“You’re seriously low,” Jace snarled, grabbing Hayden by the cor.


    My heart lurched, and I started to move toward them, but Hayden stayed cool. “You think this is low


    because you’ve never cared about Keira the way I do, have you?”


    Jace’s evac


    eyes narrowed, his voice sharp. “These cheesy tricks might work on a little girl, but Keira’s not into


    fake stuff like this. Don’t you get it?”


    Not into it?


    I remembered telling Jace that once.


    It was our first Valentine’s Day as a couple. He didn’t get me anything–not even a card or a dinner.


    The next day, we were out with Steve and a few friends, and Steve jokingly asked what romantic


    thing Jace had nned for me.


    I’d never felt so embarrassed. Jace apologizedter, saying he’d forgotten, and I had tough it off,


    pretending I didn’t care about that kind of thing.


    But seriously, what girl doesn’t like flowers and a little romance?


    It wasn’t that I didn’t want it–it was that he didn’t give it to me.


    “Still think she doesn’t like it now?” Hayden’s voice was steady.


    Jace nced at me. I didn’t know if he could see the tears still lingering on my cheeks, but he’d


    definitely seen them before.


    If he had even a clue, he’d know exactly why I was crying.


    Yeah, I was crying because Hayden had brought my parents back, even if just virtually. I was


    overwhelmed with joy and longing, but also by the care and thought he put into everything he did for


    me.


    Hayden’s love was in the details–the meals he made for me, the way he quietly looked out for me,


    the personalized light show he created just for me….


    After a long, tense silence, Jace finally looked away, but his eyes were still cold as they locked onto


    Hayden. “Keira loves me. We were together for ten years. She would’ve given up her life for me.”


    Hayden didn’t say a word, but Jace sneered. “Don’t believe me? Have you noticed the little scar on


    her left ring finger? That’s the proof.”


    I instinctively curled my fingers. So he remembered the injury I’d gotten for him.


    But did he remember the promise that came with it?


    The promise to rece that lost piece of flesh with a ring?


    No.


    He didn’t remember.


    If he did, he wouldn’t have been sneaking around with Tanya behind my back.


    12


    hapter 235


    “Yeah, she would’ve died for you-but how did you treat her?” Hayden shot back, his voice icy.


    Jace froze. Hayden raised his hand, gripping Jace’s wrist with equal force. Hayden’s voice was


    calm but firm. “You’re the one who didn’t appreciate her, which gave me this so–called ‘low‘


    opportunity. Get it?”


    With that, Hayden yanked Jace’s hand off him.


    I walked over then, not saying a word. I just looped my arm through Hayden’s. “It’s gettingte. Let’s


    go.” Hayden looked at me with such tenderness, and we left together.


    On the way back, neither of us said a word. Even when we got to the stairs, the only noise was our


    footsteps echoing around us.


    “Night,” he muttered when we reached my door, already reaching for his keys.


    “Hayden,” I called out, making him pause


    He turned around, the dim hallway light casting shadows on his face as I stepped closer. “Do you


    really not care about my past? Do you actually want to be with me?”


    “Haven’t I made that clear?” he asked softly.


    hing to


    He had, right? He’d literally moved into the apartment right across from mine. He’d done everythin


    show he was serious


    If I still didn’t believe him, it’d be like spitting on everything he’d done for me.


    “Hayden,” I whispered again.


    Then I stood on my tiptoes and kissed him, my lips brushing against his


    He froze. I wrapped my arms around his waist, my words a breath against his mouth. “Let’s just be


    together.”


    Hayden stayed still. He didn’t say a word ? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org.