Haley rubbed her sore and weak waist, struggling to get out of bed for her morning routine. The exertion from last night had left her feeling drained, and each step she took made her complexion paler. The short distance to the bathroom took her several minutes to navigate. After freshening up and changing clothes, she realized she was running late for work. Haley hurriedly greeted the butler as she rushed out. "Good morning, Bob. I need to head to work now. See you tonight.""Wait a moment, why don't you have breakfast before you go? Work can wait, but your health can't," Bob interrupted, concerned.Haley waved her hand, feeling anxious. "I don't have time. There's an early meeting at the office this morning, and I'm already behind schedule."Bob frowned disapprovingly, pulling her back gently. "Skipping breakfast isn't acceptable. Madam, Mr. Ford specifically instructed me to ensure you eat breakfast. What if you experience low blood sugar?"Reluctantly, Haley sat back down
She coldly remarked, "Instead of worrying about that, you'd better reflect on how much you've contributed to the company."The man hesitated for a moment, then erupted in anger, slamming his hand forcefully on the table before him. "What do you mean?""I mean exactly what I said." Haley's demeanor remained unchanged, her voice calm and incredulous. "The reason the company has fallen into its current state is partly due to people like you, who only know how to loaf around and reap the benefits."The man opened his mouth to retort, but was suddenly met with Haley's piercing gaze, as cold as ice."If you don't want me to bring all your misdeeds to light, then keep quiet."Her voice was cold, her eyes sharp, exuding a powerful aura that seemed to impose an invisible pressure on everyone present.The man's face flushed red, unable to utter a word of rebuttal, and was forced into silence.The conference room fell into a tense silence, as everyone gained a new understanding of Haley.
The low, chilly voice, full of oppression, suddenly resounded in the vast conference room. It sent shivers down everyone's spine. Every person present turned their gaze, their eyes widening in astonishment."Mr. Ford?" How did this ominous presence appear again? The intimidating aura he brought with him during his last visit to the conference room seemed to linger even now. Many instinctively held their breath, not daring to make a sound, watching Shane intently, trying to discern his intentions.Shane did not spare them a glance, completely ignoring their presence as he walked straight to where Haley was standing."Are you okay, Haley? Has anyone bullied you?"Haley's expression mirrored everyone else's surprise. She could not believe her eyes. "Mr. Ford, why did you come here?"Shane's gaze softened suddenly as he reached out to ruffle Haley's hair gently. His voice was warm. "Of course, I was worried you might be mistreated, so I came to check on you."Haley stared at the
Shane had no intention of letting them off the hook. His eyes narrowed slightly, releasing a dark coldness from deep within, "Oh? Are you suggesting that I'm lying?" With these words, those people became even more flustered. "No, absolutely not!" "Misunderstanding, it's all a misunderstanding!" "Mr. Ford, we still respect Miss Haley, how could we threaten her? We just want to clarify the matter about the video, that's all." Shane chuckled coldly, his sharp eyes scanning everyone present like a hawk. He spoke in his chilly voice, each word carrying weight and sending shivers down everyone's spine."Misunderstanding? I've seen that video. It's clearly shot from selective angles. Seems like none of you even grasped that. Maybe it's time to shuffle some seats among the JY board members?"Although Shane's tone was calm, everyone could feel his anger rising. They instinctively wanted to flee. However, when they met Shane's cold and profound gaze, they stiffened and were una
The joy in Haley's heart was as immense as the bitterness in the hearts of those forced to apologize. They regretted their actions deeply. Why did they overestimate themselves and provoke Haley? Why were they so convinced that Haley had betrayed Shane, and that he would be enraged and abandon her? Shane's gaze toward Haley was filled with undisguised affection. There was no hint of a rift between them.The once arrogant people now hung their heads low, wishing they could shrink into quails. "We shouldn't have bullied Miss Haley just because of age and status.""And?"Shane's eyes were cold and oppressive.And... Everyone was secretly in agony. Why did they provoke this living demon of all people? "We were blind and misunderstood Miss Haley.""We shouldn't have spread baseless rumors to attack her.""We won't dare to do it again. If Miss Haley says east, we won't go west. If Miss Haley says one, we won't say two!"...Haley listened quietly. Although they were piti
Halfway through her words, Haley felt a sharp tap on her smooth forehead. She winced, rubbing the spot and looking up at the culprit with a pitiful expression. “That hurt, Mr. Ford. Why’d you do that?”“To teach you a lesson!” Shane huffed, but seeing her genuinely in pain, he could not help but gently rub the spot he had hit. He continued, “You are always my top priority. There’s no such thing as bothering me. Haley, I’d be thrilled if you interrupted me more often. It shows that I matter to you.”Haley froze, never expecting to hear such words from Shane. His voice was steady, but there was a hint of vulnerability and sadness that tugged at her heart. She felt a pang of emotion, her heart aching at his words.“Thank you, Mr. Ford,” Haley whispered. She had never had anyone care for her so deeply, protect her so fiercely. The feeling of being cherished and safeguarded was almost surreal, making her feel like she was floating.Shane chuckled softly, “Want to thank me? The
Hearing Haley's sudden confession, Shane's heart melted. He reached out and ruffled her soft hair, pressing a gentle kiss on top of her head. "I know," he said softly.Getting a confession from his wife made Shane feel that his trip was more than worth it. He did not mind canceling an important meeting just to support her.After a while, Haley finally let go of Shane and lifted her face from his chest. Her almond-shaped eyes were still misty from crying, giving her a delicate, dreamlike appearance. Shane, unable to resist, gently brushed her reddened eyes with his thumb, his lips curling into a smile. "You really are a little crybaby. You cry when you're sad, and you cry when you're happy."Haley sniffled, looking up at him with her big, teary eyes pitifully. "I can't help it..."The overwhelming feelings of gratitude and happiness surged through her like a tidal wave when Shane stood up for her. It was so intense that even Haley found it hard to handle.Shane took her hand in
Shane closed the car door, walked around to the driver's side, and got in. He started the car and headed to the restaurant. About ten minutes later, the car slowly pulled up to a cozy restaurant. Shane parked the car and turned to Haley. "Hungry? I had Dean pre-order our meal, so it’ll be ready when we get in.""Really?" Haley’s eyes lit up as she quickly unbuckled her seatbelt and got out of the car.Watching her cheerful figure, Shane chuckled and shook his head. She was still a kid at heart, so easily pleased. A meal of shrimp and she had already forgotten all the troubles from earlier. But that was good, he thought. At least he did not have to worry about those people affecting her mood.Shane led Haley to a private room, and as soon as they were seated, the server brought in their food. There was not just spicy garlic shrimp, but also all of Haley’s favorite dishes. There were barbeque ribs, grilled salmon, and red wine-braised beef brisket.Haley’s eyes sparkled at the si