Ch. 551..560
Chapter 551 Chapter 551
you really feel."
Thinking of the main reason I'd wanted to see Wade today, I said, "Wade, Yuna came to this game mainly to see you. This is a rare chance for you two to spend time together, so for the next few days, she'll be with you. Take care of her-and use this time to figure out how He looked a little startled. "Isn't that... a bit inappropriate?*
It was, considering why he'd gotten close to Yuna in the first place. But right now, I didn't have any other options.
Keeping Yuna with me was too risky. The only solution was leaving her in Wade's care.
"There's nothing inappropriate about it. I trust you," I said, giving him a look that let him know I meant it.
Wade's expression softened, a little awkward, but he nodded. "Thank you for trusting me."
I raised my coffee cup toward him, and he managed a small smile.
After a beat, I remembered Narelle's parents. "How are her folks doing?" I asked suddenly.
"They're okay," he said, glancing away. "I think they've mostly come to terms with it... after those two years she was in a coma. But..." He hesitated. "I haven't dared to visit them lately."
"You're afraid seeing you would only bring them more pain?" I guessed, hitting right on the sore spot.
"It's more than that. They blame me. If it weren't for me, they wouldn't have lost their daughter." His voice was weighed down with guilt.
I understood, but there wasn't much I could say to ease his guilt.
"Oh, by the way, Narelle's dad called me once, asking about you," Wade said suddenly, like he'd just remembered.
I took a sip of my coffee. "What did he want to know?"
"He asked for your phone number and some info about your family." Wade gave a small, bitter smile. "But I didn't know any of it."
Not surprising, since I'd never shared those details. But I was curious-why would Narelle's father want information about me?
Maybe they wanted to meet me because I looked so much like their daughter, hoping it might somehow ease their grief. Or maybe they just wanted answers about why we looked so similar. Honestly, I wondered the same thing myself. "Give me their phone number and address," I said, pulling out my phone and opening my messaging app, then sliding it over to Wade.
He smiled, clearly remembering when he'd first asked for my contact info and I'd turned him down. Now, here I was, offering it up on my own.
Wade added me as a friend and shared Narelle's parents' contact details.
I asked him to head upstairs and get Yuna, giving them some alone time, while I stayed back at the café.
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+2500495
Just then, Lena tried to video call me. Since a video call wasn't ideal here, I declined and shot her a quick message.
She replied instantly: [Not taking my video call-don't tell me Hayden's with you?)
Her imagination was always on overdrive. I sent back a pic of my surroundings to let her know I was just at a café, alone.
Lena shot back immediately: [Why are you hanging around that jerk again?]
I blinked in surprise. The "jerk" she meant could only be Jace. When had I even been near him?
I sent her a big question mark, still confused. She circled something in the photo I'd sent and messaged it
back to me.
Zooming in, I spotted him-Jace, in the background, looking right in my direction.
My head snapped up to check the spot where I'd taken the picture, but he was already gone.
So, he'd been there, seen me... but hadn't come over. I guess those harsh words I'd left him with last time finally hit home. From now on, even if we crossed paths, we'd be nothing but strangers.
A bitter smile tugged at my lips. I lowered my head to text Lena back, not realizing someone had stepped up beside me.
Chapter 552
"Miss, could you help me?"
A slightly frail, middle-aged voice startled me, and I looked up to see an elderly woman with graying hair and pleading eyes.
"How can I help you?" I asked politely..
"Oh, I was hoping you could buy me a cup of coffee," she said, catching me off guard and stirring a bit of pity in me. "I haven't had one in so long because I don't have any money." Without thinking, I nodded. "Of course,"
"Thank you," she replied, gesturing to the chair across from me. "Could I sit here to drink it?"
Since I was already getting her the coffee, letting her sit didn't seem like a big deal. But just as i was about to agree, Jace's voice cut in.
"Excuse me, ma'am, would you mind taking a seat elsewhere?"
I looked up, startled to see him still there. I thought he'd left.
