The server could sense the tension in the air the moment she stepped in, and she took the menu nervously. As the two began to order and lean closer, the feeling from the tall, handsome man sitting beside them became more and more unsettling. This made the server feel uncomfortable, as if she was getting goosebumps on her skin. Not daring to leave without saying anything, she took a cautious glance at Hayden."Sir, do you need the menu?"Hayden gave a half-smile. "The air conditioning isn't warm enough; turn it up a bit.""Sure." The server increased the temperature and, not wanting to linger, quickly left.Wyneth continued talking to Luke, as if she did not even notice Hayden was there.Luke realized Wyneth did not want to acknowledge Hayden. He did not know how they knew each other, but since Wyneth had many powerful brothers, it made sense to him that she might know Hayden. At first, he thought Wyneth had invited Hayden, but now it was clear that was not the case. As Luke tapped
Even when the food was served, Hayden's face remained frozen in a scowl, his hands clenched into fists under the table as he intently watched the two people, making others wary of approaching him.Wyneth could feel his gaze as sharp as a knife without even looking at him. She took a sip of her drink and wet her lips. It was strange to her that he was still there, even though he seemed really mad. She wondered if he was getting better at keeping his cool."Here." Luke suddenly served her some soup. "Don't just drink your soda, have some hot soup first."Wyneth regained her focus and saw the bowl of soup in front of her. She paused for a moment, then looked up at Luke, into his eyes. For a brief moment, Wyneth thought she saw an unidentifiable emotion, but it quickly vanished. She hesitated, wondering if she had misinterpreted it. "Thank you, Luke," she said.Wyneth sipped her soup leisurely. Suddenly, Hayden stood up and walked out. As she watched him walk away, Wyneth narrowed her
Wyneth looked up, a bit confused. "What?"Luke clenched his jaw. "I mean, next time we eat, will he not cause any trouble again?"Hearing this, Wyneth sat still, staring blankly at him. This time, she saw confusing feelings in Luke's eyes that lasted longer. It made her realize they were feelings he was trying to hide. 'Does he like me? When did that start? His past behavior and actions didn't show that. He seemed like he didn't like me much, maybe even a bit annoyed. I did accidentally upset him after all.' Wyneth was surprised by this and did not know how to respond.Seeing her silent, Luke became somewhat anxious. "I mean, you..."Ring-ring!Luke's phone suddenly rang at a bad time. Luke could not help but frown, thinking, 'Why is someone calling now?' He glanced at his phone and then at Wyneth.Wyneth blinked. "You should answer your phone first."Luke looked at her for a moment, thinking, 'There's a lot to talk about today. I should take the call and give her some time to t
After a brief moment of shock, Wyneth tried to free herself."It's me."A familiar deep voice echoed in her ear as Wyneth was pulled into a stall.The restroom of the fancy restaurant was spotless and did not smell weird. Hayden held her against the wall, his hands on her waist, holding a bit too tight. Wyneth looked up into his deep, dark eyes filled with strong emotions that almost swallowed her up.She felt scared and asked, "What are you doing?" Hayden, with his lips tightly closed, just looked at her. After looking into his eyes for a little bit, Wyneth could not help but look away. "Let go of me."Wyneth kind of thought that Hayden made Luke leave all of a sudden. Since Hayden was so capable, making something like that happen would be a piece of cake for him. But she was surprised to find him waiting for her here.Hayden did not let go, even though she asked him to. When Wyneth saw he was not letting go, she made a frowny face and tried to push his hands away from her waist
Hayden's eyes hinted at satisfaction, likely due to what happened just now. "Don't we need to talk about what just happened?"Wyneth looked confused. "What do you mean?"Hayden held the back of Wyneth's neck with his other hand, fingers entwined in strands of her hair. His gaze intensified, and he moved his face closer to hers. "You did respond to me just now," he said quietly."Who resp..." Wyneth started to say "Who responded to you?" but stopped halfway, suddenly remembering something that made her less confident. At first, she had resisted Hayden. However, he had somehow managed to make her give in quickly. She had even responded a little before she quickly came to her senses and pushed him away. Now, he was acting like it was a big deal.Hayden found it funny when Wyneth stopped talking mid-sentence. He had been in a really bad mood because of Luke showing up, and it felt like nothing could make it better. But now, he felt happier because Wyneth had responded a little and was
Wyneth could feel Hayden's heartbeat, strong and clear, even through their winter clothes. His actions took her by surprise. He had transformed into someone else, hugging her with a force that bordered on crushing, yet, somehow, it did not hurt. After a moment, he released her, taking her hand as they stepped outside.Wyneth, likely still stunned by Hayden's sudden transformation, allowed herself to be led outside. As they exited, two men entered the restroom, their eyes widening in surprise at the sight of her trailing behind Hayden. Sensing their gaze, Wyneth's expression shifted, and she instinctively lowered her head. Without missing a beat, Hayden pulled her close, shielding her as they made their way out.The two men stood frozen, dumbfounded for a moment, before one turned to his friend and asked, "Did my eyes deceive me, or did that woman kinda look like Wyneth Walford?"His friend, who had not gotten a good look at Wyneth's face, dismissed the idea with a wave of his hand.
