Ch. 71..80

Chapter 71 "But why would he ask that? I wondered.

I couldn't figure it out, so I just replied with a quick [?].

Hayden didn't respond. By the time I got to the restaurant, he'd already had breakfast and headed out to the amusement park.

Overnight, they'd fixed up the park's electrical circuits, and Hayden had jumped right into testing the lights. I was pretty much his QC, checking the lights as he adjusted them. If something wasn't right, he'd tweak it until it was.

It hit me that he was dead serious about not letting my health get in the way of work. He was like a machine, barely taking a break, which meant I had to keep up with him like I was on some crazy hamster wheel.

I could barely get a few sips of water in, and I was scared to drink too much since that meant bathroom trips. If I took too long, he might finish adjusting a set of lights. Every time I missed an inspection, he'd have to wait, dragging out the process even more.

After three days of this grind, I had ulcers in my mouth, but when I looked at Hayden-who also wasn't drinking much water-he seemed totally fine. I couldn't help but feel a bit weak compared to him.

"Keira, drink some water! If you don't, you're gonna dry up like an old prune," said Demi. She had been sharing a room with me, so she noticed my struggle and felt sorry for me.

I laughed. "Even if I dry up, I'll still be a cute dried-up prune."

I tilted my head back to take a drink, but as I did, I caught Hayden's gaze from upstairs. Our eyes locked for a split second, and I nearly choked on the water.

"Why are you chugging it like that?" Demi said, patting my back to help me catch my breath.

Just then, Hayden came down the stairs. He grabbed a bottle of water, twisted off the cap, and started drinking.

He drank fast, his Adam's apple bobbing with each gulp. I couldn't help but swallow hard myself.

It was just a reflex-I knew that.

But for some reason, I couldn't stop noticing Hayden's Adam's apple.

Was it possible I had a thing for them?

The thought made me choke on my water again. Demi rushed over, patting my back. "Why do you keep choking? Is your throat inflamed too?"

As soon as she said that, Hayden looked at me.

I quickly shook my head. "No, I just drank too fast."

Are you sure you're not inflamed?" Hayden asked, his eyes lingering on my lips.

I pressed my lips together, shaking my head again. "I'm not."

Chapter 71 ""Of cour she is! She's been avoiding water because she didn't want to slow you down with bathroom. breaks. Now her mouth's full of ulcers, and she can't even eat," Demi blurted out, spilling all my secrets. Hayden walked over, standing right in front of me. "Open your mouth."

I was too stunned to move, and Demi's eyes widened in shock too.

The next second, Hayden reached out, pinched my chin, and forced my mouth open. After a quick glance, he let go and said, "You've got ulcers."

He then turned to the wide-eyed Demi. "Go get some ulcer relief spray and anti-inflammatory meds."

Demi nodded, mumbling a quick "Oh," before turning to leave.

But then she paused and turned back. "Mr. Hart, aren't you a lighting engineer? How do you know so much about medicine?"

Still feeling awkward from the whole chin-pinching thing. I jumped in to answer for him. "He used to be in the military."

Demi gave me a curious look, about to say something more Hayden cut her off. "Aren't you going?"

As soon as I said that, Demi looked at me, and just as she was about to speak, Hayden cut in, "Aren't you going?"

"I..." Demi started, but then caught my look and seemed to remember something. She quickly left without another word.

I turned to Hayden. "Next time- But before I could finish, Demi's voice rang out from a distance. "Mr. Johnston, good morning!"

My heart skipped a beat as I thought, 'Jace's here?!

Chapter 72 Chapter 72 spun around, and sure enough, there was Jace. He shot a glance my way but aimed his question at Demi. "Where are you headed?"

"Keira's got ulcers. I'm grabbing her some spray and meds," Demi replied, not missing a beat.

The moment she finished, Jace made a beeline for me, "Have you not been drinking enough water?" he asked, He knew me too well. My body had a thing for overheating if I didn't stay hydrated, which meant plenty of water and porridge-like meals. Skip either of those, and I'd be dealing with nosebleeds or mouth ulcers. After ten years together, Jace had all my quirks down pat But hearing him bring it up now felt like some twisted reminder of what he'd told Steve-that we "just know each other too well", "To well" that I no longer intrigued him. Not like that Tanya did.

"Mr. Johnston, is there something you need?" I shot back my voice icy and formal, ignoring his question altogether.

