Ch. 511..520

Chapter 511

"Keira, can you come to the library? I have something to tell you," Yuna asked over the phone.

Could I really handle more tonight?

"Maybe another day. I'm a bit tired," I replied, hoping she'd let it go.

II

She hesitated, and I felt a flicker of guilt. "Is it important?" I asked, almost against my will.

"Yeah, it is," she said softly, almost unsure. "Keira, I can come to you if that's easier."

Great, now she was determined.

Maybe she'd found out about Hayden and me, and this was her intervention.

"Yuna-".

"Just send me your address, so I can grab a cab," she cut in, and I could hear her gathering her things in the background.

I looked out at the downpour, biting back a sigh. Getting a cab right now was impossible, and the last thing she needed after her transplant was to risk getting sick.

Even though Hayden and I had split, I couldn't just abandon her. Not until she had someone else to lean

1. on.

"Never mind," I said, resigned. "I'll come to you."

"Okay, I'll wait," she replied, sounding way too pleased

After hanging up, I gave the driver the library's address, and we swung around in the pouring rain.

When I got there, the place was practically empty-just a few people scattered around. Yuna was easy to spot, sitting by the window, gazing out like she was in some kind of trance. e over.

She must've heard my footsteps because she turned, eyes lighting up as she waved me

*You didn't get drenched, did you? It's coming down hard," Yuna asked, giving me a once-over with al worried look.

"I'm good," I said, dropping into the seat across from her. I noticed all the books in front of her were closed, untouched.

Remembering how I'd spotted her here with Wade last time-and how I'd low-key wondered if there was something going on-I gave her a grin. "Where's your study buddy today? Going solo?" Yuna pressed her lips together, staying quiet. The look on her face told me this wasn't about me and Hayden-it was her turn to spill.

"Why so serious?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.

"I lied to you last time," she said softly.

I just nodded, not shocked; I'd kinda figured.

A blush crept up her cheeks as she muttered, "I'm sorry."

Chapter 511

 

"It's fine. You called me here to come clean, right?" I leaned in, cutting to the chase.

Yuna nodded. "Actually... I like him, I liked him from the second I saw him."

A weird, heavy feeling settled in my chest. Still, I kept my tone even. "What's his name?"

She glanced at me. "Wade Smith."

The name made me tense up-somehow I wasn't surprised.

So, it really was him.

I knew enough about Wade's love story to know he wasn't exactly the type to fall head-over-heels on a whim. Even if he did, it wouldn't be easy. Seeing the sadness in Yuna's eyes, I could guess what might've happened, but I still asked, "And what about him? Does he like you too?"

Yuna shook her head, then quickly added, "I mean, it's not that he doesn't like me... It's just, I don't know if he does."

I leaned back, giving her a look. "Did you actually tell him how you t

Her cheeks flushed, and the awkwardness was all over her face. In that moment, I got it. "So, you confessed to him, huh?" She nodded.

I studied her for a second. "And he turned you down?"

Chapter 512

 

Yuna's eyes went red, soft and vulnerable-a total contrast to how I'd ever dealt with feelings.

With both Jace and Hayden, I'd always been upfront, no games, no second-guessing.

But Yuna? She was cautious, showing just enough to hint at her feelings, then pulling back, like she was scared to give too much away. Seeing her like this, I softened. "Did he say something that hurt you?"

She shook her head, barely. "He didn't reject me outright, but ever since I told him... he hasn't come back -here once."

Ouch. That was still rejection.

It was obvious Wade's heart was still stuck on Narelle,

"How many days has it been?" I asked, drumming my fingers lightly on the table.

"Three," she said, eyes misting up. "Honestly... I regret it. I regret telling him."

I frowned. "Why? Are you unsure how you feel?"

"No." Her nose turned pink as she held back tears. "I really like him. I just wish I hadn't said it... because now he won't even look at me."

She dropped her gaze, nervously picking at the corner of her book. "If I'd known this would happen, I wouldn't have told him. I'd rather just have him as a friend. Even if he doesn't like me, at least I'd still get to see him." Her words were so honest, it hit me just how deep her feelings really went.

