Bye-Bye Jerk, Hello Mr. Right

If I could’ve disappeared on the spot, I would’ve done it in a heartbeat.

But I couldn’t.

And I knew that the longer I dodged this, the more Hayden would overthink it.

He was the type who never held back–always said whatever popped into his head, no matter how bold or out–of–line it was. He didn’t treat me like an outsider, that was for sure.

With that in mind, I forced myself to look up casually. “Really? Words alone don’t prove anything.”

“Mm,” Hayden hummed, taking a sip of water. “I can-”

The second he started, alarms went off in my head. “Hayden, shut up.”

I surrendered..

“I was going to say, if you need proof, I can go to the hospital,” Hayden finished.

Even though it sounded innocent, it still felt loaded with all sorts of hidden meanings.

Why would I need him to prove anything? I wasn’t his girlfriend.

“Save that proof for your future wife,” I shot back, standing up abruptly and heading to the restroom.

Just as I rounded the corner, a hand grabbed my arm, and the familiar scent told me who it was before I even turned around.

Jace’s grip was firm. “Rea, don’t you think it’s a bit much to be having lunch with a lighting engineer in a place like this?” This is property © of NôvelDrama.Org.

His face was full of anger, jealousy practically oozing out of him, and I couldn’t help but laugh. “Are we not allowed to eat here? Did you buy out the place?”

“Keira Kay!” Jace’s forehead was practically pulsing, veins popping. “If you’re gonna find a guy, at least pick someone decent.”

From the moment he walked in, everything he said dripped with contempt for Hayden.

And, of course, it was meant to insult me too.

*Hayden’s a senior engineer with dual degrees from Cambridge. How many of those do you have?” I shot back, not hiding the sarcasm.

I’d only learned about Hayden’s impressive background this morning after digging into his info.

Jace’s face turned red with embarrassment. Sure, he was a successful CEO, but his academic record was nothing to brag about. On that front, he didn’t even come close to Wayne.

But Jace had a sharp mind and a natural talent for business. That was why he’d inherited his dad’s company, and in just a few years, he’d turned RiverwaveCorp into an industry leader.

It was true what they said-“Everyone has their strengths and weaknesses.” But Jace was too proud, always focused on his own accomplishments, never giving credit to others

“In your eves, am I really that awful?” Jace asked.

“You’re not

awful,” I replied, not wanting to crush him completely. After all, he was someone I’d loved for ten years. If he was terrible, then what did that say about me?

“But you’re not better than Hayden,” I added, knowing exactly how much it would sting him.

Jace’s grip on my arm tightened, almost to the point of pain. Just thinking about how gentle he’d been with Tanya not too long ago sent a sharp pain through my heart.

I pushed on. “Like I said, we’re done. Who I eat with, what I do–it’s none of your business.”

My words only darkened Jace’s expression further, but he sneered, “If you want to prove your worth, then find someone better than me. Someone who’s actually superior.”

I couldn’t help but laugh. “You’re not worried about what people think when you’re with a pregnant widow, so why should I care? And here’s a reminder for you–if you find someone better than me, I’ll genuinely wish you well. But instead, you’ve chosen a widow carrying your buddy’s child…”

I paused, then added with a smirk, “Though I guess that just highlights your kindness and generosity.”

“You…” Jace was left sputtering, struggling to come up with a comeback.

I yanked my arm free from his grip and headed straight for the restroom.

Once there, I stood in front of the mirror, staring at my reflection. My face wasn’t as composed as I’d hoped.

Even though Jace and I were over, his hurtful words still managed to cut deep.

So Jace had already cheated on me long before.

“Are you Ms. Kay?” A server’s voice snapped me out of my thoughts.

I turned to her, and she explained, “There’s a Mr. Hart waiting for you outside.”

Hearing this, I dug my nails into my palm, trying to ground myself before walking out of the restroom.

Hayden was standing a short distance away, his tall figure silhouetted against the light, like a steady anchor in the storm.

He walked over to me, his voice low and rough, “What’s wrong?”

I swallowed the lump in my throat. “Hayden, I can’t stay for lunch.”

“Alright, then let’s skip it,” he said, reaching out to me.

But I pulled away. “You go ahead and eat. I need to leave.”

Without waiting for his response, I quickly turned and walked away.

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