Chapter 9

As the meetup concluded, everyone got up, wanting to leave the hotel together.

Wyneth felt dizzy and swayed when she stood up. Luckily, Shaun, who was beside her, lent a supportive hand and asked in a hushed tone, "Are you okay?"

Wyneth put on a nonchalant smile. "I'm fine. My legs just fell asleep from sitting too long. You don't have to help me."

She brushed off Shaun's assistance and made her way outside, not even realizing that she was walking unsteadily in her high heels.

While waiting for the elevator, Wyneth leaned against the wall, unconcerned about her appearance.

Despite her casual posture, her natural beauty and curvy figure exuded a lazy and carefree charm. Plus, her typically fair cheeks had flushed slightly, making her all the more adorable.

Everyone could not help but steal glances at her. They marveled at her boldness for acting so carelessly in front of the powerful and influential bigshot in the showbiz industry.

Ding.

The elevator arrived, and everyone stood still, waiting for Hayden to enter first. But to their surprise, Wyneth leaned against one of the elevator doors and squeezed in ahead of him. Hayden followed with long strides and stood next to her, while the others voluntarily crowded to the opposite side.

The elevator doors closed, and the lift began its slow descent.

Suddenly, from the corner where Wyneth was standing, came a quiet whimper. She quickly crouched down in discomfort. "Ugh," she muttered.

Hayden's expression changed slightly as he squatted down to support Wyneth's arm. "Are you okay?" he asked with concern.

Shaun, who had been about to step forward, froze in place, awkwardly and strangely watching the scene unfold. He could not help but wonder, 'Hayden Hamilton is actually showing care for Wyneth?! Is he interested in her?'

Wyneth's voice was soft and mellow with a heavy nasal tone, a clear indication of her drunken state. "I'm feeling dizzy," she replied, eliciting a wave of pity from anyone who heard her.

Hayden's lips twitched, and a resigned expression briefly crossed his dark eyes. "You were the one who said you could drink. If you can't handle it, then don't drink. Why do you need to act cool?"

Wyneth fell silent as she was crouching there. Hayden noticed her collar was slightly open. He wanted to take off his jacket to cover her but she suddenly burst in anger, violently waving his hand away. As she glared up at Hayden, tears glistening in her beautiful eyes, she shouted, "Get away from me! Who do you think you are? Why do you think you have the right to control me?"

Hayden's eyebrows twitched.

The others in the elevator thought, 'She just lashed out at Hayden Hamilton! Is she crazy, or does she not care about her acting career anymore?' They shuddered, feeling the hair on the back of their necks stand up.

Ding.

The elevator arrived at the ground floor, and the doors opened.

Hayden cast a cold glance at everyone and spoke in a stern tone, "You all may exit now."

Ruby, Mandy, and Matthew immediately exited the elevator. However, Shaun, who had brought Wyneth there, was unwilling to leave. He stood his ground and nervously addressed Hayden. "Mr. Hamilton, I know this might offend you, but as someone who brought Wyneth here, I feel responsible for her. She's drunk and not in the right state of mind, so... I'd appreciate it if you could let me take her back." Inside, Shaun thought, 'I'd rather risk upsetting Hayden Hamilton than shirk my duty as Wyneth's manager!'

Hayden looked up and fixed him with a cold stare. "You've got some nerve. You are responsible," he paused, then added, "but I can't just hand over my drunk wife to another man, even if he is her manager."

Shaun was taken aback and at a loss for words. It was like he had heard something, but also like he had not. His mind felt like a jumbled mosaic.

It was not until Jake pulled Shaun's arm resignedly and said, "Come on, Mr. Chapman," that Shaun snapped out of his daze.

"Just now—" Shaun began, but Jake cut him off with a finger to his lips and a sly grin. "Shh. Sometimes it's better to pretend you didn't hear anything. Don't you agree?"

Shaun licked his lips, still reeling from what he had just heard. 'Hayden and Wyneth are married?' he thought in disbelief.

"Let's figure out how to explain this to the others." Jake pointed to the three people who kept their distance from the elevator as soon as they got out of it. Shaun glanced over and felt a headache coming on from the thought of their inevitable questions and gossip.

Meanwhile, Hayden took off his jacket, intending to drape it over Wyneth's shoulders. Initially, Wyneth complied and remained still, but within seconds, she began to protest again and insisted on taking off the jacket.

Frowning, Hayden grabbed her slender wrist and held it firmly. His tone was cold as he asked, "What are you doing?"

"I don't want to wear it. I'm hot!" she retorted.

The drink she had earlier was causing a burning sensation in her stomach, and she felt feverish and overheated all over.

As she struggled, her collar shifted, revealing a hint of cleavage. Despite feeling provoked, Hayden managed to keep his emotions in check and maintained a firm grip on her wrist. "You have to wear it, even if you're hot," he said sternly.

"I'm not wearing it! No one can tell me what to do. I won't listen to anyone!" Wyneth stubbornly declared, but Hayden easily overpowered her. After all the struggle, she ended up exhausted, gasping for air, and slumped against Hayden's chest. Her breath was hot and humid, and she exhaled onto his neck.

Hayden tensed up at the sensation and lowered his head to look at Wyneth in his arms, his expression slightly puzzled.

When Wyneth was still staying at the Hamilton residence, he did not pay much attention to her appearance, but he knew that she always dressed in simple and comfortable clothes.

Hayden's impression of Wyneth was simple and pure.

But today, he saw her standing in front of him wearing a gold high-slit dress and nearly ten-centimeter-high heels. Her firm and delicate thighs were faintly visible, stunningly beautiful. He was also curious about her current personality, which was willful and completely different from the obedient Wyneth he knew at the Hamilton residence. Hayden wondered, 'Can a person have two personalities?'

"It's so hot," Wyneth sighed.

Hayden glanced at the floor buttons and said to his assistant behind him, "They must have left. Let's go down again."

Once they reached the ground floor, Hayden took Wyneth's hand and said, "Let's go."

Wyneth was still squatting in place, her eyes made her looking like a helpless little deer. "I don't want to go," she said with a pitiful tone.

Hayden narrowed his eyes. "Aren't you hot anymore?"

Wyneth's red lips parted, but before she could say anything, Hayden said, "I'll take you to a cool place."

With that, he took her hand and Wyneth did not resist this time. She followed him for a few steps, swaying unsteadily. But she then refused to go any further. She stood there with a pained expression on her face.

"I... I don't want to go. I don't feel well."

However, Hayden lifted her up in his arms as soon as she finished speaking. Wyneth felt weightless, instinctively wrapping her arms around his neck and burying her head in his chest.

They had never been this close at the Hamilton residence. Hayden was emotionally detached from women, and Wyneth did not dare to approach him. This was the first time since their marriage that they had such a physically intimate moment.