Ch. 81..90

Chapter 01 Chapter 81 "You probably don't know this, but I've never been in a relationship before. I'm as pure as they come. Not like you, with your complicated love life-an ex-fiancé, that guy who keeps messing with your hair, and let's not forget Wayne." Hayden's voice was so calm it almost drove me crazy.

I opened my mouth to snap back, but before I could get a word out, he dropped his gaze. "So, really, I should be the one worrying. If people find out we shared a room last night, they might think I'm not so innocent anymore."

"Are you saying I ruined your precious purity?" I shot back, feeling my temper flare up.

"Not at all. You were very well-behaved last night-no improper advances toward me whatsoever," Hayden said, his tone dripping with fake innocence, like he was some damsel in distress and I was the sleazy villain who'd taken advantage of him. 'Unbelievable. This guy is so full of it!' I fumed silently, too angry to even find the right words.

I took my frustration out on the custard roll in my hand, ripping it apart like it had personally offended me. "If you want to stay pure, you better keep your distance from me," I finally retorted after swallowing the last bite.

"That might be tricky, unless we stop working together, Hayden said, laying down his napkin and 1. up.

I was left speechless.

standing By the time I finished breakfast, Demi was wrapping up hers too. She said goodbye to her old friend, promising to call ahead next time she visited Seavora so they could really catch up.

As soon as she got in the car, she turned to me, "Keira, what were you and Mr. Hart talking about? He wouldn't stop chatting with you."

I couldn't help but feel exasperated. Clearly, even though she was having lunch with her old friend, her mind had been glued to me and Hayden the whole time.

"Nothing much," I answered, trying to shut down the conversation before it started.

Demi blinked, not buying it. So I added, "Just work stuff. Looks like we'll be pulling more overtime."

"What?!" Demi's cheerful expression vanished in an instant. "Mr. Hart has zero compassion! He's totally ruthless."

I stayed quiet as we drove to the amusement park, but Hayden wasn't there yet.

We parked just as Hayden rolled up-on an electric bike "Keira, does Mr. Hart ride an e-bike every day? I didn't think there were still guys who'd actually do that," Demi said, clearly shocked. I was a little surprised too I had always assumed he either grabbed a cab or took the subway, but apparently, he'd been using one of those bike-share electric bikes.

"Mr. Hart, you should ditch that bike and just ride with us. There's plenty of room in Keira's car," Demi Chapter 61 suggested, speaking up like she was doing me a favor, I was about to say something when Hayden looked over at me. "Alright. I appreciate it, Ms. Kay."

Once again, I was left speechless.

Twice in one morning, and he'd managed to leave me speechless both times. I couldn't even vent my frustration properly So, I ended up snapping at Demi instead. "Next time, could you maybe check with me before making decisions like that?"

Demi caught onto my irritation right away. "I was just trying to be efficient and think about safety. Mr. Hart isn't familiar with the area, and riding an e-bike could be dangerous. If something happened to him, how would we finish the project on time?" Once again, I had nothing to say.

"I'll make sure to ask you next time," Demi promised, leaning in to give me a playful hug.

I sighed, giving in, and tapped her on the head with my finger. "You're in charge of all the running around today."

"No problem! I've got the legs for it," Demi replied, her optimism unbreakable, like an unkillable cockroach. "Great, then you can work with Mr. Hart today. I'll head over to the other side to coordinate with Eugene on the other progress points," I said, determined to avoid Hayden as much as possible.

But as soon as I reached Eugene, my phone rang. It was Demi. "Keira, I'm done over here."

""What?" I asked, totally confused.

"Mr. Hart said we're taking the day off," Demi's words set my temper off.

Chapter 82 I stormed over to Hayden and demanded an explanation. "What's the deal? Why are we suddenly taking a break?"

"Two days off a week are government-mandated," Hayden replied, annoyingly calm. "Considering tight our schedule is, one day off shouldn't be a big deal, right?"

g how His calmness only made me more frustrated. "I get it, but we're up against a serious deadline here. I've already told you we have to meet it. Can't we just push the break back? I'll even pay you extra." Hayden didn't break eye contact, his gaze unwavering. It's not about the money, Ms. Kay. We're not machines. People need rest if you want them to do good work."

