“Hey, Justin, Zac!” Sean greeted enthusiastically.“Ah, it’s Sean,” Zac replied casually.Justin gave a quick nod in acknowledgment.Emily’s eyes widened in surprise. She glanced back at the young man. “Do they know each other?” she wondered.Zac caught her expression and offered an explanation. “The Whites, the Yates, and the Smiths, are some of the Lincourt city’s old families. We all go way back.”Emily understood now. “Of course,” she thought, “rich kids... no wonder he’s driving around recklessly in a luxury car.”Sean noticed her expression and, as if reading her thoughts, quickly spoke up, his tone carrying a hint of apology. “Miss Emily,” he said softly.The way he called her "Miss Emily" made everyone around pause in surprise.Emma, who had been lingering nearby, wasn’t happy about being ignored. She stepped a little closer to Justin, positioning herself so it looked almost as if he was holding her. She looked up at him with an affectionate smile, as if to assert her p
Justin stood on the sandy shore, his tall frame relaxed, but his expression indifferent. Out of Mr. Gibson’s line of sight, he cast a glance at Emily, his gaze tinged with subtle mockery and skepticism. He had no intention of interrupting Mr. Gibson’s enthusiasm to expose her so-called painting skills, even though he had rarely seen her paint back at Villa One.Sure, Emily could paint, and she was enrolled in the city’s most prestigious art school. But to him, that didn’t necessarily equate to talent or any natural gift. After all, he had paid her way in, so it wasn’t as if she had gotten there solely on her own abilities.Dancing was a different story. She had surprised him tonight with her grace, but painting? That was another matter entirely. He just couldn’t picture her as an artist, no matter how hard he tried.Emily met his gaze briefly, sensing the challenge and doubt behind it. It was as if he were daring her to continue this “artist” act. But she simply turned away, rolli
“So, she was out there flirting with other guys the whole time?” Justin thought.As Emily listened to Mr. Gibson, a hint of confusion crossed her face. She sensed something was off. Was Mr. Gibson trying to set her up with Justin? The mere thought sent a chill down her spine, and she quickly found an excuse to leave. She still had to find Helen and give her a piece of her mind.“Mr. Gibson, I have something I need to take care of, so I’ll have to excuse myself for now,” Justin said politely, as he watched Emily leave.Mr. Gibson chuckled and waved him off, as if encouraging him to follow. “Go on, you young folks should enjoy yourselves. Me, I’m too old for all that excitement,” he said with a grin.Justin nodded respectfully before stepping away from the beach. He quickly caught up to Emily in a hallway corner, grabbing her arm and spinning her around. Justin then pinned her in the shadowy corner of the hallway.They were alone.“Move!” Emily snapped. The sudden shove against h
Sean grabbed Justin’s arm and yanked Emily’s wrist free from his grasp.Justin looked momentarily stunned, releasing her without a fight.Sean quickly pulled Emily behind him, stepping between them to shield her.“Bullying? Seriously?” Justin thought. She was the one who had slapped him. Who was bullying who here?And when did that even count as bullying?Back then, in those intimate moments with Emily, when things got passionate, was that bullying her?Those times he had been even more forceful making love to her, did that count as him bullying her?And what about the scratches she had left down his back? Was she bullying him then?Now she was huddled behind Sean, looking like she had been terribly wronged. What was that supposed to mean?Were she and Sean romantically involved now too?For the first time, Justin realized how well Emily could play the helpless, vulnerable card, putting on a pitiful act as if she had been mistreated. Watching her like that infuriated him. S
Though Sean’s jacket was soaked, its dark color still provided decent coverage.“Cough... cough...” Emily’s face was flushed as she choked on the pool water, coughing repeatedly. Sean patted her back gently, helping her clear the water from her airways.“I’ll help you back,” Sean said once she’d caught her breath. “You should take a hot shower and change into some dry clothes.”“Alright...” Emily rasped, her voice a bit hoarse from the coughing.The server who had accidentally pulled Emily into the pool also swam to the edge and climbed out. He repeatedly bowing and apologizing. “I’m so sorry, I didn’t see where I was going. I... I’ll cover the cost of your dress.”He didn’t seem to realize she had hurt her wrist. “Please, just don’t file a complaint. I’ll get into big trouble with my manager.”Holding Sean’s jacket close around her, Emily felt a sharp pain in her wrist from the earlier pull. Now that she was out of the water, the panic had faded, but the stares from the onlook
