Chapter 220 

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didn’t give me a choice. I knew what that meant. 

I 

I clutched my phone, glancing over at Hayden. As I walked up to him, about to speak, he beat me to it.” I’m leaving the day after tomorrow.” 

Leaving? 

I froze, thrown off. “Where are you going?” 

He kept walking. “Back.” 

Back? Back to Chiverton? 

But he said he’d stay. He even rented an apartment here. 

Thinking about the apartment reminded me of the demolition notice and Ms. Brown’s request. I hadn’t even mentioned it to Hayden yet. 

I wanted to ask why he was suddenly leaving, but the distance between us made me hesitate. So instead, I just said, “I’ll come by tomorrow night to check out the lights.” 

Hayden looked at me. It was like his eyes were saying. You might have time, but I don’t.” 

I thought he’d tell me no, but after a few seconds, he just said, “Okay.” 

I knew he was forcing himself. He was upset, but he didn’t want to make things harder for me. 

Once again, he was the one compromising. And that’s when the guilt hit me. 

I was totally taking advantage of his feelings, messing with him like this. 

They always say the person who cares more is the one who ends up hurt. It was the same when I was with Jace–I was always the one getting hurt. 

All those old heartbreaks came flooding back. I’d been through enough of that, and now I was doing the same thing to Hayden. 

“Hayden,” I said softly. “I’m meeting Steve tonight because I asked him to help me with something. I have to go 

His eyes darkened a bit, but all I got was a low, “Mm–hmm.” 

“Tomorrow night, you can cook for me, and we’ll watch the lights together,” I said, trying to sound playful, hoping to lighten the mood. 

Hayden’s mouth twitched, but he shot back, “Keira, I’m not a kid. You can’t just slap me and then think everything’s cool with a piece of candy.” 

I pouted. “Oh.” 

He frowned a little, so I leaned closer and teased, “Well, if candy won’t work, what will, babe?” 

The second I said “babe,” his whole body stiffened. His ears went red, and he started looking around like he didn’t know where to put his eyes. 

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Chapter 220 

I had only meant to mess with him, but I didn’t expect calling him “babe” would throw him off so much. 

Seeing Hayden–normally all cool and collected–get so flustered over one word was kinda satisfying. 

Just when I thought he might say or do something, he spoke in a low voice. “You reject me, avoid me, but then tease me. Are you messing with me on purpose? Just keeping me on the hook?” 

His tone was serious, and there was this hint of hurt in his eyes, like I’d actually done some damage. Guilt twisted in my chest. I swallowed hard and, instead of answering, I just said, “See you tomorrow. Then I spun around and walked off fast, only letting out the breath I was holding once I was out of sight. Walking back, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I’d gone too far. 

But in that moment, I’d just wanted to mess with him. 

I didn’t want to be with him like that, but I also couldn’t stop myself from provoking him, watching him get all flustered over me. It made zero sense, even to me. 

The more I thought about it, the more I realized how selfish and mean I was being. Regret hit me hard–1 should’ve known when to stop. 

The guilt gnawed at me so much that I shook my head in disbelief, even wanting to slap myself for being so reckless. 

I was still lost in my thoughts when I heard Tanya’s voice call out from up ahead. “Keira.” 

I looked up and saw her standing there, not too far away. From the look on her face, it was pretty obvious she’d seen the whole thing. 

Great. This couldn’t get more awkward. 

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