Chapter 52: Man Should Take the Lead

On Friday afternoon, Hayden went to the headquarters of ST Group for a meeting.

“This is roughly the project plan that we’ve amended based on everyone’s suggestions after the
previous meeting. If there’s any problem with the plan, we still have time for amendment.”

Hayden stood in front of the slide and she wore a neat office wear. She tied her wavy hair into a
ponytail as one side of her fringe slid down her forehead. She looked mature and a little lovely.

The people in the meeting discussed for a moment, and they seemed to have no objection.

“Alright then, start preparing for the venue next week.” Joseph’s voice sounded in the conference room,
"I’ll leave this matter fully under Ms. Downey’s control. That's all for today's meeting."

After saying that, everyone began leaving the conference room. Everyone left the room, while Hayden
went back to her position to pack up her laptop and the documents that she brought.

“I'll pick you up at nine tomorrow morning.”

Joseph’s voice sounded behind her. He meant their arrangement for a picnic at the tree farm this
Saturday.

Last week, Blue Castle Kindergarten gave the kids their last homework before the summer vacation.
They had to go to the tree farm on Saturday to collect different leaves. Then, they would have to draw a
picture of those leaves.

Hayden stunned for a moment before regaining her consciousness. She turned around in an instant
and apologized, “I'm sorry. I forgot to tell you that I suddenly have something to do tomorrow, so I won’t
be able to go. Since Alayna is free, she will take Stella over for her homework. If you don't mind, you
can come with her.”



Joseph nodded his head. It seemed that he wasn’t reacting much, but his eyebrows frowned slightly.

After Hayden left, Magnus followed Joseph back to his office while going through his schedule along
the way.

“Mr. Beckham, if you are certain that you’re not attending Mr. West’s engagement party tomorrow night,
I'll arrange Mr. Reynolds to be your representative.”

“Alright.”

“There’s an appointment with the designer to customize your wedding suit tomorrow night at seven
o’clock. Could you make it on time?”

Joseph slightly gloomed, as if he only recalled that he still had a marriage on. He was hesitant to go,
but in the end, he nodded.

“Yes.”

It was only safe and reasonable that everything went on according to his schedule.

...

The next day, Alayna brought Stella to the tree farm.

Joseph and Noah seemed to have arrived early this morning. They had picked up a large basket of
leaves and sat on the picnic mat while fiddling with Noah’s painting.

When Noah saw Stella, Noah got up from a pile of leaves and his eyes were sparkling brightly.
However, he couldn’t find the figure of the woman that he had been expecting to see. He frowned in an
instant and grabbed Joseph’s sleeve.



“She had something to do today, so she couldn’t make it. I told you that she wasn’t coming this
morning.” Joseph touched Noah’s head and explained patiently.

He already told Noah that Hayden wasn’t coming before they departed this morning, but this little boy
didn't believe him. Did Noah really think that he was fooling him?

Noah pouted his mouth and sulked.

Alayna held Stella’s hand and walked towards them. She greeted Joseph while sighing, “The weather
is perfect today. It’s a pity that Hayden can’t make it today.”

“Did she have an urgent matter?”

Joseph asked inadvertently while picking up Noah’s leaves.

“Mommy went to attend a wedding.” Stella touched her head and blinked at Joseph, "And it's the
wedding of Mommy’s ex-boyfriend!"

Joseph stunned suddenly. He raised his head and looked at Alayna, as if he was waiting for Alayna’s
confirmation.

“Little girl, no one is going to say you’re deaf even if you don’t speak.”

Alayna slightly pinched Stella, and she jumped into Joseph’s arms while screaming, "Mister, save me!”

Joseph held her in his arms and he felt a little distracted, “She went alone?"

“Of course.” Alayna sighed heavily.

"Hayden has always had a good temper. She didn't plan to go at first, but that shameless woman called
and begged her every day. Even I can’t stand her anymore. She had no choice but to attend it. With her
good temper, she’s probably going to feel intimidated there. I bet she will come back home crying.”



“Cry? I don’t think she would though.”

It was hard for Joseph to imagine Hayden crying. In his impression, a smart and stubborn woman like
her would never lose to others. He couldn’t believe that she was an easy target to bully.

“Why not?”

Alayna narrowed her eyes,

“You’ve never seen what Hayden looked like before. She went abroad alone after her ex-boyfriend
cheated on her. She might seem tough now, but she used to have a weak personality.”

Joseph didn’t know how long Hayden and Alayna had known each other. Although her words were full
of flaws, what she said wasn’t wrong. Besides, he suddenly became worried of her.

“Mister, I heard everyone goes to a banquet with a partner. Mommy will definitely get bullied if she goes
alone.”

Stella also sighed in Joseph’s arms.

Then, Noah quickly raised his little drawing and showed it to Joseph while grabbing his sleeve, “If you
don’t help Aunty, you’re not my daddy anymore.”

Joseph couldn’t help but laugh when Noah said that, “What now? She didn’t even ask for my help
herself. I might not be able to help even if I accompanied her.”

“That’s because Hayden doesn’t like to trouble others.”

Alayna explained, “Besides, a man should take the lead at times like this. I bet you didn’t know,
Hayden’s ex cheated on her and got together with her best friend behind her back. Until now, that
woman is still bragging in front of her. Hayden didn’t want to attend their wedding, so Michelle



backstabbed her, saying that Hayden couldn’t stand her doing well in life despite their close friendship.
Others didn’t know what happened back then, so eventually everyone believed her words.”

Joseph had a ghastly expression on his face after hearing these words. After a moment, he looked at
Alayna and said, “Could you help me send Noah home then? I’ll go find Hayden.”

Seeing Joseph acted so decisively, Alayna was pleased as she replied, “Don’t worry, I’ll take good care
of them. You should go now.”

Joseph reluctantly gave Noah a few reminders before he drove downhill.

The tree farm was some distance away from Nanking City. On his way there, Joseph suddenly
received a call from Viola.

“Joseph, the wedding designer will be attending us at seven o’clock this evening. Don’t forget about it.”

Joseph glanced at the time in his car. His hand pressed against the wireless earphone and said in a
low voice, “I suddenly have something to do, maybe next time.”

“Oh, what is it?”

“I’m driving right now. We’ll talk about this next time.”

Viola seemed to have something else to say, but Joseph already hung up the call.

After the call was disconnected, Viola stared at screen of her phone that turned pitch-black and her
face took on a gloomy look.

The manager knocked on the door and came in, “Viola, the show will start soon. You should get ready.”

Viola frowned and stood up suddenly, “Tell the director of this show, I have an urgent matter to deal, so
I can’t record now.”



“Ahh, Viola. We can’t do that... where are you going?”


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