Before I could fully process it, Jace had guided the woman to another table, slipped some cash into her hand, and sent her on her way.
I watched, puzzled, as she walked off without even looking at the coffee counter. Frowning, I looked back at him.
"You saw that, right?" Jace said, his voice low. "Her real goal wasn't coffee."
1 shook my head, still not quite following. "So... she was just after the money?"
"If you'd let her sit there and bought her a coffee, in less than ten minutes she would've started foaming at the mouth and fainted. Then someone would call the police, and as the person who bought her the coffee, you'd be taken in for questioning," he explained, reminding me a little too much of the mess Steve got pulled into recently.
A chill ran through me, though I hated to believe it. "You don't have to assume the worst of people." Jace's brow furrowed, and he pulled out his phone, showing me a video of an elderly woman pulling a scam on a young woman, just like he'd described.
"These kinds of scams have been on the rise," he said. "They target young women, hoping they'll be kind enough to fall for it."
The video was hard to argue with. I stayed silent, processing it, and Jace didn't push me further.
Instead, he shifted gears. "Did you get in yesterday?"
I answered with a quiet "Mm," my gaze drifting down to his hand, where a thick scar marred his wrist.
Thinking back to his car accident, a pang of guilt tugged at me. I couldn't say it was my fault, but I knew my words that day had hit him hard.
His hand was scarred-but what about the rest of him?
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I didn't know, hadn't seen him until now, and all I could go by was his face. He looked noticeably thinner, his usual glow missing.
Jace glanced at the coffee cup Wade had left on the table. "Were you meeting someone?"
"Mm." Just that one word again.
Hearing myself, I realized I sounded exactly like Hayden whenever he answered me with the same curt" Mm."
Jace pointed to the empty seat. "Mind if I sit?"
"...Mm."
Jace chuckled. "Is that all I get now? Just 'mm"?"
As he sat down, I admitted, "I don't know what to say to you."
I took a moment, looking him over, really seeing how much he'd changed. "Are your injuries fully healed?"
A faint light flickered in his eyes as he smiled lightly. "Yes. See? I'm perfectly fine now..." He hesitated before adding, "Keira, the accident was my own fault. It wasn't because of our conversation. Don't carry that."
"I'm not dwelling on it," I replied. "And besides, if you're the kind of person who'd risk his life over something someone said, then that just means I was a fool."
After all, I'd loved him for ten years.
Jace's face froze slightly, he understood exactly what I meant.
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"Did you get a ticket for the game?" Jace asked, smoothly dodging whatever I'd been about to say.
"Not yet. Got any extras? I'll buy one off you," I shot back, not even trying to play coy.
Why take the long way when there's a shortcut?
Jace just laughed. "I have some, but they're not for sale."
He pulled out two tickets from his pocket. "These are reserved for me. Steve hooked me up a while ago."
My heart did a little flip. Steve hadn't exactly called to invite me, but he'd saved me tickets anyway. Maybe he was hoping I'd show up?
I took the tickets from Jace. "Mind if I grab one more?"
Jace paused, then finally pulled out another.
"You're like a walking ticket booth," I teased, slipping the extra ticket into my pocket.
He just smirked, brushing it off. Honestly, I had no clue what else to say to him.
Just then, Wade appeared with Yuna, pushing her suitcase. Yuna walked next to him, a little shy but totally glowing. The two of them had this cute vibe going on.
"Looks like my friends are here," I said to Jace, getting to my feet.
Wade walked up, and Yuna gave Jace a quick, cautious glance before turning to me with a grin. "Keira," she greeted, "my favorite sis-in-law."
This girl-always working her angles. She was totally using that title on purpose, making a little statement just in case Jace had any ideas.
"Wade promised he'd look out for you," I said, shooting her a reassuring smile and giving Wade a nudge of warning. "But if he so much as thinks about slacking off, call me. Anytime."
Yuna's cheeks went pink, but she still came to his defense. "He'd never do that. Don't worry."