"These past three days... you've been waiting for him? It finally clicked why she'd trekked through the rain just to sit here alone, hoping he'd show up.

"Mm-hmm."

Oh, Yuna.

I sighed internally, "You've been waiting all this time. Why not just call him?"

She bit her lip. "His phone's off."

I frowned. "Okay... what about texting?"

Her face crumpled. "He doesn't reply."

Phone off. No replies. That pretty much said it all.

Thinking about Wade still hung up on Narelle, I tried to ease her down gently. "Yuna, you've read enough romance novels. You know what this means." Her eyes filled with tears. "But he was so kind to me. The way he looked at me... there was love in his eyes. His eyes don't lie."

She was clinging to every little sign he'd given her, even if they were leading her nowhere.

Chapter 512

 

"Maybe that's just the kind of guy he is," I said, trying to keep her grounded.

Yuna shook her head. "You don't get it. You haven't seen how he treats me. I told him about my heart surgery, and he was always so careful. "Every time we'd read together, he'd remind me to drink water, to rest, and when i I was time to eat, he'd take me out.

"He always made sure I got home safe. His care for me felt even more personal than Hayden's."

I frowned. If Wade was doing all that, then yeah, he'd definitely crossed some kind of line.

But I still tried to keep her realistic. "Maybe he was just looking out for you, like a brother would. It doesn't necessarily mean anything more."

"No, it's not like that," Yuna insisted, unwilling to accept it. "There's more... because he...

She trailed off, clearly embarrassed.

I didn't hold back. "More how? Did he do something?"

She pressed her lips together, cheeks flushing,

"Did he... touch you? Kiss you?" I asked straight-up.

 

Chapter 513

Chapter 513

Yuna's eyes filckered with a flash of panic, then she shook her head again. Seemed like that was her go-to

move.

I raised an eyebrow. "If he didn't touch you or kiss you, what makes you think he's in love?"

Her cheeks flushed as she looked down. "He... well, there was one time he almost kissed me."

T

"Almost?" I tried to picture Wade's usual, reserved self. Was he drinking?"

Guys get weird when they're tipsy, sometimes mixing up reality with whoever's on their mind.

Yuna didn't shake her head this time. Instead, she nodded slightly. "Yeah, last week he was kinda down and had a few drinks.

"I asked what was wrong, and he said it'd been a hundred days since his advisor passed.

"He said he missed her... then he looked at me and leaned in like he was going to kiss me."

Right-exactly a hundred days since Narelle had passed.

Hearing all this, I realized Wade must've been seeing Narelle in Yuna's place, which made my heart sink

Hearing this, it hit me: Wade must've been seeing Narelle in Yuna's place. My heart sank. Narelle and I had shared so much in common, but Yuna? She was nothing like her. How could he confuse the two? It had to be the alcohol.

"So why didn't he go through with it?" I asked, watching her face. "Did you pull away, or did he stop

himself?"

Yuna's blush deepened. "He stopped himself. Then he apologized."

"And that's why you think he likes you?" I raised an eyebrow. "All those romance novels, and you still got it this wrong?"

"It's not just that," she shot back, sounding a little defensive. "It's everything else. He's been so sweet to me, and everyone at the library thinks we're dating. Sometimes they even tease us, and he never says they're wrong.

She looked down, hurt flashing across her face. "And sometimes, when he shows up late and sees some other guy talking to me, he gets all annoyed-like, almost jealous."

Listening to her, I could tell she wasn't making it up. With all the signals Wade was throwing out, it was no wonder she'd misread things.

It was clear Wade had his own stuff to work through, and I'd have to talk to him about it. But right now, Yuna needed someone to help her process this mess.

"You mentioned he talked about his advisor, right?" I asked carefully. "Did it ever cross your mind to wonder why he's still mourning her so much?"

Yuna's brow furrowed, and she hesitated. "Are you saying his advisor was... someone he cared about?"

I was about to nod when she quickly shook her head. No way! How could he be in love with his advisor?

 

Chapter 513

They're usually, you know... older!"

I couldn't help but smile. Classic Yuna, still imagining all academic staff as gray-haired people in tweed jackets.

