Ch. 681..690

Chapter 681

I wasn't sure if Jace was actually going to throw a punch, but standing there felt like its own kind of humiliation. Without saying a word, I spun on my heel and walked off, ditching the wheelchair for good. "What a waste of oxygen," Lena snapped at the crowd before rushing over to help me.

Once we were clear, she blurted out, "Rea, didn't he have a mole on his neck? Could he have had it removed? Did you check for scars?"!

Her question made it obvious-she still didn't believe Xander wasn't Hayden. I mean, that face was way too similar to his.

I shook my head. I hadn't believed it either, at first. I'd touched his neck, searching for anything-a scar, a clue, something-but there was nothing.

Lena caught my expression and frowned. She helped me sit down and asked again, "So, what do you think? Is it him or not?"

I hesitated. Sometimes your gut knows what your eyes can't, especially when anything can be faked these days.

"I don't know," I admitted quietly.

At first, I was so sure he was Hayden-hiding his identity, pretending not to know me. But the coldness in his voice earlier, the look in his eyes when he said he wanted to call the cops-it all felt wrong. Hayden loved me. He made me a charm bracelet, even ordered a custom ring for me. I still wear them both. No way he wouldn't have noticed.

If Xander were really Hayden, he wouldn't have acted so heartless, like I was just a stranger.

"If you're sure he isn't Hayden," Lena said, "then treat him like anyone else. Don't let it mess you up."

She was probably trying to keep me from getting hurt further.

I didn't respond, and she sighed. "Or, you know, there's always DNA testing. He's a Hart, right? Compare his DNA with his sister."

"That might be tricky," I muttered. Lena paused, but she didn't press further.

"What about other Harts?" she offered, then shook her head. "Yeah, they probably wouldn't cooperate either." She sighed. "You could've given him a kid. Then at least you'd have something to go on." DNA testing wasn't happening, but I wasn't out of options.

I was just... exhausted. The kind of tired that seeps into your bones. The second I got home, I passed out-a rare win after nights of no sleep.

When I woke up, my phone was loaded with missed calls-Jace, Wayne, Cole, Ron. All of them, blowing up my phone. I ignored every one. It was probably about Xander anyway.

"Xander," I mumbled, his face flashing through my mind. He wasn't Hayden. But why did he look exactly like him?

And why now? Why showed up right when I was digging into DracoLux? The timing wasn't random-it couldn't

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Cole had set up the male model stunt, which meant he must've known what Xander looked like. Heck, maybe Cole had sent Xander to me on purpose. But why? What was he playing at? Chapter 681

If Hayden had been killed by Wayne, and now Wayne and Cole were suddenly tight, wouldn't Cole worry about pissing Wayne off with something like this?

Then it hit me-Cole was planning something.

Xander's appearance wasn't a coincidence; it was part of a setup. But why did Xander look so much like Hayden?

I wasn't buying the "coincidence" theory anymore. Which meant I couldn't just ignore him. Whatever Cole's endgame was, I needed to figure it out.

Decision made, my mind cleared. I got out of bed, freshened up, and started doing my makeup. Halfway through, a text from Ron popped up: [Are you coming to the office today?] [Yes,] I replied.

He didn't respond, and I didn't press.

On my way in, I grabbed coffee and a sandwich.

The second I walked into the office, Ron was waiting, nodding toward the meeting room. "Someone's here to see you."

Chapter 682

1 muttered a half-hearted reply and headed for the meeting room without bothering to ask who was waiting

"Wait up," Ron called after me. "That model from yesterday-he's seriously not Hayden."

"I know," I said, biting the edge of my coffee cup. "I buried him myself."

Ron just nodded and let me go. That's when I saw who was waiting inside.

Jace.

His eyes fixed on me like he was trying to read my mind.

Too bad for him, I was in a great mood today. For the first time in weeks, I'd actually put on makeup. Heck, I'd even looked in the mirror before leaving and thought, 'Dang, I look good." Even the pain in my injured leg decided to chill out. Walking didn't hurt for once.

"You're late," Jace broke the silence as he checked me out, his tone super casual.

"Yeah, but my boss is cool. No pay dockings here," I shot back. His face froze for a second.

Back at RiverwaveCorp, being late meant fines, CEO's fiancée or not.

"I called yesterday, but you didn't answer. I even swung by your place, but the lights were off. I was worried," he said, his voice all concerned.

"I just went home and crashed," I replied, keeping it dry.

