Chapter 426 You Can’t Force Love
Hayley, who was in Nigel’s arms at the time, suddenly opened her eyes. Nigel immediately put her down. Just then, a servant hastily walked over. “Miss Seymour, why are you here? I’ve been looking all over for you.”
“What’s the matter with this Miss Seymour?” Brenda asked.
“Y-Young Master Elliot told us to let Miss Seymour dine in the side hall,” the servant replied.
Anastasia’s gaze met Hayley’s, and the hatred in Hayley’s eyes was directed right at her. Anastasia understood right away that Hayley had attended as well, but Elliot had arranged a separate dining area for her.
Hayley definitely didn’t come on official invitation; she had come of her own accord.
“You—” Nigel looked at Hayley, then back at Anastasia. He felt as if he had just met the bootleg version of Anastasia, and traces of Hayley’s plastic surgery were visible in the sunlight.
“Miss Seymour, I’ll get a car ready to send you back after the meal.” The housekeeper appeared and gestured toward Hayley. “This way, please.”
“I’ll inform Old Madam Presgrave first,” Hayley told the housekeeper.
“Sorry, but Young Master Elliot has asked me to take you home right away.” The housekeeper didn’t want Hayley to affect the other guests.
Hayley was a little reluctant, but at that moment, the female guests who gathered around her were all examining her in surprise. She could only say, “Fine, I’ll leave. However, can I have a word with my friend first?”
With that, she pointed at Anastasia.
Anastasia instantly declined in disdain. “There’s nothing to say between us.”
“Anastasia, when you were assaulted five years ago, you said that I was the one who did it. Why did you tell Elliot that I was the one behind it? Since when did I order a host to sleep with you, causing you to give birth to a son as a result?” Hayley said loudly.
At the side, Nigel was so furious that he wanted to cover her mouth. Similarly, Anastasia turned red in the face out of anger. Hayley was mentioning this incident in front of all the guests on purpose.
“Hayley, that’s enough messing around.” Just then, Elliot walked over to them from somewhere, his expression dark.
Startled, Hayley trembled slightly, but she raised her voice to retort, “Did I say anything wrong? Elliot, I don’t want you to misunderstand. I really didn’t harm her.”
Anastasia clenched her fists tightly as she shivered in fury. Even up until now, Hayley kept crossing the line.
How could someone twist the truth to this extent?
Elliot’s expression was unimaginably dark. Hayley was taking the opportunity to tell all the Presgraves’ relatives about that incident, and she clearly wanted to ruin Anastasia’s reputation.
“Shut up, Hayley.” Elliot gave her a warning glare.
Hayley’s eyes immediately went red, and she accused in tears, “Elliot, I gave you my first time five years ago to cure you, and you bullied me to no end. I even miscarried once for you. Is this how you should treat me?”
Everyone present stared at Elliot in shock, for they couldn’t believe he did something like that. They had no idea if they should blame this most noble young master of the Presgraves.
Anastasia’s face turned pale in an instant as she looked at Hayley. She actually miscarried once for Elliot’s sake?
Harriet had just arrived on the scene and managed to catch Hayley’s act. She said to Hayley, “Miss Seymour, I know that Elliot had mistreated you before, and he also committed some mistakes. However, Elliot has been looking for you for the past five years so he could make it up to you. Now, we’re doing our best to compensate you for the incident five years ago. Ever since we found you, have the Presgraves ever mistreated you?”
Hayley’s true desire wasn’t any material object, for she actually wanted to be Elliot’s wife. Gritting her teeth, she said, “Grandma, I can’t even find a man to marry now. I want to be Elliot’s wife. I want to marry him.”
Hayley exposed her ambitions without restraint. She looked toward Elliot with a meaningful gaze. “Elliot, I don’t blame you for what you did to me that night. I just want to stay by your side and be with you.”
“You can’t force love, Hayley. I will never take you as my wife,” Elliot rejected coldly.
