Chapter 182: The Older the Wiser

Hayden felt very upset after hearing Alayna’s unkind words.

She seemed to be so dishonest, concealing a lot of things from Joseph deliberately. But she did all of
this was just to get along with the two children, wasn’t it?

She was self-doubting when she met the two kids at the Beckham’s mansion in the afternoon. She felt
uneasy, especially when Harrison Beckham praising her for treating Noah Beckham well. And she
blushed inexplicably.

Noah was her own son. How could she not treat him well?

“Mommy, it’s been a long time since I’ve seen you and Joseph come together.”

During the lunch break, Stella Downey and Noah stayed in each side of Hayden’s arms. Stella
chattered endlessly, and she seemed to be very fond of the living environment here in the Beckham’s
mansion.

“He’s busy. Didn’t you know it? The hotel was on fire and there’s much to deal with after that.”

“But mommy, why didn’t you go to work?”

“Mommy is on leave, so I can spend more time with you guys. Don’t you like it?”

“Yes. We do.”

Speaking of the fire, Hayden tilted her head, with her chin rested against Noah’s head and said, “Noah,
I’m so sorry for not noticing you in the cold storage that day.”

Noah quietly listened to the two of them talking but then suddenly got out of the bed when he heard
Hayden’s words. He grabbed his drawing board and wrote a line, “It’s okay. Mommy would have



brought me out if you had seen me.”

Seeing that Noah was such a good boy, Hayden stroke his head gratefully, “Noah, you’re such a good
boy. You knew that mommy won’t abandon you.”

Noah immediately wrote on the board again, “Really???”

Noah looked nervous and seemed not to believe that Hayden would always be with him.

“Of course.”

Hayden didn’t know why Noah was so worried and thought that the fire had cast a shadow on his heart.
And she was chagrined about it.

Stella, on the other side, sighed, “Noah is worried that Joseph likes someone else. In fact, I’m also very
worried too.”

Hayden was stunned after hearing the two kids talking. She only then learned that the Sanchez family
had come to the mansion several times, especially Elizabeth Sanchez, who always came to talk about
the engagement back then. Harrison was trying to hide it from the kids, but nothing could be concealed.

Noah looked downcast and wrote on the drawing board, “I don’t want others to be my mommy.”

Hayden was heartbroken seeing Noah’s pitiful look.

Hayden embraced him heartily and said, “I won’t let others to be your mother. If this really happens, I’ll
take you with me.”

The butler made a few calls after coming out of Harrison’s study. Before dinner, there were many cars
parked in front of the Beckham’s mansion. And the living room was full of the Beckham family’s
relatives, gathering together.



“It’s not any festival today. Why did Harrison gather us all here?”

“I just received a call and come here. I know nothing. I thought you guys knew about it.”

“Could it be something happened to the company?”

“Isn’t it said that a fire broke out in the hotel under the ST Group? I’ve said that it’s not reliable to let
Joseph to manage such a big company alone.”

The crowd was clamouring, but only an old man in his fifties, sitting at the side and saying nothing.

The old man looked ruthless, with a string of shiny black prayer beads in his hand, which seemed
vintage.

“Dad, what do you think is going on this time?”

A middle-aged man on the side was doubtful and lowered his voice to ask, “Harrison hasn’t contacted
us for a long time. What could it be for calling us here this time?”

The old man looked serene, and his voice was sorrowful, “Who knows? Let’s wait and see. This won’t
be a small matter.”

After the maid had come knocking about having dinner soon, Hayden took the sleepy kids to wash up
before heading to the dining room. She didn’t expect to see two big round tables full of people in the
dining room, and she thought she had gone to the wrong place.

“Sir, Mrs. Beckham is here.”

The maid’s words had attracted everyone’s attention, with all of them whispering.

All of them knew that Joseph was the only child in the Beckham family, in his thirties and not yet
married, but he had an unknown son. They never heard of him having a wife!



Where did this Mrs. Beckham come from?

“Hayden, come and sit here.” Harrison beckoned to Hayden.

Hayden collected herself and walked to Harrison amidst the people’s attention, sitting down with the
two kids. She said carefully, “Grandpa, I didn’t know that you have guests tonight. How about I leave
with the kids now and see you next time.”

“No need.”

Harrison smiled and stood up after glancing at Hayden. He was hale and hearty, “The reason I
gathered you here today is to announce something. As you all know that, I just only have Joseph as my
grandson. He’s in his thirties and still not yet married. And this has always been my cross to bear.”

Hearing this, Leila had vaguely realized what was going on. But her mind was in chaos.

“Everyone should have heard it. The maid just called Hayden as Mrs. Beckham. I think it’s time to
introduce her at this moment. We can’t just let her being with Joseph without any status. Where are my
manners?”

The room was full of uproar, and a young man at another table asked recklessly, “Harrison, do you
mean that she is Joseph’s wife?”

“Yes. Although their wedding hasn’t held yet, I’ve decided it already. So let me tell you. Hayden is the
daughter of the Downey Group and now she is Joseph’s fiancée. All of you are here to meet with her.
The wedding invitations will be given once the wedding date is set.”

Hayden was sitting on pins and needles. And words failed her.



Retorting Harrison on the spot would cause him to lose face. But if she acquiesced in this, she would
be frustrated as she was still arguing with Joseph.

But when she thought about it, she had understood the reason for Harrison doing this.

It was mainly because the Sanchez family had been visiting too often. And Harrison must have known
the matter about them quarrelling as nothing could hide from him too. So he used this trick to hold her
up.

The older, the wiser.

The crowd was whispering, and someone took the lead and called Hayden Mrs. Beckham. Hayden got
goose flesh hearing it.

The others then stood up, “This is good. Congratulations. Cheers to Mrs. Beckham…”

Hayden was like a headless chicken, being greeted one by another as she listened to the butler
introducing the family members to her. She was dizzy after drinking some wine and not even knowing
how did she leave.


62fb1bb41dcb31934bd49bda