Jace's lips twitched. "I thought you'd be losing sleep."

"What for? Xander?" I asked bluntly. We both knew that's why he was here.

"He's not Hayden," Jace said, pulling out his phone. A second later, mine buzzed in my pocket.

"I had him looked into overnight. It's all there." He paused briefly, then added, "Hayden's gone, Rea. You saw it happen."

My grip tightened on the coffee cup. "I know Hayden's gone. I'm not mistaking Xander for him."

Jace relaxed a little-until I added, "Xander is Xander."

His eyes narrowed. "What's that supposed to mean?"

I sipped my coffee, leaving him hanging.

The vein in his temple popped. "Rea, stop. Hayden's gone. You loved him, not just his face."

"I mean, his face definitely didn't hurt," I said with a small laugh.

Jace looked stunned, like I'd slapped him.

"Ever heard of 'things trigger memories of people'?" I asked. "Now imagine someone who looks exactly like him showing up in front of me. What do you think that feels like?" "So what? You're going to treat Xander like he's Hayden? Use him as a stand-in to fill some void?"

Guess he was angry, because his voice shook.

"Stand-in?" I shook my head. "I'm not that heartless."

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"Then what are you saying?" Jace snapped, completely losing his cool.

I set my coffee down. "Whatever I mean, it's not your business anymore, is it?"

His face was dark with frustration. "Rea..."

"Jace, we agreed a long time ago to stay out of each other's lives. You don't get to stand here and question me." My voice came out colder than I'd expected. Yesterday, I told Lena to stop messing with Jace. Funny thing was, I couldn't even fully let go myself.

His face drained of color, and he dropped his gaze. "I know I don't have the right anymore. I just... I don't want to watch you spiral into the same pain again."

For a second, he hesitated, then reached for my hand. His throat bobbed as he struggled to find the words. "I messed up. You gave me exactly what I deserved-probably worse. But now..." He exhaled shakily. "I'm asking you for one more chance. Pretend I'm someone new. Someone you're just meeting for the first time."

His meaning was crystal clear. He wanted a do-over.

Chapter 683

I stared at Jace's face-so familiar, so tangled up in my past. How was I supposed to see him as a stranger?

But he needed to drop the idea. Forcing a faint smile, I said, "I already do."

His hand trembled against mine before I pulled away, stood up, and walked out.

Later, I skimmed the file he'd sent me. It matched what Cole told me the day before, with extra details about Xander's family. Clearly, Jace wanted me to know one thing: Xander wasn't Hayden. When I finished reading, I laughed.

Around noon, I called Cole back. Maybe he was salty I'd ignored him last night because he didn't pick up.

Whatever. I didn't bother calling again.

That evening, I headed to DracoLux. This time, I went straight to the lobby manager. "I'm here to see Cole. Tell him Ms. Kay is looking for him."

"Right this way, Ms. Kay!" The manager practically tripped over himself to help me-Cole had clearly prepped them for my arrival.

Smart move on his part. He probably figured I was digging for dirt and wanted to stay ahead of me.

In the room they showed me to, I kept it simple when they asked what I wanted: just fruit and drinks, no mention of Xander.

If Cole wanted to dangle him as bait, I'd let him squirm for a bit.

"It didn't take long for Cole to stroll in. "Knew you'd show up today."

"I'm here to settle the bill," I replied, sliding a check across the table. The amount was exactly what we'd agreed

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Cole ignored it, his gaze pinned on me. "That's it? Just settling the bill?"

"What else? Looking for someone to spend the night with?" I asked, matching his tone.

"Too bad-Xander's on leave. You won't see him for a while," Cole said, his smirk dripping with mischief.

"Who said it had to be him?" I replied.

He rubbed his nose awkwardly.

"You're not... interested in Xander?" he asked.

"He's a knockoff with a recycled face," I shot back. "I'm not dumb enough to mistake a toy for the real thing."

One sentence, and I'd cut Xander down to nothing.

Message sent: I wasn't biting on Cole's bait.

Cole nodded. "Typical Johnston flair. Your taste really is top-notch."

"Take the check," I said, pressing the call button for staff. Send in two people to pour drinks,"

Cole pocketed the check, still smiling. "Tonight's on me. Take as many male models as you want."

I didn't hold back. I called in a few more guys and let them sit around, sipping drinks. They were getting paid anyway, so why not?

