"Don't worry," Shane reassured her. "Mom's been through all kinds of storms. Trust me, she won't be shocked."Feeling the warmth in his palm, Haley nodded. "I hope so."Half an hour later, they arrived at the Ford residence. Shane and Haley entered together and explained the events of the past few days to Mrs. Ford Sr.As it turned out, Mrs. Ford Sr. was much calmer than Haley had expected. She held Haley's hand and gently patted her soft hair. "My dear, you've been through so much. If you hadn't come, I wouldn't have known all that's happened to you recently."Then she glared at Shane. "And you! How dare you hide such big things from me!"Shane awkwardly scratched his nose. "Sorry, Mom. I didn't want to worry you.""Enough with the excuses. If anything happened to Haley or my grandchild, you'd be the one to blame!"Seeing that Mrs. Ford Sr. was genuinely angry, Haley quickly interjected, "I'm fine, Mom. Visiting my mom's grave was my decision. Shane didn't know about it."Mrs.
Upon seeing the emerald pendant, Shane's expression changed subtly. Haley, puzzled, asked, "What is this?"Mrs. Ford Sr. explained, "Have you ever heard of the Marshall family from the Aurora Isles?"Haley shook her head, searching her memory but finding nothing related.Mrs. Ford Sr. continued, "The Marshall family is my family. Although people say the Marshall family has fallen, it only went into hiding after offending someone powerful."The Marshall family has been developing in the capital for years. If you encounter trouble, go to this address and find the Marshall family. Just show them this pendant, and they will help you."In terms of power, the Marshall family was not inferior to the Fisher family. She handed the pendant to Shane, squeezing his hand tightly."I hope you won't need to use this. The Marshall family has withdrawn from worldly affairs, but you are their descendants. Shane, you are the next head of the Marshall family, and they will support you."Shane loo
Shane confidently replied, "Mom will definitely be happy with me as her son-in-law. I'm confident about that." The marriage between him and Haley was arranged by Yvonne and her mother. However, due to unforeseen circumstances, he was replaced by James. Therefore, he was certain that Yvonne would approve of him as a son-in-law.Haley lifted her chin proudly and said, "We'll see. If my mom doesn't like you..."Shane grinned confidently. "That's not going to happen!"Even if there was a chance, he would do everything in his power to earn Yvonne's approval. No other outcome was possible.After returning home, Haley and Shane quickly packed their suitcases and headed to the airport. Zac and Henry were already there waiting.Haley waved at them with a smile. "Everyone's here, let's go!"At that moment, two hands simultaneously grabbed her suitcase. Shane and Zac spoke in unison, "I'll carry it..."Their eyes met, and an unspoken challenge sparked between them. Neither was willing
Four hours later, the plane landed at Capital airport. Zac pushed the luggage cart out, and Haley noticed, frowning slightly. "It’s so heavy. Are you sure you can handle all that by yourself? Let me help…""No need, I can handle it," Zac quickly dodged Haley's outstretched hand, forcing a smile. "Leave this to us men. I've already arranged for a car to pick us up. It's waiting outside."Haley looked him over, still worried, but seeing he seemed fine, she finally relaxed. However, she did not notice the smile that spread across Zac's face once she turned away. The usually stoic man softened visibly, basking in his sister's concern. It felt like he might finally be accepted as her brother.Watching from the sidelines, Henry covered his face in exasperation. This grinning fool could not be the same man he knew! Henry quickened his pace, distancing himself from Zac, clearly not wanting any association.The group arrived at a private villa complex. Zac explained, "This is my prope
Haley’s eyes widened in shock. "How could this happen?""It’s a long story." Shane looked at the ceiling, his thoughts drifting. "Zac’s mother came from a poor background, a student from a remote mountainous area who was fortunate to be sponsored by the Fisher family to attend the Capital University."She could have had a bright future, but after seeing the Fisher family’s wealth, her ambitions grew. She took advantage of Charles when he was drunk and had a relationship with him, resulting in Zac."She was clever and hid her pregnancy, not telling anyone. By the time the child was born, it was too late for the Fisher family to do anything. She thought she could marry into the Fisher family through Zac, but she did not understand Charles at all.Charles was not someone who could be manipulated and he hated being threatened. The Fisher family refused to acknowledge the child, so Zac was tossed around like a ball.When she could not get what she wanted, her mind twisted, and she vent
"She’s asleep," Shane whispered, closing the door softly and leading Zac downstairs.Seeing the hesitation in Zac’s expression, Shane spoke first, "I told her about your background."Zac’s hand trembled slightly, almost spilling the water from his cup. He looked at Shane in surprise. "How did she react?"Would she be disgusted by his origins? He lowered his gaze, forcing a bitter smile. Of course she would. After all, his mother was a greedy, malicious woman, and he had inherited her dirty genes.After being friends for so many years, Shane could easily guess what Zac was thinking. He patted Zac's shoulder reassuringly. "Don’t worry, Haley felt really sorry for you. She cried in my arms for a long time before she finally fell asleep.""Really?" Zac's head shot up, a rare gleam of hope shining in his usually emotionless eyes.Shane nodded with a smile. "Of course. When have I ever lied to you?"Zac’s lips curved into a smile he could not suppress, and the tension in his body
Both of them paused and pulled back their utensils."Wifey, you need to eat more. You're not eating for just one now. There's a little one inside you too," Shane said, picking up an empty bowl and filling it with chicken soup before placing it in front of Haley.Zac, not wanting to be outdone, added, "You're too thin. You need to eat more to nourish yourself properly."He couldn't understand how the food at the Ford family had not helped her gain any weight. Now that they were staying in the capital, he was determined to ensure she was well-fed and healthy.Caught between their concerns, Haley nodded in agreement, appreciating their care and not wanting to worry them.Watching from the side, Henry pouted in frustration. "I'm your friend too. Why does no one care about me?"Shane and Zac both shot him disdainful looks. "Are you pregnant or missing a limb? Why would you need extra care?"Henry was left speechless, his face dropping as he silently shoveled food into his mouth.Aft
……After two days in the capital, Zac still had no updates. Haley grew increasingly restless, pacing around her room. Shane and Zac had gone out, leaving her alone in an unfamiliar city. She ended up asking the housekeeper about the Fisher family in the capital.From their conversation, she learned that the internal strife within the Fisher family was even worse than she had imagined. Everyone coveted the position of head of the Fisher family. Zac himself had survived multiple assassination attempts, and it was a miracle he was still alive. Given the circumstances, Haley was unsure whether she should reveal her identity. Although she was a woman, there had been a precedent for women becoming the head of the Fisher family. This revelation would disrupt her peaceful life, but she could not avoid searching for her mother. Her mother, who had promised to love and protect her forever, was someone she could not abandon.Taking a deep breath, Haley decided to visit the hospital. Give