Ch. 1751..1760

His Secret Lover Returning from the Dead Chapter 1751

Kurt was at a loss for words. “I don't think we should eavesdrop on their conversation...”

Vivian turned to him and said, “Why not? He's talking about Aunt Riley here. We must find out the man Grandpa is trying to matchmake her with. I've gotten to know many people in Jadeborough over the years, so I'm sure I'll know who the candidate is when I hear his name!”

She then grabbed Kurt by the shoulder and dragged him to a window in the study. She even pinned the young man to the wall just in case he refused to abide by her command.

Kurt's brows twitched when she pressed her body against him.

Meanwhile, Jonathan continued speaking over the phone. “Do you have any other problems? If not, let's meet today.”

“What? You want them to meet today?” the person on the other end of the phone exclaimed.

Jonathan expressed his dismay. “Of course. Do you want to wait till tomorrow? What if someone snatches her away? She's quite a steal, mind you. All right, enough talking. We'll meet at noon later. See you at Grandview Restaurant.”

Jonathan then ended the call without hesitation.

Upon hearing that, Vivian could not help but giggle. “Did you see that? Kurt...”

When she lowered her head and was about to tell Kurt how capable Jonathan was, she realized the young man was captivated by her beautiful eyes.

Kurt, whom Vivian had cornered to the window with her chest, could feel her warm breath as they were merely a few inches away from each other.

Vivian instantly blushed.

She froze right there while staring into Kurt's eyes, and her heart skipped a beat. Seconds later, her cheeks became even rosier.

“I-I'm sorry...” She panicked and was about to run away.

Yet, the young man, whom she had subdued earlier, extended his muscular arms, grabbed her, and pulled her into his chest.

Vivian was utterly stunned.

Kurt whispered in a hoarse voice, “Grandpa is going to come out anytime soon.”

He then pulled Vivian to the back to hide behind a potted tree. At that moment, she could feel his warm breath on her neck.

Vivian squatted still. She could hear the young man's heart pounding so clear that her body began to stiffen. Never in her life had she had this kind of feeling.

She could not stop herself from blushing.

A few moments later, Jonathan walked away, and they could hear his laughter fading.

When Vivian was about to get up, Kurt still wrapped his arms around her slender waist as if he was not ready to let her go.

“Kurt, let me go...”

Kurt then came to his senses and gradually released her.

He instantly felt a pang of guilt and disappointment for what he did.

What has gotten into my head? Wake up! I'm just a boy!

Suddenly, Vivian mustered up the courage to give him a gentle peck on his cheek.

Kurt was utterly struck dumb.

His head started spinning and buzzing. All he did after that was staring at the little girl like a fool.

What did she do just now?

Teenagers would always have the most innocent affection for each other. Unlike adults with sexual desire, their love was simple and pure.

A gentle kiss on the cheek was the most direct expression of love.

No matter what they would go through in life in years to come, the kiss would forever be etched on their memories.

When Kurt finally came around and stood up, Vivian was already gone. She must have found a place to hide as she had never done this before.

All of a sudden, Nina appeared. She walked up to Kurt and noticed he looked calm. She smirked and asked, “Did you do something bad?”

Upon hearing that, Kurt's body turned stiff right away.

“Excuse me?”

“I saw you and Vivian...”

“That's not something bad. You even acknowledged her as your future sister-in-law, right? Besides, I've long identified her as my future wife. Have you forgotten about it?”

Nina thought about it. I guess he's right.

His Secret Lover Returning from the Dead Chapter 1752

Tillie Has Gone Missing

In the end, Riley did not make it to the matchmaking session because she was busy looking for her sister in law, and her brother, who was a good-for-nothing.

Yet, after searching high and low for a day, she still had no clue of their whereabouts.

When Riley reached home and saw her mother and sisters munching on sunflower seeds while watching a television program, she exploded in rage.

“Mom, why are you not looking for them? It's New Year, yet they're still not home. Are you not worried?”

Violet crossed her legs and responded nonchalantly, “What for? You should know that Edmund doesn't like staying home.”

Her response left Riley speechless.

Violet continued, “And don't you dare mention Tillie again. Where was she when mom and I were busy entertaining all the guests who visited us today? She should have stayed home and done her part. Why should I go and look for her?”

Gabrielle echoed, “That's right!”

The mother-daughter duo kept painting Tillie in a bad light.

A vortex of anger swirled inside Riley, and she exploded. “Get the hell out of here and look for them right now! If you can't find them by the end of the day, don't even think of stepping into the house! Go!”

Riley was enraged. She picked up a broom and started chasing them out of the house.

Unlike Tillie, Riley was like a boss in the Cooper family. No one would dare to go against her when she was throwing a fit.

Violet reluctantly got off the couch and ran toward the living hall. “Riley, are you crazy? Why are you taking it out on me just because they went missing?”

“That's the only way to get your *ss out of the house! Tillie must have pampered you when I wasn't around in the last two years. From now on, I'll not allow you to sit here and do nothing!”

Riley picked up a ceramic plate and smashed it at Violet, who talked back at her.

Violet and Gabriella had no choice but to leave the house to look for Edward and Tillie.

Alice, who was carrying a child in her arms, was stunned to see how furious Riley was. “Riley...”

“Shush! And you. You're also one of a kind. Why do you always come back to the Cooper residence when you're married? The Coopers are supposed to take care of you and your kid, huh?” Riley stared at her sister and reprimanded.

Alice was also another problematic person in the family. Though she had married into another family, she was still the same old lazy woman, and no one could stand her.

Even her mother-in-law could not get along with her.

That was why she chose to stay in the Cooper residence even after she had delivered the baby.

Because of her, Tillie had to hire a maid to help her look after the child and cook for the family.

Unbelievable!