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Chapter 683

Of course, I slipped Xander's name into the conversation here and there, but none of them cracked They'd clearly been warned to keep their mouths shut.

I didn't push it. Forcing answers wasn't worth the energy. By 10 p.m., I'd had enough and left.

For the next few days, I stayed away from DracoLux. Meanwhile, Wayne cranked up his charm. Unlike Jace, he was smart-he didn't bring up Xander at all.

Since he avoided it, so did L. When he asked me to dinner, I agreed. I knew Cole had eyes on me and wasn't about to give anything away too soon.

A week later, I returned to DracoLux. That's when I spotted Xander, heading into a private room with a pack of male models.

Minutes later, the sound of glass shattering and yelling came from their direction

Something was definitely off. I didn't think twice-I got up and rushed toward the chaos.

Inside, Xander stood in the middle of the mess, broken glass scattered around him. He faced a group of big shots.

Chapter 684

First thing I did? Check Xander over. No blood, no cuts, but his face was pale-scared pale.

Hayden wouldn't have looked like that, I thought before I could stop myself. Yeah, just one more reminder Xander wasn't him.

Still, that didn't mean I could just bounce and leave him there. I stepped through the mess, crunching glass under my high heels, and stopped at his side. "What happened?"

Xander didn't answer, just stared at me. Disgust flickered in his eyes.

Before I could say anything else, one of the big guys barked "Who the hell are you?"

Another guy yanked him back, whispering, "She's with the Johnston family."

The first guy squinted at me like I was under a microscope, then sneered. "Didn't Jace Johnston already ditch her?"

God, how gross.

And yet, Jace had the gall to think we could start over? If I did go back, this? This ridicule would never stop.

"Keira Kay," I said, my voice sharp. "And he's with me. Whatever he did, I'll handle it."

"Handle it? Who even are you?" the same guy snorted, his tone dripping with disrespect. He was clearly the loudmouth of the group, acting like his opinion was the only one that mattered.

It was painfully obvious he was trying to make things harder for me on purpose.

Just responding to this jerk felt like giving him more credit than he deserved.

I grabbed Xander's arm and tugged. "We're leaving.

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He didn't budge at first, but after a second pull, he followed. Almost.

Before we got far, the jerk spat out one more insult: "Unbelievable. People like you think you run the place."

The insults didn't stop there, each one slimier than the last Yeah, leaving peacefully clearly wasn't an option.

I let go of Xander's arm, spun around, and grabbed a glass ashtray off the table. Without hesitation, I chucked it. The dull crack as it hit his face was oddly satisfying. Blood immediately smeared across his nose and cheeks. The room froze. Jaws dropped.

Then the yelling started. "Get security!"

The door burst open, and for a second, I thought reinforcements had arrived for Team Jerk. But no-one of them stormed in asked me, "Ms. Kay, are you alright?" Just like that, the jerk squad went dead quiet.

Relieved, I exhaled but kept my cool. I pointed at that jerk and said, dripping with disdain, "Trash like this shouldn't even be allowed in here. It's polluting the air." One of the guards nodded. "Don't worry, Ms. Kay. We'll handle it."

As the bodyguards moved to deal with the troublemakers, I grabbed Xander and walked out.

Once we were clear, I steadied my breath and turned to him. "Are you hurt?"

He didn't respond, just fixed me with a cold, almost accusing look.

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Chapter 684

I laughed. "What's with the face? I just saved you. A 'thank you' wouldn't kill you."

"You think pulling a stunt like that makes me grateful? Like I'll just turn into your personal puppet?" His words sliced through the moment, sharper than I expected.

Ah. That explained the ice earlier. He thought this whole thing was my grand scheme.

"Wow." I let out a dry laugh. "Your imagination's impressive, but let's get one thing straight-you're not worth that much effort."

I lifted my hand. My fingers brushed his cheek, and that's when I noticed the streak of red. My blood, dripping from tiny cuts I hadn't even realized I had.

Still, I didn't pull away. Xander didn't flinch either, just stared as my bloodied fingers trailed his skin.

"Xander Zane," I said, "your face reminds me of someone I loved. But you're not him. And you're not worth me going to such lengths."

Then I dropped my hand and walked away.

His doubt annoyed me, sure. But the truth? I couldn't blame him. My timing was way too perfect. Even I would've been suspicious.

 

Chapter 685

Thinking back, something about today felt... off. I hadn't been to DracoLux in days, but the second I show up, Xander's there, and chaos breaks loose? Yeah, no way that a coincidence. Someone had to be pulling strings.

