Chapter 420: My Husband, My Secret Lover

Author POV

The photo that Hayden always took with him during his hard time in prison was missing. No servant was allowed to enter his bedroom, not even Luke. Therefore, it was self-evident who had taken the photo away. Turning his head, Hayden looked into Stela's eyes as if asking her whether it was her who took the photo.

When their eyes met, Stela had a guilty conscience. Afraid that Hayden would ask her to return the photo to him, she pretended to know nothing and asked, "What's wrong? Is there anything I can do to help?"

"No," Hayden answered and withdrew his gaze.

The two of them had known for many years and knew each other well. Even a subtle expression could let them know what the other was thinking. Hayden knew that she was playing the fool and pretending to be calm, and he didn't expose her. And to prevent Stela from asking why he kept that photo, he also pretended that nothing had happened and then got in bed calmly.

Due to his injured legs, even finishing such a simple action took him a lot of effort and time.

Fearing that Hayden might get hurt again, Stela helped lift his legs to the bed carefully and tucked him in. When she was sure that he was safe and comfortable, she said with a relieved smile, "Well, you may have a good rest first. I'll come back after taking a shower."

"You don't have to come back. You may go to see the kids after you take a shower," Hayden said with his deep voice full distance and his face full of coldness. He was trying his best to pretend to be aloof.

However, seeing him sitting on the bed weakly, Stela was full of worries and didn't notice his coldness at all. Her clothes got wet when she help Hayden clean his body so she had to take a shower. Feeling uncomfortable, she took off her wet coat and held it in her hand. Then she said calmly, "The children have fallen asleep. I will disturb them if I go to their room."

With his face void of emotion, Hayden turned his face away and said, "Then you can go back to your room to sleep after taking a shower."

"No. I don't want to stay in my room alone. I'm ... afraid of the dark," Stela said. She was worried about Hayden and was afraid that he would act recklessly when no one was around. Therefore, to get the chance to keep him company and take care of him, she used her fear of the dark as an excuse.

Hayden was in a daze for a moment after hearing Stela's words and he remembered the time when the two of them had just got married. With a bitter smile, he thought, The god of destiny makes fools of the people.

Then Hayden turned his head and looked straight into Stela's eyes, asking, "Do you have any idea what you said means?"

Plucking up her courage, Stela took a deep breath and said, "I'm really afraid of the dark. You know that."

Hayden stared at her without saying anything while Stela let him stare at her and looked into his eyes too. A few moments later, Hayden looked away first. Stela then tucked him in again and said softly, "You go to bed first. I'll be back after taking a shower." After saying that, she walked out of the room quickly before Hayden could say anything.

To suppress the impulse to ask her to stay, Hayden had been clenching the sheet tightly and the blue veins stood out on his hands. It was not until Stela left that he stopped clenching the sheet and breathed a sigh of relief.

After coming out from Hayden's room, Stela went to the children's room and saw the children sleeping soundly. She tucked them in one by one and walked out quietly. Then she went back to her room, got herself a change of clothes, and went to the bathroom. On the way to the bathroom, she sighed slightly and wondered what she should do if she couldn't be back with Hayden.

She finished her shower as fast as she could, dried her hair, and tied it into a bun. After putting on her clothes, she went back to Hayden' bedroom. She was mentally prepared that Hayden would drive her away again. To her surprise, when she pushed the bedroom door open, she saw Hayden sleeping.

Hayden was too tired today. He slept so soundly that even the sound of Stela opening the door didn't wake him.

Closing the door gently behind her, Stela stepped to the other side of the bed softly, lifted the quilt, and lay down.

Hayden was a man who spoke one way and did another. Although he had said a lot of cruel words to Stela before, he left most of the area of the bed and a large part of the quilt for her.

Lying on the bed, Stela turned over and looked at Hayden, thinking, You're concerned about me but you just don't want to admit it. It has been a long time since the last time we slept on the same bed, and I haven't taken a careful look at you for a long time.

At the moment, Hayden was sleeping with his hands on his belly and his chest heaved regularly. Stela's gaze first fell on his forehead, then on his high nose, and finally on his mouth.

Looking at Hayden's pale face, Stela thought, Hayden, you're much thinner than before. You must have suffered a lot in prison and have not taken good care of yourself since you were released from prison. It was me who made you become like this. I'm so sorry. All I can do to compensate you is to take good care of you and help you get over the painful past. And I hope you would cooperate with me.

Subconsciously, Stela reached out her hand, wanting to touch Hayden's face but not doing so. "I'm sorry," she whispered. The next moment, her fingertips fall between Hayden's eyebrows. She didn't withdraw her hand until she smoothed his wrinkled eyebrows.

Hayden didn't move. But his slightly trembling eyelashes revealed that he was awake.

Hearing Stela's words, he thought to himself, I'm the one who should apologize to you. I have always wanted to say sorry to you but our relationship is like a mess and I couldn't even find the chance to do that.

Gradually, Stela's breath became even and she fell asleep. The two of them were so close to each other that Hayden could smell the faint jasmine fragrance on her body. For him, staying with her was more exhausting than working. He felt like even saying a few words to her would take all of his energy. Feeling fatigued, he became sleepy and fell asleep again. Then he had a dream.

In his dream, he was still a student and was packing his school bag. His grandpa, who was drinking coffee in the living room, said good morning to him and asked him to be careful on the way to school.

When he was about to go to school, his mother stuffed a box of star-shaped candy into his arms and said, "Give it to Stela." And his father, who had always been serious, smiled and said to him, "Don't make her cry again."