Ch. 1981..1990
His Secret Lover Returning from the Dead Chapter 1981
Natalie was sent to the hospital.
When Jonathan learned of the news, he was so angry that he stomped on the ground with his walking cane. "Why did this happen? Even after so many years, nothing has changed! What will happen in the future if things continue down this path? I can't have someone accompany her for the rest of her life!"
While he was anxious, he also felt sorry for his great- grandson.
It was only natural since Natalie wasn't related to him by blood.
Thankfully, Mark, who had been by Jonathan's side for many years, was around. After Mark saw how furious Jonathan was, he comforted the latter, "Please don't get angry, Old Mr. Jadeson. Mrs.
Jadeson will no doubt solve this issue."
"Really?" Jonathan was doubtful.
Concurrently, at the hospital, Sasha let out a sigh of relief when she saw life returning to Natalie's face after being given an IV drip. Then, she turned to her son.
"Did something happen between you and Nat, Matt? Why did she suddenly throw a temper tantrum?"
"1-1 actually didn't say anything special. It's just that, during last night's call, she told me she got ninety- five marks, and I praised her. Then she said 'that's it?' It made me suddenly recall something... It was a joke I made before." After understanding what was going on, Matteo told his mother about what had happened honestly.
Sasha was stunned. Joke? What joke? I have a really bad feeling about this.
"Do you know what you mean to Nat for the past three years, Matt? You were the one who avenged her father back then. She treated you as the only beam of light left in her dark, isolated world. She will take everything you say to heart."
Matteo's face turned pale as he stood silently.
That problem never crossed his mind.
He recalled that, after he went overseas, in order to ensure that Natalie would focus on her studies and live a carefree life, he would pamper her and shower her with affectionate words whenever he called.
It was his wish that she would do well since he sincerely cared for her.
However, he never thought that every word he said would be perceived as a promise by her.
"Is this why she has been working so hard for the past three years? So much so that even Nina can't catch up with her? Turns out, it's because of that joke you told her. What exactly did you tell her, Matt?"
"I told her that, if she got one-hundred marks, I'll take her to continue her education at my place." Matteo scratched the back of his head as he spoke awkwardly.
The moment he finished speaking, Sasha got so angry that she wanted to hit his head. This is outrageous! Why does he think this is a good way to motivate her? Doesn't he know that a traumatized child's hope will crumble if her expectations aren't met? Especially after she hid away from the outside world? It'll make her feel as though she has been abandoned again, and that darkness is the only thing left in her world.
Sasha took in two deep breaths and made a decision before Natalie woke up. "In that case, then let her follow you from now on."
"Eh?" Matteo's eyes widened. "You can't be serious, Mommy. I didn't go overseas for fun. I have my duties to attend to!"
"I know, but since you already promised her, you need to keep your word, otherwise, what do you expect her to do? She's finally getting better after three years. Do you want her to regress to her worst state again?"
He remained speechless for five seconds. Of course I don't! But taking Nat to study at my place, it's... I'm really regretting my decision to say that now.
In the end, when Sebastian learned of the whole story, he came to the same conclusion as Sasha, though he decided to make some extra arrangements.
"Firstly, we'll buy a house and hire housemaids as well as bodyguards for you," Sebastian said.
Matteo still remained silent.
"Secondly, take Nina with you. With her there, you don't need to worry about anything. Nat will be fine as long as she can stare at your face all day."
Daddy's comments always hit the nail on the head. Matteo had no choice but to agree.
Three days later, when Natalie had completely recovered and learned that she could study overseas at Matteo's place, a sparkle of light was finally reintroduced to her eyes.
Nina said, "You have quite the nerve. I'm surprised."
Natalie silently shifted her line of sight downward to look away from Nina and stared at a plushie on her bed.
When Nina saw that, she returned to her room without saying anything else.
Once the door was closed, no one realized that Natalie had started packing her books and clothes, even though there were still a few months before they were going overseas.
By all logic, she should've waited until her exam was over and Matteo had chosen a suitable school for her. The decision to move wouldn't be finalized until then.
Nonetheless, the little girl was so excited that she was getting really busy inside her room.
At Southeast Astoria, Ian and Susan learned of the mess they had indirectly caused because of their phone call.
As the older brother, Ian felt quite guilty for what had happened.
His Secret Lover Returning from the Dead Chapter 1982
Ian: Are you all right?
Matteo: What's up?
Ian: I heard Nat is going to study at your place. I caused this, so if there's anything you need, let me know.
Matteo was seething with anger.
Still, Ian was his brother, so he had no choice but to swallow that anger.
Matteo: It's fine. I'll Just think of it as an early experience of what it's like to be a father. Oh yeah, how are things at your end? I heard from Mommy and Daddy that you two are getting a marriage certificate. Am I going to become an uncle?
Ian froze. / can't believe he's saying stuff like that!
He quickly glanced outside. After making sure that Susan was immersed in her work, he suppressed his anger and scolded his brother.
Ian: What are you thinking? We haven't gotten married yet.
Matteo: Aren't you two engaged already? Are you going to tell me you two haven't done anything yet?
Ian remained silent.
Matteo: No way. Are you for real? You're too pure, Ian. Do you remember our classmate? The Dawson guy? Even though you two had engagements at roughly the same time, his child is already a year old now.
Ian still didn't reply.
Matteo: Are you having problems? Sure, you haven't bought the ticket for the boat ride yet, but it's already booked. It's fine even if you two enter the boat now.
Ian: Matteo Hayes!
Ian almost squeezed his brother's name through gritted teeth with fury. This bastard! What has he been doing for the past three years? Why did he become someone who casually says whatever is on his mind? Doesn't he know he's not married yet? He doesn't even have a girlfriend yet!
