At Mistletoe Villa, Haley, Helen and Alex were exhausted after a full day out yesterday. They decided to spend the day resting at home. After breakfast, Helen made a video call back home. Since she had blocked Zac, her phone was no longer bombarded with his messages, and the world felt much quieter. The video connected, showing Evelyn’s side of the world, where it was nighttime, and they had just finished dinner. Sitting on the couch together, they greeted everyone before Helen turned to Wilfred. “Wilfred, we left in such a rush, and the art exhibition is missing a few paintings. Could you bring them over when you come?” “Of course,” Wilfred replied, his rich, cello-like voice carrying a distinct accent that was undeniably pleasant to hear. Haley tilted her head closer to the screen and added gratefully, “Thank you, Wilfred. I’ll send you the photos in a bit.” Every completed painting of hers was photographed and cataloged on her phone to help the gallery organize and
After Helen headed upstairs to her room, Haley stayed in the living room, sitting beside Alex and quietly listening to the brothers’ slightly childish conversation. Most of the talking came from Alex, while Chase occasionally chimed in with a word or two.Alex and Chase talked for quite a while before Haley checked the time. Knowing Chase had been spending a lot of time in front of the computer lately, she didn’t want him to strain his eyes—especially at his age. She ruffled Alex’s hair and gently said, “Your brother needs to rest. Let him go now, okay?”“Alright.” Alex obediently handed the tablet back to his mom and waved at the screen with a bright smile. “Goodnight, Chase!”“Goodnight,” Chase replied.Haley took the tablet and couldn’t help but give her eldest son a few motherly reminders. “Chase, don’t overwork yourself. Take care of your eyes, especially now while you’re still growing. And try to get to bed earlier at night.”“I know, Mom.” Chase’s reply was crisp and poli
She was the only one who wasn’t diligent.Turning on her heel, Helen headed back to her room. She changed into a dress, grabbed her bag, and without bothering to bring any bodyguard, drove herself to the spa.Meanwhile, Zac tossed his phone aside, his expression dejected. “I didn’t mean for it to come out like that,” he muttered to himself. Seeing Helen alive and knowing she was right here in Lincourt City should have been a relief, yet she still felt so out of reach. What should he do? He rubbed his temples in frustration. Matters of the heart were proving far more complicated than the medical world he excelled in. And then it hit him—Alex. That day, he had seen Alex and Helen together at the restaurant. Picking up his phone, he dialed Justin, hoping to get Alex’s contact information. “What do you need Alex’s number for?” Justin asked as he handed off a signed document to Sam. Sam silently took the documents, gave a slight nod, and left the office.Caught off g
Zac frowned. Now he finally understood where the misunderstanding had come from, but he didn’t even have a chance to explain.He pulled up Alex’s number, but just before dialing, his thumb hovered over the screen. He couldn’t act impulsively again. He needed to organize his thoughts and choose his words carefully.A knock on the office door interrupted his thoughts. “Come in,” he said.His assistant entered, holding a file. “Dr. White, this is Miss Xander’s medical examination report.”“So soon?” Zac was surprised.The assistant glanced at the clock. “Dr. White, you’re the one who set the rule that reports should be ready within two hours. Isn’t this what you wanted?”Zac glanced at the wall clock. Had he really spent two hours just sitting here, lost in thought?“Ahem, alright, hand it over,” Zac said, coughing lightly as he took the file. As the head of the department, it wouldn’t look good if his staff caught him slacking off during work hours.“Close the door on your way
The villa showed clear signs of regular cleaning. Wilfred and Haley exchanged a knowing smile. It was obvious they were both recalling the time, five years ago, when she had attended a private art exhibition.“Oh, come on, you two,” Helen interrupted as they reached the parking lot, putting her phone away and abandoning her concern over her complexion. “Stop reminiscing in the middle of the road. Let’s get in the car and catch up at home. It’s only been a few days since you’ve seen each other.”“I’ve already made a dinner reservation at the restaurant,” Helen added. “It’s a welcome meal to thank you for helping transport the artwork.”As the bodyguard stepped forward to open the car door, Wilfred finally set Alex down and helped him climb into the car. Behind them, other bodyguards were loading the paintings into separate vehicles.Helen walked over and gave them a quick reminder. “Be careful! Don’t damage the artwork.” Once everything was securely packed, she got into the car la
By early evening, Haley was all dressed up and ready to leave. She joined Wilfred in the car as they set off together. Helen and Alex stood outside the car, waving enthusiastically. “See you later!” “Bye, Mommy! Bye, Uncle Wilfred!” As the convoy drove off, Helen glanced down at Alex, and the two exchanged mischievous smiles. With the two authority figures out of the house, they were free to enjoy themselves. Back inside, Helen grabbed her bag from her bedroom and headed downstairs. Alex stood in the living room, frequently checking his watch. “Aunt Helen, hurry up! We’re going to be late!” “Oh, stop rushing me! There’s plenty of time. The mall won’t close so early,” Helen said as she came down the stairs, taking Alex’s hand and strolling confidently out the front door. On the way out, she turned to the guards at the entrance. “Keep an eye on the house. We’re heading out for a bit.” “Yes, Miss Helen,” one of the bodyguards replied.Helen led Alex to the undergroun