Jace's face darkened. He opened his mouth to say something, but then he caught sight of Hayden beside me. His expression tightened before he turned back to me. "Come over here. We need to talk."

I didn't know what he wanted, but with Hayden standing right there, this wasn't the place. So, I followed Jace a few steps away.

We hadn't gone far when I stopped, cutting him off. "I'm on a tight schedule. If you've got something to say, spit it out."

Jace halted, his jaw clenched in obvious frustration. "You're doing this on purpose, aren't you? Trying to get back at me?"

"Huh?" His words blindsided me, and I was left scrambling to catch up.

He pressed on, "You don't want to get married, fine. You're pissed off and trying to find another guy just to spite me, fine. But don't go after someone we both know. It'll mess up friendships."

His words were loaded, hitting me with so many implications that it took a second for them to click. Especially that last part-my mind immediately jumped to Steve.

Someone must've told Jace about Steve's visit. But what threw me was how Jace had twisted it all up in his head.

His own messed-up logic had him thinking everyone else was as shady as he was. It got under my skin. Do you really think everyone's as low as you?" I asked.

His eyes narrowed, clearly not getting the point.

let out a bitter laugh. "You'd even go after your friend's widow."

His face darkened. "I've told you before, Tanya and I aren't what you think."

1/2 Chapter 72 I was done with this argument. "Whatever you two have going on, it's got nothing to do with me."

""Is this just your r excuse because you're done with me? Is that why you keep dragging this out?" Jace shot back, flipping the blame onto me.

"If that's the story you want to tell yourself, fine. Didn't you say we just know each other too well? Too well that you're not interested anymore?" I brought it up again because that wound was still fresh. Jace's hand, hanging by his side, curled slightly into a fist. "What do you want from me?"

"I want us to be done, Mr. Johnston. Stop playing these games-sending messages and deleting them, showing up to interrogate me whenever I talk to someone else." I was blunt.

He wasn't used to hearing this from me. For years, I'd played the perfect partner, always gentle, always agreeable.

He probably didn't expect me to be so cutting now. His expression darkened even more. "You really think I can't live without you?"

"No, Mr. Johnston, you've got wealth, looks-women are probably lining up for you. Why would you need anyone?" I scoffed.

But then Jace took a step closer. "If you really believe th... then why do you keep holding on mistake I made?"

A small mistake?

The thing with Tanya wasn't even a blip on his moral radar.

n to a small Right then, I knew I'd made the right call to end this. His words only confirmed that he'd been so brazen with Tanya because he thought I couldn't live

Chapter 73 Chapter 73 It was time to let Jace know exactly where I stood.

"Jace, what you're calling a 'small mistake' is something I just can't brush off. You know me well enough to understand that I don't tolerate any kind of betrayal, I said, stepping back to put some distance between us.

"My love doesn't need to be a whole soap opera, but my guy can't be out here sending mixed signals to another girl-not even a little. If I'm in, I'm all in," I added, glancing sideways to see how Jace was reacting. As I did, I caught Hayden's gaze a few steps away. It seemed like he'd overheard at least part of our conversation.

Our eyes locked for a second before I refocused on Jace.

Jace's expression was a mix of impatience and annoyance, like he thought I was being totally unreasonable. "You should know by now that in today's world, no one stays faithful forever. You need to stop living in a fantasy." He wasn't wrong-temptation was everywhere, and theys of slow, deliberate love, where you only! eyes for one person, seemed long gone.

I smiled faintly. "If that's the case, then I don't want it. I won't settle."

Jace was stunned, thrown off by my response. I held his gaze and said, "Let's make today the last time we talk about us. We're done. Let's go our separate ways, and you should be able to move on."

He let out a cold laugh. "Fine, we'll go our separate ways. I can't wait to see what kind of guy you end up with."

With that, he spun around and stormed off.

Watching Jace walk away, it hit me how childish he really was, like a boy who couldn't handle not getting his way. If he was truly done with me, he wouldn't keep coming back, would he?

When Demi returned with the spray and the medicine, she leaned in close and whispered, "Did you and Mr. Johnston have another fight? He looked so mad, like a pig ready to blow."

I couldn't help but laugh. Demi always had a way of lightening the mood. As I started to open the packaging of the spray, I teased her back, "And what exactly does a pig blowing up look like? Wanna show me?" "Come on, Keira..." Demi playfully punched my arm. "Was Mr. Johnston trying to get back with you? Maybe you should give him another chance. He must still love you; otherwise, why would he keep coming-" "I'll handle it," Hayden suddenly cut in, interrupting Demi mid-sentence. He reached out and took the spray from my hands, starting to open the packaging himself.

