Chapter 360
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As Kathy looked away, her eyes happened to meet Hayley’s. Hayley was clearly sizing her up, a faint smile tugging at her lip looking totally casual and unbothered.
Kathy gave her a quick smile, just trying to be friendly.
For the rest of the dinner, no one brought up what had happened.
Matthew was obviously annoyed that Zara had accidentally hurt Tiana’s hand, but seeing how protective Daron was, he let it slide for now to avoid unnecessary conflict.
Hayley spent the whole night watching Tiana and Kathy, carefully observing their expressions and reactions.
Both of them showed no sign of anything unusual, as if they’d completely accepted it was just an accident.
Hayley finally felt completely at ease.
She hadn’t expected Zara to pull it off so flawlessly.
‘With Daron backing them up now, who in the Zamora family would dare try to mess with them from now on?‘ Hayley thought.
After dinner, the rest of the Zamora relatives started heading out, one by one. For the first time ever, Hayley stood tall and confident next to Leo, carrying herself like the lady of the house as she saw them off.
Hayley flashed a warm smile. “Come by and visit again when you have time.”
The others vaguely sensed the change in her demeanor and returned her words with knowing smiles.
After they left, Hayley met Leo’s eyes and spoke gently. “Harris may not say it out loud, but he really hopes you’ll come home and stay for a while. He still misses you.”
“No need for that,” Leo lowered his gaze, replying calmly, “there’s no room for me at the mansion anymore, and I’ve gotten used to living on my own all these years.”
Hayley looked up at him and said, “The room you and Wilhelmina used to share has always been kept for you. It still looks just the way it did when you were young; it must have become rather vague by now.
“But if you see it again, you might recall how spirited and full of ambition you were back then.”
Hayley’s words successfully stirred Leo’s memories.
Leo fell silent, his mind filled with images of Wilhelmina in her youth.
When he married Wilhelmina, he truly wanted to build a future together.
But Wilhelmina could never accept Verena’s place in his life.
As soon as she sensed anything was off, she began to distance herself from him.
Bette was just like Kathy, way too stubborn and proud, never willing to give in to anyone.
That’s why Leo always felt this mix of frustration and something he just couldn’t explain whenever it came to Bette,
Even after she made such a scene at the ancestral hall today, he was annoyed, but deep down, he couldn’t really hold it
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Leo let out a slow breath, pulling himself back from his thoughts. He looked at Hayley and said quietly, “You and Wilhelmina are nothing alike. Even though you both are from the Blanchard family, your temperaments are worlds apart.”
Still, he just couldn’t bring himself to care about the Blanchard women anymore.
Hayley lowered her gaze. “Wilhelmina was always the one my uncle doted on and protected. I’m nothing like her. I could never shine the way she does, so dazzling and bright.”
A faint smile tugged at Leo’s lips as he thought back to when Wilhelmina first joined the Zamora family.
‘It’s true, I haven’t visited the villa Wilhelmina and I used to stay in for ages,” he admitted.
Whenever he returned to the Zamoras, he’d just spend some time in the main hall before heading out again. He hadn’t been o the villa in years.
And yet, it was only a few minutes‘ walk from the main hall.
Hayley smiled gently. “Then shall I take you to have a look?”
Leo hesitated for a moment, but before he could answer, Verena got out of the car and hurried over.
Leo, aren’t we going home yet?” she asked.
Verena had never seen Leo talk this much with Hayley before, and suddenly, a sharp sense of threat crept into her heart.
Hayley slipped to the side and said to Leo, “If you don’t have time today, just come by another day.”
Leo nodded. “Sure.”
Hayley just smiled and headed back inside.
Verena took a deep breath, her nerves on edge as she looked up at Leo and blurted out, “Leo, what did Hayley just say to
you?”
Leo headed for the car, his voice cool, a hint of annoyance showing through. “Nothing.”
Verena wanted to ask more, but he had already opened the car door and gotten in.
She froze for a moment, clearly sensing Leo’s irritation toward her. Taking a deep breath, she forced herself to stop asking.
Verena knew perfectly well that if she let things get tense between her and Leo right now, she’d be playing right into Hayley’s hands.
She quickly pulled herself together and settled quietly beside Leo.
As Hayley walked back inside, Daron and Eric came out of Harris’s study together.
Eric noticed Hayley looked like she wanted to talk to Daron, so he quietly slipped away, giving them some space,
After sending Eric off with a smile, Hayley turned to Daron.
“Daron, Marina didn’t come home today, and there’s no one around to take care of her at your place. She probably hasn’t had anything to eat tonight,” Hayley said.
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Chapter 360
Then, she continued. “I asked the kitchen to whip up something just for her. Would you mind taking it to her?”
Hayley motioned for a servant to bring the dinner over and pass it to Daron.
Daron glanced down at the meal, then, after a moment, reached out and took it.
“Thank you. That was really thoughtful of you,” Daron said.
Hayley smiled at him, her voice warm and gentle.
“No need to thank me, Daron. We’re not strangers, we’re family,” she replied.
Daron gave a slight nod. “Then I’ll head back now.”
Hayley nodded. “Alright. Drive carefully. You didn’t drink tonight, did you?”
Daron shook his head. “No, I didn’t.”
Hayley smiled. “That’s good.”
She kept up the casual chatter as she walked Daron to the door.
At the doorway, she paused, just in time to watch Daron head out.
Daron never looked back. He got in his car and drove off, gone from Hayley’s view in seconds.
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Hayley pressed her lips together, unable to shake the feeling that Daron wasn’t as warm toward her as he used to be.
‘Maybe it’s because he’s married now,‘ Hayley thought to herself. ‘He’s just not as close with me or Zara as he once was.’
Hayley took a deep breath and shifted her gaze away. She would never allow this state of affairs to continue for long.
‘No worries,‘ she told herself. ‘It won’t take me long to set everything right again!’
Marina was just a temporary presence in Daron’s life. The only ones who truly mattered to him were always us,‘ Hayley thought
She had already taken the first step. She believed that every step ahead would not be difficult at all.
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Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
