Chapter 613

“He opened my mouth, but I had no idea what to say.”

Yara must’ve read my mind because she jumped in. “You know he was in the military, but what you don’t know is that he was in some super secret ops squad. For three years, he ran these insane international missions. Took down the biggest crime syndicate out there. Bruno and Hernan? Just small-time compared to what he’s dealt with.”

She went on. “Once his mission was done, Hayden went back to normal life. But with Steve’s mess, Hayden realized those small-timers are starting to come back, and people are out for revenge. He knows how dangerous they are. They can’t go after him directly, so they’ll target the people he cares about instead.”

Yara looked at me. “That’s why he broke up with you. That’s who he really is.”

“Have you… and him…” My brain was a mess, but all I wanted was to know how Yara knew so much about Hayden. Had they worked together?

But the words wouldn’t come.

Yara gave a bitter smile. “Our relationship was fake. He did it all to protect you.”

I could see the emptiness behind her eyes.

She sighed, staring at the operating room door. “He knew they’d come for him, and even if he broke up with you, he’d still put you in danger. So, he staged this whole engagement with me, went public with it, just to keep you safe.”

“Why did you agree to it?” The second it was out, I regretted it.

I already knew the answer—she loved him.

“I wanted to protect him,” Yara’s answer hit me like a punch.

“Everyone thinks he’s untouchable, but he’s not. He can be hurt, too. So I stay close, keep him safe. That’s why I’m still here,” she said, then gave me a tired smile.

“You love him,” I whispered, saying what she hadn’t.

She nodded, without hesitation. “Yeah. I loved him before you even came into the picture, but… he doesn’t feel the same way about me.”

Yara was amazing, and she loved him so much. But Hayden? He didn’t feel a thing for her. How lucky was I that he chose me? Even his coldness—it was all just to protect me.

I couldn’t speak. Yara’s words made the anger I once felt for Hayden seem pointless.

“Actually,” she went on, “every time he shut you out, it hurt him more than anyone else. I’ve seen him beat himself up about it. It was a side of him I’d never seen.”

She looked at me. “Do you know? If he hadn’t been like that, I wouldn’t be telling you any of this.” Yara smiled. “I admit I love him. But more than anything, I just want him to be happy.”

They say love is selfish, but Yara showed me what real love is—selfless, pure.

Chapter 613

Being around her, I felt like I didn’t deserve to love Hayden. I’d only ever seen the surface, never thinking about why he might’ve pulled away, why he stopped loving me. I’d forgotten the promises he made, the things he’d done for me.

I wasn’t strong enough in my love for him, or I wouldn’t have doubted him over one word, one action. I’d let it all slip away.

I was still the same shallow person I’d always been.

“Don’t think about anything else,” Yara said, folding her hands together in prayer. “Let’s just pray he’s okay.” She prayed. I sat, staring at the door. Time stretched on forever, until it finally opened.

A doctor stepped out, and Yara jumped up, rushing toward him. “Doctor…”

“I’m so sorry. We did everything we could, but the surgery wasn’t successful.” His words hit like a wrecking ball. My legs gave out, and I dropped to the floor.