“Don’t regret it.” Joseph Beckham raised his brow and called Magnus James, “Cancel all my work for
this week. Additionally, you let a few trustworthy people to keep an eye on the remodelling of Hayden’s
company. And don’t contact me if there’s nothing serious in the next two days.”
Hayden Downey was bewildered hearing his words in the car.
Joseph, a workaholic, would put off a whole week’s work just because of a joke she made?
She had been to the president’s office of the ST Group, where the documents were sent in
continuously. Joseph’s desk would already be stacked with papers for being absent from work for half-
day, not to mention the whole week!
“Ms. Downey, how much will you pay for the escort fee?”
Hayden then came back to her senses after hearing his words and said calmly, “At the market price?”
“That’s too low. The nurses don’t warm bed for you.”
Hayden’s mouth twitched, “Who wants you to warm up the bed?”
She seriously suspected that Joseph behaving like this was aiming at her.
Joseph kept a straight face as he said, “Then it’s a free gift. Purchasing an escort that comes with
accompanying.”
Who wanted his free gift?
Hayden was shaking her sides with laughing!
It was already dark after having a medical examination at the best hospital in the city centre. Hayden
was pressing the cotton swab on her arm, feeling melancholy.
She had done an emergency treatment for a burn in the countryside, but still worried about germ
infection. She even had a complete body check-up and a blood test too.
“The wound dressing is quite ragged, but it’s not too bad. You can go back after changing the dressing
and as for the blood test result, you can come to take it next week.”
After collecting the medications prescribed by the doctor, they left the hospital.
The black business car shuttled through the heavy traffic. Nanking’s bustling prosperity and the
quaintness of Sea View Town seemed to form a contrast of time and space, creating a subtle affection
in Hayden’s mind.
“It’s late already. Are you still going to visit Alayna?”
“Sure.” Hayden nodded, “She told me before that she spends most of the time sleeping when she is
sick. So there’s not much difference between day and night for her. I’ll pay a visit to her, and you... have
a talk with Kevin then.”
No need to force himself if he couldn’t bear such a turning point in life.
Joseph knew what she meant and nodded, “I’ll tell him the reality but it’s up to him to make his choice.
Do you still have any words for me to pass it on to him?”
“No need.” Hayden shook her head, “I’ll talk about it when you guys are done.”
“Sure.”
When Alayna Cole fell ill, Kevin Jackman took her to the hospital for a medical examination and
dispensed some ointment for the wound. After giving a consultation, the psychiatrist recommended
hospitalization, but Kevin rejected it as he had observed the psychiatric hospital environment once. He
couldn’t bear it to let Alayna staying with those people together.
So, Alayna was now staying with Kevin in his apartment.
Kevin quitted his job at the ST Group and spent all of his time accompanying Alayna.
As the door was opened, Hayden saw a bearded face. If it weren’t for her to see Kevin’s unkempt
appearance before, she would really be shocked at the moment.
“I’m sorry.”
Kevin seemed to be in good form. As he saw Hayden staring surprisingly at himself, he touched his
chin stubble embarrassedly and explained, “I’ve dismantled and thrown away all the things with blades
in the house. So I didn’t deal with it. Come in.”
There was a depressed person in the house who would have suicidal tendencies at any time. It was
indeed necessary for Kevin to be vigilant all the time.
“Is she asleep?”
Hayden entered the house and looked in the direction of the master bedroom.
Kevin shook his head, “Nope. She’s watching TV inside. Go in to check on her.”
“Sure.”
Hayden went straight into the bedroom, leaving the two in the living room.
She believed that Joseph would take the worst-case scenario into consideration and tell Kevin that their
chances would be slim. Not to mention whether he could bear the life of a depressed person, as well as
whether his parents could accept Alayna’s existence too. This was a severe issue.
He might not be capable of convincing his parents.
Hayden cleared up her mind as she closed the door. And she observed the one huddling up on the
bed.
Hayden seemed to not noticing before that Alayna was skinny. And when she curled up, she just
looked like a helpless animal, feeling insecure.
She was watching the Disney princess anime playing on the tablet on a stand in front of her intently.
There was only innocence left in her eyes which used to be sharp back then.
Hayden’s heart was melted and flustered, seeing that look on Alayna.
Anyone who saw such a look would be touched too. Not to mention Kevin, who was deeply in love with
her, and a man who insisted on marrying her previously.
“Alayna.”
Hayden spoke in a low voice for not startling her.
The one cowering on the bed suddenly pulled the quilt up, burying her entire face in it. After a long
time, she then slowly revealed her pair of eyes.
She seemed to be puzzled and confused.
Hayden stood still and tried to explain, “Don’t you recognize me? Alayna, I’m Hayden. Hayden Downey,
Stella’s mother.”
Alayna felt confused, and she seemed to have recognized her after a long time, nodding hesitantly.
She uttered in a hoarse voice, “Hayden.”
“Yes. It’s Hayden.”
Hayden nodded gratefully. After hesitating for a while, she pointed at the tablet and asked, “Are you
watching Snow White? Can I watch it with you?”
Alayna’s reaction seemed to be very slow. She thought for a long time before she nodded and spat out
a word, “Yes.”
In the movie, Snow White had just received the poisonous apple from the evil stepmother who was a
witch. And this was the climax of the movie.
“You plan to live your life like this?”
Joseph’s icy voice sounded in the living room.
Kevin, who was across the table, gave a laugh, “What’s wrong with that? Didn’t you guys think that I’m
always drifting, surrounded by so many women? I have the only one now. And I’ve deleted the others’
contact.”
“I won’t oppose any of your decisions. But before this, as a friend, I need to tell you what you will face
in the future. Will you listen to me?”
Joseph’s words were excessively calm, breaking up the relaxed atmosphere that Kevin was trying to
create.
Kevin knew that he couldn’t avoid it. He scratched his head, sighing.
“Fine. Say whatever you want. I’ve already made my choice anyway.”
“Since now you think that you’re strong-willed and everything can last forever, it’s impossible for me to
advise you to let go from your own perspective. But let me ask you. Have you mention this to your
parents?”
Joseph came straight to the point at the beginning.
Apparently, Kevin had thought of this question before. But he frowned when being questioned, “Let just
keep it secret first until the right timing.”
“When is the right timing then?”
Joseph pursued questioning, “Or do you plan to wait until Alayna sobers up?”
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