Chapter 80

The vast bedroom fell into a suffocating silence. No one spoke; even the sound of breathing seemed to cease. My heart quietly shattered. Everyone must have thought Hayden and I were making love.

I didn't know how long we remained frozen, but Hayden broke the silence with a dry, indifferent, "How much longer are you going to keep staring?"

Deborah's wrinkled face twitched. "Rita, didn't you say Hayden was sick?"

Rita trembled, quickly lowering her gaze. "Mrs. Parker, I made a mistake."

"Well then, let's leave," Deborah said, clearing her throat lightly. She calmly turned to leave, assisted by Rita. The servants quickly followed, the last one quietly closing the door—much more softly this time.

I was paralyzed, unable to move until Hayden reminded me, "If you keep pressing down like that, my wound might never heal." I realized I had been lying on his injury.

"Why didn't you say anything earlier?" I jumped up in a panic, quickly adjusting my clothes. Hayden's white bandage showed no blood, so it didn't seem serious. Besides, he had pulled me over.

Hayden said nothing, covering his stomach wound with one hand. Though it hadn't torn, the pain was evident. I pretended not to notice, turning to him. "What was that all about? You got everyone to misunderstand."

"We've shared a bed for so long. What do you think they would misunderstand?" Hayden replied casually.

I clenched my teeth, refusing to argue. After putting away the medicine kit, I went to wash up. When I returned and was about to lie down, Hayden spoke again. "I need to wash my—"

I frowned. He was clearly talking to me. I turned my back, refusing to respond.

Hayden persisted. "Yvonne, I need to wash my face."

"I'm not your maid. Ask your maid to take care of you," I snapped, wanting to kick him out of bed. I hadn't realized he could be so demanding.

"My wound… it's not something I want others to know about," Hayden said, as if it were perfectly reasonable. I thought of Joanna; she already knew. But to him, she probably didn't count as an outsider.

While I pondered, Hayden urged again, "Yvonne…"

"Are you done yet!" I glared at him, afraid he'd keep me up all night. Despite my reluctance, I got out of bed and grabbed a warm towel, tossing it in his direction.

It was nearly midnight. I pulled the covers up, turning my back to him, yawning twice. I couldn't fall asleep, unsure why. I'd always sleepwalked, but now even falling asleep seemed difficult. Hayden remained unnervingly quiet.

Outside, snake-like bolts of lightning illuminated the sky, followed by a deafening thunderclap. Boom! Soon after, Hayden's soft voice came from behind me. "Yvonne…"

I furrowed my brow but said nothing. It was late, and though he didn't sleep, I needed mine. But Hayden said nothing else, and silence returned. That night, I couldn't sleep. What did he want to say? I never found out.

The next day, I was to check on the cruise ship and handle paperwork. But when I woke up, Hayden was burning with a high fever, disoriented and hazy.

"Hayden," I gently tapped his face, realizing something was seriously wrong. "You're burning up. We need to see a doctor."

Luckily, we had a doctor in the house. I was about to call for help when Hayden grabbed my wrist with a strong grip. "No, you can't tell anyone," he gritted.

"If you don't see a doctor, you're going to die, or burn your brain out!" I snapped. I didn't know he could be so stubborn.

Hayden somehow found the strength to hold me, his grip tightening. "Just give me some fever medicine."

"If you die, don't blame me," I muttered, getting up to find him some medicine.

After taking the medicine, Hayden quickly fell into a deep, feverish sleep. I was ready to leave, but I couldn't help looking back. If I left, he might die, and no one would know. Forget it. Maybe I did owe him. I'd look after him, just this once.

With a heavy sigh, I sat on the bed's edge, texting Lucy: [I'm not going to the cruise ship today.]

Lucy replied instantly: [Why! Something came up?]

[Hayden has a fever], I typed.

Lucy sent a flurry of confused messages: [What does his fever have to do with you! Yvonne, don't tell me you're feeling sorry for him again! Think about what he's done to you. You can't let yourself get stuck in that mess again!]

She typed so fast, it was as if she thought I'd fall into some irreversible trap if I waited a second too long. I smiled bitterly and typed back: [Don't worry. I just don't want him dying on me while we're still married.]

As soon as I sent it, Hayden's phone vibrated. Curious, I looked. It was Joanna. She always called early. Maybe she'd called last night, too.

I laughed sarcastically, then something occurred to me. I grabbed Hayden's phone; he was out cold. Even if he woke, I wasn't afraid. Maybe I could get more information from Joanna. I answered the call.

"Hayden, when will you be at the office?" Joanna asked.

I scoffed. "What? Are you sending him another love breakfast?"

Her voice sharpened. "Why are you answering Hayden's phone?"

"We're married. He's asleep, so it's perfectly normal for me to answer for him," I shot back, deliberately provoking her. "But you… calling so early, what are you trying to do!"

"Don't throw that around. Don't think I don't know Hayden hasn't even slept with you. You're the one shamelessly trying to climb into his bed," Joanna snapped, her voice dripping with venom.

I wasn't angry; I kept pushing her buttons. "From the sound of it, you think you're the one with morals! Trying to seduce a married man, playing the mistress with a big smile on your face. But how long do you think Hayden will like you?"