Ian's face darkened.
When Matteo saw those two words, he could feel his brother's wrath and stopped teasing him.
Matteo: All right, all right. I'll stop now. still, I'm just reminding you that if you don't do it fast, your wife's pregnancy may pose a health risk due to her age, since she is three years older than you.
Veins were popping out on Ian's forehead when he read that text.
The sound of a pair of high-heels approaching him entered his ears. Then, he heard a woman's voice. "What are you doing, Hubby?”
"Oh, nothing.” Ian immediately put his phone back onto the table, as though he had just done something bad. He then raised his head and stared at Susan while pretending to be calm.
"Hmm?" She lifted her eyebrow. What is this guy doing? Why is he blushing so hard?
"Is there a problem?”
"Oh, yes. The customs just told me that they are going to conduct additional examinations on the materials that our company shipped today. If that happens, not only will it delay our shipment's arrival, but we may also need to pay a lot of fees." She then handed some documents to Ian.
Ian took It and read it. This is ridiculous. The shipment is already priced incredibly low. If this goes through that troublesome custom, we're not going to make any money out of it. Not only that, if the shipment is delayed, the company needs to pay a penalty fee!
The look in Ian's eyes darkened.
A few minutes later, Melvin was summoned.
Ian ordered, "Follow me to their headquarters.”
"Eh?” Melvin was shocked. He got here not too long ago. Does he really want to go to the government headquarters?
Susan was shocked too. "Don't you think this is too dangerous? They're clearly trying to force Hayes Corporation to listen to them. If you go there, they won't be very nice to you.”
She blocked Ian's way, but he just waved his hand dismissively to reassure her that there was nothing to worry about.
"They're not going to do anything to me. Besides, if they're doing this, they are clearly inviting me to visit them," he uttered.
In the end, Susan didn't say anything else.
After a while, Ian left the company and headed straight to the government headquarters.
Susan waited in the company anxiously. There was a moment when she impulsively wanted to call Ian's parents to tell them about what was going on.
In the end, though, she resisted the temptation and went to pour herself a glass of water to drink instead.
That was because she knew Ian wouldn't want his parents to help him as he was learning how to be better.
She knew he wanted to gain a foothold at where they were through his own hard work.
The waiting lasted for the entire afternoon.
When she finally heard some news, it was about time for people to get off work.
At that moment, she was the only person left in the finance department.
Before Aubrey left, she saw Susan still staying in the company, seemingly with no intention of leaving. So, she approached Susan and asked, "Are you still worried about Mr. Hayes, Ms. Wand?"
Susan nodded awkwardly. "I've been waiting for a whole afternoon, but still hasn't returned."
"You don't have to worry. Even government officials won't dare to mess with Hayes Corporation, since the company is quite powerful here. They probably just want to make some money, so they won't cause any other trouble.”
Susan didn't expect Aubrey to be that knowledgeable
His Secret Lover Returning from the Dead Chapter 1983
A huge wave of relief washed over Susan when she heard that. After waiting for some time in the office, she finally received a call from Ian.
"Darling?" she said.
"Hey. Everything's settled. Pack your things and meet me downstairs in fifteen minutes."
A refreshing yet alluring voice, which was pleasing to the ears, came through the speakers.
Susan was overjoyed when she heard his words.
It's finally done!
She hurriedly packed her things in the office and went downstairs with her handbag. Never in her life had she ever acted so quickly.
At the same time, she had already planned out the celebration in her mind. I'm going to the supermarket with him to buy loads of ingredients. Then, we're going to have a great feast at the new villa.
That evening, however, she waited downstairs for almost an hour, but the man who promised to pick her up never showed up.
"The number you have dialed is unavailable."
"The number you have dialed is unavailable." Susan's heart sank deeper and deeper as she listened to the mechanical dial tone. The foreboding feeling slowly engulfed her until she lost all hope.
Five minutes later, just as she had called for a taxi to rush over to the government headquarters, she received a call.
"Hello, are you Mr. Ian Hayes' family member?"
"Who are you?"
"I'm from the transportation bureau. Mr. Hayes has gotten into an accident and has been sent to the hospital for surgery. If you're a family member or a friend of his, please come to the hospital right away." The person on the phone sounded urgent as he informed her about the news.
Susan was stunned to hear that.
All of a sudden, her mind went blank, and her brain lost its ability to think. All that remained was a feeling of hopelessness, and she could only see darkness before her.
On top of that, she felt a shiver run down her spine as fear filled her heart.
That's... That's impossible!
Soon, she arrived at the hospital without knowing how she got there.
All she remembered was seeing the bright red light outside the operating theater and a body covered with a piece of white cloth on the side.
In the end, her body swayed, and she fell head-first to the ground.
"Ms. Limmer!" Right then, Aubrey, who had just arrived, quickly held Susan up when she witnessed that.
No one expected such a thing to happen.
After all, Aubrey was just comforting Susan not long ago, telling the latter not to worry. Yet, shortly after Ian and Melvin went out, one got severely injured while the other died.
Wiping away her tears, Aubrey helped an overwhelmed Susan to the bed to lie down and quickly asked the two traffic officers, "Hello, officers. What exactly happened? How did they get into an accident?"
"They got hit by a truck. The driver's been detained, and we're examining the vehicle now. Don't worry. We'll let you know the result once we have it," the traffic officer updated her on the current situation.
After listening to all that, Aubrey was at a loss for what to do. Hence, she could only return to the ward.
About half an hour later, Susan, who was lying on a hospital bed, regained consciousness. As she lay there, her pupils suddenly constricted, and she sat bolt upright.