"Ms. Young. I'm out of marker pens. Could you grab me a black and a red one?" Hayden asked Demi as he continued fiddling with the packaging box.

"Oh, I'll get them right away," Demi replied, clearly eager to stay on Hayden's good side. She hurried off without another word.

Chapter 73 Hayden finished unpacking the oral spray, but instead of handing it to me, he sprayed it into the air to test it. Then, without missing a beat, he turned to me and said, "Open your mouth."

"I can do it myself," I insisted, already knowing what he had in mind.

I reached out to take the spray from him. But Hayden was quicker. He lifted his arm just out of my reach, holding the spray way above me. No matter how much I stretched, I couldn't grab it.

In the end, it was obvious-I had no chance against him.

"You think you can see the inside of your own mouth?" he asked.

I blinked, caught off guard. Before I could even come up with a comeback, he added, "I'm doing this so you can get better fast and not let it mess with our work. There's no need to make it harder than it has to be."

He made it sound like I was the one being unreasonable.

Left with no o other choice, I sighed and opened my mouth, letting him spray the medicine.

The cool mist hit the ulcers in my mouth, sending a shiver down my spine. The next thing I knew, Hayden's hand was on my shoulder, pulling me closer to chest.

My head was tilted back, leaving me no choice but to stare up at the blinding sky. The sunlight was so Intense, I had to squeeze my eyes shut. Hayden held me close, carefully applied the spray.

In that hazy, closed-eyed moment, it felt almost surreal, like I was floating.

Only then did it occur to me-I could've just used a mirror and done this myself.

But it was way too late to mention that now.

Chapter 74 Medicine really is a lifesaver.

After using the spray, the burning in my mouth finally eased up. By lunchtime, even drinking water wasn't torture anymore. But still, I wasn't about to risk eating anything solid. Salt and spices? Yeah, no way. "Keira, how about we stick to porridge, maybe some eggs or a salad on the side?" Demi suggested, trying to keep things simple for me.

I knew how much she loved her meat. "I'll just have porridge. You can get whatever sides you want."

Demi was about to respond when Hayden strolled over "Mind if I join you for lunch?" he asked.

Hearing a guy like him ask to "join us for lunch felt so weird I was on the verge of turning him down-I was still feeling a little awkward after he helped me with the spray earlier. He didn't seem fazed, but I sure was.

Before I could say anything, though, Demi-ever the fangirl-nodded eagerly. "Of course, Mr. Hart. What would you like to eat?"

III..." Hayden glanced at me and continued, "have what Kay is having-porridge."

Demi's eyes practically popped out. "Just porridge? No sides?"

"Something light is fine, low salt, low oil," Hayden replied, pointing to his mouth. "I haven't been drinking much water lately either."

Fair point.

"You're overheated too, huh," Demi sighed, then muttered to herself, "Seems like I'm the only one not suffering. Does that mean I'm slacking off?"

In the end, we ordered three bowls of quinoa porridge, a serving of steamed zucchini, and a chicken salad.

"Mr. Hart, isn't that a bit too little food? Will it be enough for you?" Demi asked Hayden after placing the order.

"It's enough," Hayden replied curtly.

Over the past few days of working together, I'd noticed he was more of a doer than a talker.

*Keira, maybe we should add a couple more sides. I mean, look at Mr. Hart's build. He doesn't seem like someone who eats so little," Demi suggested.

My mouth was still sore, and I wasn't in the mood for chit-chat, so I went with a quick answer. "He's built with muscle, not fueled by meat."

As soon as I said that, I couldn't help but think back to the time I saw Hayden washing his hair in a tank top-those muscles were definitely something...

"Yeah, Mr. Hart really is all muscle. I just haven't had the chance to see for myself," Demi remarked, with that look in her eye that said she wouldn't mind seeing Hayden shirtless 1/2 Chapter 74 This little perv. I rolled my eyes. "Opportunities are made. Why don't you go ask him to take off his shirt right now so you can have a look?"

"Keira!" Demi blushed.

I thought that would shut her up, but nope, she kept going. "I think he might be into you."

I nearly choked on my own breath.

"Seriously, he looks at you differently. And he's always so hands-on with you," Demi teased, mimicking Hayden's chin-grabbing move I swatted her hand away. "Do you want to lose your bonus?"

