Semua Bab Love's Redemption: Bab 421 - Bab 430

I had Steve check it out instead of just waiting for Hayden's conclusion. I mean, it was his dad driving that day, and I couldn't shake the feeling he might lie to protect him.Now, though? Yeah, I was totally overthinking it."You're thinking the brakes failed that day, huh?" Hayden asked.We were officially together now, so no more dodging the truth. "Yeah. I need a real answer, though. Like, no guessing."Hayden went quiet for a second, then asked, all soft, "Rea, if—and I'm just saying if—the brake thing had something to do with my dad, would you... would you leave me?"The words hit like a punch in the gut, tightening my throat like someone was choking me. I knew why he asked, but honestly? I hadn't thought about it. It was too scary to even go there."Hayden, I really don't know."There was a part of me that believed—even if the accident was tied to his dad—that Hayden wasn't his dad. I couldn't blame him for something his dad might've done. But just because I could think

I was so mad at him. He'd gotten so drunk, he didn't even remember asking me to pick him up.Back then, Jace had stared at me, all dazed, and after a beat, he leaned in and kissed me—soft and sweet. Then, like always, he ruffled my hair. "Silly girl," he'd said.That morning sky? It was just like now, barely light. He was still buzzed, full of that restless energy he always had when he drank too much. "Wanna hit the hilltop for the sunrise?" he asked, eyes sparkling.Classic Jace. Whenever he drank too much, he hated going to bed, always saying the room spun the second he tried to lie down. So, I'd usually drive him around until he calmed down.That night, I drove us to the hilltop. We sat on this big rock, leaning into each other, watching the stars disappear as the sky shifted from dark to gray. Then, the sun started peeking out, flooding everything with that soft, pink light.He ended up falling asleep on my shoulder, staying there until the sun was high enough that the heat wo

Jace looked at me, clearly still not getting it."Tanya was just the final straw," I said, giving him a tiny smile.I remembered something I'd heard before: 'If you can laugh about it, you're over it.'"Rea, I don't get it. Fine, blame me for what happened with Tanya, but before that? I was good to you," he insisted, like he just couldn't wrap his head around the fact that I'd checked out long before."I'm not saying you weren't good to me," I shrugged. "But did you ever stop to think about how I treated you? Or were you too busy looking in the mirror?" I asked, keeping my voice light.He stared at me for what felt like forever, then dropped his head. "I didn't appreciate you. That's how I lost you.""What's the point in rehashing this now?" I said, steering things back to Tanya. "Let's talk about her. You worried your parents won't be cool if you're serious about her?""Serious? With Tanya?" Jace snapped. "Do you think I'm a complete idiot?"Okay, valid question, but I kept th

The crowd's gasps echoed around me as I watched Tanya inch closer to the edge of the rooftop.I didn't scream, but my heart jumped to my throat. Seeing her teeter like that made my skin crawl. It was like my whole body was on high alert, even though I wasn't the one standing up there.This wasn't about her, though. It was about the sheer horror of watching someone flirt with danger like that.I knew what it meant. Jace had made it to the roof.I couldn't hear a word from down here, just watching helplessly, until someone nudged me. "Miss, your phone's ringing."Snapping out of it, I grabbed my phone. Jace. Why would he be calling me now? Unless...It had to be Tanya making him do it.I answered. Jace's voice was tight. "Rea, can you bring my dad up here?"I could've gone, but why did he need Matthew, too? His health was shaky, and whatever Tanya had planned, it wouldn't be good for him. I couldn't let her drag him into this mess.Glancing up at Tanya, wobbling on the edge, my

Tanya suddenly shook her head. "I don't care! I need an answer, Jace—are you gonna marry me or not?"Jace's jaw tightened. He could've easily said yes just to chill her out.But nope. Instead, he hit her with the truth. "Tanya, I told you, I'll compensate you, but marriage? That's not happening."Even the firefighters gave him a 'Dude, seriously?' look.Tanya's eyes filled with desperation, and she practically screeched, "The only thing I want is you!""You set me up, and you're responsible for Desmond's death. The fact that I'm not holding you accountable is because you're carrying his kid," Jace said, his voice as cold as ice.Yeah, Jace was never one to back down from blackmail, not even as a kid. His mom always said he was stubborn as a rock."The child? It's always about the child!" Tanya pressed a hand to her belly. "So that's it? I'm just some baby factory to you?"You care about this baby, don't you? "If you don't agree, I'll end this right now!" and started hitting her