Chapter 464 William and Hayden （65）
"How long have you been waiting?"
Hayden emerged from the hospital building and spotted William's car parked not too far from the entrance. She slid into the passenger seat and casually asked.
Leaning over, William buckled her seatbelt and then took her hand, pressing it gently to his lips. "About ten minutes or so," he said.
"Why didn't you go up and see Michelle? After all, she's had a bit of a crush on you!" Hayden looked at him, half joking and half serious, then frowned, "Michelle got beaten up pretty badly this time. There's no telling if there will be any long-term effects."
"She had it coming!" William started the car and maneuvered out of the parking spot while replying nonchalantly.
"Had it coming!" Hayden looked at him, surprised.
William was never one to find joy in another's misfortune, nor was he the type to unfairly judge someone.
"Yes, had it coming," William affirmed seriously.
"What happened with Michelle?" Seeing his grave expression, Hayden couldn't help but press on.
"Michelle is cunning and manipulative, far from a good person, and certainly not someone worth befriending. Honestly, she doesn't even qualify to be a friend," William said, lightly pressing the brake to stop the car. Looking at her with earnestness, he said, "Hayden, trust me, it's better to keep your distance from Michelle in the future."
Staring at him, Hayden's brows gradually furrowed with confusion, "William, do you know who beat up Michelle? Was it premeditated?"
"Yes." To prevent Hayden from continuing to see Michelle as a friend, William nodded, "Someone wanted to teach Michelle a lesson because what she did was even more out of line."
As Hayden looked at William, she was so shocked that she found herself at a loss for words.
Yet, between Michelle and William, it was William whom she truly cared about.
When Michelle recalled how she responded and behaved when Hayden confronted her about not interfering in her affairs, she became even more convinced that William was correct. After contemplating it further, Hayden couldn't resist asking again, "What in the world did Michelle do, and who orchestrated the whole thing?"
William smiled at her and skillfully changed the subject: "I have a dinner planned tonight with a couple of business partners. Would you like to join me?"
Seeing that he was unwilling to share more, Hayden, not one to push for answers, smiled, nodded, and gladly accepted the invitation.
...
"How does it feel, Michelle, to be bedridden and unable to move? Isn't it lovely?" Jasper walked into Michelle's hospital room with an air of nonchalance, hands empty.
Michelle had been enduring pain for more than twenty-four hours and was on the brink of falling asleep when she suddenly heard Jasper's voice. Startled, she opened her eyes wide.
Spotting Jasper's obviously off-kilter demeanor, Michelle immediately understood the situation and quickly calmed down. She managed a strained smile and said, "Jasper, what... what brings you here so suddenly?"
Jasper smirked, pulling up a chair beside the hospital bed. With a teasing tone, he said, "I've lived a full 25 years, and you, Michelle, are the first to dare cross me."
Despite the panic flooding her inside, Michelle attempted to remain composed. "Jasper, I don't understand what you're talking about," she said, feigning confusion.
Jasper laughed mockingly, "It's alright if you don't get it. Just know that if you want to stay in the South and if you want your parents to keep decent jobs with stable incomes, then you better behave. No one will show you mercy again if you stir up more trouble."
With that, Jasper stood up and rapped his knuckles forcefully on Michelle's plaster-covered arm. His gaze was icy as he looked at her, "Understand, Michelle?"
After delivering his message, Jasper turned on his heel and left.
Pain caused her forehead to break out in a cold sweat as Michelle watched his retreating figure.
Jasper's actions might have appeared gentle to the casual observer, but Michelle alone knew the strength of his blow.
It seemed her recent troubles were over. Yet if they caught her in another misstep or guessed her intentions, the consequences might have been even worse.
She couldn't help but ponder Jasper's background, considering the influence he had to make such a threat. Michelle appeared to need to ensure people back home had a clearer understanding of Jasper's family background.
Michelle did everything she could, and both William and Jasper, by unspoken agreement, chose not to tell Hayden. However, they both also agreed to caution Hayden that Michelle was not a good person and suggested she keep her distance.
Hayden trusted both William and Jasper, so naturally, when they both said the same thing, she gradually withdrew from Michelle. But curiously, Michelle hardly tried to reach out to Hayden again.
With no one causing trouble or setting traps, Hayden and William's life was blissful and comfortable.
Before they knew it, another two months had flown by. William had completed all his credits and aced his thesis, soon to receive his MBA degree from Southern Business School. On the other hand, Hayden still had half a year before she could finish her credits and get her MBA.
William had already made up his mind. He would stay by Hayden's side at Southern until she also earned her MBA, and then they would return home together.
As much as the plan sounded good, things sometimes go differently than I wish.
Buzz, buzz, buzz.
January in Southern was much warmer than in the Imperial Capital back home, but heavy snow began to fall outside the window that morning.
Before long, everything was covered in a blanket of white, turning the world a ghostly vast expanse.
While it was bitingly cold outside, William's apartment was as warm as spring.
As the snow-covered morning unfolded, the two were sound asleep in each other's arms when a cell phone's vibration buzzed on the nightstand.
