It hit me then–I’dpletely overlooked the Hart family. As the newly named heir, Hayden’s


    absence should’ve sent ims ring. They should’ve been looking for him, not sitting back.


    But instead of a real investigation, they were just sending people to Yuna, fishing for details through


    her.


    Something didn’t add up.


    Trying to ignore the slump in Yuna’s shoulders, I asked, “Yuna, who from the Hart family came to


    see you?”


    “A guy about Hayden’s age. His name was… Kylian.”


    Kylian Hart. His face popped into my mind like a bad memory.


    “How many times did hee? Was he always alone?” I pushed.


    “Yeah,” Yuna said with a small nod.


    She wasn’t in the mood to keep talking, and I didn’t want to push her further. Instead, I shifted


    gears. “Whenever you’re ready to start college, let me know. I’ll take you.”


    Yuna looked up, her gaze steady. “I want both you and Hayden to take me.”


    Her simple requestnded with weight. I forced a smile, swallowing hard. “Sure. I’ll let him know.


    Hopefully… he’ll be back soon.”


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    As I left Yuna’s, the knot in my chest tightened. The Hart family’s actions didn’t add up. If Hayden


    was missing, shouldn’t they have been out searching–or at least reached out to me?


    But instead, they went to Yuna, fishing for answers through her.


    Why?


    Maybe they assumed Hayden and I had split for good, so avoiding me made sense. But Yara? If


    they didn’t want to deal with me, she seemed like the obvious


    choice.


    When I tracked her down, she met me with her usual bluntness. “You’re looking pretty good, all


    things considered.”


    “What was I supposed to do?” I shot back, my voice t. “Throw myself into his grave?”


    She chuckled. “Honestly, I thought you might.”


    I brushed off her teasing and cut to the chase. “Did the Hart familye to you?”


    Her smirk faded, and she hesitated. “Yeah, they did. Wanted to know where Hayden was.”


    “And you told them?”


    She shrugged. “Of course. No point in hiding it. You know how much he meant to them.”


    “But they didn’t believe you,” I said, remembering what Kylian had told Yuna. Yara didn’t even flinch.


    “Makes sense. Hayden vanished without a trace–no body, no ashes. If it were me, I wouldn’t


    believe it either.”


    Her tone was casual, but her words only tightened the unease in my chest. “Don’t you think it was


    rushed?” I asked, holding her gaze.


    “Rushed?”


    “Having Hayden cremated without telling anyone… Don’t you think that was a little much? Maybe


    even crossing a line?”


    Yara let out a sharpugh, tinged with defensiveness. “Are you seriously here to call me out for


    that?”


    “I’m just saying something feels… off,” I said softly. Back then, I’d been too buried in grief to notice


    the cracks. But now, with the fog lifting, those cracks were ring.


    “I told you everything,” she said evenly, though her eyes hardened. “If you’re still hung up on it,


    that’s your problem. And don’t forget–you’re the one who took his ashes and buried them.”


    That hit like a wall mming shut.


    But still, the words slipped out before I could stop them. “I never saw…”


    The words hung in the air, unfinished. ‘I never saw Hayden’s body being cremated with my own


    eyes.”


    But I couldn’t say it.


    “Are you saying you think Hayden isn’t dead?”