Ch. 451..460

Chapter 451

 

"What are you doing here?" Hayden set down the papers he'd been holding.

I walked up behind him, letting my fingers brush along his chin. "I missed you."

Instead of smiling at my confession, he immediately sensed something was off. His hand slipped around my waist, and in one smooth motion, he pulled me onto his lap. "What's going on?" Seeing the concern in his eyes, I playfully tapped his nose. "You always know when something's up, don't you?"

"Then don't keep things from me."

"Lena's left the country," I started, deliberately leaving out the part about Steve-for now.

He didn't look surprised, just gave a soft "Oh."

Hayden had this perfectly defined nose, and I traced it with my finger. "You're a guy, so you get how men think. Do men like it when women cling to them?"

"Is this a question for Lena?" He raised a brow, letting me mess with his face.

"Not just her. It's for me too... and for, like, all women everywhere."

"It depends on the guy," he said, dodging a real answer

I moved my finger to his brow. "What about Nate? You think he finds it annoying when Lena clings to him?"

"I don't know."

Classic Hayden-straightforward and blunt. I was used to it.

I tapped his brow a few times. "What about you?"

He looked thoughtful for a second. "Depends on how clingy you are."

"Hmm?"

He nudged his head against my hand. "I wouldn't mind. No matter how clingy you are, I'd never get tired of it."

He was quick to catch on, but I could still tell he meant something else earlier. I tapped his nose again. So if I was super clingy, you would get annoyed, huh?" "I-" Hayden started, but I pressed my finger against his lips.

"No excuses."

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He smiled, a little helpless. "Bossy girlfriend."

"Well, we've been working together during the day, sleeping together at night-basically, we're together 24/7. You've gotta be sick of me by now, right?"

With my finger still holding his mouth shut, all Hayden could do was shake his head.

"Even if you're not tired of me yet, you probably will be soon. So, I think it's time we spend a little time

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Chapter 451

apart." I gently steered the conversation to what I really needed to say.

Hayden stayed quiet, just watching me.

Feeling a bit guilty, I tapped his nose again. "Why aren't you saying anything?"

"Just spit it out. Stop beating around the bush," he said reading me perfectly.

I sighed, caught in the act. "You're no fun."

"You want to take a trip, don't you? You're worried about Lena and want to go with her?"

His guess made me laugh. "Why would I do that? To third-wheel her and Nate?"

He frowned slightly. "Then where are you planning to go?"

I pulled out my passport and held it in front of him. "I want to go to Houston. Something's happened to Steve."

"Injured?" Hayden asked, already knowing Steve was in Houston for training and competition,

"No," said, resting my chin on his shoulder. "He got into a fight and was detained. Jace told me.

Hayden didn't respond right away, so I gave him a playful nip. "Don't overthink it. I just ran into Jace when I was dropping Lena off at the airport. He's already on his way." "Did Jace give you any details?" Hayden asked.

"Not much. He just said Steve's not doing well emotionally..." I trailed off, not wanting to dump too much

at once.

Hayden stayed silent. I snuggled deeper into his neck. "I want to go check on him. Will you be okay with that?"

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"Why are you asking me for permission to do something you want?" Hayden countered.

I leaned my head against his neck, avoiding his gaze as my fingers toyed with the buttons on his shirt. "Because I don't want you to overthink it. I don't want you to be upset."

He pressed a gentle kiss to my forehead, the warmth of it spreading over me. "So, you're worried about how I'll feel?"

There was a soft happiness in his voice, like my concern for him meant more than I realized. It reminded me that men need to feel cared for too.

"Of course. You're my boyfriend. I don't want you thinking I'd ever leave you behind for someone else, especially not a guy I used to be with. I wouldn't want you feeling weird about me staying connected to an ex," I said honestly.

I knew too well what it felt like to deal with betrayal and suspicion, and I never wanted Hayden to go through that because of me.

"You care so much about me," Hayden teased, though his voice was filled with affection. His words brought back the memory of Jace's comment at the airport, that I never cared about him. But that wasn't true. I had cared-he just never seemed to see it. "Of course I do. You come first," I said, fully meaning it.

