Hayden was rooted to the spot and she couldn’t come back to her senses for a while.
“I...I need to check out Stella.”
Joseph’s eyes reflected her frantic back as she scurried up the stairs. His long fingers were running
over the jade model of a mythical beast and his expression took on a kind of satisfaction that stemmed
from successfully teasing someone.
Was she really not worried about that night It sure didn’t seem like it.
In the Shanghai International Airport...
“I have landed. I am waiting for my luggage.” Alayna was hugging herself as she sneezed.
After sniffing heavily, she continued to reply her WeChat message with her voice, “Enough let’s stop
this conversation now. I see my luggage.”
On the rotating belt, a red luggage slowly inched towards her. Alayna kept her phone in her pockets
and just as she was about to pick her luggage up, another hand stretched over her shoulder and
grabbed her luggage with ease.
“You’re welcome.”
Before she could say thanks, a familiar yet annoying voice entered her ears.
Alayna swallowed her gratitude back into her stomach and let out a sigh. She glanced at a man from
the corner of her eyes and grunted, “Did I tell you to help me Why are you always around”
Kevin looked very comfortable around her as if he had already long gotten used to her snobbish and
rude attitude towards him, “It’s raining out there. Is there anyone coming to get you If not, you can get
into my car.”
“No thanks.”
Alayna glared at him before pulling her luggage away as she turned around and left.
Kevin was really always sticking himself to her as he caught up to her in no time.
“Miss Cole, if you have any misunderstanding towards me, I still think that I need to explain properly.
Do you know how greatly that incident at the airport had affected me”
Alayna continued her strides while making a call with her luggage in tow, essentially ignoring him.
“Hey, do you hear me”
Kevin jogged forward and blocked her way while dangling a phone in front of her face.
“Look.”
“Can you not be so disturbing”
Alayna lashed out with her hand and both of their phones dropped to the ground at the same time, “I
don’t have any interest in your matter at all. It doesn’t matter whether we have any misunderstanding or
not, everything has come to an end. I won’t pursue this matter for Joseph and Hayden’s sake, so
please don’t stand in my way now.”
After saying that, Alayna retrieved her phone from the ground and waved at someone afar who looked
like he was coming to get her. She broke into a small jog.
Kevin stared at her back and had a helpless expression on his bitter face.
What kind of person was she
He picked up his phone in frustration and accessed it with his fingerprints. The phone vibrated twice
and a notification about a wrong password popped up on the screen.
“Huh” Kevin exclaimed as he stared at a huge cactus image on that screen. His face became pale.
This was not his phone at all.
On the other hand, Alayna was completing her registration at the reception counter of a hotel, and the
phone in her pocket started to vibrate.
She didn’t take a look at the caller as she instantly connected the call.
“You finally pick up my call!” A shrill suddenly sounded, which caused Alayna to remove the speaker
from her ear with shock.
“Let me repeat myself, and this will be the last time. If you don’t marry me, not only we will see each
other in court, I will post that video to the web so that everyone would know that you’re a despicable
rapist. By then, don’t come crying to me once your reputation is ruined.”
“Who are you Did you call the wrong number” Alayna frowned.
“Who am I I should be the one asking you that! Where is Kevin Who is this bitch Ask Kevin to come to
the phone!”
Kevin
Alayna looked at the caller’s name Evelyn Duncan.
Her face immediately froze.
“This phone.”
Her mind went back to half an hour ago in the parking lot when both Kevin and her phone had dropped
to the ground. Could it be Did something so unlucky actually happen
--
Hayden finished her bath and when she emerged from the bathroom, Stella was soundly asleep. She
was sprawled out in the middle of the bed, taking away most of the space. She was very casual and
making herself comfortable.
Hayden shook her head helplessly as she pushed her daughter sideways, “My darling, are you
planning to let me sleep on the floor”
Stella flipped around unconsciously, still deep in her slumber but she was also muttering something.
“Daddy…”
Hayden’s hand froze in mid-air as she was trying to cover her with blanket. Her fingers couldn’t help
digging into the fabric.
This rascal must have really wanted a father in her life.
That was why she was trying so hard to pull Joseph and Hayden close to each other. She must have
been thinking about what it must felt like to have a complete family, just like the other kids.
Joseph and herself
An image of the two of them standing side to side appeared in Hayden’s mind for just a fragment of a
second. The next moment, she shook her head in jest.
How could that be possible How could she be together with Joseph
However, a flurry of images started to bombard her mind, and although she was beyond exhausted,
she found it hard to fall asleep. Her mouth felt parched and dry which caused her to lose her
sleepiness.
She had no other choice but to go downstairs to get some water.
The whole house was engulfed in darkness, and in order not to stir the maids, Hayden decided to feel
her surroundings with just her touch as she navigated her way downstairs. She was able to get a feel of
the dining table in the living room and she remembered that there was a water flask on top of it. After
pouring herself a glass of water, she helped herself with some packets of biscuits.
The dinner earlier on was really scrumptious, but she couldn’t let herself become loose during that
period of time, so she actually didn’t consume much of anything. She was really starving now that she
thought about it.
As she turned around, she felt a figure blocking her way.
“Oh my god!”
She howled, and immediately her whole frame crashed to a chair behind her. The water in her glass
was splattered to the floor with half of the contents gone.
“It’s me.” From the darkness, Joseph’s voice sounded to break the silence. He then switched on the
light in the kitchen.
“You give me a shock.” Hayden was clutching her chest as she heaved heavily while glaring at him.
“You can walk around without making any sound”
Joseph was studying her with an ambiguous look on his face.
She suddenly realized that she was a guest in another person’s house. She shouldn’t act so arrogantly
in the first place and more importantly, her actions now were that of a thief’s, seeing that she was
carrying with her a few packets of biscuits and the packaging was making a sound in her arms. Two of
the packets fell to the floor and rolled to Joseph’s feet.
“About this…” She tried to come up with something, “I am afraid that Stella would get hungry in the
middle of the night, so I want to bring some snacks up there. Is that okay for you”
Joseph’s gaze darkened.
Those were just some packets of biscuits. Did she think that he was such a petty person
The atmosphere was a little awkward, and in order to break this deadlock, Hayden faked some cough
and announced, “I’m going upstairs now.”
Before she could run way, Joseph’s hoarse voice came from behind, “I’m hungry too.”
His voice wasn’t that loud, so Hayden thought that she was hearing things. She turned around to
confirm, “What did you say”
“Do you know how to make some supper”
After confirming that she wasn’t hearing things, she still felt that the whole situation was weird.
Were they coincidentally coming down for food at the same time She recalled that Joseph had eaten a
lot during dinner.
Despite her doubts, since Joseph had stated his desire, it could lessen the awkwardness hanging in
the air too. She decided to go with the flow and make some supper, which could satisfy her hunger too.
“D...Do you have some fried noodles There should be some food we can work with in the fridge.”
Joseph nodded while pulling a chair for him to sit.
Hayden put down the biscuits and rolled her sleeves before entering the kitchen. Shortly after, she put
those utensils into use and worked up a storm.
There was a maid who was woken up by the noise and she emerged from her room. Joseph shot a
warning glance at her, which caused the maid to scurry back to her room in
fear.
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