Hayden was rocking a suit, leaning on a cane, and talking with so much energy that you'd never guess he was pushing eighty.
When Allison spotted Hayden, she rushed over, saying, "Grandpa, don't get mad!"
Seeing Allison being so thoughtful just made Hayden even more upset.
"Listen up, Allison's my granddaughter, and this is her home. No one kicks her out without my say-so! If either of you tries it again, you're both out!" Hayden's cane hit the ground with a loud thud, and Yasmin still looked pretty ticked off.
She complained, "Grandpa, you're just playing favorites. Allison did some really shameless stuff, why should she stay at the Bennett Villa?"
"Because she's my granddaughter, and I'm the head of the Bennett Family!" Hayden's fierce tone brought tears to Allison's eyes.
The only person in the world who was good to her and trusted her no matter what was Hayden.
Turning to Allison, Hayden expressed, "Allison, it's been five years, and I've missed you so much! You always make me worry!"
Allison sniffled, noticing Hayden's hunched back and white hair. He'd aged so much in five years.
"Sorry, Grandpa, I'm back now." Allison's sweet demeanor finally made Hayden smile.
He felt even more heartache for Allison, who had gone to Avalon City alone before even finishing middle school, with no one to look after her.
Hayden's heart ached, and he held Allison's hand tightly. "Why didn't you tell me back then? No matter what others said five years ago, I always believed you! If anyone bullies you again, just tell me, and I'll break their legs!" Hayden's words finally made Allison feel the warmth of family.
"Grandpa, thank you for believing in me!" Allison said. Only family who truly cared for you would believe in you unconditionally.
"Since when did you get so polite with me? Jonah, go check if Allison's room is ready and bring her luggage back!"
Hayden then turned to Blair. "Tomorrow, you handle Allison's school transfer. She's about to graduate; we can't delay it!"
Blair said, "Dad, Allison was expelled from school five years ago. I'm afraid no school in Skycrest will accept her!"
Blair wasn't exaggerating. Back then, Allison's reputation was trashed, and she was expelled from middle school for having an abortion. No school would touch that. Even with the Bennett Family's wealth, it would be tough to find a school that would accept her.
"I don't care what you have to do, get her back into the school she was attending before!" Hayden's tone left no room for argument.
Blair was anxious. "Dad, Allison was at Willowbrook High School back then. You're making it tough for me! Even with our money, Allison can't get in. Yasmin got in on her own merit!"
Seeing Blair so stressed, Allison stayed calm. "Grandpa, don't worry about school. I can handle it myself." She had come back mainly to see Hayden.
"And I already have a place to stay, so don't trouble Jonah with it," Allison added.
Hayden's face darkened immediately. "Allison, what nonsense are you talking about? You're a Bennett; there's no reason for you to live outside! Don't worry, as long as I'm here, no one will dare to bully you. Besides, the future of the Bennett Family will depend on you!"
Hayden's words carried a lot of weight, and Yasmin was the first to object. "Grandpa, Allison is just a troublemaker. It's absurd that you want to entrust the Bennett Family's business to her!"
But Yasmin's response was cut off by the sound of a vase shattering.
Hayden swung his cane, smashing the vase next to him into pieces, sending shards flying everywhere.
"Who gave you the right to butt in, Yasmin? Say another word, and you're out of here!" Hayden's fury shut Yasmin up real quick. "Don't think just because I've been away for five years, you can run this house. Don't forget who gave you everything you have today!"
He then turned to Allison. "Allison, are you not listening??"
"Grandpa, no, I just..." If it were anyone else in the Bennett Family, Allison wouldn't care, but she couldn't say no to Hayden.
"I'll follow your plans for school, but I won't live here!" That was Allison's only request.
Living with Yasmin was a no-go.
"Alright, if you don't want to stay here, I'll find another place for you. But since I've just come back, can you stay here tonight to keep me company?" Hayden requested.
Allison nodded, and seeing her agree, Hayden finally smiled.
Allison suggested, "Grandpa, you've just come back and need to adjust to the time difference. Go rest, and we'll talk when you're feeling better!"
Allison could see that even though Hayden looked strong, he was actually quite frail. After all, he was almost eighty, and his health wasn't what it used to be.
"Alright, I'll go rest for a while. Call me at dinner time!" Hayden was then helped back to his room by Jonah to rest.
Blair, not trusting Jonah, followed to help prepare Allison's room, leaving the living room quiet.
Yasmin glared at Allison with deep hatred. She couldn't believe Allison had the nerve to come back to the Bennett Villa.
"You still have the guts to come back after everything you did!" With no one around, Yasmin finally showed her true colors.
Allison shot her a contemptuous glance, not even bothering to give her an extra look.
"Yasmin, those who do evil will meet their end. You and I both know what really happened back then. If we tear off this facade, who gets kicked out of the Bennett Family is still up in the air!" Allison snapped back.
With that, Allison didn't waste another word on Yasmin and headed straight to her room.
Yasmin, furious, took out her anger on a cushion from the sofa. Why hadn't Allison died out there? Why did she have to come back? And what did Allison mean? Had she discovered something?
Yasmin couldn't help but let her mind wander.
The night passed peacefully. Early the next morning, Hayden took Allison to her old school, Willowbrook High School.
The principal of Willowbrook High School was a big deal. Even though the Bennett Family was loaded, it didn't mean much at Willowbrook High School.
Even with Hayden personally visiting, they had to wait two hours to see the principal.
"Mr. Bennett, it's been a while. How have you been?" Magnus Callahan, an old acquaintance of Hayden, felt troubled when he heard that Hayden wanted to enroll Allison back in school.
"Magnus, this is the first time I'm asking you for a favor. You have to help me out," Hayden said.
"Mr. Bennett, it's not that I don't want to help, but Allison was expelled for early pregnancy and abortion. It's impossible for her to come back! Besides, Willowbrook High School boasts the highest graduation rate in Skycrest. I'm concerned Allison might struggle to keep up."
Magnus was being very tactful. A student from Maplewood High School couldn't compare to those at Willowbrook High School. Admitting such a student would only lower the school's graduation rate.