Justin nodded in agreement. He genuinely wanted to bid on a painting to hang in his villa, hoping Emily’s spirit could see it when she returned.Mentioning Emily inevitably brought Helen to mind, and for a moment, the atmosphere between the two men turned heavy with unspoken memories. After a long pause, the two finally decided to leave. Only after they were gone did Haley, dressed in a sleek women’s suit and high heels, step out cautiously from behind the tree. “Are they planning to join the auction?” she thought, her chest tightening. “If so, they’ll definitely see me.”Her mind raced as she reached for her phone and called Wilfred. Instead of returning to the gallery's main floor, she climbed the exterior staircase to the upstairs office area. To her surprise, Evelyn and Helen were already in her lounge. Evelyn set down her teacup with a contented sigh. “Getting older isn’t easy. Just a little walking, and I’m already tired.” Haley glanced at the high heels Evelyn w
Back in the estate, the children’s room was bustling with activity.Chase sat beside Alex, ensuring he completed his homework, while Richard worked on programming nearby.Alex, chewing on the end of his pencil, whined, “I only have three pages left, Chase. Let me play for a while, and I’ll come back to finish later.”Chase knew his little brother too well. Once Alex was out the door, who knew where he would end up? Without looking up from his Computer Applications book, Chase firmly replied, “No. I’m staying here to make sure you finish and to check your work. This afternoon, I’ll be busy studying with Uncle Richard. I won’t have time to help you later. Now, get to it.”Alex pouted, scribbled two answers, and then, trying to distract Chase, started chatting. “You know, Chase, Mr. Yates has the best hugs. He’s super tall, and when he carries me, it feels like I can touch the sky. Plus, he smells amazing and can hold me for so long!”Chase didn’t even blink, flipping the page of h
“Alright then, this year’s trip will be to Haven State,” Haley decided. “Both Chase and Alex will come along.”“I’ll pass,” Chase replied calmly. “I’d rather stay here and continue learning programming with Uncle Richard.”“So diligent? Chase, you’re leaving me in the dust!” Helen said in mock disbelief.Richard snickered. “He left you in the dust ages ago.”Helen shot him a glare. “Richard, do you want me to knock some sense into you?”Haley quickly intervened. “Alright, enough. No fighting. Then it’s settled. The three of us will go: Alex, Helen, and me.”“Mom, can we leave tomorrow?” Alex asked, his eyes gleaming with mischief.“Tomorrow? Isn’t that a bit too soon?”“Exactly! Give your mom at least a day to rest,” Helen said, ruffling Alex’s hair.“Ow!” Alex covered his head and dodged away.Wilfred chimed in, “I’ll handle the flight arrangements. We’ve got a place to stay there, and you don’t need to pack much. Whatever you need, we can buy it there.”“Uncle Wilfred, you
Wilfred had arranged for a private jet to take them to Haven State. A few bodyguards accompanied them, already aboard to stow their luggage—three suitcases in total, one of which was a child’s. The group boarded shortly after. As the clock struck departure time, the plane began taxiing down the runway. The cabin was spacious yet cozy, with separate sections offering soundproofing. The jet featured onboard Wi-Fi that could be accessed once the flight leveled off, making the journey smooth and comfortable. Two dedicated flight attendants ensured every need was met, and the atmosphere felt serene. Alex sat quietly in his seat, engrossed in his Ultraman show. Helen leaned over with a teasing grin. “Why watch Ultraman all the time? Come on, let’s watch a rom-com with me.” *The private jet touched down at Haven State’s Lincourt City airport just as dawn broke. The morning light painted the horizon in soft hues of gold and pink. Coincidentally, two private jets landed almos
However, Emma continued to follow behind.*On the other side of the parking lot, Alex’s eyes lit up as he spotted Justin, the man he had longed to see. “Mr. Yates…” he began, wanting to call out and introduce him to his mom, but Haley quickly clapped her hand over his mouth and scooped him up. “Mm-mmm!” Alex muffled a protest as she rushed him into the car, strapped him into his seatbelt, and motioned for the driver to take off. Haley hadn’t expected to run into Justin the moment they stepped off the plane. And now, to her horror, he was heading straight toward them. In the panic, she hadn’t caught what Alex had just said. But Helen, sitting next to Alex, had heard it loud and clear. Her eyes lingered meaningfully on the little boy. Could this little rascal’s eagerness to come to Haven State have been deliberate? Helen had thought she would escape them by leaving Merika State and coming here. Yet, as fate would have it, they crossed paths almost instantly. By
The car headed toward the city center, and Helen suddenly sighed, “The downtown area has changed so much! I wonder if that restaurant we loved for its spicy fish stew is still around?” “Spicy fish stew? What’s that?” Alex, who had never tasted authentic Haven State cuisine, looked puzzled. This time, no one answered his question. Haley, too, was gazing at the city’s skyline. The changes were dramatic compared to five years ago. Skyscrapers now stood where older buildings had been demolished and replaced. Even the iconic landmarks looked completely revamped. The car finally pulled up to the villa in the Mistletoe neighborhood. As the group got out, a man in black approached and unlocked the gate. “Miss Haley, Miss Helen, the staff has already made arrangements overnight, and the villa has been thoroughly cleaned.” Haley nodded, holding Alex’s hand as they walked in. Looking around, she commented, “It’s just like it was five years ago.” “Five years ago?” Helen ask
