“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
“Hmm… I’ll check around and let you know if I find something suitable,” Helen replied, her voice a bit uneasy, still adjusting to her new identity. Her cheeks flushed as she carefully placed a certified copy of their marriage certificate into her handbag. Zac shifted gears, casually asking, “I need to attend the Yates family funeral later. Do you want to come with me or head home instead?” Helen hesitated. She really didn’t want to attend Justin’s grandfather’s funeral. “Would it be rude if I didn’t go?” “It doesn’t matter. We haven’t made anything public yet. No one knows, so skipping it is fine.” “Then I’ll go home.” Zac nodded, turned the car around, and drove her back first before heading to the funeral himself. Halfway home, Helen suddenly sat bolt upright, her face full of alarm. “Wait, isn’t it a thing to choose a special date for getting married? Today’s Justin’s grandfather’s funeral. Isn’t it bad luck to get our marriage license today?” She had only come
Upstairs, Jacob pulled Emma into one of the guest rooms, closing the door behind them with a quiet click. The moment the door shut, he turned and pinned her against it, his body pressing against hers. It had been days since he last touched her, and his desire was overwhelming. “Jacob, control yourself! This is a funeral!” Emma hissed, pushing at his head buried in the crook of her neck. Jacob raised his head slightly, his hands already sliding under her skirt. With a devilish smirk, he whispered, “You want this as much as I do. It’s not like we’re doing this in public. This is a private room. What’s the harm?” He leaned in closer, his breath warm against her ear. “Your body’s a lot more honest than your mouth,” he added, pulling back his hand to show her. This wasn’t the first time Jacob had acted recklessly with her. If he could flirt with her openly in front of Mr. Yates Sr., he wasn’t going to let a funeral stop him now. Fear of the dead had never been a concern for h
In the hall, Justin and Zac stood side by side in black suits, offering their condolences to guests attending the funeral.“Mr. Yates, my deepest sympathies.”“Mr. Yates, please stay strong during this challenging time.”Justin nodded politely, acknowledging each guest, while Zac mirrored his gestures in quiet support. Then Zac tilted his head toward the entrance. “Hey, isn’t that the renowned Mr. Wilfred?” Although Zac had never met him in person, he had certainly heard of Wilfred’s reputation. A dominant figure in Merika State’s business world, Wilfred’s influence extended to global markets, even owning the world’s most advanced medical enterprises. There were even whispers of his involvement in Merika State’s political sphere. For someone of his stature to attend this funeral personally was unexpected. “Didn’t you work with him before? Or is he here because of a cross-border project?” Zac turned to Justin, curiosity evident. Justin didn’t answer immediately, his ey
Her son had made it clear that he wouldn’t be with Emma. Heidi no longer had to endure Emma’s antics for his sake. “Mm… mmph…” The next second, Emma’s mouth was covered, and two security guards restrained her, dragging her toward the stairwell. “Wait!” Heidi ordered sharply. “Don’t throw her out yet. Lock her in the car and make sure she stays quiet. Don’t let her out until the funeral is over!” Heidi didn’t want Emma sneaking back like a persistent pest. Following her instructions, the guards hauled Emma down to the underground parking lot. They forced her into a car, muffling her protests as they locked the doors. Emma struggled the entire way, but her strength was no match for the two guards. She seethed with rage, vowing revenge on everyone who dared to stand in her way. *Justin stood in a quiet corner, dialing Haley’s number. He desperately hoped she would come. The call went unanswered. He sent her a text, but still no reply. *Meanwhile, at Mistleto
“Sis, let me explain this slowly,” Helen said, her nerves completely shot. She slid off the sofa and landed dramatically on the carpet, clutching the marriage certificate as if it were her lifeline.Mimicking Zac’s usual pitiful expressions, she forced a few dramatic sobs, desperately trying to conjure tears. “It all started with that seaside vacation five years ago,” she began, voice trembling. “I swear, I didn’t want to say yes, but he—he said if I didn’t marry him, he’d jump into the sea right then and there!” Helen sniffled, rubbing at her eyes, her voice thick with fake emotion. “Even though I knew about his ties to Justin, how could I just stand there and watch him die?” She let out a couple of dramatic wails, clutching her head as if overcome with grief. It was all thunder and no rain. Her attempt at playing the fragile, helpless act was clearly not her strong suit. "Yep," she thought with a sigh, "I’m definitely not cut out to be the delicate damsel type." Grabbing
“Hey? Zac? So, uh… can you come over to my house after the funeral?” Helen bit her lip, suddenly feeling like a student nervously calling her parents under the teacher’s watchful eye. She sneaked a glance at Haley, who was still smiling warmly at her, adding to her pressure. “What’s wrong? Did something happen?” Zac’s voice on the other end sounded anxious, his immediate concern evident. He hadn’t even considered the possibility of meeting her family, especially after Helen had insisted earlier that their marriage stay under wraps for now.“It’s… well, my sister found out about our marriage. She wants you to come over.” Helen’s voice was filled with embarrassment, like a kid caught doing something they weren’t supposed to. Hearing that, Zac sighed in relief. “Alright. Just let me know how many people will be there and what they like. I’ll prepare gifts. But the funeral might run late.”“No problem. We’ll wait for you.” Helen glanced at Haley as she spoke, then quickly sent Za
Throughout the funeral, no reporters were allowed inside. Justin had made it clear he didn’t want the ceremony disturbed by the media, instead instructing the company to release an official statement. However, several reporters lingered outside the venue, hoping to catch a sensational moment to turn into headlines. “Why hasn’t the funeral procession started yet?” one journalist muttered, frustrated. He had already spotted Emma entering the hotel earlier. If he could capture her standing with the family in the role of a future daughter-in-law, it would be guaranteed front-page news. “These days, tabloid gossip spreads faster than anything else,” his colleague replied, glancing at his watch before shoveling another bite of takeout into his mouth. “Relax. It’s still early. They probably haven’t even started the meal yet. The funeral procession won’t happen until later this afternoon.” “What makes you so sure?” the first journalist asked, skeptical. “You’re not from here,
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