Bye-Bye Jerk, Hello Mr. Right

Chapter 202

Matthew and Lindey had always been so good to me-so good that even thinking about doubting them made me feel guilty.

But now, even Lena was starting to suspect something,

It felt like my heart was free-falling from the sky, crashing into a pit of panic I couldn't escape.

"I need to find out the truth."

The more uncertain things got, the more desperate I was to know. Not just for my dad, but to clear Matthew's name-if he was innocent.

Lena didn't say much, just gave me a small nod. "Whatever happens, I've got your back."

Her words hit me harder than I expected, like she already knew what I might uncover.

But I couldn't stop until I found the truth.

After leaving the ER, I stepped outside to catch a cab. To my surprise, Edward was still there. He stood a little ways off, clutching the meds he'd bought me, his phone glued to his ear. "... Yeah, she accessed the car's display... said she was just looking for music..."

My entire body went cold, even with the sun beating down on me.

I didn't need to ask who he was talking to. It was obvious-he was reporting this to someone. Probably Matthew or Lindey.

But why? Why did he care about something so small?

If there was nothing to hide in that display, why was he acting like it mattered?

My head was spinning with questions, doubts creeping in. I watched as Edward walked off down the street, my mind running in circles.

I couldn't wait any longer. I flagged down a taxi and told the driver to take me to Serenity Retreat.

If I didn't move fast, I was afraid whatever I was looking for would get erased or hidden before I even got there.

But what I didn't expect was how locked-down the place would be. The moment I arrived, security stopped me at the gate, asking for the name and room number of the person I was visiting. I had a name, but no clue what room he was in.

And there was no way I could casually drop Thorsten Drago's name. If they called to confirm, I'd be busted on the spot.

In the end, I had to lie, saying I was there to ask about the facilities for a family member. The guard shut me down fast, saying the center was reservation-only and didn't allow walk-ins. 1 got the message loud and clear-this wasn't a place you could just waltz into.

High-end wellness centers like this were on a whole different level. I wasn't even worthy of stepping past

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Chapter 202

the gates.

As I stood there, trying to think of a way in, two cars rolled up. The windows were down, and I recognized the guy inside immediately.

That shiny bald head-it was Darby, the same guy who led the group that attacked Hayden.

"Here to see Mr. Drago," Darby said to the guard as the cars pulled up.

The guard recognized him right away and lifted the gate without a second thought.

Drago. That surname wasn't exactly common, so I knew the guy Darby was seeing had to be Thorsten Drago.

Darby worked for Thorsten. And if Darby had gone after Hayden, that meant Hayden was digging into Thorsten, too. Could Thorsten be connected to Hayden's dad's death as well?

It was all starting to feel like more than just a coincidence.

I didn't get to see Thorsten myself, but spotting Darby told me enough.

Leaving Serenity Retreat, I headed straight home. On the way, my phone buzzed with a call from Lindey.

"Rea, Edward told me you weren't feeling well. How are you now?" Lindey's voice was raspy, and I immediately thought of how she looked when I left-how shaken she'd been after seeing Matthew's hair turn gray. She must've cried since then. Guilt stabbed at my chest.

I was a mess inside, torn between doubt and loyalty. I didn't want to suspect them, but my mind kept wandering to dark places.

Still, I forced those thoughts down as I replied, "I'm fine, Lindey. Just a stomach thing. I took some meds, and I'm feeling better now."

"That's good to hear. Matthew and I were really worried. We almost came to the hospital to check on you," she said.

That made the guilt hit even harder. They were going through so much, yet they were still worried about

1. me.

"I'm really okay. Please, just focus on Matthew and yourself. And maybe try to comfort him a little more..." I said, the image of his gray hair still haunting me. She let out a heavy sigh.

J didn't know what else to say. The conversation drifted into a long, uncomfortable silence.

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