If it had been the Emily from five years ago, she would have immediately recognized this man. He was the one who had bumped into her twice in the hospital corridor. Emma took the camera and reviewed the photos, eventually selecting two. One showed her and Justin facing each other in a way that looked vaguely intimate, while the other captured Justin with his back to the camera, entering the villa as Emma followed closely behind. “These two,” she said, handing the camera back. “Write it up like before, but make it even more misleading this time.” “Understood,” the man replied. The black car drove away. *Justin pushed open the door to his home. Mrs. Zimmer had already instructed the staff to prepare breakfast, and the timing was perfect. “Mr. Yates, you’re back. Quick, wash your hands and eat. The food abroad must not suit your taste, right?” Mrs. Zimmer’s keen eyes noticed that he looked thinner after his business trip. “Nothing’s as good as your cooking, Mrs. Zim
“Alex, you’re amazing!” Helen exclaimed, pinching his chubby cheeks. She had never managed to win anything from claw machines, but Alex was incredibly skilled at shooting games. With his natural talent and the specialized training he had received, his accuracy wasn’t perfect, but it was impressively high. Proudly, Alex tilted his small head upward, looking absolutely adorable. “Great job!” Haley chimed in, pulling a wet wipe from her bag to clean the sweat off Alex’s face and forehead. After leaving the mall, the group headed to the university town where Helen had attended college years ago. The restaurant they had been reminiscing about was still there, as popular as ever. They booked two private rooms—one for the three of them and another for the bodyguards. Since Alex was with them, they ordered a mild broth for him, while the sisters enjoyed their spicy hot pot. They also added some grilled skewers to the meal and grabbed milk tea from the shop next door.Alex to
At the very center of the photo stood Emma, a year younger than the rest. Beside her, shoulder to shoulder, was the real Justin Yates in his college years.His expression darkened for a split second before he caught himself and quickly masked it. He covered it well—furrowing his brows, pretending to study the photo with a blank look, like he wanted to remember something but couldn’t quite grasp it.“This picture… I don’t remember it,” he said, feigning confusion. “But wait—why are you in it, too?” He pointed at the image, his tone naive and questioning.Haley lowered her gaze and answered calmly, “It’s your college graduation photo. From Haven State. The girl standing next to you is Emma.“She’s the one who saved your life. You spent years searching for her… the ‘one true love’ you couldn’t forget.”She didn’t even know what she felt as she said it. Maybe she just wanted to help him recover what he had lost. Maybe that was all.But Justin shook his head, flustered. “No, that’s
After they finished walking around the school, Justin suggested seeing a movie.According to Alex’s strategy notebook, watching a movie together was a great way to build intimacy—especially in a dark theater, sitting close together. The earlier plan at the school had worked pretty well, so Justin was eager to keep following his son’s guide. Later that evening, he also planned to take her to a bustling night market—more shared experiences, more bonding.“There’s a new movie out. Want to go see it with me?” he asked hopefully.“No need,” Haley replied flatly. “Didn’t you say you wanted to recover your memory? Since we’ve already seen your high school, let’s stop by the Yates family estate. Maybe being there will help jog your memory too.”She wasn’t interested in the movie date. If they were going to revisit the past, she wanted to get it over with in one go so there would be no excuses to keep dragging her around next time. Yes, she was grateful that he had saved her life on t
“That was my seat.” Justin led her to a desk near the middle of the classroom, pointing it out. “This is where I used to sit. My deskmate back then was Zac.”He blinked in confusion. “Why do the textbooks look different?”Haley flipped open one of the books left behind by a current student. A name she didn’t recognize was written inside the cover. Probably a student from the current class. No wonder the textbooks were different. Justin’s memory was still stuck in his senior year, but those students would have graduated by now. These must be juniors who had just moved up.Still, something didn’t add up. When she found him injured years ago, he had been wearing a foreign school uniform. Judging by the look of it, he must have been studying abroad. So how was he suddenly enrolled in a high school in Haven State?The question lingered in her mind, so she asked. Of course, she didn’t mention the fact that she had found him half-dead in a trash bin.“I already graduated overseas,” Jus
