Ch. 521..530
Chapter 521
I held my breath, meeting his gaze. Hayden was looking right at me, steady and unhesitating.
He was always so direct, so open. Meanwhile, I was the one who felt unsettled, like the breakup had somehow been my fault.
"Well, speak of the devil. Hayden, we were just talking about you," Ron said, ever the troublemaker.
Hayden nodded, standing there with that perfect posture of his, not saying a word.
"Aren't you curious what we were saying?" Ron pressed, clearly trying to stir the pot.
Ron couldn't resist pushing boundaries; it was practically his hobby.
Hayden stayed silent, so Ron scratched his nose. "We were saying you've lost weight, and that you..."
He trailed off, then winked at me. "Ms. Kay, let's keep the rest a secret from him."
I almost laughed, a small smile sneaking its way to my lips.
Hayden happened to glance over just then, but I quickly looked away.
He might not want me anymore, but that didn't mean I'd let him think I couldn't live without him.
At lunch, I finally got a call from Sasha. I'd been meaning to check in, but I didn't want to interrupt her if she was with Thorsten.
"How're you holding up?" I asked the moment I picked up.
"Got through today without a hitch," Sasha replied, sounding relaxed.
I didn't ask for details. She'd spent years by Thorsten's side, hiding her resentment, even bearing him a daughter. She could handle anything.
Thinking back to when we'd first met, I'd written her off as just another pretty face. That assumption felt pretty ridiculous now.
"So," I said, sensing there was more, "was there another reason you're calling?"
"I found the person you were looking for," Sasha said, catching me off guard. "Just wanted to know if you want to meet them in person."
I'd expected this to take weeks. The speed was unexpected-and thrilling.
"If it's possible, I'd love to meet them myself," I replied, excitement bubbling up.
"I'll send you the address. Just come by," Sasha said, then hung up and texted me the location.
Only problem? The place was pretty far, and my car was still in the shop from a fender bender.
Taking a cab felt impractical, so I went to find Ron. "Mr. Shane, my car's out for repairs. I need to head out. for some personal business-think I could borrow a company car?" 'Don't ask. Just take one," Ron said, as generous as ever.
"Thank you!" I turned to leave, but he stopped me.
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"You mentioned an accident-are you alright?" he asked, sounding concerned.
"Yeah, I just got distracted and bumped into someone, Insurance has it handled."
"As long as you're okay. Go on, take the car." He opened a drawer and pulled out an invitation, handing it
to me.
I skimmed it and got his drift right away. "You want me to attend this reception on Friday?"
"Yeah. Are you free?" he asked, eyeing me closely.
"I mean, technically, yes, but I don't really see the point, I said, setting the invitation back on his desk.
Ron raised an eyebrow. "Oh?"
I gave him a polite smile. "The partnership between the Hart family and the Johnstons doesn't have anything to do with me."
"Of course it does. This collaboration is based on Hayden's new project-a huge accomplishment for our company. As part of management, you should be there, Ron pressed, never one to back down easily. But I shook my head. "Should doesn't mean must. Let's just say I'm busy that night."
I turned and headed for the door. Ron called after me, but I kept moving. Just as I was opening the door, he asked, "So, where are you going with the car?"
I couldn't help myself. "I have a date."
With that, I smiled, shut the door, and turned around-only to find Hayden standing just a step away, his eyes fixed on me, intense as ever.
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"Hey there, Mr. Hart!"
I threw on a polite smile, like he was any other coworker.
Hayden didn't say a word. We brushed shoulders as I walked past, and as soon as I was out of sight, my smile faded, leaving this tiny spark of bitterness. I hopped into the company car and headed to the address Sasha gave me. When I got there, she hadn't shown up yet. I shot her a message, and she told me to grab a seat and wait.
While I waited, I checked my phone. There was a new text from Yuna. Scrolling up, I saw a string of messages from her-most of them apologies and her defending Hayden. I'd only replied once and hadn't answered since. Yuna: [Keira, please answer me? Hayden's practically put me on house arrest; I can't leave the house.]
