…At The Villa Estates.Beep.Beep.Beep.That irritating sound made Liam want to crush the phone.He hung up on him.That damned man!“Where were you when he took her away!?” He turned to his assistant, ready to rain all his frustration on him.However, Joye was trembling in a corner, his head lowered, avoiding his eyes.“Answer me or lose your job!” Liam clenched his fists.Yet,The assistant's demeanor had Liam convinced that whatever he said would only worsen his rage towards him. Liam just had to return minutes ago to find Haley not home.While the guy he'd entrusted her to was foolishly lounging on the living room's couch, watching TV.Literally,The assistant had forgotten about Haley whom he claimed went to receive someone at the door.It was either Haley snuck out, or somebody took her away.It turned out to be the latter when Liam confirmed with the security men that Andrew Woods came and took her.“Damnit!”Cursing under his breath, Liam tossed his phone across the couch.
…Before they arrived home, Haley's headache had already intensified.The dizziness also returned just like last night and she felt like fainting again. Sigh!Maybe she shouldn't have left the Villa yet. Her medications were there and she hadn't even recovered.Telling her brother that she was sick wasn't a good idea either. She'd rather not burden him. So Haley pretended she was sleeping throughout the rest of the ride.And she feared the burning fever inside her might give her away. On this warm afternoon, bouts of sweat poured down her forehead.“Are you alright?” Her brother's voice came from the driver's seat. He had not said anything ever since Liam called. He'd not spoken a word to her, but his anger was evident in his demeanor.Shaking her head, Haley forced a smile. “I'm fine.”Yet, her voice came out weak and hoarse. Haley couldn't wait to get home. She couldn't wait to get to her room and take a day-long rest.If possible, she'd avoid her parents at all costs. No
Such a tight deadline.The evening? Haley dropped her phone, sensing another headache coming. She thought the wedding was in three days, and she still had some time to alternate between resting and adding the finishing touches to the jewelry.Great!Just great!Wasn't William Nash the biggest asshole on earth?Was this how he treated his employees? Strangely, Haley didn't receive any message from him asking her to finish the jewelry soon. Something must have come up from Nelson's part and they needed the jewelry soon.Why did he ask the assistant to notify only Crystal and not her?Liam was still rooting for her failure so he could shame her.How unbelievable.Haley got down from the bed and washed up. Resting was a far-fetched dream when she had a heavy task ahead of her. She made herself some ginger tea to warm up her body's temperature.After drinking it, Haley felt a bit better.Her body no longer shivered, and the fever was gone. Knowing the ginger tea’s effect might wear
…That guy again!Liam frowned, staring at the surveillance footage. After turning the whole city upside down, he was just notified that Haley had been on a date.Literally, she was with another man. Crushing the device in his hand, Liam tossed it across the floor. It was no wonder he couldn't find her in the Woods Mansion or her former apartment. Haley was ill.Yet, she still had the guts to go on a date in a coffee shop. Liam glanced at the other report sitting on the table.It contained all the information about that guy, the lawyer.Harry Lawson was from a first-class socialite family.Of all women, why would he have his eyes on an orphan girl?By the way, his family wasn't going to approve of his relationship with Haley. “Mr. Nash, these are the only details I have for now. But, tomorrow-”“No need.” Liam cut the private investigator off.These details were enough already.He needed no more information to confirm that Haley had gotten into a relationship with another man.F
…He'd completely changed. What caused that?If not, had Harry come up with a new kind of act?Who was she kidding?Standing on the balcony that connected to her room, Haley leaned by the pillar, folding her arms across her chest.With Harry's actions still bugging her, she barely had any sleep last night. The guy appeared in the coffee shop out of nowhere and made her realize his intentions for her were real. Now, Haley couldn't differentiate fiction from reality.Wasn't this supposed to be an act?Why was Harry taking it too far?Still left in confusion and bewilderment, her mind had no room for anger. She'd questioned Harry why he was doing that, and he just smiled at her, saying they were perfect for each other.“Young Miss.”The soft voice startled Haley and she turned around to find a young maid holding a huge box. “You have a message… from Mr. Lawson.” As she spoke, she blushed and stared at the box. “I think it's a dress, Young Miss… isn't he romantic?”Haley wanted to ro
Strangely, Liam was able to take her out of the mansion without anyone stopping him.The only people on the compound were the servants and security.Not even the Butler was in sight.How was that possible?Despite the commotion, her parents didn't come out.Were they not home?But where could they have gone in these early hours?Lost in those thoughts, Haley couldn't put up any fight against Liam who held her in a tight iron grip.Liam all but forced her out of the mansion under the watchful eyes of the frantic servants.They panicked and screamed, but none dared to come close or save her from his hands. Somehow, Her parents not showing up in the scene relieved her of most of her worries. Hopefully, they wouldn't find out that Liam had stepped foot in the mansion.The servants shouldn't tell them about it,Or else, nothing else would dissuade them from the fact that she had something going on with this stupid man.Otherwise, he wouldn't have come for her. Due to that, Haley let go
~This was the third time she fainted in his presence.What exactly was happening?Was Haley suffering from a different kind of illness?As Liam paced back and forth in the living room, his mind kept sinking into a deep thought. Why would she keep fainting when she was only suffering from a fever?It didn't make sense.There had to be something else. Something much worse than the fever.A hidden illness that terrified him to the core even though the Doctor hadn't revealed what it was yet.The only assuring thing was that he could afford any kind of treatment.Whatever that illness was, as long as it could be treated, Liam would do anything it would take to make sure she was healed.“Sir, you're not answering…” Joye stood behind him, clearing his throat. “It's about the jewelry.”Was the jewelry more important than Haley's health?Liam had no time for such trivialities when his wife was lying up there sick and unconscious.Now and then, he'd step towards the stairs but halt on recall
~Haley opened her eyes to find herself on the same bed.Strangely, there wasn't any needle attached to her arm this time.Thank goodness.As if her whole encounter with Liam, from the mansion to his Villa, was a dream, she could now think clearly.Her head was no longer muddled, and her mind was no longer puzzled.Weird!How could she have that kind of dream?Haley was sure that Liam had gone to the mansion and kidnapped her. But the bedroom was empty.The familiar bedroom didn't look a bit like Liam's bedroom.Was she back in the Villa Estates?How could it be…“Young Miss, you're awake.” An excited voice sounded from the door. The voice of the young maid startled her for a second and Haley wanted to believe she was imagining it.“May…” Sitting up on the bed, Haley's gaze traveled to the door.Behold, the bubbly girl stood there, holding a large tray. “Wow, you slept for hours!” May exclaimed, scuttling forward.She sat beside her and dropped the tray on the bedside table. “I hop