Chapter 285: Good to be Back

"Well, all in all, that’s probably what Ethan wants…" Hayden said in summary after his bouts of laughter had died down.

"I guess we’ll find out for sure when we meet him," I replied as I tried my best to stay calm.

In response to my words, Hayden just nodded. It didn’t seem like he had anything more to say nor did he want to discuss this any further. I appreciated the time and effort he put in to tell me the things that he did today and decided not to push him any further. However, Hayden didn’t end up telling me what I wanted to know the most. What I wanted to know the most wasn’t what Ethan wanted.

I wanted to know what Hayden wanted out of all of this.

What did he want for himself? Does the future that he’s thinking of include me at all?

"By the way, when are we meeting Ethan?" I asked after realizing that I didn’t know about the appointment date.

"The day after tomorrow. You don’t need to dress pretty," Hayden replied with an added joke.

It wasn’t like I was intending to dress to impress or anything like that. Still, I found myself smiling a little at Hayden’s attempt at a joke. It was a pleasant surprise that this whole talk didn’t put him in a rotten mood like it used to always did.

"I’ll turn up looking ugly, don’t worry," I replied with a small laugh.

After that, whenever I recalled Hayden’s laughter, I always wondered who would get the last laugh out of all of this. My answers to the questions that Harvey had asked me still eluded me. If I had to make a choice, who would I want to take over Torex? Hayden or his elder brother?

…

The following day marked the end of what I would like to call ’my dark days’ in the isolation facility. Surprisingly, the two brothers were there to help with my move out of the underground room back to my rooms. I was more relieved than excited to regain some part of my territory back. On the other hand, Harvey seemed overly excited for my move.

"I’m excited and so happy for you but it’s kind of sad that I’ll be seeing you less…" Harvey said as he took my arm and pulled me to his side.

Hayden instantly shot a look of pure annoyance at his brother that was hard for anyone to miss. With a soft sigh, Harvey let go of my arm as if he had just touched something forbidden. Now that I thought about it, Harvey had been spending quite a lot of time visiting me here and before that he befriended Little Hayden.

It was hard for me to believe at first, but perhaps, Harvey was just lonely after spending years in the world of the dead all alone.

"I guess you can’t come to see me anymore after I move back to my rooms…" I said softly.

"That’s right," Harvey replied followed by a slightly sad smile.

"Don’t let him get to you…" Hayden warned as he turned back around to face Harvey and me.

"You don’t have to be so mean to your brother…" Harvey retorted mockingly.

"Umm…I guess I can visit you in your wing…if I’m allowed," I suggested a little softly.

It was hard for me to admit at first, but I did enjoy Harvey’s company. On top of that, I felt very sorry for him and how he had to spend his life isolated from everyone else just to keep his existence a secret.

"That’s great!" Harvey cried out happily.

"I do not permit it" Hayden said sternly at around the same time.

I shook my head from side to side as I watched the two brothers continuing with their argument. I should have known that something like this was bound to happen.

"Malissa and other people in the mansion are not permitted to enter your wing of the mansion. That is the rule," Hayden stated firmly in Harvey’s face.

"She already found out that I’m alive so what’s the big deal?" Harvey replied calmly.

"That is not the issue. It’s bad enough that she’s been in there once. Also, you should not be talking to her…" Hayden countered heatedly.

"Why don’t we just leave it to Malissa to decide? She can visit me if she wants to, right, Malissa?" Harvey asked as he looked directly at me.

My eyes widened and I halted in my steps when his words thrusted me into the spotlight. I could feel Hayden’s eyes on my face and my body froze. What am I supposed to say right now?

"Umm…" I murmured in hesitation.

"You’ll visit me, right? We can play with Little Hayden together," Harvey said joyously.

"She’s not your playmate," Hayden warned.

"Like I keep telling you, that’s not for you to decide," Harvey spat back.

The two kept on arguing until we reached Harvey’s wing of the mansion. This was an unfamiliar path to me and that made me realize that it only made sense that there is passageway from Harvey’s wing of the mansion to the underground floor. How else could Harvey have visited me otherwise?

"I guess this is where we part ways for today. Don’t forget to come visit me and bring Little Hayden along too," Harvey said with a charming smile.

"I already told you that she won’t be visiting," Hayden readily cut in.

Not knowing what to say, I just smiled at Harvey before turning to Hayden. He gave me a funny look before turning on his heels and headed towards the exit of Harvey’s wing. After leaving Harvey’s wing of the mansion, I would be back to the main part of the mansion where I was used to. Hopefully, this would be the start of getting my old life back.

"Oh, Malissa…" Auntie said, clearly shocked to see me walking around with Hayden in the mansion.

"She’s back," Hayden stated without bothering to explain anything.

--To be continued…