Ch. 641..650

Of course, it was Hayden! Chapter 641

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This whole thing-it had his name written all over it. Nobody else could pull off something like this with the lights. This wasn't some random glitch; it was intentional. It was him.

He was pissed. Pissed at me for being reckless. So, he staged all this to make a

point.

The realization hit me like a punch to the chest. I started shouting, "Hayden! Hayden!"

No answer. Just the crowd, losing their minds, chanting, "Say yes! Say yes!"

I wanted to say yes. God, I wanted to. But... where was he?

Right when the noise peaked, the lights snapped off. Boom-total darkness. The cheers cut out like someone had hit pause on the world. Even I couldn't make a sound.

For a split second, everything felt frozen, suspended in time.

Then, just as suddenly, the lights exploded back on, brighter and more colorful than before, flooding the park in a kaleidoscope of brilliance.

But my world? It felt... dimmer.

That fleeting magic Hayden had left behind-it was gone, just like that.

"You okay?" Wayne's voice jolted me. He was next to me now, his face full of

concern.

I couldn't answer. My throat felt like it was closing in on itself, trapping every word I wanted to say.

to say.

"Those lights earlier... they were probably something Hayden programmed before, "Wayne said quietly. "The glitch must've triggered it to play again." Did I need his explanation? No.

All I needed to know was that Hayden had loved me. That was enough.

Without a word, I spun on my heel and started walking-no, marching-toward the center of the amusement park.

"Rea, what are you doing?" Wayne called, his voice tight with worry.

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I didn't stop. Didn't answer. I just moved faster.

He wasn't far behind, though. Of course, he wasn't. Wayne caught up, his hand. gripping my arm to pull me back. "We need to go back."

I jerked away, his hold slipping. "I'm not leaving. You can go."

"Rea," he said, more urgently now, "weren't you investigating Demi's whereabouts? I found something."

My heart twisted at the mention of Demi, but I shook my head and tugged harder. "Let me go! Please, Wayne, just let me go!"

Wayne hesitated, then finally let his hand drop. I turned and ran deeper into the amusement park, never once looking back.

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642

I didn't stop running until I reached the Ferris wheel.

Since the park opened, it had become the spot-people called it "The Eye of

Seavora."

"Get me on it!" I said.

Apparently, my name carried enough weight to pause the whole ride. The gondola creaked as it started moving, lifting me up and away from everything.

below.

Down there, Wayne just stood, neck craned, his gaze locked on me as I climbed higher.

From the top, the park stretched out like a living postcard. Last time I was up here, Hayden was with me, fiddling with the lights after hours. We didn't just admire the view-we were in our own little bubble, drowning in the bliss of it all. The lights were just as beautiful now. But he wasn't here.

Except... no. He was here.

The lights earlier-it wasn't random. He was telling me something.

When the gondola hit the peak, everything spread out: the park, the glittering skyline of Seavora. But I wasn't here for the view.

I was here for him. Just him.

"Hayden!" I shouted, my voice ripped away by the wind. "If you wanna marry me, then come back!"

I threw my hand in the air, the ring we picked out together catching the light." The ring? Still on my finger. The bracelet you gave me? Yeah, I'm wearing that too. The only thing missing... is you."

My voice rang out, tangled with the flashing lights above, like they were amplifying my words.

Below, the crowd went wild again, cheering and screaming like this was part of the show. Guess the earlier chaos was old news-they were all in on tonight's Chapter 642

unexpected spectacle now.

They say life's full of curveballs, and when you can't dodge them, you just roll

with it.

Tonight, the crowd below figured that out. And maybe... so had I.

***

The crowd's cheers swelled as Wayne took a call. On the other end, a staffer reported that the guests demanding refunds earlier had stopped complaining.

Wayne ended the call and looked back up at Keira, perched at the top of the Ferris wheel. His eyes flickered with something unreadable as he dialed another number. "Get me a full report on tonight's light glitch. I want details."

Officially, it was a technical hiccup. But the so-called "accident" felt too precise, dredging up memories Hayden had hardwired into the system-memories that tied him to Keira.

Wayne knew Hayden had a sentimental streak, programming his emotions into the lights like a love letter. But a random glitch recreating his proposal? No way that was random.

Before Wayne could dig deeper, his phone buzzed again. His gaze was still locked on Keira when he answered it.

