He Wouldn't Claim Me — Another Man Did

Chapter 157 - 143: Rebellious Daughter

Morgan Hayes wore a black suit. With his naturally well-proportioned frame, the suit’s crisp shoulder line made him look as imposing as a distant mountain, lending him a heroic and formidable air.

This was the first time Annabelle Leighton had ever seen Morgan Hayes in a suit.

The suit fit him perfectly. Even standing next to the handsome and charismatic Shane Sterling, he held his own completely.

Henry Leighton didn’t know who Morgan Hayes was, but since he had arrived with Shane Sterling, Henry took the initiative to shake his hand.

The two men walked up to the memorial altar, laid down their white chrysanthemums, and bowed to the portrait of the old woman. After paying their respects, they walked over to Annabelle Leighton.

"My condolences," Shane Sterling said to Annabelle Leighton.

Then, he handed Annabelle a note.

"This is from Isabelle."

Annabelle Leighton opened the note and glanced at it. On it, Isabelle Prescott had drawn two little stick figures hugging, with the words "My condolences. Sending you a hug" written above them.

’How sweet.’

She raised the corners of her mouth slightly. When she looked up again, her eyes met Morgan Hayes’s.

"What are you doing here?" Annabelle Leighton asked.

Before Morgan Hayes could answer, Shane Sterling jumped in. "Officer Hayes was worried about you."

Annabelle Leighton looked at Morgan Hayes. He didn’t deny Shane Sterling’s words, simply asking her, "Are you okay?"

"I’m okay."

He nodded.

And just like that, the conversation ended.

Annabelle Leighton had only said two words, but to Morgan Hayes, those two words made swallowing his pride and calling Shane Sterling to come here completely worth it.

Henry Leighton had some business matters he wanted to consult Shane Sterling about. It was a rare opportunity for him to meet Shane Sterling, so he came over and led him away.

It wasn’t appropriate for Morgan Hayes to linger by Annabelle Leighton’s side for too long by himself. He was just about to leave when he heard someone call out from behind him, "Dylan."

The one calling was Annabelle Leighton’s sister, Yasmine Leighton, but the man who was called, Dylan Colton, walked straight toward Annabelle, who had been keeping vigil in the memorial hall.

"Annie." Dylan Colton walked up to Annabelle Leighton, his gaze filled with heartache for her. "My condolences."

Annabelle Leighton nodded.

Dylan Colton was her childhood friend. They were born only a week apart. Before her mother passed away, she had been good friends with Dylan’s mother. The two families lived close by back then, and the two mothers would take their children out together almost every day.

Later, after Annabelle Leighton’s mother died, Annabelle went to live with her grandmother in the countryside. Dylan’s mother, feeling sorry for Annabelle for losing her mother at such a young age, would bring Dylan to visit her every year. Because of this, she and Dylan had maintained their childhood friendship.

"My mom is in the hospital for surgery right now, so she couldn’t make it. But she asked me to tell you that if you need anything at all, you have to ask."

"What’s wrong with Auntie?"

"It’s just a minor surgery for a nodule. Nothing to worry about."

"Okay."

Seeing the two of them chatting so warmly, Morgan Hayes felt a knot tighten in his chest.

He walked straight out of the memorial hall.

Shane Sterling’s car was outside. When the driver saw Morgan Hayes come out, he opened the car door for him.

Morgan Hayes waited in the car for a short while before Shane Sterling returned.

"Officer Hayes, I have to go. You should stay here and wait," Shane Sterling said.

Morgan Hayes froze.

"What? You’re not leaving too, are you?" Shane Sterling raised an eyebrow at Morgan Hayes. "Looks like you really have zero experience chasing girls. At a time like this, you should stay here. When things are over, you can seamlessly slide in and keep her company."

Morgan Hayes glanced toward the memorial hall. The man who had been chatting so warmly with Annabelle Leighton was still inside.

As if he had made up his mind, he nodded. "Alright, I’ll stay."

