Chapter 104
The maids on duty were startled by Mr. Parker's furious demeanor. They knew he was cold and aloof, but this was unexpected. "Mrs. Parker… Mrs. Parker is sleeping on the second floor," a maid stammered. They were unsure how she had angered him and hoped they wouldn't witness a fight.
After receiving the answer, Hayden hurried upstairs. The remaining maids looked pale. "The old lady is gone, and what are we going to do now? Even Rita isn't here…" Silence fell as they anxiously watched the upstairs.
Hayden reached the master bedroom door. Moments before seething with anger, he now stood frozen, unable to bring himself to knock. Yvonne was inside. He didn't know how to face her. He'd been eager to confirm her absence and her sudden departure, but now he hesitated. He wanted to understand Joanna's presence, and whether it was truly her. He grappled with why Yvonne's attitude had changed so quickly, wondering if she no longer loved him. He dared not think further. The woman who had always revolved around him had stopped paying attention—a loss and emptiness only he knew. He'd always been in charge, making million-dollar decisions, but now, things were different. He hesitated at the door. He didn't know what he feared.
After a long moment, the door clicked open. "I just took a nap and was thirsty," Yvonne said, startled to find Hayden there. "What are you doing here?"
Surprise flickered in Hayden's eyes, quickly replaced by his usual calm. "Did you go abroad a couple of months ago? What did you go for?" he asked, pausing between each word. His question left her frozen. She wondered why he was asking about something from two months prior. His voice turned cold, almost a growl. "You looked after me? Why didn't you tell me?" He seemed a caged beast, angry and agitated. Her eyes trembled.
She thought, So he found out. "Why should I tell you? To show off? Hayden, I'm pretty self-aware," she replied, attempting to move past him. He grabbed her wrist, pinning her against the wall. The cold wall contrasted sharply with his burning heat.
"Let me go! Have you lost it?" she demanded.
"Yes. You've driven me crazy," he retorted through clenched teeth, his face close to hers. His nose brushed hers deliberately. The closeness ignited the air. "When did I drive you crazy? Did you mess up your meds?" she struggled. Her strength was no match for his. He looked disturbed. "Yvonne… did you drug the coffee you gave me?" he asked.
The word "coffee" triggered overwhelming memories. A chill swept through her. "I didn't. It was Joanna's coffee, and I gave it to you by mistake. I know you barely believe the truth," she said, gritting her teeth.
Hayden was stunned. She watched his expression shift from surprise to a deep frown. He then asked, "Did you neutralize the drug while taking me to the hospital?"
They had never spoken so openly. She clenched her fists, wanting no more misunderstandings. "I wasn't voluntary. At that time, you…" she didn't finish, biting her lip until it bled. His eyes were red, devoid of reason. She hadn't spoken much about it afterward, hiding her shame and disgust. Her vision blurred. "I asked you afterward. Why did you deny it?" His voice trembled.
She laughed, a cold, icy laugh. "You think this is something worth boasting about?"
His face went rigid, his breathing labored.
Chapter 101 (partial)
"Why did you help me?" he asked again.
"I'll say it again. I didn't do it voluntarily. You forced me. Hayden, I've been clinging to you for ten years. Didn't you hate me? Consider this payback. From now on, I owe you nothing," she said, releasing all her pent-up emotions. After yelling, she shoved him aside and ran downstairs. The commotion must have been loud, as maids gathered at the stairway. Startled by her sudden appearance, they awkwardly moved aside. She ran to the bar, unable to suppress her anger. She craved alcohol. She grabbed several bottles of whiskey, pouring them into a glass. The strong smell filled the air. She took a large gulp. The burn seared from her throat to her heart, making her cough uncontrollably. Much later, Dylan told her that drinking whiskey like that could be lethal, but at the time, she didn't care.