On the other side, Stella stormed off, the frustration in her heart still lingering. There was only one thought in her mind which was she could not wait any longer!She had to marry Shane as soon as possible and rise to the top! She never wanted to live a life where she was bullied and humiliated again! But she knew rushing into this matter would be a mistake. She had to take it step by step. The first thing she needed to do, was to get rid of Haley.She sent a message to Haley, "Come out, I have something to tell you."Haley received the message while having afternoon tea with Jenny. Originally, she planned to spend the whole day at home writing her thesis, but Jenny insisted on taking her out, fearing she would go crazy staying at home too long. In reality, Haley could not stand being cooped up at home either. Reluctantly, she agreed to go out. She changed into fresh clothes and had her driver take her to a cafe.While chatting with Jenny, her phone suddenly rang. Haley then
Stella's heart jolted with astonishment, never expecting Haley to speak those words. She scrutinized Haley's expression, searching for any signs of deceit. Unfortunately, Haley remained calm and composed throughout, showing no indication of lying. Did she truly not care whether there was someone else in Shane's heart?This realization made Stella even more uncomfortable. She had thought this revelation would create a rift between Haley and Shane. Women understood women best. They absolutely could not tolerate betrayal and deception. Especially since Haley's mother had tragically met her end due to a scoundrel's betrayal, Haley must detest such matters deeply. Once the seed of suspicion took root in Haley's mind, jealousy would gradually consume her. Once a woman became jealous, there was no turning back. Then Shane would surely grow to resent her, ideally leading to a divorce. That would be her chance!But who would have thought that Haley had not taken the bait at all? Stell
In the blink of an eye, Haley saw Stella reaching out to push her. Behind her lay the steep stairs. Though not high, a fall down would definitely hurt. Instinctively, she tried to dodge, but Stella firmly grabbed her hand. In a swift motion, their positions switched. She struggled to break free from Stella's grip, but before she could act, Stella voluntarily released her hand. From afar, it looked like she had forcefully pushed Stella. But only she knew that Stella had let go of her hand, causing herself to fall down the stairs! Stella felt her body plummeting, a triumphant smirk on her lips as she cast a challenging glance at Haley. Amidst the gasps of onlookers, she tumbled straight down the stairs. The sharp corners of the stairs bruised her chest and back severely, sending waves of pain through her. She had not expected the ordeal to be this prolonged. Each second felt like unbearable torment. Fortunately, the stairs were not high, and she soon landed on the ground fl
However, Shane's reaction was completely opposite to what she expected. He stepped back, shaking off Stella's hand pulling at his pant leg, a hint of disgust flashing in his eyes. "Done with the act? I think you'd be better off in showbiz than as a jewelry designer. You might even win an award for being the best actress."Stella's smile froze at the corners of her mouth. "Shane, I don't understand what you mean. What best actress? What act? I'm hurt, don't you really feel any sympathy for me?"Seeing her pitiful expression, Shane felt a shiver down his spine. He took another step back involuntarily, then quickly ascended the stairs, reaching Haley's side. Haley seemed to be in shock, standing frozen in place.Unable to bear it, Shane reached out with his arms and pulled her into his embrace, feeling guilty. "Did I scare you? I'm sorry I'm late."Hearing his deep, gentle voice tinged with comfort, Haley's eyes instantly welled up with tears. She choked out a soft explanation, "It
Meeting Shane's cold and profound gaze, Stella felt like someone had just doused her with icy water. It was the first time she truly realized how cold and callous Shane's heart could be. No, maybe he did not have a heart at all! For some reason, Stella's mind suddenly flashed back to something Evelyn had said. She said, "Shane has been different from others since birth, aloof and emotionless. After the kidnapping twelve years ago, he developed psychological issues. Your infatuation with him is futile." Before, she had dismissed this, confident in her own charm. She believed that with enough effort, she could sway Shane. But now, at this moment, she realized clearly that some things could not be obtained through effort alone. Stella shivered violently, a surge of unwillingness almost overwhelming her reason. Her hands clenched into tight fists, nails digging into her flesh without feeling pain. She lifted her chin defiantly, facing Shane and Haley, still resolute. "I'm the v
When the incident first occurred, there was indeed a moment when she thought Shane might not believe her. But it was just a fleeting moment.Perhaps it was the sense of security he always provided, that unspoken assurance that no matter what happened, Shane would stand firmly by her side. As she looked at Shane, she felt a profound sense of gratitude and warmth. He truly was a good person. They hadn't been married for even a month, but Haley felt a level of care and protection she had never experienced before. Sometimes she even wondered how different things would be if it had been Shane she was engaged to from the start.Noticing Haley's complex gaze, Shane thought she was frightened and reassured her softly, "Don't worry, I won't let anyone bully you."Haley blinked, then nodded with a smile, "Yes, I believe you."The public display of affection between the two deeply stung Stella's eyes. She rushed forward, almost frenzied, and growled, "Haley, do you have anything else to s
As a photographer, he had been suffering from a recent creative block and decided to visit the cafe to draw inspiration from the diverse array of people and street scenes.Little did he know, today would bring him a significant reward.The moment he laid eyes on Haley, he felt a surge of inspiration. She was undeniably beautiful, with delicate features and fair skin. Even in a simple and elegant dress, she exuded a unique charm.His fingers itched with excitement, and he could not resist capturing several photos and videos in succession. When he saw Haley getting up to leave, he instinctively wanted to follow her, hoping to get her contact information and inquire about being his model.But to his surprise, Stella also got up and followed suit. Then, as witnessed by everyone, the unexpected occurred.The video was crystal clear. Stella deliberately provoked Haley and whispered something in her ear. She then abruptly let go of her hand and jumped down.As the onlookers processed th
Shane pulled Haley tightly into his arms, his brows furrowed with concern. "Don't worry, this time I won't easily let Stella off the hook."Hearing his assurance, Haley felt a warm current flowing through her heart. The feeling of being trusted and protected was unexpectedly comforting. She had never experienced it before.She willingly wrapped her arms around Shane's neck, leaning against his chest with her bright eyes shining. "Mr. Ford, why are you so good to me?"So good that... she was almost unable to resist his charm.Shane chuckled softly and reached out to gently stroke Haley's hair. "You are my wife. It's my duty to defend and protect you.""But not every husband can do that, Mr. Ford, you really are exceptional."Haley smiled, tilting her face up to lightly kiss Shane's cheek. It was as light and gentle as a dragonfly skimming the water, carrying her unique sweet fragrance.Shane's heart raced, his blood boiling. He tightened his grip on Haley's arms, his dark eyes fi