'Why is he suddenly acting like this again? His expression makes it seem like I'm the bad person who hurt his feelings.'The server who stood around there probably was not expecting to see anything like that at all. Hayden was a tall, handsome, aloof, and classy man, yet he was acting so humbly for a woman. Then, she could not help but say sympathetically, "Miss, I have no idea what happened between you and this gentleman over here, but he came here very long ago to wait for you and even paid the bill for you. He's really treating you well."Wyneth was speechless.She had not expected that even a server would speak up for Hayden.Wyneth glanced at the server and realized that she was a young woman. The server looked at Hayden with a pitiful expression when she was speaking as if she felt very bad for him.'Pfft.'Wyneth scoffed inwardly. 'She's only doing that because he's handsome.'I'm impressed by how popular he is among ladies.'"So, Miss, why don't you give in and allow th
Someone was looking at them from the right side, leaving Wyneth no choice but to turn around and face Hayden. Then, she gritted her teeth in frustration.Wyneth got angry as soon as she saw Hayden's face, and she directly asked, "Hayden Hamilton, are you okay? Do you have to stand here and wait with me?"Hayden looked somewhat helpless and said, "It's so late at night, and it'll be dangerous for you to go back alone. I can only stay here and wait for a cab with you since you won't let me drive you back."'So late at night?'Wyneth asked, "What time is it now?""It doesn't matter what time it is. It's already dark, so it's not safe."Hayden defended his irrational argument."There are so many streetlights and people here in Stello Studios. How is it not safe?"Wyneth suddenly realized something after saying that. 'Why am I arguing with him? He's clearly doing this on purpose. He's not concerned about my safety; he's just using it as an excuse to stay with me.'For some reason,
"I heard," Hayden sighed, thinking she might tell him not to touch her."What do you think?" Wyneth asked."Me?" A small smile formed on Hayden's lips as he gently kissed her. "It's whatever you want."Wyneth's eyes sparkled. "So, you'll listen to me?"Hayden hesitated. "Except...""What?" Wyneth's tone shifted to annoyance. "You aren't backing out, right? You just said it's up to me.""It's not that I'm backing out," Hayden said, "I just have one condition. I'll listen to you any other time, but there's one thing I can't do.""What thing?" Wyneth asked.Hayden leaned in and whispered in her ear. Wyneth's face turned a shade of pink, and she pushed him away, gasping."You're such a creep!" she exclaimed.Hayden took her wrist, drawing her close and kissed her earlobe. "What's the matter? Isn't this okay for us? Don't you think so?" As he kissed her, he began to unbutton her collar. His voice was low and smooth. "Just listen to me this one time. For everything else, whatever y
On the ride home from the hotel, tears rolled down Wyneth's cheeks nonstop. This time, though, she was not alone by the car window. She was nestled in Hayden's arms. He wiped away each tear, comforting her all the way."Don't cry. It's just a mix-up, okay? He said he's fine and will be around for a long time," Hayden whispered.Despite his soothing words, Wyneth's tears did not cease. Seeing this, Hayden, filled with concern, gently asked, "Is this not what you wanted?"Confused, Wyneth looked up. "What are you talking about? I'm beyond happy he's alive."Hayden smiled, gently wiping her eyes. "Then why are you still crying?""I'm crying because..." Wyneth bit her lower lip, with Hector's words echoing in her mind.She had always been upset, believing her father had not wanted her years ago. But just as she was about to leave, Cindy pulled her aside. "Wyneth," her mother said gently, "your dad did want you. When I divorced him, I had just one demand.""What was it?""I wanted o
Everyone was silent. Just before entering the private dining room, Wyneth blurted out, "Is he really dying?" Hearing this, Andrew's steps halted. Before he could answer, she added, "How long does he have? Why didn't anyone say anything before?"Andrew sighed and turned around. "Is that why you're here?" Wyneth pursed her lips. A wave of uncertainty washed over Andrew. 'This mom and daughter,' he thought, 'they're here because they got it all wrong. Mom is acting differently toward Dad, too. She was all tough before, but now she's gone soft, probably thinks Dad is dying. And Dad? He's just laughing, like he's having a good time with all this mess.' Andrew hesitated, then said, "Let's talk inside." He chose to hold his words for now.Hayden and Wyneth walked into the private dining room. Cindy was passing dishes to Hector. As they entered, every pair of eyes turned their way. A divorced couple and six sons stared at Hayden. Used to the predictable world of leadership, Hayden now ventur
In the end, Wyneth decided to stay. She could see the honesty in Matilda's words and knew she was sincere. Recognizing Matilda as not her birth mother made Wyneth realize she should not hold her to the same expectations. With acceptance, she focused on building her future with Hayden, freeing herself from doubts and reservations.With Wyneth's decision to stay, Matilda's heart swelled with joy and immense honor. Realizing Wyneth's sincere intentions, not merely chasing the Hamilton family's wealth, transformed their relationship. Matilda's newfound warmth toward her was evident. Gifts, once withheld, now freely flowed into Wyneth's room. At auctions, Matilda eagerly bid on items for Wyneth. During jewelry store visits, Matilda generously bought her gifts, swiping her credit card without hesitation, and welcoming her nearly as a daughter.Wyneth received a call from her mother. Even after so many years, her mom, Cindy, was still bossy. "Your father isn't doing well. You should come to
