Chapter 662: Uninvited Guest

“I said it,” Harris affirmed firmly. His gaze swept over to Darcy, carrying a hint of disdain. If their father wanted them to establish a connection with Hayley, he would take the lead. After all, Hayley was just an Omega, but her fiancé, Benjamin, was the Alpha of the Midnight Pack. Building a relationship with him would strengthen Harris’s position within the Sanders. There was no way he would let his sister snatch this opportunity.

“Looks like all of you did get along well,” Jeremy observed with satisfaction, nodding in approval. “In that case, you should stay in touch. You guys should spend more time together to strengthen your bond.”

“Don’t worry, Dad. I’ll make sure to visit often,” Harris replied confidently.

Jeremy nodded again, his eyes sweeping across the courtyard. When they landed on Benjamin, his aging gaze suddenly sharpened. He had long been surveying all the single Alphas in Annestone, hoping that one of them would someday choose his daughter as their mate. If that happened, their family would gain enormous benefits. Benjamin, Alpha of the Midnight Pack, was already on his shortlist, and given his exceptional abilities, he was by far the best candidate. Jeremy had previously heard rumors that Hayley’s fiancé was Benjamin, but he had dismissed them as mere gossip. Now, it seemed the rumors were true. But a fiancé was not a husband. As long as Hayley had not officially become his Luna, his daughter still had a chance.

With that thought, he discreetly signaled to Darcy. Following his gaze, Darcy immediately spotted Benjamin—tall, strikingly handsome, and radiating an overwhelming Alpha presence. In an instant, she understood his intent. She gave a barely perceptible nod.

Hayley’s POV: Watching the Sanders exchange glances in their little secretive game, I could already tell they were up to something. Sure enough, it wasn’t long before Jeremy made his way over to Virginia.

Feigning sincerity, he said, “Virginia, things have been hectic lately. Harris and I are constantly on the go, and poor Darcy is often left home alone. I see how lively it is here, so I thought—why not let her stay with you for a few days? She can learn from…”

Before Virginia could respond, I spoke up first. “I have nothing to teach her.”

“Haha, Michelle, no need to be so modest! We all know you’re a top student from New College. Teaching Darcy will be effortless for you,” Harris chimed in smoothly.

“Harris is right. Don’t turn us down. Darcy is quite capable, especially when it comes to baking. She’s more advanced than most Omegas. Having her here would protect Michelle and be a great help to all of you. It’s settled, then.”

Afraid of further objections, Jeremy quickly exited, waving his hand. “Alright, I won’t intrude any longer. Darcy, step outside with me for a moment. I have a few words to say to you.” With that, he strode off. Harris and Darcy hurried to follow.

As they left, Peter turned to Virginia. “Mom, are we really going to let Darcy stay?”

“What else can we do? Throw her out?” Virginia said helplessly. She wasn’t someone who could be so direct.

Peter fell silent.

On the other hand, I frowned and said bluntly, “Then just throw her out.”

Virginia gave a wry smile. “Michelle, I was joking. Jeremy might not be a good person, but Darcy is still family. She’s a member of the Sanders. If we kick her out like that, it would damage the family’s reputation.”

“If you don’t want her here, why even care about the family’s reputation?” I asked, genuinely puzzled.