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Chapter 457
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Love's Redemptionย ย ย Chapter 458
[Contact me as soon as possible.]That was Cedric's reply.I quickly typed back, [Okay,] but as soon as I hit send, something felt... off.He said "as soon as possible", and it hit me with this weird sense of urgency. Why was it so pressing?I tried sending another message: [If it's more convenient, you can send me photos or any documents you have.]No response. It was like my message just disappeared into the void.That's how it always went with this police officerโdude was elusive. Unless he reached out first, it was nearly impossible to get a hold of him.Thinking about my parents' accident, that unsettled feeling only grew darker.That night, I couldn't sleep.I didn't know if it was the unfamiliar place or all the stuff swirling in my head, but I tossed and turned for hours.The next morning, Jace noticed instantly. "Rough night?" he asked."I'm fine," I snapped, way too defensive.It was pride talkingโthat breakup kind of pride where you don't want anyone, especially
Love's Redemptionย ย ย Chapter 459
Hayden didn't push the conversation further. He must've sensed that I was still upset.When I finally saw Steve, he was in a prison jumpsuit, his once stylish hair shaved down to almost nothing. I'd never seen him like that before. It almost brought tears to my eyes.Steve had clawed his way up to success, earning a spot in Jace's circle purely on his own. But now, everything he worked for could be destroyed."Steve," I called softly.He looked up and smiled. "What are you doing here?"That smileโsame as always, like nothing could break him. No matter what, Steve always had a bright smile for me, like his world was all sunshine.I couldn't speak for a moment, and he laughed. "What? Do I look so bad you don't even wanna talk to me?"I shook my head. Jace said Steve had been in a bad place, but here he was, still smiling like nothing was wrong. But I knew better. He was putting on a show, hiding his pain for my sake."You'll always be handsome," I teased, playing along.He let o
Love's Redemptionย ย ย Chapter 460
As I stepped out of the holding room, Steve's desperate shouts were still ringing in my ears.Jace wasn't wrongโSteve's emotions were a mess. One second he was frantic, the next totally defeated. But his last words stuck with me the most: "Rea, I can't stay here. I'm innocent."It broke my heart.The moment I stepped outside, Jace was already heading my way. He took one look at me and reached out, steadying me. "You look pale. Did Steve say something?"Thinking about Steve's warning, I said, "Let's get in the car. I'll explain on the way."Steve had told me to leave as soon as possible, and I got whyโQuartz Cue probably had eyes on us. He was scared someone would see me, and I'd be next in line for trouble.Jace rushed me into the car, handing me a bottle of water. "Take a second."I ignored the water and said, "Steve says he's being framed." I ran through everything Steve had told me, ending with, "He said these people are ruthless. We might not be safe here eitherโ"Before I
Love's Redemptionย ย ย Chapter 461
With a final shudder, the car came to a halt, and the world fell into this suffocating silence.It was so still, it felt like time itself had stopped.For a second, I didn't even realize I was still alive. When I tried to move, nothing happened. My body just... refused.I tried harder and heard a faint groan. "Don't... move..."Everything was still dark. Not because it was night, but because my eyes were coveredโblood? Dirt? I had no idea."Jace," I called."I'm... here," Jace's voice came from right in front of me, but it was weak and fading."Get off me, I can't breathe," I muttered, trying to wriggle out, not even registering how hurt he might be.Jace shifted, just enough for me to pull my face away from his chest. That's when I saw the messโthe car was wrecked, crushed beyond recognition. The driver wasn't moving, blood everywhere.Panic flooded my chest. "Jace! Jace!" I shouted, my heart racing as I looked at him.His face was smeared with blood.This was bad. Jace was
Love's Redemptionย ย ย Chapter 462
A car crash. The thing I feared the most. And now, it was happening to me.Despair hit hardโlike what my parents must have felt. No, theirs had to be worse. They didn't survive.My mind spiraled, but Hayden's voice pulled me back. "Kiki, hang on. Help's on the way. I'm coming too." He kept repeating it, pushing me to try getting out.I tugged at the door, again and again, but it wouldn't move."Stop... it hurts," Jace groaned beside me.I froze, afraid to even breathe."Kiki, why aren't you talking? Are you okay?" Hayden's voice crackled through the phone, worried."I'm fine," I answered, forcing myself to speak as quietly as possible, not wanting to alarm Jace any more than he already was."Check if the car's on fire or if you smell gas," Hayden said, his voice tight.My stomach dropped. If the car was leaking gas, we were done for.I shifted, trying to look forward, but as soon as I moved, the car jolted and everything spun again."Ah!" I screamed, grabbing for anything.
