Chapter 932

“Do you need me to explain myself?” Hayden asked Keira seriously when he saw her. “No, I don’t,” Keira replied with a smile. “Don’t bother explaining.”

“Then you’re not upset or misunderstanding anything?” His gaze held a hint of curiosity as he studied her. She could tell he was worried. After all, he’d called and texted her, and she hadn’t responded. Of course, he must’ve been overthinking things.

“I wasn’t ignoring you,” Keira reassured him. “I was spending time with Nina at the kindergarten. My phone was on silent.” As she finished, she gently touched his face. “I need to get back to work.”

Today, there were even more customers than yesterday. If this kept up, her little courtyard might need to be expanded. But she wouldn’t. Although she was using this courtyard to make a living, she’d never forget why she built it in the first place. During the day, it was for work, but in the evening, it became her sanctuary—a place of peace and solitude. Besides, internet trends rarely last long. Once the buzz died down, she’d likely return to the tranquility she cherished.

Keira didn’t ask for an explanation, and Hayden didn’t offer one. Still, she could sense something was off with him. His thoughtful gaze followed her whenever she glanced his way. Sometimes, men overthought things too. But she was busy, so she didn’t dwell on it.

That night, she was so exhausted that she went straight to sleep when she got home. It wasn’t until the eve of their grand reopening that she noticed Hayden smoking outside the courtyard. He rarely smoked, especially since Keira got pregnant. He’d practically quit.

The moment he saw her approach, he stubbed out the cigarette and waved the air around him, ensuring no trace of smoke lingered. He looked at her. “Why are you here?”

“I came to find you,” Keira replied, fixing her gaze on him. “You’ve got something on your mind, don’t you?” If he didn’t, he wouldn’t be smoking or staring off into space like that.

“Is it pressure from the Hart family again? Or has someone from the Mitchell family shown up?” With no external enemies, it could only be something between them.

“You can tell I’ve got something on my mind?” He didn’t answer her, instead posing that question. Keira chuckled. “Sounds like there’s some resentment in your voice. Why don’t you share it with me?”

“Is it human nature to take things for granted once we have them? Is that true for both men and women?” The moment he said that, Keira understood everything.

“Oh, so you’re sulking, huh? Upset because I’ve been neglecting you lately?” she teased knowingly.

Hayden’s long lashes lowered slightly, concealing his emotions. “It’s not neglect. It’s that you don’t seem to care about me anymore.”

“Is this about Yara?” Keira asked. She’d already guessed it. She hadn’t asked him for an explanation, and yet he wasn’t happy about it. Turned out men could be just as petty.

“Any woman would mind,” he muttered, sounding genuinely aggrieved.

“Hayden, of course I mind,” Keira admitted. “But I trust you more. You and Yara worked together before we even met. You shared life-and-death experiences. You see her as a brother, as a friend, right?”

“But she’s still a woman,” Hayden reminded her.

“Exactly. And a woman you were supposed to marry. But I can accept her presence—even when she casually picks up your calls—without feeling threatened. Not because I don’t care about you, but because I’m choosing to let go.”

As Keira said this, a leaf drifted down from the tree above. She caught it effortlessly. “People’s biggest troubles often stem from trapping themselves. Jealousy is the perfect example,” Keira said, twirling the leaf in her fingers. “Look at this leaf. If it wants to leave, the tree can’t hold onto it.”

“Hayden, love is the same. Right now, it’s Yara. In the future, there will be other women around you. If I have to mind every single one, if you constantly have to explain yourself and stay on guard, we’ll both be exhausted. Even if we’re together, we won’t be happy.”