Ugh, he wasn't wrong, but this wasn't just any project.

I exhaled slowly, trying to steady my nerves. "So you really need to rest today?"

"Yes," Hayden said, his tone leaving no room for argument. Knowing there was no winning this one, I turned to walk away.

"And you all need to rest too," he added.

I spun around, my anger bubbling over as I shot him a glare. "You just worry about your own rest. Whether we rest or not is none of your concern."

Demi, standing nearby, was barely holding back laughter as she watched the whole scene unfold.

But Hayden? He didn't even flinch. "Ms. Kay, if you don't rest properly, you won't be able to work efficiently. Just like last- "Hayden Hart!" I cut him off, feeling my palms start to sweat.

This jerk! I'd just told him not to mention last night, and here he was, almost spilling everything.

We locked eyes, and after what felt like forever, I finally caved under his steady gaze and said, "Fine, we'll rest too."

"Demi, let's go," I called.

But Hayden wasn't done yet. "Ms. Kay," he stopped me again, "I need your help today."

My frustration was about to boil over. I clenched my teeth. "What? You need someone to give you a massage, or maybe a back rub?"

"No, nothing like that. I just need to buy some things and could use a guide," Hayden replied, like it was the most normal thing in the world.

I almost laughed. "Fine, let Demi go with you- "I want you to come with me!" Hayden interrupted.

"Pfft!" Demi couldn't hold it in any longer and burst into laughter.

I found myself laughing too. This wasn't the cold, stolc Hayden I was used to-he was acting more like a stubborn three-year-old. Chapter 82 "Mr. Hart, you're not a kid anymore. Don't you think this is a bit, I don't know, silly?" I teased.

Hayden didn't even flinch. "I'm not familiar with the area. What's wrong with asking for your help? Besides, you promised-"

"Alright, I'll go!" I cut him off, knowing exactly where he was heading.

If I didn't agree, he'd definitely bring up the trip to Chiverton, and there was no way I could let Demi hear about that.

"Should I join you guys?" Demi asked, clearly not wanting to miss out on the fun.

"Sure!"

"No!"

We spoke at the same time-me agreeing, him shutting it down.

Demi looked between us, totally confused. Hayden jumped in, "Ms. Young, it might be inconvenient for you to tag along. Don't you think so, Ms. Kay?"

He was putting it all on me.

From the look in his eyes, I knew if I pushed to bring Demi along, he'd spill about the whole Chiverton situation. This was why lying sucks-one lie could snowball into a hundred.

I sighed and turned to Demi. "It's your day off. Why not spend it with your boyfriend? I'm sure he misses you."

Demi shot me a glare, clearly annoyed that I brought up her boyfriend in front of Hayden.

ignored her reaction, and with Hayden's gaze practically burning into me, she finally left, though she kept throwing suspicious glances back at us. I could tell she was starting to question what was really going on between Hayden and me. That was a problem for another day. Right now, I had to figure out how to handle Hayden.

hapter 83 25 BONUS Chapter 83 "What's your deal? Are you seriously using our acquaintance and last night's incident to blackmail me?" I confronted Hayden.

"No," he said, but his eyes didn't quite meet mine.

His guilty expression was all I needed to see. I clenched my fists, resisting the urge to punch him.

"I'm unfamiliar with this place. What's wrong with asking for your help? I've helped you before too," Hayden added, his tone softening, almost like he was trying to guilt-trip me.

He was right. Debts had to be repaid, whether it was money or favors.

I let out a sigh. "Okay, Mr. Hart, where do you want to go today? What do you need to buy? Just tell me. and I'll take you."

"I want to check out some apartments," he said, catching me totally off guard.

I blinked at him. "Looking for an apartment? Aren't you heading back once your work here is done?"

"I might not be going back, so I'm planning ahead," Hayden's words hit me like a sudden jolt.

I couldn't explain it, but something about that felt off, unsettling even.

"But your company isn't based here," I reminded him.

"I could quit!"

I was speechless.

