Room for You
Chapter 10

Angry and annoyed, Erica immediately thought of Hayley, whom shereckoned was the only person who could help her plot againstAnastasia. Therefore, she contacted her to meet her at a cafe. WhenHayley arrived, she appeared to be in an inconspicuous outfit. Just likewhat she usually did, she walked toward Erica and sat down oppositeher. “You said you went away for a trip. Where did you go?” Ericacuriously asked. “Erm... It was just a short trip around the city for a fewdays. After all, I needed a break,” Hayley answered in a panicky mannerbecause she didn't want Erica to know that she had been living like arich woman lately. “What about your shop? Aren“t you going to be backto business?” “Nah. The shop isn't doing well lately anyway, so I'vedecided to take a break.” Hayley appeared unconcerned despite theworrying situation in her business. Erica responded in a huff. “Did youknow? Anastasia got on my mom's and my nerves today. She is back,but that's not all because—she is now a mother of an illegitimate son.”Hayley was stunned when she heard that, holding Erica's hand whileanxiously asking, “What did you say?! She has a child?!” Noticing herfriend's dramatic reaction, Erica paused for a few seconds andcomforted the former. “That child is her illegitimate son. Are youworried that she'll bring the man whom we put up to a one-night standwith her and come after us? Relax, nothing is going to happen!” “Whatdoes the kid look like? How old is he?” Hayley became especiallysensitive, thinking that it was necessary for her to be aware ofeverything about Anastasia. Deep down, she couldn't help but wonderwhether Anastasia“s child belonged to Elliot. “I heard from my dad thatthe kid is three and a half years old, and the father is probably someoneshe got laid with when she was living abroad,” Erica replied

unhappily. Three and a half years old? Hayley carefully calculated thetime and deduced that the child didn't belong to Elliot, instantlyheaving a sigh of relief. She only had a one-night stand with Elliot. Nah,it wasn't possible for her to be pregnant so easily in just one night. At thethought of that, Hayley gave in to her curiosity and probingly askedErica more about Anastasia. “How is she now? Where is she working?”“She is now a designer at Bourgeois, but what's the big deal with that?She is just an ordinary designer?” Erica was apparently unhappy. At thesame time, Hayley shared the contempt and disdain that Erica had forAnastasia, expressing exactly what was on her mind. “Well, I must admitthat she was always talented at drawing, but she didn't even graduatefrom a university, so how far can she go in her career as a designer?”“Exactly! She is just a phony who is trying to act smart, yet she managesto gain my father's favor. Besides that, even her idiotic son knows howto make my father happy. Bullsh*t!” Erica no longer cared about herdecency as she acted like her feisty mother. Meanwhile, Hayley, whowas more cunning and shrewd, offered her a word of advice. “You knowwhat, Erica? You should drive her away from home and probably evenout of this country since you don't like her so much! You need to get ridof your eyesore, after all.” “That's precisely what's on my mind as well.When the time comes, I'll make sure she is gone.” Erica clenched herfists and swore to herself. Nonetheless, little did Erica know that Hayleywanted nothing more than Anastasia to be gone forever because thatwas the only way for her to continue enjoying her wealthy life andElliot's favor. Suddenly, Erica was drawn to the necklace that Hayley waswearing. “Hayley, what's the brand of the necklace that you're wearing?It looks so beautifull” Hayley rubbed her necklace with a smile. “Oh, it'sjust a fake that I bought from a second-hand seller.” Knowing Hayley'sfinancial background, Erica didn't replace anything wrong with her lack ofability to buy a genuine necklace. However, the necklace that Hayleywas wearing was, in fact, a product worth over two million under QRJewelry Group. Needless to say, she had no idea who designed thenecklace. Upon hearing Erica's complaints and grumbles, Hayleycouldn't stop looking at the time because of her facial appointment.After all, she was so obsessed with winning Elliot's heart that she evenwanted to undergo plastic surgery to make herself look prettier. Tiredof being overshadowed by Anastasia since they were kids, Hayleydesperately