"We're on lunch break," Demi countered, making her point.

"Maybe you should give it a shot with Mr. Hart? It might even get under Mr. Johnston's skin, show him you've got options," Demi suggested, always full of ideas.

I chuckled. "I thought you had a crush on Mr. Hart?"

"But he's not into me,' Demi admitted, fully aware of he "uation. "Besides, apart from not being a CEO, he's better than Mr. Johnston in every other way." Her taste wasn't half bad.

"If you're shy, I can play matchmaker for you two," Demi offered, getting bolder with every word.

I couldn't help but laugh. First Macy tried to set me up with Hayden, and now Demi was at it too. Wast there something about Hayden and me that made everyone think we were a perfect match, Co. Was "I'm going to ask him right now," Demi said, already half out of her seat.

I quickly grabbed her arm, pulling her back down. "Stay put, and let's drop this. There's no way that's happening between us."

H "Why not?" Demi looked genuinely confused. "Don't you like him?"

Not wanting Demi to make things even more awkward between Hayden and me, I just hummed in agreement.

"But you're not the shallow type! The only thing Mr. Hart lacks compared to Mr. Johnston is a bit of money. "Demi continued, still trying to convince me.

Chapter 75 I decided to shut down Demi's persistent matchmaking with a blunt statement. "I'm all about the money.

If he doesn't have it, even if he's drop-dead gorgeous, it's pointless.

As soon as the words left my mouth, I caught Hayden glancing over.

Perfect. He heard me.

I didn't dodge his gaze. There was zero chance between us anyway, so it was better if he got the message loud and clear.

I wasn't clueless. His casual touches, and even spraying the ulcer relief spray on me today-those small gestures made it obvious he had feelings for me.

"Keira, you're so shallow. Too shallow," Demi huffed, clearly annoyed.

I didn't bother responding or looking at Hayden.

Demi's phone rang, and after a quick glance at the screen, she said, "It's Mr. Lawson."

Gavin?!

"Yes... I'm in the family area of Section A at the amusem..it park. Do you need something? Okay, see you soon," Demi finished the call and shot me a look. "Mr. Lawson says he's coming to see you."

Gavin's looking for me? I wondered what it could be about. Maybe it had something to do with Jace again?

But then I remembered telling Jace this morning to leave me alone, so it probably wasn't that.

Gavin showed up not long after, carrying a food jar. "Ms. Kay, Mrs. Johnston asked me to bring you some cold cucumber soup to help with the heat."

Lindey made it?

She hadn't reached out to me, so she wouldn't know I was overheating. This had to be Jace's doing. If it was just Jace, I would've told Gavin to take it back. But since Lindey made it, I couldn't say no. "Thanks, I appreciate it," I said, taking the food jar from him, Gavin didn't leave right away, like he had something else on his mind. Knowing he probably felt guilty about taking me to Splendor Heights, I decided to put him at ease. "Mr. Lawson, don't dwell on it."

"Ms. Kay, I- "It wasn't your fault. If you keep beating yourself up over it, that's on you," I said, making it clear I wasn't holding him responsible.

Gavin seemed to get the hint and finally said, "Ms. Kay, make sure to drink the soup. It's really good for cooling down."

After he left, Demi, always thinking she had everything figured out, chimed in, "Keira, that soup was definitely sent by Mr. Johnston." Chapter 75 Like I didn't already know that.

"Keira, Mr. Johnston doesn't want to let you go. He still wants to keep you as a backup," Demi added, showing off her so-called insight.

I gave a bitter smile. Did Jace really think he could have everything his way?

Our food hadn't arrived yet, so I decided to start with the soup. I turned to Hayden. "Wanna try some?"

"No need," he declined, his tone clipped.

I didn't push it and began sharing the chilled cucumber soup with Demi.

I hadn't even finished a bowl when she nudged me again. "Keira, Keira, another handsome guy is coming."

I was used to her drama by now, but I still glanced in the direction she was pointing.

And there he was-Wayne.

He was smiling at me, his grin warm and easy, like a sunny spring day. "Soup alone won't fill you up."

As he spoke, I noticed the lunch box in his hand. "My mom made gnocchi with your favorite cumin and ground beef filling."

"Why were Mrs. Johnston's soup and gnocchi delivered separately?" Demi blurted out, clearly not connecting the dots before her mouth ran off. Wayne looked confused. "What?"

