Helen pushed Zac away, blocking his teasingly invasive demeanor. “Don’t flatter yourself. Calling yourself an excellent man? You didn’t even let me eat my fill at lunch. What kind of lousy restaurant did you pick?” Zac immediately jumped in. “What do you want to eat? I’ll take you right now.” She tilted her head thoughtfully. “Hmm… it’s summer, and it’s scorching outside. How about barbecue and some ice-cold beer?” Zac gave her cheek a gentle pinch and said with a smile, “Let’s go.” *Outside the restaurant, Michelle finally stepped out after watching Helen and Zac leave. Her tone was sarcastic as she said, “You didn’t think of running away when she slapped you? Why did you even provoke her in the first place? Deserved those slaps, didn’t you?” Lily, still covering her cheek, glared at Michelle, her teary eyes full of irritation. “Would you stop? You didn’t say a word to help us earlier.” “You coward!” Xena snapped, shooting a venomous glare in the direction Helen ha
Zac held up the plush toy and waved it teasingly in front of her. With a smug grin, he asked, “Jealous, are we? My girlfriend?” “Who’s your girlfriend? Don’t go around calling me that,” Helen grumbled, swatting his hand away and lowering her head in frustration. “Why didn’t I realize earlier?” she muttered to herself.She felt humiliated, having made such a fool of herself in front of Zac. “You are. You’re definitely my girlfriend,” Zac said with confidence. “Just now, when someone was asleep, she mumbled in her dreams, clung to my shirt, and wouldn’t let me go. She even insisted I stay with her, calling me her boyfriend. Oh, and by the way, you drooled on me too—left a nice little wet patch.” He leaned closer, his mischievous gaze locking onto hers as their noses nearly touched. “Trying to deny it?” Helen panicked, leaning back in a fluster. “Y-you’re making things up! I don’t talk in my sleep!” Seeing her denial, Zac casually walked into the bathroom and returned w
Zac’s eyes glinted with a sly satisfaction as he leaned closer, his voice smooth. “So, does this mean you agree?” “Yes, yes, yes! Fine, okay?” Helen snapped, impatiently repeating herself. Wasn’t her nod clear enough? Did he really need her to spell it out? “Then can I exercise my rights now?” “What?” Helen looked up at him, confused. Zac reached out, cupping the back of her head, and leaned in to kiss her lips. The kiss came so suddenly that Helen froze, staring blankly into space as he claimed her lips. She didn’t even react, letting him kiss her without resistance. Zac moved to gently cover her eyes with his hand, his voice low as their lips briefly parted. “Focus.” Clothes and towel were soon discarded to the floor, and the bed became a tempest of passion, rising and falling like waves in a storm. As emotions reached their peak, Zac lifted Helen like she was weightless, carrying her to the desk in his study. Picking up a pen, he placed it in her hand and poi
The decor was just as she remembered it from five years ago—minimalist, clean, and understated. That was, until she wandered into the study and spotted two marriage agreement documents lying on the desk. “Ahhh!” Helen screamed in shock. So that was what she had signed earlier—it was a contract for her own "sale"! This cunning, deceitful trickster had actually conned her into signing it during that moment. Hearing her shout, Zac rushed out of the bathroom, his hair still covered in suds. “What happened?” he asked urgently. Helen spun around, ready to confront him, but froze mid-sentence when she realized he had run out completely naked. “Ahhh!” she yelled again, slapping a hand over her eyes. Realizing there wasn’t any actual emergency, Zac casually continued lathering his hair. Helen, flustered, grabbed a nearby shirt and blindly tossed it at him. “Why on earth would you come out like that? Put some clothes on and explain this!” “Who showers with clothes on
“You’re the first woman I’ve ever fallen in love with, and you’ll be the only one I love in this lifetime. I’ve never had a ‘one true love’ in school, nor some damsel who once saved my life. And for the rest of my life, that won’t change. If I ever cheat in the future, I’ll not only give up everything I own, but I’ll even castrate myself.” Zac declared this with utmost seriousness. Then, picking up the pen, he added the final clause to the document in bold strokes. Helen raised an eyebrow. His confession had definitely moved her, but wasn’t this a bit extreme? Castration? Still, though she thought it was over the top, she didn’t stop him from writing it. Once Zac finished, he pulled out the stamp pad and pressed his fingerprint onto the document. Sliding it across the table, he nodded toward her, indicating it was her turn. Helen’s bright, clear eyes darted back and forth as she hesitated. But in the end, she pressed her thumbprint beneath her name. As soon as she did
Chase cast a rare look of approval at his younger brother. For once, Alex seemed to be using his brain. “Though he’s young, having someone accompany him can make this a valuable experience,” Chase chimed in, supporting his brother's clever play. The two brothers were working in perfect sync, playing both sides of the argument. Haley looked up from her meal, her voice calm and measured. “You two are still kids. There’s no need for you to get involved in adult matters. Spend that energy focusing on your studies. Remember, your break ends as soon as we’re back home.” At the mention of schoolwork, Alex’s enthusiasm visibly deflated, and his head drooped in despair. “Studying again? Ugh!” Wilfred shifted the conversation back to business. “With the RC Corporation chairman’s passing, there will likely be some internal changes in the company. I’ve heard about a few issues recently. I just hope they won’t disrupt the upcoming international collaboration.” “Do you think Justin
The next morning, Helen sat on the edge of the bed, conflicted and second-guessing her decision. She had made up her mind last night, so why was she hesitating now?In the bathroom, Zac was shaving, humming a cheerful tune as he tidied up. He returned to the bedroom, holding a white shirt and a white dress—matching outfits.“I looked it up,” he said with a grin. “We should dress neatly and coordinate if we’re heading to the courthouse. A clean, simple look is best.” He handed her the white dress and, without hesitation, pulled off his shirt and started changing right in front of her.He had already picked up makeup and other essentials after dinner last night. “You’re not having second thoughts, are you?” he asked, noticing her glum expression. Crouching in front of her, he pouted like a child, his eyes brimming with mock sadness. “Are you giving up on me? Was I not good enough last night? Or… are you just messing with me again?” His voice trembled, and tears glistened in his
“Did you have breakfast? Want me to ask the kitchen to make you something?" Haley asked, knowing Helen hadn’t come home last night. She didn’t pry—adults in relationships didn’t need everything spelled out.“Uh… I’ve already eaten.” Helen laughed nervously, unsure how to explain. She certainly wasn’t ready to spill the news.“Heading out?” Haley noticed her outfit was different from the day before.“Yeah,” Helen nodded quickly.“Alright, I’ll be in the studio.” Haley turned and went upstairs.As soon as Haley disappeared, Helen let out a sigh of relief, darting out the door and hopping into Zac’s car. She didn’t even buckle her seatbelt before urging him to drive, looking as if she had just pulled off a heist.Upstairs, Haley stepped away from her studio and moved to the third-floor window, watching Helen rush into a car. Unfortunately, she couldn’t see who was driving.*In the car, Zac handed over her phone but held onto her passport. Helen grabbed her phone with ease, but he
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