After the banquet, the Gibson family gathered in the third-floor sitting room. The household staff kept their distance, giving the family privacy. Mr. Gibson Sr. sat at the head of the sofa, his cloudy eyes dark and piercing as he glared at Xena, seated furthest from him. Any familial warmth in his gaze had long since disappeared. Xena shrank into herself, trying to hide behind her mother for protection.“You’re utterly useless,” Ethan snapped, his tone sharp and filled with disdain. “You can’t even keep yourself from offending someone! What exactly are you good for?”“Ethan, that’s enough,” Mrs. Gibson said defensively, shielding her daughter.Xena, though fearful, felt a pang of injustice. She kept silent, biting back her tears.“You’re the one who spoiled her!” Ethan retorted angrily. “If you hadn’t coddled her so much, she wouldn’t be so rude, selfish, and out of control!” His frustration mounted as he thought about the evening’s debacle, especially in front of someone as
Mr. Gibson rose to his feet, following his father. “Mom, I don’t want to go and apologize. It’s too humiliating!” Xena grumbled, her brows furrowed in defiance. Hearing his daughter’s remark, Mr. Gibson halted mid-step and turned around, pointing at her in fury. “If you don’t go, I’ll beat you to death tomorrow!” he thundered. Xena cowered under her father’s glare, trembling in fear. *The car pulled up to Mistletoe Villa, and Haley and Wilfred stepped into their home.In the living room, Alex and Helen were busy unwrapping packages. A mountain of toys spilled out, their bright colors scattered across the room. It was obvious Helen had taken Alex out shopping while Haley wasn’t home. “Mommy, these are from Aunt Helen’s boyf—” Alex began excitedly, only to have Helen clap a hand over his mouth in panic. Alex wriggled in her arms, flailing his little arms in protest as his eyes widened in frustration. Helen was bullying him again, taking advantage of being an adult
After a moment of pondering, Alex tilted his head, fiddling with his Ultraman toy, and suddenly asked, “Mommy, did you have fun at the banquet? Did you meet anyone… strange?”During dinner, he had overheard bits of Helen’s conversation with Zac, but only half-understood it, so he could only use "strange" to describe his vague impression.Haley’s gaze flickered subtly as she watched the TV.Helen, sitting nearby and playing with Alex, discreetly glanced up, nervously observing her sister’s reaction.Wilfred remained composed, unbothered, as he calmly loosened his tie.“There wasn’t anyone strange,” Haley said evenly, her eyes still fixed on the TV screen. “It was just a group of unfamiliar businessmen and politicians. Nothing different from the usual banquets.”Her voice was calm, her attention seemingly absorbed in the melodramatic soap opera playing on the screen—a show Helen was currently hooked on. On the screen, the male and female leads were reuniting three years after a
Haley grabbed a bottle of red wine and a wine glass, returning to her bedroom. She slid open the floor-to-ceiling windows, carrying the bottle with her as she stepped onto the balcony. Pouring herself a glass, she leaned quietly against the railing, resting on her elbows as she gazed out into the night.Mistletoe Villa was part of a historic cluster of homes not far from the city center. Built in varying styles inspired by different countries, the villas dated back to the pre-war era and carried rich historical significance. The neighborhood itself, also called Mistletoe Lane, offered a clear view of the city's skyline. From her vantage point, Haley could see the iconic ocean-inspired architecture of Lincourt City lit up against the night—her favorite being the statue of the mermaid.The cool night breeze tousled her freshly washed hair, which fell softly down her back. She took a small sip of wine, her gaze lingering on the cityscape she hadn't seen in so long. The city had change
Justin stared at his phone, reluctant to put it down, unaware he had already been blocked. He hadn't dared to use his usual number to call her—he was too afraid. Afraid she wouldn’t answer. On the drive back to Villa One, Justin couldn’t stop replaying the night in his head, wondering how he should approach her, what he could possibly say. He had messed up at the Gibson estate. He had been too emotional, too impulsive. He never should have kissed her the moment they met. It was his fault. If he continued behaving this way, she would only grow to despise him. His heart pounded relentlessly in his chest. But it wasn’t just from guilt—it was because of her. She was alive. He had felt her presence, seen her with his own eyes. She was alive. In his overwhelming excitement, Justin completely ignored what Haley had said to him earlier: “Don’t bother me again!” *Helen lay in bed, clutching her Ultraman plushie with a troubled expression. She couldn’t stop