Flushed with embarrassment, Alice carried her child and scuttled away.

Riley could finally enjoy some peace in the house. Seconds later, she took out her phone and started making phone calls to locate Edmund and Tillie's whereabouts.

Riley wanted to track them down as soon as possible because last night, Sasha told her to pay attention to Tillie since the latter was ill.

It was the next day after New Year, yet no one knew where Tillie and Edmund went after leaving the Jadeson residence last night.

Riley then gave Edmund another call.

The phone finally got through.

When she heard Edmund's voice, Riley questioned him, “Where the hell are you? Do you know that Tillie hasn't returned the whole day?”

Edmund kept mum.

He was not in a good mood as he had lost quite a bit of money to his friends during a poker game. Upon hearing that, Edmund expressed his dismay. “So? Shouldn't you be calling her instead of yelling at me?”

“Do you think I'd call you if I can get to her? Listen carefully, Edmund Cooper. You better look for her now, or you're going to be in trouble!” Riley threatened him. She was utterly disappointed with her brother's reaction.

With that, she hung up on him.

Edmund, who sat by the gambling desk, dropped his cards and wondered. Trouble? What trouble?

Is she going to teach me a lesson because she noticed Tillie and I are not as loving as she initially thought? Or is she mad at us because we have yet to have our own kid?

Edmund's expression turned grim.

“Your family called, Mr. Cooper? Do you have to leave soon?”

“It seems like someone is afraid of the wife!” his friends teased.

Edmund felt even more irritated. Reluctant to return to the Cooper residence, he continued playing a few rounds of poker. He only went home when it was almost past midnight.

His Secret Lover Returning from the Dead Chapter 1753

He Panicked

When Edmund returned to the Cooper residence, he thought everyone would be fast asleep.

He did not expect the lights of the living room to still be on when he entered the building. As he finally stepped foot into the living room, he was immediately greeted by his sister's silhouette.

“You-”

“You finally decided to come home?” Without giving him a chance to speak, Riley stood up slowly from the couch she had sat on as she waited the entire day for Edmund's return.

An ashen expression was etched on her face while her eyes were filled with a foreign look of disappointment, wrath, and iciness.

Edmund froze.

Perhaps it was due to the fact that he had never seen her with that expression, a sense of guilt rose to his chest.

“Why do you want to see me?” he asked.

“Why? Why? You still have the audacity to ask me why?”

Riley was livid. In a swift motion, she picked up the pieces of paper from the coffee table in front of her and threw them in front of Edmund.

“Edmund, I really can't believe anyone could be so cruel. At the end of the day, Tillie lives under your roof. Did you not notice anything at all? Have you no clue? Even if you only have a cat or a dog as a pet, you'd know if they have fallen sick or gone missing, wouldn't you?”

Keeping her gaze on Edmund, Riley interrogated, emphasizing each word she spat.

Edmund was rendered speechless.

It was then did he finally realize something was amiss.

Picking up the papers in front of him, Edmund quickly lowered his head and started reading. To his horror, the first phrase that flashed across his vision was “Stage 4 Liver Cancer” on the report heading.

Who has stage 4 liver cancer?

All of a sudden, his mind became fuzzy. He was so shocked that he did not even pay attention to the name on the report.

Riley spoke up once again, “Do you see now? It's already in the final stage. All these years, if you had been nicer to her so she could have had a better time in this household, she might not fall sick in the first place. Tell me, Edmund. How long do you think she had suffered silently for?”

Silence filled the living room.

For a long while, Edmund stayed rooted in his spot, neither moving nor speaking.

He kept staring at the medical record and investigation report in his hand mindlessly.

How could there suddenly be cancer?

Isn't she always bursting with energy? She was always in his field of vision. That woman would be the first person he saw when he opened his eyes in the morning and the last person he saw when he went home at night. Sometimes, Edmund could not help but feel annoyed, wondering if he married a person or a broken alarm clock.

Yet, as it turned out, even someone as consistent as she might disappear from his life forever one day, and she would never come back.

Truth to be told, Edmund did not expect such a day to come.

“Edmund? Are you listening to what I'm saying? Edmund?” Seeing that Edmund did not react, Riley started to get impatient and started urging him.

Riley's voice managed to snap Edmund out of his daze. However, instead of replying, he completely ignored her and crumpled the papers in his hand into a ball before turning to leave immediately.

His movements were so swift and sudden that Riley called out in panic, “Where are you going again? Come back here!”

She thought that he was still totally unbothered by the news and was going out to have fun again.

But this time, Edmund was not going for a fun night out. Once he stepped foot out of the door, he jumped into his car and sped to the Zander residence. In the dead of night, his car whizzed along the roads as he slammed his foot on the accelerator, going more than a hundred and fifty kilometers per hour.

End-stage cancer?

Edmund truly did not expect such a fate to befall that woman.

They had been married for five years by then. No matter how much he claimed he did not love her, five long years of living under the same roof took away his ability to be indifferent in this situation.

Edmund rushed to the Zander residence as fast as he could.

However, upon seeing the lock on the door, his heart sank even further.

What occasion is this that they even locked the door?

Where have they gone?

Edmund stood outside the locked door. A chill slowly crept down his spine as he felt his heart turning cold. Bit by bit, the iciness in his heart spread to his skin. In the end, even the tips of his fingers were freezing.

“The number you have dialed is unavailable.” The robotic voice traveled through the phone.

“The number you have dialed-”

“The nu-”

Beep!

Frustrated, he hung up the call.

Upon hearing the commotion, the Zanders' neighbor walked out of his room to see what was happening.

“Aren't you Mr. Zander's son-in-law? What are you doing here so late at night? Didn't you go with them?

Edmund was bewildered.

“Go with them? Where did they go?”

