Love's Redemption (Chris and Maddie)

Chapter 681

I wasn't sure if Jace was actually going to throw a punch, but standing there felt like its own kind of humiliation. Without saying a word, I spun on my heel and walked off, ditching the wheelchair for good. "What a waste of oxygen," Lena snapped at the crowd before rushing over to help me.

Once we were clear, she blurted out, "Rea, didn't he have a mole on his neck? Could he have had it removed? Did you check for scars?"!

Her question made it obvious-she still didn't believe Xander wasn't Hayden. I mean, that face was way too similar to his.

I shook my head. I hadn't believed it either, at first. I'd touched his neck, searching for anything-a scar, a clue, something-but there was nothing.

Lena caught my expression and frowned. She helped me sit down and asked again, "So, what do you think? Is it him or not?"

I hesitated. Sometimes your gut knows what your eyes can't, especially when anything can be faked these days.

"I don't know," I admitted quietly.

At first, I was so sure he was Hayden-hiding his identity, pretending not to know me. But the coldness in his voice earlier, the look in his eyes when he said he wanted to call the cops-it all felt wrong. Hayden loved me. He made me a charm bracelet, even ordered a custom ring for me. I still wear them both. No way he wouldn't have noticed.

were really Hayden, he wouldn't have acted so

treat him like anyone

was probably trying to keep me from getting hurt

sighed. "Or, you know, there's always DNA testing. He's a

Lena paused, but she didn't press

"You could've given him a kid. Then at least you'd have something to go

The kind of tired that seeps into your bones. The second I got home, I passed

loaded with missed calls-Jace, Wayne, Cole, Ron. All of them, blowing up my phone. I ignored every one.

face flashing through my mind. He wasn't Hayden. But why did he

when I was digging into DracoLux?

1. be.

known what Xander looked like. Heck, maybe Cole had sent Xander to me on purpose. But why? What was he playing at? Chapter

now Wayne and Cole were suddenly tight, wouldn't Cole worry about pissing Wayne off with

it hit me-Cole

was part of a setup. But why did Xander look so much like