"Ms. Limmer?" Aubrey was shocked when she saw Susan's reaction.
However, Susan did not reply to Aubrey. Instead, the former got off the bed immediately and ran out like a madwoman.
"Ms. Limmer, where are you going?"
As soon as Susan exited the room, she caught hold of a doctor in a white coat and started throwing questions at him hysterically, "Ian... Where's Ian? Where's my husband? Where is he?"
She had never been so frightened before.
At that moment, she felt as if there was an invisible hand pushing her further into the bottomless abyss. It made her tremble in panic and lose all sense of rationality.
Thankfully, the doctor informed her that the operation was still going on.
He's still in surgery?
Looking like a half-dead fish that finally found water, Susan immediately recovered her breath, almost slumping to the ground.
Coincidentally, Aubrey walked out as well.
When she saw Susan's state, she quickly grabbed hold of the latter. "Calm down, Ms. Limmer. Mr. Hayes is still in the operating theater. You must not lose your calm."
After some time, with Aubrey's support, Susan walked over to the entrance of the operating theater, where the red light was still turned on. The latter slumped onto the bench and waited there with tears streaming down her face.
The emotions that washed over her were indescribable.
She was so overwhelmed that she had even forgotten to inform the rest about the matter. At that moment, her mind was filled with the image of the red light at the operating theatre.
Solomon arrived at the hospital two hours later.
The moment he arrived, his face drained of color when he saw the pale white interior of the hospital. He quickly asked the deputy general manager beside him, "How are things?"
Solomon was the one who sent Ian over, after all. Hence, if something were to happen to Ian, Solomon would never be able to redeem himself, even if he died. He would feel guilty toward Ian's parents for the rest of his life.
"Ian's safe for now. Some of his internal organs are severely injured, and a few of his ribs are broken. If Melvin hadn't protected him at that critical moment, he would've..." The deputy general manager did not finish his sentence.
His Secret Lover Returning from the Dead Chapter 1984
What he could not bring himself to say was that Melvin was dead.
Solomon's eyes were red as he nodded grimly. He would have gone off to get revenge on the other party involved in the accident if he had not raised his head and spotted a young woman standing stiffly outside the intensive care unit.
He walked over and called out from behind the woman, "Susan?"
Hearing that, Susan turned around slowly.
"Uncle Solomon..." She only managed to choke out two words. After hanging on for the entire day, she finally let her emotions run free, and tears rolled down her cheeks.
When Solomon saw that, an overwhelming feeling of guilt rose in his heart. He wanted to slap himself hard on the face.
What was I thinking? I knew this was a dangerous place. Why did I still send them here? As talented as Ian is, he's just a young man in his twenties.
Finally, Solomon instructed someone to take Susan to the room next door to get some rest. After that, he left the hospital.
That night, just as the local authorities were trembling with fear, someone finally came to notify them, saying someone from the Hayes family had come looking forthem.
"Who is it? Who's here? Is it Sebastian?"
The informant quickly denied it, "No. It doesn't look like him. It's a middle-aged man with glasses. He looks like a mild-mannered person."
The leader of the headquarters heaved a sigh of relief.
Thank goodness it's not Sebastian. We can deal with this visitor here as long as it's not him.
Feeling much more relaxed, he instructed his subordinate to bring the visitor in.
Sure enough, as soon as the visitor stepped into the precinct, the leader saw a handsome, fair-skinned, and mild-mannered person who had a pair of goldframed glasses sitting on his nose bridge. The former looked completely threatless.
In fact, he looked like a lecturer.
"You are?"
Solomon wasted no time exchanging pleasantries. As soon as he stepped into the place, he removed the wedding ring on his finger and voiced his question expressionlessly, "Did you have something to do with today's accident?"
The leader shrugged. "Are you talking about Mr. Hayes? I'm truly sorry, but I really had nothing to do with it."
Solomon interrogated, "Then, who did it? I ordered someone to look into the truck, but the driver wasn't drunk, and the break was still in good condition. This couldn't have been an accident."
"Indeed, but this really has nothing to do with me. I'm still trying to make sense of things, too. Who on earth would dare to attack the Hayeses? Where did he get the guts to do that?"
How dare he make sarcastic remarks?
Solomon lifted his head and stared coldly at the leader. As he did so, a bloodthirsty glint that had not appeared In ages flashed across his eyes.
"Really?” he growled.
"Yes-"
Bang!
The leader had only uttered a word when a bullet went through his forehead and killed him Instantly. Everyone's jaws dropped with horror.
As they gaped at the gentleman who had taken the life of another person without an ounce of hesitance, their minds were blank from the shock.
Who is this young man? That's the leader of the customs head office he just shot. How could that young man just shoot someone without warning? Even Hugo of Tilan Palace wouldn't dare to attack such a powerful person.
Everyone screamed and attempted to run out while covering their heads.
Seeing that, Solomon gave a slight nod. Immediately, the man behind him took out his gun and fired a few shots. The person running ahead of everyone else collapsed instantly.
This is horrifying! He's not even human. He must be a devil! Didn't the informant say he's not Sebastian? Why is this man crazier than him? He's even more ruthless than Sebastian.
"W-Who are you? Do you know whom you've just killed?"
"You don't even know who I am, yet how dare you assume I don't know about this matter?" Solomon tossed his gun to the person beside him and took out a white handkerchief to clean himself.
It was as if he did not like the stench of blood.
"If I remember it correctly, Hugo was able to dominate this place only because Sinch Enterprise of Jetroina left, otherwise, he wouldn't have the chance to roam freely here," Solomon uttered each word with a murderous aura, revealing the truth of the past.
