Chapter 421 William and Hayden (22)
Ending the call, Hayden stood by the roadside as the night wind blew through. Her thin blouse was insufficient against London's October chill, prompting her to wrap her arms tightly around herself.
Although Jocelyn was only twelve, her words weren't wrong.
Sophia would surely try to control everything about the Smith family, and not wanting to marry Nikolai meant Sophia would also find a way to make her marry someone else from the Johnson family.
What should she do? What was she supposed to do?
She hails a cab on the roadside and slides into the back seat. As the driver asks about her destination, she suddenly realizes she has no idea where she wants to go.
"Hyde Park Apartment number one," she blurted out, as the last image of her parting with William flashed through her mind as if possessed by a spontaneous impulse, she told the driver.
But as the driver pulled away, she suddenly questioned herself.
Why was she going to William's apartment?
Then she leaned back into the seat, smiling with a sense of relief.
Let it be. On such a lonely night, having a drink with William seemed like a decent idea.
...
Perhaps because his family owned a restaurant, William preferred to eat out less. When he was alone, he liked to cook meals at home.
Unless he was too busy with work or had an appointment.
After finishing work in his apartment, he went to the kitchen to prepare a casual dinner for himself.
The doorbell rang as he opened the refrigerator to see what he had inside.
It definitely wasn't Jasper; he never rang the bell when he came in.
Closing the fridge door, William walked over to the entryway.
Standing at the door, he peered through the peephole and was taken aback by the sight of the person outside.
It was Hayden.
William's face was filled with a joyful smile but quickly replaced by a frown of concern when he noticed the imprint of fingers on one side of her cheek.
He hurried to open the door.
"Are you free right now?"
Seeing the door swing open to reveal William, with his deep-set, gentle eyes filled with stars of pity and pain, Hayden suddenly gasped for breath and felt inexplicably embarrassed.
"Yeah," William said with a nod, stepping back to the shoe cabinet and pulling out a concealed drawer to retrieve a pair of off-white moccasin slippers. He then glanced toward Hayden and added, "I picked up a pair of slippers for you on my way back. Try them on, see if they fit."
With that, he placed the slippers at her feet.
Looking at the simple off-white cotton slippers, Hayden's heart thudded erratically.
"Sure!" With a smile, she stepped into the apartment and changed her shoes.
She was wearing high heels, and as she slipped one foot out, the other suddenly wobbled, causing her to cry softly and fall to one side.
But contrary to her expectations, she didn't hit the floor. Instead, she tumbled into a broad and warm chest.
At that moment, William's hand gripped her arm while the other wrapped around her, holding her steady.
Once she regained her composure, Hayden looked up and couldn't help but smile, "I seem to be particularly accident-prone around you."
William gazed at the woman still nestled in his arms, his eyes sparking with uncontrollable zeal as a wave of heat surged through his body. His Adam's apple bobbed with a nervous swallow before he locked eyes with her and asked pointedly, "Are you sure you didn't do that on purpose?"
Hayden met his gaze and, kicking off her other high heel, rose to stand in his embrace without releasing his hands. She inquired solemnly, "What if I did it deliberately? Would you find me loathsome?"
A smile flashed across William's face, and in the next instant, he leaned forward slightly and effortlessly swept her into a horizontal cradle.
Startled, Hayden found herself aloft, securely held within William's arms.
After a brief moment, she realized she wasn't resisting or struggling against his hold.
William carried her to a low cabinet and gently seated her on it. He then turned away to fetch a pair of women's slippers, knelt on one knee before her, and tenderly slid her foot into the slipper, cradling her ankle in his hand.
Her feet were as exquisite as the rest of her—pale, immaculate, each toe glistening like a polished gemstone.
Hayden, her hands braced on each side, gazed down at him. As he simply slipped shoes onto her feet with almost a holy reverence, her eyes suddenly moistened with unshed tears.
The man before her had to be a good person. He had been so kind and attentive to her needs, time after time. He must like her, wouldn't he?
After William finished with her shoes, he stood up and caught sight of tears forming in her eyes.
"Are the slippers comfortable?" Despite the tremble in his heartstrings, William maintained a tender smile and asked her.
Lifting her head to gaze at the tall, lean figure before her, she mustered a grin. Tears glistened in her eyes. In a mix of jest and earnestness, she asked, "William, do you like me?"
His smile broadened as he squinted his eyes thoughtfully, "I can't say for sure yet. But every time I see you, I'm filled with joy and want to treat you well."
"And when will you be certain whether you like me or not?" Hayden asked, her hands still supporting her on either side. She tilted her head up with a bright, innocent smile.
William furrowed his brows in thought, "Well..."
As he hesitated, unsure of what Hayden truly wanted, she suddenly leaned in, planting a fleeting kiss on his lips before pulling back. With a beaming, pure smile, she inquired, "How about now? Are you sure yet?"
Staring at the vibrant, stunning face mere inches away, William felt his throat tighten. The next moment, his hand firmly grasped the back of Hayden's head as he pulled her into a deep, passionate kiss...
Although Hayden impulsively initiated the kiss with William when the man's handsome features loomed closer and seemed to magnify before her eyes, her mind went blank with a bang, and her breathing and heartbeat nearly came to a halt.
It wasn't until her heart thumped loudly in her ears and a warm, wonderful sensation set her inner world afloat with ripples that Hayden realized what was happening. Then, wrapping her arms around William's neck, she began to reciprocate his passionate kisses.
Feeling Hayden's response, William delved deeper with unrestrained enthusiasm.
Having never dated or kissed a man in her twenty-two years, Hayden was taken aback by the beauty of the sensation.
She greedily matched William's movements, craving more of the blissful feeling.
...