Emma walked away from the pool, her arm hooked around Justin’s, her steps light, and a smile playing on her lips.She was pleased. Rumors would spread quickly, and by the time they reached the Smith family, there would be no chance for someone like Emily to ever fit in. Emily was destined to be nothing more than a hidden mistress, someone who would never see the light of day.*In the hallway leading to their rooms, Emily walked side by side with Sean.“Thank you for helping me back there!” Emily said sincerely. Ever since her accident, she had been afraid of water, and the suffocating feeling of falling into the pool had really shaken her. She also hadn’t known that the Smith family was behind the resort’s development.“That server…” Emily began, unaware of the deal between the server and Emma. She thought it had been a simple accident and wanted to speak up for him.“That server will definitely be let go,” Sean interjected. “Not every guest is as forgiving as you are. If he
Justin stormed off, seething with anger. “Emily, you’re something else!”She could actually jump into bed with other men without any restraint. Acting all self-righteous in front of him, only to throw herself at someone else behind his back. Was she really incapable of being without a man?He tugged irritably at his collar, his strides long and furious as he made his way through the hallway. At the corner, he nearly collided with a woman dressed in a revealing outfit.She stumbled against him and silently cursed whoever was so careless. However, when she looked up and saw Justin, her expression softened, and a blush crept onto her cheeks. She had noticed him by the pool earlier and recognized him as the CEO of RC Corporation. However, he had another woman with him earlier. As the CEO of RC Corporation, he was a much bigger catch than any of the other guys around the resort.“Oh, I’m so sorry! I wasn’t watching where I was going and ran right into you!” she apologized sweetly.
“Mm.” Zac nodded, showing little reaction. He wasn’t buying Emma’s sweet act. The two of them had never gotten along well, and now they walked side by side in silence. The carpeted hallway muffled their footsteps, creating an awkward tension between them.Zac eventually broke the silence. “How’s your recovery going? You seem a bit weak, and you’ve got some sweat on your forehead. You should really focus on resting and eating well until you’re fully recovered. Don’t overexert yourself.”He didn’t particularly like Emma, but he knew how much Justin cared for her. If anything happened to her health, Justin would likely hold him, the attending doctor, responsible. And that would mean extra work and overtime for him. Justin was unreasonable when it came to the people he cared about, especially Emma, who was practically his one true love. Zac just hoped Emma would have some sense and stop pushing herself with her fragile, undernourished body. He wasn’t thrilled to see her out and ab
Chase remembered Anya mentioning that Uncle Justin was single, unmarried, with no girlfriend or wife. This made him suspicious. Based on his aunt’s reaction that day, it seemed like she might know something. Could Mommy possibly know Uncle Justin? From outside the room came Richard’s loud call, “Chase, log in! Come play a game with me!” Chase quickly closed the browser, shut his laptop, and went to find Richard. If Aunt Alex knew Justin, then Uncle Richard might know him too. Should he casually bring it up with Uncle Richard? A second later, he shook his head. Judging by his aunt’s animated reaction, it was probably best not to ask. He likely wouldn’t get much out of it anyway. His uncle and aunt were equally sharp-tongued. “Chase, are you coming or what? Hurry up!” Richard yelled again from the living room, too lazy to get up and fetch him. “I’m coming!” Chase headed downstairs, where Richard was lounging on the couch, legs crossed, laptop propped on his kne
This was the first time Justin had ever lost his temper with Emma. After signing the document, he immediately ordered her out of his office. Outside in the hallway, Steven hurried over with a sycophantic smile, bowing slightly as he asked, “Miss Xander, what did Mr. Yates say? Do you know where he was yesterday?” Steven’s question was like pouring fuel on the fire. Emma, already brimming with frustration, snapped, “Get lost!” before stomping off in her high heels, leaving the top floor in a huff. “Whoever’s behind this, I’ll find you and expose you, no matter who you are!” she silently vowed.*Back in her office, Emma pushed open the door, only to find Jacob sitting casually in her chair, his legs crossed and his polished leather shoes lightly tapping the air. Startled, she quickly shut the door. “What are you doing here? Get out!” she said, frowning, her expression full of disdain. Jacob didn’t move. Instead, he spun the chair leisurely, exuding the air of an idle