"Oh, and I'm not buying-I'm renting. I'm broke right now, can't afford to buy," Hayden added, like it was no big deal, not even a hint of embarrassment.

That was rare. These days, so many guys act like they got it all together, borrowing money to buy flashy cars and watches just to keep up appearances. But Hayden? He just put it out there like it was nothing.

"And you still want to quit your job?" I asked, my voice faltering a little.

He didn't respond, like he hadn't even heard me.

Maybe it was the fact that he admitted being broke that made me feel kind of sorry for him SoT actually drove him downtown.

"This is the city center. The rent here must be pretty steep," he noted.

"It's cheaper in the suburbs, but that's far out, and commuting would be a hassle. As a lighting engineer, if you're thinking of staying here long-term, you'll probably end up working in the CBD Business Center. Renting downtown will save you a ton of time," I suggested. He didn't say anything, so remembering his financial situation, I added, "I could lend you the money. You can pay me back whenever."

"That sounds like you're offering to be my sugar mama Hayden shot back, totally catching me off guard. I nearly choked.

Chapter 53 +25 BOUTE I glared at him, thinking about whatever feelings he might have for me, and the fact that he'd even thought about marrying me once. I smirked sarcastically. "You're overthinking it. I'm actually on the lookout for a wealthy boyfriend myself." Hayden's expression darkened a bit.

I started the car. "Fine, let's go check out the suburbs then."

But just as we pulled up to a real estate agency in the suburbs, my phone rang.

"Hello... What? Alright, I'll be right there." I said into the phone before turning to Hayden. "You go ahead and check out the apartments. I've got something to deal with."

Hayden didn't budge. "What's going on?"

I didn't bother to hide it. "The water pipes in my apartment broke. I need to get someone to fix them." The call bad been from my downstairs neighbor, saying water was already flooding the hallway.

"I can fix it," Hayden offered, throwing me off again.

I was about to say something when he added, "If you keep delaying, the water might damage someone else's apartment, and you'll have to pay for their repairs too."

He really seemed to know everything. Not wanting to waste any more time, I drove him to my place.

As soon as we stepped into the hallway, we were greeted by the sight of water streaming down, with a bunch of neighbors gathered around, pointing and talking.

Hayden was out of the car before I could even react, heading straight for the source of the problem. After a quick glance, he asked, "Where's the main water valve?"

One of the neighbors pointed to a rusty metal plate on the ground. "It's under there, but it's all rusted. We can't turn it."

Before they could finish, Hayden had already lifted the metal plate. He looked at me and asked, "Which floor and apartment are you in?"

"Fourth floor, east unit."

As soon as I got the words out, I watched as he knelt down, lying flat on the ground, and stretched his long arm out, gripping the rusted valve tightly. With a firm twist, he started to turn-it.

Chapter 84 "You'll never get it to turn!"

"It's been rusted shut for years."

"The ground's so hard now, the valve's practically buried."

People were whispering among themselves, but I couldn't take my eyes off Hayden.

I definitely didn't expect him to go full-on flat on the ground like that. His veins were popping out of his temples and arms as he pushed with everything he had, muscles straining under the effort.

But even with all that, the valve wouldn't budge. His face started turning red from the strain.

"Young man, save your energy. A few strong guys already tried, and they couldn't get it," an older neighbor said, noticing how hard Hayden was pushing himself.

I started feeling worried. "Hayden, maybe we should just leave it and call someone else to handle it."

Just as I said that, Hayden suddenly relaxed, and with a calm tone, he said, "It's done."

Then, in one quick move, he got up, casually brushing off the dirt and grime. "Let's head upstairs and check."

Water was still pouring down the stairs, and stepping up meant soaking our shoes.

"Maybe we should wait until the water dies down," I suggested.

Hayden glanced at my shoes, then back at me. "I'll carry you up."

My eyes widened instantly. "No, no, that's not necessary."

But the moment those words left my mouth, I felt my cheeks heat up, especially since the people around us were now watching with way more interest.

Hayden's gaze lingered on my face like he was picking up on something. Then, he said, "I'll go up and take care of it. Hand me the keys."

