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
The butler of the estate stepped out and upon seeing Haley, a warm smile of affection appeared on his face."Miss Haley, are you here to see Mrs. Ford Sr.? She was mentioning you earlier today," he said."Mr. Moore, it's been a while. I've missed Mrs. Ford Sr. a lot," Haley replied.Mr. Moore had been the butler of the Ford family for a long time. It was said that he even fought alongside Mr. Ford Sr. in the war.Later, when the situation in the country stabilized, Mr. Ford Sr. ventured into business. Due to Mr. Moore's leg injury from the battlefield, he wasn't suitable for extensive movement, so he stayed on as the butler for the Ford family.Bob was Mr. Moore's son.These were revelations Haley had only recently uncovered, disclosed to her by Shane. He had recounted how Bob, in his youth, fell into a dangerous lifestyle involving gambling and drugs due to the influence of a bad crowd, narrowly escaping death at the gambling table.It was Shane who, accompanied by his bodyguar
Evelyn couldn't hide her embarrassment as she was publicly humiliated, a fleeting look of discomfort crossing her face. Yet, she couldn't argue back. In the Ford family, the ultimate authority lay with Mrs. Ford Sr. and Shane, leaving her powerless.Evelyn clenched her teeth in frustration and sternly threatened Haley, "Haley, you and James are engaged. Don't you care about protecting his reputation? So, do the sensible thing and delete that recording."Even if James had indeed been involved with Xena, what could be done about it? Nowadays, it was common for influential men to have extramarital affairs. Besides, her son was exceptional and the heir to the Ford Corporation. What harm was there in him having a fling? Haley was blowing things out of proportion. With such narrow-mindedness, how could she ever be a good wife to James?Haley couldn't help but chuckle at Evelyn's words. "And what if I don't comply? You were the one who pushed for this engagement in the first place. If you'
Haley responded calmly, "Ending the engagement works for me."Evelyn's heart soared with hope, her eyes gleaming. But in the next moment, Haley continued, "Your son owes me, and we need to resolve that. Besides the benefits you've received, consider the suffering and damage I've endured from him over the years. You owe me compensation for the mental and emotional toll, as well as for the lost years of youth."Haley remained composed and articulate, even in the presence of Evelyn, her elder."What mental and emotional toll? What did my son do? It's clear that you couldn't control your man, you lack capability, and now you want to demand money from us? You must be dreaming!"Evelyn was on the brink of losing it. It was the first time she had encountered such shamelessness from Haley. It was bad enough that Haley controlled the engagement, but now she was making outrageous demands."Not willing to comply? Then I'll have to get Mrs. Ford Sr. involved to discuss it." Haley's response s
He sighed helplessly in his heart; it seemed that Haley still didn't trust him enough. It was partly his fault. Knowing that Haley was someone with extreme insecurity, he hadn't firmly assured her that no matter what happened, he would always stand by her side. He reached out his hand towards Haley, "Give me the phone."Haley hesitated, reluctant, but when she met Shane's gaze, she paused for a moment and handed it over. She recalled Shane's assurance before he arrived, promising to assist her in ending the engagement.Moreover, as husband and wife now, they were in this together. Perhaps she could attempt to place her trust in him this once.Yes, just this once. If Shane dared to betray her trust, she vowed never to trust him again in the future. Haley silently reaffirmed to herself.Shane observed her rapidly changing expression but remained silent, patiently awaiting her response.Before long, Haley reached out and handed him the phone. Shane's lips formed a slight smile, a
Assisted by the butler, Mrs. Ford Sr. descended the stairs step by step, casting a glance downstairs. "What's going on? All this noise and commotion, I could hear it even from upstairs."Haley stood up from the sofa and greeted politely, "Mrs. Ford Sr.!"Upon seeing her, Mrs. Ford Sr.'s face immediately lit up with an affectionate smile. She reached out her hand towards Haley, gazing at her tenderly. "Haley, you finally came to visit me. It's been so long since you last came, I thought you had forgotten about this old granny."Mrs. Ford Sr. had seen Haley grow up and cherished this gentle and compliant girl. In her younger years, she had always wished for a daughter.Unfortunately, after years of hoping, she still ended up with a son. What was even more frustrating was that Shane, this rebellious boy, wasn't close to her at all. He always wore a cold expression, never showing any warmth towards her!Humph, not obedient at all!Haley flashed a sweet and gentle smile, explaining so
Because Evelyn understood Haley's significance to Mrs. Ford Sr., she had always been hesitant to reveal James's questionable activities to her.Mrs. Ford Sr. had zero tolerance for nonsense. Anyone who dared to approach Mr. Ford Sr.'s bed back in the day would vanish from Jasper City without a trace the next day. Since Mr. Ford Sr. was also a timid man, Mrs. Ford Sr.'s authority within the Ford family was nearly absolute.Placing the documents on the coffee table, Mrs. Ford Sr. turned her gaze to Evelyn. "Have you seen these things?"Evelyn kept her head down, barely daring to breathe.Mrs. Ford Sr. let out a disdainful laugh. "It seems you knew all along where James went. Tell him to return immediately."Evelyn lifted her head slowly and replied softly, "Mom, please don't worry. James didn't mean any harm. Nowadays, young people pursue free love, and they no longer adhere to traditional engagement norms."Mrs. Ford Sr.'s eyes sharpened, locking onto Evelyn. "When we needed this
Haley hesitated briefly, realizing she hadn't yet informed Mrs. Ford Sr. about her marriage to Shane. Nervously, she blinked and glanced towards Shane, who coincidentally was already looking at her, his raised eyebrows hinting at his anticipation of her response.Looking away, Haley contemplated how to approach the topic.In that moment, Mrs. Ford Sr. sighed with regret, remarking, "If it wasn't for Shane's marriage, I would have surely had him marry you."Earlier that morning, she had received calls from some longstanding clients congratulating her on Shane's marriage and inquiring about the wedding arrangements. That was when she discovered her youngest son had quietly tied the knot without bothering to inform his own mother! It infuriated her!Haley and Shane exchanged a glance, their cheeks suddenly flushed with embarrassment. Shane also appeared somewhat uneasy. He had fretted over his mother's reaction to his marriage to Haley, but now it seemed his concerns were unwarranted.
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