her frantic protests, I tapped it and hit dial.

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446

"What the heck are you doing? Give me my phone!"

Tanya freaked out, practically launching herself at me, hands outstretched like she was going to tackle

1. me.

Yeah, right. If she wasn't hiding something, she wouldn't be acting like this, which made me even more

curious.

I dodged her, holding the phone just out of her reach. In the chaos, my thumb slipped, and the call connected.

It rang once, then whoever it was hung up.

Not answering? Suspicious much?

I redialed just as Tanya jumped off the bed, barefoot and desperate. "Keira, what the f*ck is wrong with you? Give me my phone!" She was swearing up a storm, lunging at me like a maniac. Finally, someone picked up.

"Why are you calling again when I already hung up?"

Wait...that voice... Retta?

I froze for a second, the puzzle pieces clicking into place.

No way. Retta? Miss Perfect? And now she's getting shady just to land a guy? Wow.

"Prof. Roane, sticking your nose into OB-GYN now?" I said, my voice dripping with sarcasm.

Dead silence. With one hand fending off Tanya's claws, I couldn't help but smirk. "What? Cat got your

tongue?"

Click. Retta hung up. Busted.

Before I could rub it in, Tanya swiped at me again, managing to grab her phone back. Her nails raked across my hand, and it stung like hell.

"You're nuts! Get the hell out of here!" she screeched, chucking the phone at me.

I glanced at the fresh scratch on my hand, anger bubbling up.

This girl had accused Lena because someone else pulled her strings.

Without even thinking, I kicked her.

Tanya flew back, crashing into the edge of the bed with a yelp and crumpling onto the floor.

1 crouched down, not even trying to hide my disgust. "How much did Retta pay you? Is this what you've come to-taking bribes to help ruin people's lives?"

Tanya clutched her side, gripping the bed frame, looking all pale and pitiful.

I didn't care if she was faking or not. Leaning in closer, hissed, "You've hit rock bottom, Tanya. But keep your trash out of my life. And tell your puppet master her secret won't stay buried."

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I started to walk away, but Tanya grabbed my wrist. "If you beg me," she hissed, "I'll let your best friend off the hook."

I blinked. 'Beg? Is she for real?'

I laughed. "Did that botched suicide attempt mess with your head?"

She lay there on the floor, looking up at me with this sad, desperate look in her eyes. "I'll back off Lena, but only if you agree to one thing."

Oh, she was really testing her luck now.

First, she tried blackmailing me. Then, she wanted me to beg. And now, we're negotiating? Seriously?

But this... this was her plan all along.

Honestly, her whole scheme had crumbled ages ago. She knew it too-that's why she ran to Retta for help in the first place.

Speaking of Retta, I used to think she had brains, but apparently, she was totally fine with using someone like Tanya to do her dirty work. Real "genius" move. Guess that was the best trick she had up her sleeve. But hey, it shows just how desperate she was to lock down Nate.

"Alright, what's your brilliant idea?" I asked, not planning to give in, but curious to see where this was going.

Tanya hesitated for a second, then said, "Give me the amusement park."

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I blinked. Was she serious? Did she think this was some kind of easy jackpot?

"No," I said, shutting her down without hesitation.

"Why not?" she pressed.

I didn't even bother. But, of course, she couldn't leave it alone. "Is it because Jace gave it to you?"

Her imagination was wild.

"Didn't you hear what his dad said at the grand opening?" I reminded her.

Tanya let out this snide laugh. "That was just for show

Ugh, there was no reasoning with her.

I wasn't wasting more time, so I cut to the chase, "Why do you even want the park, anyway?"

"Because it makes money. If I had it, I wouldn't have to worry about anything for the rest of my life," she said, trying to sound all practical. Honestly, it seemed fair enough-except I wasn't buying it.

"Tanya, let's be real. You want something from me, but you're not being honest. How am I supposed to say yes to that?" I called her out. Her eyes flickered, like she wasn't sure if she should spill the truth. "You really want the truth?"