There's that saying-if you love someone, tell them. So I did, making sure Hayden knew exactly where he stood. That way, no matter what happened, there'd be no misunderstandings, no room for doubt.

Hayden gently lifted me so I was facing him. "We may be together, but we're still individuals. You don't need my permission to do what you want."

"How's that fair?" I shot back with a laugh. "Does that mean there are things you think you don't need to

tell me?"

"Of course not. I'd always tell you and get your approval," Hayden said, though it came off a bit like a double standard.

"You're really unfair to yourself," I teased, shaking my head.

His gaze deepened, his eyes locking with mine. "I'm a man. It's different for you. You're a woman-you should be treated with more care. Whatever you do is fine."

I couldn't help but laugh. "You're such a feminist. If we ever have a daughter, you're gonna spoil her rotten."

His Adam's apple bobbed as he responded, "Mm, our daughter. Of course, I'll spoil her."

I froze for a second, then my face went bright red as I quickly buried it back into his neck. "Who said I'd have a daughter with you?"

"Not now," Hayden whispered softly in my ear. "We'll wait until after the wedding."

The mention of a wedding reminded me of his earlier comment about needing to secure funding through Kylian's deal with the Johnstons. "Speaking of, how's the deal with Jace going?"

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"It's almost finalized," Hayden answered, tightening his arms around my waist. "Why? You're eager to marry me already?"

I shook my head, hiding my embarrassment against his neck. "No, I was just asking."

"But I want to," Hayden murmured. "I think about it every day."

The way he said it, like he hadn't already won me over like he was still yearning for something, tugged at my heart. He already had me, but his words made it sound like he still hadn't fully reached me. I couldn't bring myself to say anything as bold, so I went for a more subtle response. "Aren't we already together?"

"Silly girl," Hayden sighed, his voice tender. "I don't just want to be close to you-I want to be your husband. I want to be with you in a way that's recognized by everyone.

"I want to spend every single day of the rest of our lives together, facing everything, through thick and thin.

"I want to be the one you lean on when you're sad, the one who wipes your tears, and the one who holds you when you're happy. I want to-"

I didn't let him finish. I kissed him, cutting him off.

What he said was enough. I didn't need any more words.

Tears welled up in my eyes, sliding down my cheeks as we kissed.

Hayden seemed startled by my tears and gently pulled back, breaking the kiss.

I looked up at him, smiling through the tears, knowing this was the happiest I'd felt in the last ten years.

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"Silly girl," he whispered, wiping away my tears.

I buried my face in his chest. He was the one who promised he'd always be there to catch my tears, after

all.

"Hayden, are you sure you won't get jealous, letting me meet up with Jace? We'll have to talk, you know," I asked, wanting to hear him say it again.

He chuckled, that signature confidence shining through. "You already left him. What's there to be jealous about? And honestly, after me, I doubt any other guy's even on your radar."

Classic Hayden. But I had to admit, I kinda loved how sure he was. It made me feel like no one else could

ever compare.

He insisted on driving me to the airport, waiting until I was completely out of sight before leaving.

By the time I landed in Houston, it was already dark. I pulled out my phone to text Jace and let him know I was here, but to my surprise, there was already a message waiting from him: [I'm at the exit.]

I blinked. I hadn't told him I was coming, so how did he know?

Only one person could've given him the heads-up-Hayden.

I rolled my eyes. My ridiculously confident boyfriend actually let my ex-fiancé come pick me up. Unreal.

I didn't bother replying to Jace's text. I'd see him in a few minutes anyway. Instead, I called Hayden.

"Did you land?" His voice was warm.

"Yeah, and guess who's already here? My ex," I teased,

He laughed softly. "Well, with him around, I don't have to worry about you being alone in a strange city." "Leaving me with my ex and calling that 'safe'? You've got too much faith in yourself," I joked, half-serious. "You're safe, and that's what matters," he said, his tone softening. "Besides, I trust you, Kiki."

How could I even think of betraying this guy?

"I'm just checking on Steve. If there's nothing I can do, I'll come back as soon as I can," I reassured him, wanting to ease any concerns.

"No rush. Since you're there, stay a few days. I've asked around-someone might reach out to you soon," he added, catching me off guard.

I raised an eyebrow. "You've got connections in Houston too?"

