Chapter 75: Survival Comes First
Joshua's eyes were deep and dark. Finally, he let out a helpless sigh. Finn's words had really hit home, leaving a dull ache in his chest that felt uncomfortable.
After Ava helped the two children wash up, she coaxed them to bed. "Alright, babies, off to bed now. I still have a few things to take care of. Once I'm done, I'll come tell you a bedtime story, okay?"
"Okay, but hurry up, Mommy." Finn and Cleo held hands and ran into their room.
The first thing Ava did after sitting down on the living room sofa was make a phone call.
The other party answered quickly.
"Hi, Dr. Harrington."
"Hey Cynthia, I haven't heard from you in ages. How are things since you got back home? Are you adjusting okay? What's going on with that ex-husband of yours? And your two kids—I haven't seen you all in so long, I miss you so much." Maeve's voice came through from the other end.
Ava smiled. "Don't worry, there have been some problems, but they're all being sorted out. I believe everything will get better."
"Good. With your abilities, I'm not worried at all. But you're calling today because you need something, right?" Given that Ava was the type who could get so busy she'd forget everything else, taking time out of her hectic schedule to make a call meant it had to be something pretty important.
"There is something I'd like to ask for your help with." Ava briefly explained the situation to Maeve. "I know this medicine is quite precious, so I'm wondering if you could sell me some. It's really important for my patient."
"Cynthia, the patient you're talking about is your ex-husband's grandfather?" Maeve's voice grew more serious.
Ava shook her head. "No, he's my grandfather too."
Director Maeve sighed. "Alright Cynthia, if it was just your ex-husband's grandfather, I wasn't planning to give you the medicine. When you came to Astoria back then, you told me you'd escaped from home to protect your children, and the person who wanted to hurt your children was your husband. A man like that isn't worth it."
"But hearing you say this, this Victor seems like a really good person. Since he's been good to you, I'm willing to help him for your sake. Don't worry, I'll have someone deliver it to you later."
Ava felt touched, her eyes welling up. "Dr. Harrington, thank you."
"Cynthia, you're too polite. If it weren't for you, I'd be dead. It was your persistence that gave me a second chance at life. Although I really didn't want to let you go when you decided to return home, I knew that your home country was where you truly belonged. Cynthia, I'll always support your choices."
Ava's eyes stung with tears. "No one understands me better than you. Thank you, Dr. Harrington."
After hanging up, Ava took a deep breath and pulled up Maeve's account, directly transferring the money. The price of this medicine was incredibly expensive, and it was extremely rare on the market. Maeve had also obtained it at an auction before.
What Ava didn't expect was that the moment she put down her phone, the money was transferred right back, and Maeve sent back an angry emoji: "Talking about money hurts our friendship."
Ava rubbed her forehead helplessly.
Under the bright, clear moonlight, a tall figure at the Thomas Villa had just finished packing his things and was sneaking into the garage.
Joshua's eyes narrowed slightly as he strode toward that figure.
Hayden figured that to save his own skin, he'd better not hang around in front of Joshua for the next few days. Better to go stay somewhere else for a while, so Joshua wouldn't get annoyed seeing him. Look how self-aware he was.
Hayden grabbed a couple changes of clothes, took his car keys, and headed to the garage.
The moment his hand pulled open the car door, he felt an invisible chill sweeping over him from behind. He muttered to himself, "The temperature's dropping pretty fast tonight."
He was about to get in the car when out of the corner of his eye, he caught sight of a tall, imposing figure. Hayden's body stiffened. The cold air kept hitting his back, and only then did he realize—this wasn't the temperature dropping, this was killing intent!
"Where are you going?"
Joshua's low, cool voice rang out.
Hayden very reluctantly turned around bit by bit, a flattering smile cracking across his handsome face. "Joshua... I'm going to stay somewhere else for a few days so I won't be an eyesore at home."
After all, today he'd almost exposed the two children, and he'd unforgivably caused Joshua to get slapped, leaving his face still a bit red.
Joshua was probably figuring out which remote, poor place to send him to work right now.
Joshua glanced at him and coldly dropped a line: "Come to the study."
With that, Joshua turned and left.
Hayden patted his chest, on the verge of tears. His fragile little heart had taken a serious hit, but he didn't dare disobey Joshua, so he quickly followed obediently.
The air in the study was ice cold.
Joshua leaned back on the sofa, a cigarette between his fingers. He raised his hand and brought it to his lips, took a drag, and exhaled a long stream of smoke. The smoke swirled around his handsome face, his eyes slightly unfocused.
Hayden stood properly in front of the desk, lifting his eyelids to sneak glances at Joshua.
Joshua kept his eyes down, not saying a word, seemingly lost in thought. Hayden had never seen such a lost expression on Joshua's usually cold and stern face.
Hayden raised an eyebrow. Could it be that Joshua hadn't decided where to banish him yet and was thinking it over?
Just then, Joshua's low, magnetic voice spoke up casually, asking, "How was I to Ava before?"
He turned his head, his eyes sweeping over Hayden.
"What?"
Hayden suspected he'd heard wrong.
Joshua was asking how he'd treated Ava before?
Hayden leaned his face closer to Joshua. "Joshua, are you okay?"
"..."
Joshua glared at him irritably, and Hayden quickly straightened up.
"Well... this... um..."