Bye-Bye Jerk, Hello Mr. Right
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281

Even though I'd moved on from Jace, the sting of what he did was still there, like an old bruise that hadn't quite faded.

"Rea, you poor thing," Lindey said, her eyes blazing with that fierce protectiveness she was known for. You went through all that and didn't say a word? That place was supposed to be yours. You should've kicked her out! I wouldn't let a stray cat stay there, let alone her!"

No wonder Matthew always tiptoed around her. Besides loving her, he was probably scared out of his mind to get on her bad side.

But Jace and I were history, so what was the point of dragging this up again?

I tried to calm her down. "It's over, Lindey. Let it go."

"Maybe you're over it, but I'm not. I'm getting that place back today, she declared.

I couldn't help but smile a little. "Even if you boot her out of that penthouse, Jace can just buy her another

one."

Tanya might've been the one in the middle, but it was Jace who put her there in the first place.

He was the real problem, not her.

"If he buys another one, that's his problem. But that penthouse was meant for you. No other woman deserves to live there," Lindey said.

Her words warmed my heart a little.

It felt like she was defending me the way a mom would.

"I really appreciate it, but it's not worth it, Lindey," I said, trying to talk her down. "You don't need to go through all this trouble and get upset over something that's in the past."

If she went through with this, Jace would definitely think I was behind it. And the last thing I needed was to get pulled back into that mess or have Tanya thinking I was trying to one-up her.

"I'm not upset. I'm going to make them so mad they'll want to scream. Don't worry about it."

She was way past reasoning. There was no talking her out of it, so I just sighed and let it go.

"That rascal hiding his side chick in your own house... I see him, I'll knock his teeth out!" she ranted before hanging up.

I put my phone down and stared at the ceiling, replaying the memory of Gavin showing me the penthouse. How did Lindey even replace out about that day? I was pretty sure Jace still had no clue why I'd really broken up with him.

I lay there for a bit, lost in thought, before finally getting up and heading outside.

I didn't see Hayden and figured he might be in the kitchen, but nope, not there either.

Maybe he went back to his room? I was about to turn around when I heard the bathroom door open, and Hayden walked out.

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Chapter 281

He looked at me, his gaze different from usual, and my heart skipped a beat, a weird, uneasy feeling. washing over me.

Thinking about how we'd almost gotten carried away earlier, I awkwardly pouted, trying to break the tension. I'm hungry. Make me something delicious.

But Hayden didn't take the bait. Instead, he walked right up to me.

My heart sped up, thinking he was about to pick up where we'd left off, so I raised my hand, ready to stop him. But instead, he asked, "What's this?"

I looked down and saw he was holding the ointment Lena had given me. I'd left it in the bathroom, planning to use it after my shower tonight.

I hadn't expected Hayden to replace it.

Instinctively, I snatched it out of his hand and hid it behind my back, my face heating up. "Why are you touching my stuff?"

*Are you hurt?" he asked, his voice low and serious.

I was too embarrassed to respond, so I bolted into the bedroom and slammed the door behind me.

Half an hour later, there was a knock. "Dinner's ready. Come out and eat."

I stayed quiet, too mortified to face him. After a pause, he added, "I'm leaving now."

I let out a sigh of relief and, feeling my stomach growl, cracked the door open. But there he was, leaning against the doorframe like he'd been waiting all along. He tricked me?!

"Hayden, you-" I started, but didn't get a chance to finish before he reached out, wrapping his arms around me and pulling me into his chest.

He pressed his forehead gently against mine. "I'm sorry, It's my fault..."

Chapter 282