But I caught on instantly. The cucumber soup wasn't from Lindey at all. It was Jace who had Gavin lie about it.

He must've figured I'd turn it down if I knew the truth.

"It's nothing. I was just craving gnocchi," I said, taking the lunch box from Wayne and popping it open. The smell of the gnocchi was mouthwatering. Even though my mouth was still sore, I really wanted to eat.

I grabbed one with my hand and popped it into my m dribbled down the corner of my lips.

The tangy filling stung my ulcer, and the juice Without hesitation, Wayne reached out to wipe the juice from my mouth.

But then Hayden's cool voice sliced through the air. "Your mouth isn't healed yet, and you didn't even wash your hands. Are you trying to make it worse?"

Chapter 76 Not washing my hands-that was directed at both Wayne and me.

I was cool with it, but Wayne looked a little awkward.

"I won't get sick from a little dirt," I said, trying to lighten the mood.

Hayden walked over, holding a pack of wet wipes.

Wayne reached out to grab it, but Hayden kept his grip tight. So, I just took the pack myself and handed Wayne a wipe before grabbing one for me.

"Rea, who's this?" Wayne asked, eyeing Hayden, clearly wondering why this guy wasn't exactly being friendly.

such a strong vibe "This is Hayden Hart, our lighting engineer," I introduced him, feeling the weight of Hayden's intense gaze on me. It pushed me to add, "And this is... my friend, Wayne." "Nice to meet you," Wayne said, extending his hand to Hayden.

But Hayden just gave a nod, and before things could get me awkward, Demi jumped in, "Mr. Hart's got a bit of a germaphobia."

Wayne smiled faintly, withdrawing his hand and turning to me. "Let's sit down and eat before the food gets cold."

Demi licked her lips, eyeing the gnocchi. "Can I have one?"

"Of course," Wayne said, then, trying to be polite, extended the offer to Hayden. "Mr. Hart, want to try some?"

"I'll stick with my porridge," Hayden declined, already walking away.

Demi paused mid-bite, then looked at me with a smirk "Keira, I think Mr. Hart's acting like he's got a serious stick up his butt."

I gave her a thumbs-up. "You're spot on."

Wayne chuckled at our exchange, then said, "Mr. Hart seems to have a bit of a temper."

"Not usually. He's usually cool and collected, though kinda distant. But today, it's like he's got a short fuse, "Demi said, her mouth full but still managing to keep talking. Fortunately, our food finally arrived. But after finishing the gnocchi and cucumber soup, I wasn't really in the mood to eat anything else. I left the rest for Demi and Hayden.

Demi was more than happy to share the meal with Hayden, but he insisted she go ahead without him since he had to get back to work.

I could see the disappointment on Demi's face as he walked away, and it was honestly pretty amusing. "You seem pretty cheerful. I was worried you might be feeling down," Wayne said, pulling my attention back to him. "Why would I be down?" I asked, taking another bite of gnocchi and chasing it with a sip of soup. I'm not #25 BONUS Chapter 76 the type to wallow in heartbreak. When I'm in love, that person's my whole world. But when it's over, they're nothing."

Wayne nodded. "That's the Rea I know."

"How are your parents?" I asked cautiously.

It was odd they hadn't reached out lately. Had they finally accepted that Jace and I were done? That didn't seem like them.

Wayne gave me a small smile. "Do you think they're doing okay?"

My fork froze halfway to my mouth. Wayne kept going. They still think you and Jace are just on a break. They're convinced you'll work it out, that you're just cooling off and need some space." So that's what was going on.

The gnocchi suddenly tasted like cardboard. I forced it down and muttered, "They're gonna disappointed."

be "Maybe, but they'll get over it eventually. Don't let it weigh on you," Wayne said, trying to be reassuring.

I wasn't stressed-just guilty. They'd treated me like I w heir own kid.

"They see you as their daughter. The idea of you not being around? That's hard for them," Wayne added softly.

"Daughters get married eventually. But even after that, they can always come home," I replied.

When I looked up, Wayne was watching me.

There was something in his eyes, a flicker of something deeper as he smiled. "But if you married into my family, you'd be home for good." Yeah, that wasn't happening.

Chapter 77 I just smiled. "In my next life, I'll be born as their daughter. Then we can actually be real siblings."

Wayne's smile wavered, but he quickly nodded toward the gnocchi. "Eat a little more. You've been losing weight." "Okay," I replied, digging into the gnocchi in front of me.