1 spotted the guy from earlier-my ashtray victim-lingering in the parking lot. Stepping in front of him, I snapped, "Talk. Who sent you to start this mess?"

His face was still smeared with blood. It might've freaked me out once, but these days? Not so much. Guess I'd grown tougher than I realized.

"I-I don't know what you're talking about," he stammered though his panicked eyes said otherwise.

Look, violence isn't ideal, but let's be real-It gets results. One ashtray to the face, and suddenly this guy had a whole new attitude.

I glanced around the dim parking lot, a chuckle slipping out.

He flinched. "Ms. Kay, please don't make this harder than it has to be."

"It's not hard. You tell me the truth, I leave. Easy, right?" I said, fixing my gaze on him.

His panic bubbled up. "I can't. If I do, I'm a dead man."

Classic. He wasn't scared of me-yet-but he was definitely scared of someone.

I smirked. "Okay, how about this? I'll name names, and you just nod or shake your head. Sound fair?"

"Ms. Kay..."

"Johnston family," I said casually, watching every micro-flinch. The way he froze was all the confirmation I needed.

I gave him a second, then tossed out another name. "Jace Johnston?"

Bingo. His face drained of color.

"Please," he begged, stumbling over his words. "Don't go after Mr. Johnston. If you do... I'm done for!"

I didn't bother answering, just turned and walked away, letting him stew. In the reflection of a car mirror, I saw him fumble for his phone, his fingers trembling as he called someone-probably Jace.

Typical Jace. Always pulling the strings, not just to humiliate Xander, but to shove it in my face. Like, 'Look how pathetic he is. He's no Hayden.' It wasn't subtle-he wanted me to drop the last tiny shred of hope I still had. To finally let Hayden go. Seriously, how much time and effort had he wasted on this petty little scheme? Just the thought made my blood boil.

Before I could dwell on it, a low rumble broke through the quiet. Headlights flicked on, bright and blinding, aimed straight at me.

Oh, crap.

I turned to move, but something yanked me back hard. Next thing I knew, I was hitting the ground, rolling over like we were in some action movie.

The car roared past, its engine fading into the distance. When I finally blinked the stars out of my eyes, I looked up at the person who'd just tackled me out of the way.

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Chapter 685

"Hayden..." His name slipped out before I could stop myself, but I swallowed it back just as fast.

It wasn't Hayden. It was Xander.

What the actual-?

Still sprawled on top of him, I stared, trying to process why he of all people had just saved me. I mean, this guy hated my guts.

He shoved me off him with a grunt, stood up, and dusted himself off like nothing had happened. Then, without a word, he held out his hand.

"Thanks," I mumbled as I stood, trying to keep my cool.

"Where's your car?" he asked.

I blinked, still trying to settle my nerves. When I didn't answer fast enough, he sighed. "We're going to the hospital."

Wait-was he hurt? He'd definitely taken the brunt of that fall. "Are you okay?" I asked.

Instead of answering, he just held out his hand, fingers twitching impatiently. "Keys."

I handed them over, too rattled to argue. He beeped the car and started walking, only to stop and grab my arm when I didn't move fast enough.

Before I knew it, I was in the passenger seat, and he was behind the wheel.

Once I'd pulled myself together, I blurted out, "Why did you save me?"

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Chapter 686

"Returning the favor."

 

Xander's reply was blunt, and I immediately caught the hifit of that earlier misunderstanding he had about me.

"So, you just happened to show up when I was in danger? Should I be suspicious you staged the whole thing?" I shot back, using his own accusation against him.

He didn't flinch, his eyes fixed on the road. "I'm sorry. I was wrong about you."

Wait-what? I froze. He'd figured it out that fast?

"Earlier, I overheard that fat guy on the phone. Today's setup was orchestrated by Wayne Johnston of RiverwaveCorp."

I froze. That guy had clearly mentioned Jace...

"You don't believe me?" He glanced my way briefly. "I recorded it."

Without missing a beat, he handed me his phone. The screen lit up, and I tapped the recording.

[Boss, it's done. Ms. Kay thinks it was Jace Johnston...]

My hand trembled slightly, but it wasn't fear-it was disbelief. Wayne had really gone this far?

It all added up now. Jace refusing to let me go must've pushed Wayne to the edge, desperate enough to pull something like this.