His words left everyone in the headquarters dumbfounded. In just a few seconds, all those who had been glaring at him paled.
After all, Sinch Enterprise of Jetroina was their nightmare back then.
If Hayes Corporation were to openly dominate the business industry in Astoria, Sinch Enterprise would be the Tilans empire's greatest threat in every way.
That was because Sinch Enterprise was incredibly powerful.
Not only did they have an outstanding leader, but they were also involved in both legal and underground businesses. In Jetroina, Sinch Enterprise's gang network was on par with Hugo's.
Back then, Hugo was extremely troubled by it. Even the government headquarters were terrified when they heard that Sinch Enterprise wanted to venture into their market.
They feared a war might break out between the two families.
If that were to happen, their country would become a living hell.
So, this man is the leader of Sinch Enterprise!
The people in the headquarters slumped to the ground as realization dawned on them.
His Secret Lover Returning from the Dead Chapter 1985
Not long after that, someone from the government rushed over anxiously upon receiving the news.
This time, the official stepped into the room with his back bent over. Upon seeing Solomon, the former quickly apologized, "Mr. George, I'm terribly sorry. It's our fault for being incompetent in dealing with this matter. I've just looked into it. Though someone caused the accident deliberately, it really has nothing to do with us."
"What did you just say?"
Those words filled the air with an intimidating aura.
Hearing that, the informant wiped off the sweat on his forehead, "l-lt's true. It's the Tilan family who planned the entire thing.”
The Tilan family.
As Solomon sat with his legs crossed in the middle of the hall, he finally raised his brow as if he was quite surprised. "They still have descendants?"
"Yes. Hugo has a daughter called Melinda. She followed Lacey to another country after Tilan Palace was blasted by Mr. Hayes. No one knows when she came back. We didn't discover her involvement until we started looking into the truck." While talking, the informant took out pieces of evidence one by one. Solomon had to admit that he was quite efficient in carrying out the investigation.
The former then picked up the evidence and studied them.
True enough, the pictures portrayed the scene of an ordinary-looking woman meeting with the local big shots.
There were even a few public officials among them.
"Wow!"
The informant suddenly cleared his throat awkwardly. "Don't worry, Mr. George. We'll investigate this thoroughly. Our main problem now is Melinda. She's been holding a grudge ever since the Tilan family was destroyed by Mr. Hayes. She's the very reason Hayes Corporation keeps failing to progress. In fact, she's the one ordering all the big shots to go against Hayes Corporation on purpose.”
The informant told Solomon everything he knew. There was nothing to hide anymore since the former had already exposed his own colleagues
After listening to him, Solomon scrunched up the pictures, finally grasping the situation.
In other words, this accident was caused by Melinda. She's also the reason why the Hayes family has been facing difficulty after difficulty ever since they came here. This is interesting.
A vicious look flashed through his eyes as he sat there and stared at the pictures.
Soon, midnight came. In an inconspicuous old- fashioned building, Melinda, who had not appeared In public for some time, smiled when she heard a man telling her Ian was still unconscious.
"Well done. This is for you.” She took out two rolls of cash from her dressing table's drawer and handed them to the man.
The man accepted the cash and walked away with a grin. Meanwhile, Melinda sat in front of the dressing table and carefully put on makeup while gazing at her reflection.
After witnessing the exchange, the housemaid, who was bringing Melinda supper, could not help but ask excitedly, "Ms. Tilan, if this Mr. Hayes dies, does it mean we've succeeded?"
However, Melinda scoffed. "Succeed? Oh, it's still too early for that. Success is when I get rid of the entire Hayes family and dominate this country again."
The housemaid was stumped.
This woman is really ambitious. Well, I guess it's understandable. Ever since Tilan Palace got destroyed and her father was captured, all her siblings vanished. Some died while some absconded. She's the only person left who wants to restore the family to its former glory Those useless things are nothing compared to her.
Melinda dolled herself up prettily and got ready to go over to the customs head office.
Just then, one of her subordinates rushed in from outside. "Ms. Tilan, something bad happened! I heard that the head administrator is killed!”
"What did you say?" Melinda's expression changed, and her legs went weak.
"Why would he get killed? Who dares to do that? How dare they kill him?" she questioned in shock and anger.
"1-1 don't know. I suddenly heard a gunshot at the headquarters, and... and someone from the council went over." The trembling subordinate dropped her another shocking news.
The council was the most powerful organization in the country. In fact, they were in charge of the customs head office.
Melinda started to panic.
Truth was, she was the smartest person among the Tilans. Originally, she was merely the child of Hugo's mistress.
When she was brought back to Tilan Palace, she was discriminated against because of her biological mother's identity.
However, to carve a name for herself in Tilan Palace, she willingly pretended to be an obedient child for over ten years. She stuck close to Lacey, acting mature and obedient, and did everything as requested by her siblings. Hence, Hugo constantly heard praises of Melinda.
What everyone did not know was that she was secretly a vicious and cunning person.
Melinda hated Rosalie the most because the latter was the child of the legitimate wife. Moreover, Rosalie's maternal grandmother was part of the royal family, and her power was not to be underestimated.
His Secret Lover Returning from the Dead Chapter 1986
Hence, while she had kept up appearances by treating the ailing Rosalie as well as she could all the while, the former was actually the one who had secretly orchestrated all the intrigue and ostracism that Rosalie had to contend with.
That included the episode of her wanting to change her name.
The reason for desiring that change stemmed from Rosalie's personal fondness for Vivian's name back in the day. She started to pay close attention to Vivian ever since the day she discovered that there was a megacorporation of equal standing with the Tilan Palace that also had an heiress.
Afterward, she found out that Vivian had led a very blessed life.
