"Alright, Bob, I'm heading upstairs now. You should get some rest too."Haley waved to the butler and dashed upstairs. Watching her retreating figure, the butler smiled warmly. "Madam has become so cheerful. It's wonderful."He remembered when Haley first moved into the Violet Grove. She was always calm and gentle but rarely smiled, often appearing somewhat melancholic. He had even caught her lost in thought a few times. Fortunately, those days were behind her now. With a new life and a brighter personality, she seemed happier.Thinking about the love between her and Shane, the butler couldn't help but smile with satisfaction.Unaware of the butler's thoughts, Haley quietly retrieved an item from her bag and hid it after returning to her room. After a shower, she started watching a drama, waiting for Shane to come home. It was around eleven when Shane finally walked in, looking exhausted but still exuding his usual grace and charm.Haley opened her arms and gave him a sweet sm
Even from a distance, Haley felt a tingle in her ears at the sound of Shane's husky voice, sending shivers down her spine. Her cheeks flushed as she quickly pulled out something hidden beneath the pillow. "Here, this is for you."Shane took it, his eyes widening as he realized what it was. "An ultrasound report?"Haley nodded, smiling as she pointed to the image. "The doctor said our baby is doing very well. Even though the body isn't fully developed yet, you can tell it's getting all the nutrients it needs. And soon, we'll be able to hear the baby's heartbeat."The sight of the ultrasound filled her with an overwhelming sense of happiness. Shane stared at the report for a long moment, speechless.Haley nudged his chest gently. "What's wrong?"Shane snapped out of his reverie, pulling Haley into his arms, letting her rest her head on his shoulder. "I’m just feeling a bit sentimental. I never imagined there’d be a little one in my life, carrying on our family.""Are you happy?"
*Knock, knock* The office door was knocked on. While signing documents, Haley said, "Come in."Layla entered from outside and said, "Miss Haley, I just contacted the person in charge of Willow Sky Fashion. They want to speak with you directly."Willow Sky Fashion was a clothing company that had risen rapidly in recent years, specializing in high-end fashion lines. In just two years, it had gained a reputation on par with Morning Dew Design Co.However, the company's owner had always been very mysterious, rarely appearing in public.Haley had always wanted to collaborate with this company but had been turned down every time. She never expected them to actively reach out to JY and request a meeting with her.Haley pondered for a moment and said, "Respond to them that I agree. Let them decide the location."Although she was unsure of their intentions, it certainly piqued Haley’s interest.Layla nodded and quickly made the call.Soon, Layla returned, "They've scheduled the meet
Haley's lips curved into a slight smile. "You haven't changed much. You're still as enigmatic as ever."William looked surprised for a moment, then chuckled softly. "I'll take that as a compliment.""Let's get to the point. You didn't invite me out just to catch up, did you?""You're as sharp as ever, Miss Haley." William pulled a file from his bag and handed it to her. "I'm here to discuss a potential collaboration."Haley didn’t even glance at the file. "JY is currently on a strong upward trajectory. I’m sure many companies would love to partner with us. What makes you think Willow Sky Fashion could catch my interest?"William responded calmly, "While there are many fashion companies, Willow Sky Fashion stands out in terms of scale, quality, and reputation. I believe that as a capable decision-maker, you will make the right choice.""Can I ask why you’re so keen on partnering with JY? Our relationship is still a bit awkward."William smiled lightly. "The relationship between m
"You went through all this trouble. What's in it for you?" Haley looked at William, puzzled.William chuckled and revealed his true intentions. "I want shares in the Ford Corporation and I want to cause trouble for Shane.""Well, you've got the wrong person. Why should the Ford Corporation’s shares go to you? Just because you’re an illegitimate child?"William nodded. "So what if I’m an illegitimate child? I have inheritance rights too. But Shane and his mother refused to share the inheritance with us and tried to destroy us."He returned solely for revenge."If it weren’t for Shane and Mrs. Ford Sr., my mother wouldn’t have died."Mentioning his mother, William's expression twisted with barely contained anger.Haley looked at him calmly. "I don’t know what happened back then or understand the grudges between you, but I can tell you clearly that my mother-in-law and Shane aren’t like that."William laughed mockingly. "Haley, you’re so naive. Do you not understand that people ca
His words hit Haley like a thunderclap, leaving her head spinning and her mind blank for a long time. How did Joe find out that Yvonne was still alive after all these years of being carefully protected by Charles?Joe took Haley's silence as confirmation. Realizing he had been kept in the dark for so long filled him with rage. "So it's true, then? When did you find out? No wonder you've had the confidence to go against me lately. You have a backer now!"Haley, you'd better tell me where Yvonne is, or don't blame me for what I'll do next!"The constant yelling in her ear snapped Haley back to reality. She suppressed her emotions, keeping a calm facade despite the turmoil inside. "I don't know what you're talking about. You personally buried Mom. Shouldn't you know best?"Joe was momentarily stunned, his anger giving way to confusion. That's right. He had personally handled Yvonne's body and buried her after she died in the hospital. The medical equipment had shown her heart
Twenty years ago, when Charles was still the head of the Fisher family, Joe had seen him at a banquet. How could Yvonne be with him? Joe's mind filled with questions, but there was no one to answer them.He picked up his phone and started searching for information about Charles online. To his surprise, he found some clues. There were numerous rumors about Charles, saying that over twenty years ago, he had given up his position as head of the Fisher Corporation for a woman. Five years ago, coinciding with the year Yvonne supposedly died, Charles announced his marriage.Few had seen Charles’s wife, but in occasional photos from banquets, a figure could be spotted at the edges. Even if only a partial view of her back or profile was visible, Joe’s heart raced with realization. That was Yvonne! He would recognize her anywhere, even if she had turned to ashes.Joe knew he had to investigate. Yvonne might be dead, but she was still his wife. How could she be with another man? However,
Zoe applied her makeup while speaking. She had been spending time with a few wealthy men lately and hadn't rested in days. The fatigue showed on her face, and she had to cover it with thick concealer to hide her age. When Xena heard her mother, her eyes lit up. "Okay, I'll head over now."Upon arriving at the hospital, the strong smell of disinfectant hit Xena's nose. She suppressed her disgust and walked into the ward."Dad."Joe's eyes brightened the moment he saw her. "Xena, you finally came!""What did you need me for? I’m really busy."Joe's smile froze, and he looked at her in disbelief. "What did you say?"Was this really his kind, gentle, and obedient daughter, Xena? Why was she so impatient with him?Realizing her mistake, Xena quickly adjusted her expression and smiled. "Dad, I've just been really busy with work lately. Don’t take it the wrong way.""Oh, I see."Joe sighed in relief. There was no way Xena could be ungrateful."Xena, I need you to go to the capital
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