Seeing them chatting so warmly, Shane became displeased and immediately wrapped his arm around Haley's shoulder, pulling her into his embrace."My wife only needs me for help. You guys can go wherever you want."Henry, being supported by Zac, could not help but tease, "Oh, so possessive already? Not to be rude, but bro, you've got quite the possessive streak. Only Haley can handle it."Embarrassed by being teased in front of everyone, Haley's cheeks flushed slightly.Shane, however, remained composed and leaned down to give Haley a peck on the cheek. "Indeed, we're naturally meant to be together. No matter which way you look at it, we're the perfect match."Seeing Shane being all lovey-dovey as if no one else was around, everyone made sour faces.Henry clutched his heart dramatically, pretending to be heartbroken. "Oh, pity me, this single guy came to celebrate with you guys, only to be filled with jealousy. It's just not fair!"Zac's eyes twinkled with amusement as he remarked,
"Mrs. Ford, why are you so adorable?" Adorable enough for him to want to take a bite.Haley blinked in confusion, not understanding why he suddenly kissed her again.Seeing her dazed expression, the smile at the corner of Shane's lips deepened. He reached out to ruffle her hair and then took her hand, leading her to the car. "Let's go back home."Half an hour later, the car arrived at Violet Grove.The butler hurried out to greet them, his expression somewhat grim. "Sir, Madam, James has brought Xena here. He says he wants to come to seek your forgiveness.""They actually have the nerve to show up at our doorstep," Shane sneered.The butler sighed. "I told them you weren't at home and asked them to leave, but no matter what I said, they refused to go. They insisted on waiting for you to come back."He had been a butler for many years, but he had never encountered such shameless people. Especially Xena, if she came to apologize, she should at least have an apologetic attitude
Haley also glanced at James, but her gaze was ice-cold, as if she was looking at a stranger.James felt uneasy, sensing that things should not be like this. Before, Haley always followed him closely. Everyone said she loved him deeply, even willing to be his backup. But at some point, everything changed.Seeing James staring at her with pity and regret, Haley frowned, feeling repulsed. "James, please get to the point quickly. My husband and I are tired after a long day and want to rest early," she said, while taking the initiative to embrace Shane's arm.Shane, who had been displeased by James's gaze, felt the gloom dissipate instantly when Haley leaned in. He reached out, pulling Haley into his embrace, casting a cold gaze at James.It was as if he was silently asserting his authority, telling James, "Stop looking. She's mine."James suppressed the bitterness in his heart and explained his intentions, "Uncle, I've heard about the school incident. It's all a misunderstanding. Xen
Xena stood frozen in place, staring at her hand that had not even made contact yet, wearing an expression of disbelief. When did Haley become so skilled at acting? Her hand clearly had not touched her yet! Was she trying to set her up? Definitely! She looked on with a sense of grievance, her eyes reddening with tears, and turned to James for help. "James, you saw it just now, I really didn't touch her, she's deliberately framing me."James glanced at Haley, who was snuggled up in Zac's arms like a fragile bird, and remained silent. Haley slowly lifted her face from Shane's embrace, with not a hint of sadness in her eyes."Xena, being falsely accused doesn't feel good, does it? Then you should know, getting expelled is already the lightest punishment for you."Xena's expression stiffened, and James was at a loss for words. Shane checked the time, seeing it was almost eleven, and spoke up. "It's late, you can leave now."Xena and James exchanged a glance but remained rooted to
Xena found herself speechless in response to Haley's question, unsure of how to answer. Deep down, she knew she should not resent Haley, but she could not help it. Without Haley, she would not even be a secret child. Maybe their identities destined them to always stand on opposite sides of life."Haley, don't change the subject. We're talking about this incident. I've apologized where necessary, so why won't you let it go?" Xena demanded.Haley suddenly burst into laughter. "Why should I let it go?"Xena clenched her fists slowly, feeling anger rise within her. "Haley, are you still in love with James, so you're deliberately targeting me? After all, you loved James for so many years."She intentionally raised her voice to ensure James heard her.Sure enough, James’s expression darkened instantly, as if it could drip ink.Xena smirked triumphantly, provokingly tilting her chin toward Haley.Compared to her, Haley was still a novice at this game.Haley stared at her for a mom
