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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on a roll now. "She's only this bold because that idiot Jace keeps protecting her. She's

she said to Matthew first," I tried, hoping to calm her

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

I'd never let her into

venting, too angry to hold back. So, I didn't try to reason with her. I let

down. "Rea, just

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 it cost her. I didn't know all the details, but one thing was clear. Lindey wasn't afraid to be

anger again today, I worried she might go too

If I didn't try to stop her and something. happened, I wouldn't

things from getting worse. "I'll figure out what she's up to,

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

Please,

there for a second, my mind

talking

He wasn't clueless.

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 hit

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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,

On the inside?

the woman who

quiet, and I figured there was no point in dragging it out. I

room.

anymore?" Jace's low voice stopped me right before I opened

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

I shot back, pushing the

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

is Keira's 'brother' actually her

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Chapter 404

Chapter 402

It was Jace.

had happened to Matthew. I jumped up. What happened to

shift; his eyes were locked on me. "He's

out his phone. "My mom

my chest slowly eased. "What

told me to find you and have you call her back right away," Jace said, pushing the phone

Yuna's voice rang out

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

a smile and turned to Yuna. "I'm just gonna step out and make a

move, her

to get out of there before

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

was definitely darker. Great.

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

grabbing Jace's

and she picked up right away, her voice all concerned mom vibes. "Rea, why didn't you have Jace bring

with Hayden's sister,"

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

I asked, already pretty sure

that she hadn't mentioned anything to Jace but came straight to me? Yeah, she