“To get treatment for Mr. Zander.” The neighbor sighed. “What kind of a son-in-law are you? You can't possibly not know that your own father-in-law is going overseas for treatment?”

Hearing the confusion in Edmund's voice, the neighbor began to feel angry.

Once again, Edmund was stunned.

Going overseas for treatment?

Edmund truly had no clue. Another issue that baffled him was the person receiving the treatment. Isn't Tillie the one that's sick?

When had it become Mr. Zander?

Yet as that thought crossed his mind, a memory surfaced. When Tillie had acted out of character and handed him the divorce papers that morning, she seemed to have mentioned it in the passing.

She told him that her father was ill.

Hence, she wanted a divorce so she could take care of her father.

Edmund felt his thoughts getting more entangled.

Nevertheless, he was grateful to receive a new piece of information. As Edmund got into his car and drove away, he immediately got someone to check the airport ticket sales details.

As it turned out, the Zanders' names were found on three tickets on the flight to Moranta that afternoon.

His Secret Lover Returning from the Dead Chapter 1754

Perks Of Being A Coy Woman

Adding pressure onto the accelerator, Edmund sped to the airport.

With the new clue on his fingertips, finding the Zanders should be a breeze. Not to mention that Edmund already had friends from Moranta. The next afternoon after Tillie had gone missing, Edmund managed to find Tillie in a hospital in Moranta.

“Ms. Zander, why are you only sending your father for treatment now? His condition is grave. Even after the surgery, there is no guarantee that he will recover.”

Edmund found Tillie standing in a hallway, talking to a doctor in a white coat. After the doctor revealed the diagnostic results, Tillie paled as her body began to sway.

If it weren't for the fact that the doctor caught her in time, Tillie would have fallen head first onto the ground.

Edmund clenched his fists slightly.

Out of concern, the doctor asked Tillie if she was alright and helped her to a nearby bench. Seeing how easy it was for the doctor to carry Tillie to the bench, only then did Edmund notice how terribly skinny she had become.

It was as if a gust of strong wind could carry her away.

“Would you like me to help you back into the room so you can lie down, Ms. Zander?”

“It's alright. I'd like to sit here for a while. Thank you, doctor.”

Tillie answered absentmindedly, as though her soul had been sucked out of her body. Her cheekbones were prominent as the color drained from her skinny face.

Were there any words that could describe how she felt at that moment?

Truthfully, there were none.

As despair filled her chest, Tillie felt each painful crack as her heart broke into a million pieces. Only one thing remained in her mind: guilt.

If there was a way to turn back time, she would not make the same choices she did.

She would have spent more time with her parents and would have made sure that they did not worry too much about her. She was their only daughter. Surely they had raised her as if she was more precious than any treasure in the world.

Yet what had she done for them in return?

Tillie was utterly devastated. She sat on the bench mechanically. Despite wanting to cry, tears failed to come.

Just then, she felt a dip beside her on the bench. It was as though someone had taken a seat beside her.

“Don't be so upset. If there isn't a cure here, I can send him to Jetroina. Word has it that there's a Dr. Shoki, and he's supposed to be brilliant.”

Upon hearing the familiar voice of a man ringing out beside her, Tillie's brain suddenly went blank.

She was dumbfounded.

After a long while, she slowly turned her head in the direction of the voice and looked at the man beside her, thinking it was a dream.

The outline of a familiar person greeted her. It was the same person that Tillie had fallen head over heels for since forever.

But... what's he doing here?

That's impossible. He didn't even want to see me back home. Why would he be all the way here for dad's illness?

With that thought, Tillie turned her head back to stare blankly in front of her once again.

Seeing that she did not reply, Edmund continued, “Alright, you stay here and take a breather. I'll go see what the situation is now.”

Having said that, he stood up and decided to check things out before making a decision.

Staring at his diminishing silhouette, Tillie finally snapped out of her daze. Instantly, the dam she had built for five long years came crashing down as tears poured from the corner of her eyes.

Unable to hold her tears back any longer, Tillie covered her face and allowed herself to wail loudly on the bench.

Edmund stopped dead in his tracks.

His body stopped moving as well.

Edmund was not stupid. He knew exactly the reason behind that sudden explosion of tears.

Although unwilling, he had to admit that he had been a douchebag, especially toward that woman.

Turning around, he returned to the bench and sat next to the woman once again. At that point, Tillie was gasping for air from crying so hard.

“Alright, stop crying. I'm here. Don't worry, I won't let anything happen to Mr. Zander.”

The sound of sniffles continued to echo in the hallway.

After around five minutes, Tillie's breath slowly returned to normal.

When Edmund saw that, he took out a packet of tissues and handed it to her.

That was probably the first time in their five years of marriage that he had voluntarily cared for her.

Tillie accepted the tissues and wiped her face clean. After a while, she turned to look at him with reddened eyes. “What are you doing here?” she asked.

Edmund shrugged in response. “You didn't go home yesterday, so I went to your place instead. In the end, your neighbor told me you brought Mr. Zander here for treatment. Why didn't you tell me about this sooner?”

A hint of reproach could be detected in his last sentence.

Tillie lowered her gaze.

What was there to tell?

After so many years, he had never cared about her parents, not to mention that he had been even more terrible to herself. Would there be any use if she had said something?

Tillie did not want to add salt to her wound.

“You were busy, so I didn't bother to tell you. Plus, I assumed it was just a small issue at first.” Tillie sniffed as she cooked up a random excuse.

Edmund's frown deepened at her answer.

“Assumed? How could you assume something like this? You're not even a doctor. It's not like there's no man in the house. What could've happened if you discuss it with me? How many things can you handle on your own?”

Tillie remained silent upon hearing his response.

He truly did not beat around the bush.

However, as Tillie was sitting there, a tiny speck of warmth began to form in her long-frozen heart.

