Chapter 3 I'm Back

• After five years, Rebecca still retained her charm and elegance; her appearance had hardly changed.
• Though Hadden's features hadn't altered much, but his years in the military had completely transformed his aura. However, Hadden was a man Rebecca had long considered dead, which was why his sudden return filled her with both shock and anger.
• "Rebecca! It's me!"
• A gentle smile appeared on Hadden's face. This time, he had come back with the sole purpose of making amends with Vanessa.
• "So it really is you, you worthless fool!"
• Rebecca finally confirmed that the man standing in front of her was indeed Hadden. She put her hands on her hips, her posture that of a shrew. She angrily yelled, "You didn't come back early or late, but chose to return just as Vanessa is about to remarry! You're here to stir up trouble, aren't you?"
• At that moment, Andrew rushed over. Upon seeing Hadden and hearing Rebecca's words, he didn't hesitate. He threw a punch while shouting angrily, "I'll kill you, you bastard! How dare you come back!"
• Smack!
• A towering figure appeared in an instant, grabbing Andrew's arm mid-swing. With a cold voice, the man said, "No one has the right to touch him."
• The person who had stopped Andrew was naturally Marc.
• Having followed Hadden through years of battles, Marc was a burly man with a fierce appearance. His sudden presence immediately quieted the scene, and Andrew's face turned pale with fear.
• "Get out!" Hadden's voice was as cold as ice, his sharp gaze falling on Marc.
• Though reluctant, Marc would never disobey Hadden's orders. He let go of Andrew's arm and said, "I'm sorry, Hadden!"
• "If you know what's good for you, then leave. From now on, don't interfere in anything without my command," Hadden said, his face icy.
• The aura that Hadden unintentionally released at that moment was subtle, but even a trace of it made Andrew and Rebecca realize that the man they had once regarded as a worthless son-in-law had returned after five years—and he seemed different. Yet, this thought was fleeting. In their eyes, Hadden was still just a good-for-nothing.
• After Marc's intervention, Andrew and Rebecca no longer dared to lay a hand on Hadden.
• "You've gotten too big for your britches, haven't you? You even dare to have someone stop me, huh? Get out, right now! Get out of my house!" Andrew yelled angrily. If not for his fear of Marc, he would have already attacked again.
• Hadden's anger flared, but the thought of Vanessa he had longed for over the past five years helped him suppress it. He kept reminding himself that he had come back to make things right with Vanessa, and for her sake, he could endure anything.
• "This useless fool shouldn't leave. It's perfect timing! Today we'll have him and Vanessa get a divorce, and tomorrow we can go ahead with Vanessa and Bill's engagement. No need to bother with a death certificate anymore." Rebecca quickly grabbed Hadden's arm, afraid he might actually leave and never be found again.
• Andrew also had a sudden realization and grabbed Hadden's other arm. He said, "Rebecca is right. When Vanessa gets back, you two can go finalize the divorce."
• Hadden was dragged into the courtyard as though his in-laws were warmly welcoming him back. To an outsider, it might have looked like they were overjoyed to see their son-in-law return.
• Inside the house, there was a large banquet table in the living room, already packed with people; they were all relatives of Rebecca.
• Among them was a young man with a face Hadden didn't recognize. The man was dressed head-to-toe in designer brands and subtly flaunted an expensive Rolex on his wrist. It was clear that the surrounding relatives were all paying special attention to him.
• At this moment, the young man narrowed his eyes, staring at Hadden as Andrew and Rebecca invited him inside.
• On the table sat a large cake, indicating someone's birthday.
• But as far as Hadden could recall, neither Andrew, Rebecca, nor Vanessa's birthdays were today. So whose birthday was it?
• The same relatives who had been discussing getting Hadden's death certificate just moments ago were now startled to see him in the flesh. But soon, their eyes gleamed with excitement, eager to witness the drama unfold.
• "Hadden? Didn't he disappear for five years? Why is he suddenly back?"
• "Why now, of all times, when Mr. Bill Conner is about to marry Vanessa? He must have some ulterior motive."
• "Ulterior motive? He's just a fool in front of Mr. Conner. What right does he have to compete?"
• Rebecca's relatives whispered amongst themselves. Whether intentionally or not, they spoke loud enough for everyone, including Bill to hear. He clearly heard everything, but he acted as if nothing was said, looking at Rebecca with a puzzled expression.
• "Who's this, Rebecca?" Bill asked with a smirk.
