NovelBookChapter 697 Chapter 697 Chall
The second | brought up my dad, Wayne clammed up. Guess it's hard to chat when your dad's the reason mine's
gone.
"There will never be meatballs | like in this world again," | said, staring down at the meatballs Xander had made.
| tried to sound casual, like | didn't care, but my brain was screaming, 'Don't blow this! Don't let Wayne catch on
about Xander. Because now? | knew. Xander was Hayden. The disguise, the secrecy-it wasn't random. He had a
reason. Whatever it was, | just had to roll with it for now.
"Rea, I'm really sorry about your parents." His voice dripped guilt, but his face? Ugh, it was all fake pity, like he
thought that'd fix anything.
It didn't. If anything, it made my stomach twist, but | just smiled tight and said, "It's not your fault."
He gave a bitter smile. "You're... so kind, Rea."
Yeah, kind enough to almost forgive his family once. Key word: almost. I'd learned better. No way I'd let that slide
-not now, not ever.
| needed to end this convo before | snapped, so | grabbed my drink-pumpkin spice milk. One sip, and it was this
perfect blend of sweet and warm, like a hug in a mug.
Honestly? Xander's cooking was unreal. Better than Hayden's ever was. And when he finally stops pretending
he's not Hayden, I'm totally gonna ask if he spent his fake-dead months learning how to cook like a pro.
"This is so good," | said, not holding back, even with Wayne's eyes practically glued to me.
"So, do you have plans tonight?" he asked, like he'd been hanging on to my every casual word.
"No, | was just talking," | said, licking a little pumpkin spice milk off the corner of my lip.
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Apparently, that tiny move was way more seductive than | realized because Wayne's eyes darkened. He
swallowed -twice before saying, "Then... how about dinner withtonight?"
The invite wasn't shocking; he'd been pretty obvious about his interest. My gut reaction was to turn him down,
but after a second, | reconsidered. I'd been stringing him along lately, and tossing him a little hope now and then
didn't hurt my plans. "Sure," | said.
Wayne's smile stretched wide. "What do you feel like eating?"
"Whatever. You pick," | replied.
Right as | said that, someone stepped into the office but backed out fast when they saw | wasn't alone.
Wayne caught on. "I'll get going, then. See you tonight."
The second he left, | exhaled a huge sigh of relief and focused back on the meal Xander had brought.
It was a lot, but | didn't even pause | cleared the whole container. And honestly, | was sure | wouldn't be hungry
again until tomorrow morning.
Afterward, | grabbed my phone and noticed a message from Ron: [Didn't seem like a good tto talk because
someone's with you, right?]
Classic Ron-blunt but perceptive. | didn't bother answering. Instead, | tried calling Demi. No dice; her phone was
1/2
+25 BONUS
Chapter 697
off.
| shot her a quick text, but she ghostedthere, too.
So, Demi was really back. Weird, since she'd sworn she wouldn't cback, saying she was too scared. What
changed?
And more importantly, why had she
gone to Dracol.ux? She knew Sxeatly
what he placeavadatdtal danger
26né'she'd avoided like the plague
before. The content is on
novelenglish.net! Read the latest
chapter there!
Something had to have happened.
The more | thought about it, the more
uneasy | got. After a few seceqgs of
cuetiog ambikly phone and
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chilled Xander. Sure, he was still
pretending, but | knew he was
Hayden. And when it cto getting
to the bottom of things, he was the
only one | trusted. The content is on
novelenglish.net! Read the latest
chapter there!
"Ms. Kay..."
| rolled my eyes. Really? He was
sticking to this undercover act? Fipe.
Two cou lay rte 1 my
vbice oh soft and sugary. "Mr.
Zane, could you doa tiny little
favor?" The content is on
novelenglish.net! Read the latest
chapter there!
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