Chapter 207

Hayden’s smile softened as he gazed at Stacey’s flushed face. He leaned in, kissed her, and whispered, “Trust me.”

Her heart hammered. Stacey felt rooted to the spot, paralyzed.

“We’ll be happy,” Hayden promised, “Lillian, Kevin, Jeremy… all of us.”

She broke free, whirling around and fleeing.

Hayden stared after her, then a slow smile curved his lips. She hadn’t rejected him. His efforts weren’t wasted. This was progress. He’d keep trying.

Suddenly, Queenie appeared. Hayden frowned, turning to follow Stacey. Queenie rushed forward, reaching for his arm, but he evaded her.

“Queenie,” he said flatly, “you’re an adult. Act like one.”

Queenie paled. “H-Hayden… do you… do you really like Becky?”

His mood brightened. He nodded. “Yes.”

A sharp pain twisted Queenie’s face. “Jeremy needs a complete family! We’re his parents!”

The smile vanished. Hayden sneered. “That’s all you can say? Who taught you that? Your mother? Your father?”

He towered over her, his voice cold. “We’re divorced. Stop pestering me. If you don’t, I’ll have your grandfather deal with you.”

Queenie gasped, her face grim. Hayden left without another word.

Queenie hesitated, remembering his threat. Her grandfather, terrified of the Hoggard family, would certainly intervene if Hayden complained. And then there were the company shares… her grandfather favored her cousins, and she risked losing everything.

Chapter 207

Debra sent the children to bathe, their bodies sticky with sand and sweat after a long day of play. Stacey returned before they were finished.

The door was locked. She rang repeatedly, puzzled by the lack of response. Finally, Debra emerged, startled.

“Stacey? Why are you back?”

Stacey couldn’t explain, simply entering the room. Debra, noticing her daughter’s flushed cheeks, understood. Seeing Hayden wasn’t there, she closed the door with a knowing smile.

“Lily and Kevin are showering,” Debra explained, ushering Stacey into the spacious suite. Multiple rooms, each with a bathroom, had allowed for simultaneous showers.

Stacey nodded, relieved. The echo of Hayden's words still pounded in her ears. She breathed deeply, grabbing fresh clothes and heading to the shower.

Afterwards, she decided to avoid dwelling on it, opening her email instead. Hayden had sent information on Eugene.

Stacey scanned it, trying to commit it to memory, but Hayden's words kept intruding. She felt the familiar nervousness of a new client. She had to act. She studied herself in the mirror, working to project confidence.

It was a struggle. Overacting would be disastrous. She practiced for half an hour, meticulously adjusting her expression. Still, she felt uncertain.

She reviewed Eugene's file twice, then returned to the mirror. A knock came, followed by Lillian's and Kevin's excited voices.

“Mommy! Mommy!”

“Open the door, Mommy!”

Stacey rushed to the door.

Lillian and Kevin peered in, curious. “What are you guys looking at?” Stacey asked.

“Where’s Daddy?” Kevin asked.

Lillian echoed, “Yeah! Didn’t he come back with you?”

Stacey was speechless.

“He… he probably went home,” she stammered, her ears burning with the memory of her abrupt departure.

“Why doesn’t Daddy live with us?” Lillian asked.

Kevin piped up, “Loretta’s parents live together!”

Lillian agreed. “Yeah!”

Stacey quickly covered their mouths, relieved Hayden wasn’t present to witness this. She knelt, explaining gently, “Your relationship with Daddy is different from Loretta’s parents. We’re not married. Don’t say that again in front of… Hayden. Okay?”