The locked door wouldn’t budge. “Bring me the spare key,” Haley instructed the housekeeper, urgency laced in her voice. “Yes, Miss Haley.” Inside the room, Alex heard the commotion and panicked, burying his head in the workbook. He scribbled answers quickly, caring little for accuracy—just as long as something was written. The housekeeper returned promptly with the key. Haley unlocked the door and stepped in, finding ‘Chase’ hard at work solving problems. Haley approached him. “Chase, stop for now and come downstairs to eat. Uncle Richard is waiting. You can finish after dinner.” ‘Chase’ shook his head without looking up. “I’m not hungry, Mom. You and Uncle Richard can eat without me.” Then came a small, guilty burp. “The smell of spicy barbecue-flavored chips?” Haley tilted her head in confusion, her eyes narrowing. ‘Chase’ clamped his mouth shut, avoiding her gaze. Haley gently turned him around and pinched his cheek. Her voice grew stern. “Alex, open yo
Zac pulled his car over to the same spot where he had picked up Helen and Chase earlier. Sensing his aunt’s simmering anger, Chase quickly opened the door and jumped out before she could say a word. Helen shot him a sidelong glance, her eyes brimming with silent judgment—at least the kid knew he had done something wrong. Lowering the car window, Zac asked cautiously, “Want me to drop you both off at the door?” “No need,” Helen snapped, her voice loud and sharp. Clearly, her frustration needed an outlet, and Zac had unwittingly stepped right into her line of fire. Leading Chase into the house, Helen carried the oversized stuffed toy they had won at the amusement park. Pushing open the door, she found the whole family in the living room. The air felt tense. Haley sat on the sofa, her arms crossed, while Alex sat beside her, his head hung low. Richard, on the other hand, leaned casually against the wall, clearly enjoying the drama. Chase approached his mother cautiou
“Aunt Helen, we know we were wrong.” Chase took the lead and apologized immediately. Helen, caught off guard by his quick admission, hesitated for a moment. Then, gripping the baseball bat, she swung it dramatically through the air, venting her frustration. “You two listen up! From now on, don’t even think about asking me to take you out anywhere! I won’t do it! If you want to spill my secrets to your mom, go ahead, but don’t think you’ll get away with it. I’ll tell her all about how you two have been secretly trying to find her a boyfriend!”Earlier, when Helen moved the chair, she noticed Alex’s collection of reports evaluating different men on the desk.Justin Yates, that insufferable man, had even received a top score. Unbelievable! Absolutely outrageous!With a final huff, Helen threw the baseball bat into the toy box and stomped out of the room, slamming the door behind her.Alex and Chase exchanged a glance. Alex shrugged dramatically and spread his hands. “See? I knew
Not long after, the organizer of the art exhibition entered the meeting room, accompanied by a young woman. “Let me formally introduce the legendary artist Haley, one of the most renowned contemporary artists in the world! Please give her a warm round of applause!” The organizer’s voice was full of excitement. “Hello, everyone,” Haley greeted with a polite smile. The seated attendees immediately rose to their feet, clapping enthusiastically. They hadn’t expected the iconic Haley to be so young and beautiful, let alone someone who appeared to have Havenese roots. While their faces radiated excitement, their minds were filled with surprise. The organizer gestured for everyone to settle down. “Haley lives in Merika State, and it’s truly an honor to have her join this year’s exhibition. I hope everyone can assist her over the next few days, especially with moving artwork and equipment.” After all, framed paintings for exhibitions can be heavy. “Of course!” someone i
“I… I didn’t mean to,” Justin said cautiously, his voice tinged with unease. A car had just sped past, splashing through a puddle left behind by last night’s rain. The muddy water had sprayed all over Justin’s white shirt, leaving dark, wet splotches glaringly visible on his back. Justin didn’t seem to care. His only concern was Haley, standing beside him. Behind them, the doors of the exhibition hall opened, and a group of artists spilled out, chatting animatedly. “Since it’s lunchtime and everyone’s here, why don’t we head to the restaurant nearby and grab a bite?” one of them suggested. “We can also discuss our individual designs for the exhibition.” Another chimed in, “Oh, Miss Haley, you’re here too! We were just saying we wanted to invite you to join us, and it turns out you haven’t gone far. Perfect timing—let’s all go together!” Before Haley could respond, the artist’s gaze landed on Justin standing beside her. His eyes flickered with recognition. “Mr. Yate
Justin shook his head. “I’m not getting out!” If he got out, she would just run away again. He quickly slammed the car door shut and locked it, turning around to buckle his seatbelt. “Get out!” Haley shouted angrily. “Don’t dirty up my car!” Justin straightened up instinctively, making sure his back didn’t touch the seat. “Haley, I... I didn’t mean to.” His voice was pitiful and hesitant, like someone too timid to fight back after being scolded. Outside the car, people exchanged puzzled glances. “Why is Mr. Yates getting in her car? Does he know Miss Haley?” “Well, if Mr. Yates isn’t coming with us, let’s go.” “Yeah, let’s go already! I’m starving.” Haley glanced out the window and saw the others leaving. She raised her voice, no longer holding back. “Justin Yates, get out of my car right now!” She didn’t want the hassle of dealing with someone as high-maintenance as him. “So now you’re done pretending you don’t know me?” he asked, referring to the b
Haley was rendered speechless. Her fingers froze mid-scroll. If she ordered a custom shirt for him now, it would take at least a week before he could wear it. Her pale fingers gripped her phone tightly, her knuckles turning white. Justin was doing this on purpose! Haley put down her phone with a cold expression, fastened her seatbelt, and started the car, heading toward the nearest mall. Justin’s lips curled into a small, triumphant smile. The car moved quietly along the road. Haley focused on driving, her eyes locked on the road ahead, treating the man beside her as if he didn’t exist. Justin suddenly broke the silence. “Back then… you were pregnant. Is that child… still okay?” Haley slammed on the brakes at a red light, and the car came to an abrupt halt. Justin’s body lurched forward slightly. She turned her head, her icy gaze locking onto him, her voice even colder. “How do you know about that?” “The hospital called to reschedule your surgery, and I an
“This one has a business-style design and it’s sophisticated and professional,” the sales associate explained enthusiastically. “And this one is more casual, giving off a fresh and energetic vibe.”“We’ll take both. Wrap them up now,” Haley said decisively. The sales associate beamed, thrilled at how quickly the transaction was moving. “No way,” Justin interrupted. “I haven’t tried them on yet. What if they don’t fit? I don’t want to trouble you by making you come back with me.” Haley suppressed her anger. So, he did know he was troubling her! If that was the case, then why wasn’t he choosing faster? Justin was deliberately dragging things out, trying to spend as much time with her as possible. He carried both shirts into the fitting room, putting one on before stepping out each time to ask her if it looked good. Haley gave him perfunctory responses. While he was in the fitting room, she went ahead and paid for both shirts, not wanting to give him the chance to claim
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