Wayne kept watching me the whole time. I finally had to stop when I was too full, so I sipped on some soup instead.

"Jace still cares about you," Wayne said, trying to sound casual. "He even made cucumber soup for you, pretending it was from my mom."

I forced a small smile. "Better late than never... but barely."

The sore inside my mouth made eating a struggle, so I packed up the leftover gnocchi and soup. "Thanks for coming, Wayne. Let your parents know I'll visit them once this project's wrapped up."

I gestured around the amusement park. "We're supposed hasn't even been tested yet. It's insane."

inish in less than a month, but the lighting "Jace mentioned it, but don't forget to take care of yourself too," Wayne said, his voice full of concern.

"Yeah, I know," I replied. Then I pointed toward Hayden, who was busy nearby, and added, "I need to get back to work."

"Be careful," Wayne reminded me again.

Hayden didn't touch his lunch that day and barely said a word to me all afternoon. It was like he was mad at me, but I had no clue what I'd done wrong.

The next few days? He was even more distant, just working in silence. Honestly, it made things easier. We got a lot done, and at least now we had scheduled breaks to drink water. I couldn't tell if that was more for him or me.

By the end of the week, we were on track, but who knew what was coming next?

The work was exhausting-so much that Demi, who usually can't miss her favorite shows, would crash the second she got home. But I couldn't do that. Every night, I had to review and summarize the day's test results, usually staying up till 11 or 12.

I was seriously wiped out. Whenever I got too tired, I'd splash cold water on my face and dunk my feet in it, shocking myself awake.

Then, out of nowhere, Hayden, who'd barely spoken to me outside of work, messaged me just after I'd finished my cold water routine: You asleep? If not, come over. We need to talk about a few issues with tomorrow's testing area.] If his message had just been those first two words, I would've ignored it. But since it was work-related, I Teplied right away: [On my way.] Thankfully, I was still awake enough to grab my laptop and head over, I knocked on his door.

Chapter 77 Hayden was wearing a military green T-shirt and black cotton sleep pants. For some reason, he looked taller, which made me feel even shorter.

He glanced at my face, his gaze tightening for a second, but he didn't say anything. Instead, he just stepped aside to let me in.

I put my laptop down and was about to open it when he turned his screen around to show me. "Check these spots I marked. Do they match the blueprint?"

He had a hand-drawn blueprint next to his computer, along with a digital version. Everything seemed to match up, just like in my files.

I was kind of surprised he'd even ask, but when I double-checked, I actually found an issue.

Demi and I had already gone over this a few times, but somehow, we missed it. Good thing Hayden caught it now, or it would've been a huge headache later. "There's definitely a problem. I'll fix it now. I'll send you the updated files. Keep checking the rest."

Hayden handed me a glass of water and then turned b-* to his work.

I tried to focus on my screen, but my eyelids kept getting heavier. I even pinched my leg a couple of times just to stay awake.

Hayden, though, looked completely alert, like sleep was something he didn't even need.

Just when I was about to ask if we could wrap this up tomorrow, he got up and stepped out onto the balcony, phone in hand. I could hear him talking softly on the phone. His voice was so smooth, so calming, it made my eyelids feel even heavier,

Chapter 78 When Hayden stepped in from the balcony, he caught sight of me, asleep at my desk. The soft, warm glow from the lamp spilled over my face, and I could feel his eyes on me.

I could sense him nearby, but I couldn't bring myself to wake up.

After what felt like forever, I heard his voice-low and gentle-whispering, "Kiki..."

Kiki?!

Was he talking to me?

Yeah, he was.

Before I moved in with the Johnstons, my parents called me Kiki, not Rea. But it had been forever since anyone used that name. ""Hey, I'm Kiki."

In my dream, I saw a little girl with two buns and a chubt ce, calling out to an older boy.

The boy didn't say much, just kind of kept to himself.

Suddenly, I was that little girl, and Hayden was the boy. I was riding on his back.

"Haddy, you smell nice..." I said, "There's a little black bean on the back of your neck. I'll get it for you."

"Don't pinch it, Kiki. That hurts," said the boy. "Kiki, I'm tired. Can we stop running?"

"Mommy, I like Haddy. I want to marry him..."

"Haha..."

"Mommy, Daddy, stop laughing. I want to marry Haddy "You can't marry him. You're already engaged."

"I don't wanna marry that boy! He's a jerk, a jerk!"

I jolted awake, gasping for air.

