Hayden Crawford stood there, his gaze falling on Iris Crawford’s face. Those narrow eyes were dark and deep, like a terrible storm brewing within, cold and menacing, enough to swallow Iris Crawford in that storm.
Iris Crawford wasn’t afraid of Hayden Crawford; after all, she was the elder. However, at this moment, she felt a chill on her scalp, and some fear towards Hayden Crawford crept in.
Or perhaps it was guilt. She was about to reveal all his disgraceful past to Serena, and he had arrived just in time.
Serena turned and saw Hayden Crawford. She spoke, "Mr. Crawford, you’re here. I couldn’t find you just now."
Hayden Crawford walked over with steady steps. His handsome face was calm, without a ripple, and his tone was level without the slightest fluctuation. "Mrs. Crawford, give Grandma a call and tell her we’re going home for dinner tonight. She hasn’t seen you in days and must miss you."
He wanted to send her away.
Serena was afraid something might happen if she left, so she hesitantly looked at Hayden Crawford, tugging at his sleeve with her soft, pale fingers.
Hayden Crawford curved his thin lips into a faint arc. "I’ll just say a few words to Aunt. Mrs. Crawford, be good and listen."
Serena withdrew her little hand. "Then I’ll go make the call. You come quickly."
Now, only Hayden Crawford and Iris remained in the corridor, the oppressive atmosphere tinged with a strange tension. Hayden Crawford looked at Iris Crawford, his voice steady and unruffled. "Aunt, what did you want to tell my wife?"
Iris Crawford’s face didn’t look too good. Hayden was her nephew, but under his powerful presence, she felt like a criminal under interrogation. "Haven’t you already guessed? Why play dumb? I wanted to tell Serena about all your past so she knows what a terrifying person you are."
Hayden Crawford stepped forward, one step at a time. "Aunt, you shouldn’t mistake my kindness for tolerance."
His tall figure moved forward with an elegant stride, inching closer, causing Iris Crawford to retreat two steps. "Hayden, this can’t be hidden forever. Sooner or later, Serena will find out."
Soon, Iris Crawford’s back hit the wall.
With a flicker in her vision, Hayden Crawford had already cornered her against the wall, the man’s narrow eyes tinted with a hint of crimson, his thin lips releasing a bloodthirsty, sinister smile. "Iris Crawford, don’t think just because I call you aunt that you really are. If you can’t keep your mouth shut, I can help you close it!"
Hayden Crawford’s solid fist swung fiercely.
As the fierce wind of the fist came rushing over, Iris Crawford turned pale with fright, quickly covering her head with her hands and letting out a scream.
The fist did not hit Iris Crawford. Instead, it smashed into the wall.
With a deafening crash.
Iris Crawford, shocked and trembling all over, had seen Hayden Crawford in a fit before; he was like a terrifying monster!
At this moment, a fair, slender, and beautiful hand reached over, clasping Hayden Crawford’s strong arm, accompanied by a cold, clear voice by his ear, "Brother, that’s enough!"
Zane Crawford had arrived.
Hayden Crawford didn’t look at Zane Crawford, only forcing a chilling syllable from his throat. "Let go of my hand!"
"You don’t care for Aunt, don’t care for Grandma, don’t care for the entire Crawford family, can you at least care for Serena? She foolishly listened to you and went to make that call, likely still waiting for you now!"
Mentioning Serena, Hayden Crawford’s tall, rugged frame suddenly tensed. ᴛhis chapter is ᴜpdated by novᴇlfire.net
"She likes you very much, always trying to please you. When those reporters said she and I were a match made in heaven, she immediately said she wanted to have two children with you. You’re suspicious, possessive; you can’t stand the idea of me and her in the same room. Her willful way of acting spoiled with you, always wanting you around, is just to reassure you. She’s well aware of your condition; she can’t stand any stress. She’s tried very hard, not wanting to trigger you again, so don’t let her see you ; you should look in the mirror and see how abnormal and terrifying you are right now!"
"In those moments you can’t see, she’s done a lot for you. Don’t let her be too stressed out. No matter how difficult, you need to restrain your temper. Yes, I like her, but she’s told every one of us that the one she loves is you, so you’re not alone in this now. In her eyes, you’re her star!"
Hayden Crawford heavily lowered his handsome eyes, concealing all the gloom and red within, his tightly wound muscles slowly relaxing. He withdrew his fist.
Taking two steps back, he put some safe distance between himself and Iris Crawford. He didn’t say anything, instead turning and leaving.
The monster finally left!
Iris Crawford slumped down as Zane Crawford reached out to support her. "Aunt, are you alright?"
"Monster! He’s just a monster!" Iris Crawford pointed with a face white as a sheet in the direction Hayden Crawford disappeared.
Zane Crawford helped Iris Crawford back to her room to rest and calm down. His steps halted as he came out. "You’ve been watching for quite a while, come out."
Just then, a person slinked out stealthily—it was Yasmine Sterling.
Yasmine had been there all along, witnessing everything that just happened.
Zane Crawford gave Yasmine Sterling a cool glance. "What did you see?"
"I saw you say you like Serena Sterling. I also heard you talking about how Hayden Crawford is sick, that he can’t stand any stress, especially seeing Serena with another man, or he’d go crazy and become terrifying."
Yasmine had seen everything, jealousy eating her inside. Hayden was wrapped around Serena’s finger, and now Zane, too, had fallen for her, all these wonderful men subjected to Serena Sterling’s charm.
But what shook her more was the bombshell news of Hayden Crawford’s illness. Hayden actually had a condition!
Yasmine glanced at Zane Crawford. "Academician Crawford, I want Hayden, and you want Serena. How about we team up?"
"Team up?" Zane Crawford kept his hands in his pockets, his clean and chilly aura warning people to stay away, tinged with faint disdainful mockery. "If I wanted to win over Serena, would I need to team up with anyone?"
Yasmine’s expression changed. She was convinced Zane Crawford would collaborate with her, but he outright refused.
"You’ve learned plenty already. If you’re smart enough, that’s more than enough to use." With that, Zane Crawford walked away.
Hayden Crawford took Serena Sterling back to the Orchid Court. Mrs. Crawford was thrilled to have them home for dinner, even having Beryl cook chicken soup for Serena.
Serena Sterling took a sip of the soup and immediately tasted the herbs. "Grandma, what’s in this soup?"
The old lady chuckled cheekily, her eyebrows dancing with delight. "I had someone find a remedy—a herbal mix for twins, so you can have two at once."