Chapter 532

If only I’d never met him, maybe it wouldn’t hurt this much. Maybe I wouldn’t have this extra layer of pain, the kind only he could give me. Hayden stayed quiet, and I finally pushed him away. “Just go.”

If we’re destined never to be together, then this small comfort he offers is just poison disguised as relief.

His eyes flickered, a hint of pain flashing through them as his jaw tightened. “Take care.”

With those words, he turned and walked out. The phone, still ringing in the background, finally went silent. I closed my eyes, feeling the ache in my head, like every heartbeat pulsing behind my eyelids.

But the phone started ringing again, persistent and unrelenting. I sighed, opened my eyes, and glanced at the screen. The name flashing there made me freeze. It was Jace.

Right now, talking to him was the last thing I wanted. If my parents’ deaths were somehow tied to me, then the ultimate root of it all was Jace. If it hadn’t been for his rare blood type, none of this twisted mess would’ve even existed.

I ended the call and blocked his number, then blocked his profile on social media too. Finally, the phone went quiet, but in its place was this heavy emptiness. The hollowness scared me. So I called Lena.

Half an hour later, she showed up in my hospital room and, without a word, pulled me into a tight hug. She took me back to her place, insisting I take a bath and get some sleep. “Don’t think about anything tonight,” she said. “No matter how bad it feels now, wait until tomorrow to decide anything. Give yourself some space.”

I didn’t think I could sleep, but somehow, after drinking the water she gave me, I did. Lena’s a doctor, so I knew she’d probably added something to help me rest. I didn’t mind; I was grateful. Without it, I might’ve just pushed myself to the edge.

The next morning, when I woke up, Lena had breakfast ready. She didn’t say much, just nudged me to eat. I didn’t want to; even the thought made my stomach twist. But I knew Lena would worry, so I forced down an egg and half a bowl of oatmeal.

“Today, you’re not going anywhere. Just stay here, let yourself think things through. And if it’s still a mess, I’ll sit with you until it’s not,” she said, guiding me to the couch after breakfast.

But before we could even start talking, the doorbell rang. “Who could that be?” Lena muttered, heading to the door. “Don’t tell me it’s Jace.”

She opened the door, and I heard her exclaim, “Well, isn’t this a surprise.”

“I need to talk to Rea,” Jace’s voice was rough, barely a whisper. My chest tightened, and I instinctively curled into myself. Lena, who knew exactly how much I’d been through because of him, instantly blocked his path. “Don’t you think seeing you is just going to make things worse for her?”

“I know. That’s why I need to see her,” Jace replied, his voice steady but intense. Then he called out, “Rea, can we talk?”

“Talk? Don’t you understand plain English? If you don’t leave, I’m calling the cops,” Lena snapped, her patience finally wearing thin.

“Lena, if he wants to talk, let him,” I said, barely keeping my voice steady. She turned, worry etched into her face, but I’d already slipped on my shoes, making my way toward the door.

“Where do you think you’re going like this?” She looked between me and Jace uneasily. “If you’re going to talk, do it here. I’ll step out for a bit.”

She grabbed her phone, slid into her own shoes, and started for the door. As she brushed past Jace, she couldn’t resist a final warning. “If you upset her, I’ll make sure you’re never a father.”

It was the harshest thing I’d ever heard her say—even when I broke up with him, she’d never gone that far. Once Lena was gone, Jace turned to me. “Rea…”

Chapter 533