His Secret Lover Returning from the Dead Chapter 1755

Women Are Easy To Please

In the end, Tillie agreed.

Edmund began to take charge of Mr. Zander's treatment plan. However, the results he obtained from the doctor were far worse than he had expected.

“Mr. Cooper, the patient's condition is not looking very pleasant. He has colorectal cancer. What we can do now is to let him undergo surgery to remove the tumor, but there is no guarantee that the cancer will not return.”

Cancer again?

As Edmund heard the word, the images of the medical report Riley had handed him flashed across his mind.

All of a sudden, his heart felt even heavier.

After he had gotten married, Edmund had lived in a frolicking manner. The thought that someone was suffering all this while did not even cross his mind.

“Noted.”

Edmund did not make a decision right there and then. Instead, after hearing what the doctor said, he went out of the doctor's office.

All the while, Tillie had been staying by his side. Upon seeing that he left without a word, anxiety rose to her chest. “What's going on? Why aren't you agreeing to Dad's surgery?”

“It's not that,” answered Edmund. “I just want to ask my friends if there are any other better hospitals. Right now, our priority is to make sure that nothing happens to Dad”

Edmund turned around to look Tillie straight in the eyes when he answered. That was the first time he ever answered her question seriously.

The moment he finished explaining, it did not escape his notice that Tillie was taken aback. Her calm expression a moment ago began to slip away as her eyes reddened once again.

“Okay.”

With tears brimming in her eyes, Tillie ultimately agreed.

It took Edmund almost no time at all to connect with a friend. As he had expected, his friend had managed to connect him with a better doctor and hospital.

At the news, Tillie's entire family erupted with excitement.

“Eddy, thank you so much for helping out. If not, Tillie and I would not know what we should do.” Happy tears streamed down Mrs. Zander's face at the great news.

Edmund, on the other hand, could not help but feel guilty and embarrassed.

“What are you saying, Mom? I'm your son-in-law. This is my responsibility.”

“That's true. You are my son-in-law, why am I being so formal with you? It's all Tillie's fault. Back then, whenever we wanted to ask you for help, she would always tell us you're busy and carry it upon herself. Little by little, even we don't dare to bother you anymore.”

Mrs. Zander was overjoyed by Edmund's answer. Caught in the moment, she shifted the blame onto Tillie instead.

Instantly, Tillie felt awkward being put under the spotlight. “Mom, what are you saying?”

Yet in reality, when Tillie stole a glance at the man beside her, a warmth she had never felt before consumed her heart.

On that day itself, Mr. Zander was transferred.

When they had arrived at the hospital that was recommended by Edmund's friend, the doctor called for investigations on Mr. Zander again. After reviewing Mr. Zander's condition, the doctor announced that the situation was not as grave as they had thought. In fact, there was a high chance of recovery.

When the family heard the news, it was as though a weight was lifted off their shoulders.

After Mr. Zander's situation had settled down, Edmund glanced at the woman taking care of Mr. Zander in his hospital room, wondering if he should ask about her own condition. That way, they might as well run a screening on her too.

However, just as he reached the door, he overheard Tillie speaking to Mr. Zander.

“Dad, don't worry. The doctor Edmund found for us already said that it's just gonna be a small operation. You'll be in and out in no time.”

“Really?”

In the hospital room, Mr. Zander was lying on the bed. His body looked weak and disheveled. Nevertheless, the smile he had when he heard the news managed to brighten up his composure.

As the scene unfolded in front of Edmund's eyes, he decided against asking Tillie about her condition.

It's probably best to wait till after the surgery.

Back at Avenport, Sasha and the rest had a meal together. The next day, Solomon prepared to bring Ichika back to Jetroina.

They did not expect Ichika's condition to be so terrible that she could not even get out of bed.

“She should definitely go for a check-up. Nothing of this sort happened when I was pregnant with the triplets. You guys should quickly find out the issue.”

As the full force of reality hit her, Sasha immediately urged Solomon and Ichika.

Of course, Sabrina was even more anxious.

“Exactly. Hurry and go. Why are you only letting us know about this now? Oh, right. You don't have to take Yoel with you. Just leave him here with us. Once you've gone to Jetroina, you would have to take care of Ichika and take care of the company at the same time. You wouldn't have time for Yoel.”

“Mm-hmm,” agreed Sasha.

Therefore, Solomon took Ichika away first thing the next morning. Their son Yoel, on the other hand, remained within the country with Sasha and the rest.

“What do you want to eat, Yoel? I'll cook for you.”

Seeing that Yoel sat silently like a mini gentleman, she quickly took a liking to the child.

It was evident that the child was unlike others his age. Sasha could not help but compare Yoel with Devin's son, Jeffrey. The two boys were about the same age, yet Jeffrey was like the devil's incarnation, notorious for being naughty and mischievous.

Even Nina, a girl of about the same age, was active by nature.

Yet the child in front of her was incredibly obedient.

No, obedient might not be the right word to describe the child. Instead, the child had a rather quiet and poised personality. He could sit alone by himself with a comic book when Sasha was busy, not bothering anyone.

Even when his Aunt Sabrina was chasing Jeffery around the Hayes residence, Yoel could sit patiently on a stool and wait for his aunt in silence.

Sabrina could not help but wish Yoel was her kid instead.

His Secret Lover Returning from the Dead Chapter 1756

Return

“Say, Sasha. Both these kids have the Hayeses blood. How could such a d*mned thing give rise to such a good kid?” asked Sabrina, panting from chasing Jeffery.

Sasha did not respond.

Instead, with sweat still dripping from her forehead, Sasha picked up the poor child who had been sitting quietly in hunger all that while.

Well, with your gene, I’m surprised you had hopes of having a good kid. Sasha thought to herself.

