Half an hour earlier, Benjamin received Freddie’s call informing him that Hayden had left the banquet
early. He wanted to check if she had reached home as he was unable to reach her on her mobile. He
also updated Benjamin on what happened during the banquet.
“Luckily Freddie and Cleveland were there to ease the situation.”
With a complicated expression, Benjamin turned and asked, “Do you think what they said are true?”
Joseph seemed to be caught in his thoughts and did not seem to listen to Benjamin's words.
“Anyway, I don’t think it’s true.”
Before waiting for a response, Benjamin answered his question. He got up from the sofa with a cup in
his hand and turned to head to his room and said, “Many things can go wrong, and if you weren’t there
to experience it, you would not be sure who how fate would make you together with.”.
Joseph didn't listen to Benjamin’s words. After the living room became quiet, he walked to the door of
the master bedroom. He was about to knock on the door, but the moment his hand fell, he stopped and
pondered for a while.
He didn't know what happened at the banquet, but it was not difficult to guess. When the farce was
happening, he was in the toilet washing his hands when he received the housekeeper's call and ran
into Belinda when he came out.
No wonder Belinda said those.
He did not even bother to ask her where she heard it.
He was annoyed thinking about the whole matter. Just last night, he promised to protect Hayden in that
complex environment yet now he is embarrassed.
After her bath, Hyden walked out while she towel-dried her hair as she looked at the door but she did
not hear any movements.
She turned over on the bed as the moonlight was shining through the curtain gap knowing it would be a
sleepless night.
The weather would drop drastically every October. Earlier today, when she got out from Kingsley's car,
she already felt the strong winter chill.
However, as compared to the physical chill, the human heart was colder.
She felt that some people's hearts are scary. Regardless of how long it has been, those people from
her past hadn’t changed. Even if you felt that they had changed, perhaps it was only because it was
just a facade and she never truly knew them.
Kingsley was still a coward, Michelle was still unscrupulous, and around them were all shamelessly
seeking personal gains.
Despite trying to bury her secret from six years ago with time, it was like a ticking bomb, waiting for the
right moment to explode.
She was unsure if Joseph knew about the accident at today's reception. If possible, she hoped that he
was unaware. For she was extremely sensitive to matters that involved what happened six years ago.
The early winter’s rain rained all night.
The next morning, when Hayden got up, it was still dark, and the weather had dropped ten degrees.
She had to put on a slightly thicker woolen jacket.
After getting ready, she initially wanted to avoid Joseph however she didn't expect to see a figure on
the sofa in the living room.
With a height of 1.87 meters, the two-seater sofa was too small for him. A pair of slender legs hung on
the armrests of the sofa, covered with only a blanket and last night’s clothes. Hayden felt cold looking
at his state.
After hesitating for a while, she walked over and shook his shoulder.
“Go back to your room and sleep.”
Joseph did not respond as if he was asleep.
“Joseph”
Hayden frowned as she poked his shoulders, “I don't have time to play with you. I'm leaving now. Go
back to your room and go to sleep.”.
He still did not respond.
Hayden was stunned for a moment and suddenly touched his forehead.
Her heart tightened.
It was burning.
It dropped by ten degrees overnight and he was only wearing such little clothes, it was of no surprise
that he wouldn’t fall ill.
Hayden woke up Benjamin to bring Joseph into the master bedroom.
By the time they were done, Benjamin was catching his breath on the carpet.
“I didn't lock the door last night. His choices are questionable. He had a bed to sleep in but chose to
sleep on the sofa. Besides, why didn’t he turn on the air conditioner?”
Benjamin shook his arm very resentfully. He was a man of endless energy. Yet, it almost took all of his
strength to bring a man with a height like Joseph from the living room to the bedroom. He felt that he
was about to break his bones.
Hayden glanced at him and tucked the quilt for Joseph, “Enough. If you ask him where to turn on the
air conditioner, he might not know. I have to go to the company later. Let him take this medicine when
he wakes up. Please help me look after him.”
Benjamin nodded and murmured, “I’ve become a nanny.”.
“What nanny, can't you just treat him as your brother?”
Hayden casually said it but she did not notice the tightening of Benjamin's expression as he was looked
towards Joseph with a complex look.
After the door was closed in the living room, the house was silent.
Benjamin got up from the carpet and stood straight. He was very tall and started condescendingly at
Joseph.
A vibration came from the pocket that pulled him back from his thoughts.
“Hello? Mom”
He said quietly as he made his way out of the bedroom.
“I have things on in school. I won't go back until the winter vacation is over.”
There was a very gentle female voice on the other end of the phone, “You haven't been back for more
than half a year. I couldn't reach you on the phone for two months. What were you doing? I asked your
teacher. You haven’t been in school often.”.
“Doing research outside.”
Benjamin lied without batting an eye, “Although I am on a successive master-doctoral program, I still
need to write my thesis. Otherwise, it will not be easy to graduate in the future since I’ll be going abroad
for further studies next year. I don’t feel at ease if I don’t complete my thesis before heading over.”.
“You always use your papers to prevaricate me each time I talk about going home. Fine, I’ll stop
talking. If you want to stay outside, just do as you please. I shall not care about you.”
“Mom, do you miss me?”
Benjamin's tone softened, with a rare coquettish attitude, “If you miss me, I will go back tomorrow.”.
“No need, who wants you back. Didn't you say last time that there was a girl you liked? I just want you
to bring her back during winter vacation.”
When it came to this, Benjamin’s tone became more apprehensive, “I'm afraid this is a little difficult.
She doesn’t fancy me and is already attached.”.
There was a pause on the phone, “Yeah, not only are you sloppy, but you also can't coax girls. It won’t
be strange that girls do not fancy you.”.
“Mom,” Benjamin was speechless, “Am I your child?”.
“I picked you up.”
“...”
After a usual mother-child daily conversation, Benjamin looked back to the door of the master bedroom,
and cautiously asked, “Mom, do you want to come to Nanking for the New Year?”.
“Why are you suddenly talking about this? I don't want to go. Didn't I say it before?”
“Then, don't you want to meet him either?”
“...”
“I met him.”
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