Chapter 253 The Past Reappears
After the cops took Clara away, Edward couldn't help but blurt out, "Dad, what the hell is going on?"
Hayden sank heavily onto the couch, rubbing his temples with a deep frown. After what felt like forever, he finally said, "There are some things I've kept hidden for years. I wanted to protect you, but now that it's come to this, I can't keep it from you any longer."
Hearing this, I stood nearby, clutching the hem of my shirt so hard my fingertips turned pale. A deep sense of unease washed over me, like I somehow knew that what I was about to hear would turn everything I believed upside down.
Hayden glanced at Edward with a complex expression and said, "That car accident years ago wasn't an accident. She was behind it."
Even though Hayden didn't mention a name, we all knew he was talking about Clara.
"Dad, what did Mom do?" Anne asked, visibly shaken by the revelation.
Hayden looked at Anne and slowly began, "Back then, your mother bribed Aria's parents for her own gain, planning to stage a car accident. They arranged for Aria's parents' car to crash into Edward's, hoping to extort money from the Howard family. But Aria's parents died in the crash. Aria became an orphan, and I took her in out of pity."
I was stunned by this revelation. Edward was equally shocked, his eyes wide with disbelief as he trembled and asked, "Dad, is this true? I don't remember any of it."
Hayden shook his head with a bitter smile. "You were so traumatized that you ended up with selective amnesia and forgot it all."
Suddenly, Anne screamed, "No way! My mom would never do something like that!"
Hearing this, Hayden snorted, his tone resolute. "I knew then that Clara couldn't stay. But Edward had grown attached to you, and I couldn't bear to see him heartbroken."
He then took a deep breath, trying to calm his emotions, then continued to Edward, "I lied to you, saying that Aria's parents died in an accident and that you took her in out of kindness. I never expected Aria to remember everything and choose such an extreme path to avenge her parents."
A complex mix of emotions surged within me, and I began to understand why Aria had plotted against the Howard family. To her, the Howard family was responsible for her parents' deaths.
At this point, Hayden's body suddenly lost its strength, and he began to tremble uncontrollably. His face turned ashen, and sweat poured from his forehead, dripping down his cheeks.
Seeing this, Edward rushed to Hayden's side, frantically searching his pockets. His hands shook with anxiety as he finally found a small bottle. In his haste, he fumbled and dropped the bottle, spilling the pills on the floor. Edward had no time to hesitate. He quickly picked up a pill from the ground and stuffed it into Hayden's slightly open mouth.
When Hayden didn't respond, Edward turned to Anne and me and shouted, "Call the doctor, now!"At that moment, Anne was frozen with fear, unable to move. Seeing this, I forced myself to stay calm, grabbed my phone from the coffee table, and dialed Hayden's private doctor.
Thankfully, the doctor answered quickly, and I described Hayden's condition in a panic. The doctor gave instructions calmly, which I relayed loudly as Edward followed them.
With our efforts, Hayden's condition stabilized slightly. Even so, we didn't dare relax. Edward, his face full of worry, said decisively, "We need to get Dad to the hospital!"
He took the phone from me and called for an ambulance. The wait felt like an eternity. The room was unsettlingly silent, punctuated only by Hayden's labored breaths and the frantic thumping of our own hearts. Every one of us fixed our gaze on the door, anxious for the ambulance to arrive.
Finally, the ambulance arrived with a wail of sirens. The paramedics quickly loaded Hayden onto a stretcher and rushed him to the ambulance. Then the three of us followed closely behind. Edward held Hayden's hand tightly, whispering, "Dad, hang in there. You'll be okay."
But Hayden still hadn't opened his eyes.
At the hospital, Hayden was taken straight to the emergency room. The doors closed, separating us from him.
After what felt like an eternity, the doors finally opened, and a doctor emerged. He said, "The patient is out of immediate danger, but he needs further observation. Avoid any emotional stress."
Edward's legs gave out, and he nearly collapsed. Anne and I quickly caught him. Anne wiped away her tears and said, "It's good that Dad is out of danger."
She looked at Edward with concern and continued, "Edward, don't worry too much. Dad is stable now. He just needs to rest and recover."
In the days that followed, Hayden lay in bed, and Edward stayed by his side without leaving. I stopped by now and then, and each visit was accompanied by the sharp scent of disinfectant that made my heart clench.
When he was conscious, his eyes were heavy with memories of the past and concern for Edward.
One time, as Edward was giving Hayden medicine, Hayden weakly grasped his hand and said, "I've made many mistakes in my life. I'm sorry."
With red-rimmed eyes, Edward reassured Hayden, "Dad, don't say that. It's all behind us now."
As Hayden's condition worsened, he told Edward, "I need to see my lawyer. We need to arrange my will."
Edward tried to reassure him, "Dad, don't worry about that now. Your health is the most important thing. We can talk about the will when you're better."
But Hayden, despite his fragility, was steadfast. "No, I understand my body. I need to resolve this now to find peace. Please, get in touch with the lawyer."
Sensing Hayden's determination, Edward reluctantly agreed, "Alright, Dad. I'll contact him."
Hayden nodded and said, "And make sure Diana comes too."
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