Chapter 173
Layla lowered her standards, even to Joanna, but she hadn't expected Hayden to refuse remarriage. Hayden frowned. With anyone else, he wouldn't have bothered. But he knew Layla's temper. "I wronged Yvonne," he said. "She's the only wife I'll ever have." He turned and left.
Layla slumped onto the sofa, drained. Her eyes were vacant, fixed on scattered papers. She had only two children: Nevin, incompetent and destined for a life of indulgence; and Hayden, intelligent and promising—until Yvonne ruined him. The problem was Hayden had no heir. Layla gritted her teeth. "Yvonne," she thought, "you won't even let my son go in death!" Resentment filled the large living room.
Hayden drove back to Rosy House. He'd intended a quick visit, a reassurance. He hadn't anticipated Layla's outlandish ideas, and he wanted no more of it. Rosy House was eerily quiet, shrouded in darkness. The servants, assuming he was at the Parker residence, had retired. Only a few on night duty were startled by his return. "Mr. Parker, welcome back…"
Hayden nodded, struck by the silence. "Has everyone gone to bed?"
The servants, momentarily surprised, recovered quickly. "Yes, Mr. Parker. Do you need anything? I'll wake everyone."
"No need," Hayden waved dismissively. Only then did he realize he wanted to know about Yvonne. In the past, even if she hadn't waited up, her presence had filled the house with warmth. Now, it felt empty and cold. Sadness welled up.
After the servants left, he climbed the stairs, each step heavier than the last. The composure he'd maintained crumbled as he found her bedroom quiet.
Yvonne's face and smile flashed in his mind. He recalled her words: "Hayden? What are you doing here? Don't you know how to knock? It's rare for you to come back. Grandma's gone, so you don't have to pretend to be well-behaved anymore, do you?" Even her sarcasm was vivid in his memory. He realized, belatedly, he'd only returned to sleep there after his grandmother's death to see her.
He sighed, walking slowly into the room. Yvonne had slept on the side facing the window. He sat on the bed's edge, caressing the pillow, her scent seeming to linger. "Yvonne," he murmured, his face pale and lifeless. He hadn't understood sadness before; Yvonne's departure had taught him true pain. He hadn't realized how deeply he cared; every piece of news about her had tugged at his heart.
A melodious piano sound drifted from outside. Each note held a deep longing, familiar to Hayden. It was the tune that had awakened him from his coma. His heart leaped. Only Yvonne knew this melody! Could she be alive? She must have faked her death to punish him!
He raced to the stairwell, only to find a maid watching a video on her phone, crying, her eyes red and swollen. The music came from her phone. His hope shattered, replaced by emptiness and powerlessness.
"What video is that?" he asked.
Startled, the maid trembled. "Mr. Parker…"
"What are you holding?" Hayden frowned.
Sobbing, the maid explained, "It's Mrs. Parker playing the piano. I recorded it secretly. She was so kind… I heard she jumped into the sea…" Each word trembled. It was wrong to film Yvonne without permission, especially now. She feared Hayden's anger, losing her job. But instead of anger, his eyes softened.
"She played at home? Let me see." Hayden remembered Yvonne at the piano, refusing to play for him.
The maid handed him her phone. "A piano was delivered, and Mrs. Parker loved it. She played beautifully! But it was taken away…" It was a gift for Joanna, sent to the wrong address.
Hayden hadn't considered this. After confirming the woman was Yvonne, he asked the maid to send the video to his phone. Back in his bedroom, he played the video.
Yvonne sat gracefully at the piano, her fingers dancing over the keys. The music was soothing, lively, healing. The familiar melody transported Hayden back to his coma, the music guiding him, urging him not to give up. The thought of Yvonne leaving everything to care for him, only to be misunderstood… his heart ached. His hand trembled. His vision blurred. "I should have recognized you sooner…" A deep sorrow filled his voice.