I handed her one of the tickets. "This one's on me. Something you can't buy anywhere else."
"Thanks," she said, grinning as she took it.
"You two go on ahead," I said, noting Wade looked a little like he wanted to bolt. "If anything comes up, just give me a call." They headed off quickly, and I had to laugh a bit at how awkward Wade seemed. Once they were out of earshot, Jace commented, "Looks like Hayden's little sis is scared I'm gonna swoop in and steal you away."
"She's a kid," I said, rolling my eyes as I gestured toward the elevator. "Anyway, I'm heading up."
"Rea," Jace called, his tone shifting. "You didn't... run into any trouble getting here, did you?"
J felt
my heart skip. The only one who'd heard about Bruno's message was Hayden. How would Jace know to even ask? "Huh?" I tried to play it cool.
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Jace took a step closer, tilting his head toward a spot in the lobby. "Those two over there-they've been watching you."
I hadn't noticed them before, but now I felt a rush of unease.
Who were they? Hayden's people, keeping an eye out? Or someone from Bruno's side, ready to stir up trouble?
"They're probably Hayden's," I said, hoping I sounded chill. Hayden had said he'd have someone around.
Jace didn't respond right away, and I was just about to head upstairs, figuring maybe I'd play it safe and lay low in my room for a while.
Then he spoke up. "Wayne mentioned some guy named Bruno had bothered you back home," he said, freezing me in my tracks. "I looked into him. He's probably a Quartz Cue Diamond member."
"And he's got a following," Jace went on, his face hardening. "People are mad about the injuries he got back there-there's been a whole wave of outrage. Staying here alone could get risky for you."
If Bruno had that much pull, then Hayden definitely knew, too. He'd probably kept it quiet, thinking it would spare me the stress.
But now here was Jace, laying it all out, like he wanted to make sure I'd be on guard.
It was strange. Both of them had been close to me, but they had such different ways of trying to protect
1. me.
I turned to Jace. "So... what's your plan?"
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It was clear Jace had a reason for telling me all this.
His gaze darkened. "Hayden shouldn't have rushed things with Bruno. He should've checked out who he was dealing with first."
I got what he meant, but I couldn't help the mocking smile that crept onto my face. "So, what are you saying? That because Bruno's got connections, I should've just tolerated his harassment? Let him walk all over me?" Jace paused, looking a little thrown by the accusation. "That's not what I meant."
"I don't think Hayden did anything wrong," I shot back. "Bruno got exactly what he deserved."
For a second, Jace looked... almost helpless. "I'm just saying there were other ways to handle it-ways that wouldn't have put you in a vulnerable position. It's not a criticism of Hayden, just the facts."
I took a breath, trying not to assume the worst about his intentions. "What's done is done. Talking about it now won't change anything. Bruno's target is me, and if Hayden hadn't stepped in, Bruno would've only gotten bolder." Bruno had already caused a scene at the Hart-Johnston event, making it pretty clear he didn't care about either family.
"And now his fans are getting bold too," Jace said, flicking his gaze toward the men watching us across the lobby. "You need to be careful. Staying here alone isn't safe."
Jace had a point.
I could see where this was going-he wanted me to stay at his hotel. But Hayden had already misunderstood things after I donated blood to Jace, and that's what had driven us apart. Staying with him now would only make it worse. Even though I knew I hadn't done anything wrong and didn't owe anyone explanations, the idea of staying with Jace didn't sit right with me.
"Honestly, with his fans targeting me, I doubt I'd be safe anywhere," I said, letting him know how I really felt.
Jace's jaw tightened. "Wayne has an apartment here. It'd be safe for you to stay there."
I frowned, but Jace kept going. "I wouldn't be staying there, if that's what you're worried about."
He was trying to reassure me, but even so, the thought of staying there made me uneasy.
"If you don't believe me, check with Wayne," he added after a pause. "Rea, no matter what issues you have with me, or our family, your safety comes first."
