I'd been here once before with Jace for some business thing. Back then, it gave off major upscale corporate vibes.But after hearing Demi's take? Yeah, I realized I'd been way too naive.Blending in here was key. Rolling in like a clueless tourist? Total no-go. So, I stuck with the same routine I'd used at that bar.Where there were women offering "questionable services," there were usually guys doing the same.I'd already scoped out "young hunks" before, so asking again wouldn't raise any red flags. Even if the Drago family heard about it, they'd probably shrug it off like, 'Sounds about right.'Sometimes, the best covers just fall into your lap.I booked a private room and waved over a server. "I'm looking for... services. Preferably someone handsome," I said casually.The server didn't blink. "I'm sorry, Miss. We don't provide those kinds of services here. If you want someone to serve drinks, I can arrange that."Locked down tight. Every shady detail buried so deep it barely
I took one step forward, then froze. Demi's words replayed in my head: someone had a secret. Could it be him, the guy I just spotted?If so, was he wrapped up in the Drago family's shady business too?The thought of the Johnstons and Dragos teaming up to take out my parents made my blood boil. I was so caught up, I didn't notice someone behind me until Cole's voice broke through."Lost on the way to the restroom?" he teased.Snapping out of it, I played it cool. "Nah, just got my period. Need supplies."His smirk was straight-up smug. "What a coincidence. I'll have someone grab them for you."And he actually did. A staffer brought me some pads, leaving me no choice but to take a quick restroom break and roll with it.By the time I got back, Cole's so-called "models" had already lined up. All six feet tall, ripped, and ridiculously good-looking, like they'd been plucked straight out of some glossy magazine ad.They greeted me, perfectly synchronized."These guys are pros," Cole
I grabbed Wayne's collar and yanked him down, locking eyes with him as I slurred, "Hayden, you finally showed up... You jerk. What took you so long?"His face hardened, and his grip on my wrist tightened. "Rea, you're drunk. I'm not Hayden.""No, you are Hayden," I said, tracing the curve of his brow with my finger. "You've changed. You don't love me anymore... You left me..."If there's one thing men can't stand, it's being someone else's substitute. And for Wayne, who'd always had feelings for me? My words were like twisting a knife straight into his heart.Pain shot through my shoulder as he pinched it, giving me a small shake. "Look at me. Who am I?"I stared at him for a beat, then let my lips quiver as I broke into full-on sobbing."Hayden, you're such a jerk!" I wailed, tears streaming. "You're the worst! Why are you bullying me?"Tears: the ultimate trump card. Like clockwork, Wayne's grip on my shoulder loosened.I threw a few weak punches at his chest, more for show t
Moments later, Jace barged in, heading straight for the bedroom without even glancing at me on the couch.Wayne wiped the corner of his mouth. For a split second, I saw it—a faint smear of red.Jace returned, and Wayne, as unbothered as ever, spoke up. "You don't always have to assume the worst of me."Jace's eyes finally landed on me. His tense expression eased slightly when he saw I was still fully clothed, but his voice stayed sharp. "You shouldn't have gone after her."Wayne grabbed a tissue, dabbing at his mouth before strolling to the liquor cabinet. He poured himself a drink, taking a slow sip. "She came after me," he replied, calm as ever.His words sent a chill through me. Had he figured out I was trying to get close to him on purpose?"Or is it you who's been watching her all along?" Jace fired back, cutting straight to the chase.Wayne leaned casually against the cabinet, the top two buttons of his shirt undone, giving him an almost devil-may-care edge. "Don't forget,
So, who could I actually turn to for help in exposing the Drago family's shady business?Yara came to mind first, but she was a Drago.She had a strong sense of justice and used to work alongside Hayden, but with him gone, I doubted she'd lift a finger to help me now. The Drago family was her bloodline, her safety net. I couldn't see her betraying them, no matter how noble she once seemed.Then there was Sasha. She'd told me before how much she hated Thorsten, but after the way she stabbed me in the back last time, trusting her again would be delulu. If anything, she'd sell me out before I got a word in.After running through every option, I came up empty. But the Drago family's operation needed to be stopped. This wasn't just about avenging my parents anymore—it was about saving the countless women they'd exploited and destroyed.Demi's story hadn't been detailed, but it was enough to reveal a twisted pattern.The Dragos had created an insidious network. They groomed men like De