Love's Redemptionย ย ย Chapter 463
Since we broke up, I hadn't been this close to him. I hadn't even really looked at him.And now, here he was, right in front of me, badly hurt.The crash came flooding back, and it hit meโhe'd shielded me, using his body to protect mine. That's why he was in such rough shape."Jace, talk to me," I begged, my voice shaky. If I stopped, he'd just drift away."What... do you want me to say?" he mumbled."Anything. Tell me what you've been thinking since we broke up. Talk about Tanya, even. Or where you've been these last few weeks," I blurted, desperate to keep him awake.He went quiet, and I panicked, thinking he'd passed out. But then, his voice, barely a whisper: "Rea, I really do love you."I froze, staring at his pale, blood-smeared face. I couldn't say anything."You were the only girl I ever really liked. Since I met you, no one else... even felt like a woman to me."His words came slowly, each one hitting harder than the last. "There were womenโbusiness trips, some even t
Love's Redemptionย ย ย Chapter 464
We were rescued.One of the people helping us was the same driver who had taken me to visit Steve in the holding room. I knew he worked for Hayden.The car was so wrecked they had to cut through the metal to get Jace and the driver out. They even found both my phone and Jace's in the debris."Huh, this one's still connected," one of the rescuers said, handing me a phone.But it wasn't mineโit was Jace's.I'd used it earlier to call Hayden. Had he really stayed on the line the whole time?I took the phone, stunned. As I glanced down, the call ended right in front of me. It had lasted 67 minutes and 12 seconds.Hayden had never hung up. Had he overheard everything Jace and I talked about?Then again, I wasn't sure what exactly we'd said. Nothing too important, right?Before I could think about it, they rushed us into an ambulance and took us to the hospital. We all went through a series of checks.I only had minor scrapes, but Jace and the driver were in serious condition. Jace
Love's Redemptionย ย ย Chapter 465
Normally, hospital results took forever, but this time, everything was moving in fast-forward.The doctor's face brightened. "This is good. We need to start the transfusion right away. He's going to need at least 400cc, maybe even 600cc of blood. Can you handle that?""Yes, even more if needed," I answered, no hesitation. I had to save Jace. Even if his injury wasn't my fault, I couldn't let him bleed out.They got me into sterile scrubs and rushed me into the emergency room.Seeing Jace lying there, pale and still, hit me hard. The doctor's wordsโcritical conditionโkept playing in my head.My chest tightened as I walked to him, hooking my pinky around his like he had done earlier. "Jace, hang in there," I whispered.He had to fight. And I had to give him what he needed.I laid down on the bed next to his, feeling the prick of the needle as my blood started flowing through the tube, straight into Jace.I lost track of how much they took. All I could see was my blood leaving me,
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Love's Redemptionย ย ย Chapter 1013