Before I could respond, he reached out and took the keys from my hand.

When his fingers brushed against mine, I flinched without thinking. The sensation... It was like a jolt of electricity.

It was something I had never felt with Jace.

Jace and I had known each other since we were kids. Holding hands or hugging had always been easy. familiar. But there was never that spark, that electric jolt people talk about when they were really in love. At that moment, I started to get what Jace meant when he was talking to Steve about his feelings. Hayden walked up the stairs briskly, water splashing under his feet with every step. It almost looked like he was gliding upwards.

And for a second, I was just standing there, lost in the moment, watching him until an old lady's voice brought me back to reality, "Young lady, that's your boyfriend, right? He's quite the catch-very impressive.

"And he's not afraid to get his hands dirty, lying down on the ground like that," another old lady added. There aren't many young men like that anymore. You're really lucky."

My face got even hotter, and I felt this weird flutter in my chest.

Once the water slowed down, I made my way upstairs. The door was open, and the floor was flooded.

1 rolled up my pant legs and waded inside, heading straight to the bathroom.

Hayden was there, working on the valve. When he noticed me, he explained, "This section snapped off. It was probably corroded from years of neglect."

He wasn't wrong. The pipes hadn't been touched in over a decade, so it made sense they'd be in bad shape.

I didn't say anything, just watched as Hayden continued, "The pipes in this place are all old and corroded. If you don't want this to happen again, we should probably replace them all."

That's a huge project," I said, surprised and feeling a bit overwhelmed.

it's "Its not too bad," Hayden replied, already removing the broken pipe.

He glanced down at my soaked shoes, frowning slightly as he handed me the broken piece. "You'll need to get six of these connectors, a pipe wrench, twenty-two meters of PVC pipe, and four faucets-one for the sink, one for the kitchen, and two regular ones." 1 hesitated, and he caught on that I wasn't really following. "I'll text you the list. Just grab it when you go to the store."

Hayden, maybe I should just hire someone," I said, the idea of replacing all the pipes starting to feel like too much.

Hello 86 Hello 86 Chapter Chapter My breath caught in my throat, and I couldn't move.

Hayden stayed put too, his eyes locked on mine.

We were staring straight into each other's eyes, totally frozen.

Neither of us budged-no stepping closer, no pulling away.

It was like I could feel our hearts racing together...

Until some old lady's voice outside shattered the moment: "That new tenant's boyfriend sure knows how to clean. Look at that staircase!"

Reality crashed down on me. I shoved Hayden away and bolted for the living room.

But once I got there, I just stood around, totally clueless about what to do next. My mind was a total mess.

Hayden followed me, breaking the silence with a casual, "Is this your parents' old place?"

I paused, confused about how he knew that, until I noticed him standing by the wall where all our family photos were hung.

"You still look a lot like you did as a kid, he said, almost like he was stating the obvious.

The wall was covered with my childhood awards and family portraits. In one of the photos, I had on this bright red scarf, my parents on either side of me, both smiling like they couldn't be prouder. But now, looking at those smiles felt like a punch to the gut.

"You were an excellent student," Hayden said, glancing at the awards-each one for being top of the class, a model student, or some other overachiever title.

"I still am," I shot back, not even pretending to be humble.

Hayden turned to me, his gaze steady. "No doubt."

He paused for a moment before adding, "In every way.

His words and the way he looked at me made me squirm a little. This guy was way too direct-for real, both with what he said and how he looked at me.

Not wanting to get tangled up in whatever this was, I quickly changed the subject. "You've been working hard today. How about I treat you to a meal? Then we can check out some apartments." Funny how I'd gone from being hesitant to taking charge.

But I did owe him one, after all.

"Alright," Hayden agreed without a second thought, then added, "But I need to wash my face first. Got a towel?"

I glanced at him and realized his face and clothes were pretty grimy.

"Hold on, I'll run out and grab you a change of clothes, offered, thinking about the small, cheap Chapter 86 supermarket nearby, even though the area was kind of out of the way.

"No need," Hayden shook his head. Just a towel will do. I'll be fine with a quick wash."

