Chapter 8

As Jake laid eyes on Wyneth, memories flooded back of the time when Hayden had been in a vegetative state for three years following a car accident.

During that time, Hayden had been in a deep slumber, and Hayden's grandfather, Benedict Hamilton, who believed in oriental mystic arts, sought the advice of a monk he had met before to learn about Hayden's fortune. The monk, after only asking for Hayden's birth date and time and briefly examining his face, offered a suggestion that a marriage could bring him good fortune, as long as the bride's birth date and time were compatible with Hayden's.

Despite the Hamilton family's exhaustive search for a suitable bride, they were unsuccessful until Wyneth voluntarily offered her birth date and time, which turned out to be a match for Hayden's.

However, Wyneth's marriage into the Hamilton family was not met with a warm reception. Although she had been there for several months, Hayden remained in a deep slumber. On top of that, her background was as clean as a blank slate; nobody knew who her parents were, let alone her connections. As a result, Hayden's mother grew increasingly resentful of her.

Wyneth had a tough time living with the Hamiltons, but she persisted stubbornly and took care of Hayden with no complaints.

Jake could not help but think to himself, 'She looks so different from the woman I met at the Hamilton residence. I almost didn't recognize her.'

When he had first met her in the Hamilton residence, Jake noticed that her facial features were more stunning than most female celebrities in the showbiz. He was surprised that Wyneth was willing to stay at home and take care of Hayden as a full-time housewife. Since then, he had envied Hayden for a long time.

And now, Jake thought, 'I didn't expect to see her here now...'

Shaun was very sociable. Although he was a little surprised to see Hayden Hamilton at first, he quickly regained his composure. He nodded and greeted Hayden and Jake.

"I didn't expect Mr. Hamilton to be here, what a coincidence. Matthew asked me to bring someone here to meet you all."

With that, Shaun grabbed Wyneth's arm and pulled her in front of everyone. "This is Wyneth. She is my new artist."

Wyneth was wearing a short-sleeved dress that showcased her slender, fair arms. Resting on her arms was Shaun's slightly tanned hands. Hayden could not help but stare at them, and as he did, the atmosphere around him grew heavier.

Hayden's assistant had been working closely for Hayden since he joined the company, so he was well-versed in his employer's various moods. He immediately stood up and suggested, "Since we're all here, let's sit down and talk first."

Hayden's dark eyes watched intently, his lips pursed, but he did not object.

Everyone found their seats and sat down. Wyneth sat between Matthew and Shaun, her expressionless face belying her beauty. She had not even looked at Hayden since entering the lounge, as though she did not recognize him.

Hayden rubbed his forehead, growing increasingly agitated about the incident with the room. 'I gave up her room to Gigi without realizing it was hers. Is she still upset about it? Is that why she left with all her things and signed the divorce papers, asking for a clean break? And why she's been ignoring me since?'

Despite everyone being seated, an eerie silence filled the lounge, and the atmosphere felt even heavier than that of a funeral.

Although Jake was unaware of the drama unfolding between the couple, the heavy atmosphere made him vaguely aware of something had happened between them. But he knew someone had to break the silence, so he looked at Wyneth and spoke up.

"Ms. Walford, so you're new to showbiz. What role will you be playing?"

Wyneth looked up at him. "I'll be playing Lucienne, the third female lead in Le Palais." Shaun had already informed her of the role on their way there.

Matthew nodded. "Yes, I asked Shaun to help me find an actress for the part."

Jake nodded in understanding and asked, "So, does that mean the casting is final?"

Matthew smiled slightly and glanced at Hayden before replying softly, "It's not final until we hear from you and Mr. Hamilton and see how she performs in the audition tomorrow."

Le Palais was a project that Jake had invested in, and Hayden had no involvement in it. Thus, only Jake's approval was necessary. However, Hayden's presence made it impossible for anyone to ignore him.

Jake chuckled and threw the ball to Hayden's court, asking, "What do you think of Ms. Walford, Hayden?"

All eyes focused on Hayden, except for Wyneth's.

Hayden's expression darkened as he rested his hand on the table and tapped his fingers. He couldn't help but wonder, 'Does she genuinely enjoy acting, or is she doing this because of her divorce and feeling wronged? Is her appearance here tonight just a coincidence, or is she up to something?'

Hayden's silence created a heavy tension that permeated the lounge, causing even Jake to feel uneasy. He regretted throwing the question to Hayden and decided to retrieve the ball he had thrown, saying, "I think Ms. Walford is fantastic and looks like a perfect fit for the role of Lucienne."

Lucienne was the adored princess of the royal family, known for her unparalleled beauty. Based on Wyneth's appearance, she seemed like the ideal match for the role.

Matthew's face lit up at Jake's words. "Really? I thought Wyneth would be a perfect fit for Lucienne from the very start."

Ruby and Mandy beside them were not happy, but with Hayden present, they dared not say anything and could only sit there, pretending to be invisible.

After all, losing the role was one thing, offending Hayden Hamilton was a whole other ballgame. If they did so, their showbiz careers would be in dire straits.

Everyone in the lounge had agreed that Wyneth was the perfect fit for the role, and Hayden had not raised any objections. His gaze had been fixated on her face the entire time, seemingly in agreement.

Shaun caught Hayden's eye and then looked over at Wyneth. Suddenly, he lifted his glass. "Here's to a successful collaboration."

Everyone chimed in, "Cheers to a successful collaboration!"

Matthew raised his glass to Wyneth, but before they could clink, a cold voice cut through the air. "How come I didn't know you could drink?"

The lounge fell silent in shock.

Hayden, who was usually reserved, suddenly locked eyes with Wyneth. His gaze was intense and direct, leaving no room for misunderstanding. He was clearly asking her.

Wyneth had been determined to cut all ties with Hayden, so when she walked into the private lounge, she acted as if she had not even noticed him there. Assuming their divorce was already finalized, she did not feel obliged to greet him. But then Hayden surprised her by speaking up.

Unable to ignore him any longer, Wyneth smiled, her lips curved into a beautiful arc. She raised her wine glass to her lips before finally looking at Hayden with her beautiful eyes.

"Mr. Hamilton, it's perfectly normal not to know I can drink, considering today is the first day we've met, right?"

With that, she tilted her head and downed the glass of wine in one gulp.

The white wine was strong and intense, and Wyneth had never tried it before. But she wanted to seem brave and cool, so she downed it. After drinking, she felt discomfort in her stomach and her throat burned.

Everyone exchanged glances, but no one spoke up.

Jake noticed Hayden's fingers tense on the tabletop, a sign that Hayden was unhappy with Wyneth's response.

Observing the couple, Jake finally pieced together the drama that was playing out between them.

'They must be having a fight!'