I stared at her text for a second, then replied: [I'm fine and back at work. As for Hayden and me, you don't need to worry about it.]
She replied instantly: [He loves you, I swear it.]
I didn't respond, but she kept going: [He tried cooking for you, got distracted, and burned his arm.]
I thought about the food he'd brought over and thrown away. I still didn't reply.
Yuna: [He stayed outside your door all night. Didn't even sleep, just smoked by the window]
Yuna: [I don't know what happened between you guys, but please, give him another chance? It's painful 'seeing you
both like this. I'd trade a lifetime of loneliness if it meant you two could be happy together.]
Her last message made me laugh, albeit a little sadly, as it reminded me of her unrequited crush on Wade!
I typed back: [Has Wade reached out to you?]
Yuna: [No!]
I hesitated before replying: [I've told you everything I know about him. Maybe it's time to let go.]
Yuna: [111 try.]
Which was her way of saying she got it, but I knew she wasn't quite ready to move on. There wasn't much else I could say, and I saw the "typing..." bubble pop up on her end.
Before her next message came through, Sasha arrived. She glanced at the empty table. "Why didn't you order anything?"
Without waiting for my answer, she flagged down a server and ordered two glasses of juice.
"When's he supposed to get here?" I asked, skipping the chit-chat and going right to what I needed.
She checked the time. "Any minute now.
Then, lifting her glass, she tapped it against mine with a small smile. "Don't worry. He'll definitely show."
I took a sip, smirking. "You're fast-I thought this would take a couple weeks at least."
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Sasha looked away for a second, her smile a little forced. "When you ask for my help, I take it seriously. That makes things move faster."
Her words hit me, and I felt a little guilty about the way I'd judged her at first.
"Thank you." I raised my glass to hers again.
She laughed. "A toast with juice? Guess that means we're supposed to drink the whole glass!"
But we just took another sip. "Has Thorsten eased up about your pregnancy?" I asked.
She nodded, avoiding my eyes. "He has."
Remembering her story about why her daughter was even allowed to be born, I teased, "What, did his wife have another dream?"
But Sasha didn't laugh. She looked up, her expression
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I kept my eyes on her, but suddenly, Sasha's face started to blur. I shook my head, about to say something, when she spoke first.
"It wasn't his wife's dream this time. He said he wanted to meet you."
"What?" The word barely left my lips before everything went completely fuzzy.
Next thing I knew, I felt Sasha's arm around me, her voice soft. "Just rest for a bit."
Rest?
A little voice inside me questioned, but I couldn't even open my mouth to respond. My eyelids felt heavy as lead, and I couldn't speak. I felt myself being lifted, then placed in a car, though where they were taking me, I had no idea.
At some point, someone held a cup of water to my lips. I drank, blinking my eyes open to see a tall, unfamiliar man. But I knew him-one of Thorsten's bodyguards.
Remembering Sasha's last words before I blacked out, everything started to click
1 shifted groggily and asked the man, "Where's Thorsten?"
He ignored me, turning to leave.
That's when I realized my hands and feet were bound, leaving me pretty much stuck. I glanced around, trying to get my bearings. The place looked like an old, abandoned repair shop, with stacks of worn-out tires piled nearby. It wasn't hard to piece together why Thorsten had me here. He didn't want me digging around in his past.
Whatever he had planned, it wasn't good.
Panic washed over me. I wasn't some fearless hero; the thought of death scared me, and my heart hammered with dread.
But I forced myself to breathe. There was a reason they'd just tied me up instead of going further. The bodyguard had even given me water, which meant Thorsten likely wanted to talk first,
Sure enough, a few minutes later, I heard a car engine outside, followed by the bodyguard's respectful greeting: "Boss."
The door creaked open, and Thorsten stepped in, dressed head to toe in white.
"Keira, we meet again," he said with a smile.