He went quiet for a moment. "Yeah, I do."

I paused, realizing what he meant. "Hayden, I didn't mean it like that-

He laughed lightly. "Relax. I didn't take it the wrong way. You don't have to tiptoe around me. I'm not fragile."

"I'm just being petty. Clearly, my boyfriend's way more mature than me," I joked, giving him credit.

 

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"Have you seen Jace yet?" Hayden asked as I spotted Jace by the exit, awkwardly waving.

"Yeah, I see him now," I said, starting to walk toward him, still holding the phone.

"Alright. I'll hang up. Be safe," Hayden said, sounding more at ease.

"I'll be back soon, promise!"

"Okay!"

Hayden hung up, and I pocketed my phone. Jace was standing there, looking tense, like overhearing my conversation with Hayden had put him in a weird mood Honestly, Jace could never compete with Hayden when it came to handling stuff like this.

Love's the same emotion, but Jace's love had always felt way more selfish.

"Thanks for picking me up," I said politely.

His jaw tightened. "Do you really have to be so formal with me? Are you just trying to remind me how distant we are now?"

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Yes, I was reminding him. I didn't want him getting any ideas. But I wasn't in the mood for a fight either, so I matched his serious tone.

"Jace, I flew all the way here. Do you really want to start an argument right now?"

He went quiet, his lips twitching like he wanted to say something snarky, but all he said was, "Give me your luggage."

I handed him my suitcase without a second thought, and we walked out of the airport together in silence.

Since he didn't bring up Steve's situation, I decided to. So, what's going on with Steve? What's this fight about?"

"He's still in detention. No visitors allowed right now," Jace said, making me frown.

So my trip here was basically pointless? The whole reason I came was because Jace said Steve was losing it, and I thought I could help.

"But I'm working on it. You'll see him-soon," Jace added, switching up the vibe.

Tignored that and pushed for more info. "Why'd Steve get into a fight?"

"It happened during practice. The guy's name is Danilo Cruz. He's a sparring partner at the gym but super unreliable-shows up late, leaves early, doesn't focus. Steve asked for a replacement, and when Danilo got warned by management, he flipped. Started with some words, and then it escalated."

With Steve being detained and no visitors allowed, this clearly wasn't just a regular fight. "Did Danilo get hurt? Like, really hurt?"

"He fell and hit his head on a pool table. He didn't make it."

The weight of his words sank in, and I stopped walking,

Jace stopped too. "They're still waiting on the autopsy report. If it shows Steve wasn't directly responsible, his sentence could be lighter."

Could be. I hated how shaky that sounded. "And if it shows Steve was responsible?"

One thought hit me hard: An eye for an eye. It didn't matter where you were; that rule was universal.

"I'm pulling every string I can. It won't come to that," Jace said, glancing at his watch. "You haven't eaten yet, right? Let me get you something."

11

I wasn't in the mood for food. "I'm not hungry."

"Even if you're not, you should eat. If you get sick, how do you think I'm supposed to explain that to... him?

He gave me a look.

By "him," he meant Hayden.

Suddenly, I realized how insane Hayden's confidence was. He left me with Jace, my ex-fiancé, the guy I'd been in love with for ten years. Even if Hayden trusted me, wasn't he even a little worried Jace might not be over me?

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"You're taking this babysitting thing pretty seriously," I said, my voice dripping with sarcasm.

Jace shot me a glance. His expression darkened.

We didn't talk again until we reached his car. As he opened the door for me, he asked, "Who like eating?"

 

do you feel

Before I could answer, he said, "I know a place."

The drive was quiet, the city lights blurring outside as I stared out the window. My mind was too full to focus on anything.

When we finally got to the restaurant, I ordered something light-a kale salad with goat cheese. Jace, though, went all out, adding mushroom risotto and even throwing in dessert.

""No dessert," I said, shaking my head.

"Yes, dessert," he shot back. "You used to say sweets helped when you were down."

I was surprised he remembered that.

"Not every bad mood can be fixed with dessert," I muttered, unable to help myself.

I didn't need to be harsh, but something about being around him just brought it out.

"Does hurting me make you feel better?" Jace asked, pouring me some water. "Does it make up for all the pain I caused?"

