Bye-Bye Jerk, Hello Mr. Right

Chapter 298

"How'd you end up sick?" Wayne asked as he stepped in, holding a bouquet of flowers, his face etched with worry.

I suddenly felt awkward lying down now that he was here, so I grabbed the bed railing, trying to sit up. But Wayne gently pushed me back down. "You don't have to get up.

"I'm fine," I protested, still struggling to sit up.

With Hayden, lying down didn't feel weird or uncomfortable. I guess that's why he felt different from other

guys.

Wayne's eyes stayed locked on mine. 'Seriously, what happened?"

How was I supposed to explain that I'd spiraled after learning more about my parents? It wasn't like I couldn't say it-I just didn't want to.

Lately, I'd gotten so used to shrugging things off, keeping it all in. Easier that way.

"Just low blood sugar. I fainted," I lied.

Wayne didn't look convinced, his eyes scanning my face like he was trying to read my mind. Before he could start asking more questions, I cut him off. "So, what did you want to tell me?"

His mouth opened, but I could tell he was about to give me some lame excuse to keep me calm. "It's nothing important."

"Wayne," I said firmly, giving him my best 'no-BS' look. "If you've got something to say, just say it. Don't dance around it, or I'll worry even more."

"Let's wait until you're feeling better," he said gently, the way he always did.

That's just who he was-always the careful, protective type. Maybe that's why, even after all these years, I'd never seen him as more than a big brother.

I knew exactly how to handle him, so I put on my most impatient act. "Keeping secrets is just gonna stress me out, and that's not exactly helping my recovery, is it?"

Wayne sighed, looking a bit cornered. "Alright, I'll tell you."

He hesitated for a moment before finally saying, "Jace had a huge blowup with my parents. I'm guessing you didn't know that, right?"

"No, I had no idea," I replied honestly.

I'd seen Jace earlier, but he hadn't said a word about it

Wayne sighed. "My mom kicked Tanya out of one of Jace's properties, and they had a big fight over it. Then my dad got involved, hit Jace, and threatened to cut him off from the family and RiverwaveCorp." I knew about the whole eviction thing, but this? This was a whole new level of drama. When Lindey had talked about kicking Tanya out, I had a bad feeling, but she hadn't taken my advice. "So, what's the point of telling me all this?" I asked, sensing he had a reason for dumping all this on me.

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Chapter 298

Wayne looked tom, like he was struggling to find the right words.

I gave him a knowing smile. "You want me to talk to your parents, don't you?"

"I know it's not fair to ask," he admitted, his voice soft, but they listen to you more than anyone else, and... "He trailed off, but I got what he meant. I always did. "And it's all because of me, isn't it?" I finished for him.

T

"That's not what I meant, Wayne said quickly, trying to backtrack.

I let out a dry laugh. That penthouse was supposed to be for me, but Jace let Tanya move in instead. That's why we broke up. I'm pretty sure I told you this before." Wayne gave me a complicated look, and I held his gaze. "But I never brought it up with your parents. I have no clue how they found out, but one thing's for sure..."

I took a deep breath and went on, "I didn't tattle. If I wanted Tanya gone, I would've kicked her out the second I saw her there."

"Rea, you've got it wrong. I never thought it was you. I just..." Wayne tried to explain.

I raised a hand, cutting him off. "Let me finish."

He fell silent, waiting.

"Lindey called me about this. I told her to let it go, that it was all in the past, but she wouldn't listen. And as for Matthew's decision to come down on Jace, that's a father-son issue." Wayne's eyes widened in surprise. I guess he didn't expect me to be so matter-of-fact about it. After

After a moment, he nodded. "You're right. This really has nothing to do with you."

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