I turned to leave, fully done with this conversation, but she grabbed my arm.

"The truth is... I want to take something that's yours," she admitted, no sugarcoating.

Okay, at least she was finally being honest.

I gave her a long look. "What's your deal? We don't even have history. Why would you want to take anything from me?"

Tanya let out a bitter laugh. "Of course you wouldn't remember."

I stared at her, confused. "Remember what?"

"Back in school, you were always in the spotlight, winning every award like it was nothing. You probably don't even remember."

She wasn't wrong-I didn't.

"You were in that debate competition, remember? Your team won first place, and you got Best Debater. The topic was public versus private interests. I was there, too," she continued, her eyes glazing over like she was replaying some scene in her head. Vaguely, I remembered. I'd done a lot back then-debates, speeches, talent shows. I was always that busy girl.

Thinking about it now, I really did crush it.

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*So, I beat you, huh?" I asked, smirking a little.

 

Tanya's laugh was sharp. "Yeah, you beat me. I lost the debate, let down my school and my teachers, and everyone said I was just a big fish in a small pond."

Wow, I had no clue I'd made an enemy back then. I let out a dry laugh. "So... you've hated me all this time?"

"You're good at everything. Even after losing your parents, you somehow ended up with the Johnstons. I refuse to believe I'm worse than you at everything. That's why I want the amusement park. It's not just about securing my future-it's about finally beating you" she said, steady and direct. She locked eyes with me, her voice tightening. "I refuse to believe my life has to be a loss every time I cross paths with you."

I tilted my head, totally unfazed. "And what if I don't give you that chance?"

There were things I might let go of, but not to help her out-just because I didn't want them anymore. But the amusement park? No way. It wasn't even up for discussion.

It was my dad's love wrapped up in every ride and ticket booth. He hadn't built it, but I only pushed for it because of something he said to me once. Without that, the place wouldn't exist. It was my work, my dream. Handing it over to Tanya? Not happening. And honestly, even just thinking about the park's value? There was no way she deserved it.

"If you give me the amusement park, I swear you'll never have to deal with me again. I'll stay out of your life forever," she said.

I let out a soft laugh. "And what if I say no?"

Her eyes darkened, something sharp flashing behind them. "Then we both go down together."

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So, Tanya wanted to drag me down with her, huh?

Classic. This was the same woman who used her husband's death to climb the ladder, so of course she'd try to use someone else. She wasn't bluffing. I knew she'd do exactly what she said.

I'd have to keep my guard up around her.

I leaned in, locking eyes with her. "Alright, let's see who crashes and burns first."

Then, with a swift kick to her hand, I turned and strode put.

As I reached the door, I couldn't help thinking about the baby she caused to be born early with all her drama, so I said, "Oh, and Tanya? If you've got even a shred of decency left, maybe take a look at the kid you brought into this world. At least let him know who his mom really is."

She froze, and I turned away, leaving without another word.

I headed straight to Lena's break room to wait for her. Ten minutes later, she finally showed up.

"You're still here?" she grinned. "Didn't think you'd actually wait for me."

I gave her a look. "Cut the act. What did your director say?"

Lena shrugged, grabbing a cup and filling it with water. "Nothing major. Just told me to file a report and cooperate with the investigation." She took a sip, then smirked. "So, how'd your little face-off with Tanya go?"

I didn't answer right away, still thinking about Retta's involvement. "Why do you think Tanya's after you, anyway?"

Lena handed me a cup. "She's just a mad dog biting anyone who gets close."

Yeah, sure. Lena was totally trying to make it seem like it wasn't my fault.

"Okay, but why you?" I pushed, wanting her to dig a little deeper.

Lena sipped her water. "She's using me to get at you?"

"And maybe there's another reason too?" I nudged.

Lena frowned, realizing something wasn't right. "Alright, what are you getting at? Or did Tanya say something?"

