Xo Novel
Test of Trust
Test of Trust
Hayden could sense Malissa’s discomfort even before he saw how pale her face was. He cursed Ethan
inwardly for the things that he had intentionally said to trigger such a painful reaction from Malissa.
The discussion about the heir of Torex was uncalled for, although his response was truthful and factual.
Then all those bullshit questions about Jack and what that dead man wanted. No matter how fond he
was of Jack, he had been dead and gone for many years already. It was time that the living moved on
with their lives and did what was best for the current times and the current situation.
He did not love or respect Jack any less than before, but things have clearly changed, and he was just
trying to keep the fort together while fulfilling the promise that he made to his elder brother. Once again,
he wondered why life was so bothersome. Here he was acting like the proper boss-to-be of Torex while
Malissa looked like she was about to faint right next to him. If this wasn’t what a disaster looked like,
then he probably had misunderstood the meaning of the word his entire life.
Brining Malissa along wasn’t an error but it was a calculated challenge that his wicked elder brother
had talked him into. While his mouth spat out cold and emotionless responses to Ethan’s irrelevant
questions, his mind recalled what his brother had told him. Ultimately, it was Malissa’s desire to join this
meeting along with his brother’s somewhat wise words that made Hayden decide to let Malissa come
along.
“I don’t want Malissa to be there. She has no reason to be there,” Hayden said decisively.
“Have you asked her about it?” Harvey asked.
“No…” Hayden muttered in reply.
“It might be good for her to be there,” Harvey suggested brightly.
“How so? She has nothing to gain from meeting him and we don’t have anything to gain either,”
Hayden replied without hesitation.
“I wouldn’t be so sure about that. Don’t people like to say that there’s an opportunity in every threat?”
Harvey said before winking at his younger brother.
“You mean those overly optimistic people?” Hayden said before shaking his head.
Harvey burst out laughing at his younger brother’s retort. A part of him agreed with Hayden that
sometimes people said things just to comfort each other and for the sake of remaining optimistic and
encouraging. However, a part of him truly believed that there was something valuable that both Malissa
and Hayden could learn from this encounter with Ethan. If only they are open to it…
“You’re right, but you do know that your dear brother here isn’t an overly optimistic person, right?”
Harvey said half teasingly.
“I guess…” Hayden mumbled.
“I know that your time is valuable and all that, but can you please just hear me out. Of course, I’ll be
happy to leave the final decision to you after you do…” Harvey pleaded for some time.
For some reason, Hayden doubt that his brother meant that. His brother, just like the boss, had a way
of asserting their agenda onto other people and they wouldn’t truly back down until their goals were
reached.
“Sure…” he replied in resignation.
“I know exactly what you’re thinking. Taking Malissa is like walking around with your weakness exposed
at your side. It’s even worst when your weakness is someone that you want to protect and that
someone isn’t a part of your own body,” Harvey said sympathetically.
“Exactly, so…” Hayden said before Harvey jumped in and cut him off.
“I told you to listen and you agreed. I don’t think either of us could be like how dad was with mum. You
were younger so maybe you don’t remember much of it, but I do. That man would give her up or let her
go without a second thought if it meant that he could save the gang. The gang is that important to him
and the most messed up thing about all of that is that mum understood and was completely fine with it.
She just understood…” Harvey said, and his voice was heavy with emotion.
Hayden knew that it was rare for Harvey to talk about their deceased mother. From what he knew,
Harvey was very close to their mother, and he probably had a lot more memories of her than he did. He
decided to remain silent as he waited for Harvey to continue with what he wanted to say.
“I’m not saying that Malissa should be like our mother. In fact, I don’t think any woman should be like Belongs © to NôvelDrama.Org.
her or think like her. Not Amelia and not Malissa. However, what I truly respect about mother is the trust
that she has in our dad. Hayden, this is a conveniently good opportunity to put your relationship with
Malissa to the test. If you two can’t get through this together, then it either won’t work between you two
or…you have to let go of the gang…” Harvey said as he tried to make his brother understand his point
of view.
Hayden’s eyes widened at his brother’s direct words. It wasn’t like he couldn’t see what Harvey was
trying to get at. Admittingly, Harvey was probably right. If Malissa couldn’t withstand something like this,
then she will forever be a weakness at his side.
“If Malissa can’t toughen up to handle something like this and if she can’t trust you enough, then she’ll
always be a weakness to you. It may not matter to you…” Harvey said slowly and clearly.
“But she will get hurt because of it and then she’ll feel guilty about it. Then she will start believing that
she isn’t good enough or that she isn’t strong enough…” Hayden completed the remaining part of his
brother’s sentence with ease.
“Just like Amelia did…” Harvey whispered sadly.
“It’s still too risky…” Hayden said with a sigh.
“It’s better if she gets hurt now rather than later on. Trust goes both ways. Before she can trust you, you
need to trust that she can somehow get through this. It will be hard because Ethan will probably use
any weakness that he can sense against you two. Ethan will probably make you say things that will hurt
Malissa or things that will make her doubt you. If Malissa shows weakness, he will use it against you to
bend you to his will. This cycle will never end until Malissa realizes that she has to trust you,” Harvey
pointed out.
--To be continued…