This was bad enough, but Xena was never satisfied, always complaining that he did not give her enough. She frequently compared him to his uncle and even urged him to compete with his uncle for the family inheritance. Whenever he talked to another woman, Xena would become paranoid, suspecting him of cheating. He was really getting tired of it.If he had known marriage could change someone so drastically, he would have preferred to stay single forever.Xena opened her mouth, panic flickering in her eyes. "No, James, how could you think that of me? I love you so much. Everything I do is for you!"James let out a self-deprecating laugh, staring at the broken phone on the floor. "Smashing my phone was for me?"Xena blinked, her confidence wavering. "I just saw you staring at my sister and was afraid you regretted marrying me. I didn't mean to do it!"James sighed inwardly, turned around, and started to walk away.Xena called after him again, demanding, "Where are you going?""Out
Haley rested at home for a day before returning to the office the next day. However, something felt off at work. Many employees were huddled in small groups, whispering about something. When they saw Haley, they quickly straightened up and greeted her seriously, "Good morning, Miss Haley."Haley nodded and went straight to the elevator. Although she did not ask, she vaguely heard the name "William" mentioned. Once she arrived at her office, Sue hurried in, looking anxious and flustered. "Miss Haley, this is William's resignation letter. He's already packed up and left."Haley was not surprised and nodded slightly. "Just leave it there. Please notify the design department that we have a meeting shortly."Sue hesitated for a moment before asking, "Miss Haley, did you already know that William was going to resign?""Yes," Haley replied with a nod. She valued William's talent, but he was too dangerous to keep around.Biting her lip, Sue gathered her courage and asked, "Miss Haley,
She turned her head and looked out the window. With her blood-stained hand trembling, she managed to lower the car window and called for help....Shane was in a meeting when he received the call. Dean rushed in, his tone urgent, "Mr. Ford, something terrible has happened. Madam... she's been in a car accident!""What?" Shane shot up from his chair, leaving only a quick "Meeting adjourned" before rushing out.On the way to the hospital, Shane pressed the gas pedal hard, wishing he could fly there instantly. His muscles and nerves were tense, and he kept silently praying that his beloved Haley would be alright.When he got out of the car, his legs were trembling so badly that he had to hold onto the car door to keep from falling. But he could not afford to waste any time and quickly ran to the emergency room.When he arrived, the doctors were treating Haley. She sat obediently on the hospital bed, her small frame wrapped in bandages, with bright red blood staining the gauze. Her f
Perhaps Shane's presence was too overwhelming. The doctor, under the intense gaze of those cold, stern eyes, felt extremely uneasy. Distracted, his hand trembled slightly."Ouch—"Feeling the pain on her forehead, Haley could not help but gasp.Shane's expression darkened even more, his deep voice filled with menace, "If you can't apply the medicine properly, get another doctor."The doctor forced a smile. He wanted to do his job well, but with such a terrifying figure watching, who wouldn't be scared?Haley gently tugged at Shane's sleeve, whispering, "Mr. Ford, you're scaring the doctor."Hearing this, Shane's tense expression immediately softened, and the murderous intent and coldness in his eyes slowly faded. Although his expression remained stern, the oppressive atmosphere lightened significantly.The doctor quietly breathed a sigh of relief, casting a grateful glance at Haley before continuing to apply the medicine. With the earlier scare, his movements were noticeably mor
Haley bit her lip, remaining silent. Shane sighed helplessly, tightening his embrace around her in silent reassurance.About an hour later, the driver's wife, Mrs. Wales, rushed in. Seeing her husband lying unconscious on the bed, she immediately burst into tears, collapsing by the bedside."Luke, how did you get hurt so badly? You were fine when you left... Who did this to you? It's so cruel..."Shane frowned and instinctively covered Haley's ears to keep her from hearing more and worrying. Watching Mrs. Wales cry so desperately made Haley feel even more guilty.She spoke up, "Mrs. Wales, I'm sorry. Mr. Wales was driving me home when the accident happened. We will make sure to give you an explanation."Mrs. Wales turned sharply, her eyes filled with anger and hatred as she glared at Haley. Her gaunt face looked even more harsh and bitter."An explanation? That's easy for you to say. You're not the one lying here! Luke is the pillar of our family. If he falls, how are we supposed
Haley followed Shane out of the hospital room. After taking only a few steps, she suddenly felt herself being lifted off the ground. She gasped and instinctively wrapped her arms around Shane's neck, clutching his shirt collar with her other hand."Mr. Ford, what are you doing?""Carrying you back."Nurses and family members of other patients passing by could not help but look at them curiously as they embraced. Haley's cheeks slowly turned red, and she whispered, "It's not necessary. I can walk on my own."Her injuries were mainly on her head, and her legs were only slightly hurt, so walking was not a problem."You’re injured. Just stay in my arms."Shane refused to let go, striding confidently with Haley in his arms into the elevator. Haley struggled a bit, but seeing that he had no intention of putting her down, she gave up. If she could not resist, she might as well enjoy it. After all, she was exhausted from the day and the shock of the accident. If he wanted to carry her,
Since hearing about Madam's car accident, the butler had been pacing anxiously around the villa. The helpers were equally worried. Haley had a kind personality and treated them well, so nearly everyone liked her. Knowing that she had been in a car accident, they were all very concerned.Bob, the butler, was extremely worried. He kept glancing towards the entrance and instructing the helpers, "Is the food ready? Mr. and Mrs. Ford probably haven't eaten yet. Hurry up and prepare it."And make sure it's light. No spicy food, and avoid anything greasy..."The helpers nodded and rushed to the kitchen to inform the chef.A short while later, instead of Shane and Haley, Mrs. Ford Sr. arrived. With Bob's support, she got out of the car and hurried inside, her face full of concern."What happened? I heard Haley was in a car accident. Isn't she back yet?"She was told they were already on their way. If she had known Shane was driving so slowly, she would have gone to the hospital first.
Seeing her adorable expression, Shane could not help but laugh. He bent down and lifted her up in his arms.Haley shifted, finding the position a bit awkward. She lowered her voice and said to Shane, "Mr. Ford, maybe you should carry me in your arms like a princess. There are so many people watching."Shane raised an eyebrow with a chuckle. "Hmm? Isn't this position just fine?"Haley pouted, her cheeks turning red as she argued, "I'm not a child. Only kids get carried like this by their parents."Shane pulled out a chair and sat down with Haley on his lap, leaning in close to her fair cheek. "In my eyes, you are still a child."He spoke so close that his breath brushed against her cheek, causing a warm sensation to spread across her face. Embarrassed, Haley buried her face in Shane's shoulder.She whispered a warning, "Mom is still watching, don't say such things."Shane chuckled softly and, seeing that she was genuinely embarrassed, promised not to tease her anymore.When the
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