When Heidi had given birth to Justin in her younger years, she had hoped to have a daughter next. However, her husband, knowing how difficult childbirth had been for her, had firmly refused to have another child. At the time, even though C-sections were available, medical advancements weren’t as developed as they are now.“Mrs. Yates?” The sales associate called out loudly, pulling Heidi out of her memories. She composed herself gracefully and walked over, pointing at the lipstick in Helen’s hand. “I’ll take this one. Please pack it for me.” “I’ll take this color,” two female voices said in unison. Helen and Alex turned around at the sound. It was uncanny—he looked so much like him! Heidi’s eyes softened as she gazed at the little boy in front of her with maternal affection. If Justin ever gave her a grandson, he would probably look just like this boy. “Right away, ma’am,” said the sales associate next to Heidi as she went to retrieve the product. Helen glanced at
Helen had no mood left for shopping and decided to take Alex straight to dinner. As they walked, Alex suddenly stopped and looked up at her. “Aunt Helen, didn’t you just promise me that if I helped you with the lipstick, you’d take me to play arcade games?” Helen nodded, not denying it. “I did. So, do you want to eat first or play games before dinner?” “Play first, of course!” Alex declared. “Alright,” Helen agreed. As they headed toward the upstairs restaurant, they passed through the men’s clothing section on the current floor. Alex stopped again, pointing ahead. “Aunt Helen, why don’t we buy something for Uncle Wilfred?” Helen glanced at the brand and shook her head. “Forget it. Your uncle only wears custom-tailored clothes. He’s not used to off-the-rack brands like these.” Unlike her and Haley, who loved shopping and could wear or buy whatever they fancied, Wilfred was much more particular. But Alex was persistent and still wanted to browse. He even had someo
“The building at the heart of the island is a massive wedding chapel,” the staff member explained cheerfully. “The first floor is for the ceremony itself, the second for the banquet. The third floor is reserved for dressing and makeup, and from the fourth floor up, it’s all accommodations. The very top level is the bridal suite.”The more he spoke, the deeper Haley’s frown became. Something wasn’t adding up.“So this is an all-inclusive wedding venue?” she cut in.The man chuckled, shaking his head. “Oh, no, no. This place isn’t open to the public. Mr. Yates built it exclusively for his wife. Just the two of them. One couple. That’s it.”Haley was at a loss for words.Even Alex, the more clueless of the twins, caught on. His eyes sparkled as he tugged at Haley’s hand. “Mommy! Uncle Justin built this place for you! It’s so romantic!”Five years ago—around the time he and Chase were born—their dad had already been planning a wedding for their mom.Suddenly, Alex didn’t feel quit
At 8 p.m., Haley arrived right on time for Jacob and Miss Scott’s engagement banquet.Up on the stage, under the warm wishes of both families and to the sound of dreamy background music, the soon-to-be-wed couple exchanged rings. They followed it up with a string of romantic clichés about love at first sight. Then, under the applause of the guests, they shared a passionate kiss.Just as Sam had said, Haley didn’t need to do much—just show her face. She had no interest in watching the Yates and Scott families put on this show. The whole thing was clearly a political alliance, a calculated marriage meant to secure control over RC Corporation—the very company she was now temporarily leading.She set down her untouched wine glass, smoothed her gown, and quietly left the venue.The car headed toward Mistletoe Villa. Haley sat in the backseat, eyes distant. Sam was in the front passenger seat. Noticing her exhaustion, he pulled out a tablet from his briefcase and said,“President, t
Chase and Alex had settled into a daily routine of their own. Every morning, they accompanied Zac to the hospital to visit Justin. In the evenings, they went home together after work.The world kept turning. It didn’t slow down just because Justin had slipped into a coma.At RC Corporation, Haley was also adjusting. With Sam’s steady guidance, she was slowly getting the hang of the job. Day by day, her grasp of the responsibilities sharpened, and her confidence grew.Everything was moving forward.“President,” Sam said, stepping into her office. “Here’s the compensation proposal for the demolition site. It’s part of the land marked for the international project. The plan was finalized under the former president’s direction, and we just got the government’s approval. We need your signature to release the funds so construction can begin.”He handed her the file, efficient and precise as always. Sam never once got her title wrong. He took his role as assistant seriously.Haley glanc