I was ready to argue, but the look in his eyes made it clear he wasn't up for any back-and-forth. So, I headed to the bathroom and handed him my towel. "Here, use this. I don't have a fresh one." "Thanks," he said, turning on the faucet and splashing water onto his face.

For some reason, I couldn't walk away. Instead, I stood there, watching him scrub his face in that rough way, splashing water over his skin like he didn't care that it was practically freezing. He even ran his fingers through his hair, pushing it back with the cold water dripping down his neck.

It wasn't exactly cold in the room, but that water had to be ice. Just as I opened my mouth to say something, he grabbed a towel and started drying off, his movements quick and efficient. When he lifted his head, our eyes met in the mirror.

I felt my cheeks heat up, totally caught in the act. God, how many times had I felt all flustered and out of my depth around him? It was like being a shy girl with a massive crush all over again. Jace and I had talked about marriage, sure, but we'd never had those moments that made your heart race, the kind you read about in books.

It was like Steve had pointed out-Jace and I were more like best friends. There was love, yeah, but not that wild, electric spark you feel when someone's a total mystery to you.

"Doesn't the cold water bother you?" I asked, trying to play it cool.

"I've been washing my face with cold water for years. Old habit from the military," he said, and for a second, I couldn't help but feel a weird mix of awe and concern. Do soldiers really have to deal with freezing cold water?

Chapter 87 "Got any wet wipes? Hayden asked. "Or another towel? I need to clean up."

He was clutching my towel, but it was pretty obvious he wasn't about to use it on his dirty clothes.

"I've got some face towels," I offered, digging out a couple. "You can wet them and use them the same way."

He hesitated, staring at the face towels like they were alien tech or something.

I couldn't help but laugh. "Seriously? You've never seen these before?"

"Yeah, first time," he admitted, which somehow made him even more likable.

It kinda made sense, though. He hadn't been in a relationship and didn't have any women in his life. And honestly, face towels were a pretty recent trend anyway.

"They're disposable face towels, mostly for women," I explained, wetting one and handing it to him. Hayden nodded, finally getting it, and started wiping the dirt off his clothes. As he did, I noticed a smudge on his shoulder, so I grabbed another towel and reached out to clean it off.

The second I touched him, he tensed up a little. I acted like I didn't notice and just kept wiping.

Then, I noticed a small black mole on the back of his neck, and my mind instantly flashed to that dream- the one where a boy was carrying me on his back, with a tiny black mole in the exact same spot as Hayden's.

I got totally lost in the thought, trying to figure out if it could mean something, until Hayden called my name, snapping me back to reality.

That was when I realized the damp towel had soaked his shirt. "Uh, all done," I mumbled, quickly pulling my hand away.

I couldn't stop staring at that mole on his neck. "That mole... have you had it since you were a kid?"

Her He reached up, touching the spot. "Yeah, I've had it since I was little."

My heart skipped a beat. Could "Haddy" from my dream really be Hayden?

It felt surreal. I hadn't known Hayden for long, so how could I have dreamed about him as a kid, carrying me on his back?

I know dreams were just random bits of imagination, full of weird, unexplainable stuff, but this one-it felt way too real. I was completely puzzled.

Especially since I hadn't even known about the mole on Hayden's neck until today.

"I'm ready. Let's go," Hayden said, turning to face me, which thankfully jolted me out of my chaotic thoughts.

We headed down the stairs together and ran into one of the old ladies from the building on her way up. She flashed Hayden a warm smile and said, "You're a good man. Come by often and help tidy up when you can."

Chapter 87 I couldn't help but think, "Wow, she's really not shy about asking for favors."

But Hayden just smiled back, totally unfazed, "Sure."

A true soldier, always ready to lend a hand..

Even though I knew he was just being polite, I couldn't imagine him actually coming back here on the regular.

As we stepped outside, Hayden glanced around. "Your neighborhood might be a bit old, but it's still in decent shape.*

"It used to be better," I replied. "But now it's mostly renters, so it's not as well kept."

He nodded and followed me to the car. As I started the engine, he asked, "Is the rent here expensive?"