"Tanya's gunning to wreck your career. Sure, it might be part of her revenge on me, but doesn't it seem... I don't know... a little too indirect?"

She put her cup down on the table. "Alright, just spill. What do you know?"

I hesitated for a second. "I saw Tanya's call history. She had a late-night call with Retta."

It hit Lena instantly. Last night, while she and Nate were having their moment, Retta must've been next door fuming.

That's probably when she reached out to Tanya and cooked up this whole scheme.

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11

Lena blinked, then burst into laughter.

Wait, why was she laughing? Shouldn't she be mad?

I picked up the pen from the table and tapped her with t. "What's so funny?"

"It's just hilarious how even smart women lose their minds over a guy. Seriously." she said, shaking her head.

"Retta's already made her move. How are you so chill? Shouldn't you be freaking out?"

Lena drummed her fingers on the table. "She's going to try hitting me professionally first, then she'll go after Nate. Textbook strategy."

I thought about Retta walking off with Nate earlier. "She's definitely in the perfect position to pull that off. And let's be real, Nate can be a bit clueless sometimes Retta's tricks might actually work on him."

Lena stayed calm, her smile never fading. "Retta didn't expect this trip home to be such a disaster. She

probably regrets not locking Nate down earlier. That's why she's desperate enough to team up with Tanya.

I had to hand it to her-Lena always had nerves of steel, even when things got messy.

But Retta was targeting her, and she needed a plan to deal with it.

But this was her fight now. "So, what's your plan? Retta's already playing dirty."

Lena gave me a sly grin, a wink to top it off. "I'm just gonna let her bury herself."

I paused, catching on. "Wait, you're thinking of... chasing Nate down?"

Lena pointed at me with her thumb, all confident. "You know me too well, Keira. We've been through too much for you not to."

Lena took a long sip of water, her eyes gleaming with determination. "Retta thinks by keeping Nate close, she'll pull the strings. Well, let's see what happens when I don't just get close-I take the whole damn spotlight."

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Chapter 449

Chapter 449

I caught on quick. "And when you walk out, the director's gonna freak. You're Seavora's top OB-GYN- they'll be begging you to stay."

"Exactly. I'm hitting two birds with one stone. By the end of this mess, I might even snag the deputy director spot."

Lena's ambition wasn't off the charts-she was just gunning for deputy director.

I couldn't help but laugh. "When life throws mud, you make a whole garden out of it."

Lena shot a look at my phone and tilted her head toward it. "Use that VIP status of yours and book me a flight."

Classic Lena. She made a move, and the world would scramble to catch up.

I pulled out my phone and had her ticket booked before she even finished her water. Then I drove her home so she could pack.

As we pulled up to the airport, I raised an eyebrow. "Didn't the director tell you to stay for the investigation?"

She just laughed. "And you're only asking now? Does it even matter?"

I laughed too. "So, this was the plan all along?"

"Duh. The whole surgery's recorded-there's footage, plus all my conversations with the family. They can investigate all they want, they don't need me for anything. So, why should I stay?" She had a point. Sticking around would just give her haters more to gossip about.

"You're not gonna tell Nate you're coming? He's gonna flip when you show up."

She chuckled. "Surprise inspection. Who knows what he and Retta have been up to behind my back?"

That caught me off guard. "Wait, you don't trust him?"

"It's not about trust," she said, pausing for a second. "It's about human nature. No guy's immune to temptation."

That's Lena for you. She might not have been through every heartbreak herself, but she'd seen enough on the job to know how people can be.

"Well, good luck," I said, pulling her in for a hug before watching her head toward the gate.

As her plane took off, I headed for the exit, feeling a mix of pride and worry for my bestie.

And then, just my luck, I walked straight into Jace. Literally. There was no avoiding it-he was right there, suitcase in hand.

He looked like he was heading out of town. Despite everything, we weren't enemies, so I went for casual. Where are you off to?"

""Houston."

