Haley quietly flashed a peace sign, her smile deepening.To her, "not next time" meant there would be a next time.Shane naturally did not miss her small gesture. He raised his hand and pinched her cute nose, his deep eyes full of indulgence. "You know, you're just spoiled because I indulge you."Haley chuckled, clinging to his arm and whining, "Well, you have to spoil me for that to happen, Mr. Ford!"Shane responded, "As long as you know it."They laughed and chatted as they walked into a bustling barbecue joint.Even though it was already past ten at night, the place was still packed. People sat around tables enjoying their food and drinks, their faces lit with smiles. The atmosphere was lively and full of energy.A billionaire CEO had never eaten street food before. He was dressed in a black suit, exuding an air of sophistication that seemed out of place here. His presence immediately drew attention.The owner came out enthusiastically. "What would you like to eat?"Shane
After finishing the skewers, Shane picked up a skewer of mushrooms. Just as he was about to take a bite, oil splattered onto his suit. A custom-made suit worth millions was ruined in an instant.The air around them seemed to freeze. Haley could see Shane's face darkening with anger. Watching his furrowed brows, she wanted to laugh but managed to hold it back out of respect for his pride.She pulled out a napkin, suppressing a giggle, and said, "Let me clean that for you."Shane shot her a glare and put down the skewer, refusing to eat any more. He was too irritated to continue.Haley was thoroughly satisfied with the meal, but Shane had only eaten one skewer. Feeling a pang of guilt, she took him to a pizza restaurant and ordered a pizza. Luckily, the restaurant was clean and not too crowded. The pizza was tasty, and Shane's mood visibly improved.By the time they got home, it was nearly midnight. They took a quick shower and fell into a deep sleep.The next morning at the office
Stella sneered and shouted, "Haley, stop pretending! Let me tell you, if anything happens to Evelyn, I will never let you off!"Haley stepped closer, frowning. "What do you mean by what you said earlier?""Stop acting!" Stella looked at her with a mocking gaze. "You'd better release Evelyn right now! Or I'll spread the truth about your mom everywhere.""What video?" Haley was puzzled. She had destroyed the photos Zoe had, so what video could there be? Could there be something she didn't know about?Stella mustered all her strength to break free from the security's grip, proudly lifting her chin."Looks like you don't know, huh? No wonder. With such a disgraceful thing, your mom wouldn't have told you."You aren't even Joe's biological daughter. You're just the illegitimate child from your mom's affair."An illegitimate child like you is not worthy of Shane."I can't wait to see how Shane reacts when he finds out. Will he still want you? I doubt it!" Stella laughed hysterica
"Mom, are you doing well over there? Do you miss me?"...Haley stayed in the storage room for a long time, not leaving until the sky outside darkened. When she got home, Shane was still at work. She greeted the butler briefly before heading upstairs. The butler, noticing her low spirits, felt a pang of concern and immediately called Shane.After receiving the call, Shane rushed home without delay."How is she?" he asked.The butler shook her head. "I'm not sure, but she seemed down when she returned. Maybe something went wrong at work."Shane nodded, acknowledging the information before quickly making his way upstairs.Inside the room, Haley was curled up on the sofa. She was staring blankly at the ceiling, her eyes devoid of focus. When Shane entered and saw her like that, he was startled."Haley, are you okay?"Haley snapped out of her daze, her eyes gradually focusing on Shane's concerned face. She shook her head gently. "I'm fine. Just feeling a bit sad all of a sud
Seeing those pictures, tears streamed down Haley's face. If before she had suspicions, now she was certain. Her mother hadn’t consented, she had been forced. And the person behind it all was Evelyn.Haley closed her eyes tightly, a surge of intense hatred boiling within her. Her jaw clenched, and her hands trembled as she held the photos, filled with the urge to tear Evelyn apart. And that man… Even though only his back was visible, making his face unidentifiable, he was also a major culprit in her mother's tragic life.Outside the room, Shane stood with his arms crossed, leaning against the wall, his expression serious as he waited for Haley to come out. Time ticked by, but there was no sound from inside. He frowned, debating whether to go in.He was worried Haley might be spiraling into a dark place or contemplating something drastic. His hand hovered near the door, ready to knock, but he hesitated. Over and over, his anxiety grew.Just as Shane decided to open the door,
Steven clutched the bottle, his sorrow pulling him to a crouch. "Yvonne... she didn't love me. She never loved me. What did Joe have that I didn't? Why did she choose that worthless guy over me?"Yvonne was driven to her death by that bastard Joe. I'll make him pay! "And Evelyn... if she hadn't drugged Yvonne, none of this would have happened. Joe wouldn't have turned on her. It's all that bitch's fault!"No, it's my fault... It's all my fault. If I hadn't loved Yvonne, Evelyn wouldn't have been so jealous and drugged her. It's all because of me..." Steven's voice cracked as he ranted, eyes full of regret.Steven's disheveled state made him unrecognizable from his usual composed and gentlemanly self. Haley watched, her feelings a jumble of confusion. Steven had a hand in the tragedy, but she couldn't fully blame him. It wasn't something he wanted to happen. Even if she wanted to hate him, she didn’t know where to start.She took a deep breath, pushing down the ache in her c
"James, between me and Haley, who do you love more?""Of course, it's you, my dear. Haven't my actions proven it enough? Hmm?""But, I want to hear you say it yourself.""Darling, you are the woman I love the most. Relax, you're too tense..."The man's suppressed heavy breathing, mixed with the woman's seductive moans, soon filled the hotel suite.Haley Carter stood outside the slightly ajar door, her blood almost freezing, unable to stop trembling from the piercing cold. An hour ago, someone sent her a video clip. In the video, her fiancé, James Ford, was passionately kissing her half-sister Xena Carter in the corridor of this hotel. She initially thought it was a prank, but she never expected that these two had long been involved with each other.She took a deep breath, trying to restrain the anger surging in her chest. Quietly, she took out her phone from her pocket and pushed the door open.The two on the bed were still immersed in their intense pleasure when suddenly they
As she realized the ambiguous position they were in, Haley's cheeks flushed red, and she quickly pulled away from the man's embrace. Feeling embarrassed, she murmured softly, "No, my legs are numb.""Hmm," Shane responded with a pleasant chuckle, though it wasn't clear if he believed her or not. His gentle and deep voice seemed to have a calming effect, causing Haley's heart to flutter slightly, feeling both tingly and itchy. She rubbed her ears curiously and asked, "Mr. Ford, what are you doing here?"Shane replied nonchalantly, "I just happened to pass by."And he happened to see a poor little creature standing in the rain by the roadside, helpless and pitiful like an abandoned cat.Haley nodded knowingly but didn't know what to say.She had just experienced betrayal and felt physically and emotionally drained, only wanting to find a quiet place to rest. Shane glanced at her and asked, "Do you want revenge?""What?" Haley stared at him in confusion, not understanding his