Yoel’s obedient manner was probably inherited from Solomon.

Sasha then brought Yoel to Frontier Bay.

“Sebby, the school holiday is almost over. Should we go back to Jadeborough? Vivi and Matt are starting school soon, and there are a lot of things to take care of at home.”

“Mm-hmm, but I plan to take Ian to the company for the next two days.”

Sebastian, who was reading by himself, casually revealed his plans for the coming two days.

To the company?

Sasha placed Yoel down on the floor before walking up to Sebastian.

“Didn’t you say we’re allowing him to further his studies and get to know more people? Why are you sending him to the company now?” Sasha inquired.

“Because after I’ve come back here, I have evaluated the business of Hayes Corporation. Although the company is still earning profits, the overall performance is improving very slowly. Solomon might have been a great lawyer, but when it comes to business, he lacks the talent.”

Sebastian did not hesitate to put Solomon down.

However, it was true that Hayes Corporation had only been going steady for the past few years. It lacked the rapid development when it was under Sebastian’s lead. If this were to continue, Hayes Corporation would be replaced sooner or later.

Once she had understood the situation, Sasha dropped the subject.

The next day, Ian was brought by Sebastian to the company upon waking up.

“Did you hear? Mr. Hayes is coming to the office today!”

The staff had long gotten the news that their ex-President would be visiting them that day. Everyone from Hayes Corporation was ecstatic and had all clocked in earlier than usual.

Everyone had genuinely missed Sebastian. After all, it was Sebastian who led them into the glorious period of Hayes Corporation.

At seven thirty in the morning, a familiar black Bentley rolled up to the company’s entrance. Out stepped a man with a mature composure. Yet his appearance and demeanor were just as the people remembered.

It’s Mr. Hayes!

The President that they had not seen in so long really was standing in front of them.

The crowd was having trouble containing their cheers of excitement.

At the next second, the door to the passenger seat opened. A handsome young man stepped out of the car. The man’s face resembled Sebastian so much that he looked like a miniature version of Sebastian.

The crowd was utterly shocked by what they saw.

My gosh, is that… Is that Mr. Ian? He’s all grown up now!

Everyone in the building was dumbstruck as they watched on.

However, everyone regained their composure when the father-son pair made their way into the building like the royal family.

“Welcome, Mr. Hayes! Welcome, Mr. Ian!”

A round of thunderous applause reverberated in the hall.

Sebastian was unfazed.

Conversely, Ian, who was already feeling nervous beforehand, was startled by such a grand welcome.

“Daddy, they…”

“It’s alright. They’re just happy to see you here. Let’s go, we shall meet the top management of the company first. You’ve just gotten here. I’ll bring you around so you can familiarize yourself with the operations of this company.”

Sebastian never liked the small talk. Hence, he immediately brought Ian into an elevator.

After half an hour, in a conference meeting with the shareholders of Hayes Corporation, Sebastian announced that not only would he be taking over some of Solomon’s work at hand for the time being, he would be assigning Ian to the company’s operational department.

“Even though Ian still has to study, he should have no issues managing the company’s operation at the same time. It would not affect the company at all. Does anyone have any thoughts?”

“Not at all, but, I have a question for you, Mr. Hayes. With such arrangements, are you planning to let Ian work in Hayes Corporation in the future?”

One of the shareholders could not help but ask.

All of the shareholders knew Sebastian’s position in Hayes Corporation. After all those years, Solomon had not retracted Sebastian’s share of the company, meaning that Sebastian still had some say over how Hayes Corporation should run.

Only, after Sebastian had reclaimed his identity as a Jadeson, he had stopped interfering with the Hayeses.

One of the reasons Sebastian had done so was because he found it unfitting for him to continue leading the company since he was not the true heir of the Hayes family. Another reason was that he had too much on his plate and could no longer cope with such a workload.

At that moment, however, Sebastian suddenly wanted his son to come to Hayes Corporation. The shareholders could not help but wonder if he was coming back to Hayes Corporation.

The thought stirred up two responses. Those who wanted Sebastian to return were naturally excited.

Contrarily, those who thought Sebastian’s return would get in their way were not happy at all. In their minds, Sebastian was a lot sharper than Solomon in both his tactics and brain. It would take a lot more effort to trick Sebastian.

As a response, Sebastian merely swept the room casually with his gaze. After a few seconds, he answered nonchalantly, “I just want to train him. Ian has been studying in a research institute all this while and had been isolated from society for too long. As for whether or not he wants to stay here after he graduates, that will be entirely his choice.”

After hearing Sebastian’s answer, a few in the room let out a breath of relief.

His Secret Lover Returning from the Dead Chapter 1757

Stepped Out Of A Fairytale

However, Sebastian pretended to be oblivious.

After the meeting ended, he personally led Ian back to Solomon’s office and entrusted him to Luke.

Sebastian replied, “Okay, but there’s no need to go out of the way for him. He’s here to learn and gain experience, so proceed according to the usual policies as you would for any other employee.”

Ian did not say anything, feeling an inexplicable sense of nervousness after hearing Sebastian’s instructions.

Hence, Ian officially joined Hayes Corporation that day. And as expected from his first day of work in a professional setting, he was clearly not used to it.

Based on Luke’s feedback Sebastian received after returning home from work, Ian had spent the entire day at the operations department without taking the initiative to speak to anyone. He merely did as he was told and gave a brief reply when spoken to.

Sasha’s heart was filled with distress when she heard about it, and she asked worriedly, “What are we going to do about it?”

On the contrary, Sebastian did not seem perturbed by the news. He sat at his desk and looked through some reports Luke had sent him while saying reassuringly, “You don’t have to be so worried. He just returned from the base, so, naturally, it’d take some time for him to get acclimatized to working in such an environment. He’ll get used to it after a while.”

