Chapter 415 William and Hayden (16)
But this time, Hayden didn't give her a chance. She cut her off mid-sentence with her cry of outrage and threw the accusation right back at Finn.
"Nikolai, he ... he drugged your drink, Hayden. You must be mistaken," said Sophia, her expression freezing momentarily before she forced a smile. "You know, Nikolai has not only always adored you but has also always treated you with respect and care. Most importantly, Nikolai has always been a good kid without a bad bone in his body. He would never do something like drugging your drink."
"So you're saying I'm falsely accusing Nikolai?" Hayden asked with a faint smile, her expression easing, devoid of any hint of anger.
Finn stood there glaring at Hayden, silent for a moment.
"Hayden, auntie didn't mean that," Sophia, ever so sharp, immediately chuckled to soothe Hayden, "What I mean is, even if Nikolai did drug you, it certainly wasn't his idea. Some dubious friends must've instigated him."
"Is that so?" Hayden smiled lightly, "If I'm not mistaken, Nikolai is already twenty-six this year, quite something for a brainless Liam of the Johnson family."
Sophia was momentarily left speechless by Hayden's retort.
"Even if Nikolai is a halfwit led astray to drug you, you shouldn't have hurt him so badly. Were you trying to kill him?" Seeing Sophia speechless, Finn bellowed.
"Raymond, it wasn't intentional. I just lost control in a moment of anger and accidentally hurt him. I swear it wasn't on purpose." Hayden looked at Finn, giving in a bit.
Otherwise, she'd be the only one to suffer.
"Not on purpose?!" Finn roared again, "Not on purpose, and you nearly wrecked his manhood? I think you did it deliberately."
"Raymond, am I your daughter, or is Nikolai your son? Don't you trust me at all? Nikolai tried to drug and rape your daughter, doesn't that hurt you at all?" Hayden's eyes slowly reddened, trying hard to muster layers of tears.
The emotional card – who didn't know how to play it? She couldn't let Sophia gain the upper hand.
"You..." Sure enough, as Hayden's eyes turned red, beginning to glimmer with tears, Finn's heart started to soften.
"Hayden, you misunderstand Raymond. He cherishes and cares about you the most. How could he not trust you?" Seeing Finn soften, Sophia quickly jumped in to play the good guy, "We just haven't figured out the whole story yet. Raymond is just anxious and worried about you. Otherwise, how could we have flown to London so quickly?"
"Raymond, no matter what, things have already happened. Punish or scold me as you see fit. I'll accept it." Hayden glanced at Sophia and then bowed her head in a show of acceptance of guilt.
Clearly, Finn's heart had softened, so now was the time to strike while the iron was hot.
"Finn, don't be angry anymore. Hayden is the princess you treasure in your palm. How can you punish or scold her? Let's leave this matter behind and not speak of it anymore. Let's have breakfast first!" Sophie smiled and considerately pulled on Finn.
"Hmph!" Sophia's phrase, "the princess you've coddled in the palm of your hand," once again reignited Finn's smoldering ire. He scoffed dismissively and bellowed, "It's because she's been spoiled rotten from day one that she's become so brazen, daring to do anything."
"Raymond, if Mom were still here, knowing someone drugged me with the intent to rape, she would have fought to the death," Hayden said, tears spilling as she watched Finn erupt with fury again.
Her final move was to invoke her mother. If bringing up her mom didn't work, it meant Finn was truly under Sophia's spell, no longer worthy of being her father.
The moment Hayden mentioned her mother, Mia, a flicker of panic crossed Sophia's eyes.
Turning to Finn and seeing a hint of his touched expression, Sophia quickly grasped his arm, her face etched with sorrow, "Yeah, Finn, if my sister were here, she would never let Hayden suffer! It's all my fault. If it wasn't for me, she wouldn't have left us so soon, and Hayden wouldn't have to endure these hardships."
With that, Sophia forced two tears out and raised her hand to wipe them from the corner of her eye.
Hayden narrowed her eyes, watching Sophia steadily as she affectionately referred to her mother as 'sister.' Hayden was on the brink of losing control, longing to rush forward, slap Sophia hard, and tear her mouth apart.
But she couldn't; she could only bear it.
"What nonsense are you spouting? You're just too kind-hearted, always looking out for the two of them. Look at her. Does she look like she's been wronged?" Sophia's words fell, and immediately, Finn wrapped his arms around her, consoling her. Then, turning with a scowl to Hayden, he yelled, "Get on your knees and apologize to your aunt!"
"Apologize?!" Hayden couldn't hold back a mocking laugh at the sight of Finn and Sophia, "What am I apologizing for? Is it because you would rather have... me raped by Nikolai?"
Smack!
Before Hayden could finish her last words, Finn suddenly raised his hand and slapped her face.
In the blink of an eye, the sharp sound of the slap echoed through the large living room, and everyone watching fell silent, not daring even to breathe.
"Finn, how could you hit......."
"An apology, right?" Hayden interrupted Sophia's feigned shock coldly and then dropped to her knees with a "thump."
There was nothing she could do but capitulate to Finn's demands.
So, if an apology was what they wanted, that's what she would give.
Head bowed, tears slid down her cheeks once more.
Those tears were borne of immeasurable desolation and pain.
"I'm sorry, I was wrong. I crippled Nikolai. It was my fault. You can kill or flay me; do as you see fit."
Finn was taken aback witnessing Hayden actually on her knees and tearfully submitting to such a humiliating proposition.
He could never have anticipated his usually proud daughter bowing her head, kneeling, uttering such lowly words.
"Hayden, you silly child, why did you actually kneel?" Sophia rushed over to help Hayden up, "Raymond was just angry at the moment. He loves you too much to ever..."
"Are you going to beat me or kill me? If not, then I'm leaving." Hayden cut Sophia off mid-sentence, not wanting to endure more of her nauseating words. She fought the urge to shove Sophia away as she pulled her arm free, gave Finn a mocking smile, stood up, and headed for the door.
"Hayden, you ungrateful girl, you..."
"Finn, just calm down, she's still a child. Don't be too harsh on her."
With the voices fading behind her, Hayden let out a cold laugh and quickened her pace to get away.
She strode quickly out of the mansion, looked up at the sky, and wiped her tears while pushing back those welling up in her eyes.
The early morning skies of London were foggy. Layers of mist made everything look indistinct.
"Need a ride?"
Suddenly, a familiar, rich, warm voice resonated beside her.
...
