“Alright, since Alex found the spot, let’s go eat there,” Helen said cheerfully. Since it was a bit far, the three decided to head back to the parking lot and drive over. *At RC Corporation, the day was relatively quiet, leaving Justin with little to do. When lunchtime rolled around, he took the elevator down to the employee cafeteria with Sam. They had just sat down, and Justin had taken a few bites of his meal when Emma appeared, tray in hand, and walked over to join them. The cafeteria buzzed with employees who had noticed the CEO’s presence, but none dared to approach. For the regular staff, there was an unspoken distance between them and their boss. Managers, on the other hand, were wary of sitting too close and ending up fielding impromptu work questions. Emma, however, confidently made her way over. Seeing Justin make no effort to prevent her from sitting, Sam instinctively scooted further in to make room. Emma smoothly slid into the seat across from Justin.
The next morning, Haley woke up early and gently woke Alex. There was no need to wake Helen. She always set her own alarm. Everything they needed for the trip to the amusement park had been packed the day before, so they were ready to head out right after breakfast. Once washed up, the three ate their breakfast downstairs, then grabbed their backpacks and set off. *At the same time, Justin was already up and shaving in front of the mirror in his bathroom. Without Emily, he had learned to tie his own tie and spritz on her favorite perfume before heading out. There was still plenty of time before heading to Bay Amusement Park. He needed to stop by the office first to attend a morning meeting.*When the car arrived at Bay Amusement Park, Haley helped Alex out of the car and set him down. Alex, wearing a small backpack, had a safety leash secured around his waist, with the other end strapped to Haley’s wrist like a bracelet. Helen stepped out of the car and looked aroun
Helen looked up and gave Haley a quick wink.Haley smiled softly. Helen’s personality hadn’t changed much in the past five years, and that was fine with her. She herself didn’t feel like standing out in the sun either. The sun wasn’t a big deal for her, but Alex was still young, and she didn’t want him to risk getting heatstroke.Leaning closer, Haley said, “Alex, didn’t you mention last night that you wanted to see the fish in the aquarium?” Alex furrowed his brows, clearly reluctant. He hadn’t finished exploring the outdoor attractions yet. Haley could tell what he was thinking from the look on his face. She gently suggested, “How about this? After lunch, when the lines are shorter, we’ll go back to the rides. Sound good?” “Okay, I’ll listen to you, Mom,” Alex said, letting go of his hesitation. They gathered their belongings and left the cafe. *Meanwhile, Justin and his team were inspecting the central ocean-themed building of the park, conveniently located next
“Mom, you need to eat a proper breakfast from now on,” Alex said, mimicking the tone Haley used when she scolded him for skipping meals. “Otherwise, your stomach will get upset.”Haley’s eyes curved into a smile. “Alright, Mom will remember that.” They took a detour, avoiding Justin’s group, and left the amusement park. Across the street was Peninsula Restaurant. Since it wasn’t lunchtime yet, there were only a handful of diners. Haley, worried that sitting near the windows might risk running into Justin again, decided to take Alex into one of the private dining rooms. *Following the time and location Justin had sent him, Zac drove to Peninsula Restaurant. When he entered, a server approached him. “Good afternoon, sir. How many in your party?” “I have a reservation for table six,” Zac replied. The server guided him to a table by the window, where a long-haired woman was already seated. She matched the photo Justin had sent. Raising an eyebrow, Zac thought to
As they exited the restroom, Helen happened to see Zac pushing the door open to enter. Left with no other choice, she stayed in the restroom area with Alex for a while, assuming Zac would head back to his private dining room soon, giving them a chance to slip past unnoticed. To her surprise, instead of returning to a private room, Zac took a seat at a window-side table directly across from the restroom.Across from him sat a long-haired woman, and the two seemed to be chatting. Helen couldn’t hear what Zac and the woman were saying, but it was obvious they were on a date. The restroom had a faint scent of air freshener, but the smell was far from pleasant. Adding to her discomfort, her legs were starting to go numb after walking all morning. Just then, Haley called her, telling them to come back for lunch. Unable to wait any longer, Helen seized the moment when Zac lowered his head to sip his coffee. Quickly scooping Alex into her arms, she dashed down the hallway as fast
After what felt like an eternity, the ring of Alex’s smartwatch finally interrupted them. Only then did Zac reluctantly release Helen’s lips. Quick as a flash, Alex hit the hang-up button, not wanting to spoil the moment. He hadn’t had his fill of peeking yet! Zac glanced down at Alex and asked without hesitation, “Is Alex… our child? Did you secretly have him without telling me?” Helen choked, coughing uncontrollably, caught off guard by his question. Alex’s jaw dropped in disbelief. “What? Mr. White is my dad?!” The two pairs of astonished eyes turned to Helen for answers. Zac patted her back thoughtfully with one hand, while his other arm remained securely around her waist, ensuring she wouldn’t bolt. Once Helen managed to catch her breath, she shot him a furious glare. “Zac White, stop letting your imagination run wild! Alex isn’t your child.” Alex, standing below them, let out a quiet sigh of relief, patting his little chest. “Phew, Mr. White isn’t my dad.
