Chapter 185

"Just ignore her," Hayden told Stacey, turning away. Stacey, startled, nodded.

Queenie stood by the door, tears streaming down her face, clutching her bag. Humiliated, she fled. Back in her seventh-floor room, she collapsed, sobbing uncontrollably, hiccuping with grief. Her phone buzzed. It was her mother.

"Queenie?" Florine's voice was gentle.

"Mom..." Queenie choked out.

"What's wrong, sweetheart? Why are you crying?" Florine's concern was evident.

Queenie couldn't speak, only cry harder.

"Please, tell me. Did you find Hayden?"

The mention of his name intensified her sobs. Florine felt helpless. Finally, Queenie calmed enough to explain. Florine's face hardened as she heard the story. Hayden replaced? After all those years?

"Queenie, Hayden hasn't married Becky yet. There's still a chance," Florine said, her voice firm. "Don't give up."

Queenie knew, but the pain of Hayden loving someone else – another Elden Lindsey – was crushing. "Why is my life so hard?" she whispered.

"Queenie? Are you listening?" Florine asked, noticing her daughter's silence.

"Yeah," Queenie mumbled, her eyes still wet.

Florine took a deep breath. "You have his child. Use that. The Hoggards adore him. You have a right to be in his life. If they care about him, they'll come around."

Queenie bit her lip.

"This is your chance to change. Show them you're a good partner, a good mother. We all make mistakes. If they truly care about your child, they will forgive you." Florine’s voice was softer now, but Queenie seemed distant. "Queenie?"

The question snapped her back. "Okay, Mom. I get it."

Meanwhile, on the twenty-fourth floor, Hayden found Lillian and Kevin clinging to him, shouting "Daddy!" He seemed perfectly content, playing with them as if they were his own. Stacey stayed, keeping him company. His phone rang – Jeremy. Stacey was surprised.

Hayden smiled at her before answering. As the video chat connected, he turned the camera to include Stacey. Jeremy, at home in Hivalis, was giving his usual daily update, his expression serious until he saw Becky on screen. His eyes widened. Stacey smiled and waved. "Hi, Jeremy!"

Jeremy quickly wrote on his pad: [Hello, Becky.]

Hayden handed Stacey the phone. Hesitantly, she took it. For the next half hour, she chatted with Jeremy, their connection remarkably motherly. At Jeremy's end, his grandparents, thrilled, crowded around.

Stacey found herself chatting with Hayden’s grandparents. Jeremy, wanting to remind them he was there, lifted the tablet. Seeing how happy Jeremy was with Becky, Jason and Sharon discreetly moved out of the way.

Jeremy took back the tablet, beaming, continuing his chat with Becky. Their connection was clear.

Finally, Hayden took the phone. "Jeremy, go play with Grandma and Grandpa. Don't keep Becky too long," he said, as Jeremy reluctantly ended the call.

The sun was setting. Hayden turned to Stacey and Debra. "Hey, Becky, Debra, it’s almost dinner time. Hungry? Let's go out."