"Yes, Jace..."

"What's going on at the park?" Jace's voice was sharp, already half-informed.

"The lights malfunctioned," Wayne replied, his tone measured, eyes briefly darting to the dazzling display still spilling over the park. "But it's under control now." "Good," Jace said, like he was ready to hang up. But Wayne stopped him.

"Do you really think Hayden is gone?"

On the other end, Jace's grip tightened around the phone. "What are you trying t say?"

"Tonight's lighting glitch didn't just cause a blank screen," Wayne said slowly. "I displayed the proposal streamers. The words weren't random, Jace. They said," Chapter 642

Kiki, marry me.""

The line hung heavy in silence.

"Keira's here," Wayne finally said, his voice softer now, almost reluctant. "She's... shaken."

"You sent her there?" Jace's tone dropped, suspicion curling through each word

Wayne didn't answer.

"You shouldn't have let her go," Jace pressed.

After a pause, Wayne asked, "Do you really think this glitch was just technical? Or could it be... something else?"

Jace caught the implication immediately. "You think Hayden might still be alive?

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You watched him get cremated, didn't you? It's probably just a coincidence." Without waiting for a response, he ended the call. His gaze drifted back up to the Ferris wheel, where Keira was still at the top.

I stayed up there until the last of the park-goers had left, until the bright lights. dimmed and melted into the quiet of the night. Only then did I finally step off the Ferris wheel.

Wayne was still waiting, coming over to help me down.

His

eyes scanned my face, like he was trying to read something I wasn't offering.

But I'd left everything up there, spilled out with the view. By the time I was back on the ground, I was just... me again.

"It's late. Let's go," he said softly.

. I trailed behind him out of the park, breaking the silence with, "Tell me about

Demi."

"She's in Lindale. That's all I know. If you want more, you'll have to reach out yourself," he said, careful as always.

He pulled out his phone and tapped out a quick message. "Her number and

address. Sent."

"Thanks," I said, keeping it short. Then I turned to leave.

"Rea," he called after me. His voice was steady, but his eyes held something

heavier. "...Get some rest."

I could tell that wasn't what he really wanted to say. But I let it slide, gave him a small nod, and walked away.

The amusement park incident, with its viral spectacle, totally dominated the trending topics overnight. But somehow, I was trending too except for something completely different.

The headlines weren't about me being at the park. Nope, they claimed I'd checked into a hotel with some "young hunks" after drinking at a bar. The post even came with a video so cleanly shot it might as well have been directed by Spielberg.

It was obvious this wasn't just some nosy passerby trying to stir the pot. Someone went out of their way to film me and make it go viral-straight-up sabotage.

Honestly? I couldn't care less. If I was bold enough to actually pull something like that, I wouldn't flinch at people finding out. Just yesterday, Lena and I joked about me stirring up my own scandals for fun.

But this wasn't my stunt, and I wasn't about to let someone else use me for clout.

Tracking them down was almost too easy. A quick trip back to the bar, and there she was.

When Tanya stepped into view, I actually blinked in surprise. She was working here now? As a hostess?

The manager didn't waste a second throwing her under the bus. "Ms. Kay, whatever you want to do with her is your call. We won't defend her, and she's no longer employed here."

"Do you think I need your help to find work?" Tanya's words were as sharp as broken glass.

The woman standing in front of me wasn't the proud, polished Tanya I once knew. She was hardened now, stripped of grace, a shell of who she used to be.

Life's a gamble-one wrong move, and everything falls apart. If Tanya had just let go of her schemes and settled for a quiet life with Desmond, she might not have been rich, but she could've had peace. Now, she had neither.

"What do you want? Just spit it out," Tanya snapped, defiant as ever, her posture full of arrogance despite her downfall.

"Do you regret it?" I asked, my voice calm.

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Tanya sneered. "Regret? For what? People are always trying to get ahead, to climb higher. That's all I ever wanted. Is that so wrong?"

Even now, she refused to see the cracks in her logic.

"If your heart's in the wrong place, the harder you chase something, the faster it slips away," I said, standing up.

There was no point dragging this out. She wasn't going to change, and I wasn't about to waste energy convincing her. But I wasn't leaving without making my stance clear.

"Tanya, you couldn't touch me before, and you sure as hell can't now. I'm letting you off this time because we're both women, but next time? No mercy.