I turned to him, caught off guard. "Hmm?"

He buckled his seatbelt. "Just curious about the rates. Might help when I'm looking to rent."

There was nothing wrong w his question, but it left me with this weird feeling I couldn't shake. Before I could dwell on it, Hayden switched topics. "So what are you planning to treat me to?" "What about you? What do you feel like eating?" I asked as we drove out of the neighborhood. "I'm not picky. Whatever you want is fine," he said, sounding genuinely easygoing.

Considering everything he'd done for me today, I decided to treat him to a nice meal. But the second we walked into the restaurant, I spotted someone I really didn't want to see.

And, of course, she noticed me too. Her eyes widened for a split second before she started making a beeline straight for me.

Chapter 88 Some people were truly shameless-like, they just couldn't help themselves.

As Tanya marched toward me, that thought flashed through my mind.

Anyone with a shred of decency would avoid the ex of the person they cheated with. But nope, not Tanya. In today's world, people like her just didn't care.

It was like she needed to show off, to prove how much better she thought she was.

"Keira, what a surprise! Here for dinner too?" Tanya chirped, but her eyes were locked onto Hayden.

Honestly, ever since she strutted over, she hadn't stopped staring at him.

I didn't need to go into detail about how hot Hayden was. Let's just say he was the kind of guy who would turn heads wherever he went, even earlier today when the old ladies in my neighborhood were practically drooling over him. "Yeah, I am. What, you think I'm just here for a tour?" I shot back, my tone dripping with sarcasm, It wasn't that I was being petty-I just couldn't stand the sight of her. She was the type who played innocent while doing something straight-up awful.

If she had just been upfront, saying she liked Jace and wanted to be with him, I might've respected that. I might've even stepped back and let them be.

But nope, she didn't. Instead, she made it a point to step on my toes, so whatever she was feeling now? Totally on her.

As expected, my sharp words made her squirm, her face turning all kinds of embarrassed. But with Jace not around, who exactly was she putting on this little show for?

Was it Hayden?

Everyone had a bit of narcissism, thinking they were the hottest thing in the room.

Tanya, with her decent looks, probably had an inflated ego too.

And now, as a young widow, she was probably desperate to snag a good guy.

But wasn't she already with Jace?

So why was she still throwing longing looks at Hayden? Did she just have a thing for the guys around me?

Even though there was nothing between Hayden and me, I still didn't want Tanya eyeing him. Catching her with that flirty look on her face, I smirked and said, "Ms. Twain, you're here for the maternity menu, right? The food here's really great-perfect for someone in your... condition."

Her face went from red to white in a second, and she quickly glanced over at Hayden.

I couldn't help but laugh internally. Was she seriously trying to catch his eye?

She was clutching onto Jace with one hand while throwing signals at every cute guy in sight with the other. Was she planning to keep her options open and pick the best one?

Chapter 88 The realization that Jace wasn't her only target caught me off guard, but also gave me this weird sense of satisfaction.

I wondered how Jace would feel if he ever found out Tanya was treating him like just another fish in her pond.

"Would you like a table? Please follow me," a server interrupted us.

"Yeah, find us a good spot," I said, brushing Tanya off as I walked away.

Knowing Tanya's true intentions, I casually moved closer to Hayden as we walked, but misjudged my step and stumbled a bit.

Hayden, quick as ever, caught my shoulder, steadying me. He didn't let go right away either.

It wasn't until I shifted that he released me, and we both slid into the seats the server had prepped for us. Hayden didn't ask who Tanya was. His ability to respect boundaries and keep things chill was something I really appreciated.

"Order whatever you want." I said, scanning the menu code on the table and handing my phone to him. This time, Hayden didn't do his usual "I'm not picky" routine. He took my phone and actually browsed the menu, scrolling through options and making selections, While he was busy with that, I glanced out the window and spotted Tanya on the phone. I couldn't help but wonder-was she calling Jace?

Just as the thought crossed my mind, Jace's car rolled up in front of Tanya. A moment later, he stepped out, opened the door for her, and even shielded her head like she was made of glass.

In all the time I'd been with Jace, he had never done that for me.

