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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roll now. "She's only this bold because that idiot Jace keeps protecting her. She's wading in deeper, thinking she'll

to Matthew first," I tried, hoping

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

every woman on Earth disappeared and Jace stayed single forever, I'd never let her into this family," Lindey snapped,

hold back. So, I didn't try to reason

to calm down. "Rea,

up a memory from my early years with the Johnstons. Back then, Lindey and Matthew had nearly divorced. I'd overheard Lindey on the phone once, vowing to "teach someone a lesson" and make it clear her husband wasn't up for grabs. What followed was a massive fight between her and Matthew. He couldn't believe how far she was willing to go, and she'd broken down, saying he pushed her there. She promised that anyone who tried to break up her family would pay, no matter what

today, I worried she

that I knew what was happening, I couldn't just let it slide. If I didn't try to stop her and something. happened, I wouldn't

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

make sure you tell her-if anything happens to Matthew, I'll make her pay with her

to her. Please, try

my mind racing, before turning

was she talking about

He wasn't clueless.

the truth "Yeah," I admitted after a pause. "Before Matthew started coughing up blood, he got a call-from Tanya." Jace's eyes narrowed,

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knew you'd try to protect Tanya. But she's already shown up at your home while you've been gone. You know Matthew's condition, and you know what's at stake. Think carefully about how you're

On the inside?

woman who tore us

quiet, and I figured there was no point in dragging it out. I turned to head back to

room.

don't even appreciate my concern anymore?" Jace's low voice stopped me

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

I

at the entrance, taking a deep breath to steady myself. That's when

is Keira's 'brother'

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Chapter 402

It was Jace.

something had happened

shift; his eyes were

phone. "My mom wants to talk to

anxiety that had been building in my chest slowly

you call

reached for the phone, Yuna's voice rang

was my ex, she'd definitely start jumping to conclusions "He's... my brother," I said,

meet Jace's eyes. Instead, I forced a smile and turned to Yuna. "I'm just

her spoon, didn't move, her eyes

to get

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

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

about making me their goddaughter. So technically. calling

said quickly, grabbing Jace's phone and heading

she picked up right away, her voice all

Hayden's

on the other end. Yeah, the Johnstons had accepted Hayden, but deep down, they were still rooting

I asked, already pretty sure

to Jace but came straight to me? Yeah,