"No," I said honestly, then added, "But I can't help wanting to hurt you anyway."

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Jace let out a short laugh. "So, you really do resent me, huh?"

"I wouldn't go that far," I said, though we both knew there was some truth in it. "But yeah, there's definitely a bit of an imbalance. You wasted ten years of my life my time, my emotions." Since we were already on the subject, I wasn't holding back. "And what about my ten years?" he said quietly, his voice low. "Rea, I loved you all those years, too. I gave you my heart."

I met his eyes for a second, then looked away. "I'm not denying that. But the second you slept with Tanya, everything you gave? Gone. You wiped it all out yourself."

Jace's jaw clenched in frustration. "Even criminals get parole, chances to redeem themselves. Why can't I get one?"

"Because with me, there are no second chances," I said just as the food arrived.

He clearly wanted to keep talking, but I wasn't having it. "If you want me to actually eat this, drop the past."

His eyes darkened, but he stayed quiet.

We ate in near silence, neither of us really tasting the food. The whole thing felt pointless.

After dinner, Jace drove me to the hotel and arranged for me to stay in the room next to his.

As I was about to enter my room, I turned to him. "I want to see Steve as soon as possible."

"I know," Jace said, pausing for a moment. "If you need anything, just call me."

This time, I nodded, not fighting him on it, and headed into my room.

Just as I was closing the door, Jace called out, "Rea, do you really know Hayden?"

I stopped, confused. "What do you mean?"

He didn't answer, just gave me a hard look before disappearing into his room.

I frowned. What was that supposed to mean?

Once inside, I immediately tried video calling Hayden, but no answer. Maybe he was busy, or his phone was somewhere out of reach. I shrugged it off and snapped a quick picture of my room, sending it with a short message: [All settled in safely.] Still nothing.

As I stared at our chat, Jace's weird question played on repeat in my head. 'Do you really know Hayden?'

I thought I did. I knew his background, his family, his age, his finances. He'd always been open, and we even worked together now. Everything checked out.

So why would Jace ask that? Was he hinting at something deeper? Was there something about Hayden I didn't know?

I tried to shake off the doubt. Hayden was solid. His life was clean, he donated a chunk of his earnings to

 

Chapter 455

charity, and he'd never hidden anything from me. Plus, he trusted me enough to leave me in Jace's care- who would do that unless they were completely confident? So, what else was there to know?

But Jace wouldn't have thrown that out there casually. He wasn't the type to stir up drama or play mind games, especially not like this. Was he trying to warn me about something?

Still, I couldn't ask Jace for more. And I couldn't let his words plant doubts in my head. If one cryptic comment was enough to shake me, Jace would think my relationship with Hayden wasn't that solid in the first place. Minutes passed. Hayden still hadn't responded. A small flicker of unease started creeping in. I tried video calling him again.

It connected, but the screen was pitch black. Instead of seeing Hayden, I heard voices.

"You wanted time, and I've given you that," said a deep, gravelly voice-an older man, stern and authoritative. "Now, I've waited long enough. How much longer do you plan to avoid returning to the Hart family?" My heart sped up. Who is this guy? And was he talking to Hayden?

Hart family? The same Hart family?

I gripped my phone tighter, barely breathing as I strained to hear more.

Then I heard Hayden's voice, calm but tense. "You've waited this long; a little more time won't hurt."

Chapter 456

I was sitting on the hotel balcony, staring out at the rain when Hayden's video call flashed on my screen.

There's something about a foreign city that makes everything feel kind of... lonely. Especially when it's pouring.

As I sat there, the conversation I'd overheard played on repeat in my head. And suddenly, Jace's weird questions about Hayden made sense. Not to mention why Kylian had been acting so weird around him. Hayden wasn't just some regular guy.

He was from that Hart family.

I thought he was just your average guy-next-door, and now it turns out he was some secret heir to a filthy rich, powerful family. Like, for real?

What was this? Some undercover billionaire thing? Was he scared I'd stick around just because of his

money?

A bitter laugh escaped me as I grabbed my phone, which had been buzzing nonstop at my feet.

Hayden's face filled the screen-handsome as ever. "Kiki, I can explain."

He must've seen the call log. Of course he knew I overheard everything.

