After Ninety-Nine Rejections

Selena shrank into Hayden's arms, looking frightened.

Hayden seemed a little stunned.

"You two..."

Selena grabbed Hayden's hand.

"Hayden, please don't ask, okay? I..."

I didn't want to watch Selena's act any longer, so I turned around to leave.

Hayden grabbed me again.

"I don't care what your relationship is. You bumped into someone, so you should apologize. Selena is a doctor. Her hands are very important, and they almost got hurt just now."

The burn on the back of my hand throbbed like tiny bites. The pain spread all the way to my chest. I raised my hand and showed him the bright red skin.

"The aisle is this wide. I was standing next to my own table. She was the one who walked over and bumped into me. And I'm hurt too. This wasn't my fault, so I won't apologize."

Hayden's gaze fell on the back of my hand, and his calm eyes wavered for a brief moment.

I pushed past them and asked a staff member for an ice pack.

As I walked out, I turned back for a quick glance.

By the window, Selena sat there looking unhappy. Hayden sat beside her. His expression was gentle as he grilled meat for her himself.

The ice pack in my hand chilled me all the way to the core, and the last trace of hope inside me vanished completely. The cold and distant man everyone treated like a saint was grilling meat for Selena himself.

In this chase, I had completely lost.

The moment I got home, my mom pulled me into the bedroom. She asked if it was true that I had agreed this morning to marry into the York family.

When I met her worried eyes, my nose stung. The bitterness in my chest rose again.

Everyone in our circle knew that I had fallen for Hayden at first sight. I once swore I would marry no one but him.

No matter how cold he was to me, I kept chasing after him.

Mom wrapped her arms around me, her voice full of concern. She asked if someone had hurt me.

I forced a smile.

"Mom, I'm serious. I've been throwing myself at Hayden for too long. It's clear now it's pointless. I need to walk away."

Not long after, voices came from downstairs.

Mom stood up. Soon she came back and quietly closed the door, her face pale.

I heard Selena's voice.

When I finally went downstairs, Dad was sitting on the couch. Selena was holding his arm and telling jokes, making him laugh nonstop.

Hayden was sitting beside them.

Selena flinched the moment she saw me.

Dad awkwardly called my name.

I kept my face cold, my eyes fixed on Selena.

"Who allowed you into my house?"

The color drained completely from Selena's face. She looked like she might cry, but didn't.

Dad scolded me sharply.

"That's enough, Sydney! She's your sister!"

I lifted my chin and retorted, "My mom only ever had one daughter. I don't have some random sister!"

Slap!

Dad stood and struck me across the face, and my cheek swelled instantly. Mom stumbled down the stairs and threw herself in front of me.

"Who gave you the right to hit Sydney?"

Dad's chest heaved in anger. Since there were guests present, he slammed back into the chair, still fuming.

Mom held me tightly, tears streaming down her face. For the first time, she didn't hold back.

"You cheated on me while I was pregnant! You said she would never step foot in this house, and now you dare to bring her back!"

My parents' marriage was arranged, with little real affection, but life had been stable enough.

When Mom gave birth to me, she discovered that Dad had a previous girlfriend and that he'd gotten back together with her while she was pregnant.

When I turned one, that woman had a hard time giving birth to Selena. For my sake, Mom made Dad promise that Selena would never be acknowledged.

And now, Selena was walking into the house as if she belonged.

I straightened from Mom's embrace, my voice cold and hard.

"Either you kick your illegitimate daughter out, or both of you get out!"

Hayden had been silent the whole time, listening to this secret no outsider was supposed to hear. His expression stayed cold. Only after I spoke did he look at me, with a flash of displeasure in his eyes.

Hayden stood up and moved in front of Selena, who was crying, her face streaked with tears.

"Ms. Johnson, mind your words."

I looked at Hayden's displeased expression, and I suddenly recalled a memory.

The first time I met him, he had bent down with a blank expression, staring at my swollen ankle and asking if I was okay.