I didn't need him to tell me that. Still, I wasn't thrilled about Wayne's place either.
If it was dangerous here, wouldn't it be just as bad there?
Maybe Hayden was right-I should just head back. Missing, Steve's game would suck, but if something happened to me, any win he scored wouldn't mean much.
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"I'll think about it," I said, giving him a non-answer.
Jace looked at me like he wanted to say more but held back, knowing full well that pushing me wouldn't
work.
I thought back to what Hayden had said. "This whole thing with Bruno-it's about Hayden, but also about Steve, isn't it?"
Jace nodded slightly, and a chill went through me. "So... Hayden and Steve could be in danger too?"
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"Steve's safe for now," Jace said, leaving me puzzled.
He explained, "Quartz Cue pretends to be just a cue sports club, but they're deep in illegal betting. Their original plan was to take down Steve to keep their championship status and rake in the gambling profits."
I'd heard rumors about underground betting, but snooker? Really?
"When they couldn't get to Steve directly," Jace went on, "they switched it up. They're betting big on him, shifting the odds in his favor. If he wins, it looks like they lose-except they're making secret deals to make way more on the back end." I shivered. Something as simple as Steve's snooker career had turned into this dark web of schemes and shady money moves.
Steve once told me he started playing because he loved it-like, genuinely loved it. He wanted to prove that someone from our country could go global. Knowing he was just a pawn now... I couldn't imagine
how crushed he'd feel.
"Does Steve have any clue about this?" I asked, feeling a weight in my chest.
"No. If he knew, he'd probably refuse to play," Jace said, eyes darkening. "But if he doesn't play... he could lose a lot more than just a match."
I froze, a wave of dread washing over me. Jace's voice turned grim. "Rea, just because Hayden saved him once doesn't mean Steve's safe now. This whole thing was a setup from the start."
My stomach did a nervous flip. Hayden hadn't said anything about this. Did he even know?
"The match is in two days. They can't afford any last-minute disruptions. But Bruno's fans? Total loose cannons, out of Quartz Cue's control. So, to keep everything smooth, they might come after you. They won't hurt you, but they'll want you as leverage." A knot tightened in my chest. "They're worried Hayden might go after Quartz Cue again, aren't they?"
Jace shook his head slightly. "You're not just leverage against Hayden. You're also a way to pressure Steve into playing."
"But... but I..." I stammered, totally thrown. "Hayden and I aren't even together anymore, and Steve is just a friend."
Jace looked at me with this unreadable expression before letting out a low, amused laugh.
I was baffled. "What's so funny?"
"You're still so... naive," Jace replied, though his words felt more like a veiled criticism than a compliment.
I frowned. "What's that supposed to mean? Just spit it out."
He shrugged. "Just that even if he's 'just a friend,' Steve would never abandon you if you were in real danger. And, for the record... you still call him your close friend."
I opened my mouth to argue but stopped. He had a point. Jace was warning me: this was serious, and I'd somehow become a target. Whether it was Bruno's fans or Quartz Cue, if they got to me, it wouldn't just
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be bad for me-it'd drag Hayden and Steve right down with me.
I took a breath, realizing this wasn't the time to be stubborn. "Alright. So, is Wayne's place safer, or should I just head back home?"
"Wayne's, hands down. You shouldn't be moving around too much-anyone out there could be one of Bruno's fans," Jace said, pulling out his phone.
He handed me his phone. "Look. This came from a contact. You've been posted in Bruno's fan group. There's a bounty on you. Three million dollars for anyone who brings you in.'
I stared at the screenshot, letting out a bitter laugh. "Wow. Didn't know I was worth that much."
Jace's eyes darkened. "No one expected one person could stir up this kind of storm."
I managed a wry smile. "Isn't that a little dramatic?"
"You might not get it now, but you will," he said, serious. "So... are you ready to come with me now?"
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Should I?
Even after everything Jace had said, I wasn't sure.
