hapter 142


    Sometimes, you just had to cut through the mess before it swallowed you whole.


    I really hoped Hayden could be the one to finally sever my ties with Jace for good.


    After hanging up on Gavin, I got back to tidying up my apartment, trying to distract myself. The pink


    nket Hayden had usedst night was folded neatly on the bed.


    I couldn’t help butugh as I pictured him wrapped up in that pink nket.


    Life was going to throw a bunch of challenges our way, but these little random moments of


    happiness? They made everything worth it.


    Even though Gavin’s news should’ve made me anxious, I weirdly felt calm. I was actually ready to


    wait for the call from my new job, even if it was to let me go.


    But I cleaned my tiny apartment, made sure every corner was spotless, and even took care of the


    nts on the balcony–still, my phone stayedpletely silent.


    Finally, I brewed some tea and curled up in the rocking chair on the balcony with a book. That’s


    when I


    heard voices from outside.


    N?velDrama.Org is the owner.


    Curious, I leaned over and saw a few guys delivering furniture, with a couple of movers taking a


    smoke break and chatting.


    A few minutester, Ms. Brown rolled up on her electric trike.


    It all clicked–this was the furniture for the new tenant she mentioned.


    Thinking about the guy she talked about, and remembering that creep who stalked me after our


    blind date, I realized having a male neighbor across the hall might not be such a bad thing after all.


    If I ever ended up in a sketchy situation again, I could just knock on his door. He’d probablye


    running to help.


    The thought made me smile, and I went back to my book and tea until there was a knock at my


    door.


    When I opened it, there was Ms. Brown, looking all apologetic. “Keira, I’m so sorry.”


    She was apologizing for not being able to help with my request.


    I smiled, “It’s okay, really.”


    I nced over at the open door across the hall, noticing the furniture already set up inside. “When’s


    the new neighbor moving in?”


    “Today, actually,” Ms. Brown said, shaking her head a bit. “Originally, he said there was no rush, but


    he called me first thing this morning, saying he wanted to move in today and asked me to have


    everything ready.”


    I nodded, keeping it casual. “In such a hurry, huh?”


    Ms. Brown shrugged. “Young people–who knows what goes on in their minds? But he seems like a


    good guy, so you don’t have to worry. I already told him that if he’s living here, he needs to be


    friendly with his neighbors.”


    I smiled. “Don’t worry, I’ll do my best to get along with him.”


    “Oh, Keira, do you happen to have a mop I could borrow? I was in such a rush that I forgot to bring


    one. I just want to clean up a bit before handing over the keys,” Ms. Brown asked, looking a little


    sheepish.


    “Sure, I’ll grab it for you,” I said, heading to the bathroom to fetch the mop. But by the time I came


    back out, Ms. Brown had gone back to her apartment, probably to take a call.


    I walked across the hall with the mop in hand. The room was pretty simple–freshly painted white


    walls, just a bed, aputer desk, and a bookshelf.


    Ms. Brown finished her call and came over, thanking me while continuing to chat. “The new tenant


    didn’t mind the old furniture at all, except for the bed. He insisted on getting a new bed and


    bookshelf. Look at that bed! It was perfectly fine, but he just had to rece it.”


    “I didn’t agree at first, but he wouldn’t take no for an answer, even paid for it himself,” Ms. Brown


    said, shaking her head as she spoke.


    I didn’t say much, just took a quick look around. When I saw Ms. Brown was about to start mopping,


    I made up an excuse to head back to my apartment.


    By evening, I still hadn’t received a termination call from thepany, which left me feeling a little


    confused. I even started wondering if my phone was acting up.


    So I called Lena to check, and everything worked fine.


    When she heard about what went downst night and how Hayden had saved me, she immediately


    said, Rea, are you really not going to get serious with him? He’s so cool!”


    I rocked gently in my chair. “When I’m ready to get serious with him, you’ll be the first to know.”


    Lena clicked her tongue. “Sounds like you’re already smitten.”


    I nced down at my toes. “I’m not heartless, you know.”


    Hayden had saved me and helped me more than once already.


    “Looks like you’re finally letting your guard down. Rea, I’m really d you’re moving on from that


    jerk,” Lena said, her voice full of genuine concern.


    She was one of the few people in this world who truly cared about me, with no ulterior motives