Stressing Out As Well

"I will drop you off at your university."

Emery Hayes was in the middle of having breakfast with her family when her brother offered to give her a ride.

"Marcus said he will come and pick me up," Emery replied while happily eating her food. "I know that you're very busy and... " She made a deliberate pause before she jokingly added, "Stressing out as well."

"Emery," Jason Hayes warned while cautiously glancing at his father who appeared very curious. Nevertheless, the cheerful Emery simply laughed at her older brother.

"Is there something I don't know?" Patrick Hayes asked; glancing back and forth at his two children. "You two appear suspicious."

"It's nothing, Dad," Jason Hayes quickly responded with an obviously forced smile. "Emery is only being menacing again," he sighed.

Though his words only made Emery feel the urge to say more, she refrained from doing that. She had to take pity on her brother who was still waiting to hear something from Catherine Sage.

Since he drove her home that night two weeks ago, there was no call or message from the woman and Jason was feeling quite the pressure. If this went on, he might even end up rushing off to see her!

Once he stared at his son and daughter enough, Patrick Hayes let out a sigh. "Make sure to call me if you have any problems." His words were directed to Emery who nodded in response. "You drove your car when you disappeared but they never found any of your belongings with you. So, you will need a new one. However, I think your leg should fully recover first for you to start driving again.

"You never want to have a driver before but I can also get you one until you're fine enough to drive on your own. What do you think?"

"I think we should only worry about the university for today, Dad," Jason Hayes chimed in. "Emery has too much on her plate right now."

Thinking it the way his son said, Patrick Hayes nodded. "Alright." He looked at his daughter. "We can discuss this later."

Emery nodded and quietly continued with her breakfast while glancing at her brother from time to time. Even when Jason noticed this, he would simply smile at her.

Ever since she woke up from that coma, she played around with her brother so much yet... nothing was enough to make him angry at her. She had only seen him being angry once and it was when that stranger from Page Enterprise harassed her.

Though she played around with Jason all the time, she was so glad to have him as her brother. Without him, she couldn't even imagine how she would cope with her current situation.

* * *

It had been a while since the Hayes family finished their breakfast and Emery was all dressed up to leave for university too. Once Marcus arrived, she can go right away.

Right now, Emery was in her brother's room, watching him fixing his tie and wearing his dark red waistcoat.

"Are you here just to see me getting ready for work?" Jason Hayes mused, turning in his sister's direction. Emery was sitting on his bed and it seemed as if she never turned away from him.

"I want to see just how stressed out you are. That's why," she replied, making him frown.

"You sure love making fun of my mishap, Emery Hayes. I'm hurt." Despite his words, his tone was playful and Emery ended up laughing.

"Actually... Miss Sage messaged me several times, asking about my condition," she confessed while cautiously looking up at her brother. "She also said that she will visit me once she has time."

Jason Hayes halted whatever he was doing. "She messaged you?"

Emery nodded. "But Jason, why don't you want Dad to know about her?"

The Vice-Chairman instantly sighed when he heard the question. "I'm 28 now, Emery. Do you know how eager Dad is in marrying me off? If he knows that I have someone I like, I'm afraid that he will go to Mr. Sage and propose marriage right away."

Once again, Emery ended up bursting into laughter. "Dad will do that?"

"Unfortunately, yes." His brows furrowed and he rubbed his temples. "And Chairman Richard Sage is not the type to force his daughter into anything, let alone a marriage. Then it will be the end for me."

Noticing the defeated look on her brother's face, Emery chuckled. "Don't worry too much, Jason. I think Miss Sage isn't that uninterested in you. Though she never asks me about you, I feel like she cares about you too."

Jason Hayes took out his phone from his pocket and stared at it. "If that's the case, shouldn't she contact me at least once?" He recalled what she said to him last time and put his phone away as he muttered, "Does she need time?"

"Time?" Emery's eyes went wide and she abruptly rose from her seat. "Didn't you tell me that you didn't confess to her?"

Jason Hayes sighed when he saw his sister's reaction. "I don't. I only said that because Catherine said many unexpected things to me that night. Maybe she regrets it."

Emery tried to speak up but she was interrupted by the sound of knocking on the door. When Jason responded, the butler, Mr. Heath walked inside.

"Miss Hayes, your fiance has arrived," the butler informed Emery who nodded.

"I'll be there."

With Emery's response, the butler bowed and excused himself right away.

"You are quite late today," Emery pointed out; shifting her attention back to her brother. "It's already 9."

"I clear my schedule for the morning, hoping to drop you off as it's your first day," Jason Hayes said and it was followed by a light chuckle. "It's better for Marcus to do it. At least, he will be able to stay around all day." He glanced at his wristwatch and looked at Emery. "You should go. Your university is farther than our company."

Emery nodded without much thought. "I will give you a call later."

She walked out of her brother's room and went to the living room where Marcus was waiting for her. Then the couple left for the University of Naviles right away.....