Chapter 619 Jasper and Hayden Prepare to Marry
Jocelyn's injury wasn't a major issue, and the next morning she was discharged from the hospital. However, Hayden had matters to attend to, so Jasper came to pick up Jocelyn from the hospital.
Since the Hart family residence was close to the hospital and Jasper was already heading to the Bush family, it was convenient for him to pick up Jocelyn and return together.
The wedding between Jasper and Hayden was set, to be held in a month's time. The news of the Hart family and the Bush family's impending union started to spread across the Imperial Capital and even the country.
However, there was no formal report; it was only once that Jasper's brother and Nico attended an event, and when a reporter asked about the marriage between the Hart and the Bush families, he nodded in confirmation but did not elaborate.
Over the years, the Hart family had maintained a discreet and cautious approach to affairs. Maxwell's intention was to avoid extensive media coverage of the union between the Hart family and the Bush family.
The media today was exceptionally skilled at digging up information. If they were to uncover that the biological father of Hayden's two children was someone else, especially if they found out it was William, Jasper's friend and CEO of the Bennett Group, what was initially a grand affair could easily turn into a subject of ridicule.
Over the next month, both the Hart and Bush families were busy preparing for the wedding. After all, it was a union between two prominent families in the Imperial Capital, and it couldn't be handled carelessly.
Half a month before the wedding, an important economic forum summit was held in the Imperial Capital, with prominent business leaders from across the nation attending, including William and Gabriel.
Gabriel couldn't be separated from Teresa for a few days in the Imperial Capital, and since Teresa wanted to visit Hayden and her children, they decided to come together.
Of course, it wasn't just Teresa who wanted to see Chloe and Logan; Sophia also took the opportunity to visit the Imperial Capital. She joined Teresa in visiting the Bush family to see the children, bringing lots of gifts for Chloe and Logan.
After seeing the children, Sophia held Hayden's hand and couldn't help but lament. "Hayden, it's our Bennett family's great misfortune that William couldn't marry such a wonderful daughter-in-law like you."
Hayden lowered her head with a bitter smile. "Auntie, William is a good man; the misfortune is mine."
Sophia shook her head with a mix of sympathy and concern. "Oh, darling, how you tug at our hearts." She wanted to say more, but the words felt superfluous given that the marriage between the Hart and Bush families was already a certainty. And William had long been engaged to Michelle, with no signs of compromise. They were fated but not destined, a missed connection that could never be rectified.
After a day's summit, William returned to his hotel.
However, within ten minutes of his return, the suite's butler came to inform him that Finn was downstairs and wanted to see him.
Finn was the chairman of the forum summit, and they had already met numerous times during the event.
Now, for Finn to come in person to the hotel to see him privately could only mean one thing.
"Please invite Finn up," William instructed the butler without hesitation. Given Finn's status, declining to see him would not bode well.
"Of course, William," the butler replied respectfully. Within minutes, Finn, accompanied by bodyguards, appeared at William's suite.
"You've been busy all day, and it's already late for you to come personally. There must be something important. Please go ahead." William greeted Finn and got straight to the point.
Finn nodded heavily. "William, I understand that what happened between you and Hayden is already set in stone; there's no turning back. But I still wanted to sincerely apologize to you."
With that, Finn, sitting in his wheelchair, lowered his head in a genuine and reverent manner.
As he looked at Finn, William's handsome brow furrowed slightly, but he did not stop or assist Finn. He simply sighed and said, "There's no need for this."
"If it weren't for my stubbornness and prejudice back then, you and Hayden would have been together long ago, and you might already have several children. Hayden would not have been hurt so deeply," Finn sighed deeply, "Even though you can never be together again, I hope you can let go of the past, forgive my mistakes toward you and Hayden, and be like friends without any ill feelings when you see each other in the future."
"You're thinking too much," William replied with a faint, enigmatic smile. "Jasper is my closest friend, and Hayden will soon be his wife. I will certainly respect Hayden."
Finn sighed heavily, "If Hayden hears this, she'll be even more heartbroken."
William smiled and remained silent.
"And the two children? Are you not going to care for them?" Finn continued when William didn't respond.
"Children," William smirked. "Do I have any power to decide?"
Finn understood the implication and sighed again, "Hayden's stubbornness is a result of my influence. Don't blame her."
"That's not fair," William smiled faintly. "I have evidence that Hayden conceived through surrogacy. I could get guardianship if I want."
"You won't," Finn said confidently.
William smiled and asked, "Don't you worry that I might want to keep these two children in the Bush family to inherit everything? After all, it's quite difficult for Hayden to have another child now."
"Any child Hayden has is my grandchild. I have no objections to who inherits the Bush family," Finn stated sincerely.
William said with a smile, "Since you've said that, there's no need for me to fight for the children."
"I will convince Hayden to let you see the children. I hope you all have a good future, and the children grow up healthy." Finn said as he turned his wheelchair to leave without saying more.
William stood up to see Finn to the door, watching him enter the elevator.
Hayden was about to transition from his former fiancée to his friend's wife. There was no turning back.
Suddenly, William's phone vibrated in his pocket.
Seeing the caller was Jasper, he answered.
Jasper asked, "Hey, free for a drink?"
William replied blankly, "No."
He was indeed busy, with a whole day's meeting and many tasks pending.
"Don't be stubborn. Come out. I'll wait for you," Jasper insisted before hanging up.
With a hint of a smile and a wry look, William picked up his coat and left the room.
