Chapter 37

The moment the car door opened, the final piano note faded into the night. Hayden was a heartbeat away from the music he craved. The gears of fate felt stubbornly stuck.

As usual, Hayden strode toward the villa, only to hear hushed murmurs from the servants.

“It’s so beautiful…”

“I’ve never heard music like that before.”

“I heard it’s Mrs. Yvonne Parker playing.”

“She’s amazing!”

“Yvonne playing? She was sick all day, and lively at night?” Hayden raised an eyebrow, recalling her stunning party performance. His eyes narrowed in thought; he quickened his pace.

In the living room, he found me. “After I finished playing, I felt emotionally drained. I thought it was time to rest.” I explained, standing at the doorway. He, too, wanted to savor the beautiful music. “Why did you stop?” he asked abruptly.

I glanced back. A few steps separated us, yet the distance felt immense.

Rita chimed in eagerly. “You gave the piano to Mrs. Parker, and she truly loves it.” She tried to smooth things over. Despite the Parker family’s initial reservations about me, Rita and I had connected.

Hayden’s expression shifted to doubt. “I gave it? When?” He looked at the piano.

Noticing his surprise, I realized the piano wasn't for me. Besides leaving me scarred and hurting, he’d never given me anything truly meaningful.

Just then, Richard rushed in, pale. “I’m so sorry, Mr. Parker. The delivery man made a mistake with the address. I’ll ensure it reaches Ms. Charlotte immediately.”

Now it clicked—this piano was intended for Joanna. Since I’d played one earlier at the party, Hayden was trying to appease Joanna, but it had been mistakenly delivered to Rosy House.

Suddenly, the piano felt like a burden. I quickly moved away.

Rita, perceptive even after years of observing wealthy families, understood. Few men from such backgrounds were truly faithful. While Hayden kept his relationship with Joanna discreet, he openly showered her with gifts and even considered buying property for her.

Rita had heard the hospital gossip and felt sorry for Yvonne, alone for a year.

The atmosphere grew tense. I offered Hayden a small smile. “I’m so sorry for inadvertently touching your loved one’s gift.”

The tension escalated. Ignoring Hayden’s reaction, I went upstairs.

I’d overestimated my resilience, thinking I was past caring. But such painful events reopened old wounds.

I snuggled under a blanket, fearing a sleepless night. But I drifted off quickly—sickness numbed the sadness and pain.

I didn't know when Hayden entered the room, but I slept soundly until morning. When I opened my eyes, I was startled by a handsome face inches from mine.

I froze. Am I still dreaming? Why is there a handsome man? It took a second to recognize Hayden.

Late Check-in 7:46 PM

I was so shocked I forgot to breathe. My body stiffened as I realized I was in Hayden’s arms, my head resting on his shoulder, our faces nearly touching, our breaths mingling.

For a normal couple, this might be an ordinary morning. But for Hayden and me, it felt surreal. This moment hit me like an explosion.

What happened? Did I sleep so soundly I ended up in Hayden’s arms? Oh no, how could I have let that happen! My mind raced; my heart pounded.

I needed to escape quickly. If Hayden woke, he’d surely think I was pursuing him again.

I gritted my teeth, trying to slip from his embrace. As I sighed in relief, he opened his eyes. Did I wake him?

Fortunately, Hayden remained silent. He simply sat up and rubbed his arm.

My nerves frayed. Did I hurt him?

Hayden noticed me staring and looked at me. I quickly averted my gaze, pulling the blanket away and getting out of bed.

I reached for my shoes, but failed. They were gone. “Where are my shoes?” I wondered aloud. I’d placed them beside the bed.

Hayden rose and went to the door. “Get a pair of slippers,” he instructed. A servant arrived with slippers.

“But they were here last night!” I was bewildered. Sleepwalking again? But my feet are clean. The unsettling lack of control over my own life persisted.

The servant was unconcerned. “Maybe they got kicked under the bed. I’ll clean up later.”

“Okay,” I replied, still unsure. The family doctor arrived to check my temperature, so I dismissed the mystery for now.

“Your fever’s gone, but you’re still weak and need extra care,” the doctor advised.

I’d heard that often in the hospital, so I simply nodded. After applying light makeup, I went downstairs.

At breakfast, Deborah spoke. “Yvonne, you look pale. The doctor said you need rest.”

“The weather’s lovely, Hayden. Why not skip the office and take Yvonne to South Bay Lake? The fishing’s excellent. Catch some fish for Yvonne.”

She was clearly trying to orchestrate a date. But if there were genuine feelings between Hayden and me, why did we need this push?

Before Hayden could respond, I refused. “I just started at the company and have much to learn.”

Hayden’s expression shifted to annoyance. “Grandmother, there’s a shareholder meeting,” he replied coldly, his indifference creating tension.

I couldn’t help but smile faintly. Only in such situations did Hayden and I truly understand each other.

Deborah wasn’t finished. She looked directly at Hayden. “What’s more important, the company or your wife!”

In Check-in