Second Chance: Marrying into Wealth Chapter 243

But Marlowe's call was just a minor interruption.

I sought the opinions of the two elderly gentlemen. Cassius was all in, saying, "To keep someone from changing their mind, let's meet the person first!"

Magnus snorted, "You might as well call me out directly. I'm right here, and I can make my own decisions without you deciding for me!"

The two old men started bickering again.

I had to admit, it was kind of endearing.

In the end, we decided to meet Hayes first, so I contacted Quinlan.

Hayes relied on Quinlan quite a bit, so having her there might make things go more smoothly.

"Hayes is so lucky to have met Mr. Collins and to have him go out of his way for him!" Quinlan was genuinely happy for Hayes when she heard about our plans.

Of course, she didn't hold back on praising Christopher either, which reminded me again that she might have feelings for him.

"Hayes is smart too. I called you because he relies on you, but he doesn't interact with many people. If he meets someone like Magnus, he might not want to speak. If that happens, the apprenticeship might not go smoothly."

I was really hoping he could successfully become an apprentice.

Quinlan, being the smart person she was, immediately understood. "Given Hayes' personality, he might retreat into his own world and ignore everyone. I'll head over right away and try to guide him to express his thoughts. Hopefully, the expert you brought will be satisfied. Once they get to know each other, you won't need me anymore."

"Great, see you soon!"

With that worry taken care of, I felt a bit lighter.

After hanging up, we drove straight to Hayes' place.

We had met Blair Ember, who took care of Hayes, before. So when she saw me, and knowing Quinlan had called ahead, she wasn't too surprised.

The only issue was that Hayes might not come out today.

Blair said, "He might not be happy with his designs today and hasn't come out to eat. If you call him, he probably won't respond. He only listens to Quinlan because he relies on her."

It seemed like bad timing, but since Quinlan was available, things might not be so bad.

I replied, "No worries, we're not in a rush. Quinlan said she would be here soon."

Blair nodded, satisfied with my response.

She went to pour tea for the two elderly gentlemen, Christopher, and me.

While waiting for Quinlan, we took the opportunity to look around the room.

Magnus, who initially had a disdainful expression, started to show interest and even appreciation for some of the designs.

Blair, who genuinely cares for Hayes like her own child, knew Magnus might become Hayes' mentor. She introduced the features of the designs, even making some excuses for them.

"He's a bit mischievous, coming up with these quirky designs. His style is quite varied, really impressive!" Blair couldn't help but praise after her explanation.

Magnus didn't say anything, but I could see the admiration in his eyes.

I had a good feeling that Hayes would succeed in becoming an apprentice.

Quinlan arrived quickly, and I introduced her to the two elderly gentlemen.

Quinlan greeted them politely. Cassius, who liked me, was very warm towards her. Magnus, on the other hand, kept his stern face, as if everyone owed him something.

Quinlan treated them both equally, showing no displeasure at Magnus' attitude.

I then told Quinlan about what Blair had mentioned, "He's not in a good working state today and has been locked in his room, skipping lunch."

Quinlan nodded and went to check on him.

Blair chatted with us a bit, "Hayes became more withdrawn after being in the orphanage. But after your cousin showed up, he started to respond and pay attention to the outside world occasionally. I believe he'll get better with time."

Blair couldn't help but wipe away tears of relief.

I nodded encouragingly, "He will, and with his skills, I believe he'll only get better."

Meanwhile, the two elderly gentlemen started arguing again over Hayes' designs.

They seemed to feel something was missing if they weren't bickering.

Magnus, unable to hold back, said, "My judgment is better. Once he becomes my student, he'll have to design according to my requirements."

Cassius retorted sharply, "You were the one who insisted on meeting him first. Now you're already claiming him as your student. Are you sure he'll even want you as his mentor?"

Magnus was fuming, but Cassius, perhaps due to his fading memory, had become more carefree and relaxed.

As they argued, Vincent handed them two auction invitations.

Cassius couldn't help but complain, "One invitation would have been enough. If the young lady accompanies me, it'll be good. Magnus will probably stay with Hayes, making his invitation a waste."

I tried to smooth things over, "Mr. Blackwood, Mr. Callahan can decide whether to go or not. Let's keep the invitations for now."

Christopher smiled, "Yes, if you both want to go and need Melinda to accompany you, I'll make sure you have enough invitations!"

Magnus, always critical of businessmen, replied sarcastically, "As if I care!"

Cassius retorted again, but Magnus didn't get angry. Their friendship was truly enviable.

Quinlan took a while inside, trying to get Hayes to eat. When she came out with the dishes, she apologized to Magnus and Cassius.

Everyone understood Hayes' situation and didn't mind.

We all went inside.

It was my first time seeing Hayes in person.

He looked like a porcelain doll, with slightly curly hair. His face was pale, probably from staying indoors all the time. His eyes were large and clear, untouched by the world.

Just seeing him made everything seem beautiful, making it hard to look away.

Hayes was clearly nervous about the strangers. His long, slender fingers, with visible veins, showed his anxiety.

He kept glancing at Quinlan, finding comfort in her presence.

Quinlan gently encouraged him, "Don't be afraid. Mr. Callahan here is an expert in artificial intelligence, which you like. You can talk to him. It's okay even if you make mistakes."

Hayes slowly opened up, starting with simple words, then a few sentences, "Okay, I'll talk to him."

He began discussing artificial intelligence with Magnus, speaking more smoothly as he went on.

Though it was just a few questions, Hayes' eyes brightened, as if he had found some fulfillment.

Magnus seized the moment, "You're very good. If you continue, you'll get even better."

Hayes shyly looked down, not used to praise, and softly said, "I still have a lot to learn."

"I can teach you, as long as you want to learn. So, do you want to be my student?" Magnus asked eagerly.