“But if he doesn’t get along with the others in the office, won’t it make him even more averse to such an environment?” Sasha responded, voicing her concerns.

However, she fails to realize that Ian is no longer the little boy she wanted to protect back then. At that time, he was young and needed his mother’s protection to shield him. But now, Ian is about to turn eighteen next year. He’s all grown up. Hence, he’s practically an adult and must learn to be independent. As parents, we won’t always be there to protect him. Besides, a little hardship would be beneficial in his current situation.

With that thought in mind, Sebastian paid no heed to Ian. As for the latter, he was just as headstrong as Sebastian. Despite the grueling day he had had at work, Ian did not utter a single word of complaint to Sebastian when he returned home that night.

Three days later, the fifteenth of the month had passed, and it was time for Sebastian’s university enrollment.

Luke went to Caleb Somer, the director of Hayes Corporation’s operational department. “Mr. Somer, Mr. Ian will be leaving soon, so please make the arrangements for his subsequent work schedule.”

“Very well,” Caleb answered.

He quickly instructed his secretary to draw up a work schedule and gave it to Ian. He also assigned an extremely capable manager from the operational department to be responsible for working closely with Ian.

“Remember to stay in touch while you’re at the university, Mr. Ian. Once you’re there, I’ll assign you your first project.”

“Okay.”

Ian was taciturn as he held the worksheet in his hand, but he still nodded.

He left Avenport that same night, and it was only after arriving at the city where his university was located that he finally smiled. As reticent as he was, his eyes lit up as soon as he saw Susan and Timothy.

“Aunt Susan…” he greeted.

“Ah, you’ve finally arrived. We’ve already been here for two days. Let’s go and get you registered, shall we?” said Susan, delighted to see him.

After instructing Timothy to help carry Ian’s suitcase, she took them to the university. Surprisingly, Ian asked them a few questions about the university on their journey there.

Timothy piped up, “Don’t worry. Your faculty isn’t that far from mine. I’ll be able to look for you often, and we can hang out together.”

“That’s right. Your father also called me earlier. You won’t be staying in the dormitory. I’ve already found a place off-campus, and both of you will be living there together. Since it’s not too far from campus, you can ride your bicycles to class,” Susan added.

“Sounds good,” Ian replied. The uneasiness that had been in his eyes finally faded when he heard that, and he could not conceal the look of happiness that spread across his face as he agreed to her arrangement.

Not many knew that one with a quiet and reserved personality was even more eager for love and warmth from the people around them as it offered them a sense of security. However, Sebastian had already considered that in his arrangements for Ian.

Ian successfully enrolled at the university, and Timothy was the one who took him to the lecture hall on the first day of class. Everyone in the room turned toward Ian when he appeared in the doorway with his backpack slung over his shoulder.

He looked like a dashing young man who had just stepped out of a fairytale.

His handsome face was so perfect that it was simply breathtaking, and due to his reserved nature, there was a brooding air about him. Like a dark and mysterious forest, he made one feel curious yet fearful to know what lay beneath his impenetrable facade.

As soon as he appeared, everyone in the lecture hall fell silent for a few seconds.

Fortunately, the lecturer happened to walk into the room just then. Noticing the other students staring at Ian, he quickly said, “Everyone, allow me to introduce your new coursemate. His name is Ian Hayes. Please give him a warm round of applause to welcome him.”

As loud applause filled the lecture hall, Ian tensed up even more and stared at the other students stiffly.

Suddenly, a clear and enthusiastic-sounding female voice rang out, inviting Ian to sit with her. “Since you’re new, why don’t you sit next to me? There’s an empty seat here.”

Ian turned to look in the direction of the voice…

His Secret Lover Returning from the Dead Chapter 1758

A New Beginning

The person who spoke was a girl who looked quite adorable.

Her hair was up in a bun, and she wore a short, pale yellow skirt. She beamed when she saw Ian turn toward her, waving at him vigorously to join her.

However, Ian looked away at once.

He did not wish to sit next to anyone. If it were possible, he would rather sit by himself.

The lecturer had been wondering where to seat Ian, so when he saw that, he quickly seized the opportunity and went with the flow. “In that case, why don’t you sit with Zaylynn?” he suggested.

Although Ian furrowed his brows, he finally acquiesced.

By the time he walked over to the empty seat, Zaylynn Neal had already wiped the seat clean and was waiting for him. “Sit here. I’ve already cleaned it for you.”

He nodded and sat down next to her.

Seeing that, the other female students could not help sighing regretfully.

They had thought he would keep his distance from others, not expecting him to be so obedient and comply with the lecturer’s suggestion to sit with Zaylynn.

While Ian unzipped his backpack, Zaylynn asked, “This is the textbook we’re using for this class. Since you’ve just enrolled, have you gotten your books yet? Do you want to borrow mine?”

She held out a textbook as she spoke.

He looked up from rummaging through his backpack, his beautiful eyes framed by long eyelashes glancing at the book in her hand.

Microeconomics? I didn’t bring that book, but I can do without it for one class.

Taking out a pen and a brand new notebook, he placed them neatly on the table. Then, he shifted his indifferent gaze toward the front of the lecture hall.

Zaylynn stared at him wordlessly.

He really is cold and aloof.

Although she felt a little embarrassed as she withdrew her hand, she quickly recovered as if nothing had happened due to her cheerful and optimistic disposition.

Whenever she noticed Ian furrow his brows at something the lecturer was saying during the class, she would explain it to him kindly and patiently.

I heard this he’s only seventeen years old. He hasn’t even celebrated his eighteenth birthday yet. Based on the university’s usual age requirements for admission, he’d still be in high school. But seeing as how he suddenly came here to study, I can’t help wondering whether something happened before this.

