“Rea, you’re back?” Wayne’s voice carried a mix of surprise and excitement as his eyes met mine.


    “Yeah, just got back today.” I replied, putting extra weight on today.”


    Lena didn’t miss a beat. “Just got back and already bumped into you? What are the odds?” Her


    tone was all innocent charm, but the undertone was sharp enough to slice through Wayne’s


    polished demeanor.


    He gave a quick nod toward the upper level. “Some high school friends organized a get–together


    here a few days ago.


    Before I could respond, someone called out to him. “Wayne, we’re heading out!”


    He waved toward the group but lingered, ncing back at our table. “Do you two need anything


    else?” His tone was casual, but the offer was clear–he was ready to cover the bill.


    Lena beat me to it, shing a polite smile. “Already paid through my phone. Thanks, though,


    Wayne’s focus shifted back to me. “Rea, after you’ve had time to settle,e over for dinner. My


    parents have been asking about you.”


    “Let me treat you to dinner instead,” I said, pausing just long enough to add, “And thanks for


    handling things in Houston.”


    I watched his face carefully, searching for even the smallest crack in hisposure. But his


    expression stayed smooth. “Alright,” he said simply.


    With a nod to Lena, he turned and walked off. Through the ss, I tracked him as he climbed into


    his car and drove away.


    non


    Lena tapped my foot under the table, snapping my attention back. “What’s going on? Is he still hung


    up you?”


    I stared at the steaming soup, swirling my spoon in the broth. “I think Wayne’s the one behind all of


    this.”


    Her jaw dropped. “What?”


    “What I’m about to do might sound insane, but don’t be shocked.”


    I told Lena everything I’d uncovered in Houston.


    She inhaled sharply. “Crazy how? You’re not seriously thinking about getting close to Wayne to dig


    for answers, are you?”


    My


    eyes drifted, unfocused. “I can’t let Hayden’s death be meaningless.”


    Material ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Hayden was k


    killed by Bruno, but Bruno was just a pawn. The real enemy was the one pulling the strings- the


    person who wanted Hayden dead and orchestrated it all.


    “Hayden wouldn’t want you risking your life for this,” Lena said. Then she hesitated. “And… what


    about Jace? He’s your ex. If you get involved with his brother, what’s that gonna do to him?”


    I didn’t answer. I didn’t need to. Lena could see the determination in my silence. She reached over


    and gripped my hand tightly. “Fine. Do what you have to. If ites to it, I’ll hand you the knife


    myself.”


    Her words hit me harder than I expected, making my throat lighten. It wasn’t easy to find a friend


    like -someone who’d stick with me, no matter how reckless or irrational my choices seerind


    MARA


    Later, when I went to see Jace, I arrived just as they were changing his dressing. The scene was


    brutal With no way to numb the pain, he had a towel shoved in his mouth to muffle the sounds,


    while three nurses worked meticulously to scrape away the dead tissue,


    The smell of blood and decay hung thick in the air.


    Once, I would’ve been sick just watching. But now? Nothing. I’d be numb to it all.


    When the nurses finished and left, Jacey there, his face pale, his hair stered to his forehead


    with sweat. He looked like he’d been through hell–and back again.


    I pulled up a chair beside his bed, my gaze falling on the freshly bandaged wound. “You’ve been


    dealing with this for a month?”


    At the sound of my voice, his eyes shot open. For a second, disbelief flickered across his face. His


    lips moved like he wanted to speak, but no sound came out.


    He looked so thin now, the weight of pain and exhaustion etched into every line of his face. The


    Jace I used to know–strong, confident–felt like a shadow of the man lying in front of me.


    “Why are you still here when the wound isn’t healing?” asked, pressing him harder. “Why not


    transfer to another hospital? Or go for better treatment?”


    “I’m fine,” Jace muttered, brushing me off like it was no big deal.


    I wasn’t buying it. “I already know,” I said bluntly. “The wound won’t heal because of the toxins and


    bacteria from the crocodile’s teeth. It keeps festering, and if this continues, they’re going to have to


    amputate.”


    Lena had filled me in before I came.


    Jace’s injury was my fault, and I couldn’t shake the responsibility. I had to convince him to get the


    treatment he needed.