Chapter 178: Without Any Hesitation
Hayley’s POV:
He respectfully explained, “Ms. Carson, Alpha is in a meeting and can’t pick you up. You may need to take a taxi home.”
I pressed my lips together. “That’s fine, I’ll go back on my own.”
Though I said that, after hanging up, an inexplicable sense of disappointment welled up inside me. I glanced around and saw no familiar faces near me. Sol decided to hand control of my body over and quickly flash back home.
But at that moment, a flashy Porsche screeched to a halt before me. The window rolled down, revealing Henry’s alluring face. “Boss, get in!”
A wave of relief washed over me instantly—I was glad I hadn’t let Hera out just now. Otherwise, my true identity would have been exposed. I glanced up at him, stowed my phone away without hesitation, and opened the door to get in.
“Boss, Ben messaged me earlier to say he couldn’t make it today to pick you up, so he asked me to take you home. Since I happen to have something to discuss with you, that’s why I’m here,” Henry said with a cheerful expression. He seemed to be in a great mood, humming a tune as he spoke.
I didn’t pay much attention to his words. Instead, I lowered my head and opened my laptop to work on Shadow Pack matters. After a while, I looked up and realized that the road ahead wasn’t the one leading home. I gave him a questioning look. “Where are we going?”
Henry chuckled. “You’ll find out soon enough.” He seemed unusually secretive today. Still, I didn’t ask further questions until he brought me to a library.
“Why are we here?” I asked curiously.
Henry scratched the back of his head awkwardly. “Well, Boss, it’s to do homework, of course.”
“This is a library owned by the Southwell Group. It’s not open to the public. I only found out about it because Ben mentioned it. Now, let’s dive into the sea of knowledge and get completely absorbed,” Henry announced with enthusiasm.
I was surprised to see Henry so eager to improve himself. We stepped into the massive library, which spanned seven floors inside and out. The books were meticulously organized into categories.
Their gazes shifted to me with evident confusion. They probably wondered why Henry treated me—an Omega—with such politeness. Henry waved them off casually. “It’s fine, carry on with your work. We’re just here to get some homework done.” The staff withdrew quietly after hearing this.
As we entered, I was immediately captivated by the bookshelves. “Henry, work on your homework while I explore a bit,” I told him. Henry replied, “Sure, go ahead! If I need help, I’ll let you know.”
I browsed the shelves, marveling at the comprehensive selection of books, including many rare and out-of-print titles. This wasn’t just a treasure trove of knowledge; it was a paradise for book lovers. My attention was drawn to an ancient, thick volume. I took it off the shelf and began leafing through it.
Before I knew it, the sky had turned dark, and I was still engrossed in the book. It wasn’t until Henry showed up and reminded me, “Boss, so this is where you’ve been. It’s getting late—let’s head back.”
That brought me back to my senses. Glancing at the time, I was shocked to see it was already 7 PM. “Come on, Hayley! Let’s get back to Benjamin!” Restless from being apart from Benjamin all day, Hera urged me impatiently.
Reluctantly, I marked my place in the book and returned it to the shelf. “Are we coming back here tomorrow?” I asked as I turned to Henry. He smiled knowingly and nodded. “Absolutely.”
“I’ve realized that studying here clears my mind, almost as if the books themselves inspire me.”
I couldn’t help but laugh. “Who would’ve thought you’d fall in love with studying someday?”
“Not me,” Henry chuckled. “Right now, studying feels more appealing than finding my destined mate.”
“Let’s head back. We’ll come again tomorrow.” I patted his shoulder and walked ahead. Even as I turned away, I caught the intensity in his gaze from the corner of my eye. I didn’t think much of it and left the library. Henry went to fetch the car, and soon, we drove back to the Southwells’ Residence. By the time we arrived, it was already quite late.
Walking side by side, Henry and I chatted and laughed as we approached the door, but suddenly, Hera’s reaction grew intense. Looking up, I found Benjamin’s sharp eyes fixed on me.