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The city name made me pause for a second-was RiverwaveCorp expanding in the U.S. too? But then I brushed it off. Whatever. It wasn't my problem anymore. "Oh," I replied, keeping it light.

He stared, clearly waiting for me to ask more. "You're not curious why?"

I shrugged. "Not really."

His expression darkened. "So you just don't care about me at all anymore, huh?"

Funny how when we were together, my questions annoyed him. Now, when I wasn't asking, he couldn't stand it.

That's just human nature, I guess.

I didn't bite. "What time's your flight?"

He ignored the question. "I'm going to see Steve."

Steve? Right. His competition was coming up in Houston.

But it wasn't for another week. I figured Jace was just going early to help Steve prep, so I gave him a polite nod.

Then he dropped a bomb.

"Steve's in trouble."

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My heart skipped a beat. "What happened?"

Jace's face darkened. "He got into a fight."

A fight overseas, right before a major competition? That didn't sound like Steve. "Did he ask you to come?

Jace hesitated. "He's been detained."

I blinked, stunned. "That serious?"

"Yeah, and if things don't go well, he could be facing long-term imprisonment." His words knocked the wind out of me for a second.

Seeing the worry on my face, Jace added, "I don't know all the details yet. One of his teammates called. I'm heading over to figure things out."

I nodded slightly. "Let me know if anything-"

"Do you want to come with me?" Jace cut in, eyes locked on mine.

I wasn't expecting that. My mouth opened, but before I could answer, Jace continued, "His teammate said Steve's not doing well. He's been really agitated. If you're there, maybe you could calm him down."

Steve wasn't just a friend-he was family. Someone who'd always had my back. Now he was in trouble, far/ from home, and of course I wanted to help.

But going with Jace? That was a different story. I didn't want to do anything that could upset Hayden. There was a time when Jace didn't care about my feelings and hurt me by being with someone else. I couldn't do the same to Hayden. "You go ahead. I'll come later, after I pack," I said, turning down Jace's offer.

"You can buy whatever you need when we get there," he replied, clearly missing the point.

I'd mentioned packing as a polite excuse, hoping he'd take the hint. But instead, he pushed, making it obvious he wanted us to travel together.

I couldn't do that.

I was about to respond when Jace suddenly pulled out a red booklet from his bag. "I brought your passport."

1 had totally forgotten about that. Before we broke up, Jace and I had taken a trip abroad, and my passport ended up in his bag. When things fell apart, I took everything else, but the passport slipped my mind.

I reached out to take it, but he didn't let go right away.

We stood there, locked in a tense silence, until Jace finally spoke, his voice low. "So, we can't even go on a trip together anymore?"

I looked down, then back up at him with a soft smile. "It's not that I can't-it's that I don't want Hayden to

 

Chapter 450

overthink things. As his girlfriend, it's my responsibility to make sure he feels secure."

My words hit him hard, and after a moment, he let go of the passport, his smile bitter. "You really care about him, huh?" Obviously.

Jace's expression soured even more. "Funny, when we were together, you never cared this much about me."

Was this his way of dredging up old grudges?

"Did I?" I asked, giving him a half-smile.

Jace's eyes darkened. "Rea, you always thought I didn't care about you. But how much did you really care about me?" That came out of nowhere.

When didn't I care about him?

Was this about Steve?

Was there something between Steve and me that bothered him back then?

I didn't ask. There was no point. We'd gone our separate ways, and digging up the past wouldn't change anything.

"I'll pack and head over soon. We'll be in touch," I said, ending the conversation and walking away with my passport.

Hayden had told me to take some time off, but I still decided to swing by the office.

When I knocked on his door, he was deep in work, not even looking up as he said, "Come in."

I stood there for a moment, just watching him work. He was completely absorbed, totally lost in whatever he was doing. If anyone wanted to know what "focused" looked like, they only had to see Hayden in action. Eventually, he reached for something on his desk, just out of his reach. I stepped forward and handed it to him.

"Thanks," he said, then paused, sensing something was off. He finally looked up.