The focus was on Haley. Even though Justin had business dealings with him, when it came to Haley’s romantic world, Justin was no different from an object. If his sister wanted something, she could have it, and if she grew tired of it, she could toss it aside like garbage without hesitation. Haley shook her head firmly. “No.” She had a strong sense of emotional boundaries and would never choose someone who disrespected her. *The next morning, Justin arrived at work wearing the new shirt Haley had bought him. Just as he reached his office door, Emma came hurrying after him, heels clicking loudly against the floor. “Justin, where were you yesterday? I couldn’t find you all day,” Emma said sweetly, clutching a folder in her hands. Since yesterday morning, Justin had been secretly following Haley’s car. He had trailed her to the art exhibit and waited until she left. Haley never realized she was being followed. He pushed open the office door, and Emma followed him insi
Haley’s car was parked a short distance from the door. She walked over and said, “I don’t need you to take me.” “It’s dark, and the roads aren’t safe. Let me drive you,” Justin insisted, his tone firm. “The most unsafe factor here is you,” Haley shot back as she opened the car door. Fearing he might follow her, she turned to add, “Enough with this endless nonsense! Didn’t you say all your cars were in for maintenance? How are you planning to drive me—by sitting in my car and pretending to take me? Then when we get there, you’ll claim you don’t have a way back?“Justin, stop with these childish games!” She was genuinely afraid he would pull a stunt like that. Without waiting for a response, she got into her car as though she were being chased by a ghost, slamming the door shut and speeding off. Justin didn’t have a chance to stop her. Watching her car disappear, he pulled out his phone from his suit pocket and called William. “Bring the car around to pick me up immediate
“I won’t be home for dinner tonight. I have some things to take care of.” “Got it,” Helen replied coolly. Earlier at lunch, Haley had also sent her a message, letting her know not to wait. She ended the call. “Is Wilfred… good to you?” Justin’s voice came from behind her, filled with pain. Was she checking in with Wilfred? Did she love him now? Haley turned, her cold gaze locking onto Justin. “Everyone treats me well—except you.” Justin’s chest tightened, the words cutting deep. His face turned pale, and his head dropped as he murmured an apology, his voice timid and full of regret. “I’m sorry. It was my fault. I’ll change. Can you…” forgive me? “Don’t bother changing,” Haley interrupted sharply. “Just stop bothering me.” She hadn’t come here to listen to his meaningless apologies. It wasn’t until Mrs. Zimmer returned that Haley finally escaped into the kitchen, offering to help. Though she wasn’t much help at all, it gave her a moment of peace. *At d
“You’re right—look at me, getting all excited and just standing here hugging you at the door,” Mrs. Zimmer said, wiping her tears and pulling Haley inside with a cheerful laugh. “Getting old really messes with your memory!” “Come, sit down! Hannah, get the big cherries from the fridge and wash them. Miss Yates loves those. Mr. Yates just had them delivered yesterday, and now here you are!” Mrs. Zimmer bustled around, already busy as they entered the house. Haley gently grabbed her hand. “Mrs. Zimmer, don’t go to so much trouble. I just came to see you for a bit. I’ll be heading back soon.” “So soon?” Mrs. Zimmer’s face fell with disappointment. “Can’t you stay a little longer? It’s already afternoon—why not wait until after dinner? I remember you loved my sea urchin ravioli. Stay, and I’ll make them for dinner before you go, okay?” Faced with Mrs. Zimmer’s heartfelt plea, Haley found herself unable to refuse outright. She struggled internally before finally saying, “I have
“I’m not hungry!” Haley looked at him as if he were trash—something not even worth a second glance. She turned away and strode toward her car. “Haley, I’m sorry. Don’t be mad,” Justin apologized humbly, though he had no idea what he had said wrong to upset her. But if someone was at fault, it had to be him. “If you don’t want me to drive, I won’t. If you don’t want to eat Japanese food, we can change plans. Just tell me—what do you like now? I want to know more about your preferences.” He felt like a fool. Of course, she had changed over the past five years. Why was he still treating her as if she were the same person from back then? He hadn’t been part of her life for those blank years, missing her growth and transformation. Now, he wanted to make up for it—no matter the cost. “Let go!“We’re even now, Justin. Don’t bother me again!” Haley drew a clear boundary. He refused to let go. “My car’s with William for maintenance, and I left my phone at the office. I
“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
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