Chapter 216



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The rain pounded outside the window. In front of the French windows of the duplex apartment, Hayden was preparing a cup of floral tea for Edison. “My family was in chaos, so I let someone take care of Stella for the last few days. I’ll pick her up and invite you over for dinner when you’re free.”

“I’m free anytime.”

The man on the smoky gray cloth couch looked friendly with his glasses on. He had the characteristics of his age, being calm and confident, and even his demeanor gave others a sense of security, “Never mind the dinner, the important thing is that your father’s death, do you think you’re all right?”

“Death can’t be reversed, Edison. You already knew I don’t like to dwell on things that were taken for granted.” Hayden was exhausted, rubbing his temples.

He hadn’t been able to sleep well for the past two days.

Hayden’s father’s death was suspicious, but she couldn’t do much about it because of her status. Otherwise, she would inevitably be accused of being unhappy with the unfair distribution of her father’s inheritance and picking a fight.

She didn’t mind at all, but she didn’t want others talking about Stella behind her back.

“You deserve to have half of the Downey Family estate.”

“This really doesn’t matter to me at all.”

Edison sighed, looking helpless. “You just don’t want to get in trouble. You won’t move unless you’re forced to.”

“There’s nothing wrong with that. I just hope my life will be simpler.”

“Is it simple now?” Edison said in a deeper voice, “The Beckhams are a big family, and it won’t be simple with their family squabbles.”

Hearing this, Hayden was stunned for a moment, “You know everything?”

“It’s hard not to know.” Edison said weakly, “He’s always making headlines in Finance news from Asia and elsewhere. It seems your relationship with him is no longer a secret.”

Hayden leaned back on the couch and smiled, “Are you sure? Alayna already told you part of the reason, didn’t she?”.

Edison didn’t deny it.

Alayna was always happy to relay messages to Edison. Hayden and Edison had already been married before she met Alayna in the U.S. At that time, Edison had just passed the bottleneck in his career development and was in a state of steady ascent. Edison also provided financial assistance to Alayna, who was pursuing advanced design studies and facing financial difficulties.

Thus, a gift blinded the eyes of the wise.

Speaking of Alayna, Edison frowned, “Alayna is not in good shape, and I suggest she be admitted to the hospital for treatment. That Kevin fellow may not have the energy to take good care of her.”

“Don’t worry. The two of you are very close.”

Hayden waved his hand, showing that Edison had become overly concerned.

Edison then let out a long sigh and said, “It’s one thing to have good feelings and another to be able to care for a depressed patient. Apart from professional caregivers, no one can be able to watch a person twenty-four hours a day, because there are always times when he has to go out. If he goes out and something happens to him, who can take responsibility for it-the nanny?”

Hayden was unsure again after hearing what Edison said. “I’m going to talk to Kevin about it.”

“Well, as for the hospital, I’ve contacted the best depression treatment and rehabilitation center in the U. States. I suggest letting Alayna go there for her own good.”

“Estados U?” Hayden froze for a moment, “Kevin might not go for it.

After all, they would be a long way away and with a big time difference. Kevin would freak out if he actually let Alayna go.

“Then let’s see if he’s doing it for himself or if it’s really for Alayna’s sake.” Edison was too insensitive, not even considering the feelings of others.

But this was understandable to Hayden. After all, Edison didn’t know Kevin, and he thought everything from Alayna’s point of view.

“Okay. I’ll talk to Kevin about this.”

Hayden frowned as he responded. But it would be difficult until the moment he actually talked about it.

They were so engrossed in conversation that it was already dark by the time they dismissed Edison. Lorraine waved her hand in the night, signaling Hayden to return.

Hayden nodded, gathered around him and turned away. A gust of wind blew through the foyer as he opened the door and, for a moment, the rain lashed down. He couldn’t help but shiver as he felt the cold.

The elevator was going up quickly.

The elevator door slowly opened behind a ringing bell and Hayden lowered his head, heading for home. The sound of his pressing the code was clearly heard in the hallway. When he opened the door, the fragrance of flowering tea permeated the house.

She headed to the kitchen to reheat the water. As she looked at the kettle, a man’s voice suddenly sounded behind her, startling her.

“What are you thinking?” Hayden exclaimed, covering her chest as she turned and saw someone standing in the incandescent light of the living room. She couldn’t see his face, but he was recognizable.

It was Joseph Beckham.

“You scared the hell out of me.” Hayden squeezed his fluttering heart, “God, when did you come, weren’t you in S-Town?”

Joseph replied deadpan, “The project ended and I came back when I heard about your father’s accident.”

The two days of heavy rains in S City had caused all flights to be delayed. Roads were closed due to many accidents on the highway. And there were no flights until this morning.

Hayden still hadn’t recovered from the shock of a moment ago, hands still shaking, clutching the marble table and panting. “You should have greeted me when you came back, not showed up at my house out of the blue. It’s scary, I regret giving you the password to my house.”

Hayden was just grumbling, but Joseph took that comment differently.

“You don’t just regret this thing, do you?”. Joseph took a step forward, water dripping on the floor, leaving dirty spots on it.

Only then did Hayden realize he was soaked to the bone, “What happened to you, why did the rain get you, where’s Magnus?”

Joseph seemed not to have heard Hayden, looked sorrowfully at Hayden across the marble kitchen counter and said in an icy tone, “Where is that man? You’ve thrown him out, haven’t you?”.

Joseph couldn’t believe that, at that moment, Hayden was standing in front of him as if nothing had happened. He could still meet him openly after having thrown another man out of this house.

Hayden’s heart missed a beat after being questioned by Joseph. “What man?”

She simply blurted out, fighting back by asking him. In fact, she had already guessed that Joseph might have seen Edison.

“You’re asking me?” Joseph felt ridiculous, staring at Hayden with a sense of contempt and disappointment, “Are you going to keep it from me unless I tell you myself what I saw?”

“Edison and I are just friends. You took it the wrong way.”

Hayden held his forehead, finally knowing why Joseph was so emotional all of a sudden.

“A friend?” His scoffing sounded in the large room was clear and distinguishable.

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