"You can cut the sweet talk. I still have some self-awareness!" Jenny chuckled at Haley's attempt to flatter her. She raised her chin and added, "Well, I suppose I'm just your average pretty."Unable to hold back a light laugh, Haley replied, "You crack me up."Jenny's expression turned serious as she recalled something. "Haley, is your dad in the hospital?""Yeah, how did you find out?"A few days ago, Haley had visited the Carter family and had been quite harsh with Joe, who had a heart attack due to the stress. But she felt no sympathy. Compared to the suffering she and her mother had endured, it wasn't nearly enough. It was probably just Joe's karma.Jenny replied honestly, "Zoe called me this morning, saying she couldn't reach you and complaining that you're causing your dad's illness by being so irresponsible."Haley advised her, "If she calls you again, just ignore her."Jenny reassuringly patted Haley's shoulder. "You're doing great. I've long been fed up with your dad;
As noon approached, Haley stepped onto the stage for rehearsal. She was about to perform a violin piece, one that was both melodious and skillfully composed. When the piece concluded, the hall erupted into thunderous applause, with many in the audience cheering and praising, their voices filling every corner of the space.However, Haley didn't share in the excitement because this particular piece was her late mother's favorite. It was said to be inspired by a sad love story. Perhaps influenced by the music, Haley's mood remained low even after the rehearsal ended.Jenny noticed Haley's distraction and sighed inwardly. She whispered words of comfort, "Haley, it's all in the past. We have to look forward and think positively. Maybe in heaven, there's no pain or emotional turmoil. It might even be a relief for your mom."Haley nodded, mustering a faint smile. "I'm fine. It's getting late, and you've been with me at school all day. You must be tired. Go back and rest.""Are you sure yo
The driver, having followed Shane for so long, immediately understood his intention. He stepped out of the car, addressing the individuals snapping photos with their phones.Their expressions turned crestfallen as they reluctantly turned away from the vehicle. Luxury cars of this caliber were a rare sight, with only one or two in the entire city.The man and woman inside the car were strikingly attractive, almost resembling celebrities, making them stand out even more.Inside the car, the atmosphere between Haley and Shane became incredibly awkward. She kept her head down, nervously toying with her dress, too apprehensive to meet Shane's gaze at that moment.Suddenly, Shane broke the silence, his tone laced with playful teasing. "Who would've thought our Haley would grow up to be so sensitive. Back in the day..."He trailed off mid-sentence, a hint of darkness flickering in his eyes. Haley couldn't decipher Shane's thoughts. She gently countered, "I used to be like this when I was
The driver sat in the driver's seat, listening to their conversation and stealing a glance through the rearview mirror. What was initially a casual look turned into disbelief as he saw the typically cold-hearted Shane sporting a faint smile.The driver couldn't believe his eyes, taking several consecutive glances. Sensing the driver's gaze, Shane, seated in the back, cast a faint glance in his direction. Though his eyes appeared calm, it sent shivers down the driver's spine. He quickly averted his gaze, focusing on driving, afraid to look again.Haley felt like she had forgotten something important. It wasn't until they were halfway to their destination that she realized, "Oh no, oh no, Mr. Ford, did we leave Jenny behind?"Shane glanced at her with surprise, then suddenly flashed a mysterious smile. "Yeah, Haley, you grabbed my hand and got in the car, leaving her behind. She must be very upset, right?"Haley quickly took out her phone and wanted to apologize to Jenny. Upon unlo
In simpler terms, as long as there was money in Shane's main card, there shouldn't have been any issues. Unless the card had been frozen. But he couldn't fathom why Shane would do that.Though their bond wasn't particularly tight, Shane wouldn't act so coldly as long as he didn't make any major blunders. That evening, he had been embarrassed in front of his friends, harboring resentment towards Shane ever since.Later, when he tried calling Shane, his calls were consistently rejected. Even inquiries to the butler yielded no information. So these past few days had been maddening for him. Unable to contain his impatience, he directly asked, "Uncle, I don't know what I did wrong. Why did you freeze my card?"Shane lowered his gaze, his tousled hair covering the icy expression in his eyes. In response to James's inquiry, Shane replied casually, "Why? Because the money in the card is all earned by me. I can give it if I want, and naturally, I can take it back."James was left speechless
James glared at the phone, now disconnected, feeling a surge of rage building up inside him. He gritted his teeth, tempted to hurl the device across the room. His buddy, Huxley Hall, who was often indulged in partying with him, acted fast, snatching the phone from his grip."James, this is my phone. If you smash it, my old man will kill me!" Huxley's dad was a self-made man, once a contractor at a construction site who struck it rich overnight. Huxley's lackluster academic performance and his love for partying often left his dad fuming.It was already the third phone he had gone through this month. He had drained his pocket money to settle debts with James. If this phone broke, he would have to ask his dad for money again. Given his dad's explosive temper, he might end up getting a lecture or worse.James looked at his empty hands. He was already furious, and now even more so. "I'll just buy you another one if it breaks. Why are you so stingy?"Huxley cautiously stowed away the pho
"What?" James didn't catch it clearly, so he asked curiously, "Mom, what happened? Who were you talking about just now?"Evelyn hesitated, recalling Mrs. Ford Sr.'s warning that day, sending a shiver down her spine. Ever since she found out that Shane had actually married Haley, she had been sick with rage, feeling light-headed and unable to get out of bed.Up to now, her condition hadn't improved. Every time she thought about it, she couldn't help but simmer with anger, her head throbbing faintly."I can't bring myself to say it. You'll find out when you come back."As she finished, her voice began to falter.James wanted to ask more questions, but his mom abruptly ended the call.He stared at his phone blankly, not sure what had happened.Huxley also overheard James's conversation with his mom, and the more he thought about it, the more uneasy he became."What's happening?" he asked anxiously.James shook his head, indicating that he was clueless too.His mom had asked him
Haley didn't finish the rest of her words, but Shane already understood.He had heard from Mrs. Ford Sr. that although Yvonne had high business acumen, her initial dream was actually to stand on stage and play the violin. When she met Joe, she was the leading violinist of a well-known orchestra in the country.Later, Yvonne gave up her dream for love and ventured into entrepreneurship with Joe. Despite Joe's ambitions, he lacked talent in this area.Yvonne had to desperately study various financial knowledge to become a capable assistant to Joe. She devoted herself wholeheartedly, giving everything for Joe. Yet, she failed to realize that some men couldn't cope with the idea of their partners surpassing them in strength.Recalling these events, Shane let out a silent sigh and approached Haley, gently running his hand through her hair."Haley, Mom will definitely be watching.""Mm, I believe so too."A soft smile adorned Haley's lips, her eyes gleaming with confidence.The follo