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Chapter 288

Penulis: Hauling Treasures
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
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  • After the Breakup, the Billionaire Lost Control!   Chapter 289

    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

  • After the Breakup, the Billionaire Lost Control!   Chapter 290

    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

  • After the Breakup, the Billionaire Lost Control!   Chapter 291

    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

  • After the Breakup, the Billionaire Lost Control!   Chapter 292

    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

  • After the Breakup, the Billionaire Lost Control!   Chapter 293

    At Lichfield Hospital, Zac had just wrapped up a meeting with the department heads and was walking out, accompanied by a group of doctors.“Implement this treatment plan right away,” he instructed. “The latest imported medical equipment and medications have arrived and will be delivered to your department this afternoon.”“Understood, Dr. White,” one of the department heads replied.The phone in Zac's white coat pocket buzzed softly. He had put it on vibrate during the meeting. Pulling it out, he glanced at the screen and raised an eyebrow. The corner of his mouth almost curved into a smile. It was Helen calling.Helen was calling him on her own initiative. “Alright, you all go ahead and take care of your work,” Zac said to the group, turning on his heel and heading quickly to his office. Once out of sight, his excitement was impossible to hide. A wide grin spread across his face.He stood there for a moment, grinning like a fool, before picking up the call after letting it r

  • After the Breakup, the Billionaire Lost Control!   Chapter 294

    The number of bodyguards wasn’t overwhelming, each stationed at a different position. Adding to that, the villa was nestled in a quiet street, far less fortified than the castle-like estates in the Merika State. This made it remarkably easy for Alex to sneak out.Once he reached the street, Alex quickly dialed Justin’s number.On the top floor of RC Corporation's headquarters, Justin sat at the head of the conference table, leading a meeting with the multinational project team. His phone, face-down next to a stack of documents, buzzed. Glancing at the screen, he raised his hand to interrupt his subordinate mid-report. “Hold on a moment.”Without leaving his seat, Justin answered the call. “Alex, what’s wrong?”Alex, unaware Justin was in the middle of a meeting, chirped brightly, “Uncle Justin, where do you work?”“RC Corporation. Why?” Justin replied absentmindedly, charmed by Alex’s cheerful voice, assuming the boy was just curious.“No reason, Uncle Justin. I’ll hang up now.

  • After the Breakup, the Billionaire Lost Control!   Chapter 295

    Glancing at the clock on his desk, Sam noted that the meeting had been going on for nearly two hours and was about to wrap up. He stood and made his way to wait outside the conference room.For the past five years, Sam’s position hadn’t changed. He was still Justin’s executive assistant. However, his salary and responsibilities had multiplied several times over. In the company hierarchy, he now ranked just below the vice presidents and shareholders. Many of his decisions and actions could effectively represent Justin himself.After reviewing the final page of a document, Sam signed it and exited his office. He walked to the executive office suite and placed the file on a secretary’s desk.“Deliver this to the marketing director,” he instructed.“Understood, Mr. Spencer,” the secretary replied.Not long after Sam reached the top-floor conference room, Justin wrapped up the meeting and escorted the participants out. Sam followed closely behind.“Mr. Yates, the front desk just cal

  • After the Breakup, the Billionaire Lost Control!   Chapter 296

    The employees' curiosity about the situation far outweighed their interest in work. Sam walked over, rapped his knuckles on a desk, and said coldly, “Still looking? Aren’t you worried Mr. Yates might show up unexpectedly and double your workload?”One of the secretaries let out an awkward laugh. “I’m not looking anymore! I still want to take my son out to play on my day off, so I’ll get back to work now.”She hurriedly sat back down and began tackling her tasks for the day.Carrying his mug, Sam made his way back to his office. Without betraying much emotion, he cast a quick glance toward the CEO’s office. Who was that kid to the boss?*Inside the office, Justin set Alex down on the couch. Alex slipped off his backpack and pulled out a gift box, holding it out to Justin. “Uncle Justin, this is for you,” Alex said in his pure, childlike voice, his expression serious. “It’s to thank you for treating me to dinner last time. Mommy says we should always return kindness with k

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  • After the Breakup, the Billionaire Lost Control!   Chapter 759

