Chapter 38
Hayden could tell what Matthew was thinking. “Nicky, come feed him his medicine. I need to discuss something with the doctor.”
They headed out the door, and as Hayden passed Nicole, he lowered his voice. “Remember to apologize and comfort him.”
Nicole took a deep breath, feeling deeply humiliated, constantly reminding herself that this was all for getting that piece of land. She walked over.
“I hit you too hard yesterday. I’m sorry.”
As a mother, she was still being forced to apologize after being insulted by her own son for giving him a slap. It was ridiculous.
Matthew’s expression softened, and he pouted. “Fine, I forgive you then. As long as you stop targeting Ms. Ashford and treat me well, you can still be my mom.”
At such a young age, he had already learned to speak in a patronizing tone. Nicole said flatly, “I told you, if
that’s what you want, I don’t have to be your mother.”
“You’re saying that again!” Matthew’s little face darkened.
“You’ve loved me most since I was little, and you’d give me your life if you could. You’d never bear to let
me call someone else my mom. I know that!”
Nicole’s face showed traces of mockery. “If that’s what you want to think, sure.”
She opened the door to leave and caught sight of Hayden and Gloria talking in the back garden. She paused for a moment, pretended not to see them, and quietly left.
Hayden didn’t notice she had gone and was studying Gloria’s complexion. “You should be resting in the
hospital. Matt’s fever kept you from getting proper rest too. I’ll have Elliot take you back.”
Gloria looked up with a strained smile. “Let me stay and keep Matt company. He needs me. After all,
Nicole and Matt aren’t getting along very well right now.”
“You don’t need to worry about that. I’ll handle it.” Hayden took out his phone to call Elliot when a text
message happened to come in.
Seeing it was from “Wedding Dress Designer Linda“, Gloria instantly froze. Anxiety gripped her.
She clenched her fists and waited until Hayden finished replying to the message before asking, “I saw a wedding dress designer contacted you? Are you having a custom dress made for Nicole?”
“I plan to tell her the truth about our marriage certificate, then get properly married to her and give her a grand wedding. The reception we had originally was too rushed. She didn’t even have a custom wedding dress as a keepsake.”
Chapter 38
2/2
When Hayden spoke about this, his icy expression softened with tenderness. Gloria had never seen such an expression on his face before. She could tell that Hayden truly loved Nicole.
“Remember to keep Monday morning free. I’m picking you up to get the divorce papers.”
Hayden reminded her before going to have Elliot come get Gloria. She stood there watching his retreating figure, her temples throbbing.
She took a deep breath and called Caleb, barely containing her fury. “Hayden is pushing me to get the papers again. Where are you? Didn’t you say you’d help me break them up?”
Gloria truly hadn’t expected that even after Nicole hit the child and couldn’t be reached all night, Hayden
didn’t have the slightest complaint. Even when Nicole drew blood from Olivia’s wrist, Hayden only gave her a brief scolding.
Now it seemed Nicole could get away with anything in the Spencer family! She couldn’t understand why Hayden treasured a sickly brain tumor patient who was dying anyway.
What would it take for him to finally reject Nicole?
Caleb spoke unhurriedly. “Don’t worry. Just wait. I’m definitely going to give Nicole a surprise.”
Nicole hadn’t been home long when Hayden discovered she was gone and followed her back. He had his
jacket draped over his arm, frowning as he approached Nicole, who was taking medication.
Hearing footsteps behind her, Nicole tilted her head back and poured the pills into her mouth.
“What did you just take?” Hayden reached directly for the pill bottle.
C