Haley’s voice was steady and sincere. “It’s true—corporate management and project leadership aren’t my areas of expertise. But from what I understand, RC Corporation is currently working on a major international venture. The overseas partner is Prolux Corporation, based in Merika State.”She paused briefly before continuing. “Prolux Corporation’s CEO is Wilfred—my brother. I also hold shares in Prolux. I believe that makes me a strong bridge between RC Corporation and our international partner, and someone well-positioned to temporarily lead the company.”What?Wilfred was her brother?The shock hit the room like a thunderclap. Whatever doubts they had about her qualifications or lack of experience suddenly evaporated. With a backing like that? No one could ignore it.Compared to her powerful connections, Harry’s passionate speech felt like hot air. All skepticism faded. All except Harry voted in favor.For now, it looked like Haley had secured her position as president—solid a
After finishing his pitch, Harry looked around the room.“I believe that under my leadership, we can take RC Corporation to even greater heights. I’m not doing this for personal gain,” he added, his voice earnest. “My nephew suffered a terrible accident and is now in a vegetative state. I’m simply stepping in as acting president until he wakes up. When that day comes, I’ll hand everything back to him, no questions asked.”Harry silently remarked, “Wake up? A person in a vegetative state doesn’t just wake up in three to five years.”Once he got his hands on full control, that precious nephew of his would never wake up—at least not while he was in charge.Victory was within reach. Harry curled his lips into a satisfied smile, ready to accept the applause.But no one clapped.Instead, Haley’s voice rang out, calm and clear. “I have a document here. Before his accident, Justin gave specific instructions to his assistant, Sam. Should anything happen to him, all authority—his positio
Sam, worried that Haley might change her mind, borrowed the assistant’s office from Zac’s team and quickly printed the new contract. Then he brought it back to the hospital room.Only when he saw Haley sign her name did he finally breathe a sigh of relief. It was done—the company now had someone in charge.*The next morning, Lily arrived at the hospital right on time for her shift. Haley took the boys home to Mistletoe Villa, had breakfast, showered, and got into Sam’s car for her first official day at RC Corporation.Sam followed closely, looking like he feared she might bolt at any moment.In Justin’s office, he handed her a tablet and began briefing her with practiced efficiency. “President, you have a board meeting in fifteen minutes. It’s your formal introduction as acting president. Most of the shareholders are cooperative, but Vice President Harry Yates may try to stir things up.“You’ll want to be ready with a few prepared responses. Don’t worry. I’ll be right there w
“If the time runs out and I’m not back,” Haley said gently, “just call out to the bathroom. I’ll answer you right away.”“Okay… but come back soon, Mommy,” Alex said quickly. “If you fall or anything, call for me. I’ll get the housekeeper to help.”“I will,” Haley promised with a small smile.She understood why Alex was so nervous. It all went back to the kidnapping. He was afraid something would happen again.After her shower, she returned to find Chase and Alex already curled up on the bed, one on each side. She pulled them close and they all slept in together until noon.That evening, after dinner, Haley got ready to head to the hospital to switch shifts with Lily. She hadn’t planned on taking the boys, but they begged until she gave in.As they reached the hospital room and were about to go in, Haley paused. She could hear someone inside, talking in a soft, rambling tone. She couldn’t quite make out the words, but for a second, from the voice and the silhouette, she almost
Twelve hours had passed. Justin lay still on the hospital bed, his expression peaceful. He was so still that, if not for the rise and fall of his chest, he could have been mistaken for dead.Haley had spent the entire night at his bedside, with Chase and Alex by her side. It was not until early the next morning that Lily arrived with Alexander to take over.Lily shared several facial features with Heidi. It was clear they were sisters, although Lily looked a bit younger.No one felt much like talking. They simply nodded in greeting. One group stepped into the room, while the other quietly made their way home.Back at the house, everyone was already up and gathered at the breakfast table.“You’re back, sis!” Helen called out, gesturing for them to come eat.She didn’t mention anything about what happened. After all, Zac had already told her everything the night before. She hadn’t expected Justin to go that far to save her sister. It completely changed how she saw him.Looking at
Everyone had cleared out. Anxious to see their dad, Alex dragged Chase into the hospital room first. Only Haley remained in the hallway, quietly standing just outside the door. She didn’t go in right away.She didn’t know how long she had been there when Sam approached, holding a folder.“Miss Haley,” he said softly, “before Mr. Yates left to rescue you, he signed this.”He opened the folder and held it out to her. “If anything happened to him, he wanted all of his assets—his shares in RC Corporation and everything else—to be transferred to you.”Then he offered her a pen.All she had to do was sign, and everything would legally be hers. Every share. Every cent. She would become the new Chair of RC Corporation.It was a staggering amount of wealth—something most people wouldn’t even dare to dream of.But Haley barely reacted. Her face stayed calm. She didn’t even glance at the documents.“He’s going to wake up,” she said quietly, pushing the folder back. “It’s just a coma. H