Bride Behind the Mask novel Chapter 320

Frederick froze in shock.

Hayes had spoken – something he’d not done in over a year!

The joy of hearing Hayes' voice again was overpowered by a stab of pain. Because the first words out of Hayes' mouth were to question Frederick's love for him.

Frederick was not a sentimental person, yet there were only two people who'd ever stirred such emotions in him. First, it was Marguerite, and now it was Hayes.

Without hesitation, Frederick swept Hayes into his arms, his chin resting gently on the boy's head. "Of course I love you! How could Daddy ever not love you?" he blurted out.

Hayes finally burst into tears, his mouth trembling, unsure whether to trust his father's words.

The little guy didn’t know that Frederick loved him more than anyone else could.

Because Hayes reminded him so much of Marguerite, he couldn't help but be extra attentive and caring, even if he didn't want to admit it.

Frederick released Hayes, holding his shoulders lightly, his voice thick with emotion. "Hayes, call me Daddy again."

Hayes cleaned his tears and turned away in silence. He picked up a pencil and quickly wrote, "I didn't hide on purpose, Manley hit me, I didn't want to get hit."

Frederick's brows furrowed in alarm. "Manley hit you?"

Hayes nodded, tears streaming down his face.

"Why would he hit you?" Frederick asked.

Hayes lowered his head in despair, his little hand clutching the pencil tightly, but he didn't write down the reason. He himself didn't understand why Manley was always picking on him, always for no reason at all.

Seeing Hayes fall silent, Frederick gently prodded further, "Manley told me that you've been getting into fights at school? Is that true?"

An image of a girl named Teresa flashed across Hayes' mind, making his tear-streaked face soften slightly. He opened his mouth, but managed only one word— "Teresa."

Frederick fought to control his emotions, asking quickly, "Who's Teresa?"

Hayes turned to look at his dad, struggling to speak. "She.. is.. nice.. to me."

Frederick asked many more questions, but Hayes fell silent again. Frederick wasn't in a rush; he knew that haste makes waste. The fact that Hayes had spoken at all had already thrilled him.

Ever since Hayes was born, his speech development had lagged behind his peers.

It wasn't until he was two that he'd finally called him "Daddy" for the first time, then never again. Frederick had taken Hayes to several hospitals, but none could find anything wrong.