Chapter 674

Hayden? It had to be him. That same silhouette I’d seen in the alley that night. Last time, I blew it—I fell and missed my chance. Not this time. I stepped forward…and forgot about my busted knee. Yep, down I went, crashing straight to the floor.

“Wow, if you wanted me to catch you, you could’ve just asked,” Cole quipped, smirking as he helped me up.

I ignored him, my focus glued to the stage. Without thinking, I yelled, “Turn on the lights!”

The models froze mid-rehearsal, and the backstage area stayed pitch black.

“I said, turn on the lights!” My voice was louder, desperate.

Ron walked in just then, eyebrows raised. “What’s happening? Turn on the lights, now!”

His tone worked like magic. The lights flooded on, way too bright, making everyone blink like deer in headlights—including me.

But I didn’t care. My gaze darted from face to face until it landed on the one in the center. Hayden. The face I’d dreamed of, cried over, whispered “I miss you” to in the dark. Right there, alive. But something was off—his eyes. The way he looked at me, like he didn’t even know me. Confused. Uneasy.

None of it mattered. Not his weird expression, not my throbbing knee. I limped toward the stage, barely noticing Cole trailing behind me.

“What are you doing?” he asked.

Ron’s finger shot toward the guy onstage, his voice shaking. “H–Hayden… You–you’re alive? But how? You…” He trailed off, too freaked out to get the words out.

I staggered closer to the edge of the stage, eyes locked on him. It had to be Hayden. I was sure of it—completely, undeniably sure.

“Hayden…” I whispered, my voice catching on the name I’d repeated in my head so many times.

But he didn’t even flinch.

Cole, still keeping me steady, let out a low laugh. “That’s not Hayden Hart. That’s Xander Zane—the headliner.” Cole gestured for the guy to step forward, and he obeyed instantly, hopping off the stage. “Mr. Drago,” he said, nodding respectfully to Cole.

Cole pointed my way. “This is our client, Keira Kay.”

The man turned to me, his tone formal and flat. “Ms. Kay, hello. My name is Xander Zane.”

And just like that, the whole fantasy shattered. That voice—nasally and high-pitched. It was all wrong. Hayden’s voice had weight, that low, velvety tone that made you lean in just to hear it better. This guy? Nope. Not even close.

But his face… I couldn’t shake it. It was too similar. The sharp angles of his jaw, those deep, intense eyes—it was all Hayden. Except for one thing: his skin. Xander’s was pale and freakishly perfect, like a wax figure. Hayden’s face had texture, rugged and real.

The stage director clapped his hands, breaking the tension. “Are we rehearsing or what? Don’t come crying to me if this messes up the show!”

“Keep it rolling,” Ron said, pulling me back a step and signaling for the lights to dim again.

The rehearsal picked back up, the lights flowing across the stage like watercolors. I didn’t move. I couldn’t. My head was spinning too fast to process anything.

“That guy really does look like Hayden,” Ron said gently, like he was trying to calm me down. “But his vibe, his voice—it’s totally off. Probably just a lookalike.”

I didn’t answer, my gaze sliding to Cole. “He seriously goes by Xander?”

Cole’s smirk was all mischief. “Of course. What else would he be called?”

I squinted at him, trying to read his face. But Cole’s sly, shadowy demeanor gave away nothing. Unbeatable. Finally, I went for it. “Introduce me to him.”

Cole’s grin stretched wider. “Sure. Let me tell you, this guy’s a total legend. He’s our top model—been killing it for two years now. No one can do what he does. Tough client? Messy shoot? He steps in and owns it every time. And, come on, you’ve seen him. That face, that body? Literal perfection.”