"Got it!" Lena responded cheerfully. She washed her hands before sitting back down, picking up the utensils Aaron had prepared for her, and diving into her dumpling-and-dipping-sauce breakfast combo. "Uncle, why arenโt you eating?" She had already eaten two dumplings before realizing he hadnโt touched any. "Iโm not hungry." Three words. Which meant he hadnโt eaten yet. "Thereโs too much food. I canโt finish it all by myself. Eat some too," Lena said casually as she picked up a dumpling with her chopsticks and held it up to his mouth. She did it so naturallyโuntil she realized what she had just done. Aaron froze for a second, surprised by her gesture. The moment of hesitation made her realize tooโwasnโt this kind of inappropriate? She was just about to pull her hand back whenโ He leaned in and took the dumpling straight into his mouth. Lenaโs face flushed red in an instant. She hurriedly withdrew her hand, lowered her head, and focused on eating. Meanwhile, Aar
Love's Redemptionย ย ย Chapter 1012
She was shocked to see him here so early. Especially todayโa day when everyone was celebrating the new year, spending time with their loved onesโand yet, he was here. With her. Lena wasnโt made of stone. She felt it. A warmth, an unspoken emotion that settled deep in her chest. "Uncle, why are you here so early?" She walked over, hands casually tucked into her coat pockets. "I didnโt want you to go hungry," Aaron replied simply, lifting the bag of food in his hand. He glanced at her break room. "Open the door." She unlocked the door and stepped inside, with him following close behind. Her break room was smallโa single desk and chair, a narrow bed, and a tiny wardrobe. Nothing extra, nothing unnecessary. "Sit down, Uncle," she said naturally, settling onto the bed while motioning for him to take the chair. Aaron placed the food down and asked, "Did you sleep at all?" "I did," Lena replied. But as soon as the words left her mouth, she thought of that dreamโand let o
Love's Redemptionย ย ย Chapter 1011
"If it werenโt for my goddaughter, I wouldnโt even bother with you," Lena said, gently rocking the baby in her arms. "Right, little Aurora? Your godmother just adores you." "Come on, Aurora, itโs time to eat," Lena said as she carefully placed the baby in Keira's arms. Although it was her first time, Keira wasnโt embarrassed. She followed Lenaโs instructions, trying to breastfeed for the first time. But the process wasโฆ painful. And since her posture was incorrect, neither of them got it rightโKeira ended up covered in sweat from struggling, and her baby still hadnโt eaten properly. Panic set in. Anxiety crept up her spine. "What do I do?" Keira asked, her voice tight with unease. "Itโs okay. This happens at first. Letโs transition with formula for now," Lena reassured Keira before glancing at Hayden, who had been standing there the whole time, watching anxiouslyโand sweating just as much as Keira was. "Go make your daughter a bottle," she told him. Hayden, the man wh
Love's Redemptionย ย ย Chapter 1010
That conversationโฆ Lena shuddered. Yeah, she had definitely come back too early. It was best to leave now before she ruined the mood for those two inside. Not wanting to hear any more, she quickly turned to leaveโonly to smack her leg against a nearby chair. The pain was real, but worse was the noise it made, drawing attention to her presence. Inside the room, Haydenโalready feeling awkward from Keira's teasingโfroze. The sound from outside made him even more uncomfortable. Keira couldnโt hold back her laughter. The moment Keira burst out laughing, however, pain shot through her lower abdomen. "Ahโow!" Keira gasped. Hayden immediately panicked. "Whatโs wrong? Where does it hurt?" Hearing her cry, Lena rushed in as well. "What happened?" "I laughed too hard and pulled my stitches," Keira explained, gripping Haydenโs hand tightly. Lena glared at Keira. "Youโre a mother now, and yet youโre still acting like a child. Do you have any idea what condition youโre in?"
