Chapter 163

Hayden's tone was firm, unwavering. Richard felt a lump in his throat, about to dissuade him when Nevin, having received the news, rushed over. "Hayden, you can't go down there!" Even a professional rescue team couldn't help; it would be suicide.

"Get out of my way!" Hayden flung Nevin's hand aside, grabbing a diving suit and oxygen tank from a rescue team member. Yvonne's situation was uncertain; he had to verify it personally. Nevin, witnessing Hayden's stubbornness, froze. He didn't stop him, only watched silently, curious to see how far Hayden would go for Yvonne. Richard, witnessing this, remained silent.

Hayden, an experienced diver, quickly donned the equipment. A tense silence fell over the onlookers. Then, Yasir stormed over, fists clenched. "Hayden! You bastard!" He grabbed Hayden's collar, punching him. Caught off guard, Hayden absorbed the blow, staggering back as his oxygen tank tumbled to the ground. The rescuer silently retrieved his tank—his livelihood.

Hayden, regaining his composure, wiped blood from his mouth and stared coldly at Yasir. "You want to fight me?"

"It's been all night! Do you think Yvonne can still survive?" Yasir's words changed everyone's expressions. He'd dared to say what no one else would, and dared to strike Hayden.

The last of Hayden's hope shattered. He lunged at Yasir, shouting, "Shut up! Yvonne must still be alive!" The two grappled, fighting fiercely.

Richard tried to intervene, but to no avail. Turning to Nevin, he pleaded, "Mr. Nevin, please persuade them."

Nevin shook his head, his eyes forlorn. "It's good for Yasir to beat him awake. Otherwise, he'll really go to sea."

Chapter 1617

"No way…" Richard was surprised.

"Don't you know my brother's stubbornness? Unless Yasir beats him awake, no one can stop him," Nevin explained. Though rational and calm, Hayden became a madman when it came to Yvonne. Richard couldn't argue.

They watched until both men, exhausted, collapsed on the deck. Yasir spat out blood and a tooth. His face contorted. "You're the one who's crazy! You knocked out my tooth! Being your friend comes at a steep price!"

Hayden remained silent, staring at the brightening sky. He knew Yvonne had no chance of survival, but he couldn't accept it. The girl who had always prioritized him was gone from his world forever. His heart felt hollow.

Yasir, though initially angry, had anticipated injury. Seeing Hayden's silence, he sighed and lay back down.

"You didn't realize you're in love with Yvonne until now, did you?" Yasir blurted out. Hayden, unusually silent, finally murmured, "So this is love…"

"Yes," Yasir responded softly. Love, he mused, could make people irrational. Ironic, he thought, that Hayden only understood love after Yvonne's death.

The sky brightened. Hayden closed his eyes, a single tear quickly dried by the sea breeze. He hadn't cried since childhood, but Yvonne's name now ached in his heart.

Parker family bodyguards arrived, not to protect Hayden, but to prevent him from entering the sea. Richard gave Nevin a thumbs up. "Mr. Nevin, you've become much more efficient! Just now you said there was nothing you could do, but you'd already arranged everything?"

Nevin was dumbfounded. "I have no idea what these people are here for!"

"Aren't they the Parker family's bodyguards?" Richard echoed his confusion.

The bodyguard leader approached. "Mr. Parker, Mr. Hayden, Xander instructed us to protect you." Nevin realized the truth. "This is Grandpa's handiwork." Richard nodded. It seemed Xander controlled everything on the ship.

Unable to reach the sea, Hayden remained on deck for three days without food or drink, unmoved by persuasion. Search teams found nothing.

On the observation deck, Zachary watched Hayden with surprise. "Didn't Hayden not care about Yvonne before? I didn't expect him to be so sad. It's beyond my expectation."

Sean sneered, "To be like this for a woman… he's really not like the usual Mr. Parker."

Zachary frowned. "What do you know? A man who knows what love is, is a real man. I admire him for this feeling!"

Sean nodded, clinking glasses with Zachary. Zachary then asked, "What has Joanna been up to lately?"