I didn't flinch. "This isn't exactly my idea of a pleasant reunion."
He chuckled, stepping closer. "Then why'd you insist on provoking me, hmm?" He settled into a chair his bodyguard brought over, his eyes locked on mine.
"If you hadn't harmed my family first, why would I ever need to provoke you?" I shot back, Sasha's warnings echoing in my mind.
Thorsten just smiled, calm as ever. "So, you finally figured it out. Doesn't matter now, though."
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He looked totally unfazed, like this whole situation was just a small inconvenience.
"What do you mean, it doesn't matter?" My voice shook. "Are you admitting you paid someone to commit
murder?"
"Of course," he said casually, like he was talking about the weather. "I paid off your parents' driver. He tampered with the brakes."
A chill shot through me. The way he spoke, so cold and detached-like those three lives meant absolutely nothing to him. "Why?" I whispered. "Why would you do that?"
He shrugged, smirking. "No real reason. Maybe I was in a certain mood that day. You know how I am-my emotions can be... unpredictable."
He couldn't expect me to believe that. No matter how twisted he was, there had to be something deeper, something he wasn't saying.
While I struggled to piece it together, he shook his head at me. "I warned you, didn't I? Told you to let your parents' death rest, to focus on your own life. But you just couldn't, could you?"
I met his gaze, a defiant smile tugging at my lips. "I'm a human being. I have blood, flesh, feelings. I can't just turn off my grief for my parents."
He sneered. "All that grief has done is lead you straight to your
own grave
His words were ice-cold, but I refused to let him shake me. "You're making it sound like I'm not getting out of here alive. If that's the case, then at least let me die with some answers. Why did you kill my parents? What threat could they have possibly posed to you?"
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Thorsten leaned in, his gaze fixed on my face as he chuckled softly.
I had no idea what he found so amusing, but I held his stare, demanding an answer. I wasn't about to
back down now.
Finally, after his laughter faded, he said, "Alright, I'll let you die with the truth. Your father got in the way of someone else's money.
My mind flashed to the contract my father had been negotiating.
"He blocked someone else's profit-not yours. So why did you go after my parents?" I pressed, still not understanding.
Thorsten smirked. "Have you forgotten what I do? How I made my fortune?"
The answer hit me. He'd done it for money-someone had hired him.
"Who was it?" I demanded, my voice tight with desperation.
Thorsten didn't answer directly. Instead, he leaned back, watching me. "Who do you think it was?"
The pieces fell into place, each one hitting like a blow. My parents' death was tied to that contract, which eventually landed in Matthew's hands. So... it was him
a
I'd suspected it before, but Thorsten had brushed off my suspicions, even saying Matthew had set up a special account with the contract's profits just for me.
Now, with Thorsten's words, doubt crashed over me.
"Are you losing your memory?" I managed, my voice shaky. "You were the one who told me-
But I trailed off as he just kept smirking, that familiar, twisted smile reminding me of one thing: he was a hired gun, a professional liar paid to make problems disappear. Who knew how many stories he'd over the years? I didn't want to believe it, but his words planted seeds of doubt everywhere.
spun
"So... am I here now because someone paid you, too? asked, searching his face for any hint of truth.
Thorsten chuckled, "See? You're smarter than most..."
His twisted praise struck like a bolt of ice. I shook my head. "No, I don't believe you. You're lying."
He shrugged, unbothered. "I'm about to send you to meet your parents. What would be the point in lying now?" He extended his hand, and a bodyguard stepped forward, slipping a cigar into his grip.
Thorsten took a slow drag, blowing a ring of smoke into the stale air. "Since you're someone I don't particularly dislike, I'll let you go with the truth."
He paused, watching me, then continued. "When your parents first came to Seavora, they were struggling. They worked so hard to make ends meet, they barely had time for you, which is why you got sick so often. "By chance, the Johnston family's younger son-the one who almost became your husband-was in the hospital for an injury and ended up sharing a room with you.
