Chapter 4Unspoken Apologies

Perhaps sensing the tension, Connor started groaning and clutching his stomach, complaining that he felt sick.

Ms. Evans quickly reminded Mr. Hayes to take his son to the hospital for a check-up.

My mom gave Connor a deeply concerned look, bit her lip, and followed them to the hospital.

The doctor said Connor was fine. My mom wanted to pay the medical bill, but Mr. Hayes wouldn't let her. He said pointedly, "Since you haven't shown any concern for eight years... there's no need to fake it now."

After the check-up, Connor demanded his dad buy him roasted chicken wings. My mom stood by for a long time, looking like she wanted to say something, her eyes entirely glued to Connor.

And Mr. Hayes's eyes were entirely glued to my mom.

I rubbed my stomach and told my mom I was hungry.

As if suddenly remembering, she tightly grabbed my hand and got ready to leave, but Mr. Hayes wouldn't let us.

I don't know what he said, but my mom reluctantly agreed to have dinner together.

She just looked like a wilted flower.

I sat across from Connor, and they sat across from each other.

This was my first time at a fried chicken place. I buried my head in my bowl and kept eating.

"Has this child never had a full meal?" Mr. Hayes's tone sounded inexplicably sour. "Does her dad not want to feed her?"

My mom let out a cold laugh but didn't say anything.

I lifted my head from my bowl, looking gloomy. "My dad is dead."

Mr. Hayes's dull eyes lit up again. I didn't know what he was plotting.

Halfway through the meal, they started arguing again about some topic I couldn't catch.

Mainly, it was Mr. Hayes speaking with a sharp, passive-aggressive edge. It was uncomfortable to listen to.

My mom ignored him and told me to finish eating quickly.

Halfway through, Connor made a fuss about needing to go to the restroom to wash his hands. My mom patted his head and took him to the restroom.

I found it a bit strange. My mom actually really disliked other people's kids.

Just now at the hospital, and while eating, my mom had been proactively taking care of him.

She almost seemed to have forgotten about me...

Mr. Hayes glanced up at me and said, "That's your second bucket. Can you really still eat?"

I sheepishly put down my chicken wing.

Mr. Hayes suddenly pulled out a napkin and wiped my hands for me.

I secretly watched him. I suddenly noticed that this Mr. Hayes had exceptionally long eyelashes. When he looked down and didn't speak, he was as handsome as a movie star.

In a flash, he seemed to transform from an overbearing CEO into a disappointed, wounded middle-aged man.

"Was your dad... good to your mom before?" he asked me in a low, bitter voice.

I had never met my dad, so I didn't know how to answer.

At that moment, my mom returned, standing at the restaurant exit and calling my name.

I quickly stood up. "You should ask my mom... but you need to use a nicer tone."

"Chloe." Mr. Hayes suddenly grabbed me.

I looked at him in surprise. I had no idea how he knew my name.

He slipped a piece of paper into my hand. Mr. Hayes whispered to me, "This is my contact info. If you ever run into a situation where someone bullies your mom like today, call the number on here. Uncle will come, no matter how busy he is."

He hesitated for a moment, looking at me, and added reluctantly, "If someone bullies you, you can call too."

My mom firmly declined Mr. Hayes's offer to give us a ride. She held my little hand as we walked home.

I decided to ask her directly, "Mom, do you like my classmate?"

"Yes," she answered.

I felt a bit sad, so I decided to badmouth him a little. "Mom, don't let his pathetic act fool you. He's actually just a really spoiled, angry little monkey."

My mom smiled. "Why did Chloe beat him up today, and say he doesn't have a mom?"

I quickly recounted the whole story from start to finish.

My mom fell silent for a moment before saying, "How about this... why don't we invite him over for fried chicken wings this weekend, Chloe? I'll make some really good ones, and we can explain things to him face-to-face?"

I was reluctant, but I nodded anyway.

We walked a bit further, and my mom asked hesitantly, "What... what did Mr. Hayes say to you?"

I hesitated a bit, but I told my mom and then asked, "Do you hate Mr. Hayes, Mom?"

My mom said "Mhm."

"Then can I keep his business card?" I looked up at her.

She hesitated. "Keep it... but if you need something, come to me. You are not allowed to go to him."

A question suddenly popped into my head: "Mom... did you and Mr. Hayes have some kind of relationship before?"

Under the moonlight, my mom's expression seemed dark.

After a long pause, she finally spoke: "We used to be... in love. Now... he probably wants to get revenge on me."

Before going to bed, I went to close the living room window.

But under the window, I saw a parked Rolls Royce.

I had seen Mr. Hayes driving it today, and even the license plate was the same.

Was Mr. Hayes downstairs?

My heart started pounding. My mom said he was an enemy, so was he keeping an eye on us?

I pulled out the business card he gave me earlier that day.

It read: Arthur Hayes.

It turned out his name was Arthur Hayes.

I felt like I had seen that name before.

Where had I seen it?

Oh... at my mom's place. On the nightstand in her bedroom, there was a framed poem—

"The light skiff has passed ten thousand mountains." (Note: The Chinese character for "ten thousand mountains" is Wan Guo Shan, which was the original Chinese name. The English name Arthur Hayes is used here, but the poem reference loses its direct connection. A localized alternative could be a framed quote or a special memento related to the name Arthur, like a King Arthur legend quote, but to keep the poem vibe, we'll adapt.)

"The once and future king."

I tilted my head in confusion, then placed the business card on the coffee table.

I had a feeling... he didn't seem like someone who came to get revenge on my mom.