Zac raised three fingers, his expression earnest, as though making a solemn oath. “I can’t spend another night alone in a cold, empty bed,” he thought.Helen shot him a glare as she walked away, snapping, “Who’s your wife? Stop saying nonsense.”As she rounded the corner with Alex in tow, Alex suddenly broke his silence. “Aunt Helen, is this like one of those scenes in a TV drama where the main couple meets again and gets back together?”Helen immediately clamped a hand over Alex’s mouth, leaning down to whisper sharply in his ear, “What nonsense are you talking about? Who’s getting back together? And don’t you dare tell your mom about this, got it?”Alex nodded quickly, his little head bobbing in agreement.But inside, Alex was skeptical. “Does Aunt Helen think I’m clueless? Just because I’m young doesn’t mean I can’t see what’s going on. Mr. White kissed her! This is totally like one of those TV drama couples. At least… it had to be a long time ago,” he thought to himself.When
William had his own office next to Justin’s, mirroring Sam’s office on the other side. When Justin was working, William often used his office to rest. As soon as Justin gave the order, William grabbed his car keys without a word and followed him out. *At the Peninsula Restaurant, Alex begged to return to the amusement park after finishing lunch. Haley, however, worried they might run into Justin again. She quickly made an excuse, saying, “Alex, it’s too hot this afternoon. Look at your little face! It’s already red from the sun. Let’s wait for a cooler day, and I promise we’ll come back. Okay?” She pulled up the camera on her phone, switching to selfie mode to show Alex his flushed cheeks. Alex pouted, leaning back in his chair with a sulky look. “You’re lying, Mommy. You said after lunch we’d go back, and now you’re going back on your word.” Haley and Helen exchanged a guilty glance. Neither wanted to lie to the boy, but they couldn’t risk a second encounter with Ju
As Mrs. White spoke, her face lit up with the unmistakable grin of someone deeply invested in her son’s love life. Mr. White took the phone from her, sat down beside her, and grinned just as widely. “That little rascal finally figured out how to chase a woman.” As a father, he was proud. But after the initial excitement, a hint of worry crept in. “Wait, no. I need to call him. I need to find out exactly what’s going on.” What if Zac didn’t know how to handle things properly? As a father, it was his duty to guide his son through this! But before he could dial, Mrs. White swiftly pressed down on his hand, stopping him. “They’re getting along just fine. Why would you call and ruin the moment? Do you want to be a third wheel?” “So… we’re not asking?” Mrs. White thought for a moment, then her eyes lit up. “We’ll text instead!” “Good idea.” *Meanwhile, Zac was completely focused on enjoying grilled skewers with his wife and nephews. He had no idea his cousi
For the past few days, Chase had been completely wrapped up in tracking down the person who had tried to harm his mom. He had hardly slept, let alone had any fun. Now that they had identified the real culprit, there was no way he was just going to head straight home. “I’m not eating. Let’s just go home.” “No way. After that much ‘exercise,’ you’re not hungry?”Helen’s face immediately flushed red. She shot a glare at Zac. What nonsense was he spouting in front of the kids?! Luckily, Alex didn’t pick up on the double meaning. He was just excited. “Yay! That means we don’t have to go home! Uncle Zac, you’re the best! I like you the most!” One sentence was all it took for Zac to start grinning from ear to ear.Smugly, he glanced at Helen and raised a brow, as if to say, “See? Even Alex is on my side.” Helen’s glare instantly shifted to the backseat. This little brat—whose side was he really on?! In the end, she had no choice but to give in. She called Evelyn a
“Child support,” Justin repeated under his breath, as if still processing the words.He had children now. He was a father. And like any father, he had a responsibility to provide for them. Just like the chairman of B&J Corporation, who had his own family, Justin had a family now too. But… Chase and Alex were already five. Did that mean they no longer needed vaccinations? He had missed five whole years of their lives. Five years. There were countless milestones he could have been part of, yet he had missed them all. That couldn’t happen again. From now on, he wouldn't allow himself to be absent from any part of their lives. He had to be there. Of course, what Justin meant by "seeing the kids occasionally" and what Haley understood were two very different things. Haley thought "occasionally" meant once or twice a year. Justin meant "occasionally" as in every single day. As in—he would see them multiple times a day. Haley, still lying on the bed,
Justin’s grandfather left the shares specifically for his great-grandsons. That could only mean one thing—he had met the boys. Justin's eyes grew misty again. Haley remained still, her back still turned to him, her voice laced with cold indifference. “You don’t need to thank me. The kids have nothing to do with you.” Yes, he was their biological father, but he had contributed nothing beyond his DNA. He hadn't been there, hadn't raised them, hadn't even known about them. So as far as she was concerned, they weren’t his. “Haley, I… I’m not trying to take them from you. I—I don’t want custody… No, that’s not what I mean, I do want them—” Justin, usually sharp and articulate in business, was completely tongue-tied in front of her. He sounded like a clueless, stammering kid, struggling to get the words out right. His desperation was obvious, his eyes brimming with unshed tears. Haley suddenly sat up, her voice sharp and unwavering. “Chase and Alex are my children.
