Chapter 172

Richard mused, "Mr. Nevin Parker, who only knows how to enjoy himself, now knows how to share the burden for Mr. Hayden Parker?"

Hayden glanced back at Nevin, then instructed uneasily, "Richard, you stay here and help him."

Richard nodded in agreement. He couldn't leave anyway.

Nevin's mouth twitched. After Hayden left, he grumbled, "Why doesn't Hayden believe me?"

Richard thought, He's saying this so bluntly in front of me. Should I say Nevin trusts Hayden too much, or that he's out of his mind?

Nevin turned toward the cargo hold, muttering, "This ship is so big. Don't we have to wait until tomorrow to finish unloading? Who was doing this job before?"

"Kurt Conway," Richard blurted.

Nevin stopped abruptly, turning back. "The guy who used to manage the cruise ship?"

Richard nodded, meeting his gaze. "Yes. After Mrs. Parker arrived, he was unconvinced and fired by Mr. Hayden Parker."

Nevin cursed, "The cruise ship is the Parker family's property. Just because we let him manage it for a while, he really thought it belonged to him! Stupid!" He thought, Yvonne represents the Parker family. When the owner reclaims his property, how dare an employee be unhappy?

Suddenly, a strange noise echoed from a dark corner deep within the cargo hold—a sound like something falling.

Nevin froze, his gaze sharp. "What was that?"

Richard, momentarily forgetting Kurt, also heard the sound. He gestured to the bodyguards, "Go see what's going on!"

"Yes, sir!" Several bodyguards cautiously approached the corner.

The unknown instilled an inexplicable fear, a chilling grip on the soul. The lead bodyguard held his breath; the darkness concealed potential danger. He found not danger, but a man lying on the ground, covered in blood.

"Someone's hurt!" the bodyguard shouted, the all-clear effectively sounded.

Nevin breathed a sigh of relief, hurrying to the injured man. Upon closer inspection, he froze. "Ethan?"

It was 3:00 AM when Hayden arrived at the Parker residence. Xander Parker was already asleep. Layla Parker, however, sat in the living room, her face ashen. Two documents lay on the coffee table, the words "Divorce Agreement" starkly printed across them.

"Mrs. Parker is back!" the servant announced excitedly.

Layla looked up as Hayden entered, her eyes instantly reddening. She rushed to him.

"Hayden! I haven't seen you for days. Why have you lost so much weight? You look so haggard!" Tears streamed down her face.

Hayden was her son. She'd only recently heard about his ordeal from Nevin; she hadn't been this nervous before seeing him. But now, seeing him like this, her heart ached.

"Mom, I'm fine," Hayden said, gently patting her back.

"How can you be fine? That woman is a menace! Even in death, she's still causing trouble and tormenting you!" Layla cried, her voice laced with hatred for Yvonne. She'd always disliked Yvonne. She'd watched Hayden grow up; he was always calm and composed. Yet, because of Yvonne, he'd neglected his health for years. Layla was angry, but also resentful that Yvonne held such sway over him.

Hayden's dark eyes clouded with displeasure. "Yvonne is my wife, not a menace." He corrected her, his voice softer, but firm.

Layla froze. My own son is speaking to me like this for that woman? Grievance welled up within her. "Yes, she is your wife," she sobbed, "but she's not worthy! All these years, haven't you disliked her? Are you going to disregard your mother's words for her now?"

Hayden pinched the bridge of his nose, weary. "Mom, it's late. You should rest." He felt some things were inexplainable to his parents. The wound in his heart still bled, and his mother's words felt like salt in the wound.

Layla sighed. "One last thing! There are rumors she committed suicide. Son, sign this divorce agreement now! I'll find someone to imitate her handwriting. We'll tell everyone you divorced before going to sea; her death will have nothing to do with you!" She placed the agreement before him. She'd stayed up late to get Hayden to sign it. Yvonne's death would affect Hayden's reputation.

Layla considered this standard procedure. Yosef, for example, hadn't even held a funeral, fearing the loss of face.

Hayden looked at the agreement, the last vestiges of exhaustion gone from his eyes. "I won't sign it," he said coldly, tearing it to shreds.

The sound filled the room. Layla was stunned, then rushed forward. "What are you doing? If you don't divorce her now, what will you do when reporters ask about it? It will spread that your wife committed suicide! What's there to miss about a woman like that? Even if you like Joanna, I'll agree! Just stop thinking about Yvonne!" Layla believed Joanna, though unworthy of Hayden, was better than a dead woman.

At the mention of Joanna, Hayden's eyes grew colder. "Joanna and I have nothing to do with each other. Don't ever mention that woman again!" His voice was chilling.

Layla's eyes widened in shock. Even as his mother, she sometimes feared his murderous aura. "But weren't you two…" she began, sensing his growing anger. She wisely stopped. But she couldn't let it go. "Then what are you going to do? Are you not planning on getting married any time soon?"

Hayden's eyelids drooped, revealing a hint of loneliness. "I will never marry again."

"What?" Layla gasped, rooted to the spot.