I couldn't believe it-I had dreamt of Hayden and me, and we were so little, maybe like two years old.

I lay there, my mind blank and my eyes staring into nothing for what felt like half a minute before I finally sat up. But as soon as my feet hit the floor, something felt off. This wasn't my room.

Memories of last night came rushing back, and I snapped to attention, looking over at the bed. Hayden wasn't there.

checked my clothes-still on, still intact.

Breathing a sigh of relief, I quietly headed for the door, but not before I noticed Hayden asleep on the couch.

Chapter 78 Even in his sleep, he was all neat and orderly, just like a soldier. My first thought was, "Doesn't he get tired sleeping like that?

Honestly, when someone was that put-together, it kinda made you wanna mess with them, just a little.

He was still asleep, so I watched him silently from a few steps away, then snuck over to grab my laptop. I tiptoed out of the room, making a quick escape.

I couldn't believe I'd actually fallen asleep here. Just the thought made me cringe with embarrassment.

Luckily, I'd grabbed my room key last night. When I slipped back in, Demi was still knocked out-thank God, because she'd have had a field day with this.

It was just after five in the morning, according to my phone. No way was I going back to sleep, so I opened my laptop, planning to work on the issues Hayden had pointed out yesterday. But to to my surprise, Hayden had already fixed them all.

I stared at the screen, lost in thought for a moment, then got up to wash my face and grab some water. Stepping out onto the balcony, I took in the early morning view. That's when I spotted Hayden.

Was he awake too?

He was definitely asleep when I left earlier. Did I wake him up with the door? Or had he been awake all along, just pretending to sleep to spare me the awkwardness?

I stood on the upper floor, watching him below, my thoughts swirling.

I had to admit, Hayden was getting under my skin more and more each day.

[If a guy and a girl sleep in the same room and nothing happens, what does that even mean?] I fired off this text to Lena first thing in the morning.

Chapter 79 Chapter 79 I knew Lena wouldn't reply right away, not at this hour. So, I closed the chat and scrolled through my social media feed.

The first thing that popped up was a post from Steve-candid shots from last night, everyone clinking glasses and laughing.

But what caught my eye wasn't the celebration. It was a hand in the corner of the photo. Jace's hand. I recognized it instantly because of the ring. The one I gave him.

A weird mix of embarrassment and regret hit me hard. That ring was part of a matching set. I still had the other one. I'd bought them for $99.90 with my first paycheck when I turned eighteen.

I'd worn the women's version and gave him the men's. He teased me back then, saying I was trying to lock him down or something. But after that, he never wore it again.

When I hinted at it, he just brushed it off, saying wearing something like that would only invite ridicule.

It was too cheap.

I got it. A guy like Jace couldn't be caught dead with a ap ring.

But that ring meant something to me. It was the first thing I bought with my own money. After he brushed it off, I never mentioned it again, and he never wore it. But now, there it was in that photo.

I couldn't help but wonder, "What's he trying to do? What's he trying to say?' I didn't know, and I didn't want to waste time guessing.

Still, seeing that ring again stung. It reminded me of the old me-always careful, always chasing after Jace, always feeling like I was reaching up to him. Lena's message pinged, snapping me out of my thoughts.

[Who'd you sleep with?] She was always blunt.

I stared at her message, still rattled by the sight of Jace with that ring on his finger.

[Jace?] she asked next.

Then, [No way it was him.] [Was it Hayden?] Bingo. She knew me too well to be wrong.

[If a guy and a girl crash in the same room and nothing goes down, there's only one explanation-the guy's got issues.] Classic-Lena. Hayden's got issues?

My mind flashed to Hayden's lean, muscular frame, and I knew Lena's theory was way off.

Nope, the problem definitely wasn't with Hayden. Which left... me.

The thought that I couldn't even compete with a pregnant widow for Jace made me shake my head and +35 BONUS Chapter 79 close the chat, Ignoring Lena's messages.

I "Keira, you weren't in bed last night. Where'd you go? I texted you, but you didn't reply," Demi asked, her voice groggy from just waking up.

I didn't think she'd notice, considering she usually slept like a log.

Feeling guilty, I looked away. "I went for a run."

Demi's eyes widened. "You went for a run in the middle of the night? Are you self-torturing, or were you just too horny to sleep?"

Her logic never ceased to amaze me.

"Shut up," I shot her a look.

so why were you runnin in the middle of the night?" Demi pressed, still not buying it.

