Chapter 563 William and Hayden
His deep eyes subtly darkened, prompting him to answer the call without hesitation.
"Michelle, what's the matter?" It was Michelle on the other end of the line, and William's voice was unusually gentle as he picked up the phone.
Michelle.
William seemed to intentionally raise his voice slightly. Hayden followed along, stopping about five or six meters away from him, able to hear his words clearly.
Why would Michelle call William at a time like this? When did they reestablish contact? And why did William's tone towards Michelle sound so tender? It seemed even more affectionate than his conversations with her during those few months at Southern.
It almost felt as if William and Michelle were a couple deeply in love.
"Mr. William, my parents are leaving Feayuun City tomorrow, so I was wondering if I could be discharged from the hospital tomorrow to see them off," Michelle asked softly from the VIP ward at the Hospital on the other end of the phone.
"Your parents are leaving? Please have them stay a couple more days here. I'll take them around River North tomorrow or the day after." William held the phone with his back to Hayden. His deep, husky voice became even softer.
"My parents don't want to delay your work, so you should let them return. It's okay, there will be other opportunities in the future," Michelle replied happily and tenderly from her end.
"Is that what they want, or is it what you want?" William chuckled softly. His voice suddenly grew more ambiguous and indulgent.
Hayden took a few steps closer, clearly hearing what William was saying. She couldn't help but tremble uncontrollably.
William and Michelle, what was their relationship now?
On the phone, listening to William's voice, Michelle's heart raced faster. She blushed. Her voice became even softer, "If you don't believe me, you can ask them tomorrow morning."
"Of course, I trust you." William's voice and tone grew even gentler. "I'll visit the hospital early tomorrow. As for your discharge, I'll decide after consulting with the doctor tomorrow. For now, focus on recuperating."
A few meters behind him, Hayden listened to their conversation, furrowing her brows and gradually welling up with tears.
"Alright, I'll wait for you tomorrow morning," Michelle shyly replied. It was her first real taste of being in love.
"I've arranged for supper at Teresa Pavilion, and it will be delivered to you later. Remember to eat."
"Thank you. I will definitely eat."
"Michelle, from now on, don't call me Mr. William anymore, use my name."
"I..." Michelle was taken aback for a moment.
"Come on, say it so I can hear it."
Hayden clenched her fists tightly at her sides. She struggled to contain herself from rushing over to slap William. Despite her efforts to control herself, she couldn't stop trembling, feeling like she was being consumed by a group of entities gnawing at her body. The pain and discomfort were indescribable.
Michelle's heart raced even faster on the phone. She softly murmured, "William."
"That's it. Rest well."
"Alright." Michelle felt like she was about to die from happiness. "Good night, William."
"Good night." After bidding her good night, William waited another three or four seconds before hanging up the call.
As he moved the phone away from his ear, a hand suddenly reached from behind, grabbing his shoulder and pulling him back with considerable force.
Caught off guard, William turned around. The next moment, another hand rose towards his face, ready to slap him.
However, before the hand could reach, William swiftly seized it. Then, with a strong flick, he flung it backwards.
A gasp escaped Hayden's lips as, wearing high heels, she was pushed back by William's force. If not for colliding with a faux mountain behind her, she would have fallen quite badly.
Seeing her collide with the faux mountain, her forehead and nose almost creasing in pain, William, without a word, simply turned and walked away.
"William, stop!" Then, in a low roar, Hayden continued, "Do you know what kind of person Michelle is? How could you be with her?"
The questioning behind him made William halt his steps. He turned back slightly, his disdainful gaze sweeping lightly over Hayden. His tone turned ominous and different from when he was on the phone. "Hayden, do you really think you have the right to inquire about who I am with?"
"William, I remember now. All the insults, hurtful words, all those things that caused you pain and embarrassment, they were not my true intentions. I only did that to prevent my father from hurting you."
"Is that so?" William looked at her calmly. His tone turned icy, completely different from before. "Ms. Hayden, is all your compromise and everything you've done to protect me?"
"William, I swear, I never meant to hurt or humiliate you. Otherwise, I would surely be punished by the heavens." Hayden raised a hand, swearing to the sky. At this moment, she was nearly losing her sanity, being tortured by pain and jealousy.
Why did William choose Michelle?
Looking at her, William seemed to find it like a joke, mocking once more, "Ms. Hayden, do you have anything else to say?"
"William, why can't you consider my feelings? Do you know how difficult it was for me at that time?" Tears had completely blurred Hayden's vision.
"Put yourself in my shoes?!" Laughing ironically, William chuckled again, "Ms. Hayden, you are indeed noble. Everyone in the world must consider your feelings and revolve around you; that's the right way, isn't it? I must unconditionally please you, obey you, and be your lackey. I can't have my own thoughts and opinions. I can't be informed or have a say in anything. I must allow you to manipulate me and willingly submit to your ideas. That's the right way, right?"