0000000
He was watching me, waiting for an answer, eyes steady and patient. Finally, I said, "Let me check with Hayden."
His expression shifted, a flicker of something unspoken in his eyes, but he nodded and stepped back, giving me space.
It wasn't that I didn't trust Jace. I did. But I trusted Hayden completely. I just needed to hear it from him.
When he picked up, Hayden's voice was low, calm-the kind that could make my heart skip a beat without trying. "Something wrong?" he asked, like he already sensed it.
I swallowed, forcing myself to sound steady. "Hayden, there are two people watching me from my hotel café. Are they with you?"
"Table 3A?" he asked, not missing a beat. I glanced over; that was exactly where they were sitting.
Even from a distance, he knew everything going on around me, down to the tiniest detail.
There was no need to explain that Jace was here. Clearly, Hayden already knew, which saved me from spelling it all out. So I cut to the point. "Jace told me how dangerous this is. I need to know... should I go home, or do I go where Jace suggested?" There was a pause on the other end. I was about to say something else when he finally replied.
"Why are you asking me?"
'Because I trust you.' But my pride wouldn't let me actually say it. "Because this involves you too," I said instead.
Another pause. Then, finally, "He wouldn't put you in harm's way."
So he was agreeing with Jace. Telling me to go with him.
And for some reason, that just made me angry.
Last time, he'd handed me over to Jace's care, and then got all moody when I'd helped Jace with a blood transfusion. This guy-sometimes, I had no idea what he really wanted.
Before I could say anything, he switched topics. "Have you made arrangements for Yuna?"
"Yeah, she's already with..." I started, but then I heard a soft, clear voice on his end.
"Hayden, what do you think of this ring?"
I froze, the words catching in my throat.
A woman picking out rings with Hayden. It wasn't hard to figure out who that was.
How did this happen so fast?
Chadwick had only announced Hayden and Yara's engagement at the banquet
and now
they were
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already ring shopping. That kind of speed meant things between them had to be serious.
But we'd only been apart a few days.
Had he been seeing Yara even while we were together?
A sharp pain stabbed through my chest, and my hand started to shake. The phone slipped from my fingers for a second, but I caught it, pressing it back to my ear. "Keira..."
His voice came through the line, but it felt like acid, eating away at me, leaving me raw and hollow.
Every part of me wanted to hang up, but instead, I held the phone tighter. "Yuna is settled. If you're worried, you can have someone check on her... And, am I interrupting something?" The words burned coming out, every syllable scraping my throat.
I hoped-no, needed-him to say something, anything, to explain. I knew I had no right to ask, but somehow, I couldn't stand the thought of him picking out a ring with someone else. But he stayed silent.
So I hadn't misheard. He really was there with her.
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The burning ache in my throat spread straight to my heart. As silence hung on Hayden's end, I forced myself to say, "I won't bother you while you're picking out rings. Goodbye."
Then I hung up, pressing the button so hard it felt like I was crushing my own heart along with the call.
I stood there, frozen, until Jace walked over. The second he got close, I dropped my head and hurried toward the elevator. "Wait here. I'm just going to pack my things," I mumbled as I passed him. "I'll go up with you," he said.
"There's no need. I can handle it myself," I replied, voice sharper than I intended, quickening my pace.
But Jace followed anyway. "What's wrong?"
He could tell something was off.
The bitterness clawing at my chest nearly broke me then and there. I felt myself on the edge, seconds from falling apart, from letting everything spill out in front of him.
But 1 couldn't. Not in front of Jace.
When I'd chosen to be with Hayden, I'd been so sure, practically bragging to Jace that I was what I wanted, that Hayden was the right choice. And now, it all felt like it was coming back to hit me where it hurt most.
I forced down the pain, keeping my voice steady. "Jace, it's not appropriate for you to come up with me."
He didn't even blink. "I don't mean anything by it. I'm just worried something might happen. I'll stay by the door. I won't go in."