• Rebecca let out a cold laugh and shot Hadden a look of disdain. "This is the worthless man who disappeared for five years. I was just about to get his death certificate processed, and now he's suddenly shown up. But don't worry, he came back just in time. A death certificate takes time, but a divorce can be done today."
• Rebecca made no effort to hide her intention of getting Vanessa divorced. After addressing Bill, she turned to Hadden with a smug look and said, "Hadden, this is Bill Conner, the eldest son of the Conners, who will inherit the position of the family head in a few years. I advise you to give up any foolish ideas about Vanessa. We've all agreed to their marriage.
• "If you have any sense, when Vanessa comes back, you'll hurry up and finalize the divorce. Don't stand in the way of her happiness."
• The table full of relatives chimed in, each trying to curry favor with Bill by taking the opportunity to belittle Hadden.
• A flicker of sharpness flashed through Hadden's eyes.
• These relatives were truly unbearable. If not for Vanessa, he could have easily put them in their place with a single gesture.
• Bill looked pleased, lounging back in his chair as he swirled a glass of red wine. He stared at Hadden with amusement. "I wonder what you've been up to during these five years you've been gone?"
• Hadden glanced at him indifferently and said, "I was in Northville."
• "In Northville? You weren't shoveling snow for five years, were you? Haha ... "
• Before Bill could respond, one of the relatives burst into laughter, and soon the entire table joined in, mocking Hadden.
• Hadden remained silent.
• Bill's lips curled into a smirk. He casually pulled out a check, signed his name, and pushed it toward Hadden. "You can see that the Smiths don't want you here. I'm sure you came back for money. So, as long as you agree to divorce Vanessa, you can fill in whatever number you want on this check. You can cash it at any bank in Jerton immediately."
• The Smiths' relatives all had eyes gleaming with envy, wishing the check was for them.
• "Bill, why bother giving him money? Vanessa is my daughter. If I say they divorce, they have to divorce. Why should we pay him anything?" Rebecca snapped, glaring at the check as if it were her own money being given away for free.
• Bill's eyes flashed with disdain, but he maintained his polite smile. "Rebecca, money is just numbers to me. I don't want any complications. I just want Vanessa to be single again as soon as possible."
• Hearing Bill's words, Rebecca didn't dare argue further but shot an even colder look at Hadden.
• While the other relatives looked on in jealousy, Hadden picked up the check.
• Tear!
• Just as everyone thought he was about to accept the offer, Hadden tore the check into pieces.
• He then calmly looked at Bill and said, "If Vanessa wants a divorce, I won't stand in her way. But if she doesn't, no one else has any right to interfere."
• Anyone familiar with Hadden from Northville would know that his calm demeanor was when he was most dangerous.
• Bill's eyes narrowed slightly. This young man was giving him a strange sense of pressure—one that he didn't like!
• Meanwhile, the others were eager to watch the conflict unfold. Daring to offend Bill was practically a death sentence.
• Just as tensions reached their peak, the sound of high heels clicking against the floor echoed through the room. A moment later, two figures appeared—a woman and a little girl. It was Vanessa, along with a child.
• "Bill, what are you doing here again? This is my house. You're not welcome here. Get out immediately!" Vanessa's face darkened the moment she saw Bill, and she directly ordered him to leave.
• At the sound of that familiar voice, Hadden, who had his back to the door, trembled violently.
• He had imagined their reunion countless times. He had rehearsed what he would say, over and over. Yet now, facing Vanessa in person, he found himself unable to turn around, too overwhelmed to look at the woman he had wronged and missed for five long years.
• "Daddy!"
• Before Hadden could turn, the familiar voice of a child rang out. His body stiffened as he turned to see the little girl joyfully running toward him.
• It was the same girl from the airport, the one who had clung to him, calling him "Daddy."
• Hadden crouched down and instinctively scooped the little girl into his arms.
• It felt natural as if he had held her like this countless times before.
• At that moment, Vanessa saw Hadden, and their eyes met. For a few seconds, the world seemed to freeze, leaving only the two of them locked in each other's gaze.
• Over the past five years, her image had appeared in his mind countless times. His longing and guilt toward this woman had been the driving force behind his rise to power. It was for her that Hadden had endured and pushed himself to his limits.
• Vanessa's eyes remained fixed on him, her beautiful face a canvas of conflicting emotions.
• "Vanessa, I'm back," Hadden said, finally breaking the silence.