"Explain what?" I curled my toes, pretending I didn't already know the whole deal.

"I didn't mean to lie to you or hide anything." Hayden said, his voice full of sincerity.

I started tracing little circles on the window. "Everyone's got their reasons. You didn't have to tell me-it's your call."

"Kiki..."

"You left me with Jace because you knew he had to work with your family, didn't you? He wouldn't dare mess with me because of you, right?" I asked, half-whispering, not really expecting him to come clean. ""It's not like that-"

"Seriously, what kind of boyfriend lets their ex babysit their girlfriend?" I muttered under my breath.

"Kiki..."

"Remember what I told you before? I hate being lied to." I blinked and realized I'd been doodling Hayden's name all over the fogged-up window. Oops.

"I know, I wanted to tell you... but the timing never felt right," Hayden said, tension thick in his voice.

"Oh, so you were just waiting for the perfect moment, huh? Like, maybe after you officially rejoined the Hart family? Or were you never gonna say anything unless I overheard it today?" The bitterness in my tone was undeniable. Silence. Then finally, he answered. "I never intended to rejoin the Hart family. That's why I didn't mention

it."

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I blinked, totally thrown. Why didn't he want to go back to his family?

But instead of asking, I forced myself to stay calm. "It's fine, Hayden. You didn't have to tell me. Like you said, we're together, but we're still our own people."

I knew I was twisting his words, but I couldn't stop. My heart felt all over the place.

He went quiet again before shifting gears. "Have you been able to see Steve?"

I sighed, pushing my frustration aside. "No, Jace says he's still working on it."

"I'll have someone set it up so you can see him tomorrow," Hayden said, catching me off guard.

I let out a dry laugh. Of course, with his connections, he could just make that happen. "Guess it's handy having you around, after all."

"Kiki... there's something off about Steve's situation. When you meet him tomorrow as his 'attorney', there are some things you need to ask," Hayden's tone turned serious, pulling my attention back. "What do I need to ask?"

"Get him to explain everything about the issues with Danilo and why he wouldn't cooperate. See if Steve's got any proof, and ask if anyone's threatened him or tried to bribe him recently." My stomach flipped at his words. "You think Danilo's death is part of some setup?"

"We can't rule it out. Steve was a top contender for the championship. If something happened to him, it'd clear the way for other competitors." Hayden's logic was sharp, and suddenly, it all started clicking. "Maybe someone tried to bribe him to throw a match, and when he wouldn't play along, they framed him," I said, my thoughts lining up with his.

"Exactly. That's why it's so important you get him to talk. The more we know, the easier it'll be to expose whoever's behind this and clear his name."

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My chest tightened. "Alright, what time tomorrow?" I asked.

"Not sure yet. Just keep your phone close," Hayden paused, then, more casually, "Have you eaten?"

"Yeah, I ate with Jace," I replied, totally innocent, no hidden meaning behind it.

There wasn't any reason for him to think otherwise. After all, he's the one who had Jace looking after me. Sure enough, Hayden didn't make a big deal of it. He just moved on. "What did Jace say about Steve?" "He said he's working on getting me in to see him, but nothing beyond that," I replied, keeping it simple. "Jace knows Steve's teammates pretty well. He might be able to get some leads from them," Hayden added. I didn't say anything, and he didn't push it. Silence settled between us. It felt strange-this had never happened during our calls before.

I broke it, glancing out the window. "It's raining here. Like, really hard."

"I can hear it," Hayden said, and that's when I realized I'd had my phone facing up the whole time. He wasn't even looking at the rain or me, just the hotel ceiling.

"Hold on, let me show you." I tilted the phone toward the window.

"I'd rather see you," Hayden said softly, his voice direct.

I stayed quiet for a second before I teased, "Well, you made me mad, so as your punishment, you don't get to see me until I'm back."

There was another pause before he replied, "Yeah... I deserve that."

Was it really a punishment?

Maybe. I mean, he loved me, and when you love someone, even a day apart can feel like forever. Hayden didn't hang up. He just stayed on the line, listening to the rain with me. We didn't talk after that. Almost an hour passed, and my body started feeling stiff from sitting too long. I stretched out on the bed to relax. When I picked up my phone, I noticed the call was still going. He hadn't hung up-and now the camera was facing him.