    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

  • After the Breakup, the Billionaire Lost Control!   Chapter 758

    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

  • After the Breakup, the Billionaire Lost Control!   Chapter 757

    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

  • After the Breakup, the Billionaire Lost Control!   Chapter 756

    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

  • After the Breakup, the Billionaire Lost Control!   Chapter 755

    “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

  • After the Breakup, the Billionaire Lost Control!   Chapter 754

    Everything went quiet—no sound reached his ears. His vision blurred and darkened. The sky was spinning. The ground was spinning too.With a heavy thud, Justin collapsed to the ground.“Justin?!” Zac White shouted in alarm, rushing back to him.“What… what’s going on? Why did he pass out?” He couldn’t believe Justin would faint just because Haley left.Helen was just as panicked, fumbling to help her husband lift Justin off the ground.Soon, airport staff hurried over and helped carry Justin to a car.*In the hospital room, the monitor beeped steadily beside Justin’s bed. A needle was hooked into the back of his hand, an IV drip slowly feeding into his veins.Several doctors and nurses gathered around. After a moment, one of them called out, “Mr. Yates is waking up. Go notify the director.”“Right away.”Not long after, Zac rushed into the room, footsteps urgent. The other medical staff stepped out after confirming Justin’s condition.“Justin, how are you feeling? Do you kno

  • After the Breakup, the Billionaire Lost Control!   Chapter 753

    Soon, the rest of the Walker family also noticed what was happening outside.Alex opened the door and ran out on his little legs. “Uncle Justin! You’re back! Why didn’t you come inside? I heard you got your memory back. Congratulations!”He meant it sincerely, then added cheerfully, “So… did you win Mommy back?”But seeing that Uncle Justin looked down and didn’t respond, Alex quickly realized he had said the wrong thing. If Uncle Justin was just standing out here and not going inside, then he must have made Mommy mad.His warm little hand reached out to hold Justin’s cold one. “It’s getting chilly, Uncle Justin. Come inside with me.”He tugged hard but Justin wouldn’t budge.Justin looked down at him and gently pulled his hand away. His voice was hoarse. “Be good, Alex. Go back inside.”But Alex didn’t move. He was determined to bring Uncle Justin in with him.He tried again and again, tugging with all his strength, but it was no use. Uncle Justin just wouldn’t go in.The aut

  • After the Breakup, the Billionaire Lost Control!   Chapter 752

    ”Justin, let go! None of this matters anymore.”It didn't matter?How could it not matter?This was about his innocence. Of course it mattered. It was everything.“I don’t love you anymore. Just let go.” Her voice was calm. Her whole demeanor was terrifyingly calm.Justin froze where he crouched.She didn’t love him anymore?How could that be?She used to love him more than anything!She had confronted him outside the hospital room, using the promise of marriage to force him to go home with her.She’d chased him all the way into his mother’s birthday banquet, getting in with Sean’s help just to find him.She gave birth to his children.She even brought the kids with her to his mother’s funeral.And there were those three years they spent together—whatever he wanted, she did everything she could to give it to him.If that was not love, then what was?That was love!So why? Why didn’t she love him anymore? How could she stop?Wasn’t love supposed to last forever? Wasn’t

  • After the Breakup, the Billionaire Lost Control!   Chapter 751

    At last, Justin found Haley in the hospital’s back garden.She sat alone on a wooden bench, the autumn wind lifting strands of her hair as she tilted her head toward the starry night sky. Her eyes were vacant and hollow.“Sis…” Justin bent over, hands on his knees, panting hard. “Why are you sitting out here? It’s chilly at night. Come on, let’s go back. Dinner’s waiting, and I’m starving.”He didn’t know if she had overheard his conversation with Jacob. He had no idea how much she had heard.So all he could do now… was pretend nothing had happened."Was it fun lying to me, Justin Yates?" Her voice was dry and lifeless.The last time she found out she had only been a stand-in love, it had happened right here—at Lichfield Hospital, in the same garden, under a sky just like this one.The wind had been just as sharp, just as cold, cutting straight to the bone.It felt like being sliced open again and again, each cut peeling away more of her flesh, until there was nothing left but

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