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

Chapter 402

It was Jace.

The second he appeared, my first thought was that something had happened to Matthew. I jumped up. What happened to your dad?"

Jace's gaze didn't shift; his eyes were locked on me. "He's fine."

He held out his phone. "My mom wants to talk to you."

The anxiety that had been building in my chest slowly eased. "What does she need?"

"It's urgent. She told me to find you and have you call her back right away," Jace said, pushing the phone closer.

Just as I reached for the phone, Yuna's voice rang out behind me. "Keira, who is he?"

My breath hitched. Yuna had already been suspicious that something was off between Hayden and me. And with all the romance novels she devoured, if she found out Jace was my ex, she'd definitely start jumping to conclusions "He's... my brother," I said, the word tumbling out awkwardly. The second it left my mouth, I swear the room temperature dropped.

I refused to meet Jace's eyes. Instead, I forced a smile and turned to Yuna. "I'm just gonna step out and make a quick call. Keep enjoying your pears!"

Yuna, still holding her spoon, didn't move, her eyes locked on Jace with clear suspicion.

"Let's go," I said to Jace, desperate to get out of there before Yuna asked more questions.

"Wait... is he the other brother? Like, another son of your foster parents?" Yuna's tone made my stomach flip.

I glanced at Jace, and his face was definitely darker. Great. Was he pissed? Hurt? Both?

But, like, we had broken up, and his parents were all about making me their goddaughter. So technically. calling him "brother" wasn't totally wrong... right? "Yup," I said quickly, grabbing Jace's phone and heading for the door.

I dialed Lindey's number, and she picked up right away, her voice all concerned mom vibes. "Rea, why didn't you have Jace bring you home?" "I'm with Hayden's sister," I mumbled.

There was silence on the other end. Yeah, the Johnstons had accepted Hayden, but deep down, they were still rooting for Team Jace.

"What did you need?" I asked, already pretty sure this was about Matthew's phone.

The fact that she hadn't mentioned anything to Jace but came straight to me? Yeah, she definitely wanted to keep this quiet.

"Is Jace with you?" Lindey's volce confirmed it.

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I glanced back. Jace had followed me out, of course. I walked a little farther. "He can't hear."

*I checked Matthew's phone. It was her number, Lindey said, frustration leaking through her words.

Her?

That wasn't exactly helpful.

"Who?"

"Tanya Twain," Lindey practically spat. "I've called her before to warn her off. I recognize her number."

Oh. So that's why she didn't want Jace to know. But what did Tanya want with Matthew?

"She must've said something that upset him. He started bleeding again. Like breaking you and Jace up wasn't enough-now she's trying to mess with Matthew, Is she trying to destroy this whole family?" Lindey's voice rose, her anger building. I glanced at Jace again, then lowered my voice. "Please, don't get too worked up."

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was on a roll now. "She's only this bold because that idiot Jace keeps protecting her. She's wading in deeper, thinking she'll get away with it. But I swear, I'll make sure

just figure out what she said to Matthew first," I tried, hoping

She wants us to accept her, to let her into this family," Lindey snapped, like Tanya had already made

single forever, I'd never let

knew she was just venting, too angry to hold back. So, I didn't

harsh words, she finally started to calm down. "Rea, just wait and see

He couldn't believe how

again today, I worried she might

it slide. If I didn't try to stop her and something. happened, I wouldn't be able

keep things from getting worse. "I'll figure out what she's up to, and then we can decide what to

happens to Matthew, I'll make her pay

you after I talk to her. Please, try

stood there for a second, my mind racing, before turning back to

was she talking about

He wasn't clueless.

I felt like he needed to know the truth "Yeah," I admitted after a pause. "Before Matthew started coughing up blood, he got a call-from Tanya." Jace's eyes narrowed, and I could tell the realization

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gone. You know Matthew's condition, and you know what's at stake. Think carefully about how you're going to handle this," I

outside, I sounded calm. On the inside? I

rational conversation with the guy I once loved... about the woman who tore us apart. If

figured there was no point in

room.

concern anymore?" Jace's low voice

was talking about the baked pears he'd brought after noticing my hoarse voice. The ones

eat something past its expiration date?" I shot back,

taking a deep breath to steady myself. That's when I caught Yuna's voice,

Keira's 'brother'

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Chapter 404

Chapter 402

It was Jace.

was that something had happened to Matthew. I jumped up.

shift; his eyes were locked on me.

held out his phone. "My mom

in my chest slowly eased. "What does she

you and have you call her

as I reached for the phone, Yuna's voice

Hayden and me. And with all the romance novels she devoured, if she found out Jace was my ex, she'd definitely start jumping to conclusions "He's... my brother," I said, the word tumbling out awkwardly. The second it left my mouth, I swear the room

eyes. Instead, I forced a smile and turned to Yuna. "I'm just gonna step out and make a quick

didn't move, her eyes locked on Jace

to Jace, desperate to get out of there before Yuna asked more

brother? Like, another son of your foster parents?" Yuna's tone made

glanced at Jace, and his face was definitely darker.

we had broken up, and his parents were all about making me their goddaughter.

Jace's

dialed Lindey's number, and she picked up right away, her voice all concerned mom vibes. "Rea, why didn't you have

with Hayden's

silence on the other end. Yeah, the Johnstons had accepted Hayden, but deep down,

did you need?" I asked, already pretty sure this was about Matthew's