“Don’t worry. You can trust me. Franklin won’t make it after his drug trafficking is reported to the
leadership.”
Stefan’s voice sounded confident from the phone.
Joseph nodded while thinking,
“Take care of yourself.”
“I am fine. Don’t you forget that I am accompanied by the strongest and bravest soldiers? I believe that
we can carry out our plan successfully.”
After hanging up the phone, Joseph looked at a pile of materials on the desk with a cold and stony
face.
Those materials recorded tons of Franklin’s evil deeds during the past years although he was not in a
senior job in the ST Group.
“Master,” A servant knocked at the door, “Ms. Downey has arrived with her family. And she is talking
with Mr. Beckham. Would you like to have dinner now or later?”
Joseph nodded,
“Now, please.”
Then he left the kitchen and walked towards the foreyard. At the gate, he could hear the conversation.
“Before she was brought up by the Downey family, Hayden spent her childhood in our family, whom
actually we treat as our own child.”
It’s Hayden’s uncle, Nathan that was talking.
Hayden hadn’t had a future plan until Joseph had a heart-to-heart talk of frankness with her. Therefore,
she agreed to Joseph’s grandpa’s request that her family members came here to meet the Beckham’s.
They had the dinner at the Beckham’s dwelling house for Nathan’s identity didn’t allow him to appear
publicly, which was consented by Nathan and his wife.
Joseph’s grandpa said briskly,
“That’s right. The two kids nearly share their life experience. You know, Joseph was raised up by me
because his parents were too busy in the past. So naturally he might be reclusive and taciturn. And I
remember he has never been fond of a girl except Hayden. I can tell that he really loves her. And I like
her, too, so it will be great if they get married.”
Hayden was sitting silently beside her aunt. There’s no need for her to talk much and all she had to do
was to be an audience of the elders.
Apparently, her aunt was not satisfied with the Beckham family, who kept a poker face and seemed to
neglect the enthusiastic old man after she entered the house.
When restless, Hayden noticed Joseph at the gate and stood up promptly.
“Joseph.”
Now the conversation was interrupted and everyone’s attention was drawn to Joseph.
“Oh, you are here.” Mr. Beckham beckoned to him, groaning, “Come on. Why are you so late? We
have waited for you for a long while.”
keeping quiet, Joseph chose the position beside Mr. Beckham, where he could face Hayden. Between
them was a long tea table made of rose wood.
Noticing the hint from Hayden who was tipping him a wink, he frowned,
“Why not call the children here now since the dinner is being prepared in the kitchen?”
It’s longest sentence that he could say because he was not good at livening things up.
However, Hayden’s aunt gave him a cold expression,
“Just take time. Don’t you know how to take care of a child? If they are here before the dinner, it’s
difficult for them to stay obedient. And they will become even naughtier at the dinner time.”
Joseph failed to rely.
The atmosphere there seemed to vibrate with tensions.
Hayden suddenly said, “My dear auntie, both Stella and Noah are not naughty.”
“Oh no,” her aunt looked at her seriously, “It’s said that only those who are naughty and energetic in the
childhood can grow up to be intelligent. I remember that they were vigorous while in my house, but how
could they become so quiet here? Oh I guess it must be rife with creeds and rules here so that my
lovely kids are reserved. ”
Hearing this, Mr. Beckham was unpleased,
“But I have to say, people need rules. Joseph obeyed the family rules when he was a child. Now his
kids who are around six must be tamed.”
“Well, I am afraid you are wrong, my dear Mr. Beckham.” Hayden’s aunt looked at his eyes with
confidence.
“As you know, Joseph was brought up by you, who, however, now appeared too quiet. Besides, Stella
has been educated in a foreign country so I think that your theory of rearing cannot be applied on her.
And I guess she needs to return to our house, for some leisure.”
It’s obvious that she, who tried to be polite before, now intended to agitate Joseph’s grandfather.
But she failed. Although his countenance was changed into an expression of annoyance, Mr. Beckham
didn’t respond to her provocation.
At this moment, a servant from the kitchen came to inform them that the dinner was ready, which eased
the tension of their conversation.
Before having the meal, Hayden took her aunt aside,
“My dear auntie, what are you doing? We all became embarrassed. Now tell me, why did you want to
take Stella away from this family.”
“You are too young, homey.”
Her aunt pointed to her forehead,
“Before you are married, you’d better keep the distance from their family, and so had Stella, especially.
I mean, in these days, you are the best one to take care of Stella in order that she will not be
considered to be redundant. If you are too busy, I can take the responsibility for you.”
Hayden was amused, “So you are afraid that I will be looked down upon by their family because of
Stella?”
“No, how dare they? Joseph is also a father with a child.”
Hayden understood that all her aunt did was for her so she was grateful.
Then she leaned on her aunt’s shoulder affectionately.
“So you see, it’s fair between me and Joseph. I hope you won’t be picky to them.”
“Oh you now are actually a member of the Beckham’s, don’t you?” Her aunt pinched her cheek slightly
and said,
“If I am not so picky, you mother won’t be happy to watch you bullied by them.”
Hearing this, Hayden looked at the starry sky.
“No. they won’t do that to me. And I am sure that she is satisfied by my decision.”
She and Joseph together had suffered a lot in the past years so that it seemed like a miracle to get
married with each other after the departure six years ago. She also had planned to tell the whole thing
to Joseph some time.
At the dinner, her aunt looked nicer because of Hayden’s persuasion. Or maybe the two children’s
happiness affected her as well as the others at the table.
After dinner, Stella, playing and running around the table, asked suddenly after overhearing their talk.
“Is my mom going to marry Joseph?”
Hayden’s aunt looked at Stella mildly, answering in a gentle tone,
“Yes. Are you happy with that?”
“It’s just not bad.” Stella slid Joseph’s a sideway glance on purpose, “My mom is so charming that
many gentlemen are fond of her. If Joseph wants to marry her, he must perform well enough.”
Joseph asked Noah for help at once by give him a look, hoping that Noah would come up with a
solution for him.
Noah understood what Joseph meant, so he held Hayden’s hand seriously,
“She’s right. Mom, you should consider it caaarefully.”
Joseph was awkward and sad as if he had an ungrateful son.
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