wanted to kiss her ordinary appearance goodbye. Threedays later, around 5 AM, Hayley had a bad dream in which she sawElliot recognizing Anastasia when she confronted her. Because of that,she was harshly cast away from the mansion and forgotten as shewatched Anastasia take everything she had away from her. “No! Please!No!” Hayley sat up straight in horror with her face covered in sweatwhile frantically looking at her surroundings until she realized it wasjust a dream. Frightened by the surreal nightmare, Hayley came tounderstand that she could never get her hands on what Elliot gave heragain once she lost all of them. As her greed for wealth got the betterof her, her obsession with the current comfort of her life unknowinglytook over her mind. No, I mustn't lose what I have now! I mustn't! Soon,she tossed her pillow onto the ground, as if it was Anastasia. “Whyaren't you dead, Anastasia? Why aren't you dead?!” Anastasia will onlyprove to be a threat to me as long as she is still breathing. Suddenly,Hayley squinted and realized it was necessary for her to meet up withAnastasia because she wanted to know whether the latter was aware ofwhat was going on back then. More importantly, she wanted to replace outwhether Anastasia knew she spent the night sleeping with Elliot. IfAnastasia knows what is going on, I guess I must do something toprevent the worst from happening. Despite the thought of that, Hayleywas sure that Elliot couldn't remember who he slept with that nightbecause the watch was all the clue he had before he decided Hayleywas the one he had been looking for. Nonetheless, she was quicklyworried by another possibility when she wondered what would happenif Anastasia was able to recognize Elliot. She wasn't aware of what wasgoing on that night, but there was no telling that any word they saidduring their conversation could just jog their memory and help themrecognize each other. Overwhelmed by her fear and anxiety, Hayleydecided to creep from her bed and get herself dressed up because shewanted to meet Anastasia at Bourgeois to replace out how much she knew.In the meantime, Anastasia was heading toward her office afterdropping her son off at school early in the morning. Then, she wasoccupied by a meeting about the company's new product launching, inwhich Felicia wanted everyone to submit more than ten proposals bythe end of the month. When everyone left the meeting room, Aliceintentionally bumped into Anastasia and provoked her. “I heard thatPresident Presgrave has raised the reward to a million, so you shouldknow that I won't be defeated by you, Anastasia.” In that instant,Anastasia was stunned by Alice's sudden provocation, which left herwondering what Elliot was up to with the one-million reward.Somehow, she had a feeling that Elliot was trying to interfere with thecompetition, considering his power and status. Is this guy trying to giveme one million like that? No way! Fairness is the most important thingabout this competition! After all, the last thing I want is to be a championin a rigged competition arranged by him. While Anastasia returned toher office with complicated emotions, Grace came over with a cup ofcoffee and said, “Miss Tillman, you have a guest.” “A guest? Who?” “Sheis now in the lounge. Perhaps I should usher her here,” Grace replied.“Sure.” Anastasia had no idea who the visitor was, so she decided towait and replace out. Not long after that, a knock on the door was heardshortly before Grace opened the door with a silhouette that emergedfrom behind her. Although it had been five years since that upsettingincident, Anastasia was instantly filled with hatred and grudge. As soonas Grace closed the door behind her and left, Anastasia glacially asked,“That's audacious of you to swing by.” Hayley curled her lips upward. “Iheard you're working in this area, and since I happened to besomewhere nearby, I figured I should drop by to pay a visit.” “Youdisgust me.” Anastasia clenched her jaw, suppressing her angry urge togive the lady a slap in the face. “I disgust you? What's wrong? Weren'tyou satisfied with the gigolo whom you slept with that night? I pickedthe most handsome one for you.” Hayley smiled sinisterly. “Don’t tellme you still remember the man’s face.” “Shut up!” Anastasia shiveredfrom head to toe in anger. “Would you be able to recognize the man ifhe was standing in front of you?” Hayley continued to ask probingly.