Chapter 167

As if by coincidence, the calm sea turned windy and rough. Hayden stood with his hands behind his back, radiating an aura of power. He opened his thin lips slightly. "Don't worry, I'll find out," he murmured, thinking, Yvonne, I will avenge you.

Shortly after Joanna cowered, Sophia arrived, in high spirits after eliminating Yvonne and sleeping soundly. She approached Joanna cheerfully. "Hey Joanna, what are we going to do with the 800 million from the Jackson Group sale…"

Upon opening the door, she found Joanna trembling on the floor. Sophia froze, rushing to her side. "What's wrong? Get up?" Joanna clutched Sophia's arm. "Mom! Hayden seems to have discovered something! What should we do?"

Sophia was perplexed. "What could they have found? You're overthinking! When you pushed Yvonne into the river, I saw no hesitation. Why are you scared now?"

Joanna's eyes filled with fear. She opened her mouth, but remained speechless. Pushing Yvonne into the sea had been a momentary surge of hatred, but now, terror consumed her. Nightly dreams of a blood-soaked Yvonne haunted her; she hadn't slept well for days.

Sophia interrupted, "What's there to be afraid of? No one will ever know the truth. As long as Yosef is on our side, who would believe he killed his own daughter?"

"But he…" Joanna began.

"Don't worry," Sophia said, touching her pregnant belly and smiling triumphantly. "As long as I have this child, Yosef won't dare to act up! He wants a son so badly, and I'm carrying his precious child!"

Joanna's mood steadied slightly. Sophia, glancing out the window, saw the Parker family guarding the deck. She sneered. "Hayden can really pretend. Now everyone thinks he's a good man."

"Mom, it seems he really liked Yvonne," Joanna said.

Sophia scolded her sharply. "Enough! You're quite empathetic. Later, you'll dress up and go see him. The more vulnerable a man is, the easier it is to manipulate him!"

Joanna panicked. "But I have Zachary… Will Hayden still accept me?"

"Why not? I'm still doing well after having a child. Can't you learn from me?" Sophia pulled Joanna's ear, lecturing her.

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She wondered how she'd given birth to such a fool. Joanna's ears ached as she agreed, "Mom, I know. I'll go later…"

That afternoon, Joanna dressed up and went to the deck, only to be stopped before reaching Hayden.

"Ms. Charlotte, Mr. Parker is unavailable," Richard stated coldly.

"I just want to ask if Yvonne has been found," Joanna pleaded, feigning distress. Finding Yvonne's body would at least confirm her death; ideally, they wouldn't find her at all. Joanna wished the sea would claim her forever.

Richard shook his head. "No."

"Then I'll go see Hayden…" Joanna insisted.

Richard chuckled. "Ms. Charlotte, are you joking? Shouldn't you be seeing Mr. Swanson?" He thought, Mr. Parker hasn't looked at her since their scandal. How dare she still try to throw herself at him!

Joanna gritted her teeth at the mention of Zachary. "I was framed! Hayden knows that!" Despite her drugged encounter with Zachary, she remembered Hayden orchestrating it. Hayden must have misunderstood me. Everything will be fine once the misunderstanding is cleared up, she thought.

Richard was too late to stop Joanna's outburst. Hayden, nearby, turned to see her, his dark eyes narrowing. "Bring her here," he commanded.

A bodyguard brought Joanna before him.

"Hayden, what happened to you? Why do you look so haggard?" Joanna cried, noticing his weight loss and stubble. She couldn't believe his heartbreak over Yvonne. I should have killed her sooner, she regretted.

Hayden curled his lips. "I almost forgot you're a good actress."

Joanna explained frantically, "Hayden, I'm worried about you! Although Yvonne is gone, you still have me… I know you misunderstood me. I didn't lie. I fell in love with you the first time I saw you…"

"Enough," Hayden interrupted calmly. He was exhausted from days without food and saw through her charade. He still wanted to know if Yvonne's death was connected to her.

Hayden scrutinized her intently. "How did Yvonne fall into the sea?" he asked. He still couldn't accept her death, thinking, Did the girl who said she'd cling to me forever really die? She didn't even leave me anything.

Joanna froze, unprepared for the cold inquiry.