Chapter 221



“Hayden, things have been chaos for the past two days. It would be best if you didn’t attend Chelsea’s funeral.”

It was Freddie’s voice along with some audio tuning noises coming from the other end of the phone.

“I’d be fine if I’m unaware, but I can’t be absent knowing there’s a funeral. She’s dead, I should at least pay my respects, there’s nothing else to discuss.”

Hayden fixed his black shirt and pants in front of the mirror, pulled his hair into a ponytail and listened to Freddie’s sigh through his wireless headset. “Okay then, be careful. I can’t go now, but maybe I can make it a little later.”

“Okay.” Hayden said yes and told her, “Be careful on the way.”

Chelsea fell off a building and at first it was said to be an accident, but after questioning some directors who were present at the scene, it was revealed that she jumped. Everything was chaos at the scene.

And Sofia Mason was the initiator of all this chaos.

Chelsea had died, her uncle at least had handled the situation quite well, he contacted everyone he could, including Hayden.

Other than the wreaths, there was only black and white at the funeral. There weren’t many guests. At first Hayden thought he had gotten the time mixed up, but on second thought, who would want to get involved with the Downey Group after what had happened?

Hayden bowed at the grave and walked over to Chelsea’s uncle. “I’m sorry for your loss.”

“Yes.” Chelsea’s uncle nodded, his eyes looking red-rimmed, “Despite having a slightly bad temper, Chelsea was a good girl.”

Hayden couldn’t disagree more, but he said nothing out of respect for the deceased, simply nodded and prepared to walk away.

“Wait!” Chelsea’s uncle called, “Chelsea jumped off the building due to the extreme stress she experienced after what happened to the company, as a daughter of the Downey Family, don’t you think you’re responsible too?”

Hayden frowned when he heard that, but kept his cool, “I have no stake in the Downey Group, Dad didn’t leave me anything in his will and I have nothing to do with the company. If you’re still confused, you can call Lionel…”.

“I don’t want to talk to a lawyer, I want to talk to you.” The middle-aged man looked blue, “Bentley messed everything up and left, you’re his daughter, you can’t just stand by and do nothing.”

Hayden found this funny and said sarcastically. “None of you stood up for me when the will was announced.”

“That’s a whole different story.”

Chelsea’s uncle’s face turned somber. “You need to clear things up with us in front of Chelsea, this company belongs to the Downey Family, who should take over if you don’t?”.

“Whoever wants to can take over!”.

Explore gαℓησv𝒆ℓs․com for fresh content Freddie’s voice was heard from around a corner, Hayden was still puzzled when someone pulled her behind a man. She lifted her head and saw Cleveland Sanchez standing next to Freddie.

“Get my sister out of here.”

Freddie ordered Cleveland. He then took off his sunglasses and gave everyone a fierce look.

Hayden was pulled aside by Cleveland as Freddie spoke.

“Birds of a feather flock together. I knew there was a motive behind that invitation card. Why, are you trying to bully my sister, who has no one on her side? Do you want her to fix this mess? You scorned her when you split the fortune, but now you suddenly realize that Bentley Downey has another daughter after you’ve ruined everything.

“We can’t leave Freddie alone among those wolves….”. Hayden was worried.

“It’s okay.” Cleveland walked without turning around, bundled Hayden into a car and explained, “There are people with him.”

Hayden looked out into a crowd of people watching Cleveland.

“Who are you to talk?” Chelsea’s uncle’s fierce look showed, he spoke viciously, ” You’re Freddie aren’t you? You’re nothing more than a stray dog picked up by the Downey Family, what right do you have to get involved?”.

Hayden bristled at his words, but saw Cleveland in his dapper suit leaning against the car door calmly.

“He who spoke has a potty mouth.”

As soon as he finished, a shout was heard from the crowd. Despite the distance, there was the sound of cracking ribs accompanied by a scream of agony.

“Don’t worry, it’s all on me, go on.”

The screams from the crowd became more frequent and louder.

Hayden looked at Cleveland in surprise before seeing a black wireless headset in his right ear.

It seemed the crowd was under his orders to protect Freddie, no wonder he could be so calm.

Hayden felt relieved, sad and ridiculous at the same time as she watched the fight.

Sofia and her daughter had been scheming all their lives, appointing positions of power in the Downey Group to all their despicable relatives. With Chelsea dead and Sofia unaccounted for, all her beloved relatives could think about was how to rebuild the Downey Group so they could continue to enjoy the fortune.

Cleveland took Hayden home after the funeral.

“It’s best to cut ties with them, they’re all crazy.”

Freddie sat on the couch and said to Hayden, “Something bad could have happened if I hadn’t gotten there in time.”

Hayden was neither an idiot nor a saint, she wouldn’t sacrifice herself and sink into the group’s power dispute, she nodded and looked at Cleveland.

“Señor Sanchez was always by your side today, wasn’t he?”.

Freddie’s face changed and he almost choked on water when he heard that, “It’s not what you think, we’re…friends.”

“Really?” Hayden looked up at Cleveland suspiciously.

Freddie was a shy guy, he could only hear the truth from Cleveland.

Cleveland looked at Freddie, “Yeah, sort of.”

“What do you mean, more or less?” Hayden asked.

“Everyone defines the word friend differently, if he said yes, then he is.”

Hayden was puzzled. “Can you be more specific?”

“He’s the only friend I have.” So that was the truth.

Hayden looked at Freddie with a smile, watched his fair skin slowly turn pinkish, and asked intentionally.

“Fred, why are you blushing?”.

“I’m not.” Freddie’s face stiffened and he said, “I feel hot.”

“We’re entering fall, hot you said?”. Hayden’s face was full of mischief.

“I feel hot, your house is too hot, I’m not staying, I’m leaving…”.

As soon as Freddie stood up, Cleveland, who was in standby mode, quickly got to his feet and straightened his suit. “I’ll give you a ride.”

From Hayden’s point of view, it was clear that Freddie blushed even more.

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