The butler was highly efficient, and he hired only professional private investigators. So, it took only a day for Haley to receive some of James's "evidence of wrongdoing." After reviewing this information, she realized that James had been involved with Xena as early as five years ago.Back then, Xena had still been in high school, right? Haley clicked her tongue lightly, a hint of sarcasm tugging at the corners of her lips. No wonder James said she was dull and conservative; turned out, he had more “important matters” to attend to, huh? However, Xena did have some skill, to make James so devoted to her. From five years ago until just a few days ago, they maintained a frequency of booking a hotel room 3 to 4 times a month. The most excessive was in the first year, when Xena was 17 years old; the frequency was particularly high, with almost 3 to 5 times per week. The highest record was even seven times a week.Haley propped up her chin, carefully pondering for a moment, as memor
Once you're in there, no one cared how noble your status was, only how hard your fists were."Well...," Haley tapped her fingertips lightly on the table, lost in thought.Seeing her lowered gaze and unreadable expression, the butler couldn't help but ask, "Madam, did someone steal your belongings?"Haley chuckled coldly and pointed to the Rose Manor, saying, "This estate is an inheritance from my mother, yet now it's been gifted to Xena by James. Tell me, does that not qualify as theft?"She had lent that Rose Manor to James, never expecting he would turn around and gift it to Xena.Five years ago, their relationship hadn't yet soured. James claimed he liked her Rose Manor and wanted to take some friends there for a few days.At the time, she hadn't thought much of it and had handed him the keys directly. She was still deeply immersed in the grief of losing her mother, quickly forgetting the incident.If she hadn't seen it today and felt oddly familiar, she probably wouldn't hav
The butler looked at Shane's cold and stern face, hesitating for a moment. He lowered his voice and asked, "Mr. Ford, do you mean to…""Reorganize a more detailed set of documents and send them to my email. Have them ready by tomorrow afternoon.""Yes, I'll do it right away."The butler nodded in agreement and left the living room. It seemed that this time Mr. Ford was truly angered. However, James had brought it upon himself. He had persistently pursued this marriage in the first place, and now, he was denying it and committing such foolish acts. He had truly disgraced the Ford family.After the butler left, only Haley and Shane remained in the living room. Haley stood up, walked in front of Shane, and looked up at him. "Mr. Ford, will you really stand up for me?"Meeting her clear and sincere eyes, all the sternness in Shane's gaze dissipated, and his expression softened. He lowered his head, looking at the girl who stood only up to his shoulder, her face filled with surprise.
His tone was firm, and he deliberately emphasized the two words "any harm" when speaking.He couldn't express his feelings immediately, fearing it might scare her off. Still, it didn't stop him from using his identity as a husband to assure her that she had never been alone.At least from now on, he would protect her.No one could touch her, as long as he was around.This was the first time Haley had been decisively chosen by someone. It was also the first time she realized that perhaps she wasn't so alone after all.At least in this world, there was someone willing to protect her.Haley's eyes suddenly welled up with tears, uncontrollably streaming down her cheeks.She instinctively reached to wipe them away, not wanting to embarrass herself in front of Shane. However, the more she wiped, the more tears flowed."Mr. Ford, why are you so good to me?" Haley was deeply moved. Initially, she felt that getting married was too impulsive and unsettling. But now, she realized she had
The next afternoon, the butler complied with Shane's request and compiled a detailed report.When Haley saw the thick stack of documents handed over by the butler, she couldn't help but be surprised. "So many?""Yes, over the years, James and Xena have been quite conspicuous, leaving behind a lot of evidence."James had never restrained himself. Over the years, whether attending formal dinners or various parties, he would definitely bring Xena along. So, even though Xena was just an illegitimate daughter, she could still stand firm in the social circles of Jasper City's elite.Moreover, Xena was very adept at socializing, appearing gentle and kind on the surface, and had made quite a few friends in the circle.Haley took the documents and quickly flipped through a few pages. Her attention was soon drawn to a hospital diagnosis certificate. "Xena underwent an abortion surgery?"Continuing to flip through, she discovered that over the years, Xena had not only undergone abortion sur
When Haley looked up, she met his gaze and a smile lit up her eyes. "Mr. Ford, you're back? Why did you finish work so early today?""Mmm." Shane approached her, the corner of his lips barely lifting. "The company wasn't busy today, so I came back early.""Mr. Ford, are you thirsty? Let me pour you a glass of water." Haley stood up from the sofa, preparing to head towards the kitchen.But just as she took a couple of steps, her wrist was grabbed by his broad and warm palm. "No need, I'm not thirsty."Haley felt her wrist being warmed by his touch and quickly withdrew her hand, a faint blush spreading across her cheeks. With his palm left empty, Shane regretfully retracted his hand, looking puzzled as he glanced at the messy coffee table."What are you all doing?" The butler immediately explained, "Mr. Ford, I've printed out all the information you asked me to investigate. It's all here."Shane nodded and flipped open the file for a quick glance. The chill in his eyes was nearly
Perhaps because Haley was too nervous, she suddenly found the closed car cabin a bit stuffy. She glanced at Shane and quietly rolled down the window. The gentle breeze outside seeped in through the gap, brushing against her face, making it much easier for her to breathe. Finally, the tightness in her chest eased slightly, but her hands remained clenched in tension.Shane, who had been immersed in his work, heard the window being lowered and raised his head to look at her. "Feeling uncomfortable?"Haley shook her head slowly, without speaking. Despite her earlier insistence on going to the family estate to call off the engagement, she inexplicably began to feel nervous as they approached the moment. It wasn't about clinging to the marriage, but rather fearing disappointment from Mrs. Ford Sr.Sensing her uneasy emotions, Shane immediately closed his laptop and turned to face her. "Haley, are you nervous?""I...," Haley hesitated."You don't need to hide anything from me. Your emo
Despite being 22 years old, Haley was still seen as a child by Shane. She was supposed to grow up under the love and care of her parents, but circumstances forced her to bear much more than her peers. Those who cared for her left one by one, leaving her to bury her grievances deep inside, with no outlet to express them, forcing her to mature before her time.Every time Shane witnessed Haley's pretense of maturity, he felt as though his heart was being shattered. He wanted to embrace her and provide her with the best of everything, ensuring she lived the rest of her life free from worries, in peace and happiness.Shane's words left Haley speechless, her gaze fixed on him in disbelief. It was the first time anyone had ever told her she could be willful.Previously, everyone had always urged her to be sensible, obedient, and listen more. In order to conform to others' expectations of a good child, she gradually began to suppress her true nature, becoming someone entirely different from