"No, no." Hayden shook her head, her body spasming in pain. "William, it's not like that, it's not like that."
"Enough!" William roared, his tone repressed yet angry, his sharp gaze turning more piercing. He gritted his teeth, warning, "Hayden, if you come to bother me again, I may not be as polite next time."
With those words, without hesitation, William strode away.
"No, it's not like that, it's not like that, William, it's not like that." Hayden shook her head desperately. As she watched William get further and further away, she slid down along the faux mountain, curling into a ball.
After crying her heart out, Hayden eventually calmed down completely. She even found her behavior of confronting William in the garden amusing now.
What relationship did she have with William now? She had charged over like she was catching them red-handed and was about to slap William.
William was now with Michelle, and he was exceptionally tender towards her. This was something Hayden could never have imagined.
She was driven to madness by jealousy, but she realized she had no right to hate.
William had made it clear in the end. His hatred towards her was largely due to her stubbornness and never giving him any say or knowledge.
Indeed, perhaps if she had told William everything, allowed him to face and resolve the issues with her, things might have turned out differently.
She had only wanted the best for him, but she had forgotten that he was a man who desired respect.
She had completely disregarded his feelings.
So, from now on, she would start anew. She would respect his feelings and strive to be the person he desired.
Before the end of the banquet, Hayden sent her driver away. By the time the banquet concluded, she had used Teresa's trust to hitch a ride with the Bennett family.
Unbeknownst to her, Teresa had been taken away by Gabriel, leaving Hayden and William to share the same vehicle, with the Bennett family's driver courteously ushering Hayden to the back seat alongside William.
Observing the motionless man leaning back with his eyes closed in the chair, Hayden knew he was simply abiding by basic courtesy as a man and didn't demand she leave.
"I was impulsive in the Harriman family's garden earlier. I apologize." As the car moved away and under the dim lights, Hayden peacefully addressed William, "I believe you're not the kind of person to hold grudges. Can we still be friends in the future?"
After her words, she quietly watched William, waiting for his response.
However, he seemed as if he had fallen asleep, unmoving and completely unresponsive to her suggestion.
"Ms. Hayden, where would you like to go?" After a long while with no response from William, the driver spoke up to ease the awkward silence.
"Sunset Haven Resort, thank you." Hayden replied.
Sunset Haven Resort was a chain of five-star hotels, with one located in River North.
"Of course, no problem." The driver smiled before steering the car in the direction of Sunset Haven Resort.
Hayden gazed at William for a while longer, realizing he had no intention of acknowledging her, and then closed her eyes and leaned back in the seat without saying another word.
For her, being able to quietly reside in the same space as him and feel his breath was already a great sense of happiness.
Unknowingly, Hayden drifted off into a deep sleep.
Feeling Hayden's breathing becoming shallow and elongated, William, who had been quietly keeping his eyes closed and leaning back against the seat, slowly opened his eyes. He glanced at Hayden, his deep, complex emotions evident in his eyes.
However, after just one look, he turned back and closed his eyes once more.
Around forty minutes later, the car gradually stopped at the entrance of Sunset Haven Resort.
The driver parked the car steadily, noticing Hayden showed no signs of waking up, thus not wanting to delay any longer. After all, William's time was valuable. He had to rouse Hayden.
At the driver's call, Hayden woke up.
She opened her eyes, looking at William who was still leaning back with his eyes closed, implying he hadn't moved at all. She couldn't help but smile faintly. After thanking the driver, she turned, pushed open the car door, and stepped out.
Hayden stood at the hotel's entrance, watching William's car drive away until it vanished completely. She smiled wryly and turned to walk towards the hotel lobby.
Back in her room, she called for Justin and instructed him to investigate Michelle. She wanted to know when Michelle had gotten involved with William and why William chose to be with her. Was William doing this to get back at her?
If that were the case...
Thinking this, Hayden couldn't help but bitterly smile.
Was she now reaping what she had sown?
"Go check once more to see which companies Bennett Group has recently been closely working with and any major projects they have." After a weary chuckle, Hayden instructed Justin.
She could collaborate with Capital Construction or Bennett Group. Of course, William might not be willing, but she had to try.
"Yes, Ms. Hayden," Justin nodded respectfully. "Do you have any other instructions?"
"Book me the earliest flight back to Imperial Capital tomorrow," Hayden ordered wearily.
Finn was still in the hospital, so she needed to go back and check on him.
"You don't want to use the Bush Smith family's private jet?" Justin interjected.
"No," Hayden shook her head.
"Understood." Justin agreed before respectfully excusing himself.
Once Justin had left, Hayden's phone vibrated. Checking the message, she saw it was from Teresa, inquiring if she had reached the hotel.
Hayden smiled at the message and began chatting with Teresa.