Then my thoughts veered to Hayden, to that time Wayne's schemes had nearly taken him out. Back then, it was all about eliminating Hayden, Jace, and Steve in one go. I hadn't fully grasped just how far gone Wayne was even then. Wayne's obsession with me had spiraled into something dark, something unhinged. Even his own brother was disposable.

If he can't have me, would he kill me too?

A man like him-so extreme-might destroy what he couldn't control.

A chill raced down my spine. Outwardly, Wayne always played the part of the charming, warm guy. But how had he ended up like this?

Or worse-had he always been this way, just hiding behind a mask?

The weight of it all settled over me, leaving me silent the rest of the drive to the hospital.

When we finally stopped, Xander spoke first.

"Who do you think was trying to hit you back there?"

Wait, what?

I blinked, caught off guard. The memory of the car's blinding headlights came rushing back. Honestly, I'd shoved that moment so far out of my head I'd almost forgotten it.

The scene replayed in my head-the car barreling toward me with clear intent. If it weren't for Xander, I would've been either dead or seriously injured.

Who would actually try to kill me?

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I couldn't think of anyone I'd crossed recently, at least not to that extent.

 

"Come on," Xander said, snapping me out of my thoughts. He stepped out of the car, circled around, and opened my door.

I got out, but the moment I put weight on my still-healing knee, It buckled. Xander grabbed my arm before I hit the ground.

"Thanks," I mumbled, pulling my arm free once I'd steadied myself. Then I glanced at him. "Where are you hurt? What department are you going to?"

"Follow me, and you'll find out," he said, already walking ahead.

I sighed and trailed after him.

Xander led me straight to the emergency department and told me to wait while he handled the receptionist. It felt... off, like I was the one who needed help. He didn't even seem hurt. So why were we here?

Before I could ask, a nurse called me over. Confused, I followed her into a treatment room. She gestured for me to sit down and hold out my hand. ""Why?" I asked.

"You've got glass shards in your finger. We need to remove them," the nurse said.

Wait, what?

Before I could process that, Xander walked in.

He handed the nurse a receipt, and she immediately launched into a complaint. "Your girlfriend's scared and not cooperating. Can you help her?"

An innocent mistake, but still-it caught me completely off guard. I shouldn't have cared. I'd been in two relationships before. This shouldn't even register.

Yet, my face heated as I rushed to deny it. "I'm not-"

Xander cut me off. "Give me your hand."

I hesitated, but he didn't. His fingers wrapped around mine, turning my hand palm up. "Look here," he said.

I glanced down at my left hand and froze. The pad of my middle finger was smeared with dried blood. I'd noticed it earlier when I touched him but hadn't thought much of it. "There's a shard of glass in there," Xander explained. "If you don't get it out, it'll hurt like hell and probably get infected. Then it'll take even longer to heal."

Without waiting, he guided my hand toward the nurse, keeping his grip steady on my wrist.

He was close.

Close enough for me to catch the clean, fresh scent of his shampoo.

Close enough for me to notice his neck-smooth, unmarked. No mole like Hayden's. No scars from laser removal.

Chapter 687

A sharp sting snapped me back.

"Ow!" I flinched, trying to pull my hand away, but Xander's grip didn't budge.

"Stay still," he said, his voice low, calm-soft, even. "It'll be over in a second."

This guy. His mood swings were wilder than a summer storm, and I was no closer to figuring him out. The nurse worked quickly, skilled and efficient. In no time, she pulled out a glass shard and held it up like a trophy. "See? It's pretty big. If you hadn't gotten this out, it

would've just kept hurting, stuck like that."

I stared at the shard, trying to remember when I could've gotten it. It must've been when I smashed that ashtray earlier.

The nurse disinfected my wound and wrapped it with a bandage. Just like that, I was done. Good to go.

"Thank you," Xander said to the nurse and finally released my hand.

I pulled it back awkwardly, staring at the bandage for a beat before looking at him. "What about you?"

"What about me?" Xander blinked, then caught on. "I'm fine. Not a scratch."

Okay, that didn't add up. Considering he'd just played superhero, dodging a car and rolling us across the ground, he should've at least had, like, dirt on him or something.

Guess his soft-boy vibes were just for show.

As we stepped out of the treatment room, I gave him a side-eye. "Alright, spill. What's your deal? Payback? * Revenge?"

a

I couldn't ignore how much his attitude toward me had flipped. It was sus.

"Hm?" He tilted his head, feigning ignorance.

