Chapter 100

“Oh? He didn’t step in to help Joanna?” Marlon asked, surprise evident in his voice. After all, everyone had said Hayden was so fond of Joanna that he wouldn't let her lose.

I paused, then sighed. “I didn’t expect that either. Maybe he helped in ways we don’t know about.”

“So, what exactly do you want?” Marlon pressed, his expression a mixture of confusion and disbelief.

I lowered my gaze. After a long pause, I replied, “I don’t know.” Everything that had happened was completely unexpected.

A moment later, I looked up. “I heard the Warner family has quite a few business ventures abroad?” Just as he’d investigated my background, I needed to learn about him, especially given his seemingly strong overseas connections.

“Yeah. Why? Are you interested?” Marlon raised an eyebrow. “Didn’t you say you wanted to develop something in Elysiumville?”

Initially, that had been my plan, but my father’s growing hostility made me worry I wouldn't be able to settle there.

“Aren’t the overseas markets doing well? If I sell my stocks, funds, and real estate, and head abroad with sixty million dollars to start a business, I could turn that into a hundred million in a few years, right?” I said, half-joking. Everyone knew how hard it was to make money, but dreaming wasn't a crime.

To my surprise, Marlon didn’t dismiss it as wishful thinking. Instead, he asked seriously, “You want to develop your business overseas?”

“Well, it wouldn’t hurt,” I replied with a smile.

“Okay. I’ll go with you,” he said firmly, without hesitation.

I froze, staring at him. “You’re going to help me?”

“I need to check on the Warner family’s business abroad anyway. With me around, your career will go smoother,” Marlon nodded. He was always so direct with me. I felt suddenly awkward. “Why are you helping me like this?”

Marlon turned, smiling. “I helped you pay for the Jackson Group shares, right? If you don’t start making money soon, when are you going to pay me back?”

Under the light, his smile was soft, his eyes sparkling with something I couldn't quite decipher. Even though he said that, I knew there was more to it. The deeper meaning was something I couldn’t quite grasp.

Seeing I didn’t respond, he chuckled. “Let’s go. We should head back. You’ve got a big match tomorrow.”

I nodded. Tomorrow was the final day of my bet with Zachary. The winner and the lover would soon be revealed.

The night was misty, and after driving for a while, Yasir felt the car was too quiet. They sat, not saying a word, each occupied with their own thoughts. It was better than an awkward conversation. Yasir wasn't the type to stay quiet for long, especially tonight, with his mind full of questions.

12:40 PM

Chapter 100

Lucy was my best friend, probably the person who knew me best. It would be a waste not to glean some information.

“Oh, well,” Yasir cleared his throat, his hand tightening on the steering wheel as he shifted uncomfortably. “Is it cold? Do you want me to turn up the AC?”

If Nevin were in the backseat, he would have mocked Yasir’s awkward attempt at conversation. “You still call yourself the heartthrob king? I bet it’s all for show,” he would have sneered. When Yasir was having fun, he was smooth and in control. But when serious, he felt so strange.

“No need,” Lucy replied flatly. She was busy managing the wealthy ticketless causing a scene. She didn’t have time for his attempts at conversation. Besides, she’d always disliked Yasir, suspecting him of being one of Hayden’s spies.

Yasir froze, his embarrassment so intense he thought his scalp might explode. Damn it. So many beautiful women are interested in me, yet Lucy seems to have zero regard, he thought.

Taking a deep breath, he stubbornly pressed on. “Is Yvonne angry with Mr. Parker? She’s been so distant lately.”

Lucy might not care about other things, but when it came to Yvonne, she never missed a detail. “Angry? Hmph, men think too highly of themselves. Yvonne has finally woken up. She really doesn’t love Hayden anymore.”

“How can that be? Yvonne used to—” Yasir tried to argue, but Lucy tossed her phone aside and dove into the conversation. “Used to?”

“That was ten years ago! She couldn’t warm that bastard’s heart after all this time. Does she really want to waste her whole life on him?”

Bastard? Only Lucy would dare call him that, he wondered.

“Actually,” Yasir began to explain.

“Yasir, let me ask you something,” Lucy interrupted. “If you were in her shoes, chasing a woman for ten years and she still didn’t love you, would you keep going?”

“Probably not,” Yasir answered awkwardly. Given his nature, if he didn’t get any feedback after a week, he would have moved on. Lucy actually had a lot of perseverance.

Lucy continued, “And then there’s Joanna. How is she better than Yvonne? She’s not even as good-looking, her figure isn’t either. All she has are cheap tricks to seduce him. Hayden must be blind.”

“I heard from Nevin that Joanna took care of Mr. Parker once…” Yasir tried to defend Hayden. Although he knew Hayden’s actions were excessive, he was his friend and had to defend him.

She roared, “Took care of him! It’s not a big deal. Yvonne even flew abroad to take care of that piece of trash. She missed her own mother’s funeral for him! Because of that, she wanders in her sleep, can’t eat, and lost so much weight. Did Hayden ever feel the slightest bit of pity?”

Lucy couldn’t hold it in anymore. She ranted about Hayden’s cheating and his excuses; she found it disgusting.

After Lucy finished venting, Yasir’s mind was overwhelmed. He slammed the brakes, pulling over to the side of the road. The screeching tires pierced Lucy’s eardrums.

12:40 PM

Chapter 100

Before she could react, her body lurched forward due to the sudden stop. Thankfully, her seatbelt prevented her from hitting the windshield. Once she regained her balance, Lucy snapped, “Are you crazy! What’s wrong with you? Slamming on the brakes like that! If anything happened to me, my parents and brother will make sure you regret it.”

She’d never seen anyone drive so recklessly. Sure enough, like attracts like; Hayden’s friends were just as insane.

Yasir didn’t have time for her complaints. He fixed his gaze on her and asked, “And you just said Yvonne flew abroad to take care of Mr. Parker! Was that this year?”