“Keira, you’re really clingy with Hayden,” Yuna teased, giving me a yful smirk. I felt a little


    awkward, but then she added, “But I really like it.”


    “You little brat,” I shot back, pretending to re at her. She just giggled.


    I stepped out of her hospital room and nced down the hall. Empty. Hayden must’ve found


    somewhere. quieter to take his call. After a second, I headed toward the stairwell.


    As I got closer, I heard Hayden’s voice


    The shop’s gone, but the mechanics should still be around. Track them down… Yes, it’s necessary.


    I need to give Keira an answer, and clear my dad’s name


    When I heard that, my chest tightened.


    I’d been debating whether to reopen the investigation into the brake failure that caused the


    ident. I hadn’t told Hayden, but it seemed like he’d already started digging into it.


    His call ended, but before I could step forward, his phone rang again. I paused,


    The stairwell door was cracked open, and through it, I saw Hayden holding a cigarette. “Yeah, I’m


    back. She’s here… What, can’t handle things without us? Rx. Don’te; it’d blow the cover…


    Yeah, I’m still working on the code.”


    I knew who he was talking to–it had to be Ron. And by the way Hayden was talking, it was clear


    who the real boss was.


    It was Hayden.


    A rich guy with thest name ‘Hart‘…


    It seemed… I’d been deceived.


    But Hayden swore he wouldn’t lie to me.


    Why would he keep this from me?


    As he finished his calls, Hayden spotted me waiting in the hallway. He walked over, his voice


    gentle.” What are you doing out here?”


    “I was looking for you, but I couldn’t find you,” I lied.


    “I was on the phone,” he said, his eyes searching mine, “How’s Mr. Johnston?”


    “Lung cancer,” I said, the words catching in my throat.


    We both knew what that meant. No amount of money could change the oue. A colleague of


    mine, only thirty–three, had died from it in less than a hundred days.


    Even though Matthew wasn’t my dad; he’d treated me like his own for thest decade. I wasn’t


    ready to lose him either.


    Hayden must’ve sensed how I felt because he pulled me into a hug. “Medicine’se a long way.


    There’s still hope. Cancer treatments have improved.”


    Chanter 305


    I rested my head on his shoulder. “I’m so scared of losing people right now… It feels like they just


    keep. slipping away.”


    “That’s life–loss and renewal,” Hayden murmured, stroking my hair.


    “Now I get why you’ve been scared for Yuna’s surgery. I’m… I’m feeling the same fear.” My voice


    faltered.


    I didn’t need to say more. Hayden knew exactly what I meant.


    He kissed the top of my head. “She’s strong, and we love her. She’ll make it through.”


    Original from N?velDrama.Org.


    I hoped so, more than anything.


    I closed my eyes and silently prayed


    I


    As we stood there, a soft cough can my attention. opened my eyes and saw Lena standing nearby.


    She winked at me, then said, “Mr. Hart, Prof. Neumann is looking for you.”


    Hayden let go of me, but I held onto his hand for a second. Nate was probably about to confirm


    Yuna’s surgery details.


    Hayden didn’t need me to say anything. He gave me aforting look before heading off to find


    Nate.


    Lena walked over, and I braced for a joke, but her face was all business. “Yuna’s surgery might not


    happen