"KRA has plenty of young, attractive lecturers," I told her, considering if I should tell her the whole story or let her figure it out slowly.

"You mean Wade's advisor was a young, beautiful woman?" she asked, putting the pieces together.

Seeing her starting to understand, I decided it was best to tell her now-better a little hurt now than a lot more later.

"Yuna, I actually know Wade... and I know about his relationship with Narelle," I said, gently explaining everything I knew about their past.

When I finished, Yuna's eyes were glassy. "Their love story was that beautiful?"

"It was," I said softly. "So even though Narelle's gone, Wade's heart... it's not an open door."

She was quiet, and I was about to say more when the loudspeaker suddenly crackled to life.

"Attention, everyone. Due to the heavy rain, we have received notice to close early. Please exit the building promptly."

An employee came by to remind us as well, so Yuna and I quickly gathered our things and headed out Into the storm.

Once we got outside, it was a madhouse trying to get a cab. We huddled under the awning, glancing around and wondering how we'd get home. Suddenly,

V, someone shouted, "The dam broke! Floodwaters are coming!"

Chapter 514

People scattered everywhere, total panic mode.

I grabbed Yuna's hand, and we bolted, trying to keep up with the crowd heading for higher ground.

But the flood was way faster. Before we knew it, the water was right behind us, closing in like some freak tidal wave.

"Keira, Keira..." Yuna's voice wobbled as she clung to my arm, her face white with fear.

I was just as scared, but I knew flipping out wouldn't help. I spotted a flagpole platform a few yards away and yanked her toward it, moving as fast as we could.

I managed to lift her up onto the platform, but before I could pull myself up, the water hit-hard. It swept me right off my feet.

Luckily, I didn't get dragged too far. I fought to stay above water, clawing for anything solid to grab. The current roared around me, icy and fierce, but I held on, just trying to keep my head above the waves.

"Keira! Keira!" Yuna's voice broke through the chaos, shrill and panicked as she clung to the pole, crying and calling for me.

Debris and trash shot past, slamming into me, the freezing water numbing everything except the raw fear thrumming through me. People say life's full of surprises, but this? Fighting to survive a flood? Not the plot twist I'd expected. "Keira! Keira!" Yuna kept screaming my name.

I couldn't look up to calm her down. As long as she held on tight, she'd be okay until help showed up.

Right now, I had to keep my head above water and figure out how to survive.

But there was nothing-just endless water stretching across the flooded street, murky and wild.

I

"Hayden, please... save Keira... she got swept away!" I barely heard Yuna's shaky voice.

It sounded like Hayden had called her. Perfect timing-if he knew where we were, he'd come find me.

In that moment, I didn't care that we'd broken up. All I wanted was for him to show up. Fast.

But before he even could, a rescue team arrived. They pulled me out of the water and got Yuna down from the flagpole

"Keira, are you okay?"

"I'm so sorry, this is all my fault..." Yuna's eyes were glassy, guilt written all over her face.

But I was too drained to reassure her. My whole body was soaked, freezing, and aching like I'd been slammed by bricks, not just battered by water. "Yuna." That voice-Hayden's. I looked up, and there he was, in full work gear, standing steady like he could hold back the storm if he wanted. "Hayden!" Yuna grabbed his arm, clinging. "Keira almost got swept away trying to save me...

 

Chapter 514

Hayden's gaze shifted to me, his eyes flickering with something I couldn't read. But he didn't move he just looked at me, his face unreadable.

All I wanted was for him to come over, wrap me in his arms, and chase away the bone-deep chill that. wouldn't go away.

But after a second, he turned back to Yuna and asked, "Are you alright?"

A new kind of cold washed over me, sharper than the floodwaters, and it cut deeper than any of my bruises.

Yuna shook her head, her tears falling fast. "I'm fine. Keira helped me up onto that platform; I didn't get hurt at all. Please, go check on her!"

She gave him a little push, practically begging him to come over. Finally, Hayden took a step in my direction-but by then, I was over it. If he'd just asked if I was okay, just once, I wouldn't have felt so... crushed. Instead, I turned to one of the rescue workers and grabbed his arm. "I'm freezing. Could you help me get to the ambulance?"

