Chapter 204

“I don’t know!” Hayden answered briskly.

I laughed. “You don’t know, but you showed up at my door anyway?”

He finished chopping the vegetables and tossed them onto a plate. “The old lady downstairs told me. She said, ‘Your girlfriend’s back.’”

I froze, caught off guard.

Sipping my tea, I watched Hayden work with quiet admiration. Suddenly, he turned, catching me staring. “What? Why are you giving me that look?”

I smiled lightly. “Just wondering if you’re stalking me.”

His eyebrows shot up. “What?”

“I’m kidding, chill. I know you’ve got better things to do,” I teased, wandering back into the living room.

After a few more sips of tea, I set my cup down and started scrolling through my phone. Before I knew it, my eyes grew heavy. I fell asleep quickly.

Then the nightmare hit. Darby grabbed me, and Thorsten Drago was there, telling him to kill me. A knife flashed, and I thrashed, trying to escape…

“Kiki! Kiki, wake up…”

I jerked awake, my heart pounding, breath shaky. Hayden was leaning over me, his hand on my shoulder. “Bad dream?” His voice was low.

I couldn’t shake the terror, and I grabbed his hand tightly. “It was Darby. The guy who cornered you with his gang. He’s working with Thorsten Drago. I saw him.”

Hayden’s frown deepened. “How do you know that?”

“I… I saw him,” I whispered, releasing his hand slowly.

“This is my fight, not yours. Stay out of it. Got it?” His voice was serious, a bit too sharp.

I wanted to tell him I wasn’t trying to interfere, that I just wanted answers about my dad. Running into Darby had been an accident, but I didn’t get the chance.

“Thorsten Drago is dangerous. You can’t mess with this. Promise me you won’t do anything stupid. Understand?” The edge in his voice made it clear he wasn’t joking.

I nodded, the words I wanted to say trapped in my throat.

Hayden wiped the sweat from my forehead. “Go drink some water. Lunch is almost ready.”

He started to leave, but I grabbed his hand. “Hayden… just, be careful.”

I knew exactly how dangerous Thorsten Drago was. He was one of RiverwaveCorp’s biggest clients, but the rumors were dark—shady deals, disappearances, and ruthless protection of his empire.

Hayden’s expression softened. “I will.”

The warmth of his touch eased my fear, if only for a moment. I felt safe.

Hayden returned to the kitchen and soon brought out plates of food—risotto, spinach, and perfectly cooked chicken breast.

I stood to get water, but the room tilted. A wave of dizziness overcame me. I felt drained, as if all my energy had been leached away. Yesterday’s illness, the stress of investigating, and that awful nightmare had taken their toll. Hayden noticed immediately. “You okay?”

I tried to dismiss it, but he was already there, steadying me. He guided me to the bathroom door.

“I’ll wait right here,” he said, opening the door. “Shout if you need me.”

He probably thought I needed a moment alone, but I didn’t. I just stood before the sink, staring at my reflection.

I looked awful—pale, exhausted, my hair a mess. Not at all like the confident, put-together person I tried to be. ‘What a wreck,’ I thought. He definitely saw me like this… he probably thought I was pathetic.

Without thinking, I smoothed my hair and pressed my cheeks, trying to look less worn out.