"Why didn't you end the call?" I asked.

"I didn't want to. Even if I can't see you, hearing your voice is enough," Hayden said, hitting me with that effortless rizz.

But I wasn't in the mood to get all soft. "Well, I'm hanging up now. No more listening either."

"Are you tired?" Hayden asked, gentle.

"Not really tired, just... exhausted," I said as I stretched out again. "Goodnight."

ended the video call, but almost immediately, my phone buzzed again. Of course, it was Hayden.

I unlocked it and saw the message: [Kiki, sleep well.]

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I didn't bother replying. Instead, I locked my phone and shut my eyes.

Not long after, it buzzed again. I figured it was another message from Hayden, so I ignored it.

The next morning, when I woke up and checked the time, I finally looked at the texts. The one I'd ignored wasn't from Hayden-it was from Cedric: [Meet me tomorrow at 3 PM at your parents' grave.] My heart skipped a beat.

I wasn't even in Kehlmark-how was I supposed to meet him?

I quickly typed back: [Sorry, Officer Sawyer, I'm out of the country right now. Can we reschedule?]

No immediate response. My eyelid twitched as this weird feeling of unease settled over me.

I couldn't send someone else to meet him. I couldn't blow it off, either. So, I tried again: [I'll reach out as soon as I'm back. Is that okay?]

This time, the "typing" indicator popped up almost immediately.

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[Contact me as soon as possible.]

That was Cedric's reply.

I quickly typed back, [Okay,] but as soon as I hit send, something felt... off.

He said "as soon as possible", and it hit me with this weird sense of urgency. Why was it so pressing?

I tried sending another message: [If it's more convenient, you can send me photos or any documents you have.]

No response. It was like my message just disappeared into the void.

That's how it always went with this police officer-dude was elusive. Unless he reached out first, it was nearly impossible to get a hold of him.

Thinking about my parents' accident, that unsettled feeling only grew darker.

That night, I couldn't sleep.

I didn't know if it was the unfamiliar place or all the stuff swirling in my head, but I tossed and turned for

hours.

The next morning, Jace noticed instantly. "Rough night?" he asked.

"I'm fine," I snapped, way too defensive.

It was pride talking-that breakup kind of pride where you don't want anyone, especially an ex, seeing you all fragile and weak.

Jace didn't push it, but the look on his face said I'd annoyed him. Again.

A few minutes later, he broke the silence. "You should be able to see Steve today. Try to calm him down, and while you're at it, ask him some questions..."

His instructions were almost a direct repeat of what Hayden had said last night. Clearly, they were on the same page-this wasn't just about Steve. They both thought something bigger, something planned, was behind all of this. When Jace finished talking, I didn't respond right away. He glanced over at me. "Why aren't you saying anything?"

"Hayden already told me the same thing yesterday," I said, and just like that, Jace went silent.

I wasn't trying to stir anything up, just being honest, but I could tell it hit a nerve.

"He said he arranged for someone to take me to see Steve," I added, keeping it casual.

Jace didn't respond, jaw tight. He looked irritated-just like he used to.

People don't change easily. Jace still had that short fuse, but unlike before, he couldn't take it out on me anymore.

I wasn't looking to rub salt in the wound, but I asked, "Did you and Hayden go through the same contact

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for this?"

"No."

"Then whoever gets me there first, I'll go with them."

Jace stayed quiet.

In the end, Hayden's contact showed up first. Jace walked me to the car, his expression stormy.

I could tell he hated feeling like Hayden had one-upped him again.

I remembered when Jace used to look down on Hayden, thinking he was beneath us, throwing that arrogant smirk his way. But in the end, it was my choice, and it left Jace-always the untouchable CEO- on the losing side.

Still, Jace had one advantage: his status. He was the Johnston heir, someone Hayden could never touch. But then Hayden turned out to be from the Hart family of West Ridge, a family with a mining empire just as rich, maybe even richer, in some ways. Suddenly, they were on equal footing.

Jace, who'd been competitive his whole life, must've been fuming. I could practically feel his frustration radiating off him as I got into the car. He couldn't even get to Steve, his own friend, faster than Hayden.

