Back From Prison, Built For Revenge - Chapter 11: Chapter 11

In Dawnridge, the morning light streamed into the Stone Group's headquarters conference room. The spacious room was filled with well-dressed participants seated along both sides of the long table, their expressions unreadable.
Hayden, seated at the head of the table, was flipping through the project materials, his expression tinged with impatience. His gaze occasionally drifted toward the window, but his mind couldn't help but replay the scene from last night, when Chloe had risked everything to save Yolanda.
Despite enduring three years of imprisonment and being betrayed by her family, Chloe was still able to stay calm in a crucial moment, even risking her life for someone who had once wronged her.
Hayden tightened his grip on the pen in his hand, his knuckles turning pale. He tried to push the thought out of his mind, but the harder he resisted, the clearer it became. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, and when he opened them again, his gaze had regained its calm.
"Mr. Stone?" The project company representative spoke hesitantly, snapping Hayden back to reality.
"Continue." His tone was flat, yet carried an air of authority.
The representative was a middle-aged man in a well-tailored suit, wearing a professional smile, though it carried a hint of disdain.
He spoke confidently, his tone subtly arrogant, "Our proposal not only controls costs effectively but also meets all the technical specifications required by your company. Well, many young people like to pursue innovation, but I prefer to choose a more stable approach."
His words caused the other attendees to whisper, some even stealing glances at Hayden.
The representative continued to provoke, "Of course, some people are so young yet can hold such high positions. It's really enviable! But having talent isn't enough, one also needs to know how to build connections. Don't you agree, Mr. Stone?"
The room went silent in an instant. All eyes turned toward Hayden, some trying to hide their embarrassment, while others wore expressions of schadenfreude.
Hayden slowly lifted his head, his deep eyes locking onto the man. He didn't speak immediately but placed his pen on the table and tapped it lightly with his fingers, each tap making the others tense with unease.
"Do you think everyone is like my sister, who only got her position through family connections?" His voice was low, yet sharp, leaving everyone in the room stunned. The project company's representative froze, his smile stiffening, unable to speak.
The tension in the conference room was palpable. Attendees exchanged uneasy glances, unsure of how to handle the situation. A few attempted to smooth things over, but before they could speak, they were interrupted by an even sharper voice.
"Mr. Stone, are you angry?" The project manager of the representative who had spoken earlier suddenly spoke. He had the typical look of a schemer. He pushed up his glasses, his tone filled with evident provocation. "We didn't say anything inappropriate. Why are you getting so worked up? Did we hit a nerve?"
These words completely fueled Hayden's anger. He abruptly stood up and flipped the conference table in front of him. Items on the table scattered across the floor, and the attendees cried out in shock, some even backing away in fear.
"You guys," Hayden shouted, his eyes bloodshot with anger. "Just because you have a bit of experience, you think you can bully others. Do you really think I'm easy to push around?"
Hayden's anger was no longer controllable. He charged at the project manager and landed a powerful punch to his face, knocking him straight to the floor. People around tried to restrain Hayden, but they were utterly helpless.
In the chaos, two executives who attempted to intervene were also knocked down by his fists. Security rushed in, but they were just as powerless in the face of Hayden's uncontrollable rage.
"Enough." Finally, Zaiden rushed into the room, wrapped his arms around Hayden, and shouted, "Calm down, don't be impulsive."
But this didn't seem to calm Hayden at all. He broke free from Zaiden's grasp and pointed at the fallen men on the floor, roaring, "Even if my father were here, he wouldn't be able to stop me from teaching these bullies a lesson."
Zaiden frowned, turned to the security guards, and signaled for them to take the injured people to the infirmary. He grabbed Hayden again, pressing his hand firmly on his shoulder. "Enough. If this continues, you won't be able to control the situation anymore."
The scold finally caused Hayden to stop. He looked at the mess around him, then down at his hands, which were stained with blood. His eyes gradually filled with an indescribable mix of emotions, including guilt, self-blame, and pain.
"I... " He murmured, but found himself unable to form any words. He suddenly collapsed to the floor, covering his face with his hands. His defeated, broken posture moved everyone around him.
The thought of Chloe suddenly struck him. Three years ago, she had been forced into prison to protect the family's reputation, taking the blame that should have belonged to someone else. And Hayden, as the person closest to her, had chosen to stand by and do nothing.
"I'm sorry, Chloe," Hayden whispered, his voice filled with despair and regret. "I'm sorry... "
Zaiden sighed, crouched down, and patted Hayden's shoulder. He didn't say much, but he gripped his arm tightly to offer comfort. The others around them silently lowered their heads, none daring to speak.