Love's Redemption (Chris and Maddie)

Chapter 897

+25 BONUS

"Afraid I'll steal their jobs?" Hayden teased, a faint smile tugging at his lips.

"They're just curious," Keira replied, watching him deftly sand the wood. "How do you know how to do all this? Have you done it before?"

Hayden paused his work. "Yeah, I've done all this before."

Keira handed him a bottle of water, brushing the wood shavings off his face as she sat beside him. "Don't tell me you used to make a living doing this."

Hayden took a sip of water. "I did. I made money this way to pay for my tuition and cover Yuna's medical bills. Otherwise, my mom would've had too much to bear on her own."

Hearing him mention this, Keira couldn't help but think about the deaths of his father and my parents.

But those things were in the past. Instead, Keira focused on his age back then. "You couldn't have been very old at the time, right?"

"Eleven or twelve," Hayden said. "But I was already tall-just skinny. When I went to construction sites, people thought I was fifteen or sixteen and gave me work. But because I was young, they'd cut my pay. So my solution was to work smarter, to take on tasks others couldn't handle. That way, I had leverage."

distance, as if he could see himself in those younger, relentless

words brought back memories of her own childhood. While Keira had lost her parents, she was taken in by the Johnston family, where

they'd spoiled her like a little

misfortune was caused by their actions, they had tried to make amends. Compared to Hayden, Keira was

part of why you

approached her, he hadn't come back or even called.

of the Hart family. Sooner or later, he'd have to for himself, and for the sake

go

back-

return to the Harts, as long as they don't force you to marry

look at her, his lips curling into a smirk. He tapped

Chapter 897

+25 BONUS

long as it doesn't threaten your interests, you're willing to

don't want to make things hard for you. Don't be ungrateful, Mr. Hart,"

against hers. "Focus your energy on fixing up this courtyard and making the tea drinks you love.

said, gazing at the now-cleared courtyard, still shabby but already holding so much

did you suddenly want to fix up a courtyard