She laughed, sharp and mocking, as if my words were a joke.

I didn't care. With a faint smile, I turned and walked away.

***

Seeing Tanya again, and realizing how far she'd fallen, stirred up memories I hadn't thought about in years-memories of the baby she'd been carrying. She was seven months pregnant back then. What had happened to that child? I remembered where Desmond used to live. Jace and I had dropped him off there once. Acting on a sudden impulse, I drove to the neighborhood.

As luck would have it, Desmond's parents were outside when I arrived. But they were alone. No sign of a child.

A kid that young? They wouldn't have left him behind. So where was he?

My heart raced as I approached them, the question spilling out before I could stop myself. "Hi, Mr. Blake, Mrs. Blake. Um... where's your grandson?"

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Their faces tightened with suspicion. "Who are you?" one asked sharply.

It hit me-they didn't recognize me. We'd met before, but that was years ago, and they'd aged since then.

"I'm... a friend of Desmond's," I lied, keeping my tone light. No way would they tell me anything if I revealed the real reason I was here. "I heard he had a baby and thought I'd check in." Their eyes darted to each other, their unease palpable. "We've never seen you before," one said, voice sharp with doubt. "And Desmond never mentioned a

friend like you."

Their guardedness made sense-these days, you couldn't be too careful with all the scams and con artists around.

I offered a gentle smile as I handed over the small gifts I'd brought. "It's okay. I just wanted to check in and see how you're doing. That's all."

But they didn't take them. "We don't know you, and we're not comfortable with

this."

With that, they turned and walked away.

I stayed rooted in place, watching them go. Following them would only make things worse, pushing their suspicion or fear over the edge.

Still, where was the child? Was he cared for by a nanny?

I couldn't exactly march into their apartment to find out. Instead, I went to the property management office, left the gifts with them, and casually asked if they could pass them along. While I was there, I tried to bring up the child in conversation.

"Their grandson? Oh, he's doing just fine," the property staff said. "They dotes on him. They take him out to play every day-usually near the playground."

He gestured toward a small play area within the community.

"They treat that boy like gold," he added. "Though I heard he's been under the

weather with a cold. They even brought in a doctor to care for him. See over there? He pointed across the way.

Following his direction, I spotted a middle-aged woman gently pushing a baby carriage near the playground.

He continued, "Even if you say you're a friend of their son, the couple doesn't want to hear it. You might as well take those gifts back. They'll just toss them."

That caught me off guard. Desmond's parents weren't just cautious-they were set in their ways.

I decided not to push further. Still, I left the gifts with the property management.

Curiosity pulled me toward the playground, hoping to catch a glimpse of Desmond's child. As Lena had said, he was the cutest, chubbiest little thing. His fair skin looked impossibly soft, and his eyes sparkled like tiny stars. The baby noticed me watching and flashed the sweetest, gummy smile.

That smile-it could thaw the iciest heart. I couldn't help but take a few steps closer. "Hi there," I murmured.

"Keira?!"

The familiar voice startled me, and I looked up to see a woman 'standing nearby. It took a second to place her, but I recognized her immediately-Whitney. She used to work with Lena at the hospital. I'd run into her a few times during my visits back then.

"You're a family doctor now?" I asked, genuinely surprised.

"Yeah," Whitney replied. "After leaving the hospital, I struggled to find a good job, so I ended up opening a private family clinic."

As we talked, the baby in the stroller began squirming. Whitney picked him up, patting his back, but he kept stretching his little arms toward me.

"Oh, you want me to hold you?" I teased, holding my hands out.

Whitney chuckled and passed him to me.

The second he was in my arms, his tiny hands grabbed at my cheeks, tugging at my lips, and then he nuzzled his head into my neck.

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That soft, warm weight against me sent a wave through my chest. I pressed my cheek to his fluffy little head, like the whole world had melted into something warm and tender. "This poor little guy," Whitney sighed. "He's never been held by his mother."

My chest ached for him. He was so innocent and so sweet. I couldn't help it-I kissed his soft, chubby cheek.

Then Whitney's phone buzzed, cutting through our conversation. She answered quickly, and as she listened, her expression tensed.

It didn't take much to figure out who was on the other end.

"His grandparents want me to take the baby back home right away," she said after hanging up. "They don't want him interacting with strangers."

