Chapter 362

Lena didn't immediately answer. Her gaze was fixed on Hayden outside the window. "How long do you think he'll take?"

I glanced outside. Sancho was practically groveling, completely at Hayden's mercy, while Hayden stood with one hand casually in his pocket. The morning sun illuminated him, making him seem almost to glow. I couldn't take my eyes off him.

A quiet sense of pride welled up inside me. A voice whispered, Keira, that's your guy.

Getting involved with Hayden had been accidental—a distraction after my breakup with Jace. But now? I'd hit the jackpot. He wasn't just handsome; he was capable.

"Uh, hello? I asked you a question," Lena nudged me.

I blinked, returning to the present. "Oh, right. Shouldn't take much longer."

Sancho was likely begging Hayden to fix his shoulder. Yuna had told me Hayden knew how to reset dislocated joints, a skill learned from an old doctor in Pencetown after repeatedly treating Yuna's childhood dislocations. If he could reset a joint, he could dislocate one—likely why Sancho cooperated so readily.

Sancho was pleading, but Hayden wasn't one to waste time. We had places to be—like checking those blood test results—so he'd finish quickly.

"He's waiting for us," I realized. "Once we leave, it'll be done."

Lena understood immediately. "Alright, let's walk and talk." She grabbed her jacket from the chair, draping it over my shoulders, then turned her attention to Tanya.

"After you told me to leave her alone, I arranged the exam and paperwork. But as soon as she paid, she left. Never came back," Lena said, shaking her head.

"She never intended to go through with it," I scoffed.

"Exactly. Why keep running back to me? You know what she's up to, right?" Lena hinted.

Of course. Tanya wanted me to relay everything to Jace—her endgame. She knew both Jace and I wanted the baby she was carrying.

"This time, she miscalculated," Lena said, smiling slightly.

I smirked. "She won't stop until she gets what she wants. She'll keep pushing."

"Then let Jace deal with it," Lena huffed, rolling her eyes at the mention of his name. "Why should you clean up his mess?"

I pressed my lips together. "He'll be back soon."

Lena raised an eyebrow. "What, did he tell you that?"

My voice dropped as I thought of Matthew's illness. "Matthew's sick. Lung cancer."

Lena froze, the gravity of my words hanging between us. Her silence, as a doctor, spoke volumes.

We reached the building entrance. Hayden was watching. Spotting us, he grabbed Sancho's shoulder again.

Sancho yelped. Hayden firmly said, "From now on, stay away from this hospital."

That was an effective threat.

Lena nudged me, grinning. "Your boyfriend's got serious CEO energy."

Her comment reminded me of Hayden's secret—he was Ron's investor, but pretended to be broke when we met. That unsettling feeling returned.

I didn't respond; Hayden was already approaching. "Let's go check your results," he said.

Lena, perceptive as ever, stepped aside to give us space, moving to my other side. Hayden casually took my hand, and Lena gave me a playful wink.

I felt no shyness. This was a perfect opportunity. "Watch and learn. If Nate's too shy to make the first move, you can totally take charge."

With a smirk, I slipped my hand from Hayden's and linked my arm through his. "Like this."