In the Vice President’s office, Harry sat behind his desk, scowling, his face etched with frustration.The door clicked open, and Jacob stepped in, locking it behind him.“Son, finally!” Harry slammed his palm on the desk. “That little bastard actually woke up! A vegetable! How the hell does someone just wake up from that?!”By now, word of Justin’s recovery and his meeting that morning with Chairman Quinn had spread through the upper ranks of RC Corporation. To be more accurate, the rumors had already started circulating yesterday, the moment he showed up on the executive floor.“Calm down, Dad,” Jacob said, pulling out a chair and taking a seat. His voice was low, his expression unreadable. “Yes, he woke up, but I heard from people in the exec suite that he might have amnesia. They say Sam prepped everything for his meeting with Quinn. Justin was just parroting a script.”“You serious?” Harry’s eyes lit up, the frustration melting into something sharper.“My source isn’t 100%
“Sis, I’m pretty handsome, right?” Justin asked, grinning proudly.And just like that, his voice shattered the illusion Haley had briefly fallen into.She gave him a look. “Don’t flatter yourself. Let’s go.”The two headed downstairs, where William was already waiting to drive them to RC Corporation. He pulled into the underground parking garage, and they made their way up to the executive floor.Inside the president’s office, Haley still wasn’t fully at ease. She had him run through the negotiation script one more time, rehearsing the key points like a stage play. Only when Justin delivered his lines with calm precision did she finally relax.“This shipment is critical for the international project’s timeline,” she reminded him. “You read through the materials yesterday—you get how important this is, right?”Justin nodded.“Don’t stress too much. Just channel that cool, commanding energy you had a minute ago,” Haley said, coaching him seriously. “Get in there and bluff your way
Following Haley into the kitchen, Justin was about to speak when he caught the sound of her voice—she was chatting with Helen.Haley had just poured herself a glass of water from the fridge. Helen, as always, was talking non-stop at her side.“Sis, with Justin calling you ‘sis’ every day, doesn’t it kinda feel like you’ve got yourself a younger, puppy-eyed boyfriend?” Her tone was teasing, full of mischief. “Kinda like that matchmaking event I set up for you back then.”She nudged Haley’s shoulder, waggling her eyebrows suggestively.That one line pulled both of them back to that night at the bar.Haley shot her a look. “You’re pregnant. Can you not let your imagination run wild for once? If you’re that curious, have Zac call you ‘sis’ every night.”“Oh, come on. What’s the harm in a little gossip?” Helen giggled. “Honestly though, this amnesia version of Justin is kind of adorable. All innocent and wide-eyed. You’re telling me you don’t feel anything?”“No,” Haley answered flat
Haley pressed her fingers to her temple, her headache building. “Prepare a full briefing. I want all the contract details, background on the partner company, and a response script. He needs to memorize everything by tomorrow. He’s going to that meeting.”She gestured toward Justin, clearly making him responsible.“Yes, ma’am,” Sam replied.“And one more thing,” Haley added, her tone sharp. “Find a new supplier. Once this delivery is done, terminate the contract. We’re not working with unreliable partners.”“Understood.”As Sam left, Haley turned to Justin, looking down at him from where she stood. “Memorize the talking points. Lock the key contract terms in your head. Tomorrow, you’re facing their CEO. Think you can handle it?”Justin blinked up at her with wide, innocent eyes. “Don’t worry, Sis. If it’s something you asked me to do, I’ll make sure I get it right!”*That evening at Mistletoe Villa, Helen had just returned from a prenatal checkup. Everyone was gathered in the l
“You want your memory back, right? Great. Go ahead and read through these files and sign off on them. That’ll jog your memory in no time.”Haley pushed the day’s workload onto Justin’s desk. Memory loss or not, she was sure his business instincts and decision-making skills were still in there somewhere.It was just like when she had lost her memory. Her painting skills and foreign languages had still been there, buried in her subconscious.Justin didn’t need to recall every detail of the past. As long as he could function in the office and resume his role as president, that was good enough.He froze. Sure, he wanted to grow closer to Haley and get her to care about him again, but going back to work so soon? That hadn’t exactly been the plan.Still, realizing what she wanted, he didn’t argue. Instead, he obediently picked up the first document and started reading carefully.Then, suddenly, he asked, “Sis, what’s the project timeline for the international expansion? I don’t remembe
Zac jogged off in a hurry, not daring to stick around and witness more of Justin’s embarrassment.Justin, having failed to sneak into Haley’s room, had no choice but to sulk back to the guest room the housekeeper had prepared for him.*The next morning, Haley came downstairs for breakfast. She hadn’t slept well—staying up late to work, only to get riled up by Justin all over again. The dark circles under her eyes were impossible to hide, no matter how much concealer she applied.She stepped into the dining room and spotted Justin already sitting at the table.“Morning, sis!” he chirped.He looked every bit the picture of youthful energy, dressed in a clean athletic tracksuit, his expression bright and full of life. He really did look like a high school senior.Haley took one look at his well-rested, cheerful face and felt an unexplainable surge of irritation rise in her chest.She didn’t say a word. Ignoring him completely, she walked to her seat and sat down. Her gaze swept t