I dodged her question and told her to hurry up and get ready. We had a lot of work to do downstairs.

She was as relentless as ever. "Keira, you're gonna burn yourself out. Maybe take it easy before you snap or something just sighed.

Demi trailed after me as we headed downstairs to the restaurant for breakfast. The moment we walked in, we spotted Hayden already sitting there, halfway through his meal.

"Good morning, Mr. Hart!" Demi chirped, all bright and bubbly.

Hayden gave a quick nod. "Morning."

I avoided his gaze and nudged Demi, trying to get her to come with me to pick out our breakfast. But she had other plans. Grabbing my bag, she grinned and said, "Keira, I'll eat whatever you eat. You go pick, and I'll hold our spot." I just stared at her, speechless.

Demi shot me a wink, clearly wanting more time with Hayden, leaving me no room to protest.

The truth? I seriously didn't want to sit with Hayden.

I was about to trudge over to the food stations when Hayden's voice cut through the air. "Ms. Young, I can hold the spot for you both. It's better if you get your own breakfast."

Chapter 80 Ugh, so awkward!

I could practically feel the secondhand embarrassment radiating from Demi.

She was definitely flustered, but she covered it with a laugh. "Sure thing, Mr. Hart, thanks a ton!"

Demi set my bag down and rushed over to me, practically dragging me along as we sped away. Under her breath, she muttered, "Did Mr. Hart wake up on the wrong side of the bed or something? He's so moody today."

I stayed quiet, but while Demi picked up on Hayden's harsh tone, I caught something different... Maybe he told her to get her own breakfast so she wouldn't trouble me.

'Was he concerned about me? The thought sent a shiver down my spine, and I started worrying I was overthinking things, turning something small into a big deal.

"Let's sit separately," I suggested once we had our food, trying to avoid any more awkward encounters with Hayden after last night.

"Why? Wouldn't it be better to sit together? We can go ov today's plans," Demi countered, using work as the perfect excuse I couldn't argue against.

But I called her out anyway, "You just want to look at Mr. Hart while he eats, don't you?"

"Keira, you're catching on to me too well!" Demi replied, grinning like a guilty child.

I knew there was no getting out of sharing a table with Hayden, so I let it go. The last thing I needed was for Demi to pick up on anything and start piecing things together.

She was sharp, always good at reading between the lines.

But just as we were about to sit down, someone walked up. "Demi, is that really you?"

A cute girl with a tray of breakfast smiled at her.

Demi jumped up, her face lighting up. "Peggy, what are you doing here?"

"I'm on a business trip. It's been forever! How about we eat together?" the girl suggested, clearly excited. Demi's first instinct wasn't to check with me but to glance at Hayden, then back at me before she told the girl, "Sure, sounds awesome." She grabbed her tray, gave a quick nod to Hayden and me, and took off with her old friend.

And just like that, it was down to Hayden and me. The awkwardness was already creeping in, and now it was about to skyrocket.

You don't need to be embarrassed. Last night, you only slept in my bed-it's not like we actually... slept together," Hayden said, so casually that I nearly choked on the cream soup I was sipping.

I covered my mouth, and he handed me a napkin I shot him a glare as I snatched the napkin from his hand. After wiping my mouth, I leaned in closer and whispered, "Why didn't you wake me up last night?"

Chapter 00 "I did. You didn't wake up." Hayden replied, cool as ever, still munching on his breakfast.

"I don't believe you," I snapped back. I was a light sleeper.

"Well, I tried. Believe what you want," Hayden said with a shrug, like it didn't matter whether I believed him or not.

His whatever attitude only made me more annoyed. I knew if I ended up in his bed, it was because he put me there. Just thinking about it made my face heat up with embarrassment. "Even if I didn't wake up, you could've taken me back to my room." "Fine, next time I will," Hayden replied, and I froze.

Next time?

He had to be joking. There wasn't going to be a next time.

I bit into my custard roll a little too forcefully, chewing while trying to keep it together. Then, I suddenly remembered something and warned him, "Don't tell Demi about last night."

Hayden had already finished his meal. He wiped his mouth with a napkin. "What are you so afraid of? That she'll get the wrong idea? Or are you worried it'll mess your rep, or... that your boyfriends might find out?"

I nearly choked. "What did you just say?"

"If anyone should be worried, it's me," Hayden said, folding his napkin into a neat square.

"What are you worried about? Hm?" I asked, feeling both confused and irritated.