I imagined Jace stewing in all that, the bitterness eating at him.

On the way to see Steve, my phone buzzed. It was Hayden: [Did they pick you up?]

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Hayden didn't push the conversation further. He must've sensed that I was still upset.

When I finally saw Steve, he was in a prison jumpsuit, his once stylish hair shaved down to almost nothing. I'd never seen him like that before. It almost brought tears to my eyes. Steve had clawed his way up to success, earning a spot in Jace's circle purely on his own. But now, everything he worked for could be destroyed.

"Steve," I called softly.

He looked up and smiled. "What are you doing here?"

That smile-same as always, like nothing could break him. No matter what, Steve always had a bright

smile for me, like his world was all sunshine.

I couldn't speak for a moment, and he laughed. "What? Do I look so bad you don't even wanna talk to me?"

I shook my head. Jace said Steve had been in a bad place, but here he was, still smiling like nothing was wrong. But I knew better. He was putting on a show, hiding his pain for my sake.

"You'll always be handsome," I teased, playing along.

He let out a bitter laugh. "No need to butter me up."

"We know you were set up. Jace and Hayden are both working on it. You just gotta hang in there, okay? It'll be fine," I said, trying to reassure him while steering the conversation toward what I needed to know. Steve looked surprised that we believed him. Since his arrest, no one had been able to hear his side.

"We don't have all the details. Just tell me who's approached you lately, and how things started with

Danilo. Don't leave anything out," I urged.

Steve closed his eyes, silent. I thought he was trying to remember, but when he opened them again, he said, "You guys need to stay out of this. I don't wanna drag you down." His voice was full of despair.

"We're not leaving you to deal with this alone. No matter who's behind it, we'll make sure they can't pin this on you," I said firmly.

"It's no use. This isn't Kehlmark, it's Houston. You don't know the people we're up against," he muttered, shaking his head. "Steve-"

"If you're still my friend, then listen to me. Leave. Go home. Don't stay here," he said, gripping the bars between us, his voice rising.

"I'll leave, but I came all this way. Can we at least talk a bit?" I tried to calm him down by changing the subject.

He shook his head. "There's nothing to talk about. Just go. The sooner, the better."

"There aren't any flights right now," I reminded him, hoping to buy more time.

1/2

Chapter 459

 

He tightened his grip on the bars, then let go, exhaustion taking over his face.

"Please, just tell me what happened," I pleaded.

He sighed. "About a month and a half ago, someone from a club called Quartz Cue approached me.

"They offered me a villa. Didn't say it outright, but I knew what they wanted. I turned them down. They came back again, I refused again.

"Then, they replaced my sparring partner with Danilo-the guy who died."

"Did you know Danilo before that?"

"Yeah, we'd played a few times. Got along fine. But when he became my sparring partner, he changed. Showed up late, left early, started drinking. Sometimes he'd skip practice altogether. It messed up my whole schedule. When I asked for a new partner, he held a grudge."

"Switching partners isn't unusual. Danilo was a veteran. His behavior was deliberate-someone must've sent him to sabotage you," Steve said, his eyes distant like he was piecing it together.

I stayed quiet, letting him continue.

"It's Quartz Cue," he said grimly. "They wanted this championship. They're going for five consecutive wins, but their guy kept losing to me. The only way they could win was by taking me out." Suddenly, Steve's emotions boiled over. He grabbed the bars, shouting, "Rea, I was framed! I didn't do it... I didn't do it..." His voice cracked, filled with desperation.

Hello 460

Hello 460

As I stepped out of the holding room, Steve's desperate shouts were still ringing in my ears.

Jace wasn't wrong-Steve's emotions were a mess. One second he was frantic, the next totally defeated. But his last words stuck with me the most: "Rea, I can't stay here. I'm innocent." It broke my heart.

The moment I stepped outside, Jace was already heading my way. He took one look at me and reached out, steadying me. "You look pale. Did Steve say something?" Thinking about Steve's warning, I said, "Let's get in the car. I'll explain on the way."

Steve had told me to leave as soon as possible, and I got why-Quartz Cue probably had eyes on us. was scared someone would see me, and I'd be next in line for trouble. Jace rushed me into the car, handing me a bottle of water. "Take a second."

