Matthew froze in his tracks, and I could feel him sway, just a little.


    I instinctively reached out to steady him. “Matthew!”


    ? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org.


    He turned to face me, his expression tense. “Why are you asking this all of a sudden?”


    I thought about what Hayden had said, but I couldn’t bring myself to tell Matthew the truth. So, I


    yed it off with a casual shrug. “I was just curious. No big deal.


    The smile vanished from his face, and the way he looked at me sent a cold chill down my spine.


    “Rea, your parents‘ car ident was exactly that–an ident. I went to the scene myself. The


    police were there, and there’s a full investigation report,” Matthew said, his voice serious.


    I hadn’t been at the scene back then. I didn’t know the details firsthand.


    Matthew had kept me away, told me not toe. He didn’t want me to see something so awful, and


    I knew he was trying to protect me. But still, it left me with this lingering regret that never really


    ent away.


    “If you have doubts or don’t believe me, you can check the records yourself,” Matthew added, his


    face turning pale. The lightness from earlier hadpletely disappeared.


    I knew he and my dad had been super close, almost like brothers, Mentioning my parents‘ deaths.


    probably dragged up old grief, and I could see the pain in his eyes too.


    I gently looped my arm through his. “It’s okay. I believe you. I was just asking.”


    Matthew stared at me for a second, like he was about to say something, but then… nothing.


    After what felt like forever, he sighed. “You go ahead. I’ll sit here for a while.”


    He’d been all set to go downstairs with me, but now, out of nowhere, he’d changed his mind. My


    heart sank. “Matthew…”


    “I’m fine. Just go,” he said, waving me off.


    I left the study, but I didn’t go downstairs right away. Instead, I leaned against the wall, staring


    nkly into the hallway, my thoughts racing.


    Matthew’s reaction had been off. Something didn’t sit right. If he was hiding something, why did he


    seem so open and sincere?


    For a moment, I wasn’t even sure what to think.


    Eventually, I made my way downstairs, and as I got closer, I overheard Lirtdey chatting with


    Hayden.


    I’d been worried they wouldn’t have much to talk about or worse, that Lindey might be giving him a


    hard time. But when I heard herugh, I felt a wave of relief.


    What had Hayden said to make Lindey, who was usually so skeptical of him,ugh like that?


    Curious, I headed downstairs and overheard Lindey mid–conversation. “Rea was such a sweet,


    mischievous little thing when she was younger. She was only about this tall and would always call


    me Mom‘ whenever she saw me.


    “I remember saying, ‘I wish she were my daughter.‘ And her momughed, saying, “Well, you can


    make her your daughter–inw–just marry her to Jace or Wayne.


    “But Wayne was way too old, so we figured Jace would be perfect.”


    It was the first time I’d ever heard the story of how I ended up “betrothed” to Jace instead of


    Wayne.


    “And right after her mom said that, Rea dered she wanted to marry Jace–even gave him a cute


    nickname, no hesitation at all,” Lindey said with a smug smile.


    So, it wasn’t Hayden making herugh–it was Lindey, throwing subtle shade and maybe trying to


    get under his skin.


    “She used to give all the older boys cute nicknames,” Hayden replied smoothly. “Always running


    around, asking for piggyback rides.”


    1 froze. How did he know what I was like as a kid?


    Then it hit me he was probably just saying it to throw it back at Lindey.


    I reached the bottom of the stairs, and both Lindey and Hayden turned to look at me. For a second,


    no one said anything. We just stood there, caught in this quiet moment.


    After what felt like forever, Lindey broke the silence. “Where’s Matthew? Why didn’t hee down


    with you?”


    I thought back to how Matthew had been acting earlier “He said he wanted to be alone for a while.”


    Lindey studied my face, and it seemed like she understood something. “Rea, Matthew loves you


    like you’re his own daughter,”


    na


    “I know,” I replied softly, though a wave of sadness crashed over me.


    By then, Hayden had already stood up and was suddenly right by my side, slipping his hand into


    mine. I could feel the intensity in his gaze as he looked at me.


    My hand was cold, and he must’ve noticed.


    ‘Got anything else you wanna say to Mrs. Johnston?” Hayden asked, giving an easy way out. “If


    not, we should bounce. Don’t wanna keep Mr. and Mrs. Johnston up any longer.”