Hayden’s feelings were complicated. He had once loved Aurora deeply, but her lack of status within the Montgomery family made him believe she wouldn’t help his ambitions.
The situation within the Alvarez family was clear. Although Joaquin constantly called Julian ungrateful, it was obvious that Julian was the one he favored most.
No matter how hard Hayden worked, he could never outweigh Julian’s position as Joaquin’s biological grandson. Joaquin’s guilt over Julian’s late mother only strengthened his favoritism.
Joaquin might give him some shares, but that wasn’t what Hayden wanted. He wanted control of Alvarez Holdings-the very goal he had been striving for his entire life.
Hayden was willing to do whatever it took to achieve his dream. Three years ago, on that fateful night, he had been drugged. While the drug dulled his physical senses and heightened his desires, it didn’t cloud his mind.
Hayden was far too clever to be unaware of Susan’s feelings for him. For three years, only Aurora had remained blissfully naive.
That night, when Susan seduced him, he hadn’t been powerless to resist. He was not a helpless woman facing an assault. Even under the influence of the drug, he could have left.
In that moment, he had wrestled with his conscience. He knew he was betraying Aurora, but Simmons family’s power could give him everything he wanted.
In life, there are always trade-offs. After much internal conflict, he chose Susan.
He convinced himself that once he achieved his goals, he could return to Aurora. He believed he could have both love and power.
But now, Aurora had founded her own company. Genevieve, Ivy, and Zachary had been exiled, leaving Montgomery family firmly under Aurora’s control. Not only that, but she had created a company with immense potential.
To say Hayden had no regrets would be a lie. In truth, he regretted it deeply. Watching Aurora excel, he realized how much better she was than Susan, who had only ever dragged him down.
Mary, who had tried to smooth over the atmosphere earlier, was also feeling some regret. It was as if a treasure she once had slipped away because of her own negligence.
She had once been completely satisfied with Susan. Susan came from a good family, was an only child, and marrying her would mean inheriting the Simmons family’s wealth.
On top of that, Susan was a famous actress, giving Mary something to boast about.
But now, seeing Aurora’s achievements, Mary couldn’t help but feel a sense of loss.
Despite Susan and Aurora both coming from prominent families, Aurora had once seemed insignificant. She had no real standing within Montgomery family and had to share its wealth with her siblings.
Mary had always assumed that Montgomery family’s assets would go to Zachary, as most wealthy families prioritized male heirs. To her, Aurora had been nothing but a pitiful girl unworthy of her son.
Every time she saw Aurora, she treated her coldly.
But now, Aurora had proven herself to be exceptional. She had achieved so much that even Joaquin had given her 10% of Alvarez Holdings’ shares. Meanwhile, Susan had nothing.
It was clear that in Joaquin’s eyes, Aurora outshone Susan in every way.
The more Mary thought about it, the more she regretted how she had treated Aurora in the past.
The room grew tense as Hayden quietly finished his bowl of soup.
“Susan, it’s about time for lunch. I’ll stay here and look after Hayden. Why don’t you prepare something for us?” Mary finally broke the uncomfortable silence.
“Mom, what would you like to eat? I’ll make it right away,” Susan offered. She had never been one to cook, but now that she was married, it was her duty.
“Anything will do, as long as it’s light.”
“I think we’re out of vegetables. I’ll run to the supermarket,” Susan said, grabbing her bag and leaving the room.
The moment she was gone, Mary sat down beside Hayden.
“Mom, you clearly have something to say,” Hayden said, reading his mother’s intentions with ease.
Mary smiled awkwardly. “I can never hide anything from you, can I?”
“You hate eating light meals, yet that’s what you asked for. You sent Susan out just so you could talk to me,” Hayden said flatly.
Mary’s face showed a slightly guilty expression as she leaned in. “Hayden, I want to ask you something.”
“You want to know if I still love Aurora, don’t you?” Hayden asked, cutting straight to the point. He knew his mother too well, and her sudden interest was clearly sparked by the video they had just seen.
“Yes, that’s exactly what I want to ask,” Mary admitted.
“If I didn’t love her, would I have taken that knife for her? In that moment, I didn’t have time to think or calculate whether she was worth it. It was pure instinct. I couldn’t bear to let her get hurt,” Hayden said, his eyes fixed on the sky outside.
But saving her hadn’t brought her back to him.
Mary sighed deeply. “I’m sorry, Hayden. I shouldn’t have opposed your relationship with Aurora back then.”
“Mom, this isn’t your fault. I made my own choices. At the time, I thought I was making the best decision for myself. Now I realize how wrong I was.
“I pride myself on being smart, but I was blind. I know that in your heart, whether it’s Aurora or Susan, you don’t truly like either of them. You only care about what they can offer for my career. From your perspective, you did nothing wrong,” Hayden said calmly.
“But I was wrong,” Mary admitted. “Your career is important, but as your mother, I want you to be happy. I thought you’d move on from Aurora and fall in love with Susan.
“But I was wrong again. You never loved Susan. You’ve been unhappy for these past three years. That’s why I’ve made a decision.”
“What decision?” Hayden asked, turning to look at her.
“I think you should go after the woman you love. If you want to marry Aurora, then do it,” Mary said, her tone resolute.
“Marry her? That’s easier said than done. Her heart isn’t with me anymore. Winning her back is nearly impossible,” Hayden said, his voice heavy with frustration. He had seen Aurora and Julian together at the hospital. Their bond wasn’t something he could easily break.
Mary’s eyes gleamed with determination. “Leave it to me. I’ll think of a way. There’s always a chance.”