Haley nodded, "Yeah, that's the only way."When she got home in the evening, she would find Shane and ask him directly.Jenny was right. Instead of torturing herself like this, it was better to ask directly.It was better to cut through the confusion rather than allowing worries to linger.With her worries resolved, Haley's mood brightened, and she began to focus on her classes.After two classes, it was already noon.As Haley packed up to leave, she heard Jenny's voice, full of anger, "This is outrageous, these two are simply outrageous!"Haley grabbed her and headed towards the cafeteria, asking, "What happened?"Jenny handed her the phone, scoffing, "Take a look for yourself. They have no shame, flaunting their affection in school. Now everyone is saying you've been abandoned."Haley took the phone and glanced at it, finding the latest post on the school forum.It was a photo of James and Xena appearing hand in hand at Jasper City University.The two of them looked intima
James and Xena's faces changed in an instant. James, flushed with anger, snapped, "Haley, dare to say it again and see what happens!""I don't feel like repeating myself now," Haley crossed her arms and looked up at him, "What? You want to hit me, nephew?"She deliberately emphasized the last word, a hint of a smirk playing on her lips.When James heard the term "nephew," his expression darkened with his gaze turning icy, his fists audibly tightening."Haley, enough! If it weren't for you seducing my uncle, do you think he would have taken a liking to you?""James, have you no shame? Do you realize how much spreading such rumors hurts a girl?"Jenny was itching to slap James twice. As Haley's friend, she knew better than anyone how much Haley had suffered because of James. She had long found him despicable.Haley stopped her just in time, raising her hand to deliver a firm slap to James's face."James, I used to think you were just blind, but now it seems like you have a prob
James and Xena were also stunned. Their eyes widened suddenly, and they could not help but feel a hint of fear in their hearts. Shane stood in front of James, his gaze icy. "James, apologize."James was frightened by Shane's sharp gaze, and he nervously swallowed saliva. "Uncle, I...""Apologize, don't make me say it a third time."James and Shane faced off for quite some time, but eventually, unable to bear it any longer, James lowered his head first. "Aunt-in-law, I'm sorry.""Speak up! Did you forget to eat today or something?"James's face turned red, he raised his voice and repeated, "Aunt-in-law, I'm sorry!"Shane then withdrew his gaze satisfactorily and walked to Haley's side. "Haley, I'm sorry for being late and letting you suffer."Haley snapped out of her daze, looking surprised. "Mr. Ford, how did you end up here?"Shane lightly chuckled, ruffling her hair. "You'll know in the afternoon."Haley was puzzled by his words, but since Shane did not elaborate, she did
Caught in the deep, dark pools of Shane's eyes, Haley's heart fluttered violently. She hastily averted her gaze and tugged at Shane, ready to leave."Mr. Ford, let's go," she said, eager to end the confrontation with James and Xena.Shane's eyes fell on the hand holding his wrist, a faint smile playing on his lips. He gave James and Xena a cold glance, allowing Haley to lead him away.After walking a distance, Haley stopped and curiously asked, "Mr. Ford, why did you come to our school?"Shane, with a smile in his eyes, ruffled Haley's hair. "Guess," he teased.Haley shook her head. "I can't guess, Mr. Ford. Just tell me!"Shane refused to reveal anything, only hinting that she would find out in the afternoon.Unable to pry further, Haley relented.Though she had not spoken a word, Jenny had been observing the interaction between Haley and Shane the whole time. Pondering silently, she could not help but feel that Mr. Ford did not seem like the flirtatious type who fell for anyo
Perhaps it was time to speak up.Shane stood still, watching as Haley gradually walked away. He stared for a long time, his eyes deep and inscrutable, revealing nothing of his thoughts.On the other side, Haley and Jenny entered the classroom and found seats.Everyone was discussing who the speaker for this event might be. In the past, the school always revealed the identity of the speaker in advance. But this time, it seemed particularly mysterious, and no one knew who it could be.When Xena and James entered, they almost immediately spotted Haley and Jenny. The memory of their embarrassing encounter with Haley still fresh, their expressions darkened, especially Xena's.Since the breakup between James and Haley, she had been eager to show off her affection with James at school. It was both a show of pride and a display of dominance. Of course, most importantly, she wanted everyone to know that Haley had been cruelly abandoned. And the man who abandoned Haley was now cherishing
Once the lecture officially began, the classroom fell into near silence. Only the voice of Shane echoed continuously, a truly unprecedented experience for the students.The principal, looking at the students below, who were attentively listening, revealed a gratified expression. If only these students were this focused during regular classes. He knew Shane's charm was considerable, but he had not expected it to be this great!Shane spoke for about an hour, skillfully pacing his delivery and including it with personal stories. The students listened with great interest.As the lecture came to a close, the students in the classroom were still craving more. Shane sat on the platform, although his gaze seemed to sweep over each student, it never strayed from Haley.Noticing her gaze as she rested her chin on her hand, Shane felt a secret delight. His expression softened a touch, and the formidable, chilly air around him lessened a bit.After the speech, the principal took the stage at
The noisy classroom fell into a brief, eerie silence. Then, voices filled with astonishment and shock erupted one after another, creating a wave of commotion.The principal, noticing the situation, sternly rebuked, "Quiet down, all of you! The only reason we managed to invite Mr. Ford here is because of Mrs. Ford's connections, so stop daydreaming."Upon hearing this, Haley suddenly lifted her head. Meanwhile, Shane continued to gaze in her direction, the curve of his lips indicating his contentment. Their eyes met in the air, and Haley could sense that something seemed different.A curious student asked, "Is your wife also at Jasper City University?"Shane lightly parted his lips, responding to the student's inquiry, "Yes, my wife is also studying at Jasper City University."The inquisitive student pressed on, "Is she in our classroom? Who is she exactly?"Shane nodded slightly, "Yes."Why else would he be here? Since Haley brought him breakfast this morning, he had been abse
After Mr. Ford and the principal left the classroom, Mr. Ford remained gloomy. The principal, on the other hand, chatted away, heaping praise on Mr. Ford. "Shane, your lecture this time was incredibly successful, simply fantastic! It was just a spur-of-the-moment idea on my part, but I never expected you to actually agree. Thank you so much, really..." Mr. Ford responded half-heartedly with his attitude rather chilly. However, the principal paid no mind, beaming broadly. He gave Mr. Ford's shoulder a hearty pat and asked, "Having some trouble with Miss Carter, huh?" Mr. Ford finally reacted, lifting his eyelids to glance at him. "Not really, just a minor misunderstanding." The principal spoke earnestly, "It's normal for couples to have disagreements. Just need to talk it out. Girls, you know, it's normal for them to be a bit willful and throw a little tantrum. They need to be pampered and cajoled." Mr. Ford looked helpless. "I actually wish she could be a bit more willful and