Chapter 140
Based on Hayden's reaction, Marlon believed a divorce was impossible. Yvonne's pregnancy further complicated matters, fueling Marlon's anxieties about the already fraught relationship between the two men. Richard was speechless, unable to interject. Hayden's volatile moods made his intentions unpredictable, leaving Richard at a loss. Marlon, receiving no satisfactory answer, simply straightened his clothes and departed without a backward glance.
Richard, recovering quickly, pursued him. "Mr. Warner, what about your injury? Tell Hayden, if anything happens to Yvonne, I won't spare him!" Richard froze, hesitant to deliver such a threat. Yet, Marlon's outburst left him wondering if Hayden would prioritize Yvonne.
Once the commotion subsided, Joanna called. The sight of her name triggered a headache. Reluctantly, Richard answered. "Richard, where's Hayden? Why didn't he answer my call?" Joanna sobbed. Richard, his face etched with helplessness, replied, "Ms. Charlotte, you are now Mr. Swanson's girlfriend; please stop contacting Mr. Parker. He wasn't present last night and is unclear on the events, but his unreturned calls speak volumes."
"No! I have nothing to do with Zachary! Give the phone to Hayden, I'll tell him!" Joanna's voice rose with anxiety. She'd been calling all night without success. Richard ended the call, only to mute it when she called again.
Returning to the ward, he found it unusually quiet. He knocked, announcing Marlon's departure. The silence broke. Yasir was the first to rise, concerned for Hayden's well-being and the need for further medical attention.
Chapter 110
Hayden stood before the window, hands clasped behind his back, gazing at the sky. Turning at Yasir's words, he stated simply, "I'm fine." Marlon's departure had spurred him to seek Yvonne; her afternoon expression had lingered in his mind. Yasir, aware of Hayden's temperament, wisely refrained from further prodding.
At the door, Richard intercepted them. "Mr. Parker, Ms. Charlotte called, looking for you." Hayden's brow furrowed slightly. "What is Zachary doing?" Richard, taken aback, stammered, "Mr. Swanson? I don't know..." Hayden's curt reply cut him short: "Tell him to take care of his own woman." He then walked away, leaving Richard and Yasir behind. Yasir commented on Hayden's cold indifference toward Joanna, a stark contrast to his former devotion. Richard, embarrassed and speechless, could only listen. Yasir pressed him for details of his conversation with Marlon, expressing his newfound alignment with Richard's interests. Richard, finally convinced of the lack of risk, relayed Marlon's final two sentences. Yasir's frown deepened upon hearing them. "Fuck, Hayden's got a rival," he muttered.
Joanna wept after Richard’s call, Sophia attempting to comfort her for hours before losing patience. Joanna’s insistence on Hayden, despite her involvement with Zachary, only intensified Sophia's frustration. Sophia's blunt reminder of Joanna's infidelity was met with a sudden shift in Joanna's demeanor. She revealed that Hayden knew she hadn't been his caretaker abroad, recalling a piano piece that had roused him from his coma, a detail that fueled her distress at losing him.
Sophia's shock at this revelation was palpable, prompting Joanna's admission of forgetfulness amid the events of the previous night. Sophia pressed for the identity of Hayden's actual caretaker, which Joanna could not provide. Joanna’s worry focused on Yvonne's perceived triumph, culminating in a desperate plea for advice. Sophia, though initially dismissive, offered strategic counsel focusing on undermining Yvonne's advantage, culminating in a chilling suggestion. Joanna’s immediate reaction revealed a darker side, a thirst for revenge aimed at Yvonne rather than reconciliation with Hayden.