Xena apologizing? Did the sun rise in the west today? Wasn’t she flat-out denying everything just yesterday?Haley lowered her gaze briefly before heading back downstairs to the living room. Calmly, she said, “Let them in.”In the living room, Haley took the seat of honor, while Mrs. Gibson and Xena sat on the lower seats. Only after the maid served tea did they finally speak.“Oh my, Miss Haley, your home is so warm and full of artistic charm! It’s like stepping into the royal gallery in Yonwood!” Mrs. Gibson’s eyes darted around, searching for something to compliment in an attempt to close the distance. Then she added, “Is Mr. Wilfred home? He’s not around, is he?”Haley gave her a cold, detached look and didn’t answer the question. Instead, she said, “Mrs. Gibson, if you have something to say, please get straight to the point.”Mrs. Gibson chuckled nervously, lowering her head slightly. “Well, after last night’s banquet, we looked into the matter and found that, indeed, m
Haley didn’t express whether she forgave them or not.Their apology, whether sincere or not, had no bearing on her life. She had no obligation, nor the inclination, to help discipline someone else’s rebellious child.Her days were filled with important and meaningful tasks that demanded her attention. She wasn’t about to waste her time on trivial matters like this.However, asking her to plead with Wilfred on behalf of the Gibson family’s business? That was entirely out of the question. “In that case, about this gift…” Mrs. Gibson gestured toward the high-end garment bag on the coffee table. “Leave it here,” Haley replied, her tone calm but firm. “There aren’t many people at home today, so I won’t keep you for lunch.” It was a polite dismissal. Haley accepted the gift. After all, Haven State wasn’t their territory, and maintaining appearances was necessary. But that didn’t mean she had any intention of wearing the dress.“Alright then, since you’re busy, we’ll take our lea
Helen decided to head back to her room for a nap. Just as she lay down and closed her eyes, she suddenly remembered how mischievous Alex could be.Feeling uneasy, she got up and quietly returned to his room. Gently pushing the door open a crack, she peeked through to see if Alex was actually studying.Seeing him sitting quietly at his desk, diligently reading, Helen finally felt relieved and went back to bed.Alex managed to stay focused on his books for about three hours, retaining bits and pieces of what he read. But eventually, he couldn’t sit still any longer. His bottom hurt from sitting for so long. Standing up to stretch, his curious eyes darted around, his little mind whirring with ideas.He slipped out of his room and glanced down the hallway. The living room was empty. The housekeeper and staff were either preparing lunch or cleaning. Taking the opportunity, Alex rushed back to his room and stuffed the gift he had prepared for Justin into his small backpack. He made s
Haley shook her head quickly, flustered. “No… I mean—no.” Then she realized how that sounded and corrected herself. “Actually, yes. I’m just hot.”Helen blinked in confusion. “Hot? The classroom has air conditioning. Was the sunlight from the window hitting her seat?” Helen wondered.Without missing a beat, she rushed over and tugged the curtains tighter, making sure her bestie didn’t get “sunburned.” She still needed Haley to hold onto that top spot. Otherwise, she would lose her excuse at home for going out to “study” with Zac.The pressure and tension of senior year finally came to a close. On the day of the college entrance exam, when everyone stepped out of the test hall for the last time, their faces lit up with genuine smiles—relaxed, free, and full of relief.Haley tossed aside her textbooks. Her summer break was filled with makeup shopping trips with Helen or third-wheeling her and Zac on their study-dates-turned-real-dates.That routine came to an end the d
Haley’s eyes shifted as she thought quickly. “But… I don’t really like guys who rank higher than me on exams.”She gave a light shrug and continued, “I mean, I think we should be focusing on school right now. Relationships can wait until after we get into college, right? What if we don’t even end up at the same school? Long-distance never works, and after a while, we’d probably drift apart. Don’t you think?”Was that a gentle rejection? It seemed like it. Haley wondered if she had been too blunt. Had she left him any dignity at all?They still had a whole year of high school left together. She didn’t want things to get awkward between them. A harsh rejection would only make everything more uncomfortable.Justin furrowed his brows, thinking for a long moment before giving a single reply. “Okay.”Then he slung his backpack over his shoulder and walked off.Haley stood there, completely confused.“Okay? What did he mean by that?“Did he understand what I was trying to say?
