Chapter 485 William and Hayden （86）
Once the sisters had chosen their horses and were about to lead them out for a ride around the garden, Hayden's peripheral vision caught Daniel, who had also donned riding gear and was approaching.
Suddenly, a mischievous glint shot through Hayden's clear eyes. She walked over to Jocelyn's chosen horse and leaned in close to its ear, stroking the animal's head and whispering something.
"What are you doing?" Jocelyn asked, puzzled.
Hayden smiled. "Nothing, let's go."
"Okay," said Jocelyn, not quite understanding but leading the horse outside anyway.
"Jocelyn, stop right there. I want to ride your horse. Go pick another one," Daniel commanded with an air of arrogance as he saw them leading the horses out.
"Daniel, this is my horse. Why should I give it to you?" Jocelyn argued back.
"What's yours is yours, but you're all girls, and you're all going to get married off. I'm the son of the Smith family, and everything that belongs to the Smith family will be mine." Daniel bellowed as he charged over, eager to snatch the reins from Jocelyn's hands.
Hayden watched Daniel with an amused smile.
He couldn't help but wonder if Finn had taught him to talk like that.
"Daniel, don't go too far. This is my horse; Dad bought it for me."
"It's all mine."
"Alright, Jocelyn, you can ride mine. I'll pick out another," Hayden said, intervening in their argument and pulling Jocelyn away.
"......."
"It's fine. If Daniel wants it, let him have it; he's our little brother, after all. We should indulge him." Hayden chuckled, leading Jocelyn away and instructing the horse trainer nearby to bring another horse.
Daniel, looking prideful yet petulant, gave a cold "hmpf" and climbed into the saddle with the help of the horse trainer and Cassius. Then, gripping the reins, he headed toward the orchards behind the property.
But he hadn't gotten far when the horse let out a long shrill neigh, rearing on its hind legs, hooves striking the air. The horse trainer and Cassius were startled, and before they could react, the horse shot off like an arrow.
A cry tore through the stillness, "Ah! Help... help me... someone, please..." Daniel's voice was filled with panic as he was hurled from the horse's back, and the beast bolted onward as though driven by some unseen force.
"Hahaha..." Jocelyn couldn't contain her laughter, covering her mouth as she witnessed the spectacle. The horse trainer and several other occupants, Cassius included, rushed over to Daniel.
Hayden, standing there, frowned.
One shouldn't wish a fatal fall upon anyone, especially considering Daniel was his half-brother. A broken arm or leg causing him to behave for a few days would suffice.
"Hahaha... Daniel got what he wanted..." Jocelyn started to continue but caught Hayden's stern look and abruptly stopped.
"Let's go. Let's see how Daniel is doing," Hayden said, moving forward.
"Oh," Jocelyn nodded, following him obediently. Even though her laughter had ceased, she felt a gleeful satisfaction inside.
......
Daniel ended up with a broken leg, a comminuted fracture to be precise, and had to stay in the hospital for at least half a month.
Finn received the message and immediately boarded his private jet to rush back. Upon arriving in the Imperial Capital, he went straight to the hospital to see Daniel. Knowing that Daniel had taken Jocelyn's horse, resulting in his fall, Finn naturally didn't say much.
Not wanting to make matters worse, Sophia kept her thoughts to herself, but deep down, she held a grudge against Hayden and his two sisters.
However, she had managed to fulfill a promise to Hayden, and in the spirit of goodwill, Finn agreed that after the new year, he would let her start working at The Smith Group.
"Tell me, what exactly did you say to my horse? It listens to you so well," Jocelyn asked Hayden curiously one night, clad in pajamas, after taking a bath. She clung to Hayden's arm with a face full of wonder.
Hayden gently stroked her long hair. "I didn't say anything special. After all, it's your horse. Maybe it has a special connection with you, and that's why it doesn't like Daniel much."
"Really?" Jocelyn asked, her face etched with confusion.
Hayden gave a confirming nod. "It's certainly true. Why else would you suspect me of such mischief?"
After a moment's thought, Jocelyn didn't pursue the question any further and changed the subject.
Once Jocelyn was tucked into bed, Hayden went to take a bath. While brushing her teeth at the sink, a sudden wave of nausea hit her—she almost vomited.
Quickly, she removed the toothbrush and took deep breaths to calm her unsettled stomach.
Suddenly, an unwelcome thought flashed through her mind. Her period, her Christine, had not arrived.
She counted the days; it was a whole week late compared to the last time.
What was going on?
She couldn't be...
The realization made Hayden's face turn pale.
But no, that was impossible. She remembered that last time, right after her cycle had ended, she was in her safe period, so she allowed William to go without protection.
It wasn't her ovulation time, so how could she be pregnant?
So, it definitely wasn't that.
Right, it couldn't be!
Determinedly dismissing the possibility that she might be pregnant, Hayden continued with her routine—brushing her teeth, washing her face, taking a bath—and then she lay calmly in bed, trying to sleep.
But lying in bed, she tossed and turned, unable to fall asleep until the early hours of the morning.
When she finally fell asleep, she was plagued by strange, vivid dreams that tangled around her restlessly.
