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Chapter 94
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Love's Redemptionย ย ย Chapter 95
"Mm."I was about to say something when he added softly, "I can't help it. I can't stop myself from wanting to be close to you, to take care of you, and yeah... even flirt with you."He had a point. If love was something you could control, even gods wouldn't stand a chance against it.For a moment, I didn't know what to say, but Hayden let go of me."Make sure you drink plenty of water when you get inside. And if you need anything, just call me," he said.He pointed at my bag. "Your keycardโI'll get the door for you.""No need," I said, snapping out of my thoughts and stepping back to put some distance between us. "I've got it."I quickly fumbled for the keycard, swiped it, and slipped inside. Leaning against the door, I stood there for a bit, trying to pull myself together.By the time Demi got back, I was already in bed. She moved around quietly, probably trying not to wake me.I kept my eyes shut because I wasn't in the mood to talk. I could hear her muttering under her bre
Love's Redemptionย ย ย Chapter 96
As expected, Lindey was calling to ask me to come back to the Johnston residence for dinner.I knew the dinner invite was just a coverโshe definitely had something else on her mind."I already had your gnocchi, but coming home right now isn't really an option," I said, trying to sound apologetic. "I'm working day and night to meet the deadline at the amusement park. I'll come home once I get a break."Lindey sighed dramatically. "Ugh, Jace is really something. Why's he pushing you so hard? It's not like the world's ending tomorrow. I'll give him a piece of my mind later.""It's not his fault, Lindey. This schedule was set ages ago," I explained.Business was businessโJace has never let our personal issues mess with work."Alright, alright, work's important," she said, though I could hear the disappointment in her voice before she hung up.But what can I do? I really am drowning in work. And even if I weren't, I can't just drop by the Johnston residence whenever I feel like it an
Love's Redemptionย ย ย Chapter 97
"Yeah, we're having some issues with the lighting," I explained as Lindey made her way over to the scaffolding where Hayden was working."This technician isn't even wearing a safety harness. That's incredibly dangerousโsafety should always come first," Lindey said, slipping effortlessly into her role as RiverwaveCorp chairman's wife.Actually, Hayden had been wearing a harness earlier, but he took it off when he came down. He only climbed back up for a quick fix, which was why he wasn't strapped in."Noted. We'll definitely keep that in mind," I replied, then called out to Hayden, "What are you doing up there without a harness? Get down now."Surprisingly, Hayden didn't argue. He climbed down right away. "My bad. I'll be more careful from now on. Won't happen again," he admitted.The way he said it, like a kid owning up to a mistake. It made me feel like I'd been too harsh, like I was picking on him.Lindey turned to him and said, "Safety isn't just a ruleโit's to protect yoursel
Love's Redemptionย ย ย Chapter 98
Lindey was taken aback, but then she softened into a warm, knowing smile."What are you saying? You can't just swear off men because of Jace. Yeah, there are some duds out there, but trust me, there's still plenty of good fish in the sea," Lindey said with her usual humor, still cracking jokes like she was half her age.Even in her fifties, she was as trendy and upbeat as ever.I couldn't help but smile too. "There are good men, but I'm just not in the right mindset for that right now. At least, not yet. I need some time."I said it to gently steer her away from whatever else she might be planning to suggest. Some things were better left unsaidโcrossing that line could make things awkward real quick."Fair enough," she replied, letting me breathe a little easier.But then, she hit me with a curveball. "Just don't wait too long, Rea. Finding a good boyfriend is like anything elseโthe best ones get snapped up fast."I laughed, and so did Lindey."You're so beautiful, seriously. A
Love's Redemptionย ย ย Chapter 99
I agreed to Lindey's request for now, saw her off, and then headed back to work.But when I got there, only Demi was around. Hayden was nowhere in sight. "Where's Mr. Hart?""Mr. Lawson called him over," Demi replied, her eyes locking onto mine. "Keira, your future mother-in-law came to talk on Jace's behalf. Youโ""I'm done with Jace. It doesn't matter who tries to interfere; it won't change anything. Don't overthink it," I cut in, making sure she got my pointโagain.Demi sighed. "The Johnston family is great in every way, except for Jace."She wasn't wrong. The Johnstons were impressive, but I wasn't marrying the familyโI was supposed to marry Jace. If he wasn't right for me, then nothing else mattered.Demi and I waited for Hayden, but after half an hour of nothing, I decided to call him. His phone was just sitting in the nearby break area."Mr. Hart definitely doesn't have a girlfriend. Look, he doesn't even keep his phone on him. If he had a girlfriend, he'd be glued to tha
Love's Redemptionย ย ย Chapter 100
He was pissed, like he was ready to rip me apart, but I wasn't about to back down. I had a few things to say too. I let go of Hayden's hand, but before I could take a step, Hayden squeezed it tighter.I looked at him, and he stared right back, his eyes holding that same look he had back in Chiverton when Molly tried to make me fall. It was the look of someone who wasn't gonna let anything happen to me.But I didn't need saving. Not right now. I gently pulled my hand free and said, "Jace isn't gonna do anything to me."Hayden didn't stop me this time. I followed Jace as he stomped off, practically shaking with anger. Gavin tried to follow, but Jace threw a glare over his shoulder. "This isn't your business."Gavin froze, shooting me a worried look.Jace kept walking, not even bothering to see if I was behind him. I had no clue where he was taking me, so I called out, "Whatever you've got to say, just say it here."He didn't stop, but I did. "Let's talk here. I've got stuff to do,
Love's Redemptionย ย ย Chapter 101
I smirked, cutting Jace off before he could even finish his sentence. "Don't tell me you mistook her for me.""I..." Jace's mouth hanging open as he stared at me.But I didn't let him off that easy. "Let's be realโhow many times have you actually kissed me?"His expression turned stormy.We'd been together for over three years. Sure, we held hands and hugged, but when it came to real, passionate kissing? It almost never happened. And when it did, it was always something chasteโa kiss on the hand, cheek, or forehead. If our lips ever touched, it was just a quick, barely-there peck.My words hit him hard, and I could see the frustration boiling over. He suddenly let go of me, running a hand through his hair. "Yeah, I was an idiot who got caught up in the moment and kissed her. But it didn't mean anything.""Oh, so it only counts if you sleep with her?" I retorted sarcastically.Jace was on the edge of losing it. "Is that what you think of me? If I was that kind of guy, don't you t
Love's Redemptionย ย ย Chapter 102
When Steve rolled into the pool hall, he spotted Jace going to town on the pool balls, clearly working off some serious frustration.Instead of trying to calm him down, Steve casually grabbed a cue from the rack and sauntered over. "Same old game. Wanna play?"Jace didn't even acknowledge him, just kept hammering away at the balls. After missing a few shots, he finally snapped, slamming the cue onto the table before storming out.Steve sighed, set his cue down, and trailed after him. "So, what did Keira do to tick you off this time?""Who says it's about her? Don't bring her up," Jace snapped.Steve couldn't help but chuckle. "Come on, man. She's the only one who can get you this worked up. What's the deal? Can't handle that she's over you?"Steve always had a way of hitting where it hurt, and this time was no different.Jace whipped around and grabbed Steve by the collar. "You better shut your mouth."Steve stayed cool, meeting Jace's glare. "What'd I say?"Jace's mouth opene
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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