With that thought in mind, she became even more attentive toward him.

When the class was finally over, the other students started getting to their feet and leaving. But even as Zaylynn watched the others exiting the lecture hall, she showed no intention of leaving. Instead, she turned toward Ian, who was still seated next to her, and took the initiative to speak to him again.

“Since this is your first day here, would you like me to give you a little introduction to our course’s classes and schedules?”

Ian tilted his head and looked at her, then finally replied, “Okay.”

Indeed, that was what he needed.

I’ve never studied in a formal educational setting, so I need someone to explain things to me so that I can better understand my classes and schedule.

He waited for her to start explaining, but to his surprise, she took out her smartphone when she heard him agree to let her help him. With her WhatsApp open on her phone, she said, “Let’s exchange numbers. I’ll send you the class schedule.”

A hint of disgust shot through Ian’s heart instantly.

He hated it when others tried to get close to him, especially in such a blatantly obvious manner.

Hence, he grabbed his backpack and stood up with a darkened expression.

Just as Ian was about to leave, a young man appeared at the door to the lecture hall. When he saw Ian, he quickly asked in a kindly tone, “Are you the new student, Ian Hayes? I’m Jacques, the student council secretary. One of our lecturers wanted me to help you get familiarized with the Faculty of Finance. Do you have some time now?”

Ian was silent for a moment before nodding. “Yes.”

Jacques smiled.

“All right, then. Let’s go. Zaylynn, what are you still doing here? You still have a class after this. Don’t be late,” Jacques reminded Zaylynn as he was about to leave with Ian. Annoyed by his words, her round face flushed.

What’s up with this new guy? He’s unwilling to let a girl show him around? He only wants some bigshot to do it?

Furious, she left the lecture hall in a huff.

Thanks to Jacques’ careful explanation, Ian finally had a good idea of what he had to do during his time at the university and how to schedule his time.

As they toured the faculty building, Jacques suddenly asked, “I heard from our lecturer that you didn’t attend high school. Is that true?”

Ian murmured an acknowledgement.

“Oh, my! Then you’re—” Jacques began.

“I had some health issues, so my parents had a teacher come to the house to teach me,” Ian replied, making up an excuse on the spot.

His Secret Lover Returning from the Dead Chapter 1759

He Could Ignore Everyone

The base is classified as one of the country’s top secrets, so there’s no way I can reveal anything. I’m also sure Dad didn’t explain the actual situation to the lecturers when he decided to let me enroll here.

Meanwhile, realization dawned on Jacques after hearing Ian’s response.

I see. He has been studying on his own. No wonder the lecturer asked me to take good care of this new student, worrying that he wouldn’t have a good grasp of the basics and would fall behind in class.

Subsequently, Jacques became even more welcoming toward Ian. He even asked one of the Faculty of Finance’s top students to help guide Ian.

He led a girl over to Ian, then said as he gestured toward her, “Ian, this is Yasmin Snow. She’s one of our faculty’s top students. Seeing that you’ve just enrolled, I think it’d be a good idea to have her guide you for the time being.”

Yasmin Snow?

Ian cast her a nonchalant glance.

She’s rather beautiful. However, she seems just as cold and aloof as me. Even though Yasmin stood before Ian, she merely looked at him with an impassive expression and nodded curtly without saying anything.

Since she was so cold toward him, it was even more unlikely that Ian would attempt to converse with her.

They entered the lecture hall together, but despite sitting next to each other, they did not interact at all throughout the entire duration of the class. It was only toward the end of the class that she cast a sidelong glance at him.

Neither of them said a word…

He has been fixing his eyes on the lecturer the whole time, never seeming to turn his attention elsewhere.

She had also noticed a slight frown marring his handsome features from time to time, and she guessed it was because he had not understood something the lecturer had said. Nonetheless, he made no move to ask Yasmin anything. Instead, he picked up his pen and quickly jotted down notes in his new notebook.

She watched as his pen moved purposefully across the page with a flourish, and his handwriting was as beautiful as his looks.

Yasmin quietly withdrew her gaze. Five minutes before class ended, she finally broke the silence. “If there’s anything you don’t understand, you can ask me.”

Ian did not respond immediately.

He had been twirling his pen between his long, slender fingers. However, he paused his movements for a moment, then murmured an acknowledgment.

Yasmin frowned again.

What’s with that attitude?

She could not help feeling a little irked by his behavior. Known as the ice queen of the Faculty of Finance, she was recognized for her beauty and academic excellence. Hence, many of the male students in their faculty would always seek to win her favor.

However, Ian did not seem bothered to pay her the slightest attention at all.

After class, Yasmin hugged her books to her chest and left without a word.

As for Ian, he glanced at his watch and realized that he did not have any other classes that morning. Hence, he left the lecture hall and went to the Faculty of Business Administration to look for Susan.

Halfway there, he bumped into Susan, who was on his way to look for him. She ran over happily as soon as she spotted him and asked, “Ian, is your class over? How was it? Have you been able to settle in?”

Ian’s handsome face finally broke into a slight smile when he saw a familiar face.

“Mmm, it’s going okay. Have you just finished your class?”

“Yes. Let’s go and grab a bite, then. Your father told me you’re also handling some work at the company while studying. Is that right?” she asked in a caring tone.

He nodded. “Yes. He said he’d assign me a project.”

Susan replied, “Okay. Let’s hurry up and get something to eat. I’ve checked your class schedule. You only have one class later this afternoon. We can head to the library after eating, and you can work there. No one will disturb you there.”

She was truly meticulous to a fault, thinking of everything and making the necessary arrangements for Ian after Sebastian spoke to her.

As such, Ian felt comfortable with following her arrangements.

