Bye-Bye Jerk, Hello Mr. Right

Chapter 309

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Was he seriously teasing me with that straight face?

But he was always so principled! It made me wonder if he was serious or if I was just overthinking it.

"Don't believe me? Try it," Hayden said, his eyes warm and steady, making my cheeks

haven more.

I playfully pinched his arm, pretending to be annoyed. "Do you actually want to hear what I have to say or not? Because if not, I'll just keep it to myself." "I'm listening!" he said quickly.

I glanced out the window and told him what Wayne had shared with me the other day. After I finished, Hayden nodded, his expression thoughtful. "So, are you worried?" "Yeah, but I'm not worried about Jace. I'm conce

about RiverwaveCorp," I clarified quickly.

"I know," Hayden said, pressing a gentle kiss to the top of my head. "You feel like this whole situation is way more complicated than it seems, right?" He understood me so well.

"You're not wrong to be concerned. It's possible everything, starting with Wayne's return, was part of a plan," Hayden suggested, and my eyes widened.

"Do you really think so?" I had my suspicions, but hearing him say it so directly still caught me off guard.

I knew Wayne pretty well. He'd always been honest and kind. Whether when we were kids or later on, he always looked out for me and Jace, as an older brother would. Four years ago, he left without saying a word, and when he came back, he made it clear: if he'd wanted the company, he wouldn't have left in the first place

"Maybe he wouldn't have before, but now, things could be different," Hayden said, his tone calm and measured. "Kiki, you don't really understand men." I couldn't argue with that. "Then tell me from a man's perspective."

"Wayne likes you, right?" Hayden asked directly.

"Yes, but I didn't know that before. I only found out when he came back this time," I admitted.

"He's liked you for a long time-probably not much later than Jace did. His feelings for you are just as strong, if not stronger," Hayden said with certainty.

1 stayed quiet, letting him continue.

"He left for a few years, didn't he?"

"Four years," I confirmed. "He left right after Jace and I got together."

Hayden said, "Exactly. You made your choice, and he realized he didn't stand a chance.

"So, as the supportive 'older brother,' he stepped back and left, probably hoping that putting distance between you two would help him get over it.

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Chapter 309

"But clearly, he couldn't. That's why he came back as soon as he heard you and Jace had broken up, hoping to take his shot."

Hayden's analysis made perfect sense. When Jace and I first started having problems, and Jace dismissed it as me just being dramatic, Wayne had been the one to take my call seriously and reach out to me immediately.

I wasn't clueless. I'd sensed something back then.

But Hayden wasn't even close to Wayne, and yet he could see all of this so clearly, almost like he was reading Wayne's mind.

I followed Hayden's logic. "But he didn't expect someone like you to come along and steal the spotlight, right?"

Hayden's lips curled into a small smile, and he made a sound of agreement.

"But what does that have to do with his plan?"!sked, trying to steer the conversation back to the point.

"You know how you girls love your TV dramas auu novels, right? Ever seen those stories where the king has a bunch of sons, but only one can be the future ruler? The brothers start scheming and betraying each other, all trying to grab the throne," Hayden explained, his analogy hitting home. I nodded, starting to understand. No one's content playing second fiddle, not even to their own brother.

Wayne may have given up the Johnston family inheritance and me out of 'good intentions' four years ago, choosing to walk away. But time changes people. Now, he might want it all back.

A realization hit me like a punch to the gut: I might have become just a pawn in Wayne's power play.

A heavy feeling settled in my chest, and I fell silent.

Just then, a plane roared down the runway and took off. If I wasn't mistaken, that was probably Jace's flight.

As I watched it climb into the sky, I couldn't help but think about how Wayne might be plotting against him. And now, even Matthew and Lindey were distancing themselves from him. Despite everything, I felt a pang of sympathy for him.

As the plane flew higher and farther away, I silently wished him, 'Safe travels."

Chapter 110