“Stella hasn’t eaten yet. You take her out to have something to eat.”
Hayden entrusted Stella to Benjamin, “I have an appointment with someone and I’ll be back later.”
“Okay.” Benjamin nodded, “Hayden, who are you meeting?”
Hayden paused for a moment, “Addison.”
In an open-air café on Beijing Road, the iron tables and chairs had a strong French feel. The maple
leaves on the branches in early autumn overhead showed that the weather in Nanking was getting cold
gradually.
Addison Sanchez was wearing a beige suit, drinking coffee. She looked well-heeled, the same as they
first met, and others would have thought of her as a spoiled child at first sight.
Hayden looked around as she arrived.
“Here.” Addison’s voice sounded from a position near the courtyard wall. Hayden looked up and saw
Addison waving.
Hayden walked over and sat down.
“I’ve ordered you a caramel macchiato, a black forest cake, and a salad. Is that okay?”
“Thanks.” Hayden nodded faintly, “You said that you have something to talk to me on the call. What is
it?”
Hayden didn’t think that she knew Addison well enough to have lunch together. Not to mention, they
had just left from an awkward lunch before this, without even saying hello.
Addison pursed her lips, “Don’t get me wrong. I’m here for you not like last time. I apologize for being
rude to you back then.”
She seemed sincere, but Hayden felt that this was a provocation, “That won’t be necessary. You’ve got
what you want now. I don’t think that saying such words at this time is an apology, but more like
sarcasm.”
“It’s not.” Addison explained, “I’ve given up on Joseph for sure. We are really just brother and sister. I
wish that you two can reconcile, just like old time. I hope my appearance hasn’t caused too much
impact on you.”
It was so ridiculous hearing it.
Hayden frowned, “Miss Sanchez, are you kidding me? I don’t have time for this.”
“I’m serious. After some time, I’ll be transferred back to the headquarters in France, and my parents will
also immigrate to France with me. I might rarely come back in the future.”
Hayden was a bit puzzled looking at Addison’s expression, as she didn’t seem to be lying, “You’re
going back to France? Then how about your marriage?”
How could Harrison possibly let Joseph go to France with Addison? If Joseph didn’t follow, what for the
two getting married but having a long-distance relationship?
“The marriage is fake.”
Addison smiled, “Joseph asked me to do him a favour to be his shield against Harrison. If I guess it
correctly, Joseph would have come clean about the engagement when Harrison mentioned about it.”
Hayden was stunned hearing it.
Joseph’s marriage to Addison was actually a lie?
“How come?”
As to Hayden, how could someone like Joseph use such sort of trick to deceive Harrison?
“It’s true.” Addison pulled a kraft paper bag out of her purse, placed it on the table and pushed it in front
of Hayden, “I knew something and I think that it’s not much possibility for me to try intervene you two.
But I’m a little curious, and I want to find it out.”
Hayden froze, as she pulled the document out of the kraft paper bag under Addison’s gaze. Hayden’s
face changed abruptly when she saw the word ‘paternity test’ written on it.
“Previously, I didn’t understand why you were so devoted to Joseph’s son. Now I understand it.”
Addison’s voice came from across the table.
Immediately, Hayden felt a chill as things happened too suddenly. She initially thought that this secret
was well-kept and nobody would know it as long as she didn’t say it.
“But I still want to know it from you. What’s the relationship among you, your daughter, Joseph, and his
son? And why?”
Hayden clutched the document, and she was pale, feeling tense. She settled down finally, “Does
Joseph know this?”
Addison shook her head, “I didn’t tell him because I wasn’t sure what are the consequences if I told him
what I knew.”
“How much do you know?”
“Just a bit. Someone told me that back then, Joseph was looking for a surrogate mother to give birth to
a child for him, as to complete Harrison’s order about getting married and having kids. Noah was given
birth by the surrogate mother back then. Just that I’m curious, you are the daughter of the Downey
family, and how did you become a surrogate mother?”
Until then, Hayden furrowed her brows thoughtfully.
She realized that Addison had already known most of it. But since Addison didn’t tell Joseph, that
meant she had concerns. And Hayden had guessed what Addison’s concerns were.
Hayden stuffed the paternity test report back into the kraft paper bag and resealed it. She then said
sternly, “Vivian, I can satisfy your curiosity. But I want to make sure that can you keep it a secret for
what I told you?”
Addison was startled for a moment, “Keep it a secret? Aren’t you going to tell Joseph about it?”
“This is my business.”
Hayden seemed detached, “If you won’t tell Joseph, I can likewise keep your secret for you.”
“What secrets do I have?” Addison frowned.
“The truth about the fire.”
Hearing this, Addison’s face turned pale instantly, “You…”
“I got to the bottom of it within a week after the fire, but I didn’t say anything.”
“Are you threatening me?”
“It’s not a threat, just an exchange. I don’t think you came to me today just because of our friendship,
giving me this and caring about my personal feelings.”
Hayden poked on the kraft paper bag, and she seemed aloof, “Since you brought this up, there must
be a reason. You can just tell me what you want me to do.”
“I just…”
Addison furrowed her brows and finally opened her mouth, “Fine. I admit that I’m a little selfish, but my
selfishness is harmless to you. I think it’s common interest so I came to you. Otherwise, I can just tell
Joseph.”
Hayden was speechless, staring at Addison blankly.
“Let’s put it this way, I know nothing at first, and I thought you and Joseph were just in an ordinary
romantic relationship. As for these complicated matters between you two, someone told me on
purpose.”
“Who?” Hayden frowned. Besides the housekeeper back then, she didn’t think of anyone else who
knew about this incident.
“Viola Kidman.”
Hearing this, Hayden’s face changed, “Viola?”
Since Joseph and Hayden committed to a relationship, Viola had disappeared. Hayden hadn’t seen her
much for almost half a year. And the last time Hayden met her was at a party in Shanghai, seeing her
from afar.
Viola actually knew about what happened six years ago unexpectedly? And she even told Addison?
“And about the fire, she was the one who planned it. I only found out later that I was used by
her.”
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