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"Jace, being your age and a little chatterbox, kept you company, and through that, your parents met his."
His smile was chilling. "Once Matthew found out you shared Jace's blood type, he had an idea-to have you and Jace engaged, so you'd always be nearby in case he ever needed blood."
I felt the blood drain from my face. So it all came down to my blood.
"After that, Matthew saw potential in your dad. He noticed he was sharp, able to seal deals Matthew couldn't. Your father was talented, and Matthew saw an opportunity. He invited him to go into business together. "But your dad turned him down-he wanted to make it on his own.
"Then one day, your father approached me about securing a contract. We'd just come to an agreement when someone hired me to take out two people.
"I didn't know it was your parents until that contract ended up in Matthew's hands. That's when I realized who I'd killed."
Thorsten took another drag on his cigar, looking almost bored. "Later, Matthew explained the situation- about the poor orphan you'd become.
"I felt a bit of guilt, so I agreed to his partnership, and he even created that special account to save all the profits from that contract for you."
I felt frozen. "So, when did you finally confirm Matthew was the one who hired you?"
He sneered. "You think I'm stupid? Once we started working together, I put the pieces together and looked into it. Found out it was him who hired me. That's when I made my move-I blackmailed him. For the next ten years, he worked with me to clean up my business." I stared at him, struggling to process it all. "He must have some leverage over you, too, doesn't he? Otherwise, why go after me now?"
Thorsten's smile faded, his eyes narrowing. I'd struck a nerve.
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#25 BONUS
Thorsten laughed. "You're clever. Maybe you'll be born Into a good family in your next life."
With that, he stood, and I instinctively leaned forward, almost collapsing at his feet. One of his bodyguards moved to grab me, but Thorsten held him back, giving me a cold, disdainful look. "Now that you know everything, what do you want? Beg me to let you go?" Yes, I wanted him to let me go.
I couldn't die here-not like this. That would be too much of a loss.
"I don't believe you. Not unless you let me confront Matthew myself. Or at least call him-I want to hear
what he has to say." My words were both genuine and a desperate attempt to buy time.
If I could just hold him off a little longer, maybe someone would come looking for me.
But who would?
I didn't have time to figure that out. I held Thorsten's gaze, praying he'd give in.
But he just signaled to his bodyguard, and the next thing I knew, I was being dragged away.
Thorsten left, and I was shoved back into my chair, his words echoing in my mind. The more I replayed them, the colder I felt.
Had Matthew and Lindey taken me in out of guilt? Had I really been nothing more than a walking blood supply for Jace all this time?
I couldn't believe it. They'd shown me real care, every single day, for years. It had never felt like an act.
Maybe Thorsten was lying, trying to manipulate me. But why? Why go through all this just to make me hate the Johnstons?
But then again, he'd already decided to kill me. So why would he care if I hated them or not?
None of it made sense. Hours dragged on, daylight fading into dusk. Even the guards who'd been watching me seemed to have vanished. Was Thorsten Just planning to let me starve here?
Just as that thought crossed my mind, I heard a sound at the door. It creaked open, and a slender figure slipped in.
"Keira, I'm here to get you out."
The same person who'd drugged my drink was now offering to set me free. I couldn't figure out what game Sasha was playing.
"I'm sorry," she whispered, looking genuinely remorseful Thorsten forced me. He promised if I brought you here, he'd let me keep my baby. So..."
I stared at her, uncertain, trying to read if I could trust her.
"Keira, you've now heard from Thorsten himself who was behind your parents' death. Isn't it better to know the truth straight from him instead of hearing whispers from someone else?" she murmured,
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untying the ropes binding my wrists.
I flexed my hands, wincing at the stiffness where the ropes had bitten into my skin. "Where's my phone?
Give it back."
Sasha reached into her pocket, but before she could hand it over, footsteps echoed from outside.
Her face went pale as she grabbed my arm, yanking me urgently. "Hurry, we have to go!"