I knew exactly who they meant. Whitney did too. She gave me an apologetic smile, muttered a few polite words, and gently took the baby from my arms. before walking away.

"I didn't leave right away. Instead, I stood there, watching her disappear with that soft little bundle of warmth. He'd left an imprint on my heart in such a short time.

There was something about him-so calming, so innocent.

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The thought hit me out of nowhere. 'I want a child like that."

I drove away from Desmond's parents' place and back to work. On the way, I tried calling Demi-straight to

voicemail.

Wayne's info had to be solid, so if she wasn't picking up, it was because she was avoiding me. Frustrated, I shot her a text:

[Demi, if you still consider me a friend, pick up my call.]

Nothing. No reply. Not even a tead receipt. Just silence.

Guess I'd have to track her down myself.

***

Technically, I was still on the clock, but my boss wasn't exactly strict. Without hesitation, I booked a flight to Lindale. Just as I confirmed the ticket, Ron walked in, water glass in hand. "You've been way too chill lately," he said, plopping into the chair across from me.

I didn't need a crystal ball to know what he meant. He'd probably seen the latest headlines about me. "What? Here to pile on more work?" I deadpanned.

"Obviously," he shot back. "If I don't, you'll just cause more chaos. And if things go south again, I swear Hayden will rise from the grave to haunt me."

"He wouldn't," I said lightly, but my mind drifted. The amusement park, the lights, that feeling that wouldn't leave me-Hayden wasn't dead. He was out there, pulling strings. I could feel it.

"Doesn't matter if he would or not," Ron continued. "You're following company policies now, starting today. Screw up, and there'll be consequences."

"Fines? Go for it," I shrugged. Money wasn't exactly my problem.

Lena always joked I was a "three-no" person-no parents, no kids, no husband. If I died tomorrow, my fortune would just vanish into thin air.

Might as well spend it while I was alive, right?

"Be serious," Ron snapped.

"I am," I nodded. "Fine me, I'll pay. No complaints. But heads up-I need tomorrow off. And the next day."

"Denied!" he barked, trying to play boss for once,

I didn't flinch. I just held up my phone with the flight confirmation on display. "Tickets are booked, so you can either cover for me or I quit. Your choice."

Ron froze. After a pause, he sighed. "You're absolutely insane. Fearless. Completely out of control."

"Obviously, I've got more money than I can burn, and I'm not here for the paycheck," I said with a smug grin, fully aware that a line like that could make anyone want to flip a desk. But hey, I wasn't wrong.

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I wasn't working here for the money. This place mattered to me because it had been Hayden's-still buzzing with memories of us.

"Fine," Ron threw up his hands. "You win. But this is the last time. Don't even think about making this a habit." He shook his head as he muttered, "Even if my grandma showed up, she wouldn't get this kind of treatment." That made me laugh. "Thanks, grandson. You're making Grandma so proud right now."

"You-"

Then, we both cracked up, and for the first time in forever, I felt like I was genuinely laughing.

Then Ron's tone shifted. He traced the rim of his glass awkwardly before blurting out, "By the way... last night... did you really-uh, you know?"

I raised a brow, pretending not to follow. "Really what?"

He cleared his throat. "The whole... hotel thing. You weren't seriously hanging out with those guys, right? Keira, if you're going to find someone, at least aim higher."

The way he squirmed gave him away-someone had definitely put him up to this.

I titled my head. "Wow, you seem super invested in my love life. Any reason why?"

He avoided my gaze and gulped his water like it was his only lifeline.

I leaned in, studying him. "Hold up. Don't tell me..." I paused for dramatic effect. "You're into me too, huh?"

And that was it.

PFFT-

Ron choked, sputtering water straight onto my face.

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Demi's call came in while I was in the bathroom, wiping Ron's splash attack off my face.

"Keira." Her voice was flat, almost hollow-so unlike the Demi I used to know. She used to talk like every sentence was lit with fireworks, sharp and alive. Now? That fire was gone.

I didn't know every detail of what happened, but her suicide attempt had left a mark. She wasn't the same, and it broke my heart to hear it.

"If you didn't call me soon, I was about to come hunt you down myself," I said, trying to inject some levity into my tone.

"Don't come. I'm fine," she cut in, her tone shaky.