When Lena saw me, her eyes widened. "Did you mug someone last night or something?"Even with makeup, my dark circles were glaringly obvious. I didn't bother pretending. "Just couldn't sleep."Lena didn't pry further, probably assuming it was about Hayden again."Where's Nate? Why isn't he here?" I asked, steering the conversation. I'd invited Nate to discuss something about Yuna."What, missing him already?" Lena teased."Yep, been pining away for him forever," I shot back, grinning.She poured me a glass of water and slid it across the table. "He got called in to check out some case for a friend. Said he'd swing by after he's done."I sipped the water. "So, how did meeting his parents go? All smooth?""Smooth enough. My parents love him—already pushing us to tie the knot as soon as possible."Her tone was far from excited.I'd known her long enough to catch it instantly."You don't sound too thrilled about that.""It's not that I'm unhappy. It's just... everything feels ru
Tanya had been trying to outdo me forever, but honestly, all she'd managed was digging herself deeper into her own mess.This was on her, 100%, but would she ever own up to it? Nah. She'd just blame me like always.And me? I showed up tonight for one reason—to stir the pot, to make her hate me even more.She avoided me the whole time I was there, which was classic Tanya. But just as I was about to leave, I made sure to call her over.She walked up, looking like she was about to bite my head off. "Keira, I'm not serving you," she snapped.At least she had her pride. Props for that. Imagine turning down my money."I want to sign up for a VIP membership—the yearlong one. If you're not gonna help me, find someone who will." I leaned into the moment, letting the weight of my wallet do the talking.A VIP membership here meant Tanya would pocket 25 percent of the fee. If I threw down $30k, that was, like, two months of her salary. She'd feel that."You think flashing some cash makes y
Hooking Tanya was easy. Buying the bar? Not so much.This place was booming every night, packed with customers. No sane owner would hand it over without a fight.I needed a different angle.Sure, I could've looped in the Johnstons and made it a done deal. But that wasn't happening. I was done with them.So, I called Ron. The second I finished explaining, he hit me with, "If you wanna be a boss, I'll step aside."Typical Ron—chill to the point of reckless. Giving up a cushy gig without blinking? He made life look so easy.I laughed it off. "I'm not looking to run the place. I just don't want to pay for my drinks every time I show up."He snorted. "Ms. Kay, the money you're thinking of dropping on this could fund your drinking habit for, like, ten lifetimes."He teased, but then his tone shifted. "Don't be impulsive. Owning a bar isn't just a fun side hustle.""I know what I'm doing," I cut in before he could go full dad-mode. "Just tell me if you've got any connections to the o
"If it weren’t for my goddaughter, I wouldn’t even bother with you," Lena said, gently rocking the baby in her arms. "Right, little Aurora? Your godmother just adores you." "Come on, Aurora, it’s time to eat," Lena said as she carefully placed the baby in Keira's arms. Although it was her first time, Keira wasn’t embarrassed. She followed Lena’s instructions, trying to breastfeed for the first time. But the process was… painful. And since her posture was incorrect, neither of them got it right—Keira ended up covered in sweat from struggling, and her baby still hadn’t eaten properly. Panic set in. Anxiety crept up her spine. "What do I do?" Keira asked, her voice tight with unease. "It’s okay. This happens at first. Let’s transition with formula for now," Lena reassured Keira before glancing at Hayden, who had been standing there the whole time, watching anxiously—and sweating just as much as Keira was. "Go make your daughter a bottle," she told him. Hayden, the man wh
That conversation… Lena shuddered. Yeah, she had definitely come back too early. It was best to leave now before she ruined the mood for those two inside. Not wanting to hear any more, she quickly turned to leave—only to smack her leg against a nearby chair. The pain was real, but worse was the noise it made, drawing attention to her presence. Inside the room, Hayden—already feeling awkward from Keira's teasing—froze. The sound from outside made him even more uncomfortable. Keira couldn’t hold back her laughter. The moment Keira burst out laughing, however, pain shot through her lower abdomen. "Ah—ow!" Keira gasped. Hayden immediately panicked. "What’s wrong? Where does it hurt?" Hearing her cry, Lena rushed in as well. "What happened?" "I laughed too hard and pulled my stitches," Keira explained, gripping Hayden’s hand tightly. Lena glared at Keira. "You’re a mother now, and yet you’re still acting like a child. Do you have any idea what condition you’re in?"