Whether she was sincere or not, I wasn't sticking around to find out. I sprinted toward the door, but I was seconds too late..
Just as I reached the doorway, I collided head-on with someone.
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A solid chest and a familiar scent made me freeze.
I looked up, and there he was-Hayden.
His face was tense, his eyes locked onto mine, filled with worry. I had no clue how he'd found me, but just seeing him melted the terror inside me. Any thought of our breakup faded as I clung to his shirt like he was my lifeline.
His arm wrapped around my waist, steadying me. "Are you hurt?" he asked.
"No," I managed, just as the sound of angry voices erupted outside, closing in fast.
Before I could process what was happening, Hayden's arm tightened around me, and suddenly, I felt myself lifted off the ground.
Kicks, punches, and grunts filled the air around us.
It was like an action scene straight out of a movie, only this was real-and happening right beside me.
I'd seen Hayden fight before, but not like this. Taking on an entire group and leaving them scattered on the ground? It was another level.
No wonder he's ex-military. He was... Incredible.
I couldn't help but remember something Jace once told me that someone had gone after Quartz Cue's leader. I hadn't thought much of it at the time, but watching Hayden take down these guys without breaking a sweat? It didn't seem so far-fetched now. If it really was him behind all that, I knew this wouldn't end easily for Hayden,
Before I could dwell on it, he took down the last guy and finally stilled, his arms still around me.
He glanced at the bodies scattered on the ground, some groaning in pain, his voice low and deadly. "Tell your boss to keep his hands off my people."
Then he looked over at Sasha, still frozen in the doorway. She flinched, shaking her head wildly. "I didn't mean to hurt Keira! I-I was here to help her leave!"
If it hadn't been for her, I wouldn't have been dragged here in the first place, but I was too exhausted to deal with Sasha right now. I tightened my grip on Hayden's hand. "I just want to get out of here."
Hayden led me to his car, and even as we walked, I couldn't bring myself to let go of his hand.
I knew the danger had passed, but I kept holding on because I knew that once I let go, I might not have a reason to reach for him again.
He looked down at my hand gripping his, then, after a moment, gently pried it away and lifted me into the passenger seat.
His movements were soft, careful-just like the way he used to hold me, with so much affection.
I caught his arm, refusing to let go.
"Didn't you say you wanted to leave?" His voice, cold and distant, snapped me back to reality.
ww
Chapter 520
He got behind the wheel and started driving, not even bothering to ask where I wanted to go. But I found myself asking anyway, "Where are you taking me? And... how did you even know I was here?"
He didn't answer. Just when I thought he'd ignore me, he finally spoke, his tone cutting. "Didn't I tell you to stop digging into this?"
His words made it clear he knew exactly why I'd been taken.
I stared at the back of his head. "If I don't investigate, are you going to? After all this time, what have you. even found? What have you told me? You stopped me from looking into it because you were my boyfriend. Now, you're nothing to me." His grip tightened on the wheel, and his response was immediate, sharp. "And your "investigation' nearly got you killed. Again."
Thorsten's words echoed in my mind.
"I can't just back down because I'm scared. I need to find out who killed my parents."
Hayden's jaw tensed, a reminder that we were wading into painful territory-the person responsible for my parents' deaths was his father. He was the one who messed with the brakes.
It was this giant, unspoken weight between us, and neither of us wanted to touch it. But I couldn't ignore it, any longer.
Taking a shaky breath, I said, "Hayde
Thorsten mentioned your dad was paid off. I need to know-why
did he do it? Was it for money, or... something else?"
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Chapter 527
Hayden didn't answer right away, but I could tell he already knew more than he was letting on,
"Why won't you
Screech-
just tell me? Frustration spilled over, and my hand hit the seat between us.
The car lurched to a stop, his grip white-knuckling the steering wheel, veins popping. I couldn't stop
staring.
"For the money," he finally said.
I turned, searching his face, but he kept it turned away, giving me nothing.
thought of Yuna's illness. "Was it... was it to pay for Yuna's treatment?"
