Chapter 84 He Must Have Owed Her in His Previous Life
Scarlett's lips curved into a polite smile. "That's a huge misunderstanding."
"Hayden only talks to my daughter. Mr. Boleyn asked me to help with pickups and drop-offs to encourage him to speak more. He pays me for it."
The parent's face flushed with embarrassment. "Oh God, I'm so sorry. Please don't take it to heart."
Scarlett maintained her composed expression. The parent leaned closer, lowering her voice conspiratorially. "Actually, there's a reason I jumped to conclusions. After what happened with your daughter, the preschool went through this massive overhaul. Those parents who demanded that your daughter be expelled? Their kids got kicked out instead. Rumor has it you've got something going on with Mr. Boleyn—because he's the one who had them removed. Plus, word is he's now the preschool's biggest shareholder."
Scarlett's eyes widened. "Mr. Boleyn is a shareholder of the preschool?"
Seeing her genuine confusion, the woman realized Scarlett had no clue. She smiled knowingly. "That's what everyone's saying. I don't know all the details, though."
"But I'll tell you—since Mr. Boleyn took over, everything's improved. The meal quality, the teaching staff, everything's top-tier now. And see that security detail outside? No other preschool has that kind of protection."
The parent kept chattering in her ear, but Scarlett's mind was stuck on one thing: Ambrose bought the preschool.
The enhanced security outside—that was because of Ambrose.
When she'd decided not to send Yara back, he'd said he'd handle it. This was how he handled it—by buying the entire preschool.
Beyond shock, Scarlett felt something she couldn't quite name.
But Ambrose had done all this without telling her. Clearly, he wasn't using it as leverage.
That made him better than most.
Though, of course, he hadn't done this solely for Yara. Hayden attended this preschool too. He was probably worried Hayden might face what Yara had gone through.
Right. Ambrose only did it for Hayden.
Moments later, the children emerged with their teacher. Yara and Hayden spotted her, and Yara grabbed Hayden's hand, pulling him into a run.
"Mommy!" Yara's grin was so wide her eyes disappeared into crescents.
Scarlett hadn't picked them up in days—Ambrose's housekeeper had been doing drop-offs and taking them back to Lakeside Garden.
Scarlett reached down, ruffling both children's hair. "Say goodbye to your teacher."
After the kids waved to their teacher, she took each by the hand and headed toward the car.
"Mommy, why did you pick us up today?" Yara bounced along beside her.
Scarlett glanced down, smiling. "I got off early today, so I thought I'd come get you."
She turned to Hayden. "Did you have a good day at school?"
Hayden looked up, his bright eyes blinking as he nodded. Scarlett ruffled his hair again. "You should try talking to your other classmates too, you know."
"He only talks to me," Yara chimed in with exaggerated exasperation.
Hayden pressed his lips together, offering no response. Scarlett knew better than to push. Instead, she changed the subject.
"How about I make something delicious for dinner? Tell me what you want to eat."
Yara rattled off an enthusiastic list. Hayden mentioned only one thing—and it happened to be Scarlett's favorite. Her heart squeezed.
"You like sandwiches too?"
Hayden nodded. Scarlett beamed. "Perfect! Sandwiches for dinner it is."
She drove toward Lakeside Garden.
But as they approached the entrance, she saw a crowd gathered outside. Then she heard someone shrieking.
"Scarlett, get out of here! Stop hiding like a coward! You seduce men behind everyone's back while eyeing my son's fortune—you vicious snake! I'll make sure everyone in Silverlight City sees your true colors!"
Scarlett pulled the car over at a distance. She didn't dare drive closer, afraid Opal might hurt the children. She called Rhea, asking her to come down and take the kids upstairs.
The children had spotted Opal too. Remembering how she'd hit Scarlett at school, Yara threw her arms around her mother.
"Mommy, don't go. She'll hurt you."
Scarlett stroked her hair soothingly. "I won't go near her. But you two need to go upstairs first. I'll call the police to handle her."
"Then I'll wait for you," Yara said stubbornly.
"Don't be scared. I'll have my dad send people to take her away." Suddenly, Hayden spoke—a full sentence, longer than usual.
Scarlett's heart swelled with unexpected joy, momentarily forgetting about Opal. But when she saw Hayden pressing his smartwatch to contact Ambrose, she quickly stopped him.
"Hayden, you don't need to tell your dad. I can handle this."
Hayden hesitated, then withdrew his hand. But the security detail shadowing Hayden had already spotted the situation.
Before Rhea even appeared, bodyguards materialized and escorted Opal away.
When Rhea arrived, the four of them entered Lakeside Garden together and headed home.
But Scarlett's unease lingered. She'd seen Wesley that morning, and by afternoon, Opal showed up at Lakeside Garden. Obviously, Wesley had sent her. He was pulling the same stunt, trying to intimidate her with these tactics.
This time, she wouldn't cave.
Ambrose learned about Opal's scene at Lakeside Garden almost immediately—both from the security team's report and from Hayden's phone call.
On the phone, Hayden said more than usual.
"Can't you just lock up that awful woman? Scarlett seems really scared of her."
Ambrose felt equal parts gratified and furious.
Gratified that Hayden was speaking so freely. Furious that the Ross family was causing trouble again.
"Don't worry. The bodyguards are watching over you. Nothing will happen. As for that woman—I'll make sure she never dares show her face around Scarlett again." He paused. "Want Dad to move in with you?"
Hayden fell silent for a few seconds. "Were you at Scarlett's place last night?"
Ambrose scoffed quietly. So Hayden had noticed. The kid's observation skills weren't half bad. He answered casually, "If you can stay there, so can I."
"Hayden, if I don't stay there, she'll eventually have other men moving in. Then you won't be able to live with her anymore."
Ambrose laid it on thick with the manipulation.
"But what if Scarlett doesn't want you to move in?"
"That's why you need to work with me."
"Dad, I'm not going to betray Scarlett." Hayden's sense of justice was admirably firm as he hung up.
Ambrose stared at his phone, then laughed—a short, sharp sound.
Hayden was refusing to help him now. Scarlett really did have talent, winning Hayden's complete loyalty.
He must have owed her big time in a past life.
Scarlett made a feast for dinner. Both children ate with obvious delight. Afterward, they insisted on sleeping with her.
After the kids fell asleep, Scarlett headed for the shower. Her phone rang. She grabbed it, glanced at the screen.
Tatum.