I thought about that contract. “Your dad’s death must’ve been tied to mine. I’m the only one who can


    get to the bottom of this.”


    Hayden looked at me. “Did you find something out?”


    “What about you?” I asked. “Why are you after Thorsten Drago? Why do you suspect him?”


    He stood up and walked to the window, his tall frame radiating this strength, like he could hold up


    the sky if it came crashing down.


    Watching him like that, I set down my cup and followed. “Hayden, I get that you know something


    too. And I know


    you don’t want me involved, but this is about my parents. I can’t just sit back and do nothing.”


    I nced at the moonlight streaming through the window. “I’m not some clueless kid. I can handle


    myself. And besides, you’re here with me, aren’t you?”


    Hayden turned to look at me, and after a beat, he said, “You’re just as stubborn as you were when


    we were kids.”


    Iughed and faced him. “So, you’ve known who I was this whole time? You got close to me just to


    dig into your dad’s death, right?”


    He frowned, his eyebrows pulling together. “Is that really what you think?”


    “Yeah.”


    He rolled his eyes, giving me a lopsided grin. “Is my flirting game that bad?”


    I blinked, caught off guard. “Wait, what?”


    “Ugh, heartless,” he muttered, shaking his head as he backed away from the window. “Just finish


    your tea and go to bed, okay?”


    “What about you? What are you gonna do?” I blurted out, my mouth moving faster than my brain.


    Hayden didn’t even look back as he walked to the bedroom, Just before the door shut, he called


    over his shoulder, “Read.”


    I watched the door click shut, then shook my head, grinning as I finished the tea. I nced at the


    cartoon mug–it was my favorite–and gave it a quick kiss before heading to my ce.


    I stretched out on the couch and shot Steve a quick text to let him know I was home safe. Then, I


    decided to video–call Lena.


    This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?.


    I didn’t think she’d actually pick up–she usually doesn’t–but this time, she did.


    “Why didn’t you go to work today?” I asked, noticing she was at home.


    “Day off!”


    I squinted at the screen. “Wait, did you put on makeup? Did you go out? Was it a date?” Something


    felt off.


    She moved the camera away. “Nope, you’re imagining things.”


    “Oh,e on. Don’t hide it. Spill the tea,” I pushed. I knew her too well for her to get away with


    this.


    When she finally brought the camera back, she’d already wiped off her lipstick.


    “There’s nothing to tell,” she said, trying to sound casual. “I just met up with him for Yuna.”


    I was su


    surprised. “Wait, you saw him? I thought you weren’t meeting until next week.”


    “He came back early, and our professor set it up,” Lena said, trying to sound all casual.


    But I wasn’t letting this go. “So, how’d it go?”


    “What do you mean, how did it go?” she said, dodging.


    “Your senior! Is he still single?” I asked.


    Lena rolled her eyes. “Seriously? Shouldn’t you be more interested in what he said about your


    future sister- inw?”


    “Of course I care! But I’m more worried about you. I’m not gonna ditch my friends for some guy,” I


    said, giving her a yful wink.


    Lena scoffed. “Yeah, sure. You’re just being nosy.”


    “Okay, fine, I am! Now spill!” I was eager to know.


    I wanted to know about Yuna’s condition, but I was also dying to know if there was any chemistry


    between Lena and her senior.


    o you really.


    to know?” Lena teased.


    “Yes, like, desperately!” I said, putting on my best pleading face.


    Lena bit her lip. “Yuna’s surgery should be fine. They did a simr onest year, and it went really


    well.”


    My heart practically did a cartwheel. “That’s awesome!


    “So, is he still single?” I asked, not missing a beat.


    Just as I finished my question, a friend request notification popped up on my phone. The sender?


    Cole.