Hayden popped open the glove compartment, pulled out a cigarette, and after a few clicks, he lit up. He took a long drag, his voice low. "My father was responsible for your parents' deaths. That's a debt-a sin he left behind. So, now, I owe you a life." He wasn't answering my question directly, but he'd given me a truth that stung more.
I watched him, distant as he smoked. "And how do you plan to repay that... life debt?"
The cigarette trembled just a bit in his hand, but he didn't answer. Instead, he asked, "What exactly did Thorsten say?" Avoiding any talk of us wasn't an option, but I wasn't ready to press him. So, I repeated what Thorsten had told me.
When I finished, Hayden just asked, "And what do you think?"
I stared out the window at the empty factory I'd been held in for hours. "I think Thorsten's trying to kill two birds with one stone."
"Oh?" His gaze met mine in the rearview mirror.
"He had Sasha bring me here, got in my head with all this... Sure, on the surface, it looked like he wanted me dead. But Sasha turned around and helped me escape. Thorsten wanted me to know the truth-he wants me to hate the Johnstons." Hayden's eyes stayed on me, but I didn't look back. "Thorsten's making sure I know that, even if he bribed your dad to go after mine, the real mastermind was still the Johnstons,
"And hating the Johnstons does... what?" Hayden's tone was ice. "What could you even do to them?"
I faced him. "Are you trying to push my buttons or just don't think I have it in me?"
His gaze stayed locked on mine. "If it really was the Johnstons... what would you do?"
The question tightened something in my chest. I'd suspected Matthew's involvement, bot facing what I'd do if it was true? I didn't know.
Go to the police, make him pay, or just confront him, get the answers I deserved, and walk away?
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Right now, all I knew was that I needed the truth straight from them.
"Hayden, take me to the Johnston residence."
He didn't say a word, just stubbed out his cigarette and started the engine.
When we pulled up to the gates, I stepped out, feeling that sense of finality settle in. To my surprise, Hayden got out too.
"You're coming in?"
He nodded. "This isn't just your grudge to settle-it's my father's mess, too," he said, leaving no room to argue.
Together, we walked into the Johnston residence. Isabel's eyes lit up as she saw me. "Rea, Mr. and Mrs. Johnston are waiting for you."
My stomach dropped. They already knew I was coming, which meant Thorsten had tipped them off-and if that was true, then everything he'd told me probably was, too.
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The lights in the Johnston main hall were blinding, making everything feel sharper, more intense.
Lindey didn't give me her usual warm welcome. Instead, her expression was all nerves.
Matthew just sat there, still as a statue.
I couldn't ignore how frail he looked now-thinner, with hair that had gone almost completely white. But as Hayden and I stepped in, he barely reacted, his face a blank slate Lindey got up, awkwardly. "Rea, Hayden... you're here."
"Lindey. Matthew," I greeted, same as always.
Matthew gestured for us to sit, and Isabel brought over tea.
"Are you hurt?" Matthew asked, breaking the silence.
I wanted to shrug it off, but my wrist burned-a painful reminder of hours spent tied up, bruises still fresh and sore.
Lindey noticed. Her hand twitched like she wanted to reach out, but she held back. It was like she wasn't sure if she could still show that kind of care.
"Let Lindey put some ointment on that later," Matthew said, his voice calm.
A bitter taste filled my mouth. "That won't be necessary."
"Rea... Lindey's voice was barely a whisper.
But Matthew raised his hand, stopping her. He looked at me directly. "Rea, ask what you came to ask,"
I swallowed, my throat tight. "Is what Thorsten told me true?"
I looked at him-the man who'd been like a father for so long. And suddenly, I was terrified.
Terrified his answer would wreck everything I thought I knew.
But the words I dreaded still came from his lips.
"Yes." That single word hit like a punch to the gut.
My breath caught, and I stared at him, my gaze shaky. Matthew held my eyes, steady. "Your parents' deaths... I arranged it." Boom.
