Chapter 626: Prepare for My Departure
Alan’s POV:
Hearing Hayley’s firm refusal struck me with a sharp pain. She was my daughter, after all, and the connection between us ran deep. My wolf inside stirred, unsettled by her resistance, feeling both uneasy and agitated.
But despite the sting, I understood her hesitation. Coming to terms with her true origins was never easy, especially for someone who had lived a different life for so long. I could give her time, let her adjust in her own way, without pushing her further.
I didn’t try to change her mind. Instead, I decided to leave quietly and prepare for my departure.
Virginia, however, was still reluctant to leave. She nervously twisted her hands, looking at Hayley with a pleading expression, her voice full of concern.
“Michelle, if you’re not going back, let me stay here with you for a while. Your dad’s completely out of line, and he won’t send Freya away. I really don’t want to go back to that house.”
Hayley simply responded with a disinterested hum, her tone distant.
I felt some relief seeing that at least their relationship seemed stable for the moment. With that, I left the house and got into the car.
Once inside, I pulled out my phone, and the first thing that caught my eye was a photo of Irving and Hayley in bed together. My grip tightened on the phone as my fist clenched.
Hayley was engaged to Benjamin. If that photo ever got out, Benjamin, as the Alpha of the Midnight Pack, would have little to worry about. No one would dare challenge him. But for my daughter, Hayley, the humiliation would be unbearable.
What troubled me more, however, was the timing. If someone with that photo caused trouble during the ceremony when we officially accepted Hayley back into the Sanders, it could ruin everything.
There had been similar photos before, but they were blurry and lacked concrete proof. This time, however, it was clear.
The only solution was to break off the engagement between Benjamin and Hayley. If we did that, even if the photo leaked, we could claim it was a mutual, free-willed relationship. Once the storm passed, we could issue a public statement to minimize the damage.
With that thought, I immediately called Benjamin.
Benjamin’s POV:
I was reviewing some wedding plans when I noticed Alan’s name flashing on the screen. I picked up the phone almost immediately.
“Mr. Sander, we still have a week before the wedding, don’t we?” I said, confused by the timing.
I didn’t understand what he meant. My heart sank at his words.
A surge of anger rushed through me, and for a moment, I wanted to let Lawrence handle it, deal with Alan directly and settle it with force.
Alan paused for a moment, then continued, his voice less sure this time. “Irving is a Southwell. He and Hayley…”
“They’re involved with each other, so she can’t marry either of you. As her father, I have to protect her from harm.”
My teeth ground together as I clenched the phone, trying to stay calm. I covered the receiver and called out to my office staff. “Pause everything for 15 minutes. Everyone out!”
Within a minute, the office was completely empty.
Once the room was quiet, I finally responded. “Are you talking about the photos of Irving and Hayley?”
Alan didn’t hesitate. “Since you know about them, there’s no point in pretending it’s not true.”
“Once the truth about your brother and Hayley comes out, the only one who will suffer is Hayley.”
“If you’re a man, you’ll call off the engagement,” he demanded.
I couldn’t contain my frustration any longer. “No way,” I snapped, my voice rising. “I will marry Hayley!”
“Are you choosing to oppose me?” Alan’s voice turned icy, his tone full of threat.
“You think just because you’ve made some money with Yarbrough Pharmaceuticals and the stock market, you can stand up to me?”
“Even though you’re the Alpha of the Midnight Pack, don’t forget—my family controls multiple territories, some of which are just as large as Midnight Pack!”
I scoffed at his threats, a bitter laugh escaping me. With a sharp edge to my voice, I responded, “You may be Hayley’s biological father, but I’m not going after you. However, anyone who tries to stop me from being with Hayley is my enemy!”