Bye-Bye Jerk, Hello Mr. Right by Rosie Steppe

Chapter 160

Just then, Hayden's eyes shifted to me.

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His grip on my hand tightened, like for a second, he wasn't just holding my hand-he had my heart too.

You know how they say your fingers are connected to your heart? Yeah, right now, that felt way too real.

"I'll give Kiki everything I have," Hayden said, his intense eyes locked on mine. "I'll love her like I love my own life, and I'll always protect her."

His eyes were full of affection. In that moment, I finally understood what people meant when they said, Love deep as the ocean."

And even though this was all supposed to be an act, it felt like Hayden's words were reaching right into my chest, like he was actually confessing.

This guy was unbelievable. Blurring the line between what's real and what's fake.

With him saying stuff like that, I had no choice but to roll with it. I lifted my hand, planning to squeeze his

But the way he was looking at me? It made me clench my teeth. I asked him to act, not toss real feelings into the mix.

him a sweet hand squeeze, I pinched his

would embarrass him. Maybe knock him down

react the way I thought. Nope. Instead of pulling back or flinching, he leaned

shameless! I never thought he would ever act

back to Matthew and Lindey, his expression totally composed. "And just like Mr. Johnston loves Mrs. Johnston, I'll

the second? Yeah, that was a power move. A clear response to Lindey's earlier

her down so smoothly she didn't have much of a comeback. Matthew, who had been quiet this whole time, finally

answer, just gave

Matthew wanted to talk. Steeling myself, I took a deep breath and

him to start grilling me right away. But instead, he handed me the gift I'd brought him. "Why don't you open this up? Use the new set you got me, and let's do some hand Jettering together."

L

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Chapter 160

since then, Matthew stopped asking me to hang out in the study with him. We hadn't had any of our usual one-on-one

what he asked, opening up the ink and pens

I put the ink down, he picked up one of the pens, checking it

I shot back with

I'll go first. You prep the ink, and

to be. I nodded and began preparing