My world collapsed right there.
Even though Thorsten had laid it all out, I'd clung to the hope that without Matthew's confession, it couldn't be real.
But now he'd confessed.
But he'd said it. He was the one who'd taken my parents' lives. And all this time, I had treated my parents' killer as my own father.
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"It was selfish of me. I was too desperate for success back then," he said, disturbingly calm.
Ten years had passed. My parents were long gone, nothing but memories and ashes, while he'd built his empire.
He might be calm, but I felt like I was drowning in anger. "Just because my father wouldn't work with you... you thought that was reason enough to take his life?"
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"Rea, calm down. Let Matthew finish," Lindey tried, her voice soft but strained.
Matthew adjusted his glasses, looking almost... regretful. "Rea, if I told you I never intended for your father to die... would you believe me?"
Thorsten had already told me everything. And now Matthew wanted to rewrite the story?
Fine. I'd hear him out.
"Your father had a gift for distribution, something I couldn't match. But he didn't want to partner with me; he wanted to go solo. If he did, Seavora would've been his for the taking," Matthew paused, gathering himself. "People are selfish by nature-it's unavoidable. "So yes, I was jealous. More than that, I resented him. It felt like his refusal to work with me was a judgment, like he was saying I wasn't good enough.
"And when he landed that contract with Thorsten-the one I'd been fighting for-it only proved his talent.
"I knew that contract was the key to everything I wanted. Fueled by jealousy and a need to win, I decided I'd take that project from him."
Matthew pulled off his glasses, rubbing his eyes. "So I hired someone to scare him, to push him away from the deal with Thorsten.
"But... the person I hired went too far. He thought 'solving the problem for good' was the best option, and... he made your parents 'disappear."
I felt my blood run cold. He was shifting the blame,
"Rea, while I never wanted your parents dead, my greed set everything in motion. I won't absolve myself I'm the one responsible for their deaths. Even with my success all these years, I've carried that guilt," he said, but I couldn't bear another word. "So, you turned that guilt into kindness toward me, didn't you?" I cut in, my voice bitter.
Matthew faltered, giving a small nod. Lindey stepped in, her tone gentle, almost pleading. "Rea, it's not like that. We really do love you. We've cared for you, truly."
I scoffed, remembering how Jace and I shared the same blood type. "You cared for me so that if Jace ever needed saving. I'd be there. Isn't that right?" "Rea," Lindey shook her head, trying to deny it.
But Matthew was blunt. "We did consider that possibility... but that doesn't mean our love for you wasn't.
real.
Love. Bought with my parents' lives. Their care was just a thin mask, barely hiding their guilt.
"Rea, every word I've told you today is the truth. And, honestly, saying it out loud... it's been a relief. Now! can die in peace," he said, looking oddly calm.
I felt my control slip. "You feel relieved? You think you can just rest in peace? And my parents-how are they supposed to rest?" My voice cracked, my composure shattering.
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Lindey was already in tears. "I'm so sorry... Matthew has suffered with this guilt for ten years. He rarely sleeps through the night, wakes up in terror half the time. And now he's sick... It's his punishment."
"So what? My parents are gone. Their lives, their futures-all stolen by your selfishness," I spat, my voice heavy with anger.
Losing them ruined my life too. No matter how they tried to make it up, nothing could heal the pain of growing up without my parents.
"I know nothing I say can change anything. I'm ready to accept any punishment, anything you need," Matthew said, coughing hard. Lindey reached out to steady him.
He waved her off, took a breath. "Rea, Lindey knew nothing about what I did. She only found out today, right before you both arrived. She had no part in it. Please... don't hold her responsible. Can you do that for me?" "Matthew..." Lindey sobbed, clutching his arm, burying her face against his shoulder, shaking her head." Please... don't..."
Matthew patted her hand. "Stop crying. Go ahead and call the police."
Lindey hid her face in his arm, fists weakly thudding against his back.
