"Next time you encounter something like this, don't risk your life again. Got it?"Haley stared at him, a sudden realization dawning on her. "Dad, are you worried about me?"Charles was rendered speechless."Was that really what he meant to say?" Haley pondered."I'm being serious. Did you hear what I said?""Yes, yes, I heard you! Thank you, Dad."After spending time with him, Haley had come to understand Charles's personality quite well. Despite his aloof exterior, he was all talk and no action when it came to being strict.Charles's anger dissipated at her calling him "Dad.""Alright, just be careful next time.""Okay!" Haley responded cheerfully, her voice sweet and melodious.Charles continued walking, but Haley noticed a small smile forming at the corner of his lips. Haley quietly made a victory sign to Jenny and high-fived her.Yes! Mission accomplished!Suddenly, Charles stopped and looked back. "Aren't you coming?""Coming!"Haley quickly closed her mouth and pul
Charles felt a chill down his spine at being called "Dad," and he took a deep breath, his expression turning stern. "Instead of thanking me, think about how to protect Haley better.""Don't worry, Dad. I've always had people watching over her," Shane replied. There was no way he would take Haley's safety lightly. From the moment she left the house, he had contacted the Marshall family's security team to protect her discreetly. The club they went to was owned by the Marshall family, so installing a camera in the private room was a simple task. That was how he knew everything that had happened once Haley entered the room. He trusted Haley could handle Rachel and the other spoiled, but harmless, rich girls, which was why he did not intervene immediately.Seeing her father glaring at Shane, Haley quickly stepped forward, hugging his arm and coaxing, "Dad, I'm fine, see? Besides, I can take care of myself."And don't forget, you were there for me, Dad. You should have seen Rachel's
"That's not going to happen. Everything you see here is real, and I can vouch for it. Do you not trust me, Haley?"Haley shook her head. "Of course, I trust you. It's just that thinking about being apart from Mom makes me feel empty inside."Shane laughed softly and gently ruffled her hair. "Silly girl, it's not like we're never coming back. We're just going back temporarily to handle some work. No matter when you want to come back, I'll be right there with you."Haley couldn't help but smile at his serious tone, her worries slowly dissipating."Yes, as soon as we finish our work, we'll come right back."If it weren't for JY and the Ford family's roots being in Jasper City, she would have moved to the capital already to be closer to her mom.After they finished packing, Shane lifted Haley onto the bed. "It's late. Get some rest."Haley blinked, her eyes showing no sign of sleepiness. "But what if I can't fall asleep?"Shane's eyes darkened slightly. "If you really can't sleep,
After breakfast, Shane brought down the luggage, getting ready to leave with Haley.Henry and Jenny were also leaving. Jenny, who was there on a business trip, had already concluded her project. With Haley leaving, she saw no reason to stay longer.Zac still had some matters to deal with and planned to return a few days later.Haley clung to Yvonne, not wanting to let go, her eyes red with tears, looking extremely aggrieved.Yvonne, also reluctant to part, gently coaxed her, "Haley, be good. If you can't find the time, I'll come to see you in a while."Haley jerked up from her embrace, "No, no, there's no need. Mom, your health isn't good. Stay in the capital and take care of yourself. I'll go first."After speaking, afraid Yvonne might notice something, she quickly waved her hand and got into the car.Yvonne was puzzled and turned to Charles, who avoided her gaze, looking everywhere but at her."Are you hiding something from me?"This wasn't the first time she had this feelin
As soon as the elevator doors opened, they saw a familiar face, Zoe. Even though Zoe was over 40, she maintained herself well, wearing all designer clothes, including a short, sexy skirt with a low neckline that revealed her fair skin and impressive figure. The man beside her looked to be in his fifties or sixties. Despite wearing a gray suit, he had a bloated physique and a beer belly, with thinning hair. Standing together, they looked more like father and daughter. However, their intimate behavior revealed their true relationship.Haley and Shane exchanged a glance, their eyes lighting up with gossip."Is Joe being cheated on by Zoe again?" Haley asked.Shane nodded, "Looks like it."Haley snorted, a hint of schadenfreude in her voice, "Serves him right. It's karma for what they did to my mother."Remembering the grievances and pain her mother had suffered, Haley felt an intense desire to tear those two apart."Want to embarrass them? That's easy," Shane said, noticing Hale
When Joe opened his eyes again, ready to confront Zoe, he found the hospital room empty.When a nurse came in, he asked if Zoe or Xena had visited recently. The nurse replied that they had not."Mrs. Zoe left the hospital right after you lost consciousness. Since then, she hasn't returned. We tried to contact her to settle your bills, but we couldn't reach her."Joe nearly coughed up blood in anger. What was Zoe up to?Why hadn't she paid his bills? Did she want him dead?He pulled out his phone and called Zoe, but she didn't answer. Frustrated, he called Xena to ask about Zoe's whereabouts, but Xena was evasive and hesitant."Dad, I haven't seen Mom lately. I've got something to do, so I need to go.""Hello? Hello!"Listening to the busy tone, Joe was so angry he almost smashed his phone. The nurse, seeing his fury, tried to calm him down, her eyes filled with sympathy. Joe had been in the hospital for a while, and the staff had heard plenty of gossip about him. They k
Everything before her was just the beginning. Haley was kind-hearted and disliked conflict, but Shane was different. He was notoriously vengeful. If he set his mind to it, no one could escape his grasp without facing consequences.Reading Shane's message, a warm feeling surged in Haley's heart. "Thank you, hubby."She then quickly texted Charles, her fingers typing swiftly on the screen."I heard about Rachel. Thank you, Dad."In the capital, Charles, who was enjoying tea with his wife, couldn't help but smile upon receiving the message.Yvonne looked up at him with a hint of curiosity in her eyes. "What made you so happy? It's rare to see you like this."Having been with Charles for so many years, she knew him well. Although he often showed a gentle side around her, she was more aware than anyone that his coldness was ingrained in his nature. Seeing him suddenly smile at his phone was unprecedented.Charles's usually aloof expression softened, a touch of joy spreading across
Three days later, Haley received a call from an unknown number. Thinking it might be a client, she absentmindedly answered, only to hear Joe's voice."Haley, it's your father..."Hearing that familiar voice, Haley's expression instantly turned cold. "Mr. Carter, do I need to remind you? We severed our father-daughter relationship a long time ago. Additionally, the DNA test proved I'm not your biological daughter."Joe felt a stinging pain on his face, a deep regret swelling in his chest."Haley, I was wrong back then. I was out of my mind and did many things that hurt you. But I've seen the error of my ways. Could you please give me another chance?"He genuinely realized his mistake now. Or rather, he regretted the choices he had made. He had always believed that Zoe was loyal and would never betray him. But now he understood that Zoe had been with him only for his money.Haley, though not his biological daughter, was kind and pure. If he treated her well, wouldn't the JY company
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