Chapter 819 Flashbacks
Ivan slipped off his shoes at the foyer and headed straight towards Haley.
Wrapping his large arms around Haley's slender waist, he pressed his forehead against hers, their eyes locking in a tender gaze.
"Daddy, stop kissing Mommy," Owen said, covering his eyes. "We're all still here."
Haley's cheeks flushed, and she gently pushed Ivan away. "Yes."
She thought, 'Hasn't he noticed that the kids are feeling awkward?' Even the servants at a distance kept their heads down, avoiding eye contact.
"Let's go!" Keith cleared his throat and said, "We'll leave the rest to Dad. Let's head out and play."
The four children abandoned their chores and headed to the living room to play. Haley, blushing, stuffed a basket of vegetables into Ivan's arms. "Clean these up."
She turned and went back into the kitchen to continue her work.
Ivan smiled softly to himself as he started preparing the vegetables by the dining table. Glancing up, he could see Haley's figure in the kitchen. The warm, domestic scene made him feel incredibly content.
Maybe, this sense of peace and happiness was what he had been searching for his entire life.
And he was lucky to have found it in a perfect home.
Suddenly, a sharp cry from the kitchen startled Ivan.
He dropped the vegetables and rushed in, only to find Haley with a cut on her finger, blood welling up from the wound. It looked like she had accidentally cut herself while chopping.
Without a second thought, Ivan took her slender finger into his mouth and began to gently suck on it.
Haley winced as the suction caused her finger to sting, and her heart ached in response.
Flashbacks of fragmented images rushed through her mind: Isabel's twisted smile, the knife that had slashed her cheek, the blood, the stinging pain, and Isabel's horrifying death from a gunshot wound.
Haley's expression shifted abruptly. She shoved Ivan away. "Can't you be gentler? It hurts so much!"
Caught off guard, Ivan stumbled back, his face filled with guilt. "I'm sorry, Haley. I'll get the first aid kit right away."
He hurried into the living room to grab antiseptic and bandages. As he poured the antiseptic on Haley's finger, she suddenly screamed in pain.
"Ivan, don't touch me! It hurts so badly!" Her voice was piercing, almost unbearable.
Ivan looked up and saw Haley's face, her usually calm eyes now filled with a rare, harsh intensity.
It was an emotion he had never seen in her before.
He thought maybe he had indeed been too rough.
"I'm so sorry, Haley. It's all my fault. I promise I'll be more gentle this time!"
As he tried to continue with the disinfectant, Haley abruptly yanked her finger away, her voice icy cold, "I don't need it!"
Ignoring the blood still trickling from her finger, she turned and stormed out of the kitchen, quickly ascending the stairs and slamming the door behind her.
"Dad, what happened?"
"Why did Mommy suddenly go upstairs?"
"I think Mommy is really mad. What did you do to upset her like this?"
"Dad, why are you just standing there? Go apologize to Mommy!"
The children gathered around, chattering anxiously.
Ivan put away the first aid kit, his brow furrowed in frustration.
He was at a loss for why Haley was so upset.
He thought to himself, 'Even if I accidentally hurt her, surely she wouldn't be this angry.'
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