I tossed the crumpled paper towel in the trash and leaned against the sink. "Fine? Sure, because that sounded convincing. Spill, Demi What's going on?"

She went quiet for so long I thought the call dropped. Then, finally, her voice cracked through the silence. "I have nothing left. Nothing And now I'm stuck with almost $500,000 in debt."

Wayne had mentioned her boyfriend before, so the pieces clicked fast-she'd been played. Scammed by someone she trusted.

I gritted my teeth. "And your grand solution was to kill yourself? Is that what your life is worth-half a million

• dollars?"

"My debt isn't just credit cards," Demi said, her voice shaking "It's payday loans... and loan sharks. When I couldn't pay, they started harassing me, calling nonstop Now they're threatening my parents." Guilt hit me like a gut punch. "Why didn't you call me?"

The second I asked, it clicked-I smashed my phone back then. Maybe she had tried to reach me. Maybe she'd called, and I just wasn't there

If I'd picked up, if I'd been there to loan her the money, maybe she wouldn't have tried to end her life. But it was too late for "what ifs" now

Thinking about how far she'd fled, I asked, "So, you're in Lindale now? Working to pa, Loff?"

She let out a faint "mm-hmm," but I wasn't buying it. Lindale? With no connections and only a high school diploma? She wasn't finding some magical high-paying gig there.

Even if she pulled in $3,000 or $4,000 a month-which was a stretch-that was barely $36,000 to $48,000 a year. Half a million in debt? That'd take her ten years. And that's if she didn't spend a dime on herself. That kind of endless grind would break her long before she ever made a dent in that debt.

And her parents? They'd never survive the stress of her being so far away.

"Come back," I said, the words tumbling out before I could overthink it. "Work for me. I'll pay you $500,000 upfront as an advance on your salary." As soon as I said it, I realized this was what wealth was really for-

helping the people you love without hesitation

But Demi's answer hit me like a slap "No"

"What? Why? I blurted, completely thrown

I know $500,000 is nothing to you, but I borrowed that money," she said, her voice shaking "I can't just take yours to pay it off. And what if I can't even repay you? I need to do this on my own."

"Are you serious right now?" I snapped, frustration bubbling over. I'm not asking for repayment, Demi! There's no deadline, no pressure. Just let me help you*

"Drop it, Keira," she said, her tone final. I'm not doing anything stupid again. Isn't that enough? Then she hung up before I could argue.

tried calling back, but she wouldn't answer.

What a stubborn girl.

But there was no way I was going to sit back and let her struggle like this. If she wouldn't come to me, I'd just have to go to her. My mind was made up-I was flying to Lindale. Before heading to Lindale, I decided to pay a visit to Demi's so-called boyfriend, Jorian Kay.

The fact that this guy shared my last name? Yeah, that felt like a personal insult.

Wayne had tipped me off about his whereabouts, so setting up a meeting was easy.

Jorian showed up looking put together-buzz cut, pale skin, sharp features. Not exactly handsome, but there

was a certain neatness about him, like he wanted to seem approachable.

Too bad appearances don't mean squat. A guy can look polished and still be trash underneath.

"Ms. Kay," he said smoothly, clearly recognizing me. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"

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Of course. A guy like him-a leech who targets women-would have a knack for spotting wealthy, attractive targets.

If Jorian recognized me, he'd already done his homework. He might've even targeted me before.

"What do you think I'm here for?" I asked, letting the sarcasm drip.

Jorian didn't flinch. "It's about Demi, right?"

So, he knew. No point playing dumb. "Yeah," I said. "What did you do to her? And don't give me the I want the truth."

cop version-

"I'm not obligated to tell you anything," he replied smoothly, like he thought he still had some leverage.

I raised a brow. "Then what'll it take for you to talk?"

Honestly, he was in no position to negotiate. Even if I offered him cash, he wouldn't be able to spend it from behind bars. But he held up two fingers.

I let out a sharp laugh. "Seriously? Aren't you worried about adding extortion to your rap sheet? And even if I gave you the cash, you can't spend it behind bars."

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"It's not for me," he said, serious now. "It's for my parents.

That caught me off guard. As much as I despised him, his loyalty to his family was... something.

"I'm afraid if I showed up at your parents' doorstep with money, they'd be too scared to take it," I said bluntly. That shut him up.