He

I ignored the water and said, "Steve says he's being framed." I ran through everything Steve had told me, ending with, "He said these people are ruthless. We might not be safe here either-" Before I could finish, headlights suddenly blazed through the windshield, blinding us. The car swerved hard, and the driver cursed under his breath.

Jace already had a tight grip on me, his eyes darting around, checking our surroundings.

I wasn't dumb-I knew this wasn't just some random car acting up. But I didn't think they'd move this fast. I'd barely stepped away from Steve, and already, they were coming for us. Whoever they were, they wanted to shut us down, make sure we didn't dig deeper into Steve's story.

"What do we do?" I blurted, panic creeping in as my hand instinctively gripped Jace's arm.

He didn't answer. Instead, he barked orders at the driver, "Four cars-front, back, sides. Get us out. Now."

"On it, Mr. Johnston. You two in the back-buckle up and hold tight," the driver responded.

Jace clicked my seatbelt into place just as the car jerked hard, sending my head spinning.

I clenched my teeth, fighting the wave of fear clawing at me. Before I could even get a breath, Jace pulled me into his arms, shielding me from the chaos. "Don't look. It'll be over soon," he whispered, but I wasn't buying it.

This wasn't some scare tactic. They weren't messing around-they wanted us gone.

I couldn't see anything with Jace covering me, but I could feel it all-the car swerving, the sharp turns, and the sickening crunch of metal every time we got rammed. Jace held me tight, his grip like steel, but I could feel the tension in his body: He was staying calm, directing the driver, but I could sense it-he was on edge. Then-Bang! Bang! Two hard crashes and the car lurched to a sudden stop.

"Reverse! Now!" Jace yelled at the driver.

1/2

Chapter 460

 

The car jerked backward, but the damage was too much. I could feel every hit rattling through my body, making my stomach twist. I gagged, barely keeping it together. Before I could even catch my breath-another brutal impact. The car spun out, and suddenly, everything

tilted.

We were rolling!

I knew it instantly, but there was nothing I could do.

I had no clue where we were headed-down a hill, into a ditch, maybe even water? It didn't matter. All I could do was squeeze my eyes shut and brace for the worst. Bang!

Chapter 461

Chapter 461

With a final shudder, the car came to a halt, and the world fell into this suffocating silence.

It was so still, it felt like time itself had stopped.

For a second, I didn't even realize I was still alive. When I tried to move, nothing happened. My body just...

refused.

I tried harder and heard a faint groan. "Don't... move..."

Everything was still dark. Not because it was night, but because my eyes were covered-blood? Dirt? I had no idea.

"Jace," I called.

"I'm... here," Jace's voice came from right in front of me, but it was weak and fading.

"Get off me, I can't breathe," I muttered, trying to wriggle out, not even registering how hurt he might be.

Jace shifted, just enough for me to pull my face away from his chest. That's when I saw the mess-the car was wrecked, crushed beyond recognition. The driver wasn't moving, blood everywhere. Panic flooded my chest. "Jace! Jace!" I shouted, my heart racing as I looked at him.

His face was smeared with blood.

This was bad. Jace was hurt, the driver too, and I still couldn't move-Jace's weight kept me pinned. He was trapped, wedged in by the twisted metal around us.

But I couldn't just sit here. Staying like this would get all of us killed.

"Jace, breathe in, okay? Slow and steady. I need you to help me get out."

I instructed him, forcing calm into my voice.

He did what I asked, but every breath he took looked like it was tearing him apart. Each time I wriggled free a little more, his face went even paler.

I knew getting me out was costing him. Big time.

Frantic, I glanced around, searching for something to wipe the blood from his face. But before I could do anything, he grabbed my hand. "Call for help first." Then, after a beat, "No, call Hayden."

I got it. He wasn't just worried about us-he was scared the cops might be in on this. There was no way it was a coincidence we got hit right after leaving the station. But where the hell was my phone?

It had to have been thrown during the crash. With the car so trashed, even if it was still inside, I had no chance of finding it easily.

"Do you have your phone?" I asked Jace.

He didn't know. He couldn't even move, so I had to dig through his pockets. Jacket? Empty. That left his