Chapter 460 William and Hayden （61）
When the class was over, another couple of hours had passed, and it was now noon.
Hayden and Michelle left the classroom building together and spotted Jasper looking downcast among a group of classmates.
"Jasper!" Hayden called out to him.
Hearing her, Jasper excused himself from the group and headed their way.
"Where's William? Isn't he coming to pick you up after class?" Jasper asked, seemingly casually, from a distance.
"He's busy," Hayden replied offhandedly, moving toward Jasper. "Let's grab lunch together."
"No, I've got things to do," Jasper said, furrowing his brow and shifting his gaze from Hayden to Michelle, who stood behind her, giving her a meaningful look.
"What could you possibly have to do? Come on!" insistently, Hayden grabbed his arm to leave together.
"If something really comes up, just go ahead and eat without me," Hayden insisted firmly, wrestling his hand free from Jasper's grip.
Seeing Hayden's serious demeanor, Jasper naturally did not press the issue. He nodded in agreement and headed straight for his car.
"Michelle, there's something I need to ask you," Jasper said, shifting his gaze to Michelle as soon as Hayden left.
"Jasper, what is it? Feel free to ask me anything," Michelle responded with an open, honest look.
"Let's find a place to talk over a meal."
"Okay."
...
"I checked, and aside from Hayden, Michelle was the last one to leave my apartment," Jasper said over the phone to William after parting ways with Michelle following their meal. He continued, "However, the security footage didn't capture Michelle leaving my apartment, and that can only mean one thing – Michelle might indeed be hiding something."
During their meal, Michelle appeared very composed, her answers fitting seamlessly together. However, Jasper noticed a brief moment of guilt in her eyes at the start.
"No rush, let's wait for the forensic results to come back, and then we'll know the answer," William responded from his dining room at home, his voice calm and collected.
Jasper frowned, lost in thought, before he inquired, "William if it turns out I really was with Hayden last night, what would you do?"
"If Hayden was in her right mind at the time, then the three of us could sit down and have a proper talk," William responded as he rose and strolled over to the tall windows, narrowing his dark eyes against the bright sunlight outside. "If not, as long as she doesn't leave, I won't let go. And this is something you should never bring up to her."
"Alright, I understand."
...
In the afternoons, Hayden worked at Global Trust Bank. Meanwhile, as the Queen's Avenue Dining Group expanded its business across major European cities, William grew busier, resulting in fewer visits to Global Trust Bank.
However, after work that afternoon, as Michelle stepped out of the office building, she saw the all-too-familiar black Range Rover parked at the curb.
She couldn't help but smile as she strode over to the vehicle, pulled open the passenger door, and sat inside.
As Hayden settled into her seat, William instinctively leaned over to secure her seatbelt before lightly pinching her chin and kissing her lips, perfectly balanced in their tenderness. Looking at him, her eyes radiated with the sparkling joy of their connection, and she playfully asked, "Have you Finished with the restaurant business for the day?"
"Pretty much." William started the car, and as he drove off, he asked her, "Hungry? If not, we could head to the supermarket first."
"Not hungry; let's go to the supermarket first."
"Alright." William nodded and reached out to hold her hand in a gesture as natural as breathing. They drove to a large domestic supermarket close to their apartment, where they could find almost any local ingredient they wanted.
Lowering her gaze to their intertwined hands, Hayden couldn't help but smile. This newfound happiness was beyond anything she had ever imagined, yet here it was, undeniably real.
In her memory, Finn had never once cooked for her mother, not even a single meal, served her a glass of water, fetched her slippers, or gone grocery shopping together, hand in hand.
Her mother's solitary figure remained etched in her memories, a constant presence, while Finn's absence was a recurring pattern, sometimes lasting for half a month at a time.
At home, Finn was like an emperor on his throne, always served and waited on by her mother, who watched his moods and catered to them.
Her mother was too kind, too gentle, too enduring.
Ultimately, her patience had led to her downfall, her spirit nearly shattered as she sacrificed everything.
Hayden vowed never to resemble her mother. She would fiercely hold onto everything that was rightfully hers, whether it be happiness or wealth, refusing to let go.
The couple chatted casually about their work at Global Trust Bank and their shopping list as they drove. Soon, they arrived at the supermarket, stepped out of the car, and followed William inside, with him leading the way and Hayden pushing a shopping cart to begin their shopping.
They mainly purchased ingredients. The cleaning staff handled anything else needed for the daily upkeep of their apartment.
Perhaps due to his restaurant background, William had high standards for ingredients, not only looking for freshness but also considering the origin and the quality of the items.
Hayden didn't bother with these details; knowing William had it under control was enough for her.
But strolling through the supermarket with him holding her hand felt wonderfully lovely, especially watching him meticulously select ingredients, which was utterly charming.
A truly great man isn't solely focused on making money; he also understands the essence of life and knows how to cherish a woman.
Of course, this woman was limited to the one he loved and his closest kin, like his mother, sister, or daughter.