With twins for older brothers and parents who saw her as the apple of their eyes, a bright smile was always seen on Vivian's dainty face whenever she made any media appearances.
That made Rosalie extremely envious.
From a sense of envy toward her counterpart for the family she had and her looks, Rosalie eventually arrived at a point where she also wanted to have the exact same name as the other.
Vivian... What a lovely name. I bet it feels great to be called that name.
Egged on by the incitement of her older sister Melinda, the clueless adolescent girl went on to request that Hugo rename her "Vivian."
On that occasion, Hugo stopped short of beating her to death.
Men were naturally competitive. As the leading drug lord in Southeast Astoria, Hugo certainly did not wish for his own daughter to bear the name of someone else's daughter, especially not the daughter of Sebastian Hayes, the man whom he didn't have the courage to take on.
Rosalie almost died that time.
It was only through the efforts of the house steward, Zylan, to reach out to the girl's maternal grandmother's family that the enraged Hugo was convinced to spare the girl's life.
Therefore, Melinda really was no saint.
Rather than going out, Melinda, who sensed something amiss, immediately headed back upstairs to pack her own things in preparation to flee.
Alas, she still acted too late.
Shortly after, with the accompaniment of a loud bang heard coming from downstairs, the door to the courtyard was kicked in from the outside. The place was then quickly surrounded by those who had come for her.
At the hospital, a photo was sent to Solomon's phone sometime in the wee hours of the morning. Lowering his head to inspect it, he discovered it to be a picture of a woman's corpse that had been left to the mercy of the strays.
Then, he turned off his phone.
"Why don't you go take a break, Uncle Solomon? I can keep an eye on things here," asked Susan.
She saw that he was still waiting outside the intensive care unit after she went to the restroom to splash some water over her face to sober up.
Taking note of the tired and whey-faced state she was In, Solomon shook his head.
"You should go home. I'm going to be here, and I've already asked a friend of mine who is a doctor to hurry over from Jetroina. He's going to be okay, so don't worry."
"Really?"
Those words finally brought a smile to Susan's face after a whole day of worrying.
Following that, Susan went home.
With her departure, Solomon was left in the now quiet hospital corridor all by himself. He spent some time looking at the boy who had tubes attached all over his body before he pulled out his own smartphone.
Solomon: I'm sorry, Nancy I wasn't able to protect your son.
His fingertips went pale as he gripped his phone tight. It was a tremendous struggle for him to be able to send that message out.
The feeling was horrible.
Guilt, self-blame, and dread; It had been a long time since the last time he felt these emotions. Toward the end, he no longer wanted to try to make excuses for himself.
Nancy: How Is he doing?
Unexpectedly, that message was swiftly replied to.
Moreover, it looked as though the woman was not too surprised by what happened.
Solomon: He's currently inside the intensive care unit, but if he wakes up in the morning, he should come out of it all right.
Nancy: I see.
Solomon had no idea how to follow up on that.
He stared at those words for a few seconds quizzically, for that response he got seemed extremely odd.
Never taking his eyes off that text message even after he stood to his feet, a thought subsequently struck him asudden.
Could it be him?
At around seven in the morning, the weary figure of a towering individual appeared at the entrance of the hospital. His presence shocked Susan, who had also arrived around the same time.
"M-Mr. Hayes? You're here too?"
Surprised to see that familiar face, Susan spent much time stuttering at the entrance of the hospital.
Sebastian, who was fresh off a flight, scrutinized her. A frown formed on his face when he found her eyes puffy and her countenance pallid.
"Did you manage to get any sleep last night?"
"Y-Yes. Uncle Solomon's here too. He... insisted that I go home to rest up last night," replied a rather nervy Susan.
It couldn't be helped, as she was intrinsically fearful of this future father-in-law of hers.
Upon hearing that, Sebastian nodded in satisfaction.
"Let us go in and check on him."
"0-0 kay."
With the hem of her dress held in one hand and a food jar in the other, she hastily followed Sebastian.
His Secret Lover Returning from the Dead Chapter 1987
Shortly after, the pair arrived over at the wards. There, they spotted Solomon talking to a doctor in a white coat outside of the intensive care unit.
"Uncle Solomon!" Susan called out when she saw him. "Mr. Hayes is here..."
Susan's initial intention was to inform Solomon that there was even less need to worry now that the rock of their family was there.
Once her voice trailed off, however, she noticed Solomon's back stiffened.
A couple of minutes later, when the lot of them gathered inside the doctor's office, Susan stood by the door and watched while the poor doctor almost crumbled from the pressure exerted by those two big shots' formidable presence.
"Uh... Gentlemen, although the patient has yet to regain consciousness, we're actually quite optimistic about his prognosis. There's nothing to worry about."
"Then he...."
"Okay. That's good enough."
Sebastian, who was at the side with both hands casually tucked into his own pockets, interrupted before Solomon could finish his sentence.
Following that, the former turned to walk out.
At a loss for words, it took Susan some time to react before she followed that man toward the ward.
"Mr. Hayes... Does Mrs. Hayes know about this? I meant to tell you about it yesterday, but my head was all over the place. S-So I...
"It's fine." While walking ahead of her, Sebastian calmly cut her off.
"You've handled this situation very well. I did not tell her because she isn't well at the moment, so both of you don't have to go back after Ian is discharged either. Just put yourselves up at the villa that we recently bought and let him recuperate there."
It was quite remarkable how he was able to so efficiently make future arrangements for Susan and Ian within the less-than-half-an-hour period he got there.
Nothing would have suited Susan's wishes better.
On top of not wanting to make the people back home worry, she was still feeling pangs of guilt for her own oversight that led up to that incident. Being able to fully commit to caring for her beloved was something she was more than happy to do.