The room felt like it was drowning in sorrow, every breath thick and heavy, like I couldn't find enough air.
Then, Hayden, who'd been silent through it all, finally spoke, breaking the tension. "Mr. Johnston, there's someone missing in your story."
Chapter 530
If Hayden hadn't said anything, I might have forgotten he was even there.
the way here.
His face was unreadable, but his eyes? Dark and intense, like he was drilling straight into Matthew. He was talking about his dad. But Thorsten had already mentioned Hayden's father was involved-bribed, apparently. Hayden himself admitted it was all about the money on So why was he bringing it up again? What was he really digging for?
My head started to pound, like a jackhammer revving up. I glanced at Matthew, who somehow looked perfectly calm. Lindey, on the other hand, was a bundle of nerves, fingers clutching Matthew's arm.
After a long, tense silence, Matthew finally replied, "Your father was bribed. That has nothing to do with
me."
"Are you absolutely sure about that?" Hayden shot back, his voice ice-cold.
"Hayden," Lindey jumped in, defending Matthew. "He's already admitted what he did to Rea's parents. If he'd been involved with your dad, he wouldn't hide it now."
Hayden's jaw clenched tighter. "According to what I found, Thorsten bribed my dad on someone else's
orders."
Matthew's eyes flickered for a split second, a crack in the calm mask. But Hayden wasn't stopping. "If I'm right, you set it all up to make sure Keira had nowhere else to go. With her parents gone, she'd have no one left to take her in."
A chill ran through me as I turned to Hayden, horrified. His gaze locked on mine, steady. "Her rare blood type meant she could be a backup donor for your son. And raising her yourself? Maybe that was just to ease your own guilt."
He looked back at Matthew. "From the start, she was nothing more than a pawn in your game."
Lindey shook her head wildly. "No, that's not true! We genuinely care about Keira! We love her-"
But I couldn't take it anymore. I cut her off. Maybe she didn't know about what Matthew had done to my parents, but that didn't make his intentions any less twisted.
"Matthew, is that true?" My voice trembled.
His silence was all the answer I needed.
All the love, all the gratitude I'd felt for him-for this family-it had been built on a lie. A calculated game.
Maybe my parents hadn't died just because of some business deal. Maybe it was all because of the blood running through my veins. Blood that could save Jace. And for that, my parents had been disposable.
I'd spent the last ten years loving him, giving my heart to this family, to people who'd only seen me as some kind of insurance.
A shiver ran through me, my whole body going numb. My fingers tingled, barely holding back my anger.
"Rea, I'm responsible. I'm the killer. If you hate me, if you want to take my life, I won't resist," Matthew Chapter 530
said, his face a mask of regret I didn't buy for a second.
+35 NONUS
That look only made him seem more hollow. All these years, he'd worn this mask, fooling me, probably fooling my parents too.
My vision blurred, tears welling up as I clung to the last shred of control.
I dug my nails into my palms, letting the sharp sting slice through the rage. "What good would hating you do? Will it bring my parents back? Will it fix the life you ripped away from me, the years I spent trying to earn your love?" In that moment, every bit of the obedient daughter I'd tried to be vanished, burned away by fury.
"Rea," Lindey whispered, her face crumpling with grief,
But nothing she could say would cool the anger or mend the betrayal ripping through me.
"How could you be so selfish? Jace's life mattered, but my parents' didn't?" My chest tightened, like I was being hollowed out from the inside.
"Rea... we really did love you. That's the truth," Lindey pleaded, like repeating it would somehow make it real.
But to me, their love was stained, a chain tying me to the very people who'd taken my parents from me. All those times I'd visited my parents' graves, telling them how well the Johnstons treated me, thinking it'd give them peace. Now, those words felt like a betrayal. "Stop. Just... stop," I muttered, bringing my hands up to cover my ears, trying to hold myself together.
Then I felt a warm, familiar arm slip around my shoulders, pulling me close, grounding me.
I knew it was Hayden.
The one person who'd already let me go.