Chapter 252 Pleasing Her
Ambrose ignored Hayden because he had already guessed that once Scarlett knew the truth, she would spoil Hayden endlessly.
He had expected Hayden would move back to Lakeside Garden.
From now on, Scarlett would probably give Hayden anything he wanted, even the moon.
In comparison, his own treatment was way worse. If Hayden were in heaven, he was definitely in hell. He felt uncomfortable about it.
But no matter how upset he was, he didn't dare show it. He just gave a half-hearted response and sent Hayden off to wash up.
Hayden obediently bounced off to the bathroom.
Scarlett got out of bed to follow him, but Ambrose grabbed her wrist.
"You can hit me or yell at me, but I can't stand you ignoring me."
Scarlett looked up and gave him a cold glance. "When you were hiding things from me, did you ever think about what I could stand?"
Ambrose held her hand and looked at her. From the moment he decided to hide it from her, he had anticipated this situation. Now, he could only speak his true thoughts.
"Actually, the main reason I didn't tell you was that I was worried you'd push me away. After all, you were so resistant to talking about that night."
Scarlett remembered how he had secretly investigated that night, and she had lost her temper, her words full of disgust for the man from that night.
She had shown such resistance back then, so his concerns were somewhat understandable. But she had also been desperate to know where the child was, and he had seen that too. Hiding it from her, despite that was wrong.
Even with his explanation, she couldn't forgive him right away.
She pulled her hand away. "Anyway, you were wrong to hide this from me. I can't forgive you, at least not now."
"Ms. Mellon, Yara called looking for you." Kai's voice came from the doorway.
Only then did Scarlett remember Yara. Yara was still at Lakeside Garden. She hadn't come home all night, and Yara must have woken up crying when she couldn't find her.
"I'll call her back." Scarlett pulled away from Ambrose's grip and went to get her phone from the bedside, only to find it was dead.
Seeing this, Ambrose said, "Use my phone."
At this moment, Scarlett didn't refuse. When he brought his phone over, she took it and called Yara's number.
"Mommy, you didn't come home last night?" Yara's sweet, childlike voice sounded hurt.
She realized that last night, worried about Hayden, she had forgotten about Yara. Feeling guilty, she comforted her.
"Mommy had something to deal with last night. I'll be back soon. Be good and wait for me at home."
Seeing it was Ambrose's number, Yara knew she was at Ambrose's place and said, "You're at Ambrose's place. You two are dating and don't want me anymore!"
Scarlett felt a bit embarrassed. It wasn't always good that Yara understood so much!
Yara hung up in a huff. Scarlett sighed helplessly and handed the phone back to Ambrose.
Ambrose smiled. "Yara's mad. I'll go back with you later and help you calm her down. She listens to me."
Hearing how naturally he called Yara by name, Scarlett felt even more annoyed. Why did he get to secretly know everything and have Yara listen to him, while keeping Hayden from her?
"No need!"
She shot him a cold look and turned toward the bathroom.
Ambrose watched her angry stride and smiled where he stood. Her anger meant there was still hope for fixing things, which was more reassuring than last night when she had ignored him.
And that expression of hers - Yara looked just like that when she was angry. Scarlett had basically given birth to a mini version of herself. Thinking about this, Ambrose felt satisfied.
There was nothing more wonderful in life than this.
No career success could compare to the happiness she and the children brought him.
It was Saturday. After breakfast, Scarlett and Hayden went to pack his things. Hayden was practically moving the entire house.
From the looks of it, he planned to stay long-term and not return to Silver Oak Heights.
Scarlett had no objections, and Hayden was even happier, bouncing around excitedly.
Before loading the car, Ambrose secretly slipped two sets of his own clothes in with Hayden's things.
If Hayden was going to live at Lakeside Garden, why should he have to stay at Silver Oak Heights? But if he wanted to move to Lakeside Garden, he couldn't make any big moves yet. Otherwise, given Scarlett's temper, she might guard against him in advance.
It was Saturday, and Ambrose had work at the company, but he didn't plan to go back. He wanted to focus on winning Scarlett over first.
He personally drove the mother and son back to Lakeside Garden. After arriving, he carried Hayden's things upstairs, going back and forth until he was covered in sweat.
He intended to show off in front of Scarlett and soften her up enough to talk to him, but Scarlett seemed not to notice. After directing him to bring things inside, she focused on organizing.
He sighed but didn't give up, continuing to carry things.
After Scarlett got home, she first calmed Yara down. When Yara learned that Hayden was moving back, she was actually quite happy - she'd have someone to play with. And thinking about Ambrose being there too, since she liked Ambrose, Yara's morning anger faded away.
While Scarlett was organizing, Hayden helped her, his eyes rolling around as he worked. After a while, he asked tentatively.
"Scarlett, does this mean I'll be living with you from now on?"
"Do you want to live with me?" Scarlett folded his clothes neatly and put them in the closet, looking at him gently.
Hayden nodded quickly and said in his sweet, childlike voice, "Yes! I don't want to live with Dad. Dad's so busy I hardly ever see him. Living alone at Silver Oak Heights is boring. Living with you is different - I'll have company every day."
Hearing that last sentence, Scarlett felt sad again, remembering when she first met him, and he showed signs of being withdrawn.
He had never lacked material things growing up, but he lacked love - his parents' love. It was normal for Ambrose, as a single man, to overlook this. So Hayden had protested by becoming withdrawn and quiet.
Fortunately, she had brought him to Lakeside Garden back then, letting him feel companionship and love, which allowed him to recover his current lively personality.
If he hadn't met her, she couldn't imagine what he would have become.
Her heart ached. She hugged his small body, burying her head against his. The milky scent drifting into her nose finally gave her the real feeling that Hayden was her son.
She decided that from now on, she would raise both children together. No one could separate the three of them.
"From now on, as long as you don't want to leave, no one can take you away from here."
Hayden was thrilled to hear this, but he felt that today's Scarlett was different from usual - she kept hugging him, kissing him, and now saying he could decide whether to stay or not.
Why was Scarlett being so agreeable?
And Scarlett seemed afraid he would run away and disappear. It must be that Scarlett had discovered she loved him.
Hayden felt completely satisfied inside. He wrapped his arms around her neck. "You have to keep your word. Even if my dad makes you angry later, you can't kick me out too."
His words were full of past trauma.
Scarlett felt very guilty, remembering how she had kicked out the father and son before. She smiled to reassure him.
"As long as you want to stay, you can stay as long as you like."
Hayden smiled and hugged Scarlett tightly.
This scene was witnessed by the father and daughter, who pushed open the door. Ambrose felt envious and jealous, but right now, he had no standing and didn't dare object. Otherwise, he might get kicked out of the house.
But Yara was different. When Yara saw Scarlett hugging Hayden, she felt jealous. She ran forward, pouting.
"Mommy, don't you like me anymore?"