Sophia was shocked. She anxiously followed up with questions, “Kevin knows you’re a woman? How did he find out?” It was the first time anybody ever doubted that her daughter was not a man. Once the shock subsided, Sophia was hit with a wave of a pleasant surprise. For Kevin to suspect her daughter’s gender, it could only mean that Kevin believed Hayden was a woman. It was probably why Kevin was wooing Hayden now. In that case, Sophia’s daughter had a chance to marry into the York family so long as Kevin had no interest in the wife candidate Old Mrs. York picked for him. Sophia was on a roller coaster of emotions. Getting a headache, Hayden replied, “I don’t know what started the suspicion, but I’m certain that I gave away nothing.” The longest time she ever spent with Kevin was over the weekend. Oftentimes, it was only an occasional encounter that was kept brief. They had not hung out a lot. Other people who had been in Hayden’s company daily never suspected she w
Sophia said, “Yeah. The Yorks raised outstanding children.” Since Kevin was wooing her daughter and had his doubts about her daughter’s gender, Sophia finally saw hope again. Sophia had always admired Kevin. “Donald, what’s your take about Kevin seeing through Hay’s disguise? She’s been playing a man for over two decades. I wouldn’t believe she’s a woman if she didn’t come from my womb. Hay puts on a convincing show.” “What did Hay say?” “Apparently, Kevin had a gut feeling that she wasn’t a man.” Donald gleefully praised Kevin once more. “The boy has a discerning eye and a keen intuition. He’s definitely raised well.” Sophia had no words. “Honey, it doesn’t matter how Kevin saw through Hay’s disguise. The only thing that matters is that Kevin doesn’t swing the other way, and he’s pursuing our daughter. I’m in favor of this son-in-law.” “Me too.” Sophia grew certain that Kevin would make a good son-in-law. Although nothing concrete had happened between Kevin and H
Hayden callously turned down the offer. “I don’t want to drink with you, Ms. Celine. Excuse me.”Surrounded by her security detail, Hayden walked past Celine. As Hayden brushed past, Celine cried out to Hayden, but Hayden refused to give her the time of the day. Hayden simply walked on. Celine stamped her foot in rage. Although the Fishers were not the wealthiest in Jensburg, the family was in the circle of the rich and powerful. People would always suck up to her every time she attended social events. Celine was no short of suitors, but these men were merely on their parents’ bankroll and had nothing to show for it. Her privileged life with the Fishers gave Celine her arrogance, so Celine believed she deserved better than these men who were living off their parents. Still, all the good and remarkable men out there steered clear of Celine because they knew they would have to take the Fishers’ last name rather than vice versa. Only these incapable trust babies would go for
“Kevin York has no shame. Mr. Hayden is giving him the cold shoulder, but he just clings to Mr. Hayden to no end.” Emma looked over at Kevin and commented, “Kevin has advantages over you all. He’s a guy, and I mean, a guy of power and wealth. The Queen Enterprise would think twice before making York Corporation their enemy. Mr. Hayden’s bodyguards couldn’t even stop Kevin.” It only fueled Celine’s jealousy further. After taking another large gulp of red wine, Celine asked Emma, “Where’s Caroline?” “I don’t know where she’s hiding. I didn’t see her.” Emma did not take to Caroline. For starters, Caroline grew up in a rural area. Sure, Caroline had a natural grace to her. It did not take much dressing up for Caroline to outshine Celine now that the former was back in her rightful place with the Fisher family. Still, Emma could not stand Caroline, getting the idea that Caroline was sly. Caroline behaved discreetly and meekly in the Fishers’ residence, but she quietly chippe
Many women became upset as Hayden approached Caroline. Celine jumped out of nowhere and came in Hayden’s way. With a dazzling smile, Celine asked, “Mr. Hayden, can I have this dance with you?” Hayden solemnly refused, “I’m sorry, Ms. Celine. I have a dance partner.” She then brushed past Celine and reached Caroline’s table in no time. Caroline was in food heaven when she realized a lot of people were staring at her. She picked her head up and met the gaze of Hayden who was standing before her. Dumbstruck at first, Caroline then flashed her pearly whites at Hayden. “How can I help you, Mr. Hayden?” Kevin tagged along. While Kevin sauntered past Celine, Celine tried to put her foot out to trip Kevin. In Celine’s mind, Kevin was her strongest rival, and his gender did not matter. She wanted her rival to trip and embarrass himself in public. Alas, Celine underestimated her opponent and was too full of herself. To think she would try to outsmart Kevin. Picking up on
Hayden very righteously testified for Caroline, “Madam Fisher, I can testify for Ms. Caroline. She had been sitting here eating and only stood up when I asked her for a dance.” “I didn’t say it was you who made Celine fall. It’s just that you were so close to her, and yet you didn’t come and help her up when you saw her fall.” It was no secret in Jensburg that Madam Fisher favored her adopted daughter. As soon as she said that, everyone criticized her internally for being a foolish and inconsiderate old woman. Her adopted daughter fell, and she blamed her biological daughter for not going to help. Did Celine not know how to get up herself? What the hell did her fall have to do with Caroline? “Yeah. Celine fell so embarrassedly, but you just stood there watching, Caroline. Where’s the sisterly love? You didn’t help her up at all. Are you happy seeing Celine being in a sorry state?” The person who spoke was Emma. It was not Caroline’s fault, but she also wanted Celine to
“Mom, my head hurts a little, and I also twisted my foot.” Celine said pitifully, “Mom, I fell because I accidentally bumped into Mr. Kevin. It has nothing to do with Caroline, so you and Emma shouldn’t blame her anymore.” She looked at Kevin again and blamed him resentfully, “Mr. Kevin, why did you trip me? I know you like Mr. Hayden too and are openly pursuing him, so we’re love rivals, but you can’t treat me like this.” Madam Fisher frowned and asked her daughter, “It was Mr. Kevin who tripped you?” Kevin shouted, “Ms. Celine, you can spew what you eat, but don’t talk nonsense. It was you who tried to trip me but didn’t have enough strength, so you made me jump, but I didn’t fall. Instead, you lost your footing and fell. You reap what you sow—you deserve it!” One could not distort the truth in front of Kevin. He alone could have heated disputes against ten-plus love rivals and would still remain undefeated. There was no way Celine could blame him. Kevin also did not
Celine wanted to argue for herself, but she just lowered her head and apologized to her mom when she saw her serious face. “Mom, I’m sorry. It was my fault this time.” She took two steps forward and affectionately took Madam Fisher’s arm as she said coquettishly, “Mom, I know I was wrong, so don’t be mad. I just really adore Mr. Hayden. It was competitive, to begin with, and Mr. Kevin is in the picture now. We can’t get close to Mr. Hayden because we’re women. “On the other hand, Mr. Kevin can get close to Mr. Hayden such that Mr. Hayden’s bodyguards can’t do anything to him. He’s even openly pursuing Mr. Hayden and arranged a sea of flowers in front of Queen Enterprise. “I was jealous of Mr. Kevin, so I couldn’t help but do that at that moment. I didn’t expect him to react so quickly. Instead of tripping him, I tripped over him. The fall was so painful, and I also embarrassed myself.” Celine gritted her teeth again at the thought of her fall earlier. She had never been so