Chapter 225



.

“But she’s fine.” Seeing Joseph’s reaction, Magnus was quick to explain.

Joseph frowned and commented coldly, “Always biting off more than she can chew.” Joseph stood up and put the document down after a few seconds. He asked as he put on his coat, “What hospital are you in?”

“What?” Magnus was stunned. He realized he had answered wrong the moment Joseph asked where Hayden was. Magnus felt like he had dug his grave.

“What hospital is he in?” Joseph repeated impatiently.

Magnus muttered, “Miss Downey? is not admitted to any hospital.”

“She’s not admitted? Where is she, then?”

“Edison… took her away.”

Joseph’s face burned with anger after hearing Magnus’ reply.

“Mr. Beckham?” Magnus asked carefully, “Are we still going out?”

Joseph clenched his fists.

“Of course.”

“Where are we going?” Magnus was confused. “Miss Downey is not at the hospital: are we going to Edison’s? Mr. Beckham, I’m afraid that’s not appropriate-would you like to make a call to Miss Downey first?”

“You think I have nothing else to do but look for her?”

Joseph sounded cold, and there was a fire of anger in his eyes. Magnus felt exposed and tortured under the fire of Joseph’s anger.

Magnus played along with Joseph, “I didn’t mean that. Mr. Beckham, you are the dream man of every woman’s dreams in the city of N-Town. So, where are you headed?”.

“Stay here, stop following me.”

Joseph replied sourly and walked out of the office.

…

The room was playing The Blue Danube at a famous French restaurant in the city of N City.

Hayden removed the bandage from his head and put on a waterproof bandage. His wound was covered by his hair, so it wasn’t too obvious looking from afar.

“Don’t bring him any more expensive presents, he has enough toys to play with.”

Stella was opening Edison’s presents. Edison smiled and lightly pinched her cheek.

“Never mind the price. All I wanted was to give my little princess the best, otherwise she might run off with someone else.”

Stella replied, “Daddy, you’ve been working away all the time. I haven’t even seen you much. If you keep this up, I think it’s a great idea for Mom to start looking for a new daddy for me.”

“You’re ungrateful.” Edison acted angry and looked at Stella.

“It’s Elsa!” Stella jumped with excitement after opening her present.

She was too happy that she didn’t hear what Edison said.

“Look at her, she won’t take your words seriously.” Hayden rolled his eyes, then turned and looked at Edison, “You know what she did when we got back? She registered me on a dating site using my picture. I was speechless – how did he even know the steps on the app when he has such a limited vocabulary?”

Dating site?

Edison frowned, “Is that even necessary?”

“Of course not.” Hayden replied decisively.

A complicated expression came over Edison’s face. He knew what Hayden meant, but it was totally different from what he wanted to ask. It looked like it would take more effort to change Hayden’s mind.

Hayden and Edison talked at the table about what had happened in the U.S. They both had a good laugh when they talked about the embarrassment when they first met. It had been too long since Hayden had laughed like that.

On another side of the table where Hayden couldn’t see, Joseph and Addison were also eating dinner. There was an aisle and a grand piano between Hayden’s table and Joseph’s, so neither was aware of the other’s existence.

Addison was dressed decently. Her little black dress matched the French restaurant full of chandeliers. Addison asked hesitantly after sitting down, “Joseph, how’s Noah?”

“He’s fine.”

Joseph replied in a very dry manner.

Then a stony silence grew between them.

Joseph noticed the awkwardness between them. So he added, “Noah has been staying with his grandfather after being discharged from the hospital. He is now well cared for by maids and caregivers. He is doing well.”

In fact, Noah has improved a lot. The last time she went to visit him, he even started speaking short sentences. However, they were only short sentences.

He didn’t want to talk anymore.

Stella brought Noah to him and wanted to claim credit: “Joseph, I have a surprise for you. You’d better think about how to reward me.”

Stella then showed Joseph that Noah could talk. It was touching for Joseph.

Even though it was a long time ago, Joseph could still clearly remember the feeling.

“Noah is adorable. I like him, but he seems to like Hayden even more.”

Joseph frowned as soon as he heard Hayden’s name.

If it wasn’t for Noah, Hayden wouldn’t have the chance to get close to him at all.

“Joseph, I have a confession. I’ve wanted to tell you for a long time, but I didn’t dare. I don’t think I can take it much longer now.”

Addison sounded depressed as if she had poured out her courage to make this confession. She didn’t even dare to look into Joseph’s eyes.

“What do you want to tell me?”

Joseph looked at Addison and remembered why he was here.

Joseph originally wanted to visit Kevin when he got out of the office, but he got a call from Addison inviting him to lunch, saying he had something important to tell her.

Addison hesitated, “The hotel fire? it was me, but I didn’t do it on purpose. I…”

Addison didn’t notice that Joseph wasn’t paying attention to her. He was staring at the table across the aisle and beyond the bowing pianist.

It was the table of a family of three, and they looked happy from afar.

Joseph saw the bright smile on the face of the woman he hadn’t seen in a long time. It was a soothing, joyful smile that he rarely saw.

“Joseph, I…”

“I knew about the fire.”

Joseph stopped Addison before she could finish her sentence. She could only see a shadow quickly moving away. Addison lifted her head and looked across the hallway in surprise.

“Joseph, where are you going?”

Joseph looked furious as he walked down the middle of the aisle. He even shoved the waiters who got in his way. He made his way to a table on the other side of the dining room and left only a shadow for Addison as if she was just a prop.

“What are you doing here?”

A familiar voice rose and Hayden’s smile froze on his face. He lifted his head and saw Joseph with a very serious expression. The way Joseph was questioning Hayden sounded so plausible .

.

.

.