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CHAPTER 23
publish date:
2026-05-04 20:01:35
Latest chapter
Mr. Hayes’ Secret Heir CHAPTER 73
Whatever fun the night promised died after Daphne set her sights on Chase.Hannah had come to vent about her frustrations with Chase, but she couldn't do that now, not with Daphne openly crushing on him too. Having to swallow it all down left her cranky.Each time Daphne struck up a conversation, Hannah offered back the bare minimum, polite and clipped, until Daphne gave up trying.I was stuck right in the middle of it. Hannah wanted to talk to me. Daphne wanted to talk to me.Chase, look at the mess you've caused.With that kind of energy at the table, none of us were in the mood to linger. We called it an early night.When I got home and walked through the door, I heard voices and laughter before I even reached the living room.Mason and Chase had two other men with them, the four of them comfortable with their drinks, in the middle of some story. The laughter trailed off when I stepped in, all four heads turning my way.Chase smiled. "Welcome.""Hi." I gave a small wave and headed
Mr. Hayes’ Secret Heir CHAPTER 72
The confidence in Mason's voice when he said I would come to him had me questioning my own resolve. But I knew better. Not with everything that was at stake.I didn't head to work at my usual hour. Nicholas had an early meeting, so we were starting late in the morning. I got Lior ready and Mason dropped him at school.It was just past eleven when I came downstairs to head out, and I stopped in my tracks. Mason was on the couch, dressed down in his house clothes, laptop open in front of him."I thought you left," I blurted.He looked up and gave me a good morning with a smile. "I did. Plans changed. I'm hosting someone here later.""Is it Erica?" The question was out of my mouth before I could catch it.A smile tugged at Mason's mouth. "No. But now that you've reminded me, I should follow up on the plans I made with her." He looked me over. "I see you're heading out.""Yeah. Nicholas is close."He opened his mouth, then thought better of whatever it was. Instead he asked, "How's everyt
Mr. Hayes’ Secret Heir CHAPTER 71
After the school event, Mason took us to lunch.He and Lior were having the kind of back-and-forth that had me biting back a laugh. Lior had given Crystal a couple of the gifts his grandparents spoiled him with, and Mason wanted to know why."Because sharing is caring," Lior told him matter-of-factly."Is Crystal the only classmate you have? Why didn't you share with the others?""Because Crystal is the one I saw first. The others weren't lucky."Mason kept a straight face. "You had more than one gift. You could've spread them around."Lior thought about it, then shook his head. "I just want to give them to Crystal."I was smiling into my food at how earnest he was, too busy being charmed to notice his father was winding him up.Then, out of nowhere, Lior looked at Mason. "You're going to marry Mommy, right?"The bite I'd just taken went straight down the wrong way. I started coughing, my eyes watering. Mason reached over and rubbed slow circles on my back until it passed."Sorry, Mom
Mr. Hayes’ Secret Heir CHAPTER 70
Nicholas dropped me off, and when I walked into the house, it looked like Mason had just gotten in too.He turned at the sound of me. I told him he'd done well tonight, that the speech was great."Thank you," he said.We stood there looking at each other a moment too long before I made myself say goodnight and start up the stairs.Mason came up right behind me. I could feel his eyes on my back the whole way, heavy, and it threw me off, because just as I cleared the last step I missed my footing and went backward into him.He caught me fast, one hand at my back, the other gripping my waist, pulling me in to steady me. I ended up flush against him, his chest moving quick against mine.When I looked up, his face was too close, breath warm on my face. Neither of us pulled away. His gaze fell to my lips and lingered.He was the one who broke it. He steadied me on my feet, his voice quiet. "You okay?""Yes." My face was burning as I stepped out of his hold. "Thanks. For, um, catching me.”"
Mr. Hayes’ Secret Heir CHAPTER 69
When we walked into the hall, Nicholas told me the event was a fundraiser for children with illnesses whose families couldn't cover the cost of care.Hearing that, I was glad I'd come. The cause hit closer to home than he could have known.The first stretch of the night was all moving through the room, greeting guests. I smiled so many polite smiles my cheeks started to ache. Then we ran into Nicholas's mother, who was there too, and my nerves shot straight up.She surprised me, her smile warm as she greeted me. "How are you finding the project?"I walked her through where things stood."I hope Nicholas is teaching you something worth knowing?""She's a natural, Mom," Nicholas said before I could answer.I blinked at him, not expecting that.She looked me over, then her mouth curved. "With Mr. Hayes behind you and Nicholas singing your praises, you won't have any trouble finding your footing here."She touched my arm. "Enjoy the rest of your night. I need to go say hello to someone."
Mr. Hayes’ Secret Heir CHAPTER 68
Nicholas had gotten in my head.He had warned me Audrey would try me again, just like she did at that lunch. Throwing her little jabs, testing me. He believed I could handle her, but he still wanted me dressed to match her, level on every front, so she'd have nothing to work with.Which was how I ended up in a high-end store with him, hunting for the perfect dress.We worked the floor together, and I won't lie, the man had an eye. I'd walk an aisle and find nothing, then he would pass the same rack and pull out a gorgeous piece I had missed completely.He handed me a stack and I tried them on one after another. Every single one looked good, I'm not being modest, but Nicholas always had one note, one small thing wrong.Then I put on the royal blue.The slit ran high. The neckline showed a little more than I normally allowed. Not something I would reach for on an ordinary day, but I loved how bold I looked in it. Daring, almost.For one silly second, I wished it were Mason out there wai
Mr. Hayes’ Secret Heir CHAPTER 40
Troy looked terrible. His clothes were wrinkled, his beard overgrown, which was strange because Troy had always been particular about his appearance.“I’ve been trying to reach you,” he said quietly. “I’m glad I finally found you.”“Why are you looking for me?”“To apologize.” He swallowed hard. “I
Mr. Hayes’ Secret Heir CHAPTER 39
MiaKissing Mason last night had been reckless enough, but I didn’t want to start avoiding him afterward and create that awkward tension again.Neither did I want Mason disappearing for another couple of days because of what happened.So there I was the next morning standing outside his bedroom wit
Mr. Hayes’ Secret Heir CHAPTER 38
Walking into Mia’s room felt strangely intimate. The space had changed so much from how I remembered it.Small plants sat around the room, and the tiny lamp glowing near the bed gave the place a warmth it didn’t have before.My eyes landed on the photo frames beside the wall next. There were pictur
Mr. Hayes’ Secret Heir CHAPTER 36
After that night, I didn’t see Mason for three straight days.At first, I actually thought it was a good thing because it meant fewer awkward moments and less overthinking.But after a few more days, it started dawning on me that this wasn’t me successfully avoiding Mason anymore.Mason was avoidin
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