Chapter 478

In the car, I dialed Hayden. This time, he picked up almost immediately. “Hello?”

“Where are you?” I asked, dispensing with pleasantries.

There was a beat of silence before he said, “You’re back?”

Those two words made my chest feel tight. Of course, I was back. Wasn’t it him who practically dragged me back?

“Yeah, I’m back. Where are you? I need to see you,” I said, my voice sharp.

“Just go home. I’ll come to you,” he replied.

I shut my eyes, feeling irritation bubbling up. “Hayden, are you seriously not getting this? I said—I. Want. To. See. You.”

He finally caved. “I’m at home. Yuna’s here, too,” he said, and that last part told me everything. He didn’t want me showing up, especially not with Yuna there to witness any drama.

Fair enough. Yuna was still recovering, and the last thing she needed was to be caught in the crossfire. And with her there, having a real conversation with Hayden would be pretty much impossible.

I didn’t push further. “Fine. I’ll wait at home.”

I stared out the window as we drove, the scenery a blur of colors and lights. The second I walked through the door, I barely reached the foyer before I ran into Tanya.

She had makeup on, looking way better than she did in the hospital, which made me guess she’d been discharged. Probably hadn’t even checked on her baby in the NICU.

Tanya glanced at the suitcase in my hand and sneered. “Keira, the virtuous girl, right? Yet here you are, stringing Hayden along while still tangled up with Jace.”

So, she was still hanging onto Jace, knowing exactly where he was. She was watching us both, paranoid that he and I might actually pick up where we left off. It looked like Tanya wasn’t just using him; she had real feelings for him too.

“I’m not in the mood for this today. Back off,” I warned.

For once, she seemed to get the hint and didn’t push it. But just as I reached the elevator, I heard her say, “Keira, how about a little cooperation?”

I stopped, turning to see her smirking. “Wanna come upstairs and talk?”

This was the same woman who had tried to threaten me by going after Lena, and now she wanted to team up? I couldn’t figure out her angle, but one thing was clear—she couldn’t get around me. There was nothing for her to gain by working with me directly, which only meant one thing: she still wasn’t ready to let go of the Johnston family.

“No thanks. Not interested,” I said flatly.

Tanya casually blocked the elevator doors with her foot. “Keira, you’ll come to me. I’ll be waiting.”

She said it with smug confidence, like she already knew how this would play out. I didn’t bother trying to figure out where she got that confidence from. I just hit the close button, watching the doors slide shut on her.

Once upstairs, I unlocked my door, flipped on the lights, kicked off my shoes, and dropped onto the couch, feeling drained.

Hayden showed up about half an hour later. But this time, he didn’t just let himself in. He actually rang the doorbell.

That small gesture told me everything. He wasn’t just upset—he was serious.

I opened the door, and there he was, as tall and steady as ever. But this time, he’d traded his usual T-shirt and jeans for a black dress shirt and matching pants, looking every inch the polished heir of the Hart family.

We just stared at each other for a beat before he broke the silence. “Can I come in?”