Chapter 545 William and Hayden
"Wesley," Finn spoke in a low voice after Sophia was taken away, his weathered voice making him sound like someone ten years his senior.
"What is it?" Wesley, standing nearby, immediately stepped forward, ready for instructions.
"Take all of Sophia's belongings and burn them. As for her jewelry, have them all taken for a charitable auction," Finn ordered wearily.
"Yes, Mr. Bush Smith," Bill responded.
"Also, summon the lawyer," Finn added promptly.
Despite being only fifty-one years old, the recent events made Finn feel as if he was seventy, with death looming remarkably close.
However old he may be or how long he has left, he knew he had no capability for further offspring. He owed too much to Mia and her daughters.
Now, besides leaving everything to the two Hayden sisters, he had no better way to compensate them.
"Understood," Bill affirmed.
Hayden had been in a deep slumber for a whole week, with no sign of waking up. Even Finn was growing anxious. Numerous experts were brought in to assess Hayden, concluding that despite her unconscious state, her brain activity was remarkably frequent, and her body showed no issues.
But she remained unwilling to awaken, as if intent on sleeping through her life.
Almost all physicians suggested that Hayden's prolonged sleep was a result of significant emotional trauma, unwilling to face reality and thus choosing unconsciousness.
"What about William, is he really dead?" After a week of Hayden's unbroken slumber, Finn suspected a connection to William and ordered an investigation.
The next day, he sought an update.
Bill stood before Finn and respectfully reported, "William was critically injured and declared dead after being rescued at the hospital for five to six hours. Following this, members of the Bennett family took his body from the hospital to RiverNorth. However, upon returning to RiverNorth, the Bennett family never organized a funeral for William, and his body vanished. Up to now, our team hasn't located where William was laid to rest, whether alive or passed on."
"What about the other members of the Bennett family?" Finn inquired further.
"William's parents also disappeared for three days, after which everything returned to normal," Bill replied.
"How did the Bennett family announce any news related to William?" Finn pressed on.
"They made no announcements," Bill stated.
"In that case, William may not have truly passed," Finn furrowed his brow wearily, leaning back in his chair, pondering who had the prowess to hide William so completely, leaving no traces to be found.
'Could this have been the work of the Hart family?' he contemplated.
"Never mind the investigation," Finn dismissed after a moment of contemplation, waving his hand.
With Bill gone, Finn rose and made his way to Hayden's bedroom.
After a year of upheavals, Finn had resolved his thoughts.
From now on, Hayden and Jocelyn could choose whomever they wished to be with; as the future of the Lin family was in their hands, he would no longer impede them.
Entering Hayden's room, he saw her still lying motionless on the bed, her pale face a sight that weighed heavy on Finn. He sighed deeply, then sat by her side, reaching for her hand, gently patting it, and with weariness and love, he said, "Hayden, I was mistaken. Please awaken; William is not deceased. If you still desire to be with him upon awakening, then you are free to choose. I will not interfere any longer."
On the bed, as if hearing Finn's words, Hayden's long lashes quivered slightly at the mention of William. Soon after, tears welled in her eyes, tracing a path down her cheek.
Watching her tear slide down her cheek, Finn drew in a deep breath, his eyes also reddening with emotion. He knew Hayden had heard him.
"Hayden, from now on, follow your heart. I will no longer stand in your way," Finn added, affectionately patting her back. "Please awaken soon; I am getting old and I need you."
With those words spoken, he sat by the bedside, watching Hayden for a long while, yet there was no sign of her waking.
It was only when Wesley came to inform him of a call that he got up and left.
As soon as Finn departed, on the large bed, Hayden's long lashes fluttered gently, then slowly, she opened her eyes, awakened.
Gazing at the familiar surroundings, Hayden appeared extremely composed, displaying no hints of distress, though an air of profound sadness cloaked her.
Back from school, Jocelyn dropped her backpack and hurried to Hayden's room to see her. Upon pushing the door open and seeing Hayden sitting upright on the bed, staring out through the balcony's glass doors, she widened her eyes in astonishment.
"Hayden," Jocelyn screamed, rushing over and wrapping Hayden in a tight embrace, overcome with joy, tears streaming down her face. "Hayden, you've finally awakened, it's so good, so good!"
Upon hearing Jocelyn's exuberance, Finn, Jacqueline, and Wesley hurried over as well.
With a focused look at Jocelyn in her embrace, Hayden smiled and asked, "Jocelyn, when did you cut your hair short? It seems your face has slimmed down as well."
Taken aback by Hayden's query, Jocelyn paused, lifting her head from Hayden's embrace, "It was on Christmas Eve – you helped me cut it yourself, don't you remember?"
At that moment, Finn, Jacqueline, and the others rushed over, relieved to see that Hayden had indeed awakened and appeared to be entirely herself, without any sign of distress.
Looking at Jocelyn in her arms and then at the others rushing in, Hayden furrowed her brow in confusion, then turned back to Jocelyn, asking, "Isn't it the end of August? Are you referring to last year's Christmas Eve? You had long hair then, didn't you?"
"Do you not remember? It is not the end of August; it is May. Today is the 18th of May 2017," Jocelyn looked up at her, eyes brimming with tears, even more befuddled.
"May 18, 2017?!" Hayden grew even more puzzled and asked, "Isn't it August 26, 2016? I was accepted to Southern Business School and was leaving tomorrow to study in Southern!"
"Hayden, what's the matter with you? Have you lost your memory?" Jocelyn was utterly astounded.
'Have I lost my memory?!' Hayden wondered.
She furrowed her brow and inquired, "What happened to me?"
"Hayden, you..." Jocelyn began.
"Jocelyn." Just as Jocelyn was about to speak, Finn intervened in time, then walked over, gazing at Hayden tenderly. "Hayden, you came back from Southern on vacation and were in a car accident, sustaining a head injury that put you in a near ten-day coma. Do you feel any discomfort now that you've awakened?"
The experts had emphasized that Hayden's extended coma was due to significant emotional trauma, leading her to choose unconsciousness over reality.
Now that she had awoken, she had conveniently forgotten the most painful part of her experience, which was a good thing.
"I see, Hayden, you've been in an accident and due to a severe head trauma, you've suffered memory loss," Finn instructed the doctor empathetically.
"Oh, I understand," the doctor responded respectfully.
Finn sighed deeply, feeling somewhat sorrowful, instructing the doctor, "When you conduct her examination, simply inform her that the memory loss was due to a severe head injury and a significant concussion."
"Understood, I will handle it accordingly," the doctor assured.
