…At The Nash Mansion.After ending the call, Liam dropped his phone, feigning calmness.Haley again. Hadn't he told Leah to stop going there, by the way? Who was the one giving him a headache?Haley, Leah, or both of them?“Sigh! Haley's bullying Leah again, right?” Grandma Lily sat across from him on the dining table. “That poor girl has complained to me.”Liam looked at his food, yet he had no appetite. Haley. If what Mr. Gray told him was the truth, then he'd truly underestimated her. “Is something bothering you?” Grandma Lily asked, obviously disturbed by Liam's silence.He shook his head. “Nothing.”If only it was possible to shake these thoughts off.But how?That woman was messing with his mind again. “Willy, I called you here to discuss about you and Leah…” Grandma Lily went on. “You decided to ignore your Grandma by coming at a time you liked. Are you sure you're alright? You never disobeyed me.”“I'm fine,” Liam replied, letting Grandma Lily's words sink in, not darin
…At DG Villa Estates.Haley stared out of the car's window, spacing out. Her thoughts wandered into nothingness, an uneasy feeling settling in. What's happening? “Tell me you're not worried about it.” Her brother stopped the car in front of the mini Villa.Haley glanced at him. “About what?”“William Nash firing you from the company.”His words incited laughter.For a second, the strange gloom in Haley's heart faded. That was the furthest thing in her mind. If Haley liked, she'd wake up one day and decide to fire that man. William Nash firing her from her family's company was the most ridiculous thing. But her gloom. Why was she feeling a bit sad?Was it because of what transpired earlier at the cafè?“Mr. Gray…” Haley spoke her thoughts out loud. “You mean that greedy old man?” Andrew shifted in his chair, giving her a proper look.Haley nodded. She should have detected his greediness sooner. “I'm afraid he'll lead the children astray. How to handle him, though?” “It's e
Haley shut out the employees' gossip, treating their words as air. Liam was striding fast ahead, and she had to pick up her space to catch up with him.Why was he in such a hurry? What was William Nash up to again?If Haley had a choice, she wouldn't move an inch when he ordered her to follow him.But she was curious…More than anything, she was dying to know why he was suddenly switching between a calm sea and a raging volcano. Haley was almost out of breath, the heavy weight of the documents slowing her movement. She cursed inside her mind. What if she just dropped these heavy documents at him? Liam only slowed down as they neared the elevator. Standing in the same proximity, Haley's heart was racing again. As the elevator doors closed, Liam turned around, facing her. Haley saw it coming and she quickly used the documents as a shield before he caged her by the wall.Scumbag.Did he derive pleasure in bullying her?“What's all the fuss about, William Nash!” Haley shouted, ste
~Her baby? Her damned baby!It was true then!Mr. Gray was right. How, though? And why?Liam didn't want to believe it. Haley must be pulling his legs.But the girl standing in front of him looked dead serious!He couldn't deny the slight similarities between Haley and the little girl too. He'd expected her to bring up any kind of excuse instead of blatantly admitting it. Confused, anxious, and enraged, Liam struggled to contain his emotions-He erupted anyway. “What the hell!”Giving him a glare, Haley covered the girl's ears. “No harsh words in Lannie’s presence.”Liam was taken aback!He expected any reaction from her but calmness.Who was she?How cunning and dishonest!Having a child outside before getting married.Haley didn't even care to tell him about the child.She'd hidden the secret so perfectly. Did she ever plan to inform him?Apart from him, how many men had she deceived?“Mummy…” The little girl glanced from Liam to Haley, her wide innocent eyes filled with confusi
Liam paused instantly, his eyes snapping away from the reports. Hearing the assistant's words, his anger returned. “Why didn't you stop her!?” It meant Haley was fleeing. At this time, no employee was allowed to leave. That cunning woman. So, coming to the rooftop was a pretence. It was an excuse to get away from him. Joye cowered and replied, “Madam seemed to be in a hurry. She- She didn't even look at me.” Which meant Haley was sneaking away. Didn't she promise the little girl that her father would come? Was that an excuse to distract him? Clever! “Sir, I wonder why that girl shares a resemblance with Madam,” Joye pondered. Did you two perhaps have a child before marriage?” Impossible! Liam only became close with Haley a week before their wedding. The mysterious girl who always sneaked gifts into his room. The day he caught her red-handed, Grandma Lily caught them together. Did she do the same for other men? Liam couldn't imagine the kind of life she lived bef
…After dropping Lannie at the orphanage, Haley sat in the backseat of the car…For the first time, she felt like exerting punishment on even the clueless.Mr. Gray might not know Liam's real intention, but the man's greediness wanted to implicate her. Should she go back to the company or head home straight?What if she went there and saw Liam again?Haley was a hundred percent sure she'd tear that man apart. How strange that she was able to keep her cool at Liam's office,For her ultimate desire had been to punch him in the guts.Lannie.Now the little girl was all anxious.On the way back to the orphanage, she wouldn't stop pestering Haley about her Daddy's whereabouts.Seriously, both men needed to be punished.Especially Mr. Gray. Her brother had been right from the beginning. He wasn't to be trusted. Why did she trust the wrong people?Haley returned home to find the maid cleaning the place. She sank onto the living room's couch, rubbing her forehead tiredly. “Young Miss, y
Flabbergasted, Haley staggered backward, taking in his haggard appearance.At this time of the day,What was he doing here?Wasn't he supposed to be at the company? And why did he look as if he'd just run a marathon? The guy's hair was messy and he was holding a spatula in one hand.Weird!“Uhm… what happened?” Haley blinked. Daryl scratched his head, tossing the huge spoon outside. “I wanted to surprise you. But my plan blew up when the stove exploded.”Surprise her with what?Had he been trying to cook?Where? What kitchen?“I moved in this morning. We're now neighbors.” Daryl's words cleared Haley's confusion. Yet, she was thrown into a different wave of shock.He moved into this Villa Estates. That was the funniest joke she'd ever heard!Wasn't he living in the Nash Mansion?Why would he leave that huge place with luxury and glam and move into one of these mini Villas?“You're pulling my legs.” Haley shook her head at him, about to laugh it off. But Daryl's expression was al
Haley peered at him, trying to detect the emotion on his face. But Daryl's head was lowered, his tone monotonous, carrying no emotion. To be able to conceal one's emotions well while narrating this kind of story must take years of practice. “Grandma Lily… she brought me home and gave me a place in the Nash Family.”Huh?How?Was Daryl adopted?That was a revelation to Haley. So Daryl wasn't a Nash blood. But why did he share so much resemblance with that heartless man, Liam?Now it felt like the whole family was ganging up against him. Haley's heart melted, and she squeezed his hand gently. “Liam's wrong in bullying you.”She could swear he took after his mother, Vera Nash. Daryl shrugged, smiling despite the gloom in his eyes.He resumed eating, but no longer with enthusiasm. As Daryl picked at his food, Haley was bothered.How to uplift his mood?He was obviously sad. Maybe… she shouldn't have touched that topic. How strange that he always kept a smile on his face. Wheneve