"Don't you, like, hate me? So what's with this whole 'saving my life' thing?" I waved my bandaged hand for dramatic effect.

"You got hurt because of me," he said, like it was the most obvious thing in the world. "Bringing you to a doctor seemed... fair."

"Fine, great. My hand's fixed, drama's over. We're square," I said, swiping at him like a cat batting at string. Out of nowhere, he hit me with, "Do I really look that much like the person you're in love with?"

I froze, my eyes flicking to his face. "At first? Yeah. But now?" I shrugged. "Not so much."

"You helped me earlier because of this face, didn't you?" He wasn't wrong.

I nodded. "Yup. This face means a lot to me. If something happened to it, I'd lose... a piece of him."

He didn't say anything, so I smiled faintly. "But I know you're not him."

I turned to leave, but as we brushed past each other, he threw me off again. "Does your offer to 'keep me' still stand?"

I stopped dead in my tracks and spun around. "Wait-now you're saying yes?"

He flushed slightly. "Between managing a bunch of clients or just... entertaining you, I'd rather stick with one

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person. Specifically you."

I let out a soft laugh. "So now you want to be my kept man?

His face was all business. "Do you still feel the same way as before?"

The nerve of him. When I was dead serious about it, he shot me down without a second thought. Now that I've moved on? Suddenly, he's interested. Typical.

I smirked. "And if I said no? Would you be disappointed?"

"I would." His gaze locked onto mine. "I hope you'll reconsider."

Reconsider? Yeah, no. Nobody tells me how to feel.

I raised an eyebrow. "Look, what I said back then was just impulsive. I was grieving, okay? It wasn't about you-it was about your face. But now? You're not him. So what's the point of 'keeping' you? To stare at you all day?" "I can cook for you. I'm a great cook," he replied, dead serious.

That hit harder than it should've. For a second, I thought about Hayden. His cooking. The way I hadn't eaten a real meal at home since... since he wasn't there anymore.

Xander had no idea the nerve he just struck.

"Really?" I said. "Show me your hands."

He stretched out his hands. His fingers were clean, smooth-zero calluses. I couldn't hold back a laugh. "With hands like those, you expect me to believe you're some kind of kitchen god?"

"Why don't you give me a shot and find out?" Xander said, his tone light but with just enough persuasion to make me raise an eyebrow.

I decided to play along. "Fine. If you can cook something I actually like, I'll 'keep' you-for the food, of course." "Can we start now?" He sounded way too eager.

I nodded, stepping closer to him. "Your place or mine?

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I stood close enough that my voice dropped to a soft, teasing lilt. It was on purpose I wanted to see how far I could push him.

They say men are terrible at resisting a little flirting. Time to test the theory.

"Your place," I murmured, adding just enough suggestion.

But Xander didn't even blink. Cool as ever, he stepped back, putting a safe gap between us. "Let's go to yours."

It was almost irritating how unshakable he was, like Hayden had been when we first met. Always calm, always in control, no matter how hard I tried to trip him up.

I took him back to my apartment, and while he got to work in the kitchen, I stayed in the living room, stealing glances at him.

He tied on the apron Hayden used to wear. The way he moved-washing, chopping, everything methodical and precise-it hit me like déjà vu. For a split second, it felt like Hayden was right there.

I let myself believe it, just for a moment.

But then reality crept in like always, poking holes in my fantasy, and the cycle started all over again. Believe, doubt. Doubt, believe. Rinse, repeat.

Curled up on the couch with my knees to my chest, I stared at Xander, totally lost in my own head, when my phone buzzed. Yuna.

"Keira, you're not asleep, right?" she asked, her voice careful.

"Nope, waiting for dinner," I said, not taking my eyes off Xander.

"This late? You haven't eaten yet? What'd you do-takeout or cooking?"

I flopped onto my side, making myself comfortable. "Cooking."

"You're cooking?" Yuna asked. "If Hayden were here, he'd never let you cook for yourself." She hesitated, then added, "Keira, have you talked to him recently? I still can't get through. It's making me nervous." "Yeah, we've been in touch," I said, barely paying attention as I watched Xander stir the pumpkin cream soup.

Three stirs. Exactly three.

Hayden used to do that-every single time he made cream soup. Not once or twice, but like it was hardwired into him. And now Xander was doing it too.

Was that even possible? Just a coincidence?

I was so thrown I didn't even catch what Yuna said next. Before I knew it, I was on my feet, drifting toward the kitchen. "Hayden..." The name slipped out without thinking. Xander turned to me. "Hmm?"