She had not intended to be so blunt, but Xena kept harping on the matter. Besides, she did not want Shane to misunderstand. With that said, both James and Xena were left speechless. Before, James often boasted in front of those wealthy young heirs, claiming he had not only found true love but also a devoted fiancée. Xena, too, took pride in snatching her fiancé from Haley.But now, Haley was telling them she had never loved James.Their once proud achievements had become a farce. James looked dazed, shaking his head repeatedly, murmuring, "No, I don't believe it, it's not true. Haley, you love me. You must be speaking out of anger, right?"Haley smirked, mocking, "Weren't you the one who always despised me before? Why such a big reaction now that I say I don't like you? Could it be that you're..."Xena suddenly snapped out of it, cutting her off, "Haley, James likes me! Don't even think about taking him away from me!"She hugged James tightly, terrified inside.She was wrong. S
Haley did not expect Shane to be so persistent today, insisting on getting a straight answer from her. She could not help but feel shy, her heart pounding so hard it felt like it might burst out of her chest. Turning her face away, she suppressed the surge of emotions in her heart and softly whispered, "I like you." It was just a simple sentence, but it took all her courage to say it. After speaking, she did not dare to look into Shane's eyes. But even without seeing, she could feel his gaze intensify with those three words.Having received the answer he wanted to hear, Shane felt as if something had filled the void in his heart. He pulled Haley into his embrace, his slender fingers lifting her chin as he leaned in to kiss her lips. At this moment, no amount of words could express his inner joy. Perhaps Haley did not know how many years he had been waiting for these words. Feeling the softness and warmth between their lips, Shane felt that all the waiting and silent sacrifices
Shane was nudged awake and as soon as he opened his eyes, he saw Haley smiling at him."Morning, wifey.""It's already nine o'clock, where's the morning? It's all your fault, I'm already late," Haley glared at him disapprovingly.Shane's smile deepened at the corner of his lips as he reached out his arm and pulled Haley into his embrace. "Late already? Then let's sleep a little more. You tired yourself out last night, didn't you? Let me give you a massage."Haley, annoyed by his antics, twisted his waist hard. "Shane, are you trying to experience what it's like to sleep in the study?"Was it time for sleep now?Shane, hearing this, opened his eyes again and raised his hands above his head in surrender. "Wifey, no, please. What I meant was, don't worry, it's time to show those older folks who’s the boss."Haley looked at him incredulously. "What do you mean?""You give me a kiss and I'll tell you," Shane teased, lying back on the bed with a mysterious smile on his lips.Haley's
Since that day, the number of bodyguards at Violet Grove had multiplied several times, and Shane even had the latest security system installed at home. It was a top-of-the-line model with built-in defense mechanisms. If anyone unfamiliar tried to break in, the alarm would go off instantly. After hearing about how close Evangeline and Nicholas had come to being kidnapped, no one thought these precautions were excessive. In fact, they only wished more could be done."This is just despicable! I can’t believe Xena could be so vicious!""We were too soft on her before. Someone like that is just a waste of air."Shane and Haley remained silent, but their thoughts were the same.Shane reassured everyone, "It’s over. Xena will never have another chance to get out."Hearing this, everyone felt a bit more at ease."By the way, where are Mom and Dad? I don't see them," Haley asked, noticing that her parents were not around, though everyone else had gathered.Zac didn’t say anything but q
Just the thought of what could have happened made Haley’s heart ache unbearably.The nannies stammered for a long time but couldn’t describe the person who had approached them. All they could recall was that the person had been thoroughly covered and that it was a woman.Shane immediately called his assistant, instructing him to investigate as soon as possible.It was past 3 a.m., and Haley still sat at the edge of the bed, unable to close her eyes. Her eyes were red from exhaustion and worry.Shane wrapped his arms around her, whispering words of comfort, "Don’t be afraid, it’s all over now. Everything will be okay."Haley sniffled and nodded. "I know, but I’m still so scared. We were just in time. If we’d been any later…"Shane pressed a kiss to her forehead. "I won’t let anything like this happen again. Trust me."At that moment, Shane's assistant, Dean, walked in, dragging someone who was covered head to toe.The person stumbled, falling to their knees in front of Haley and
Late that night, Shane and Haley finally sent off the last guest. Haley leaned heavily against Shane, exhaustion written all over her face. "Ugh, no one told me getting married would be this tiring. I'm never doing this again."Shane chuckled. "Who else do you plan on marrying besides me?"Haley blinked innocently at him. "Who says you can't marry the same person twice? That's what they do in books and dramas."Shane sighed, wrapping his arm around her shoulders and gently tapping her on the forehead. "You need to cut back on those dramas."Haley giggled, rubbing her forehead. "Hey, they’re useful! I’ve learned a lot from them."Shane raised an eyebrow. "Oh? What did you learn?"A mysterious smile curved on Haley's lips. "Not telling you. You'll find out if you ever make me mad."Seeing that she wasn’t going to spill the secret, Shane let it go. He bent down and suddenly hoisted Haley over his shoulder.Caught off guard, Haley yelped in surprise. "Shane, what are you doing?"
