Chapter 215

After visiting his place, I was pretty sure Yuna had told Hayden everything.

“If you like it there, in the future…” Hayden began, then paused, leaving me hanging.

I gave him a look. “In the future, what?”

He swallowed hard. “In the future… we could retire there.”

“By myself?” I blurted out.

“I’d come with you—if you wanted me to,” he said, straightforward.

And just like that, I started pulling away again. The future? Seriously? Especially something as distant as growing old together.

“I found a specialist for Yuna. You should get me her medical records,” I said, abruptly changing the subject.

Last night, I silently judged Lena for evading the truth, but wasn’t I doing the same? I was burying my head in the sand, but I had my reasons. I wanted to keep Hayden on his toes, not let him in too easily. Lena once told me that Jace always dismissed me because I made things too easy for him. People don’t appreciate what they don’t have to work for.

Hayden fell silent, and I recalled Yuna’s words. I knew he was worried.

“I’ll have the specialist review her records first. Once we understand the surgical risks, you can make the final decision,” I said, giving him the authority.

“I’ve already spoken to several people. Her surgery is extremely dangerous—far more so than typical heart surgery, mainly because of her rare blood type and…” He hesitated. “She has other health problems, too.”

I was surprised. Yuna had only mentioned her blood type.

“What other problems?” I asked bluntly. I needed to know everything to ensure the doctors had complete information.

Hayden stepped to the side, gripping the railing. I followed, watching his face, my chest tightening. “Hayden…”

“She has a brain tumor,” he whispered. “And it’s inoperable.”

I wasn’t a medical expert, but even I knew a brain tumor was serious. I stared at his face, my mouth opening, but no words came out. “When did they discover this?”

“It’s congenital,” he said quietly.

Congenital. Her heart condition was congenital, and now this, too. So Yuna, this sweet, innocent girl, had faced a life of struggle from birth. “The doctors said she wouldn’t live past twenty,” Hayden’s voice was so low it felt as if the air grew heavier.

That’s when it hit me—I hadn’t even asked Yuna her age. I glanced at Hayden, my stomach twisting. “So, how old is she now?”

“Nineteen.”

One year left. My heart sank. How could someone so full of life have so little time?

“No way. That can’t be right. She’s healthier than all of us. Those doctors must be wrong,” I said, refusing to accept it, pushing against the reality.

Hayden dropped his gaze, his voice thick with sorrow. “I want nothing more than for her to live a long life. If I could, I’d give her mine.”

His words hit me hard. I stepped closer, resting my hand on his wrist, wanting to offer comfort, but I was speechless. In the end, I simply tugged his arm, and when he turned, I pulled him into a hug.