The rescue worker nodded and lifted me up, carrying me right past Hayden and gently setting me down. inside the ambulance.

Just as the doors were about to close, I heard Yuna's voice urging, "Go with her, Hayden! Go with Keira!" But Hayden didn't budge. He just stood there, watching

I knew we'd broken up, but I never thought he'd be this indifferent. Not even when I was hurt, not even after I got in this mess trying to help his sister.

Chapter 515

 

Well, if his goal was to make my heart shatter just a little more... mission accomplished.

Two hours later, after all the tests, I spotted Yuna and Hayden in the waiting area.

Yuna rushed over and grabbed my hand. "How are you feeling? Are you hurt anywhere?"

"No," I lied with a smile. "The doctor said I must have, like, superpowers or something-no injuries, not even a scratch."

Truth was, I had scrapes and bruises all over, but I wasn't about to make her feel worse. She already felt guilty enough that I'd almost gotten swept away saving her, and I wasn't going to make it worse by telling her the details. Besides, Hayden had already made it clear he was done with me.

"I don't believe you," Yuna said, reaching to check for herself.

I pressed her hands down gently. "Yuna, I'm exhausted I just want to sleep for a while. Really, I'm fine. Go home and get some rest."

"I'm not leaving," she insisted. "I'll stay here with you. Hayden's here too."

She tugged at his arm, trying to pull him closer, but I looked away as he stepped over, refusing to meet his

eyes.

"Let's step outside," he murmured to Yuna.

A minute later, I could hear her voice through the door, sharp and accusing. "Hayden, what's going on with you and Keira?

"Did you guys have a fight? Even if you did, she almost died saving me.

"How can you be so cold toward her?"

Her words hit like a punch to the chest, sharp enough to bring tears to my eyes. I turned my head into the pillow, letting them soak into the fabric. "I told

you there was going to be a storm," Hayden's voice came, low and tense. "I specifically asked you not to go to the library. Why didn't you listen?" Yuna went quiet. I knew that guilty silence.

"And why was Keira there? Hmm?" he continued, his tone getting sharper. "If you'd just listened, none of this would've happened."

Each word hit harder, Yuna staying quiet as he finished his lecture.

kup

Then, in a small but steady voice, she asked, "Did you really break up with Keira? Why?"

Silence.

"Did you do something to hurt her?" she pressed, her voice breaking. "Or are you just done with her now that you've got money and status?"

Her words hit me like a punch to the chest, cutting right to the questions I'd been too scared to ask.

1/2

 

Chapter 515

'Don't involve yourself in this, Yuna," Hayden replied, dodging her question.

"Hayden Hart," she shot back, her voice climbing with frustration. "I know you're different now, but I warned you-if you ever changed, I'd stop calling you my brother."

"So, are you done with me, then?" he asked, voice cold,

Yuna didn't miss a beat. "If you make things right with Keira, you'll still be my brother," she said, laying it out as clear as an ultimatum.

Silence. But she didn't let it go, her voice breaking. "You love her, Hayden. I know you do..." "Yuna," he cut in, his tone harsh, "loving someone doesn't mean you're meant to be together." That sentence shattered something in me. Tears slid down my face, unstoppable. So that was it. He'd made up his mind. If he didn't want to be with me, fine. I wasn't so weak that! couldn't live without him. I wasn't about to beg.

Angrily, I yanked the blanket over my head, blocking out their conversation from outside. The air under the covers was stifling, pressing against my chest, but I'd rather suffocate here than keep hearing Hayden's cold, indifferent words.

Just as I started to settle into the quiet, someone tugged on my blanket. I wiped at my tears quickly, thinking it was Yuna.

"What, you survived the flood just to smother yourself now?" came a voice from outside the covers, totally catching me off guard.

It wasn't Yuna. And, of course, it wasn't Hayden.

Honestly, right then, I would've preferred either of them over the one person who'd just shown up.

Chapter 516

Chapter

516

But I couldn't keep hiding forever.

The tougher things got, the less I could afford to run.

I let go of the blanket, and Wayne pulled it back just a little, studying my face. "I heard you got swept into the water. You scared the hell out of me." That was his way of explaining why he was here.