After a pause, he admitted, "I didn't hurt Demi. I just tricked her into giving me some money."

Yeah, right. "If that's all you did, why would she try to kill herself?"

He looked away, silent. Guilty.

"If you really want someone to help your parents, you'd better start talking," I warned. "The mess you've made? It's wrecked their lives. They've probably lost every friend they had, thanks to you."

That got a reaction. His head shot up, eyes blazing. "You've met my parents? Are they being bullied? Damn it, if I ever get out of here, I'll kill those bastards who-"

He nearly jumped out of his seat, stopping only when an officer nearby barked at him to sit down.

"I haven't met your parents," I clarified. "But use your brain, Jorian. This is on you.'

Wayne had already filled me in-Jorian's debts and scams Had burned every bridge. His parents were left to pick up the pieces.

"Ms. Kay," he pleaded, "you're rich. Help me pay them back. I'll be your servant, your lackey-anything!"

I didn't bother responding. I wouldn't even want you as a lackey.! My silence was rejection enough.

His devotion to his parents was almost admirable, but they weren't entirely innocent. If they'd raised him with a shred of discipline, maybe he wouldn't have ended up this way-dragging everyone down with him. My money wasn't meant for people like Jorian.

When he realized I wasn't going to budge, his demeanor shifted. "If you're not going to help me, why should I tell

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you anything? Get out!" he snapped. Then, he stormed off.

"Did you ever force Demi to do anything?" I called after him.

Jorian froze. For a second, I thought he might actually answer. But without turning around, he resumed walking.

**

I left the detention center and caught a flight to Lindale that same night.

The address I had led me to a crumbling apartment complex in a cheap rental area.

The pathway to the building was a mess of cracks and weeds, and I carefully made my way down, checking the door numbers. Before I could find Demi's unit, a loud commotion up ahead stopped me cold. Three burly men stood pounding on a rusted door, their voices loud and aggressive.

"Hey, you worthless bitch! Get out here now! If you don't pay up today, we'll break the damn door down!"

My stomach twisted, and a cold chill ran down my spine. Demi.

Without thinking, I broke into a run toward the scene.

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"What do you think you're doing?" I shouted.

The men turned to look at me, their eyes scanning me from head to toe. One of them, his gaze practically dripping with greed. "Well, well. Since when does Lindale get girls this pretty?" Another one chimed in, "What's it to you, sweetheart? You looking to rent a place? Or are you friends with the lady in here?"

"Seems to me I was the one asking the questions," I said, my tone icy.

The man pounding on the door swaggered over, his expression oozing sleaze and menace. "We're just here looking for pretty girls. And look at that we found one."

As he spoke, he reached out a finger toward my chin.

I dodged his touch. He let out an amused "Huh."

He said, "Oh, feisty. I like that. Feisty girls are more fun."

He signaled his companions with a quick look. "Looks like this trip wasn't wasted after all," he said smugly.

Before I could react, they started closing in. I stepped back, dodging hands as they reached for me. The situation was spiraling fast when a voice broke through the chaos. "Stop! Let her go!"

Demi.

I whipped around just in time to see her charging toward us. She swung a stick without hesitation, landing a solid hit on one man's arm.

"You bitch!" one of the men snarled. "We've been looking for you, and here you are, walking straight into us!"

All their attention shifted to her now.

There was no way I was letting them hurt Demi. Spotting a loose brick on the ground, I grabbed it and hurled it at one of the men.

It hit him square in the shoulder, and he stumbled back with a yelp before spinning toward me.

I didn't move, didn't flinch. Ever since Hayden was gone, it was like something had ignited inside me a stubborn, unrelenting fire that refused to let me back down.

As he charged at me, I drove my leg into his gut. The kick landed hard, knocking the air out of him. He doubled over, clutching his stomach and stumbling, groaning in pain.

But there were still two others, and they'd managed to grab Demi. One of them was reaching for her hair when I shouted, "If you want your money, don't touch her!"

That stopped them. Both men froze, their heads snapping toward me.

Striding forward, I shoved one of them back and pulled Demi behind me. Fixing them with an icy glare, I asked, 'Where's the proof?"

"Proof?" They repeated, thrown off.

"The IOU. If you're here for money, you'd better have something to back it up."

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The men exchanged wary glances before one of them hurried over to the guy I'd kicked, rifling through his pocket. After a moment, he pulled out a crumpled piece of paper and unfolded it.