However, Solomon was not pleased when he learned about that decision.
"Do you have any idea how badly he is hurt, Sebastian? Why do you still allow him to continue to stay on? Don't you think you're being very complacent? Aren't you worried about something happening to him whilst he's here? How do you plan to explain this to Nancy?"
"What do I have to answer to her for? It's not like I'm responsible for any of this!" he retorted without hesitancy.
All of a sudden, Susan stood there dumbstruck and watched with her heart in her throat. Solomon was so incensed that he turned blue in the face.
She wondered if she should try to step away for a bit.
Just as she was about to move, the person behind her tossed out another couple more of those insensitive remarks.
"What's more, what's the big deal about him sustaining a little injury? Back in the day, didn't I survive lying inside the Aquene Temple for three whole years just fine? How could he call himself a man without bearing a single battle scar on his person?"
For the longest time, the corridor along those wards was in an absolute state of silence.
The word "scar" was fitting in this context.
In the end, Solomon kept his thoughts to himself.
As expected, Ian, awoke in the intensive care unit at around ten o'clock. Coincidentally, Haruto arrived from Jetroina at the same time, which meant Ian would basically be in good hands.
Susan was finally able to put her mind at complete ease.
Following that, she left the company's matters to the two elderly gentlemen and stayed at the hospital to look after Ian.
On the same afternoon, the whole of Southeast Astoria saw a major report concerning Hayes Corporation, the recent talk of the town. Everyone saw on the news that apart from the head of Hayes Corporation, there was another unexpected party that would be involved in the talks with Southeast Astoria; A government representative from Hayes Corporation's country of origin.
Heavens. Are they going to drag politics into this as well now?
Everyone regarded the person on television in profound shock.
"Mr. Jadeson, concerning Hayes Corporation from your country and their business venture here, our government would be sure to be in full support. Rest assured that business development for the whole of Southeast Astoria would center exclusively around Hayes Corporation. We guarantee that you'd be able to build a massive business empire here."
Before the countless cameras and both the corporate and political representatives with Hayes Corporation at the press conference, those local officials were as obsequious as they could possibly be. That had not gone unnoticed by those in observance.
No. Perhaps it should not be called being obsequious, as that would tarnish his image as a public official. Consider that being respectful!
Susan too had a laugh when she saw that scene play out on television.
"Look, Hubby. See how capable your father is. He had them fawning all over him the second he arrived."
Sitting by the side of the bed, she spoke with a genial smile on her face while she accompanied Ian.
At that moment, the man had actually fallen asleep again. After all, he had just regained consciousness from a coma. Coupled with his severe injuries, his lethargy was expected.
Despite so, he vaguely heard what she said amidst his grogginess and responded with a grunt. His pasty lips also formed a faint smile.
I've nothing to worry about so long as Daddy is around.
The press conference marked the perfect ending to the Issues surrounding Hayes Corporation. Not only were the local authorities throwing their weight behind the corporation, but they had also helped to sort out the numerous public officials who were making things hard for the corporation before this.
That allowed Hayes Corporation to finally attain some semblance of stability.
With all of the problems now resolved, Sebastian was ready to fly back, for if he did not, Sasha might find out that something was wrong.
"Um... Have a safe journey, Mr. Hayes. Please rest assured that I'd take good care of Ian. I'll call you immediately should the need ever arises."
Although Susan would very much prefer for Sebastian to leave after his son had come to, she could only reply that way in consideration of Sasha who was at home and still in the dark about all this.
Sebastian nodded in acknowledgement.
"I've heard my wife mention that the both of you plan to collect your marriage certificate, so go ahead and get married when he's well again. Try to settle down sooner so your Great-grandpa won't have to keep harping about it."
"Huh?"
Susan's cheeks flushed when she heard that.
"Does Great-grandpa... talk about this often?"
"He's already getting up in years. On top of that, he hasn't been in good health for the past half a year, so it'll really please him to be able to see his own greatgrandchildren settle down before he turns a hundred," Sebastian patiently explained further.
He had changed significantly from the way he was before, becoming more open-minded and empathetic-That must be one of the ways people evolved into their midlife.
Blushing, Susan assented.
His Secret Lover Returning from the Dead Chapter 1988
The situation of Hayes Corporation in Southeast Astoria had finally improved.
After Sebastian had left, Solomon stayed back for a month to take care of Ian, who was injured. Solomon had only decided to return to the country when Ian could get down from the bed and walk freely.
"I've made all the necessary arrangements. ГІІ deploy a few capable and trustworthy employees from Hayes Corporation over. All you need to do is to handle all the important documents. You don't have to go to the office daily," Solomon informed Ian before leaving.
Ian nodded. He was grateful to Solomon. "Thanks, Uncle Solomon. Sorry for all the trouble for the past month."
"Don't mention It. We're family. Besides, all this happened because of my bad arrangement. I'm relieved to see that you're fine now," Solomon said.
He did not want Ian to make such a courteous remark as if he was an outsider. In fact, Solomon spoke to Ian as if he was talking to his own child.
That was indeed how Solomon thought of Ian.
Solomon's eldest son Yoel was only ten years old. In other words, he might only be able to take over the company in another decade or so. Moreover, it was still too early to tell if Yoel had the capability to lead the company.
That was why Solomon hoped this young man could take over his position. After all, they were from the same family. / would be able to take a breather and focus on my family if Ian could take up this responsibility.
Ichika had not been in the pink of health ever since she gave birth to the twins. Fortunately, her mother came over and helped her with the children.
Otherwise, she alone would not be able to look after the children.
"Take care of yourself. Once you feel better, I'll discuss Hayes Corporation's future with you."