I managed a weak smile. "What, did I make the news?"

I mean, it's the internet age-of course someone filmed the whole thing instead of helping.

"Yeah, looking like a poor little thing." Wayne replied, lifting his hand.

Instinctively, I leaned back, but he just gave me a gentle smile. "Relax, I was just going to fix your hair. Look how jumpy you are."

I stayed quiet as he sat down on the edge of the bed. "How are you feeling?"

"I'm fine. They already checked me over."

"Doesn't look like it went too well. You even cried, huh?" he said, noticing my red, puffy eyes.

easy out.

Wayne probably knew it wasn't fear that had me crying, but he phrased it that way to give me an easy

I forced a smile. "Look at you, Mr. Emotional Intelligence, even lying to make me feel better."

He nodded. "Yep. Otherwise, you'd keep drifting further away."

I didn't know what to say to that. Wayne just chuckled softly. "Rea, I know you've been avoiding me lately It's because I confessed my feelings, isn't it?"

Since he'd brought it up directly, I didn't bother pretending. "Yeah... I just feel kinda uneasy around you.

now."

"To be honest, I regret it too," he said quietly. "I regret messing up the simple, sibling-like bond we had. But I couldn't keep it in anymore. I really had feelings for you. I thought maybe, just maybe, if I told you, I'd have a chance."

He was being so open, so honest, that I couldn't bring myself to shut him down harshly. "Since the day! met you, I've only ever seen you as an older brother-just like family. You know, when we were kids, if Jace upset me, you were always the one I'd run to."

So...

He nodded, eyes a little distant. "Yeah. Lately, I've been wondering how I ended up losing that little girl who used to depend on me. After thinking about it, I realized... it's my own fault-I pushed you away. can we just pretend I never said anything? Go back to how things were?"

His request genuinely threw me.

Once words are out, there's no stuffing them back in, there's no way to just rewind.

"Rea, I know you don't see me that way, so I've made myself move on," Wayne said, lifting his hand in a mock pledge. "From now on, I'm just your brother-nothing more, nothing less. I swear,

His sincerity made me feel that if I kept holding onto the awkwardness, I'd be the one being petty

 

Chapter 516

I nodded, holding out my fist, a gesture we used to do as kids. Anytime Jace, Wayne, and I got into trouble and had to keep it quiet, we'd bump fists before facing the adults.

Wayne grinned, bumping his fist gently against mine.

"What mischief are you two plotting now?" Jace's voice came from the doorway, his gaze fixed on our joined fists.

Wayne pulled his hand back smoothly. "If it's mischief, of course we're not letting you in on it."

Jace walked over, his gaze landing on my face. He immediately spotted the scrape on my forehead-the one Hayden hadn't even noticed earlier,

Back when he actually cared, Hayden would worry if I so much as sneezed. Now I was bruised and battered, and he couldn't even look at me. People say guys can be heartless; guess they're right. *Did they check your head?" Jace asked.

"They did. I'm fine," I replied, pulling the blanket up a little as a chill set in.

"Are you cold? Running a fever?" He reached out, touching my forehead.

T

This time, it wasn't that I didn't pull away-I just... forgot to. Or maybe it was years of being so used to his touch that it still felt natural.

 

Chapter 517

 

Wayne's eyes darkened slightly. Just a minute ago, I'd leaned away when he'd tried to fix my hair, but with Jace, I hadn't even flinched. The difference in how I reacted to each of them was probably hard to miss.

But since we'd just cleared the air, Wayne kept his cool, When he noticed me looking, he even gave me a calm smile and teased, "Guess you're still more comfortable with Jace's touch." to that:

I had no idea how to respond to

Jace smirked, chiming in, "Well, she almost became my wife."

I couldn't respond to that either.

Wayne's smile didn't waver. "Yeah... almost."

Jace shot him a look, eyebrow raised, as if to say, 'Did I say anything untrue?"

"You feel a little warm," Jace said, pulling his hand back before calling over a passing nurse. "Could we get a thermometer?"

"I'm fine, it's probably just-"I started, but Jace cut me off.