It was an IOU, handwritten and signed by Demi. The amount: $250,000. I recognized her handwriting instantly.

Behind me, Demi said nothing, her silence speaking volumes-it was real.

"This $250,000 is the principal," one of the men sneered. "With interest, it's $415,000 now."

Of course. Loan sharks-leeching off and squeezing people until there was nothing left.

I scanned the date on the IOU. Six months. In six months, the interest had ballooned to more than half the original loan.

"Your interest rate is ridiculous," I said flatly.

I had the money to pay, sure, but there was no way I'd feed into their greed. Giving in would only make them bolder, preying on more desperate people.

"The interest is all there, written clearly. She signed it and even pressed her thumbprint. Not a single cent less," one of them snapped, his tone defiant.

"That interest is illegal. I won't accept it. I'll give you $25,000 as interest. Push for more, and I'll call the cops to sort this out." I held up my phone. One of the men lunged at me, swiping for the phone, but I sidestepped easily. "If you want your money, don't try me."

That seemed to rattle them. They exchanged glances.

After a tense pause, one of them finally spoke. "Principal plus interest-total is $350,000. No less."

I kept my expression stone-cold, thumb hovering over the call button.

"Okay, okay! Total is $325,000!" one of them barked.

I didn't even blink.

"Fine!" another snapped, throwing up his hands in frustration. "$300,000, but that's as low as we'll go! And you pay right now!"

It was still more than they deserved, but at least it was a step down from their outrageous demands. I decided not to push further. "Give me the account details," I said curtly.

Chapter 649

 

The man fumbled with his phone and quickly rattled off an account number. Without hesitation, I transferred the $300,000.

"Now, the IOU," I demanded, holding out my hand.

They passed it over begrudgingly, one muttering under his breath, "Damn, didn't think you were this rich."

I met his gaze. "I'm not just rich-I have connections. If you ever come back to harass her again, you might hold the money, but I promise, you won't live long enough to spend it." Sometimes, you just have to bring the heat.

Their cocky smirks vanished as they slinked off, but one couldn't resist tossing a jab at Demi over his shoulder. "With a rich bestie like her, why take out a loan?" "Get lost!" I snapped.

They scurried off, but Demi didn't relax. Her whole body trembled.

"It's over now. They're gone," I said softly, stepping forward to pull her into a hug.

"Ahhhh-"

Her wail ripped through the silence, raw and full of anguish.

I didn't say anything. I just let her release everything she'd been bottling up for who knows how long.

When her tears finally slowed, she led me into her tiny rented apartment. One look around, and my chest tightened.

The walls were damp and spotted with mold. The space barely fit a narrow bed and a rickety table stacked with scraps of stale food.

Demi used to live with confidence. She wasn't wealthy, but she always had enough to live comfortably and freely. And now? This?

All because of a man.

I reached for her hand, but it wasn't how I remembered. Her fingers were rough, her palms dry and scattered with

tiny cuts.

I didn't need to ask. The answer was in her hands-she'd been working herself raw just to get by.

Still, she hadn't crossed any shady lines to make ends meet. That was something, at least.

Back at my hotel, I let her shower and gave her clean clothes. When she finally settled beside me on the bed, the silence between us broke. "It's the Drago family," she murmured.

I blinked, trying to catch up. "What?"

"They're from Seavora's Drago family," she said, and just like that, I pictured Thorsten Drago.

The whispers about their dirty money weren't exactly subtle.

I figured she was just scared, so I rubbed her back. "Don't worry. We'll steer clear of them."

 

Chapter 649

Demi grabbed my hand. "I remember... Cole Drago pursued you, didn't he?"

I frowned. Was this why she'd been so distant? Did she think I was tangled up with the Dragos?

"No. We were barely acquaintances. And even if he had, I'd never go-"

She cut me off, shaking her head.

"Keira, stay away from them," she said, her voice trembling, "They... They force girls to sleep with men."

Her words hit like ice water.

Everything suddenly made sense. Her suicide attempt-it wasn't just about that insane $500,000 debt. The Dragos had probably tried to make her sell her body to pay it off.

She'd run, not just from the money, but from the nightmare waiting behind it.

"Keira," she whispered again, trembling. "They're demons."

