Elliot then pushed Hayley’s hand off him and backed away, distancing himself from her while keeping
his eyes on her face. “I know I must be responsible now that I have found you.”
Meanwhile, Hayley looked like an injured kitten, pouting as the tears swam in her eyes. “Alright, I trust
you, Elliot. You’re the person whom I trust the most in this world. Therefore, all I ever want is to stay by
your side throughout my life and go nowhere else. I want to be protected and feel needed by you.”
A sympathetic Elliot patted her shoulder. “Alright, just stop crying, okay? You aren’t going to look pretty
with a tear-stained face.”
Soon, she kept her head down bashfully like a flower and set her eyes somewhere on the bushes far
away, feeling gleeful that Anastasia must have heard their conversation. At the same time, Elliot was
able to detect movements behind him with his keen hearing as he shouted, “Who is there? Show
yourself!”
Nonetheless, Anastasia had no intention to continue hiding, so she emerged from behind the bushes
with nothing to fear. When Elliot saw her, his gaze was filled with complicated emotions because he
couldn’t help but wonder whether she had heard the conversation between him and Hayley.
“Anastasia…” Hayley exclaimed.
Anastasia curled her lips and smiled glacially. “Carry on. Just pretend that I’m not here because I’m just
passing by.”
“What did Grandma tell you, Anastasia?” Hayley immediately approached Anastasia, referring to
Harriet as Grandma in an intimate manner.
“Why should I tell you?” Anastasia raised her eyebrow coldly.
“I’m just asking, so please take it easy,” Hayley responded with a brittle smile.
“Stop feigning innocence, Hayley. You and I both know what kind of person you are.” Anastasia wished
she could just unmask Hayley’s hypocrisy and expose her true nature to Elliot.
Hayley seemingly abandoned her ego and tearfully apologized, “I’m sorry, Anastasia. – If it hadn’t been
for me back then, you wouldn’t have…”.
Anastasia’s face turned pale as she coldly interrupted the lady, “Shut up! Don’t make me hate you even
more.”
After being stunned, Hayley turned to Elliot for comfort. In the meantime, he knew which incident they
were referring to and was able to tell from Anastasia’s pale face that she had experienced a
nightmarish experience that she would never want to talk about again.
“Wait for me in the parlor, Hayley. I’d like to have a word with Miss Tillman in private.” Elliot spoke to
Hayley.
Despite her reluctance to give them the opportunity to speak with each other privately, Hayley didn’t
dare to risk rubbing Elliot the wrong way, so she decided to nod obediently and walk away.,
Watching Hayley leave, Anastasia wanted to ignore him after hearing Hayley mention her one-night
stand with him. Ew! It’s disgusting to even think about it. To imagine how he was wild when he was on
top of Hayley really makes me want to puke. Soon, she began to conclude that his desire had made
him eager and desperate when she recalled how touchy-feely he tried to be with her as well. I guess
that’s why people say men never behave themselves until the day they die.
“Anastasia, Hayley told me what happened to you, but since what’s done is done, let’s just put it behind
you and move on.” Elliot watched as she walked away and comforted her.
Anastasia stopped in her tracks, knowing what Hayley was up to. Deep down, she knew Hayley would
only exaggerate her checkered past and made her story sound even more pathetic than it was to Elliot.
Therefore, she couldn’t help but wonder whether the man was showing her pity, but nonetheless, she
wasn’t about to accept his sympathy.
After all, the man, with whom she had a one-night stand, had done her mentality a great deal of harm,
but fortunately, her son’s presence managed to heal her trauma and almost made her forget what
happened that night five years ago. For that, she didn’t even bother to think about it, let alone bring it
up.
“Worry about yourself, Young Master Elliot!” Anastasia grunted.
“In that case, what can I do for you?” Elliot fixed his gaze on the lady’s pale face, his heart pounding.
“Yes, from now on, take Hayley with you and stay away from me.” She walked away as soon as she
finished her sentence.
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