"Whether you're fine or not isn't up to you," he said firmly. The nurse returned with a thermometer and pressed it to my forehead.

"99.9 degrees," she announced.

Jace spoke to her authoritatively, "Please let the doctor know, and see if the blood test results are ready. We need to check for infection or if it's just from the cold."

He sounded like a total pro, you'd almost think he was a doctor himself.

The nurse nodded and left, and Wayne handed me a cup of warm water. "Here, drink this. It's probably just from being chilled," he said gently.

The way they were tag-teaming, both fussing over me, was honestly a little much.

I was about to tell them both to take a break when Jace turned to Wayne first. "You should head home. Aren't Mom and Dad setting you up with someone tomorrow? Better not stay up too late; you don't want to look tired." I looked at Wayne, surprised. "You're going on a date? Why didn't you mention it?

Wayne smiled lightly. "Didn't get a chance to mention it Jace showed up before I could say anything."

The implication was clear-Jace had interrupted his moment with me. Jace's expression darkened slightly.

Though they put on a front of brotherly harmony, there was always this undercurrent of rivalry between them.

I wasn't about to be dragged into whatever silent power struggle was going on, nor would I let myself be a pawn in it.

"Congratulations," I said to Wayne with a smile. "If your parents picked her, she must be amazing.

Chapter 517

 

"Yeah, my parents have always had good taste," he replied, giving me a look full of meaning that was impossible to miss. He was reminding me that I'd once been one of their "good" choices too.

Too bad that fate never aligned for me and the Johnston family.

"Wayne, Rea needs to rest now," Jace said bluntly, making it clear he was asking him to leave.

Wayne reached out and patted my head gently, and this time, I let him. "Rest up. I'll come see you! tomorrow."

"No need. I'll be discharged soon," I replied, politely brushing off the offer.

Wayne just smiled and glanced at Jace. "Take good care of her, or I might just have to report you to Mom and Dad."

Jace answered smoothly, "You won't get the chance." He gave Wayne's shoes a pointed look. "Oh, by the way, I just ordered a few new pairs. I'll have Gavin bring you one later-wearing my shoes might give you some extra luck on that date." Wayne chuckled, waving it off. "Nah, keep 'em. Besides, Mom and Dad are busy finding you a match too." He gave me a playful wink before heading out.

These two were clearly trading subtle barbs, teasing but still competing. I kept my smile polite, pretending, not to notice the tension.

After Wayne left, Jace handed me the cup of water he'd been holding. "So, what do you think? Is he trying to mess with me, or... does he still have feelings for you?"

 

Chapter 518

Finally, Jace had picked up on something off about Wayne.

I took a sip, buying time. "Why don't you ask him yourself? I don't have the energy to think about anyone right now."

His face went flat. "Yeah, you don't have to keep reminding me."

"Just being honest," I shrugged, then coughed, and Jace reached over, patting my back.

"Does Hayden even know you got hurt?" His question hit right where it hurt.

I held the cup in my hands, the warmth chasing away the chill in my body but doing nothing for the cold ache in my chest. "He came... then he left."

Jace didn't say anything, so I handed the cup back. "I'm exhausted. I need to sleep."

I lay down, and he stayed right there, just sitting by my side. My fever made my eyelids feel heavy, and as

I drifted off, I thought I heard him murmur, "You didn't seem this broken when we broke up."

Seriously? He was still hung up on that?

But he wasn't wrong. Breaking up with him hadn't hurt the way this did.

"Maybe it's because you hurt me slowly, over and over, til I just got numb to it," I mumbled, half-asleep, and rolled over, finally slipping under.

I woke up to the smell of food, and my stomach growled. Opening my eyes, I saw Jace scrolling through his phone, completely absorbed. He hadn't even noticed I was awake. Seeing the food on the table, I tried to sit up, but the pain made me gasp.

Jace's head snapped up, and he tossed his phone aside, rushing over. "You're awake! Why didn't you call

me?"

"I'm starving." I muttered, not wasting words.

He chuckled. "Figured you would be. Some things never change. Every time you had a cold or a fever, the first thing you'd want when you woke up was food."

