Hearing Shane’s gentle voice coaxing her, Haley's cheeks turned a rosy pink. Shane reached out and lightly pinched her cherry-like cheeks, chuckling softly. "Are you hungry, Haley? Let me take you to eat."Haley, completely captivated by his words, had already forgotten what she initially wanted to ask. She obediently let Shane lead her towards the dining room.On the other end of the call, Jenny had heard everything clearly and was left speechless. Now she understood why Haley had fallen for Shane. Who could resist this? Jenny thought to herself, "A man who is cold and distant to everyone else but treats you with such tenderness. Such an ideal man is almost extinct! No wonder Haley fell for him. Any woman would find it impossible to resist!"Feeling a mix of emotions, Jenny hung up the phone and accepted the reality. Just then, a hand with well-defined knuckles suddenly appeared, offering her a glass of warm water. Jenny was startled and turned to see Henry standing behind he
Since Xena joined the Carter family five years ago, she had been striving to take everything from Haley. Now, she was reaping what she had sown. Everything Xena valued, like her reputation, wealth, and marrying into a prestigious family, would be destroyed one by one.For someone as ambitious as Xena, this was worse than death.Sue seemed very satisfied with this outcome and began talking more. "That Xena is truly evil. She stole your designs and framed you, and now she tampered with the competition. It's despicable!"She paused, a look of disgust flashing in her eyes. "What kind of mother raises such a morally corrupt daughter?"Sue was lost in her own emotions, not noticing the fleeting darkness in Haley's eyes. "Sue, you can go now. Designers from Morning Dew Design Co. are coming to visit today. Please handle the arrangements."Sue snapped back to attention and nodded quickly. "Got it."After Sue left, Haley returned to her office. She sat in her chair, diligently working
He knew he had no right to be here and understood that Xena’s downfall was entirely her own doing. However, she was still his wife, and he could not just abandon her.Seeing his silence, Haley sneered, "I guess I was right. But don’t bother asking me to plead for Xena. It’s never going to happen."Shane had gone through so much to stand up for her. If she turned around and begged for Xena’s sake, everything Shane did would become a joke. Why would she slap Shane in the face for someone who meant nothing to her?After a long pause, James finally lowered his head in shame. "I understand. I’m sorry."Haley, I’m sorry."He realized his mistakes. Recently, he had reflected deeply on his actions. Sometimes, it was hard to see clearly when one was in the middle of it all. But stepping back and viewing things from an outsider's perspective made everything much clearer.All the kindness Haley had shown him, which he had taken for granted, now came rushing back like an overwhelming tide.
After James left, Haley stared at the documents in front of her for a long time but couldn't focus. Frustrated, she closed the file and called the driver, heading straight to Ford Corporation.Since taking over JY, she rarely came here, but the employees still remembered her and greeted her warmly. Haley responded to each greeting and went straight to the CEO's private elevator to the top floor.Dean was handling documents when he saw Haley and quickly approached. “Madam, Mr. Ford is in a meeting with a client. You can wait inside. I'll notify him right away.”Haley waved her hand. “No need, I’ll wait out here. You go ahead with your work.”Dean straightened up, looking serious. “Mr. Ford specifically instructed that if you come, no matter how busy he is, he should be notified immediately.” Without waiting for Haley’s response, he knocked on the office door.A low, frosty voice came from inside. “Come in.”Dean opened the door and gestured for Haley to enter. She sighed, rubbed
Haley's heart raced at his words. She struggled to get off Shane, but he held her tightly."Don't move. I won't do anything. I just want to hold you for a while."Hearing the fatigue in his voice, Haley felt a pang of heartache and stopped struggling. Sensing her compliance, Shane smiled softly, burying his face in her shoulder.After what felt like a long time, Haley’s shoulder began to ache, and Shane finally let her go. He grasped Haley's slender waist and gently placed her on the nearby sofa.He then let out a contented sigh and said, "Fully recharged."Haley couldn't help but laugh. "I guess I am useful after all."Shane looked at her, his eyes sparkling. "Your presence alone is invaluable to me. You're my treasure, Haley, my one-of-a-kind treasure I want to cherish forever."Haley's heart skipped a beat at Shane's sincere words. She playfully glared at him. "Get back to work. Jenny recommended a great restaurant, so let’s go there once you're done.""Okay." Shane nodded,
A ticklish sensation made Haley laugh and move away. "Shane, stop it! This is the office!"Shane held her close, nodding seriously. "Don't worry, this is my private space. No one comes in without my permission.""Still, it's not right!"To Haley, an office was strictly a place for work. Even imagining anything else happening there made her heart race uncontrollably. Her face turned a light shade of pink from embarrassment."Please, no..." she whispered.Shane's eyes darkened for a moment, but he eventually relented, adjusting her disheveled clothes before standing up.Haley secretly sighed in relief, though her cheeks remained hot. She did not need a mirror to know how red her face was.Seeing this, Shane chuckled softly. "You're adorable."Haley's flushed cheeks made her look like a ripe peach, exuding a tempting sweetness that beckoned a bite. But knowing how easily she got embarrassed, Shane decided to hold back."Alright, I won't tease you anymore. Are you hungry? Let's go
She quickly pulled back, clutching her wildly beating heart, avoiding his gaze. Satisfied with the kiss from his beloved, Shane sat back, a smile lingering on his face throughout the meal....Meanwhile, Zoe lay weakly on the hotel bed, barely covered. Her well-maintained, fair skin was now marked with bruises. She glanced at Mr. Stone, who was leaning over her with a belt in his hand. "Mr. Stone, no more... please..." Zoe pleaded, looking up at him with fear in her eyes.Mr. Stone looked down at her, a satisfied smile on his face. "No wonder Joe likes you so much. Now I understand his pleasure."Indeed, a married woman like Zoe offered a different kind of pleasure compared to inexperienced young girls. Although her skin and tightness could not compare to younger women, her skills more than made up for it. Zoe knew exactly how to please a man, and this encounter had left Mr. Stone very satisfied.Hiding her disgust, Zoe reached out. Wrapping her arms around his neck, she swe
Zoe was slapped hard and then beaten like a punching bag. Now, weak and helpless, she lay on the bed, tears of despair streaming down her face. Why did it come to this? Why were they so unlucky? Why had things turned out this way?It was all because of Haley! That little bitch! If it weren't for her, Shane would not be making Xena's life difficult. If it weren't for her, she would not have to sleep with men to get what she wanted. Her tear-filled eyes burned with rage. She clenched her fists and gritted her teeth, wishing she could tear Haley apart.Mr. Stone, having exhausted himself, spat in disgust and got off the bed. Before leaving, he casually pulled out a few bills from his wallet and shoved them between Zoe's legs."This is your payment."With that, he turned and left without looking back, his cold silhouette piercing Zoe's heart deeply.…A few days later, Haley was about to check on the progress of the partnership when Sue rushed in, looking flustered."Mis
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