Jace wasn't going inside, and I didn't want him going back downstairs either. Right now, I needed a moment to gather up the shattered pieces of my bleeding heart.
I thought I'd moved on from Hayden. But that single line on the phone? It ripped the illusion to shreds. I hadn't let him go at all. I still cared, more than I wanted to admit.
One sentence, and I was already falling apart.
"What could happen? Aren't you being a little too paranoid?" I snapped, my frustration spilling over onto
Jace.
His expression darkened, but he didn't argue. He just stepped into the elevator beside me.
Trapped in that small, closed space with him felt suffocating, like being tangled up in vines that were only tightening.
The floor numbers blinked by, each one adding weight to the pressure in my chest. Just when I thought I was going to lose it, the elevator finally reached my floor, and the doors slid open.
I stepped out quickly, Jace following.
"I'll be right here. Call me if you need anything," he said quietly as we reached my door,
I didn't respond. Just opened the door and went in, slamming it shut behind me. I leaned back against the
Chapter 557
door, gripping the hard surface, fighting the tight, painful knot rising in my throat.
But with Jace just outside, I couldn't let myself completely break. I bit my lip, hard, tasting blood, but even that couldn't dull the ache.
Still, the tears started to slip free. I closed my eyes, trying to will them back, but it was useless.
Slowly, I slid down to the floor, curling up by the door, burying my face against my knees. Images of Hayden proposing, the things he'd promised, flooded my mind.
How could he go from that to ring shopping with someone else so fast?
Here I was, halfway around the world, facing real danger with people watching my every move. And him? He was back home, calmly planning his wedding with his fiancée.
No wonder he'd sent me here and put people on me. This wasn't protection-it was surveillance. He was making sure I didn't show up and mess up his plans.
The more I thought about it, the harder it got to breathe. My heart felt like it might actually break, like I could die from the sheer pain of it.
I forced myself to lift my head, desperate to clear my mind. But as soon as I looked up, I froze.
Sitting across from me, watching quietly, was a man I hadn't noticed before.
He looked at me with this strange mix of pity and disdain, like I was some lost, pathetic creature. When our eyes met, he didn't look away or even seem surprised I'd noticed him. Instead, he shook his head slowly, almost disappointed. Every muscle in my body tensed. For a moment, I was too shocked to even be scared. "Who are you?" I blurted. "How did you get into my room?"
Chapter 558
Sometimes people just... zone out. And right now, that was me.
Normally, I'd be halfway to the door by now, maybe screaming a little. But instead, I just sat there, curled up on the floor, blinking up at him and asking who he was.
"Feeling heartbroken, are we?" he asked. His face was intense-chiseled jaw, deep-set eyes, high cheekbones. He looked like someone straight out of a movie, and apparently, he could see right through
1. me.
"Who are you?" I asked again, still dazed.
Then, like a lightbulb flicking on, I remembered what Jace had told me about the leader of Quartz Cue.
Only, I'd imagined someone totally different-rough, kinda brutal-looking, like Thorsten. But this guy? He was almost elegant, in that rugged, model-like way.
If I'd seen him on the street, I'd probably think he was a Calvin Klein ad or something.
And then I remembered Jace had said something about the leader of Quartz Cue being injured, sol squinted, looking him over. But I didn't see any scars or bandages. Just... a ridiculously good-looking face. "My name is Hernátor Skye," he said, leaning closer. And that's when I realized just how close he was.
Instinctively, I pulled back, but he reached out, fingers brushing the air near my face. I turned away, but he still managed to pat my head, like I was some lost puppy. "You can call me Hernan," he said, smirking. "Or just Skye."
I jerked back, shrinking against the wall. "What do you want?"
I didn't scream. What would be the point? Even if I did, by the time Jace got here, I'd already be at this
guy's mercy.
"What do you think?" Hernan said, grinning, like this whole thing was some kind of game.
Weirdly enough, he didn't feel sinister. He just kept smiling, like he was actually having a good time, and it threw me off. I found myself snapping back, like a bratty kid. "You're here to capture me, right?"