He wasn't wrong. Most people lose their appetite when they're sick; I just got hungrier.

Back then, Lindey used to tease me, laughing, "A fever isn't a real illness for you; it's just an excuse to eat."

As he talked, Jace reached over to feel my forehead. "Fever's gone."

He handed me a wet wipe to clean my hands and started opening up the food containers he'd brought.

I didn't even have to ask-everything inside was something I loved.

Even though Jace hadn't loved me deeply in those ten years together, he'd always remembered my favorite foods.

On the tray sat a caramelized mushroom and kale salad, celeriac, pear, and butter bean soup, and gnocchi -dishes I hadn't had in forever but had been craving.

 

Chapter 518

Since Hayden and I broke up, nothing had tasted this comforting. Sure, I could order anything I wanted from a restaurant, but nothing quite tasted like home. Or, really, like Hayden's cooking. He'd spoiled me, and now I was left to fend for myself

The thought made my chest ache, a weird mix of bitterness, anger, and longing.

"This wasn't from a restaurant. My mom made it," Jace sald, pulling me from my thoughts. I looked up, surprised.

He smirked. "Relax. I didn't tell her about you almost getting swept away. She just knew you missed her gnocchi earlier, so I asked her to make something special and said I'd bring it to you myself."

I let out a quiet breath, feeling relieved but guilty. Lindey's kindness had always been such a steady warmth, and I hated the thought of worrying her, even indirectly.

Of course, Jace noticed. "Alright, stop looking so emotional. Put that energy into eating and getting better.

He handed me a fork, and I took it, but instead of digging in, I set it aside. "Water first, please."

Maybe it was from swallowing all that dirty water earlier, but my throat felt raw, like something sharp was stuck there, making it hard to swallow.

Chapter 519

 

"Wait here," Jace said briskly, getting up.

Right now, he was acting like he'd do anything I asked, even anticipating what I needed before I said a word. If he'd been like this before, maybe things wouldn't have ended the way they did. But there's no use wondering about what-ifs. I'd closed that chapter for a reason.

As I looked away, my gaze happened to fall on his phone. The screen was paused on a video of me from a few years ago. I had no idea what I'd been doing in it or even why it had been recorded.

For a split second, I felt tempted to pick it up and see, but before I could decide, Jace returned with the

water.

He caught me looking at his phone but didn't seem fazed. Instead, he gave me a casual-smile. "While you were sleeping, I went through some old photos and videos. Turns out you're even prettier now than you were back then."

I took a sip of water, playing along. "Oh, so I wasn't cute enough before? Guess that explains a lot..."

"Stop right there," he cut in, blocking my jab with a smirk. "Let's not dig that up again."

I took a few more sips, feeling my throat start to relax.

"Are you really done with Tanya?" I asked, popping a bite of salad. The tangy crunch hit just right.

Jace picked up his phone again, scrolling like he hadn't heard me. I didn't push, just kept eating, letting the quiet settle.

"When I'd nearly finished, he finally spoke. "It's over. Completely, in every way."

Remembering Tanya's parting words, I doubted things had ended as cleanly as Jace was making it sound. But since he was so insistent, I just murmured, "Oh," and kept eating.

"Hold still," he said, reaching over to wipe the corner of my mouth with his thumb. "Little bit of oil there."

I pressed my lips together, feeling awkward. "Next time, just tell me."

He hesitated. "Sure. But, you know, some things are just... habit. I only realize it after I've already done it."

He had a point. After ten years, some habits stuck, like the way he'd checked my forehead earlier-I hadn't even thought to pull away.

I kept my head down, trying to focus on my food, but then the woman from the bed across the room came in, talking to her relative. "There was a guy hanging around outside earlier, carrying a food container. Not sure what he was doing." My hand froze mid-bite, and I glanced instinctively at the door, but no one was there.

The woman continued, "I thought he might be trouble, so I followed him quietly. And you won't believe this -he just tossed the container straight into the trash."

My appetite vanished. "Which trash can did he throw it in?" I asked.

The woman looked a bit surprised, then offered me an awkward smile and held up a food container.