I pulled her close, murmuring soft reassurances until her trembling faded and she fell asleep. But me? Sleep wasn't even an option.

I stared into the dark, my thoughts racing with a mix of rage and resolve.

The Johnstons had sentenced my parents to die, but it was the Drago family who'd pulled the trigger. That wasn't something I could forgive or forget. I'd been biding my time, waiting for the perfect opening to destroy them all, Demi just handed me that opening.

But the cost? Her dignity. Her life, almost. It was too much.

I turned to her, curled up on the bed. She looked so fragile. Even in sleep, her body shook, and something sharp twisted in my chest.

Then my phone buzzed.

I picked it up without thinking, glancing at the screen.

It was a text from Lena:

[Rea, you've totally screwed me over.]

Chapter 650

Screwed her over?

I frowned, sending back a quick: [?]

Lena's reply came in hot: [Nate's here!]

Oh, the hotel stunt. I smirked, fingers flying across the screen: [Hope you enjoy the romantic alone time I created for you guys.]

Lena: [Romantic, my ass! I'm about to go into surgery!]

Me: [...]

***

Lena wasn't kidding, and no, the surgery wasn't some lame excuse to dodge Nate-it was real.

Sure, she could've handed it off to another doctor, but nope.

This was her subtle way of saying, 'Guess what, Nate? The universe doesn't orbit around you.'

Why should she rearrange her whole life just because he finally decided to pop back in after ghosting her for months in favor of work?

By the time she wrapped up, it was already pushing 11 p.m.

Her first move? Check her phone. Maybe Nate had sent a text-or even a string of desperate ones.

But

nope.

Nada. The notification bar was a wasteland.

She tapped on their chat. The conversation hadn't moved an inch since his earlier 'I'm back' message.

Seriously? Not even a how was it going after all these hours?

Was he actually mad about the whole hotel stunt?

Holding her phone, Lena mulled over the empty chat as she made her way to the nurses' station to update them on the latest.

Once that was done, she headed for the break room.

But the second she pushed the door open, she froze.

The lights were still on. And there, lounging on the couch was Nate. Polo shirt, tailored slacks-classic I'm- important-but-effortless Nate. Nate looked up. "Was the surgery successful?"

Lena snapped out of her daze. "Oh, yeah! It went fine. What are you doing here?"

"Waiting for you."

Her heart skipped a beat. "Uh, I was actually gonna come find you. Like, in a bit."

"Would you have?" Nate's tone carried a subtle intensity, pressing her for an answer.

She let out an awkward laugh. If she was being honest? Not a chance.

"I was just about to shower and, y'know, change," she mumbled, jerking her thumb toward the bathroom.

Chapter 650

 

But before she could make a break for it, his voice stopped her cold. "If you have sexual needs, why didn't you tell me?"

She tripped over her own feet, barely managing to stay upright.

When she looked up, he was already moving toward her, closing the gap between them. His gaze locked onto hers. "We're together, Lena. That means we don't hold back-not with emotions, not with... physical ones too." Lena, who'd seen and heard it all as a gynecologist, suddenly felt way out of her depth.

"I... I don't need anything," she stammered, bolting for the bathroom.

""But I do."

She froze, panic throwing off her coordination as she smacked right into the bathroom door with a loud thud.

Nate was at her side in seconds, his hand cradling the red mark on her forehead. He leaned in, gently blowing on it, his warm breath making her pulse go haywire.

Even after "everything" they'd been through overseas, moments like this still left her fumbling.

"I'll wait outside," he said softly, stepping out.

Lena slumped against the door, face in her hands.

When Lena stepped out of the shower, Nate was nowhere in the break room. She changed into fresh clothes and wandered into the hall, spotting him sitting on a bench. He looked totally zoned out, staring at nothing. She walked over, and his eyes met hers for a second before he stood up. Without warning, he reached out and ran his fingers through her damp hair. "Why didn't you dry this?"

"I didn't want to keep you waiting," she admitted.

"You don't have to rush," he said, his tone soft but kinda bossy. "Dry it next time. I don't want you catching a cold.

"1

Before she could protest, he grabbed her hand and pulled her back into the break room.

Grabbing the blow dryer, he started drying her hair himself.

The steady hum filled the room. She opened her mouth a couple of times to bring up the hotel stunt, but the words just wouldn't come out.