He laughed a real, full-on laugh, like I'd just told him the best joke. "How old are you, anyway? How can you be this cute?"
Cute?
Yeah, maybe I was coming off as helpless, but that just made me bristle more.
"Honestly, before I got here, I was thinking, 'If I have to deal with some boring, ugly hostage, where am I gonna stash her? But now," he said, giving me an amused once-over, "I can see I won't have to. You're cute and way more entertaining than I expected." He reached out his hand again. "Come on, stand up."
He was going to pull me up, to take me with him.
But I wasn't that easy to intimidate. No way I was just going to do whatever he wanted.
"There are people protecting me in this hotel," I said, trying to sound more confident than I felt." Someone's right outside the door."
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"I know," he replied, completely unfazed.
"So, you're not taking me anywhere," I shot back, already racking my brain for ways to signal Jace. Even if it didn't stop this creep, at least Jace would know something went down. "Wanna bet?" Hernan smirked.
Before I could react, his hand closed around mine, yanking me up in one swift, effortless move.
I barely had time to register it. So all that pulling back, all my little defiance? He'd just been letting me play along.
"Rea, you okay?" Jace's voice came through the door, followed by a knock. He must've sensed something was off.
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Just as I opened my mouth to call back, Hernan leaned close, voice low in my ear. "If I let him in, what makes you think I wouldn't just take both of you?"
He was trying to mess with my head, make me too scared to fight back.
"Rea?" Jace called again, his voice sharper now, more urgent.
I couldn't just sit there. So I did the first thing that popped into my head-I bit down on his hand, hard.
Hernan jerked back, his grip loosening just enough for me to break free. I bolted for the door, yelling," Jace, help-!"
But then I felt a chill against my neck, and before I could react... everything went black.
When I woke up, the room was pitch-black, with just a few dim floor lights casting eerie shadows. I was lying on a soft bed, wrapped in blankets.
The last few minutes before I'd blacked out hit me in a flash. Heart pounding, I threw back the covers, checking my clothes.
Seeing I was in a random set of pajamas, a chill ran through me. I barely had time to process it before the door creaked open, and Hernan walked in. He was in pajamas too, which somehow made it worse.
Ice shot through me as I glared at him, both freaked out and furious.
"So fierce?" he said, smirking.
I pulled the blanket tighter around me, too unnerved to even ask who'd changed my clothes or why I was in pajamas at all.
Hernan strolled over and sat on the edge of the bed, holding a glass of red wine. In the low light, with his pale skin and European features, he looked like something straight out of a gothic thriller. "You're upset about... this?" he asked, motioning to my pajamas.
I held the blanket even tighter, trying to stay calm. I wanted to ask if he'd done anything to me, but I knew how stupid that would sound. If he had, I'd know.
"You're such an innocent little thing." Hernan chuckled, taking a slow sip of wine.
"Why did you bring me here? What do you want?" I asked, even though Lalready knew.
He swirled the wine around. "Didn't Haddy... tell you?"
Haddy? Hearing him call Hayden that, with this weirdly familiar, almost affectionate tone, threw me off. Like there was some secret connection between them I hadn't seen coming.
But he'd brought Hayden up, so I decided to go for it. "Don't think you can use me to get to Hayden. We're done. He couldn't care less what happens to me."
"Is that so?" Hernan's mouth curved into an amused smile. "Well, guess I'll have to test that theory."
My heart skipped as he set down his wine glass and casually reached for my phone on the bedside table.
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Chapter 559
He scanned my face to unlock it, then tapped around before glancing up at me.
"Is this him?" He held up the phone, showing Hayden's contact open on the screen. His finger hovered right over Hayden's profile picture, labeled with the nickname I'd saved: Haddy. "What are you planning to do?" I lunged for the phone.
Hernan just lifted it out of my reach, that annoying smirk never leaving his face. "Looks like we have something in common. You like calling him Haddy, too."