Jenny and Charlotte stayed behind to keep Haley company. Jenny teased her with a grin, "Can you believe we’re all getting married now? Back in college, we used to imagine what our future partners would be like."Haley shot her a sideways glance and retorted, "Not ‘we,’ just you. Bet you never imagined you’d end up with someone who’s nothing like your ideal type, huh?"Back then, Haley was still engaged to James Ford. Though James was far from a good guy, Haley felt obligated to honor her mother’s dying wish and marry him. She didn’t spend much time fantasizing about love. Jenny, on the other hand, practically lived in her romantic daydreams."Oh, so you’re teasing me now?" Jenny’s face flushed for a moment, then she lunged at Haley, pretending to tickle her.Haley dodged, laughing, and soon the two were playfully tussling. Watching from the sidelines, Charlotte couldn’t help but smile along with them.Soon after, the wedding officially began. The venue was packed with guests,
On the fifth of May, the wedding took place as planned.Shane had started preparing the venue two days in advance, meticulously arranging every detail himself. The expansive wedding grounds were filled with romance, from the long red carpet laid out on the lawn to the balloons adding a whimsical touch.Haley donned her wedding dress and let the stylists work their magic, crafting an exquisite look for her. Just then, Shane entered the room, standing behind her with a warm smile."You look absolutely stunning today, Haley. The most beautiful bride in the world," he said, admiration in his voice.Haley turned her head toward him, her face glowing with happiness. "Weren’t you busy greeting the guests? How did you find time to sneak in here?"Ignoring the people around them, Shane bent down and kissed her lightly on the lips. "I stole a little break to come see you," he whispered playfully.At that moment, a teasing voice interrupted them from behind. "You two really can’t stop showi
After what felt like an eternity, Haley was nearly out of breath when Shane finally let her go reluctantly. However, even though his lips had only pulled away slightly, his hands still firmly gripped her waist."Do you like it?" he asked, his deep eyes filled with affection.Haley blinked innocently. "Like what?""Me," Shane replied with a playful grin, his gaze never leaving her face. "Do you like me?"Her cheeks flushed, and her heart raced as she bit her lip and looked up at him. "Why don’t you guess?"Shane chuckled and pulled her onto his lap. "I’d guess... you do."Caught off guard, Haley let out a small yelp and instinctively wrapped her arms around his neck, shooting him a playful glare. "You already knew, so why ask?"Her response only made Shane laugh harder. After a bit more playful banter, he held her close as they leaned back on the couch. Then he brought up their wedding. "I talked with Mom and your parents. We all agreed that our wedding will be held in a month.
Haley had always known how much Shane doted on Evangeline, treating her like the apple of his eye. But she hadn’t expected his protectiveness to reach such an extreme level. She couldn’t help but feel both amused and exasperated at the same time.Gently, she grabbed Shane’s hand and comforted him softly, "Alright, alright, don’t be mad. Hugo is only a month old. He didn’t mean any harm. If anything, it just shows how lovable our Evangeline is."Shane sat on the edge of the bed, the tension in his chest easing slightly, but he still couldn’t shake off all his frustration. In his mind, he made a firm decision that he would do everything in his power to protect his little treasure from now on. No one would be allowed to get too close to her again.From that day on, everyone noticed how Shane’s protectiveness over Evangeline had reached a whole new level. He barely let her out of his sight, as if he needed to be by her side 24/7. Anyone who dared approach her was met with a cold, pier
Jenny couldn't help but laugh. "You haven't seen this little guy when he's awake. He's a real handful. If you did, you'd probably take back all those compliments."When Hugo was awake, he was full of energy, and when he cried, his voice could shake the walls. Jenny looked at Nicholas and Evangeline, who were awake but contentedly sucking on their tiny fists, and said, "These two are so much easier. They’re quiet and calm, the more I look at them, the more I like them."Seeing the twins were awake, Haley quickly leaned over, gently poking their soft, chubby cheeks. "Awake already? You only napped for a little while."Nicholas stared up at Haley with his big eyes, silently taking her in. Evangeline, on the other hand, waved her tiny hand and let out a soft "ah," which nearly melted Henry and Jenny's hearts.Henry knelt beside the crib, unable to tear his eyes away from Evangeline. He playfully reached out to her, and when she giggled at him without fear, he adored her even more. "S
Haley took a small sip, smiling as she saw the eager look in Shane's eyes. "Mmm, it’s good.""Really?" Shane smiled as well, taking another spoonful for himself. He tasted it thoughtfully before nodding. "Yeah, it’s good. The seasoning is just right, and it’s refreshing. Even with the herbs, it’s not bitter at all."He quickly brought another spoonful to Haley’s lips, feeding her until the bowl was nearly empty.Seeing Haley’s good appetite, Shane tidied up the dishes and called Dean. "Tell the restaurant that all the chefs’ salaries are doubled this month."Dean was momentarily stunned but quickly recovered. "Got it. I’ll take care of it right away."As he hung up the phone, Dean couldn’t help but think, "When will it be my turn for a bonus?"As if Shane could read his thoughts, a low voice came through the receiver. "Haley’s pregnancy has been tough, and you’ve worked hard these past few months too. Your year-end bonus will be tripled, and you’ll get extra vacation days. Spend