Chapter 68
At Hayden’s words, both he and Joanna tumed to look at me.
Even Richard, who had been silent all this time, couldn’t help but cast a glance my way.
There was sympathy but also a sense of helplessness in his eyes.
As an outsider, Richard probably had the clearest perspective.
There were so many times when I really didn’t want to be involved in this mess, but things never seemed to go the way I wanted.
Joanna was Hayden’s precious darling, and I knew better than to say too much.
After taking a deep breath, I smiled and tossed the hot potato back to Hayden. “I think we should go with Mr. Parker’s decision.”
Since Joanna is his mistress, of course, he should figure this out,’ I thought to myself
Zachary probably expected that I would take this chance to kick them while they were down, but instead, I didn’t say a word, which left him looking a little surprised,
It was well known that I had been in love with Hayden for years. I had waited so long for his return, only to have another woman swoop in and steal my chance. Surely, I was harboring some bitterness.
But what he didn’t understand was that there were plenty of people who had already given up-
Joanna glared at me.
her teeth clenched, as though she wished I would just vanish on the spot.
I raised an eyebrow, thinking, ‘Maybe I should have just gone along with Zachary’s words earlier and had her fired?
Hayden’s gaze was cold and filled with something I couldn’t quite place. It left me confused.
1 didn’t even take the opportunity to kick her while she was down. Shouldn’t he be thanking me? I thought.
After a long silence, Hayelen finally spoke up, his lips curling slightly
“Zachary, it’s been a year, and you’ve gotten quite ruthless, Joanna might have made some mistakes, but firing her isn’t necessary,” Hayden said.
It was rare for Hayden to speak this much in one go.
He’s setting the stage, isn’t he? He’s trying to find a way to excuse Joanna, I thought to myself.
“I’m not concerned. You do what you want with your people. But as for the board members, they’re going to be harder to explain to. And the media once they catch wind of this, they’ll blow it out of proportion
“If the Parker Group’s stock drops because of this, who’s going to take responsibility?” Zachary quickly shot down Hayden’s words.
Anything else could be considered small potatoes, but once the company’s interests were involved, things got much more complicated.
“So, what do you think should be done?” Hayden asked, his tone a little sharper, cutting through the roundabout conversation.
Zachary had been waiting for this moment. He smiled and said, “Here’s the deal. I know the marketing department is handling a dispute with one
of the stores.
If Ms. Charlotte can resolve that, I’ll trust her abilities and let the previous issue slide. How does that sound?”
I frowned, surprised by his proposal
Normally, if the marketing department couldn’t settle a dispute, it meant the other party was brutal.
Joanna tends to speak without thinking Does Zachary really believe she can handle this! I thought.
As I was still processing this, Zachary added another condition. “Of course, Mr. Parker, you can’t use any of your influence to help. If you do, it won’t count, even if the succecil”
Jouanna became even more panicked. Everything she had achieved so far had been with Haysden’s help.
Without his backing, she’d be nothing.
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Chapter 68
Zachary was clearly setting her up to fail.
“Hayden,” she said, her eyes filled with tears, looking at him with a mix of helplessness and pity.
Hayden’s brows furrowed, and his cold, piercing gaze tumed toward me. “Since this is about proving her abilities, Yvonne, you’ll have to join in as
well.
His words were ice–cold, each one like a steel blade cutting through the air, aimed directly at me.
Why is he dragging me into this when it’s Joanna’s problem!” I thought, completely confused.
1 frowned in disbelief, my eyes filled with a deep sense of helplessness. “I don’t understand what you mean, Mr. Parker.”
Is he really going to use me as a scapegoat for Joanna’s mistakes I thought, feeling a pang of frustration.
“You and Joanna started at the company on the same day. Since Zachary doubts Joanna’s capabilities, he probably doesn’t trust yours either. This is your chance to prove yourself, Hayden said, his tone all high and mighty.
Joanna seemed also a little stunned, still processing Hayden’s sudden move.
Zachary’s quick mind didn’t miss a beat. He immediately caught on. “Mr. Parker, are you trying to find Ms. Charlotte a partner? Setting aside whether Mrs. Parker will help, if she gets involved and the task isn’t completed, what will be her punishment?”
Hayden narrowed his eyes dangerously, a strong, almost oppressive aura radiating from him, making the air feel thicker around us.
“She’s my wife. Are you suggesting you want to fire her? Hayden’s cold voice sliced through the tension like a knife.
His unspoken kingly anger seemed to affect everyone in the room.
Zachary burnedly waved his hand, trying to backpedal 1 didn’t mean that. How could I fire Mrs Parker‘ I would be lucky if she didn’t fire me
As he spoke, he looked at me with a meaningful gaze.
1 gritted my teeth, fally aware that Zachary would not let this go so easily.
Sure enough, he spoke again a moment later. “There’s a ball in two weeks. I’ve been struggling to find a partner. How about we set the deadline for two weeks? If Mrs. Parker loses, she’ll be my partner for the ball. What do you think!”
As soon as the words left Zachary’s mouth, even Richard gasped in shock
Everyone knew I was Hayden’s wife, and as such, I could only be his partner. Yet Zachary boldly singled me out, demanding that I be his
Zachary was making it clear he didn’t care for Hayden’s authority,
And
apan from that he was showing no respect for me.
“Mr. Swanson, please show some respect,” I said, my voice cold, making it clear I wouldn’t tolerate this kind of treatment.
I wasn’t some toy for them to play with.
Zachary blinked in surprise, then awkwardly raised his hands in surrender. “Sorry, Mrs. Parker, Please don’t misunderstand. I’m simply in need of a partner, and I have the utmost respect for you.”
I studied Zachary’s face, seeing no hint of sincerity in his expression.
I had been ready to dismiss this ridiculous bet, but before I could say anything, Hayden’s emotionless voice cut through the tension.
“Okay,” he nodded.
His words were colder than the wind atop a snow–covered mountain, cutting through the air like a thousand tiny blades. The chill of them sank into my chest, like a sharp pain that didn’t ease.
I looked up at Hayden in disbelief, my fingers trembling slightly,
He had brought Joanna back and had shielded her at every
ry turn. I didn’t care about that.
But now, for Joanna’s sake, he was willing to disregard everything, including the two families‘ reputation and even mine.
“Hayden, do you even know what you’re saying?” I was furious.
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Chapter 68
My hands clenched into fists as I glared at him intensely.
Who he loved, or who he pitied, didn’t concerns me anymore, but he couldn’t use me as a stepping stone.
But even as I seethed with anger. Hayden simply looked at me, his eyes cold and dead, like a stagnant pond. There was no trace of emotion, no hint of understanding.
It was clear by now. I meant nothing to him.
At that moment, the full weight of the truth bit me. I wasn’t even as important to Hayden as Joanna’s little finger.
The tension in the room deepened, and Joanna, noticing Hayden’s clear favoritism, flashed a smug smile in my direction.
Her expression said it all. “See! Hayden only cares about me. You don’t mean anything to him. If another man raped you. Hayden wouldn’t even
linch”
Zachary jumped in, sensing an opening. “Mr. Parker, you’re quite the man of your word. But to help Joanna, you’re willing to sacrifice your own wife? Are you really willing to do that”
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