Chapter 169
Zachary remembered only a glass of wine, then drowsiness. He awoke to find he'd been with Joanna. He assumed Joanna had set him up, but never suspected Hayden. Seeing Zachary's shock, Joanna sneered, "Fool! You'll never be as good as Hayden!" She spat, never having looked up to him.
Zachary ignored her, fixated on Hayden's retreating figure. He thought, Damn it! I've been tricked again! "You're a complete failure!" Joanna spat, her fear masked by relish. Fearing Zachary's wrath, she fled. With Yvonne dead, she could pursue Hayden later.
After Joanna left, Zachary approached Hayden. His hatred intensified with each step. Yet, when Hayden turned, that hatred vanished, replaced by a placating expression. "Mr. Parker, the guests are inquiring about our return," he said calmly, addressing the business at hand.
Hayden noted the coldness in his eyes but didn't comment, merely stating indifferently, "Yvonne hasn't been found yet." Zachary paused, gazing at the vast sea. "What if she's never found?"
Hayden remained silent, his dark eyes suddenly chilling, a murderous aura emanating from him. "What I mean is, Mr. Parker, how will you explain this to the board?" Zachary shifted the subject; Yvonne was likely lost, but life must go on.
Hayden's thin lips curled into a cold smile. "Parker Group is mine. Why should I explain to anyone?"
"Mr. Parker, you're bold! But what about the thousands on this ship?" Zachary challenged. "Or do you intend for us to be buried with Yvonne?"
Zachary felt the immense pressure from Hayden, struggling to breathe. Hayden took two steps closer, a murderous glint in his eyes. "You're not worthy enough to be buried with her," he said, his voice commanding despite its quiet tone.
Zachary's jaw clenched, his eyes twitching. "Not worthy? Hayden, you're afraid of Yvonne being close to me. You drugged me and made me sleep with Joanna! Admit it, you're scared. A coward, afraid Yvonne would truly fall for me." This enraged Hayden.
He grabbed Zachary's neck. "Shut up!" The warning was a confession. Unfazed, Zachary laughed. "Hayden, you're a coward! You won't even admit you loved her. If Yvonne hadn't died, she would have sold Parker Group's shares to me. Did she truly love you that much?"
Zachary sought to further provoke Hayden, relishing this rare display of vulnerability. He hoped to drive Hayden to madness and seize Parker Group. However, Hayden had known about the shares for a long time.
He sneered. "Zachary, I doubt you could bear the weight of the Parker family's shares."
"You!" Zachary gritted his teeth. He was about to obtain the shares, but Yvonne's death felt like a cosmic betrayal.
Yasir arrived. "What's going on? Another fight? If anyone sees this, Parker Group's stock will plummet! I own shares, so make money for me!" He separated them, feeling unexpectedly refreshed by his own sanctimonious outburst, especially since Hayden didn't refute him.
Zachary loosened his tie, sneering, "If he remembers he's CEO, he shouldn't waste time here!" He left. If not for the Parker family's bodyguards, he would have fought Hayden to the ground.
Watching him go, Yasir sighed. "Even he's here. Aren't you going back?" He addressed Hayden.
Hayden paused. "How long will the cruise ship's supplies last?"
"Don't worry. We can airlift supplies. The passengers want to go home. A half-month delay would…" Yasir trailed off; Hayden understood.
Chapter 109 (Note: This chapter number is inconsistent with the preceding text. Presumed a typo and included for completeness.)
Though Parker Group ruled Elysiumville, offending these powerful people would cause future problems. "I know," Hayden's weak voice replied. He gazed at the sea.
Yasir waited, hearing nothing more, and sighed. Hayden's stubborn; he won't listen to anyone! Lucy brought food, interrupting his thoughts. Hayden remained on deck, lost in thought, refusing food.
Four days passed; even standing made him dizzy. Finally, he collapsed, losing consciousness. He dreamt again – falling into the deep sea, suffocating, until he heard a voice: "Hayden."
He thought, Was that Yvonne? Hayden's eyes fluttered open.