Chapter 848 +25 Bonus

I was laughing so hard my sides hurt, tears streaming down my face. Lena just sat there, arms crossed, waiting for me to finish.

“You good now? Because I actually need your help.”

If Lena was asking me for advice, she must have been really stuck. Normally, she’s the one with all the answers.

“Okay,” I said, catching my breath. “First, spill. Does Nate even still have a shot?”

She grabbed an orange off the table and started peeling it. “What do you think?” When she’s done with someone, she’s done. No second chances, no rewrites. Nate clearly hadn’t gotten that memo, though, because here he was, pulling out all the stops to win her back.

And then there was Aaron—her technically-not-really-blood-related uncle and childhood friend. Cue the awkward family ties turned unexpected complication drama.

“If you’re not giving Nate any hope, just move in with your uncle,” I said.

She arched a brow. “Why?”

“Because Nate’s literally working at this hospital to be near you. Daytime interactions? Check. Evening pop-ins? I bet he’s already planning those too. And I’d bet good money he’s staying somewhere nearby just to make it extra convenient.”

Lena finished peeling the orange and handed it to me like a reward. “Not bad. Here, you earned this.”

I popped a slice in my mouth. “See? If you don’t give him chances in the evenings, he’ll eventually get the hint.”

“The problem is, I don’t want to deal with Uncle Aaron,” Lena admitted, finally cutting to the chase.

Ah, there it was.

“Why not? Is this about that…awkward thing from before?”

Lena tilted her head, considering it, then shook it off. “That was years ago. And after everything I’ve been through, I’m used to seeing all kinds of bodies. Stuff like that doesn’t bother me anymore.”

“Then what’s the issue?” I pressed.

She leaned back in her chair, spinning it lazily. “I don’t know.”

“Lena,” I said, giving her a look. “You do know…”

She shook her head like I was way off base. “Don’t read into it. He’s my uncle.”

Technically not by blood, but I got what she meant. Feelings like hers were complicated, and no outsider could really untangle them. So I decided to let it go.

“Well,” I said, “if Aaron’s out and you don’t want to fight your parents, you’re fresh out of options. Aaron’s place is the least painful route.”

Her glare could have melted steel. “Awesome. Glad we had this super-helpful talk.”

“After being away from Nate so long, don’t you ever feel, you know, lonely?” I asked, going full send into risky territory.

Lena narrowed her eyes, leaning in like she was about to scold me. “You’re pregnant. Keep those thoughts wholesome or you’ll mess up your baby’s vibes.”

That set me off all over again, laughing so loudly that Hayden later told me he could hear me from the elevator.

When he walked in, carrying food he’d cooked himself, he looked every bit the husband-of-the-year.

“Tell me if it’s good,” he said, setting it down in front of me. “I’ll tweak it if there’s anything you don’t like.”

I could tell this wasn’t just about dinner—it was Hayden’s way of showing he was all in, trying to make up for everything that had happened.

“Hayden,” I said between bites, “what’s your plan going forward?”

Sure, I was curious about his career, like most wives probably are. It wasn’t about him needing a flashy title or running a company. He could do something simple, something he loved—but he needed his own goals. He couldn’t just spend his days looking after me.

He looked at me, confused. “Why are you asking now?”

“I’m worried we’ll go broke buying baby formula,” I teased.

Let’s be real—with my assets, we were set for life. But that wasn’t the point. Hayden wasn’t the type to sit around living off someone else’s money, even mine. He thrived on having his own goals, his own purpose.

He hadn’t mentioned anything about what he wanted to do next, and that wasn’t like him. So I asked—not to push, but to make sure he knew I was here to listen to whatever was on his mind.

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