Just at that moment, a knock sounded from outside."Sir, your mother is back," someone said.Hayden could feel the person in his arms stiffen, her body tensed. "Don't worry, I'm right here," he reassured her softly."Your mother heard that Ms. Walford is here. She wants to see her," the voice from outside continued.'Meet me?' Wyneth bit her lower lip lightly. 'Why does she want to see me? To insult me again?'"She hasn't eaten yet. She can meet her after eating," Hayden said, gently turning down the request for Wyneth. Outside, everything fell silent."Won't this offend your mom?" Wyneth's voice filled with concern as she asked.Hayden looked at Wyneth, pausing for a moment before speaking. "I know she's been mean to you," he said. Wyneth's eyes widened in surprise. "I'm sorry." He bent down and lightly kissed her forehead. "You've been treated unfairly." Seeing her blink, he added, "Let's eat first. After that, I'll go with you."Wyneth was a bit nervous, but not as anxious a
Hector was speechless as Cindy mistakenly thought he was ill. Seeing her worried face, he felt the misunderstanding might not be so terrible. He shared a look with Andrew. His eldest son caught on immediately, giving a subtle head shake. Understanding the signal not to mislead Cindy any further, Hector hesitated before gently asking, "Can I see her? Even just a glance?" It had been many years since he last saw his daughter up close, and she had not called him "Dad" in all that time.Cindy, lost in thought, stared at Hector before finally nodding as if admitting defeat. "Fine, I'll call her."Later, Wyneth fell asleep. Upon waking, she found herself on the large bed in Hayden's bedroom. She saw Hayden sitting at the sofa, busy with a computer.Hearing her movement, Hayden immediately got up and walked toward her. "Awake? Thirsty or hungry? Want something to eat first?"Having slept through lunch, Wyneth was hungry, so she nodded. "Sure."After Hayden left to give some instructions,
'He shifts moods so fast,' Wyneth thought as she stared at her unattended ringing phone.Observing her delay, Hayden asked, "What's going on?"In his mind, a thought flickered, 'She seems reluctant to take the call. Perhaps there's tension with her eldest brother?'"He's calling now; must be about him," Wyneth whispered."About your dad?"They had decided to be together, and Wyneth did not hide anything from him. "Yeah, my dad."Hayden did not utter a single word."I don't like him," Wyneth softly said, staring at her ringing phone. "Answer it for me and say I'm asleep," she whispered to Hayden as she cozied up to him. Without a word, Hayden picked up the phone and conveyed the message before ending the call.After ending the call, a curious Hector asked, "Well? Where is she?"Understanding the situation, Andrew said, "She didn't answer the phone; she's asleep."Despite hearing the words, Hector felt something was off. He sighed, "She really doesn't like me.""Don't worry, D
"Trouble recognizing faces? What do you mean?" Hector Spencer asked.Andrew sighed. "Dad, he's Wyneth's ex-husband."Hector's eyes widened in surprise. "He is? No wonder I didn't recognize him. I must've barely seen him before.""Is that what's bothering you?" Andrew asked."What else would it be?" Hector replied, still taken aback.Andrew sighed. His dad, Hector, was good at many things and never stayed mad at people. But there was one funny thing about him: he could never remember faces of people outside their family. "You don't mind?" Andrew asked.Smiling, Hector replied, "Mind what? She's told everyone, so she must be ready. I've never been the dad she favored. If I object now, won't she dislike me even more?"Andrew was left speechless by this. He had not expected Hector to have no objections. "Seems like someone doesn't need your approval."Changing the topic, Hector asked, "What about your mom? Is she back?" He had been living alone for many years.Andrew exhaled. "I t
Everyone rushed to check out Wyneth's Facebook and, sure enough, they saw her admitting to the relationship, along with a freshly taken selfie.At first, Wyneth only wanted to write a post. But after Hayden tasted the joy of going public with their relationship, he suggested taking a wefie for the official announcement. Feeling his excitement, Wyneth agreed. They posted the wefie on Facebook, captioned "Officially Together". Yet, Hayden was not done. He captured another photo, this time holding her hand, eager to share their love with the world.Since Hayden was not a celebrity or idol, he had no fan feelings to fret over. Eager to declare his love, he did not hold back. His photo captured his sharp features and dark, gem-like eyes that shone under the camera lights. The image showcased his palm holding Wyneth's fair, slender hand. Their contrasting hands highlighted his affection, radiating warmly from the photo.After the photo came out, everyone was shocked. This included fans, p