Yuna's voice lit up on the phone. "Wait, are you calling Hayden? Is he back?"

I froze under Xander's curious stare, then quickly ducked my head and stepped onto the balcony. "No," I said, my voice flat.

"Then why'd you say his name?" Yuna teased.

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"I miss him," I mumbled, keeping it vague.

She sighed, soft and almost pitiful. "I miss him too. When's he coming back?"

I'd lied to her so many times already. One more, and she'd probably stop believing me altogether.

My eyes drifted toward the kitchen, catching Xander's faint reflection in the balcony glass. "Soon," I said quietly.

"Soon?" Yuna pressed, not letting up. "Like, how soon? Days? Weeks?"

I bit my lip. "In the next couple of days."

Her voice brightened immediately. "Really? Then I'll go with you to pick him up!"

I froze. I hadn't exactly planned that far ahead. Where was supposed to take her to "pick him up"?

"You don't have to do all that," I said quickly. "When he gets here, we'll visit you together."

"Alright," Yuna said. "Just promise me you'll bring him to see me right away."

"I promise," I said, just as Xander shut off the stove.

"I'm about to eat. Get some rest and don't stay up too late," I said, cutting the call short with a quick reminder.

Xander walked out of the kitchen, carrying the food. The smell hit instantly-warm, cozy, like something you'd dream of on a rainy night.

I've eaten at the best places, tried every fancy dish you could imagine, but none of it ever felt like this. Like home. As the scent of pumpkin cream soup filled the room, my chest tightened. My eyes stung, and I swallowed hard. It wasn't the food itself-it was the feeling. The warmth. The kind of comfort I hadn't had in what felt like forever.

And then there was Xander, standing there with Hayden's face, steady and familiar. For a second, it was like Hayden had found his way back to me.

Chapter 689\Chapter 689

"Come and eat," Xander called.

I didn't move, just watched him as he set the table. "Come on, give it a taste," he coaxed.

 

Under the soft dining room light, he looked so much like Hayden. The way he moved, the way he stirred the soup earlier-everything about it was familiar.

You can fake a lot of things, but those tiny habits? The stuff you don't even realize you're doing? That's harder to fake.

So... Xander had to be Hayden, right?

That thought pulled me to my feet. I walked over and stopped behind him. Before I even knew what I was doing, I wrapped my arms around him, resting my face against his back. His body tensed, but he didn't pull away. Instead, he said softly, "The food's ready."

"You're Hayden, aren't you?" I whispered.

Xander didn't say a word.

Imoved around to face him, gently grabbing his shoulders to turn him toward me. "There's no one else here, just us. You can tell me the truth. Please... tell me you're Hayden. Okay?"

"I'm not," he said, his voice cutting through the fragile hope I'd been holding onto.

"I'm Xander," he repeated.

I let go

of his hand. "I'm sorry," I murmured. "It's just... when you're wearing that apron and cooking like that, you're exactly like Hayden. Even the way you stir soup with your left hand, three times, is just like him." His jaw tightened, "That's just a coincidence."

"Yeah," I said with a bitter smile. "A coincidence. Such a perfect coincidence it keeps making me think you're him.

11

I sank into the dining chair, stabbed a piece of roasted zucchini with my fork, and took a bite. The second it hit my tongue, my brow furrowed.

Xander caught it immediately. "What's wrong? Is it bad? Too salty? Too bland?"

I didn't answer right away. The issue wasn't the flavor. The zucchini didn't taste like Hayden's cooking.

So, he wasn't Hayden.

This man kept dragging me to the edge of hope and doubt, over and over, until my emotions were rubbed raw. "Hm?" Xander prompted again, still waiting patiently.

I put down the fork and lied. "It's not good."

He didn't seem phased. "I'll make it again," he said, already halfway to the kitchen.

"Don't bother," I called after him.

"It's no trouble. I can whip up something else," he insisted, like he had to prove himself-like being dismissed wasn't an option.

+25 BOWS

Chapter 689

"I know you can," I said. "But save it for another night. It's late."

That stopped him, and for some reason, my words made his eyes brighten.

"So, you're saying I'll get another chance to cook for you?"

For a moment, I just stared at him, wondering if he really wanted to stay in my life. Then I gave a small nod. "I'll have the cream soup."

If nothing else, the way he stirred it-three times, with his left hand-was exactly like Hayden. Maybe it would taste like him, too.

