Chapter 28

I looked up and saw Hayden walk in, surrounded by a group of people. He stood tall and distinguished, almost as if he belonged to another world. It was hard to imagine any woman not being drawn to him. Joanna stood beside him. They exchanged a few words, and she lowered her head and smiled shyly.

I watched quietly, my heart feeling like it was pricked by a tiny needle—sharp, but leaving behind a dull ache. Sean noticed and exclaimed, “Oh man, I feel so bad for you. I seriously don’t get what Hayden sees in that woman.”

“Maybe it’s the age,” I replied nonchalantly. Joanna was only a year younger than me, but she acted like a giddy teenager around Hayden. After a year of heartache, I felt lifeless inside—nothing like her bright, youthful spirit.

Sean cleared his throat, embarrassed. He gathered his thoughts and said, “There are plenty of other guys around. Once you become the CEO of Parker Group, finding someone shouldn’t be a problem.”

“But there’s only one Hayden,” I shot back, wanting Sean to think I was just being silly and sentimental. As I expected, he was annoyed, the veins in his forehead starting to pop out, but he kept his composure, trying to reason with me. “Hayden isn’t worth your time. After a while, you’ll give up.”

I stayed quiet, worried that if I replied, he’d blow up. Watching Hayden and Joanna, I felt almost nothing—maybe I was becoming numb? When I first saw them together, it felt like a thousand arrows had pierced me. But now, I could sit calmly, even eat without a problem.

Sean waited a moment, then stirred his coffee again. “He can bring Joanna to work, right in front of you. Who knows, maybe tomorrow he’ll introduce her to his family.”

I paused mid-bite. If that actually happened, I would be thrilled. Xander wasn’t on board with my divorce from Hayden. But if Hayden showed up with Joanna and caused drama, a divorce could finally happen.

“I’ll think about it,” I said nonchalantly to brush Sean off. He was talking too much. As I hadn’t outright refused, Sean seemed a bit hesitant but said, “That’s good. It’s not a small thing, after all. I know you’ll do what’s best for you.”

I didn’t reply, and soon he got up and left. I continued eating and just then, a shadow passed over me. I looked up, only to see Hayden sitting across from me, holding his own tray. I was so startled that I choked, coughing uncontrollably until my throat felt like it was on fire.

Hayden glanced my way and handed me a glass of water, though his expression was still pretty condescending. I took the glass and downed it quickly. Finally, I felt a bit better.

“You move like a ghost, you know that?” I snapped, my bad mood showing.

Hayden frowned. “You’re blaming me for that?”

“Forget it,” I rolled my eyes, grabbed my tray, and decided to leave. Choking on that last bite was just my luck—and all Hayden’s fault. He had been getting cozy with Joanna, so why did he suddenly come over to me?

But before I could stand up, Hayden said coolly, “For the sake of the company’s stock price, I suggest you sit a while longer.”

I was at a loss for words. If Parker Group’s stock price fell, my savings would take a hit too. I guess I’d have to put up with him for the sake of money. What a double standard. I glared at Hayden, a surge of anger bubbling up. “You care about the stock price now? What about when you were joking around with Joanna earlier!”

Hayden kept his eyes on his plate, eating his meal with his usual grace. “What did Sean say to you?” he asked instead of answering my question. I paused. He was paying attention to my conversation with Sean while he was off with Joanna.

“Mr. Parker, you’re really nosy. Want to know who I talked to and what we discussed too?” I shot back, not about to reveal any details about our chat.

7:45 PM

Only then did Hayden look up at me. His charming eyes seemed even more intense than usual. “Yvonne, what are you thinking about?”

Did he figure something out? Why was he starting with this? Lost in thought, I didn’t realize I’d been staring into his eyes until the murmurs from the people around us registered.

“Look! Mr. and Mrs. Parker are gazing at each other lovingly!”

“Weren’t they supposed to be over each other? So what’s up with Joanna then?”

Joanna was scowling amid the crowd.

Finally snapping back to reality, I noticed Hayden leaning towards me, reaching out his hand. “When are you leaving?” I instinctively wanted to pull away.

“Don’t move,” he commanded firmly, leaving no room for resistance. I had no intention of listening to him. Just as I tried to shift away, his tissue brushed the corner of my lips. That tiny, soft touch felt like an electric shock.

It hit me—he was helping me wipe my mouth. But why was he treating me so gently? It felt like something out of a fairy tale.

The onlookers around us were no calmer. After a brief moment of silence, a chorus of amazed exclamations erupted.

“Oh my gosh! Mr. Parker is so sweet!”

“Who said Mr. Parker is getting a divorce! Looks like he treats his wife really well!”

“Wow, I never imagined Mr. Parker, who is usually so cold, could show such a warm side.”

“Suddenly, I find Mr. Parker even more attractive.”

In the corner, Joanna watched the scene unfold. Her fists were clenched at her sides, her eyes blazing with jealousy.

I didn’t see Joanna’s reaction clearly, but I could guess Hayden’s motive. “I never thought you’d go to such lengths just for the stock price,” I muttered. He’d been sitting across from me while we ate, laying on the intimacy harder than usual. I racked my brain, and only one explanation made sense—it was all for show. After all, news of our divorce would negatively impact the Parker Group.

No sooner had I spoken than a piece of fatty meat landed on my plate. “Since you’ve figured it out, just play along,” Hayden said with a smirk. He knew I hated fatty meat. Serving it to me in front of so many people felt like a deliberate challenge.

If I refused to eat it, everyone would assume that Hayden and I weren’t getting along. But if I ate it, torturing myself would be the least of my worries; wouldn’t that mean I lost?

I gritted my teeth and glared at Hayden. Suddenly, I noticed Sean standing not far behind him—didn’t he leave?