Chapter 551

Thinking of the main reason I’d wanted to see Wade today, I said, “Wade, Yuna came to this game mainly to see you. This is a rare chance for you two to spend time together, so for the next few days, she’ll be with you. Take care of her—and use this time to figure out how you really feel.”

He looked a little startled. “Isn’t that… a bit inappropriate?”

It was, considering why he’d gotten close to Yuna in the first place. But right now, I didn’t have any other options. Keeping Yuna with me was too risky. The only solution was leaving her in Wade’s care.

“There’s nothing inappropriate about it. I trust you,” I said, giving him a look that let him know I meant it.

Wade’s expression softened, a little awkward, but he nodded. “Thank you for trusting me.”

I raised my coffee cup toward him, and he managed a small smile.

After a beat, I remembered Narelle’s parents. “How are her folks doing?” I asked suddenly.

“They’re okay,” he said, glancing away. “I think they’ve mostly come to terms with it… after those two years she was in a coma. But…” He hesitated. “I haven’t dared to visit them lately.”

“You’re afraid seeing you would only bring them more pain?” I guessed, hitting right on the sore spot.

“It’s more than that. They blame me. If it weren’t for me, they wouldn’t have lost their daughter.” His voice was weighed down with guilt.

I understood, but there wasn’t much I could say to ease his guilt.

“Oh, by the way, Narelle’s dad called me once, asking about you,” Wade said suddenly, like he’d just remembered.

I took a sip of my coffee. “What did he want to know?”

“He asked for your phone number and some info about your family.” Wade gave a small, bitter smile. “But I didn’t know any of it.”

Not surprising, since I’d never shared those details. But I was curious—why would Narelle’s father want information about me? Maybe they wanted to meet me because I looked so much like their daughter, hoping it might somehow ease their grief. Or maybe they just wanted answers about why we looked so similar. Honestly, I wondered the same thing myself.

“Give me their phone number and address,” I said, pulling out my phone and opening my messaging app, then sliding it over to Wade.

He smiled, clearly remembering when he’d first asked for my contact info and I’d turned him down. Now, here I was, offering it up on my own.

Wade added me as a friend and shared Narelle’s parents’ contact details. I asked him to head upstairs and get Yuna, giving them some alone time, while I stayed back at the café.

Just then, Lena tried to video call me. Since a video call wasn’t ideal here, I declined and shot her a quick message.

She replied instantly: [Not taking my video call—don’t tell me Hayden’s with you?]

Her imagination was always on overdrive. I sent back a pic of my surroundings to let her know I was just at a café, alone.

Lena shot back immediately: [Why are you hanging around that jerk again?]

I blinked in surprise. The “jerk” she meant could only be Jace. When had I even been near him?

I sent her a big question mark, still confused. She circled something in the photo I’d sent and messaged it back to me.

Zooming in, I spotted him—Jace, in the background, looking right in my direction. My head snapped up to check the spot where I’d taken the picture, but he was already gone.

So, he’d been there, seen me… but hadn’t come over. I guess those harsh words I’d left him with last time finally hit home. From now on, even if we crossed paths, we’d be nothing but strangers.

A bitter smile tugged at my lips. I lowered my head to text Lena back, not realizing someone had stepped up beside me.