And then the ringing sound of a video call filled the room.
I knew exactly what he was up to, and my stomach twisted. I thought back to my last conversation with Hayden, letting out a bitter laugh. "Calling him won't help. He won't care. Last I saw him, he was picking out rings with his fiancée." Hernan's eyebrow arched, his smirk widening. "Is that so?"
"Hayden and I are done. We broke up after my last trip here." I tried to make it clear that there was nothing left between us, hoping he'd believe it and maybe, just maybe, let me go.
But just then, Hernan turned the phone to me, and there he was-Hayden. He'd answered.
Hayden's gaze was sharp, intense, locked right on me. But before I could say a word, Hernan pulled the phone back in front of himself, grinning. "Haddy, can you see her?"
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"Hernan!" Hayden's voice came through, cold and menacing.
Weirdly enough, hearing him made me feel... safe? I wanted to yell, 'Get me out of here!' but I forced myself to stay calm. The more freaked out I looked, the more power Hernan would have.
Hernan just laughed, setting the phone up on a stand before grabbing his wine like this was some kind of twisted Face Time hangout. "Your girl's quite the catch so beautiful, so charming. Real nice." "She's not my girl anymore," Hayden shot back.
Ouch. I knew it was true, but hearing him say it like that still hurt.
"Oh, not anymore?" Hernan clicked his tongue, fake disappointment all over his face. "Looks like I need to update my sources."
"If you're done, I'm hanging up," Hayden replied, and his indifference was like a punch to the gut.
It's not like I expected him to come to my rescue, but... he didn't even sound worried. Here I was, thinking I was some kind of pawn in this twisted game, but apparently, that was just me holding onto some delusional, leftover feelings. "Wait," Hernan said, then suddenly yanked me close, throwing me off balance.
The next thing I knew, the sharp scent of his body wash filled my nose, and I was in his arms, facing Hayden on the screen.
Hayden looked ridiculously put-together in a black shirt with a single gold pin on the collar, sharp and dignified like always. His gaze drilled into me through the screen, intense enough to make my pulse skip.
But his face? Completely unreadable. He looked at me like I was just... some random person in the wrong place.
"Well," Hernan said, leaning down, his lips hovering way too close to my face, "since this girl has nothing to do with you, I think I'll keep her for myself."
I shrank back, instinctively trying to pull away, but his grip tightened around my neck, holding me in place. He didn't actually kiss me, but the closeness-the way he lingered right there-felt like a snake hissing. right by my ear.
It was all a game to him, a test to see if Hayden would crack, would show even the slightest reaction. And, yeah... maybe part of me wanted to see a reaction too.
But then Hayden's voice came through. "What you do with her is none of my concern."
No sooner had he said that than the screen shifted, and suddenly he was gone. In his place, a smooth, feminine voice came from off-screen. "Hayden, you promised to spend the day with me. Why are you on the phone again?" A woman with sleek, short hair stepped into view.
It was Yara Drago.
I'd seen photos of her before-absolutely stunning, with that effortless elegance and confidence that
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turned heads everywhere! She had this magnetic presence that even I couldn't ignore.
If she'd been anyone else, maybe I could've told myself Hayden was just doing his family duty with the engagement. But Yara was someone that even I found captivating. And if I felt that way... how could Hayden not? "Apologies, but my fiancé has promised me his time today," she said smoothly. "If you need him, maybe you should find another time."
And then, the screen went black.
I stared at the darkened display, feeling like my entire world had been swallowed up with it.
No one knew Hayden like I did. He'd always valued his time so fiercely that, in all the time we were together, he never once dropped everything just to be with me.
In my mind, he was always busy-being with me meant I was squeezed into his schedule.
But now, here he was, setting everything aside for someone else.
The comparison stung. All those little things Hayden did that once made me feel special? Yara had shattered them with one simple line.
I stared blankly at my defeated reflection on the screen. That's when I knew: my so-called love story with Hayden had been nothing more than a self-deluded joke.