Two of them walked toward the cafeteria. Knowing that Ian had been waited on hand and foot since he was little and would not be used to the usual cafeteria fare, she had arranged for the cafeteria staff to prepare some other dishes just for him. She went to get the food when they arrived at the cafeteria and carried it over to him.

“Look. Here’s the food I asked them to prepare for you. I think you’ll like it,” Susan said as she set the dishes before him.

Of course, she had also specially prepared a set of plates and cutlery for his use.

Pressing his lips into a smile, Ian lowered his head and picked up the fork.

Suddenly, some of the students in the cafeteria caught sight of Ian and Susan as they ate. “Oh my goodness! Isn’t that… the new guy from our faculty? Why is he sitting with a girl? Also… Was he smiling just now?” they exclaimed.

One of the students who had noticed them was a girl with a bun.

They’re right. Ian was actually smiling. From the minute he stepped into class earlier, he wore an icy expression as if enveloped in layers of frost. I tried to get close to him several times, but that expression never changed. It was also the same when our faculty’s ice queen sat next to him. So, what’s so special about that girl? Why did he let her sit and eat with him? Why did he smile at her?

Zaylynn was the beloved daughter of the Neal family and was used to being the center of attention. As resentment bubbled within her, she stepped out of the queue with a plate still in her hands, then stormed straight toward Ian and Susan.

His Secret Lover Returning from the Dead Chapter 1760

Rage

“Ian, you’re here for lunch too? What a coincidence! Can I sit with you?”

Ian continued with his lunch without uttering a single word. However, his gazes grew dark, a clear tell-tale that fury was surging within the boy, and he was nearly about to explode in anger.

Fortunately, Susan was around. Upon seeing Zaylynn’s abrupt appearance, the former hurriedly spoke before the young man lost his temper. “You’re Ian’s classmate? Of course, you can. Come on, take a seat beside me.”

She then quickly gestured Zaylynn to the empty spot and ordered some more food for her.

After all, Ian would never allow strangers to sit beside him, and neither would he let anyone touch his food. That was why even Susan had to have her own plate of food.

Luckily, with those arrangements, she successfully suppressed Ian’s burning rage, at least for the time being.

At this point, Zaylynn seemed a little stunned.

This girl… Why is she…

“What is it? Do you not like it?”

“N-No… I just thought you two seem to know each other. Isn’t today his first day here in our school? You…” Zaylynn eventually asked after some hesitation.

“Me? Don’t get the wrong idea. I’m his aunt. It’s his first day in school. I was afraid he wouldn’t get used to it, so I decided to accompany him for lunch.” Susan let out a chuckle before explaining.

Since they were both females, it was no doubt she could tell the girl’s intention after seeing her expression.

She had always known that her nephew was an exceptionally outstanding boy; therefore, it was more than normal that he would attract the opposite gender. Besides, Sebastian had also told her the purpose for sending Ian to the university was to make sure he could blend into society better.

Since that was so, why would she push others away when they were getting closer with Ian?

And as expected, that adorable face instantly brightened upon hearing that explanation.

“Oh, I see. There’s no need to worry, Susan. You can leave this to me. I was the one who helped him through the first class this morning.”

“Really?”

Susan was amused when she heard Zaylynn’s words.

However, she was still glad to know that Ian had made a friend who would enthusiastically offer to help him on his first day of school. She was certain Sebastian would be delighted if he heard about it.

Susan even thought about having a good chat with Zaylynn.

However, at the sight of the situation, Ian threw his fork on the table, grabbed his backpack, and strode away.

The two young ladies were stunned.

Shortly after, Ian found his way to the school library.

University students usually would have a lot of free time throughout the day. There were only a few lessons a day, and for the rest of the time, students had to depend on themselves for self-revision. The hardworking ones would do their studying either at the library or in self-study rooms.

And those who had no interest in studying would spend their time playing games and slacked off.

In the spacious library that was three levels high in the university, Ian saw that there was quite a crowd. The desks inside were almost all occupied.

Without other choices, he could only head deeper inside, and in the end, he found an empty spot by the window on the third floor.

It was just that another student was sitting opposite that empty seat.

“It’s you?”

The girl lifted her head in the middle of her revision and saw him approaching. A rare flash of surprise flickered across that stunning yet frosty face of hers.

It was none other than Yasmin.

Nevertheless, she realized in the next instant that it was almost as if Ian did not see her presence—all that he did was pull out his laptop from his backpack and began studying diligently after settling himself down.

Yasmin was rendered speechless by his aloofness.

Hah, putting on a pretense, huh?

A mocking smirk flashed across her face as she resumed her revision.

The second time she was distracted from her studies was when Ian suddenly stood up and walked toward the bookshelves after staring at the screens with his brows scrunched up.

What is he doing?

Puzzlement overwhelmed Yasmin.

But since she was never interested in poking her nose in others’ business, she merely lowered her head and continued studying.

All was fine until a video call ringtone resonated through the venue from the laptop opposite her. The ringing was especially blaring in the noiseless library.

Yasmin frowned and turned in the direction of the bookshelves, yet did not manage to spot Ian’s silhouette.

On the contrary, because of the noise from the laptop, many students shifted their gazes toward her, feeling annoyed.

Pissed off, Yasmin stood up and walked over with her teeth clenched, and just as she expected, someone was giving Ian a video call.

She was about to help him decline the call, but to her surprise, she saw on a closer look that the saved caller ID of the caller was “Caled Somer, operational department director”.

Yasmin paused momentarily.

“What are you doing? Who says you can touch my laptop?” A sharp and grim voice suddenly sounded from above her head.

Yasmin’s face fell at once. Lifting her head, she saw a handsome face ashen with anger, and on that face was a pair of insidious-looking eyes fixed on her. He was giving off a terrifyingly menacing vibe that anyone could sense his wrath from miles away.