That was the difference between being cared for and just being there.

Chapter 90 If I could've disappeared on the spot, I would've done it in a heartbeat.

But I couldn't.

And I knew that the longer I dodged this, the more Hayden would overthink it.

He was the type who never held back-always said whatever popped into his head, no matter how bold or out-of-line it was. He didn't treat me like an outsider, that was for sure.

With that in mind, I forced myself to look up casually. "Really? Words alone don't prove anything."

"Mm," Hayden hummed, taking a sip of water. "I can-"

The second he started, alarms went off in my head. "Hayden, shut up."

I surrendered..

"I was going to say, if you need proof, I can go to the hospital," Hayden finished.

Even though it sounded innocent, it still felt loaded with all sorts of hidden meanings.

Why would I need him to prove anything? I wasn't his girlfriend.

"Save that proof for your future wife," I shot back, standing up abruptly and heading to the restroom.

Just as I rounded the corner, a hand grabbed my arm, and the familiar scent told me who it was before I even turned around.

Jace's grip was firm. "Rea, don't you think it's a bit much to be having lunch with a lighting engineer in a place like this?"

His face was full of anger, jealousy practically oozing out of him, and I couldn't help but laugh. "Are we not allowed to eat here? Did you buy out the place?"

"Keira Kay!" Jace's forehead was practically pulsing, veins popping. "If you're gonna find a guy, at least pick someone decent."

From the moment he walked in, everything he said dripped with contempt for Hayden.

And, of course, it was meant to insult me too.

*Hayden's a senior engineer with dual degrees from Cambridge. How many of those do you have?" I shot back, not hiding the sarcasm.

I'd only learned about Hayden's impressive background this morning after digging into his info.

Jace's face turned red with embarrassment. Sure, he was a successful CEO, but his academic record was nothing to brag about. On that front, he didn't even come close to Wayne.

But Jace had a sharp mind and a natural talent for business. That was why he'd inherited his dad's company, and in just a few years, he'd turned RiverwaveCorp into an industry leader.

It was true what they said-"Everyone has their strengths and weaknesses." But Jace was too proud, always focused on his own accomplishments, never giving credit to others Chapter 90 "In your eves, am I really that awful?" Jace asked.

""You're not awful," I replied, not wanting to crush him completely. After all, he was someone I'd loved for ten years. If he was terrible, then what did that say about me?

"But you're not better than Hayden," I added, knowing exactly how much it would sting him.

Jace's grip on my arm tightened, almost to the point of pain. Just thinking about how gentle he'd been with Tanya not too long ago sent a sharp pain through my heart.

I pushed on. "Like I said, we're done. Who I eat with, what I do-it's none of your business."

My words only darkened Jace's expression further, but he sneered, "If you want to prove your worth, then find someone better than me. Someone who's actually superior."

I couldn't help but laugh. "You're not worried about what people think when you're with a pregnant widow, so why should I care? And here's a reminder for you-if you find someone better than me, I'll genuinely wish you well. But instead, you've chosen a widow carrying your buddy's child..."

I paused, then added with a smirk, "Though I guess that just highlights your kindness and generosity."

"You..." Jace was left sputtering, struggling to come up with a comeback.

I yanked my arm free from his grip and headed straight for the restroom.

Once there, I stood in front of the mirror, staring at my reflection. My face wasn't as composed as I'd hoped.

Even though Jace and I were over, his hurtful words still managed to cut deep.

So Jace had already cheated on me long before.

"Are you Ms. Kay?" A server's voice snapped me out of my thoughts.

I turned to her, and she explained, "There's a Mr. Hart waiting for you outside."

Hearing this, I dug my nails into my palm, trying to ground myself before walking out of the restroom.

Hayden was standing a short distance away, his tall figure silhouetted against the light, like a steady anchor in the storm.

He walked over to me, his voice low and rough, "What's wrong?"

I swallowed the lump in my throat. "Hayden, I can't stay for lunch."

"Alright, then let's skip it," he said, reaching out to me.

But I pulled away. "You go ahead and eat. I need to leave."

Without waiting for his response, I quickly turned and walked away