Emma and her little clique of schoolyard mean girls had Justin completely surrounded.“I’ll ask you one more time,” she said, smug and unbothered. “Will you be my boyfriend or not?”“No,” Justin replied coldly, his face unreadable.“Hey!” one of Emma’s loyal followers stepped forward, cracking her knuckles and getting way too close. “Do you even know who our Emma is? She’s the heiress of the Xander Corporation. She’s giving you a chance, and you should be grateful. You better say yes.”“What, you want us to beat you up before you agree?” another girl sneered.Justin didn’t flinch. His icy stare locked onto the girl who spoke, completely unbothered by the threat.Emma waved a hand to hold her crew back, pretending to be generous. Then she turned to Justin again, cocky and bold.“I like you way too much to have anyone rough you up,” she said sweetly. “But I heard you’re trying to get into Altiplano University in the capital. Here’s the deal—if you go out with me, I’ll have my dad
As soon as Justin sat down and pulled out the textbook for the next class, a hand suddenly reached out from beside him.“Hey, I’m Zac White,” Zac said.Justin glanced up with a cold look, then went right back to pulling out his notebook and pen—completely ignoring the extended hand.Zac awkwardly pulled his hand back, speechless.“Man… this guy’s seriously cold. What a show-off,” he thought to himself.The class flew by. When the bell rang, signaling the end of the period, Haley and Helen linked arms and headed off toward the bathroom. Zac immediately trailed after them.“Where are you two going? Take me with you.”“You planning on going into the girls’ bathroom, you perv?” Helen smacked his hand away, not wanting their classmates—or worse, their teacher—to get any ideas about the two of them dating.Zac scratched his nose. “Fine, I won’t go in the girls’ room… but I can go to the guys’ one, can’t I?”“Hmph!” Helen huffed, scrunching her nose playfully.Zac clutched his chest
At a top-ranked high school in Lincourt City, the bell rang.Students still lingering in the hallways or restrooms were urged to hurry back to class.Outside, the summer heat simmered, accompanied by the steady buzz of cicadas. Inside, the air-conditioned classrooms offered a much more comfortable escape.In Class 2–1 of the junior year, students hurried back to their seats. Just as the final chime faded, the homeroom teacher walked in, holding a stack of freshly graded exam papers.“For this round of mock exams,” she announced, loud and clear, “the top score in the entire grade once again goes to our very own Haley!”A wave of murmurs and applause followed. “Let’s all work hard and try to catch up to her next time!”She began handing out the papers in order, from the highest score to the lowest.After Haley got her paper, the next few went to her seatmate, Helen, and the student sitting behind them—Zac.“Work hard and catch up?” Helen muttered as she slid back into her seat, s
But what did it matter, even if she still loved him? The pain he caused her in the past was still there, lingering beneath the surface.They had loved, they had hurt, they had been entangled for years. But not every love story had to end with forgiveness and reconciliation.Haley couldn’t pretend the past hadn’t happened. She couldn’t smile and pick up where they left off, as if nothing had ever gone wrong.She would always remember that street in Merika State, when Justin turned away, picked Emma up in his arms, and left her standing there alone.Even if he had mistaken someone else for her, the pain he caused and the love he failed to give were real.And that wasn’t something she could ever forget.She could make peace with the past, but she could never erase it.Her heart ached, but she didn’t say anything. Instead, she turned and walked away.*Years later, Haley passed away peacefully in her bedroom at the estate.That same day, Justin had gone out to the grocer
It was just a shame that life rarely worked out the way people wanted it to.*Ten years passed in the blink of an eye.Chase and Alex had grown taller and older. Haley’s once-small jewelry brand had not only found its place in the industry—it had grown into a globally recognized luxury label, known for bespoke, high-end pieces.As for Justin, he split his time between Haven State and Merika State. Whenever he wasn’t busy, he would shamelessly camp out at the estate, claiming he was just there to “see the kids.”Eventually, no one even bothered to call him out on it anymore.One day, Haley had a business meeting with a potential partner—a widowed single father. Somehow, Justin caught wind of a rumor that the man had feelings for Haley and was actively pursuing her. Word had it that she was interested too, and they were currently having dinner together at a restaurant.The second Justin heard that, he canceled a company meeting, boarded his private jet, and flew straight to Mer
As soon as Haley stepped into the room, Justin followed right behind her.It was the first time he had ever set foot in Haley’s room—the space where she lived in Merika State.“Get out!” she snapped.“Haley, I just wanted to see you. Please don’t make me leave, okay?”His eyes scanned the room. The walls, the shelves—everything was filled with Haley’s photos. There was even a custom-built glass display case, clearly made with love, housing her pictures from childhood to adulthood. It was something Evelyn had put together just for her, and it overflowed with affection.There were portraits of her alone, family pictures, and right at the top—photos of Chase and Alex.Justin looked at each one carefully, as if he were trying to piece together a life he hadn’t been part of, but desperately wished he had been.Then his gaze landed on a particular photo: Haley in her teens, wearing a soft pink-and-white hoodie with little bunny ears on the hood. Her pale skin, big round eyes, and brig
“Haley…” Justin’s voice was weak. There was so much he wanted to say, but he didn’t even know where to start.“I heard you’re sick?” Haley said.“I… I’m fine. I’m not really sick, I just—”“Take care of yourself. Heart problems aren’t like other illnesses. Just look forward. Let go of the past. Meet someone new. Live your life.”Justin fell silent. His head dropped, and the phone pressed against his ear was clenched so tightly in his hand that his knuckles turned white. He wrestled with the words for a long moment before finally managing to force out.“Okay.”But he knew. He wouldn’t meet someone new. Without Haley, what kind of life could he possibly call “living”?The call ended. Life went back to its quiet rhythm. Justin no longer clung to Haley or tried to find her. After one more day in the hospital, he threw himself back into work and took over the reins of RC Corporation.They had truly managed to part on peaceful terms.After returning to Merika State, Haley d