Helen turned to Haley, slightly stunned, her expression silently asking if this was real. Haley shrugged and spread her hands. “Same as earlier today—Chase was defending Alex back then too.” Helen let out a breath, half exasperated, half amused. But she wasn’t about to let the brothers off just because of Chase’s plea. With a swift motion, she smacked each of them on the backside twice. Their cries echoed through the room, making Justin, still hiding in the side bedroom, frown deeply. Was Helen being too rough? The boys were actually crying out in pain. Outside, Alex clutched his behind, giving it a quick rub. As soon as the sting faded, he was back to his usual energetic self. Helen never actually hit him hard—just enough to make a point. Compared to punching a sandbag, this was nothing. Chase, on the other hand, wasn’t used to this at all. He furrowed his brows slightly, feeling an unfamiliar discomfort.After all, this was the first time in his life he had e
When Helen finished changing and glanced out the window, she finally realized that the sky had already turned dark. Her eyes darted to the clock on the wall. “Eight o’clock?!” Her voice shot up several octaves, practically loud enough to shake the ceiling. “Zac White, look what you’ve done!” “My bad, my bad. We’ll go pick up the kids right now.” At this moment, Zac wasn’t complaining about his chest pain anymore. He quickly admitted his mistake, so much so that Helen couldn’t even find a reason to keep scolding him. Grabbing their bags and car keys, the two of them rushed toward Haley’s hospital room. At the door, Helen reached out to push it open, but Zac beat her to it. Instead of barging in, he knocked loudly—so loudly it was as if he was afraid no one inside would hear him. Helen shot him a suspicious look. “Why are you knocking so hard? It’s not like my sister goes to bed this early. Wait, is Justin in there?” Only now did she remember that Justin existed.
Helen’s face started turning red, and she gave him a light slap. “Be serious, we’re in the hallway.” “Oww!” The moment she touched him, Zac doubled over, groaning dramatically as if he were on the verge of tears. Helen didn’t buy it. “Oh, come on. It wasn’t that bad.” She had barely tapped him! “It really hurts! If you don’t believe me, take a look.” As he spoke, he shamelessly started unbuttoning his white coat right there in the hallway, determined to show her his "injury." Helen panicked and quickly reached out to stop him, pressing his coat closed. The two of them wrestled—one trying to undo buttons, the other trying to fasten them back. “We’re in public! If you really want me to check, wait until we’re home tonight.” She was in a rush to pick up the kids and had no time to argue with him here. “Nope. You have to look now. It’s probably bruised, and you need to help me apply medicine.” “Medicine? You’re a grown man! Can you stop acting so fragile?”
“Are Chase and Alex with you?” Evelyn asked.Haley glanced down at the two children in her arms and replied calmly, “Yes, they’re here with me.” “Is Justin at the hospital? Did he see them?” Evelyn asked. Haley hesitated for a moment, her eyes drifting toward Justin, who was standing not far from her. Then, she lied to her mother. “No, he’s not here. I heard he went to meet with a business partner this afternoon.” “Good. I’ll have Helen go pick up the kids.” “Okay.” After hanging up, Haley tossed her phone onto the bed without sparing Justin a second glance. She didn’t explain her plans for the children to him, nor did she feel the need to. Justin wanted to ask, but with Chase and Alex present, he held back. Haley lifted Alex from her lap, wiping away the tears on his cheeks before continuing her lecture. “Do you know who just called?” Alex sniffled. “Grandma…” “That’s right! You two snuck out without telling anyone. Do you know how worried she was?” She
This was the first time Alex had ever seen Mommy this angry. She had never been like this before. He was so scared! “I don’t want Uncle Justin anymore… Mommy~~ hic… hic.”Alex cried so hard that he started hiccupping uncontrollably. No matter how angry Haley was, seeing her little son in such distress broke her heart. She pulled him into her arms, gently patting his back to help him catch his breath. At the same time, she scolded sternly, “I’m calling home right now. Someone will come and take you both back!” Justin had more bodyguards stationed at the hospital than she did. She didn’t trust him. The only way she could feel at ease was by keeping the children safe at home, surrounded by family. Justin and Chase both wanted to speak, but Chase beat him to it. “Mommy, sneaking to the hospital was my idea. This has nothing to do with Alex. If you want to discipline someone, discipline me.” Justin wanted to step closer but hesitated. He watched as the three of them