Love's Redemptionย ย ย Chapter 1009
"Itโs fine. I can do it," Hayden said naturally as he picked up the basin and went to fetch warm water. The moment he stepped out, Lena turned to scold Keira. "You went through so much pain to give birth to his child. Why would you feel bad about letting him do something for you?" "Itโs not that I feel badโI just feel embarrassed," Keira whispered in defense. Lena rolled her eyes. "So dramatic." Keira shot her a glare in return. "Just wait until itโs your turn. When your husband has to handle your private matters, youโll understand how awkward it is." The moment the words left Keira's mouth, she saw Lenaโs face turn red. Lena quickly hugged the baby and turned away. But Keira caught it. Something was off. "Waitโฆ why are you blushing?" Keira asked suspiciously. "I am not blushing," she denied immediately. What Keira didnโt know was that her words had triggered the memory of Lena's ridiculous dreamโwhere she had been lying on the delivery bed, cursing Aaron while gi
Love's Redemptionย ย ย Chapter 1008
The moment she finished cursing, Lena jolted awake. She sat there, dazed. What kind of ridiculous dream was that? She had assisted in delivering countless babies before, but this was the first time she had ever dreamed of giving birth herself. And not only thatโshe had dreamed of giving birth to Aaronโs child? That was beyond outrageous. Absolutely absurd! What a way to start the new year. That dream was anything but beautiful. Lena ran a hand down her face, shaking off the lingering unease. She quickly got up, poured herself a glass of water to calm down, and then left the break room. Back in the hospital room, Hayden was feeding Keira. Keira was perfectly capable of eating on her own, but he insisted on feeding her, saying that she was in a special period and should be treated like a queen. That this was the time to learn how to be spoiled properly. Fine. If this was how he wanted to make up for the suffering she endured giving birth to their daughter, sheโd give
Love's Redemptionย ย ย Chapter 1007
Keira looked at Lena and smiled as she followed up on Haydenโs words. "Youโre family. Itโs different." Lena shot her a subtle glare before stuffing the red envelope into her pocket and saying, "Give me the rest. Iโll hand them out for you later." Hayden passed her the prepared stack of red envelopes, and as she took them, she asked, "What about the other departments?" Hayden and Aaron exchanged a glance and chuckled. "Of course. Every medical staff member in this hospital gets one." "President Hart, youโre too generous," Lena said, giving him a thumbs-up. With that, she took the envelopes and left. Aaron glanced at the time. "If thereโs nothing else, Iโll be heading back now." "Mm. Happy New Year!" Hayden said, offering his holiday wishes. "Happy New Year to your whole family," Aaron replied, adding a few extra words that made both Hayden and me instinctively turn toward the baby in the bassinet. From today onward, we were officially a family of three. Outside the h
Love's Redemptionย ย ย Chapter 1006
When Keira returned to the hospital room, she was greeted by a sight that made her pause. The room was decorated with fresh flowers and balloons, and beside her bed, there was a small cart filled with various gift boxes. The atmosphere was so festive that if someone walked in, they might have thought it was a birthday party rather than a postpartum recovery room. "Whatโs all this?" Lena asked on Keira's behalf. "A reward for my wife," Hayden answered, his hand still holding Keira's as he gazed at her with deep affection. "She went through so much. This is my way of thanking her." Keira smiled faintly. "I donโt need any of this." "Whether you need it or not is one thing. Giving it to you is my choice," Hayden said, pressing a kiss onto Keira's fingertips. "Even if everything I have already belongs to you, I still want to give you more." "Such a loving husbandโhonestly, what more could a woman ask for?" Lena teased before patting Keira's hospital bed. "But if President Hart r
Love's Redemptionย ย ย Chapter 1005
Elder Mitchell wasnโt buying it. "That just means you guys didnโt really want to give anything. If you truly wanted to, thereโs no such thing as a gift that canโt be delivered." The two old men started bickering again, but Hayden ignored them. Instead, he kept his eyes on the infant bathing room. Before long, the nurse finished bathing the baby and carried her out. Hayden reached out to take her, but the two elders immediately moved to get closer. He blocked them without hesitation. "Donโt you know old peopleโs eyes are toxic? You shouldnโt be staring at her for too long." Elder Hart: "โฆ" Elder Mitchell: "โฆ" With that, Hayden carried the baby and walked away. The two old men trailed after him, hoping to catch another glimpse, but Hayden wasnโt about to give them the chance. "Congratulations," Aaron, who had been standing nearby, offered his well wishes. "Itโs a daughter. Take a look," Hayden said, his pride practically radiating off him. Aaron lowered his gaze to the
