"What... what do you think you’re doing?" Joe stammered.Haley did not answer. She slowly raised her hand. Joe instinctively tried to dodge, but his back hit the wall. There was nowhere to go. Panic seized him, and he shouted, "Haley, what are you doing? I’m your father! This is outrageous!"Seeing his fearful expression, Haley let out a scornful laugh. "Aren’t you the one who wronged me first? Joe, I’ve never met someone as shameless as you."Hitting him would only dirty her hands. Haley lowered her hand, suppressing her disgust. "I didn’t come here to listen to your nonsense. If there's nothing else, I’ll be leaving. Reflect on your actions while you’re stuck here."Joe was involved in economic crimes with solid evidence against him. He would not be getting out anytime soon. Haley turned and walked towards the door, but Joe’s enraged voice stopped her."Haley, don’t you want to know why I’ve always hated you and your mother?"Haley paused and slowly turned back. "What d
Joe's almost hysterical voice echoed down the hallway, drilling into Haley's ears. Her hands, hanging at her sides, clenched into tight fists, and her almond-shaped eyes brimmed with intense hatred."Joe, no matter what you think of me, you have no right to speak about my mother like that!"My mom loved you so much. How dare you talk about her that way?""Hahaha..." Joe could not help but laugh, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Why? Because I was cheated on for years! Yvonne was nothing but a whore. I said it, what can you do about it?"Joe had kept this bottled up for over twenty years, a nightmare haunting him. Today, he finally let it out. He no longer had to bear this torment alone. Everyone thought he was lucky to marry Yvonne, but they did not know she was nothing but a disgrace to him!Unable to bear it any longer, Haley walked back to Joe and slapped him hard. This time, she put all her strength into it, making Joe's face turn."You must have gone mad from being lock
"Could it be Sue who told her?" Joe thought to himself.A few days ago, Sue had come to see him. He had instructed her to find a way to ruin JY's collaboration with Morning Dew Design Co. Could it be that things had already been exposed?Nervously, he struggled to explain himself to Haley. But the police, thinking he was about to attack her, tightened their grip and shouted, "Don't move! Stay still!"Seeing Joe in such a pitiful state, Haley did not feel any satisfaction. She shook her head and turned to leave without saying anything more. No matter how much Joe yelled for her to come back, she did not look back.As she left the police station, she noticed a familiar car. Her heart skipped a beat, and she quickly walked over.Shane got out of the car and opened his arms, "Haley."At the sight of him, Haley felt a lump in her throat. The suppressed grievances and sadness surged like a tidal wave. She rushed into Shane's arms, tears streaming down her face."Mr. Ford..."Hearin
Hearing the helplessness in Haley's voice, Shane felt a pang in his heart. He quickly reached out and held her hand."Haley, don't think too much about it. It's Joe's loss if he doesn't recognize you as his daughter. You are the best girl in the world."Feeling the warmth of his hand, Haley's anxiety gradually subsided. She pressed her lips together and nodded. "I understand, thank you, Mr. Ford."Shane chuckled. "Thanking me again?"After a pause, a mischievous smile curved his lips. "A hundred thank-yous don't compare to one 'hubby'."Haley's face flushed, and despite her embarrassment, she softly whispered, "Thank you... hubby."After a moment, Haley spoke up again. "Joe said that if I agreed to get Xena out of prison, he'd tell me a secret."Shane slowly pulled the car over and asked quietly, "Did you agree?"Haley shook her head. "No, but Joe seemed really angry and said a lot of things."Shane listened silently, not interrupting her. Although he did not know what Joe had
"Got it, don't worry about a thing," the subordinate replied confidently.He had worked with Joe for many years and had only left due to personal issues. During that time, he had become well-versed in handling all sorts of shady dealings.After the call, Joe's face twisted into a sinister smile. If Haley was not willing to settle things amicably, she could not blame him for being ruthless....After leaving the police station, Haley cried in Shane's arms for a long time. Eventually, she cried herself to sleep, still sobbing occasionally in her dreams. Shane gently kissed her tear-streaked face before starting the car and driving them home.He carefully carried her from the car to their bed, then quietly left the room and headed to his study. Thinking about Joe, his brows furrowed as he dialed Dean. "Look into Yvonne's background, as detailed as possible."Dean was stunned that Shane wanted to investigate his mother-in-law and could not help but ask, "Sir, did you get madam's
After hanging up, Haley focused on her paperwork. Soon, there was a knock on the door. Her assistant, Layla, walked in. "Miss Haley, Miss Jenkins from Morning Dew Design Co. has requested a meeting with you. What do you think?"Haley raised an eyebrow. "When?""Tonight, at the rooftop restaurant of the Sapphire Hotel. Do you want to go?"Haley noticed the slight puff of Layla's cheeks and could not help but smile. "From your tone, it sounds like you have some opinions about Morning Dew Design Co.?"Layla looked flustered. "Is it that obvious?" She touched her cheeks, feeling a bit embarrassed. "Back when our company was in trouble, Morning Dew quickly cut ties with us. Now that we're officially collaborating with the Ford Corporation, they want to cozy up to us. Their intentions are pretty clear."Haley nodded approvingly. "Well observed. In just a few days, you've already figured out their ulterior motives."Flustered by the praise, Layla's cheeks turned red. "Oh, Miss Haley
Luna’s face showed a hint of guilt as she apologized, "Miss Haley, I felt terrible for not helping JY when the incident happened and for pausing our cooperation."Haley smiled gently. "Miss Jenkins, it's all in the past. Let's not dwell on it. I understand your actions. If I were in your shoes, I might have done the same."Seeing Haley’s genuine understanding, Luna visibly relaxed and felt a growing sense of appreciation for her.After dinner, Haley said goodbye to Luna and called Shane. Within five minutes, Shane's car appeared at the hotel entrance. As soon as he got out of the car, Haley ran over and jumped into his arms."Mr. Ford! I missed you so much!""Mm, I missed you too," Shane replied, his lips curving into a slight smile as he held her close. "How did it go with Luna?"Haley replied honestly, "Miss Jenkins wanted to apologize, and I forgave her. Plus, I secured a big order for JY. Am I smart or what?"She looked up at Shane with sparkling eyes, a mischievous glint in
Haley was drenched in cold sweat, her clothes soaked through, and her face streaked with tears. She stared blankly at the ceiling and her eyes were filled with lingering fear. It took a long time for her breathing to steady.Haley came back to her senses and turned her head to meet Shane's worried gaze. He gently smoothed her disheveled hair and asked nervously, "Had a nightmare? Are you okay?"Remembering the scenes from her dream, tears welled up again. She threw herself into Shane's arms, sobbing softly. She clung tightly to his waist, whimpering like a child. Shane did not know what she had dreamt about but gently patted her back, repeatedly assuring her that he was there.After a while, Haley's emotions gradually calmed down. She lifted her head from Shane's embrace, her eyes and nose red from crying, looking incredibly pitiful. She sniffled and said in a choked voice, "I dreamt that Joe was choking me, trying to kill me."Shane gently caressed her face, his heart achi
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