"Sure, Uncle Solomon," Ian agreed right away.
Soon, Solomon left Southeast Astoria while the young couple stayed back. As they focused on their recovery, they also continued to expand Hayes Corporation's empire in the region.
Time flew by, and it was already winter.
The elders in the family would always look forward to a family reunion during the winter season.
Jonathan, who had not been feeling well in the last half of the year, started mumbling, "When are they coming back this year?"
"We haven't received news from them yet, Old Mr. Jadeson. But Mr. Sebastian said he would make them return to celebrate Christmas with US since most of them didn’t come back last year," Mark, who had taken care of Jonathan for most of his life, immediately replied.
Yet, upon hearing that, the elderly man lying in bed started throwing a fit. "How can he promise? He said the same last year, and look what happened? Call them right away to find out if they're coming back!"
Jonathan was so agitated that his chest heaved heavily.
Mark dared not delay the matter any further and went to look for Sasha.
Sasha said, "I'm not sure when they're coming back, but I suppose Ian and Susan can't make it. Ian sustained injuries, and he's not fully recovered yet, so I don't think he can take the flight."
Mark continued asking, "How about Ms. Vivian and Matteo?"
Sasha answered, "Vivi should be able to join US for Christmas. She would have completed her documentary by then. As for Matteo, I heard he has gone out for another mission. Even Nina and Natalie have not seen him in a while"
Worry was written all over her face when she thought of Matteo.
In other words, only Vivian and Kurt might return.
Mark's heart sank when he heard that. He looked at the woman and kept mum for a moment. He then said in a deep, hoarse voice, "Mrs. Jadeson, it's best if you could ask every one of them to come back. I'm afraid Old Mr. Jadeson's number is up."
Sasha was rendered speechless by the remark. She was utterly thunderstruck.
As she stood still, she did not know what else to say. His days are numbered?
Her heart instantly sank.
When Sebastian returned in the evening, Sasha updated him about Jonathan's condition. Sebastian, too, remained silent for quite a while.
Sebastian and Sasha knew this day would come even if Mark did not tell them. After all, Jonathan was already a nonagenarian. It was also rare for a veteran who had fought on battlefields for most of his life to live to this age.
Most of his comrades in the military had already passed away.
That was why the couple could fully accept the frail state that Jonathan was in right now.
However, they were upset that Jonathan would never get a chance to see their children married and give birth to the next generation. Above all, Jonathan would never be able to reconcile with his son, who was no longer around.
The next day, Sasha rang the three children up.
On the other hand, Sebastian went to Aquene Temple.
He drove up the snowcapped mountain and arrived at the thousand-year-old temple at noon. To his surprise, Shin was already waiting for him at the temple's entrance.
"You knew I was coming?" Sebastian asked the monk clad in a grey robe.
"Yes. His life is coming to an end, but you don't have to be so upset. He had killed many lives in the past, but he had also saved many. That's why he could be at peace with his own death." The monk clasped his hands together and gazed peacefully into Sebastian's eyes.
His Secret Lover Returning from the Dead Chapter 1989
Sebastian froze for a moment. All's well that ends well?
He only came to his senses when Shin walked him into the temple.
"How about you? Would you be sad if he's gone?"
"Me?" Shin responded with a smile.
He held the rosary and watched the snowflakes descend from the sky calmly. "Of course not. I'm sure he'll find his place in heaven."
Sebastian did not know what else to say.
He asked the question merely because he wanted to know what was on Shin's mind.
Filled with disappointment, Sebastian whispered a prayer in the main hall.
When Sebastian was about to leave, Shin suddenly suggested, "You can ask him if he wishes to come and stay at the temple."
Sebastian looked around and asked, "You want him to come here? Why would you want to invite a dying man over?"
His voice held a note of disdain, but the monk smiled at him. "There are certain things he finds hard to let go of. By staying in the temple, he could calm his mind and forget the things that have held him back. I believe doing so will make his journey to the other world easier."
Sebastian fell silent.
In the afternoon, Jonathan was sent to the ancient temple on the snowcapped mountain. To everyone's surprise, the elderly man stopped throwing tantrums right after stepping into the place of worship.
Sebastian heaved a sigh of relief.
After he returned from the mountain, Sasha told him that Vivian and Ian had assured her they would return after learning about Jonathan's condition.
However, Sasha could not get in touch with Matteo since he was on a mission.
"Darling, do you think Matteo is out on another dangerous mission? I called Crime Investigation Unit, but they refused to tell me where he is," Sasha expressed her concern.
She understood it was the duty of a cop to protect the civilians, but as a mother, she could not help but worry about her son.
"Don't worry, Devin is with him. I'm sure he'll look after him,” Sebastian assured Sasha to ease her mind.
They had made all the necessary arrangements.
Just weeks before Christmas, Vivian and Kurt were among the first who informed Sebastian and Sasha that they would be home for Thanksgiving.
Sasha was overjoyed. They will be back on Thanksgiving? That's a month before Christmas!
She was all smiles when she started preparing all their favorite dishes.
Soon, they also learned that Ian and Susan were returning from Southeast Astoria. Since Ian had yet to fully recover, they had to take a cruise ship instead of a plane.
It might take a longer time to arrive, but the journey would be less bumpy.
All these updates exhilarated everyone in Oceanic Estate.
They believed these youngsters would bring forward their weddings and celebrate their marriage while Jonathan was still around.
Devin texted: That's a good suggestion, but I'm afraid Vivi and Kurt can't make it, even though Kurt would turn twenty-one years old in December. He hasn't reached the legal age to get married.
Sabrina replied to his text: Come on. They can always try to conceive before marriage.
