NovelOnline"Does he?" Wayne shot back.
Chapter
680
Cole chuckled, waving Xander forward. "You tell me. Or do you need to look closer to figure it out?"
Xander stepped closer, stopping just shy of Jace and Wayne. At this distance, they could see everything-every
line, every feature, every little detail.
And so could I. My breath hitched, and that voice deep in my chest screamed louder than ever: He was Hayden.
"You've really gone all out for this. Where'd you dig up someone like him?" Jace sneered.
Cole's smile didn't waver. "Fate," he said casually, then turned to me. "Wouldn't you agree?"
| didn't bite. My eyes stayed on Xander, searching, digging past the surface, desperate for even the faintest sign
that he was Hayden.
"Xander," Cole said, finally cutting to the chase, "Ms. Kay has taken quite the liking to you. She wants to keep
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtyou. What do you say?"
Xander's answer was sharp and direct. "Mr. Drago, you know my rules. | don't provide those kinds of service."
The implication landed hard. Wayne and Jace's faces darkened immediately, their faces darkened instantly. Cole
turned back towith an exaggerated shrug. "See? Told you. He's not going for it."
Xander gave a polite nod. "If there's nothing else, I'll take my leave." He turned, ready to walk away.
Lena gavea firm squeeze that silently said: Don't give up.
"Wait," | called out, rising from my wheelchair without hesitation.
Before anyone could stop me, | closed the gap between us in two quick steps, reached out, and hooked my arm
around Xander's neck. Standing on my tiptoes, | leaned in, my lips close to his ear.
"Rea, what the hell are you doing?" Jace's angry voice cut through the room.
"She's flirting," Lena quipped.
While their voices clashed in the background, my hand drifted to Xander's neck, fingers brushing the back of it,
searching. My heart pounded, but all | felt was smooth, unbroken skin. Nothing.
I ignored his subtle attempts to pull away and kept going, my fingers tracing further up, even brushing the back
of his head. Still, nothing. | leaned closer, desperate to see what my fingers couldn't find-the mole that had
always been there. But it wasn't. No mark. No mole. No trace of him.
Hayden's mole had always been there-small, distinct, impossible to miss. But the guy standing in front of me?
Nothing.
My hand dropped, the realization hitting hard. That hope keepingafloat shattered, leaving a hollow ache in
its place. He wasn't Hayden.
Lena slipped next to me, her hand curled around my arm. Her eyes met mine, quietly tellingshe got it.
"Mr. Drago," Xander said suddenly, "I'd like to report a harassment. This lady just laid hands onwithout my
consent."
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Chapter 680
My chest tightened. If he were Hayden, there's no way he'd pull this stunt-not when it could blow his cover. He
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmsaid it without a second's hesitation. That sealed it. He wasn't him.
The last flicker of hope burned out, leaving this awful weight of disappointment.
I'd convinced myself I'd found Hayden, built up this delusional fantasy, only to crash back down. Foolish. Like a
clown chasing a ghost.
And the look in Xander's eyes-cold, distant, maybe even disgusted? Yeah, that drove it home. He wasn't Hayden.
I'd been stupid to think he was, just because they shared a face.
"What are you calling the cops for?" Cole cut in. "Do you even know who Ms. Kay is? Having her hug you is a
blessing you won't get again in three lifetimes. See these two important figures?" He gestured at Jace and
Wayne. "They'd kill for a hug from her, and even they don't have the privilege."
Chaos was Cole's playground.
"Shut your mouth!" Jace snapped.
"Am | wrong, though?" Cole teased as he poked the bear harder.
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