--

It was very late by the time the funeral ended.

Annabelle Leighton hadn’t eaten a single bite or had a drop to drink all day, but she didn’t feel hungry. She just felt numb.

Even after going through all the memorial proceedings, the reality that her grandmother was gone still hadn’t sunk in. There was only a vague, lingering ache in her heart, as if a piece of it had been carved out.

"It’s finally over! I’m exhausted!" Yasmine Leighton’s voice came from the other side of the lounge. "But it’s good that the old hag is dead. It’s a clean break. No more running to the hospital every few days."

"Keep your voice down. Be careful your father doesn’t hear you," Jennifer Carter warned.

"So what if he hears? I’m sure my dad thinks the same thing. I can tell he’s been sick of it for a long time."

"Even if your dad doesn’t hold it against you, there’s still your sister."

"My sister? You mean Annabelle Leighton? What right does she have to judge me? She’s the one with no conscience. At least I managed to squeeze out a few tears. Look at her—from yesterday until the end of today, she hasn’t shed a single tear. Ungrateful wretch. And after Grandma raised her, too. I bet she also thinks it’s for the best that the old hag died early."

A furious rage surged through Annabelle Leighton’s chest.

She threw the door open and stormed into the adjacent lounge.

Jennifer Carter jumped in fright. Seeing Annabelle’s furious expression, she immediately understood that Annabelle had overheard her daughter’s words.

"Annie, your sister is still young. She speaks without thinking. Don’t stoop to her level."

Annabelle Leighton completely ignored Jennifer Carter’s plea. She grabbed a teapot from the small round table and poured it over Yasmine Leighton’s head.

"AHHH!!!" Yasmine Leighton shrieked as she stumbled back. "What are you doing?!"

"Washing the shit out of your brain for you!" Annabelle Leighton said furiously.

"You psycho!" Yasmine Leighton hid behind Jennifer Carter. "Mom, do something about her!"

"Annie..."

"Shut up!" Annabelle Leighton cut Jennifer Carter off. "Your daughter is spouting absolute filth, and you think it’s just because she’s young? I think your brain is full of shit, too! If you don’t know how to raise a child, then don’t have one. Bringing someone like her into the world is just disgusting!"

"You..." Jennifer Carter was so angry she was speechless. "Henry! Henry!"

Henry Leighton rushed over at the sound of her voice. When he saw his precious daughter, Yasmine, drenched like that, he exploded with anger.

"Annabelle Leighton, did you do this?"

"I did. What about it?"

"You good-for-nothing!" Henry Leighton slapped Annabelle Leighton across the face. "Now that your grandmother is gone, you think there’s no one left to control you, is that it?"

Annabelle Leighton’s cheek swelled instantly from the blow, but she didn’t feel any pain at all.

"That’s right. Grandma’s gone. From now on, there’s no one left in this family I care about." Annabelle Leighton looked at her father, Henry Leighton. "I saw how you treated Grandma. We don’t need to see each other anymore. When you die, just make sure someone notifies me so I can collect my inheritance."

After saying her piece, she turned and walked away.

Behind her, Henry Leighton was so furious his blood pressure skyrocketed.

"Ungrateful daughter! You ungrateful daughter!"

Annabelle Leighton paid him no mind, striding quickly out of the funeral home.

Outside, the sky had already turned dark.

Annabelle Leighton stared into the night sky, feeling as though her own world had gone dark as well.

"Is it over?" Morgan Hayes suddenly appeared under a streetlight.

Annabelle Leighton’s eyes lit up.

"You didn’t leave?"

"No."

Tears streamed down her face uncontrollably.

Seeing her cry, Morgan Hayes was about to walk toward her when he heard someone from behind him call out, "Annie."

Dylan Colton had chased after her.

Annabelle Leighton heard the voice and tried to turn, but her vision suddenly blurred, and she fainted.

"Annie!"

Both men rushed toward Annabelle Leighton at the same time, catching her from either side and holding her steady.