And it did. The soup was rich, and almost perfect. Close enough to Hayden's.

"You should eat too," I said, gesturing to the spread. "I can't finish all this on my own, and it'd be a waste."

He sat down across from me. We ate in silence.

Neither of us said a word until the meal was almost done. That's when the promise I'd made to Yuna popped back into my head.

"Would you be willing to play Hayden for me?" I asked, breaking the quiet.

Xander's hand halted mid-motion. His eyes flicked to mine, a mix of curiosity and hesitation written all over his face.

"Don't get the wrong idea," I said quickly. "It's not anything weird. I just need you to help me act out a scene." That seemed to relax him, and he went back to eating. "There'll be an extra charge for that." "Fine. But if you mess it up, I'm not paying, and there'll be a penalty."

Xander was clearly unbothered. "Fair enough. Just so we're clear, though-this scene doesn't involve anything romantic or intimate."

That did it-I lost it. Mid-sip of my cream soup, I burst out laughing, accidentally spraying some onto his shirt. Xander didn't even flinch. He just grabbed a napkin, calm as ever, and wiped himself off. "If you wanted me to stay the night," he said smoothly, "you could've just asked. No need for tricks like this."

X

Chapter 690

I froze.

Did he just... reverse-rizz me?

 

My cheeks went hot, and I realized too late that I'd totally walked into his trap. All this time, I'd pegged him as some clueless rookie, but nope-dude was playing in the major leagues. Not bad.

I fought back a smirk, keeping my expression cool. "Don't flatter yourself."

I put down my bowl, breezed over to the couch, and turned on the TV.

Meanwhile, Xander was annoyingly unbothered. He cleaned the table-wiping off the soup I'd accidentally sprayed on him, washing the dishes, even tidying up the kitchen.

"Mind if Luse your bathroom?" he asked

"Knock yourself out," I said, keeping mo

But I couldn't shake his earlier comm normal.

eyes glued to the screen.

It lingered, like a song stuck in my head, making it impossible to act

Maybe it was because part of me really had thought about him staying over.

"I'm gonna take a shower," Xander added, snapping me out of my spiral.

He stood there, cool as ever, like he was darin

me to twist his innocent comment into something inappropriate.

I noticed the dried soup in his hair and gave him a quick nod.

"Do you have any clothes I could change into?" he asked, pushing his luck.

I shut my eyes for a second, fighting the urge to snap, 'No, wear the soup.'

Then he added, "Even old clothes are fine."

And boom. Subtext. Loud and clear. He didn't say Hayden's name, but we both knew who the "old clothes" belonged to.

I shot him a glare, but he didn't flinch. That maddening calm of his made me second-guess myself, like I was the one overreacting.

It's the worst-when someone's so composed, you can't even call them out without sounding ridiculous. And here I was, fully stuck in that trap.

"Fine. I'll find something," I muttered.

As I dug through the closet, a wave of regret hit hard. These weren't just random hoodies or tees-they were Hayden's. Every thread had a memory stitched into it, and now I was supposed to just... hand them over?

I glanced back at Xander. A new thought hit, and I hated it: if he wore Hayden's clothes, would he look even more like him?

Was I losing it? One second, I was reminding myself that Xander wasn't Hayden, and the next, I was practically trying to recreate him.

I stood there, clutching Hayden's clothes, caught in my own head, when the doorbell rang.

1/2

 

Chapter 690

Perfect timing-or maybe not.

Still holding the bundle, I checked the security cam, and my stomach sank.

Jace.

What was he doing here this late?

Before I could even think, he started knocking. Loudly. "Rea, open up. I need to talk to you," he called out, voice slurred with a definite drunk edge. He looked like he'd had more than just a couple of drinks.

Talking to him like this would be pointless. No way I was opening the door for someone who clearly wasn't thinking straight.

But then he said something that made me freeze.

"I just want to see if you're hurt. I heard you got hit by a car."

My heart skipped.

How did he know about that?

The only person knew it was Xander. I hadn't even mentioned it to Lena yet.

Unless... Jace was somehow behind it? The thought hit me out of nowhere, but his timing and how much he knew -it was too weird to ignore.

I cracked the door open, and the smell of booze hit me like a wall.

"Jace," I said, cutting straight to it. "Who told you that?"

He didn't answer. Instead, he grabbed my arm and turned me around. "Did you get hurt anywhere?"