Chapter 25



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Violet smiled slightly. That smile was the bane of all Noah’s meager childhood memories.

“Come, give me your hand.” She held out her hand. The manicured nails on her pale fingers were painted pink. The gems on her nails glittered with cold light as if they resembled some kind of warning that was staring into Noah’s eyes.

Noah reached out his hand as he trembled and she gripped it tightly. Then he was pulled out by her.

“I guess he’s afraid you won’t have time to play with him after we’re married.” Violet took his hand and stood in front of Joseph with a kind and also understanding look, “He only calmed down when I explained that I would take care of him with you and take him to the amusement park.”

Seeing Noah cocked his head as if he had controlled his temper, Joseph trusted her words. He felt relieved and his thought of marriage being an urgent matter gained momentum.

It was Friday. Hayden came home from work and grabbed the newspapers and magazines from the mailbox downstairs. He flipped through them as he made his way to the couch after entering the house.

Stella ran out of the room and plopped down on the couch, showing him her skill at braiding the rope she had just learned.

“Blue Castle Bilingual Kindergarten?” Hayden suddenly exclaimed. His eyes widened as he found a thick envelope among the newspapers.

“What is it, Mommy?” Feeling curious, Stella tossed the braided string aside and walked over to it.

Hayden deftly opened the envelope and from it slid a stack of paper documents. “License plate letter?” He let out another exclamation.

“What?” Stella knew only a limited number of words and frowned, stunned.

“Free tuition?” Hayden nearly gasped.

“Mom!” Stella tugged her ear in dissatisfaction. “You scared me, what’s the matter?”

With an incredulous look, Hayden muttered, “Why is Blue Castle Kindergarten making you an offer? You know Blue Castle?”

Stella shook her head. Then Hayden patted his head, as if he had suddenly remembered something, and muttered, “Sure, how would you know.”

Hayden had grown up in N-City from a young age and was still well acquainted with the famous schools here. The Blue Castle was precisely the most expensive and the most luxurious, it was the quintessential Kindergarten that ordinary people wouldn’t dare to consider.

It was reputed to be the Hermes of kindergartens, the noble of nobles. It cost $400,000 a year in tuition alone, not including meals, uniform or school activities. Doing rough calculations, no one would dare enter the school without an annual income of more than $1 million.

“Am I being offered to study at such a good school without having to pay money?” Stella blinked and felt slightly confused.

“The thing is, we didn’t contact her at all. How would they have your personal information?” Hayden frowned and felt increasingly weird as she thought, “Could she be your godmother?”.

Alayna had a lot of friends and had mentioned earlier that she wanted to send Stella to a good private school. She had also mentioned wanting to cover her tuition and incidentals, but was turned down by her. Could it be that she had done so before asking her permission? After thinking about it, he called Alayna and she got on the other end of the phone.

“Blue Castle, am I so bold as to set you up? You’ve overestimated me sis. I have the ability to enroll Stella in school, but you don’t want me to pay the money, AND I’m more afraid you can’t afford the expense there!” She exclaimed then when Hayden gave her more information.

“What, free tuition, incidental expenses, and activities, did I hear that wrong, did you just hit the lottery?”

Hayden couldn’t help but hold the phone some distance from his ear due to its shrillness. “Okay, since it’s not you I’ll hang up for now. I’ll think about it later.”

“Hey, have you hooked up with any rich guys lately?”. Before hanging up, she heard Alayna casually teasing her.

Her words reminded her of something – could it be him? Someone who had great ability and was lavish, and even had reason to help her, there would be no one besides him. After a round of hesitation, still, she decided to dial his number. “Hello, Mr. Beckham… Sorry to bother you so late.”

Other than Joseph, she couldn’t think of anyone near her capable of spending a few million dollars all at once without batting an eye. Joseph’s voice sounded indifferent from the phone. “What’s wrong?”

“I’m sorry, but I really can’t think of anyone else besides you. I just got a notice from Castle Blue, and I just want to ask you if it was you who helped me with that.”

“Yes.”

Yes? Just like that? Slightly stunned, Hayden asked, “But why?”

“You saved Noah, it’s nothing.”

“The favor you’re returning is too great, I can’t afford to accept it.”

“For me it’s just a matter of a phone call.”

“But…” Hayden didn’t know how to explain his struggle. She stammered for a good while and didn’t get her words right, afraid he would misunderstand her for wanting more.

“Anything else?” There was a hint of impatience in her voice.

“No…”

“I still have things to do, I’m hanging up on him for now.” There was a dial tone on the phone.

Staring at the phone, Hayden suddenly felt suddenly annoyed and dejected. There was no problem with helping others, but couldn’t he at least ask about her needs first? If he was willing to help her with the matter of the government organization’s permit for the private Kindergarten she had set her eyes on, she would already be thanking him profusely.

But why did he choose Blue Castle out of so many options? Even if he had worked out the fee, could Stella possibly accept being in a campus environment full of children from wealthy families?

“What kind of person is she?” Hayden plopped down on the couch, “What is he thinking, does he really want to send you to study at Blue Castle? Is Blue Castle a family business?”

Stella was listening to his words openly on the side and had quite understood the situation. Secretly feeling happy, she said complacently, “It could be that Mr. Beckham likes me and sends me there because he sees me pretty. Who knows if I become his daughter in the future, what’s wrong with helping his daughter?”.

“Now you’re talking nonsense!”. Hayden spanked him. “I still haven’t talked to you about what happened last time at the Japanese restaurant Don’t cause me any more trouble! I have enough trouble as it is!”.

Stella pouted and muttered, “I don’t talk nonsense!”.

From all the conditions she had witnessed so far, it was apparent that Mr. Beckham really cared about her mom. According to the old man’s words, Mr. Beckham had never cared for any woman before and the bias in treatment could already show signs of a budding romance.

Stella continued to revel in the success she had almost achieved. She looked at her mother who was still sighing and frowned, slightly disappointed. Oh, Mom, when can you care and try a little harder for your happiness? If you don’t make an effort in life, how will you be able to enjoy it and stand out among women to marry into a rich family?

Hayden was still brooding and threw the stack of documents on the tea table in frustration. The documents accidentally touched the pile of newspapers and magazines, and they all slid and scattered across the carpet.

A red card caught his eye. It flew out of the pile of magazines in front of him and, coincidentally, landed right on his feet. Hayden didn’t notice it because she was focused on the enrollment letter.

She bent down and picked it up. Her eyebrows furrowed as she glanced at it, for it was an invitation to an engagement.

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