Chapter 11
With Mr. Hayes Sr. suffering a stroke and the Hayes heir dead, the family lost its central pillar. The funeral descended into chaos, making them the laughingstock of the entire city.
Julian’s mother fainted on the spot, while his father struggled alone to complete the funeral.
That same day, Hayes stock began plummeting. Julian’s father was overwhelmed, on the verge of mental collapse multiple times.
Meanwhile, Lydia knelt before her father’s gravestone, weeping bitterly.
“Dad, I won’t let your death be in vain. I’ll make Julian pay for what he’s done.”
The day she left the Hayes home, the wedding car had taken her to Blake Winters’ villa entrance. Blake arranged for her to stay at the Winters family villa and helped her with her father’s funeral.
Lydia didn’t wallow in grief for long. Soon, she took her shares and returned to Reed Enterprises, determined to reclaim control of the company.
And to make Julian pay.
Two weeks passed.
Julian and Vera, bored with Northern Europe, prepared to fly to Australia.
Before boarding, Julian was stopped by the flight crew.
“I’m sorry, Mr. Hayes, but the ownership of this aircraft has changed. Without the owner’s permission, you cannot board.”
“What nonsense is this?” Julian frowned coldly. “How could my plane be given to someone else without my knowledge?”
“Exactly! Open your eyes and see who you’re talking to! Julian could fire you all!” Vera arrogantly threatened the staff. “Move aside-we’re in a hurry to go shopping.”
The captain maintained a polite smile without arguing, but still refused to let them board.
Julian’s frown deepened. Vera’s attitude displeased him. In the past, she had always been cautious and vulnerable, inspiring his strong protective instincts.
But recently, she seemed like a different person-demanding things with entitlement and spending money like water.
Sometimes when he expressed even slight dissatisfaction with her requests, she would sulk and cry, accusing him of changing and no longer caring for
her.
In comparison, he increasingly found himself thinking of Lydia-calm, selfless, always putting him first.
In the quiet of night, he had even thought about returning to Lydia.
“What are you staring at? Move aside! Julian, get rid of these roadblocks. Fire them all!” Vera pulled at his arm petulantly.
“That’s enough, stop making a scene,” Julian pushed Vera away. “How do you expect to be taken seriously acting like this?”
Vera stumbled backward, instantly tearing up. Before she could start crying, Julian walked over to the captain.
“What’s going on exactly?”
The captain produced an inheritance agreement clearly stating that this aircraft had been inherited by Lydia Reed, along with Julian’s other assets that had been distributed to the other Hayes family members.
Julian snatched the document, examining it carefully, his expression suddenly changing as he frantically asked, “How is this possible?”
Not only was the private jet no longer his, but his bank accounts had been canceled, making the money in them inaccessible…
“What, you don’t watch the news? You’re flat broke, dude. Complete zero.” The captain sneered with utter contempt before turning to leave with his
crew
Vera, already upset, heard the captain’s mockery and completely broke down.
She grabbed Julian’s arm, shaking it frantically. “Julian, what does he mean? Tell me what’s happening! You’re not broke, right?”
Julian irritably shook her off. Seeing her fall ungracefully, he felt no sympathy, snapping, “Can’t you ever act with dignity like Lydia? You fall apart at the slightest problem-completely classless.”
“You’re comparing me to that bitch Lydia Reed? She doesn’t hold a candle to me! Julian Hayes, how DARE you yell at me?” Vera shouted back, tears streaming down her face. “I followed you across the world, gave up everything to be with you, and this is how you treat me?!”
Julian looked at her with growing impatience. Apart from her skills in bed, she truly fell short of Lydia in every way.
He regretted everything!
