Chapter 81
Joanna was angry. “Well, I’ve been at it longer than you. Hayden doesn’t even care about pushing you off to someone else. That just shows he’s already sick of you”
She said, sill caught up in the bet, her tone dripping with amusement. “I can’t wait to see you make a fool of yourself in Zachary’s arms in front of
“Are you sure I’m going to lose!” I asked, a subtle, knowing smile playing on my lips.
There was a long pause on the other end of the line before Joanna finally spoke, her earlier confidence now completely gone. “It’s a done deal, isn’t it There’s no way it can change. Yvonne, stop trying to scare me.”
to use a fake contract to swindle
I was indeed trying to scare her, and I’d already succeeded halfway. “Harrison’s been colluding with someone to use a f Martin out of money
́s been playing the innocent, but do you think he knows that falsifying a contract is a criminal offense?”
He’s h
to dig for answers
Honestly. I wasn’t entirely sure if Harrison was behind all of it. I deliberately mentioned his name to get Joanna to
There was another long pause before she hesitantly replied, “S–stop scaring me. They signed directly with the Parker Group. How could it be fake?“:
“Don’t you just say Martin’s contract was fake?” I shot back, and she had no reply.
Her thoughts were all over the place. It was clear her brain wasn’t firing on all cylinders.
When she fell silent. I couldn’t help but smile coldly “Joanna, if I love, I’ll just have to dance with him. But if you lose, though, you’ll be out of a job”
With t
that Tended the cl
Joanna would be in a rush to find Harrison, and when she did, he’d have to figure out if Irene had slipped up and said something she shouldn’t have
As long as I kept an eye on Harrison. I might learn where Irene was hiding.
After a moment of thought, I called Marlon. “Could you keep an eye on Harrison! He might be going after Irene
“Sure,” Marion replied without hesitation. Then he asked, “How’s Ethan
“He’s good. And thanks again for introducing us,” I said, relaxing a little as I remembered how awkward Ethan had looked in his new clothes. I couldn’t help but smile at the thought.
Marion seemed pleased. “Glad to hear it. I let you know as soon as I have any updates.
After I finished speaking with Marlon, I turned around to find Hayden still deep in sleep
I reached over and touched his forehead. It wasn’t as hot as before, so it seemed the fever medicine was starting to work.
At last, I could relax a linde.
I had been so focused on everything else that I hadn’t realized Deborah and Rita had been discussing things d
“It’s already almost ten. Why haven’t they gotten up yet? Deborah asked, a little uncertain.
Gaven how things had gone last night, they both could tell what had happened.
downstairs for quite a while.
Deborah had expected.
This morning, they had purposely decided not to wait for them at breakfast, but the delay was longer than Deb
Hata peeked up at the stairs. “They should be up by now. Mrs. Parker, do you want me to go wake them?”
I wouldn’t be good to disturb them” Deborah shook her head
“Hight” Hita nodded, but the smile on her face couldn’t be hidden “Finally, Mr. Parker’s willing to be with Yvonne. Mrs. Parker, you should have
When Mr. Parker came back last night, his face was so dark. Nothing worked to cheer him up, but as soon as Yvonne went into the room, he actually seemed happy”
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Chapter 81
“Really?” Deborah’s eyes lit up, and after a moment of contemplation, she said, “Then let’s leave them alone. They must have had a long night. We can talk about it later, around noon.”
“Understood,” Rita responded respectfully and looked up at the stairs once more.
“They’re still not up this late? Looks like last night was quite an eventful one. Til better tell the kitchen to prepare some nourishing soup for Yvonne. Her health is fragile, and I’m not sure if she can handle it.
“Hut maybe, just maybe, Mr. Parker and Mrs. Parker could have a baby soon, Rita wondered.
By noon. Hayden finally woke up.
The sleep had left him groggy, and when he opened his eyes, he felt the heaviness of his eyelids
Gradually adjusting to the light, Hayden saw me sitting by the balcony on a lounge chair, flipping through a few files. On the glass round table, there was a laptop, covered with dense text that he couldn’t make out
Hayden hadn’t expected her to still be there, comfortably lounging in the chair.
The sunlight streamed gently through the window, warmly illuminating her exposed calf and her delicate feet under the hem of her skirt.
The ten fingers were neatly arranged, looking even rounder and more delicate in the sunlight, giving off a soft, charming vibe.
Hayden had never paid such close attention to her before.
In his memory, Yvonne was always chatty, constantly buzzing around him, talking nonstop. But right now, she was quiet and gentle, a stark contrast
to the ul
Hayden’s gaze traveled up from her smooth, pale calves.
The white skirt she wore hugged her curves, and the more it concealed, the more it teased the imagination.
His eyes darkened slightly, and he unconsciously swallowed hard,
1 must be sick, just looking at her like this, my body feels restless, Hayden thought.
Frustrated by the unsettling feelings, he tried to push them away. With effort, Hayden propped himself up, attempting to sit up.
The soft rustling sound caught my attention, and when I turned,
cl, I saw Hayden half–sitting, “You’re awake!”
I set down the documents in my hands, my face lighting up with relief as I rushed to his side. “Let me take your temperature:
I grabbed the thermometer and d measured his
It was ninety–eight degrees Fahrenheit.
temperature.
“Good. No more fever. You’re still a bit warm, but you should be fine now,” I said, letting out a long sigh of relief.
Hayden seemed too weak to protest, even the glare he gave me lacked the usual intensity,
“You’ve been here the whole time?” he asked.
“Well, what if you died while I wasn’t here?” I replied, slightly annoyed. I tucked the thermometer away and poured him a glass of water. “Now that you’re awake, I’m leaving. You’ve wasted my entire morning?
Hayden took the cup from me, taking a sips, his gaze never leaving me. “Where are you going?”
“To work, of course. I really don’t want to dance with Zachary,” I sighed in frustration, continuing to organize the documents on the table and fishing it soon.
Most of the paperwork came from the marketing department, concerning the mall’s stores. There were also a few things about contract law that I got from Stanley.
To outsmart Harrison, I needed to know my stuff.
I was about to leave warn Hayden spoke again. “Are you sure about this!”
“What does it matter if fin sure or host
Toro What d wice cold
difference does it maker You’re probably hoping Joanns wins, aren’t you?” I turned to look at him, my
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12:37 PM
Chapter 81
Haylen furrowed his brows, clearing his throat. “Harrison istil someon
someone to take liglatly. You?
“Maybe you should just worry about yourself, I interrupted, my impatience growing
It was Hayden who first dragged me into this, and it was him who made me the wager for Joanna. Now, acting all righteous and concerned was just
As I reached the door and grabbed the bundle, Rita’s voice suddenly Boated in from the hallway.
“Mr. Parker, Mrs, Parker, it’s time for lunch, she said.
Her voice was sodi, almost like a cautions probe,
I paused for a moment, my hand hovering over the doorknob, but just as I was about to turn it. Hayden responded. “Got it. We’ll be down in a bit.
AD