"It’s fine. I can do it," Hayden said naturally as he picked up the basin and went to fetch warm water. The moment he stepped out, Lena turned to scold Keira. "You went through so much pain to give birth to his child. Why would you feel bad about letting him do something for you?" "It’s not that I feel bad—I just feel embarrassed," Keira whispered in defense. Lena rolled her eyes. "So dramatic." Keira shot her a glare in return. "Just wait until it’s your turn. When your husband has to handle your private matters, you’ll understand how awkward it is." The moment the words left Keira's mouth, she saw Lena’s face turn red. Lena quickly hugged the baby and turned away. But Keira caught it. Something was off. "Wait… why are you blushing?" Keira asked suspiciously. "I am not blushing," she denied immediately. What Keira didn’t know was that her words had triggered the memory of Lena's ridiculous dream—where she had been lying on the delivery bed, cursing Aaron while gi
The moment she finished cursing, Lena jolted awake. She sat there, dazed. What kind of ridiculous dream was that? She had assisted in delivering countless babies before, but this was the first time she had ever dreamed of giving birth herself. And not only that—she had dreamed of giving birth to Aaron’s child? That was beyond outrageous. Absolutely absurd! What a way to start the new year. That dream was anything but beautiful. Lena ran a hand down her face, shaking off the lingering unease. She quickly got up, poured herself a glass of water to calm down, and then left the break room. Back in the hospital room, Hayden was feeding Keira. Keira was perfectly capable of eating on her own, but he insisted on feeding her, saying that she was in a special period and should be treated like a queen. That this was the time to learn how to be spoiled properly. Fine. If this was how he wanted to make up for the suffering she endured giving birth to their daughter, she’d give
Keira looked at Lena and smiled as she followed up on Hayden’s words. "You’re family. It’s different." Lena shot her a subtle glare before stuffing the red envelope into her pocket and saying, "Give me the rest. I’ll hand them out for you later." Hayden passed her the prepared stack of red envelopes, and as she took them, she asked, "What about the other departments?" Hayden and Aaron exchanged a glance and chuckled. "Of course. Every medical staff member in this hospital gets one." "President Hart, you’re too generous," Lena said, giving him a thumbs-up. With that, she took the envelopes and left. Aaron glanced at the time. "If there’s nothing else, I’ll be heading back now." "Mm. Happy New Year!" Hayden said, offering his holiday wishes. "Happy New Year to your whole family," Aaron replied, adding a few extra words that made both Hayden and me instinctively turn toward the baby in the bassinet. From today onward, we were officially a family of three. Outside the h
When Keira returned to the hospital room, she was greeted by a sight that made her pause. The room was decorated with fresh flowers and balloons, and beside her bed, there was a small cart filled with various gift boxes. The atmosphere was so festive that if someone walked in, they might have thought it was a birthday party rather than a postpartum recovery room. "What’s all this?" Lena asked on Keira's behalf. "A reward for my wife," Hayden answered, his hand still holding Keira's as he gazed at her with deep affection. "She went through so much. This is my way of thanking her." Keira smiled faintly. "I don’t need any of this." "Whether you need it or not is one thing. Giving it to you is my choice," Hayden said, pressing a kiss onto Keira's fingertips. "Even if everything I have already belongs to you, I still want to give you more." "Such a loving husband—honestly, what more could a woman ask for?" Lena teased before patting Keira's hospital bed. "But if President Hart r
Elder Mitchell wasn’t buying it. "That just means you guys didn’t really want to give anything. If you truly wanted to, there’s no such thing as a gift that can’t be delivered." The two old men started bickering again, but Hayden ignored them. Instead, he kept his eyes on the infant bathing room. Before long, the nurse finished bathing the baby and carried her out. Hayden reached out to take her, but the two elders immediately moved to get closer. He blocked them without hesitation. "Don’t you know old people’s eyes are toxic? You shouldn’t be staring at her for too long." Elder Hart: "…" Elder Mitchell: "…" With that, Hayden carried the baby and walked away. The two old men trailed after him, hoping to catch another glimpse, but Hayden wasn’t about to give them the chance. "Congratulations," Aaron, who had been standing nearby, offered his well wishes. "It’s a daughter. Take a look," Hayden said, his pride practically radiating off him. Aaron lowered his gaze to the
Keira didn’t know why she was crying. It felt as if an overwhelming sense of grievance had settled deep in her heart. "A little princess, 3200 grams… Here, kiss your mommy," Lena cooed as she held the baby close to Keira's face, letting her tiny lips brush against her cheek. At that moment, Keira's tears fell even harder. "Look at you, crying like this," Lena teased while handing the baby to a nurse to be bathed. Then, she turned back to help clean up the mess beneath Keira. "Lena, take care of Rea for a bit. I’ll step outside," Hayden suddenly said as he got up to leave. He couldn’t exactly help with anything at this point, but leaving before Keira had even been cleaned up felt a little too hasty. "What? Now that you have a daughter, you're abandoning your wife?" Lena scoffed at him. Hayden didn’t explain. He simply leaned down to kiss Keira and whispered, "I’ll be right back." "Make sure she gets something to eat," Lena reminded him. The moment Hayden stepped out of
"But she's in so much pain," Hayden said, as if he could feel Keira's pain himself. "She's only in pain because she wants to give you a child," Lena countered, once again taking a jab at him. But as soon as she finished speaking, she recalled Aaron's words from earlier—She shouldn't have any more children in the future. So that's why Aaron said that… He was feeling sorry for her. A strange feeling flickered in Lena’s heart as she looked at Keira. "This pain comes in waves. When it eases, try to relax and rest. Have you eaten tonight? Did you eat much?" Before Keira could answer, Hayden spoke for her. "She had a few dumplings and a couple of bites of cake, not much." "That won't do. She needs strength to give birth," Lena instructed Hayden. "Go get her some egg sugar water or milk—something to replenish her energy so she has the strength to deliver." She was right. The pain had subsided a little by now. Keira looked at Hayden. "Go ahead and get it. Lena is here with me."