After reading the message in the group, Solomon could not help but frown. That woman and her ridiculous suggestion.
He texted: Are you mad? Vivi is a modest girl from a prominent family. How could you ask her to commit such an indecent act with Kurt? She'll become a laughing stock if everyone in Jadeborough finds out about it.
Rufus concurred: Solomon's right. We can't do that.
Sabrina was rendered speechless.
Though she was angered by the remark, she decided to zip her mouth.
Chika dropped a text in the group: If that's the case, we can only look forward to Ian's and Susan's wedding. That's exciting too. Ian is the oldest grandchildren of the Jadesons, and Susan is from the Limmer family. I'm sure the two families would ginger up the wedding.
Devin agreed: Yup. We need to make the wedding as grand as possible. That would make Grandpa happy. Solomon also texted: I can invite guests from Jetroina too.
Ichika echoed: Yeah. I can also ask my dad to invite people from the royal family to attend the wedding. It will be spectacular.
Sabrina texted: Wow. I bet it'll be much more spectacular than your wedding.
Solomon could not help but roll his eyes.
Ichika responded: I'm sure that will be the case, Sab!
Sasha scrolled through all the messages on her phone and was pleased to see how supportive all the family members were. / can't wait to become a grandmother soon!
Everyone in Oceanic Estate started preparing for the grand wedding before Christmas Eve.
When Ian and Susan arrived, everyone immediately arranged for them to register their marriage at the civil affairs office.
Returning from the Dead His Secret Lover Chapter 1990-On this fateful day, the continuous snowing in Jadeborough miraculously came to a stop. Susan hurriedly sent a text message to the man in Oceanic Estate the moment she woke up. Susan: Darling, why don’t we take the subway today?
Ian: What? He texted back almost instantly, which suggested that he had woken up early too. The smile on Susan’s face turned brighter.
Susan: It’s Christmas Eve tomorrow! There’ll be a crowd in the streets, and we’ll be caught in the traffic if we drive. The subway is a better option. Besides, you’ve never taken the subway in your life! We can slowly find our way to our destination while enjoying the view of the city. Isn’t it great?
Ian did not know what to reply, for he couldn’t understand what Susan was thinking. Having lived in this city for more than a decade, he had seen everything there was to see.
However, if this was something she wanted, he would happily oblige. In the end, Ian went along with it and had the driver drop him off at the subway station.
Jeffrey mumbled, “Is Ian out of his mind? Why is he taking the subway when he has a ride for himself?” “Don’t talk while you’re eating!” Jaena, who was about to enter high school, flicked her brother’s forehead.
Seeing that, Olivia couldn’t help but chuckle. “Mrs. Jadeson, look at Ms. Jaena. Their family hasn’t had to worry about anything since she grew up. Even the little rascal dares not disobey his sister now!”
Hearing that, Sasha couldn’t help but sigh as she eyed the fiery yet dashing and outstanding young girl. Their mother was unreliable, and their father would always stay in the barracks instead of staying at home. If Jaena did not take care of the family, who would?
After sending her son out, Sasha, who was a little heartbroken, gazed at the girl, walked up to her, and asked, “Jaena, where’s your mother? What is she up to today?”
“Huh?”
Jaena, who was preparing for Christmas, was momentarily stunned when Sasha approached her.
“I don’t know. She was already out when I woke up. Do you need anything from her, Aunt Sasha?”
Sasha was at a loss for words.
Christmas is just two days away. Of course, I have something to discuss with her mother! Did they not prepare anything for the festival at Red Pavilion? They can’t just rely on Jaena every year, can they?
Sasha was livid.
“Nothing. I’m just asking. I heard that the high school you’re enrolling in is the best in the region. You’re really awesome! I’m proud of you!” Sasha praised sincerely as she looked at Jaena, who was busy preparing for Christmas.
However, right as she said that, the young girl’s expression immediately fell.
“It’s nothing. It’s just a school.”
Is something bothering the child?
Sasha could tell that Jaena was hiding something.
However, given that she, too, had to prepare for Christmas and there were many things to be dealt with, Sasha ended up leaving the girl alone.
Jaena, who was carefree and not used to opening up her heart to someone else, did not dwell on this matter either. After Sasha walked away, she continued with what she had been doing.
At half-past nine, Susan and Ian finally arrived at the civil affairs office.
“We’re here!” Susan was a little nervous upon exiting the subway station.
It couldn’t be helped, for this was the most crucial moment of her life. The moment she entered the office, she would no longer be Ms. Limmer but Mrs. Hayes. There was no way she could remain calm in this circumstance.
Ian said naught a word.
However, his grip around her hand tightened in response.
Soon, both of them arrived at the entrance of the civil affairs office.
Yet, what they did not expect was the crowd at the office that day. As soon as they entered the office, they were greeted by an absurdly long queue.
“Why are there so many people today?”
“Why, of course! Today’s a good day. Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve are just around the corner, so everyone’s waiting!” someone in the queue said happily and cheerfully.
So that’s why.
Susan felt happier upon hearing that.
Although she did not really believe in superstitions, she couldn’t help but feel delighted after learning that today was a good day to get married. After all, that meant that they would stay and live happily ever after.
“Are you hungry?” Right then, Ian’s voice rang above her head.
She raised her head, only to see the handsome man looking at her. His fair skin glowed in the warm sunlight and his dark eyes were like the vast starry sky.
Looking at her own reflection in his eyes, Susan wrapped her arms around his waist.
“What are you buying me to eat?”
“Whatever you want.”
“Hmm… What if I want the peaches told in Chanaea’s legend? I think they are pretty delicious,” Susan joked in a cutesy manner as she hugged Ian.