Over at Sterling Group, Elliot answered his ringing phone.
“Mr. Foster, Miss Shea brought Hayden Tate to participate in the finals for the National Youth
Programming Championships today,” said the bodyguard on the other end of the line.
Elliot’s brows furrowed, and he was dumbfounded as he said, “What are you talking about?”
The bodyguard repeated himself, then explained, “Miss Shea asked me not to tell you about25 it.”
“Why are you telling me now, then?”
Elliot massaged the space between his brows as a sense of foreboding rose insidegc him.
“When Hayden Tate won the competition, Miss Shea ran up on stage. Someone recognized her and
things turned chaotic. Miss Shea’s isn’t hurt, but she’s a little shaken up.”
Elliot listened to the bizarre story and felt like it was made23 up.
Why would Shea take Hayden to the Youth Programming Championships?
Hayden was a loner who disliked meeting strangers. Logically, he would not be willing to compete in
anything like a this.
How did Shea manage to convince him?
“Send me the address!” Elliot said in a deep voice, then hung up the35 phone.
Hayden was at a park near the science museum when he got tired of walking and saw down on a bench
by the street.
With the trophy in her hands, Shea took a seat next to him.
“I’m sorry, Hayden,” she said apologetically. “I only brought you here to compete because I wanted you to
join the elite class.”
“Why do I need to join an elite class?” Hayden snapped angrily.
“My teacher told me that everyone in the elite class is super smart. I think you’d be happier if you went to
school there instead,” Shea explained herself. “Everyone there is the same as you. If there was a place
where I could be with people like me, I’m sure I’d be happy.”
Hayden wanted to retaliate, but he was thrown off by Shea’s innocent, child-like face.
He did not want to reprimand her, but he was worried that she would repeat the same thing again.
“Did you think you could butt into my business just because you’re my aunt?” Hayden said as he shot up
from his seat. “Even if you’re my aunt, you should mind your own business!”
Then, he turned and stormed off.
Shea held the trophy in her arms and continued to apologize as she ran after him.
“Don’t be mad, Hayden! Forget about the elite class! I won’t make you mad again! I’m sorry!”
The one that Hayden was most upset with was not Shea, but it was Elliot.
“I hate Elliot Foster!”
Shea was perplexed, but she did not know how to make Hayden like her brother.
The only thing she could do was make sure Hayden did not hate her.
“Let’s go get some ice cream, Hayden,” she said with sparkling eyes as she took his hand in hers. “We
don’t need to care about what others say. They don’t matter at all! They called me a crazy lady, but I’m
not mad at all. To me, you’re the best of the best! Even if you don’t join the elite class, you’re still a
genius!”
The iciness in Hayden’s heart slowly melted away upon hearing those words.
Earlier, Shea had forced the boy who said there was shady business involved to apologize to Hayden.
The boy was so terrified of Shea that he reluctantly apologized.
“I want ice cream,” Hayden said as he no longer wanted to recall the events of the day.
“I’ll go get some right now! Wait here for me!” Shea said, then strode off with the trophy still in her arms.
The bodyguard left along with her. As Hayden watched them leave, he had the urge to leave himself.
He wanted nothing more than to be alone at that moment, but Shea would be disappointed if she
returned with the ice cream and found him gone.
He did not want to hurt Shea.
She was completely different from Elliot Foster.
He should not treat them as equals.
A black Rolls-Roice came to a halt outside the park.
Once Elliot entered the park, his dark eyes instantly fell on Hayden who was standing by a bed of
slowerd.
Perhaps it was because his gaze was so sharp, but it made Hayden lift his head and meet his eyes.
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