1/2

 

Chapter 519

I walked over, took it, and opened the lid. Inside were three layers of my favorite dishes: caramelized mushroom and kale salad, red cabbage risotto, and parmesan-crusted potatoes.

But one thing stood out immediately-the salad had chili flakes sprinkled on top. That tiny detail was enough to make my heart twist. The Johnstons never used chili; it was a habit I'd picked up with Hayden, who loved a bit of spice. Seeing these dishes stirred something in me, a mix of longing and frustration.

He'd broken up with me, hadn't he? He hadn't even come to check on me after I'd nearly been swept away. So why was he here now, bringing me food I loved, then leaving without saying a word?

The questions bubbled up, each one sharper than the last. I turned to the woman. "Where did he go?"

"He... he left... she murmured.

Jace stepped closer, watching me. "Do you want to go after him?"

Chapter 520

Chapter 520

Should I?

Part of me wanted to-wanted answers, But knowing that food container tossed in the trash... it felt like he hadn't just thrown away the food; he'd tossed aside his feelings too. Chasing after him would only make me look pathetic.

I set down the container that had been pulled from the trash and walked back to my bed. But now, I couldn't even bring myself to pick up my fork.

The woman who'd picked up the food container seemed to catch on and carefully brought it back over, setting it down in front of me.

"Take it with you," I said quietly.

"No... it's fine..." she replied, hesitating

"You picked it up, so it's yours now. Really, go ahead," I said, then turned back to my own meal, forcing myself to take big bites, hoping the food would help bury my frustration.

Jace gave her a nod to take the container, then reached out and stopped my hand just as I went for another spoon of gnocchi. "Hey," he said softly, "don't take it out on my food." Jace paused, then added, "Maybe Hayden left because he saw I was here."

I froze, suddenly remembering how Jace had wiped the corner of my mouth earlier. A sour feeling twisted in my stomach.

"Great. This was turning into one big misunderstanding

While I was lost in thought, Jace quietly gathered up the food in front of me. Without a word, he picked it all up and walked out of the room.

He didn't say where he was going, and I didn't ask. But a little while later, Lindey called. "Rea, did anything happen when Jace brought you food?"

I blinked. "Why?"

"He's got a bruise on the corner of his mouth," she replied, sounding concerned. "Looks like he got in a fight, so I wanted to check in."

My heart skipped. Did Jace actually go find Hayden to settle things?

I kept that thought to myself, and Lindey just chatted a bit more, asking how I liked the gnocchi, before we hung up.

After that, I decided to leave the hospital.

The next day, I was back at work. Almost as if he'd been waiting, Ron greeted me the second I stepped into the office with his usual cheerful grin. "Ms. Kay! Haven't seen you in a few days, and you're looking even more... slim and delicate." Translation: "You've lost weight."

Chapter 520

 

How could I not?

How could I not? After everything with Hayden, I'd barely eaten. Then there was the flood incident-I'd probably lost at least three pounds.

"Yeah, dieting. Guess it's working if even you noticed," replied, keeping any hint of vulnerability off my face, even though my heart still ached.

"You and Hayden must've planned this whole weight-loss thing together, huh? He's down at least five pounds, too," Ron said, holding up five fingers. I hadn't noticed if Hayden was thinner. Whenever I saw him, I only cared about one thing: the way he looked at me.

I didn't respond, and Ron leaned in a little. "So... you two haven't made up yet?"

"Nope," I said, thinking of Hayden's distant attitude. Then, maybe a little too stubbornly, badded, "We broke up. Why would we make up?" "That's not how it works," Ron chuckled, "Couples fight all the time. My fiancée and I throw around "break up' more often than 'I love you." cavs 'break up'?"

I gave him a skeptical look. 'Let me guess, she's the one who says

Ron looked surprised, then laughed. "How'd you know?"

"It's written all over your face," I said just as the elevator doors opened. I stepped inside

Ron followed, glancing at his reflection in the mirror. "Where does it say that? Are you saying I look like a guy who's always getting dumped?"

Honestly, he could've been a comedian. Being around him was actually helping me keep my mind off things.

But before I could toss back a joke of my own, someone else stepped into the elevator.

It was Hayden.