Chapter 151

Lucy, her hands cupping her cheeks, eyes and brows crinkling with smiles, confessed, "We're just ordinary friends. I don't dislike him, that's all..." She'd only recently realized her feelings, unsure of their depth. Yasir hadn't expressed any interest, so she kept her feelings private. Since Yasir and Hayden were close, she thought she could ask Hayden about him. Though she no longer loved Hayden, communication remained possible.

Lucy took my arm, pouting. "Yvonne, what do you think of Yasir?"

"Should I ask for you?" I teased.

Her face flushed crimson. She playfully punched me. "Yvonne! If you ask him, I'll never face him again!"

"Of course you will! You like him and want to know if he feels the same. Without asking, you'll only guess," I said, poking her temple.

"But you can't ask directly...what if he doesn't like me? It would be so embarrassing!" Her usual carefree demeanor was replaced with shyness. It seemed she had truly fallen for him.

Smiling softly, I said, "I'll ask Hayden for you. They've been inseparable; he must know something."

"Okay!" Her excitement faltered. Hesitantly, she added, "But that jerk..."

"We're divorcing, not becoming enemies," I said, unconcerned. Lucy had been like family, and I owed her this. "Yvonne..." she hugged me, distressed.

I patted her back, feeling at ease, oblivious to a pair of hawk-like eyes watching from the second floor.

Yasir raced upstairs, spotting Hayden from afar. "I've been looking for you! Why are you hiding alone?"

Hayden remained silent, unmoving. Nevin had been dismissed, offering Hayden a rare moment of peace, but Yasir had found him again. Yasir approached quickly. Seeing Hayden's silence, he followed his gaze, eyebrows twitching.

"Your wife is about to sell you out," he said.

"Sell me out?" Hayden finally turned. "What do you mean?"

Yasir recounted what he'd witnessed. "I told you to treat her better! Now she's selling your shares to Zachary! Isn't she trying to destroy you?"

Hayden's expression was cold as he regarded me, yet emotionless. "She hasn't sold them yet. Why are you so worried?" His lips barely moved.

"Zachary will be even more arrogant with two percent more shares! Why aren't you reacting?" Yasir's anxiety mounted, contrasting Hayden's calm. Hayden's finger tapped rhythmically on the railing.

"So she went to Zachary for help," he observed.

"What?" Yasir was confused. "What are you talking about?"

Hayden's face darkened. "She didn't ask me for help."

It took Yasir a moment to grasp this. He pinched his brow, near frantic. "Why are you concerned about who she asked? Your shares are being sold!"

"So be it," Hayden replied calmly, his dark eyes unreadable. "I promised her she could do whatever she wanted with the shares."

Yasir was aghast. "You're crazy! How can you give away two percent of the shares like this?"

"Yasir," Hayden turned to him.

Yasir was impatient. "There's no point in—"

Hayden interrupted. "If stock shares can compensate her, I'd rather give her another two percent."

Yasir stared, dumbfounded. "Hayden, what's gotten into you? Are you even yourself?" He couldn't believe the ruthless Hayden would say such a thing.

Sophia stormed into her room, Yosef following close behind. "How did it go? When can we return?" He'd heard the Jackson Group was about to be sold, but only recently. Anxious to leave, he relied on Sophia.

Sophia glared. "Your precious daughter found helpers to stop me! In front of everyone! I lost face!"

"What? It didn't work?" Yosef was only concerned with this. Seeing Sophia's silence, he panicked. "If they signed, the Jackson Group is gone! What will we do?"

Sophia gritted her teeth. That damned Yvonne. She played me.

Without the Jackson Group, my unborn child will have no support!

Joanna entered. "Mom, what happened? Did you lose something?"

Sophia's anger intensified. "What's going on between you and Zachary?"

"I haven't seen him," Joanna replied, puzzled.

Sophia seethed. "He helped Yvonne set me up! You're useless! You slept with him and still couldn't hold his heart! What good are you?" Her frustration exploded onto Joanna. Joanna, already troubled by her lost virginity, paled under Sophia's tirade.

Sophia calmed, then said, "As long as Yvonne lives, we won't have peace!"

Yosef instinctively protested, "What are you talking about? That's my daughter! Don't even think about hurting her!"

"If I don't hurt her, the Jackson Group is gone. Your son will have nothing. Better he never existed!" Sophia threatened.

Yosef was stunned. He felt guilty towards Yvonne. His infidelity had cost her mother's life. He couldn't believe he might have to hurt her again.