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
Charles nearly dropped the glass he was holding, stunned for a good three seconds before snapping back to reality. "What did you say?"Haley understood the gravity of the situation and patiently repeated herself, "Joe called me today, asking if I knew that Mom never died."Charles was silent for a long time, then took a deep breath and his voice turned calm, "Don't worry about this. I'll handle it."Haley felt a surge of sudden anger, "How long do you plan to keep this a secret? One lie leads to countless others."Charles said nothing, but it was clear he had no intention of revealing the truth. If the truth came out, Yvonne would undoubtedly leave him.Haley exhaled deeply, frustrated. "If you tell her now, she might still forgive you. But if she hears it from someone else... there's no telling what might happen."Yvonne had always been more forgiving when approached gently. If Charles insisted on hiding the truth, the consequences could be severe.Charles closed his eyes, over
Haley gave the bodyguards a signal. They immediately grabbed Joe and dragged him to the floor. Haley watched coldly, then sat down on the couch to enjoy the show.The bodyguards, well-trained and knowledgeable about the human body, knew exactly where to hit to cause pain without leaving marks. Even though Joe had heart issues, they controlled their strength, ensuring he suffered without triggering a heart attack.After a round of punches and kicks, Joe was in agony, every movement causing sharp pain. He crawled to the bedside and pressed the call button for the nurse. "Help, help me... I'm dying. Call the police!"The nurse rushed in, saw the bodyguards, and froze in fear, not daring to move. Haley, supporting her chin with her hand, gave a gentle smile. "Don't be afraid, go ahead and check him."The nurse, blushing and heart racing from Haley's smile, stammered, "Okay, okay." She quickly examined Joe, who expected to hear he was gravely injured. However, after a thorough check,
Joe struggled desperately as he saw Haley looking through his call records, panic rising within him. "Haley, give me my phone back! Give it back now!"He couldn't let her find out he had sent Xena to the capital. Who knows what she might do if she found out?Haley's eyes narrowed as she glanced at the phone screen, then at Joe. "What are you so afraid of?""I'm not... I'm not afraid of anything," Joe stammered, his eyes darting around.Haley continued, "When did you meet William? What has he been telling you?""Who is William? I don't know what you're talking about. I don't know him. Stop accusing me! And Haley, if you lay a hand on me again, I won't let you get away with it!"Haley studied his expression. Seeing that he wasn’t lying, she dropped the subject. She twirled the phone in her hand before pocketing it. "Given your recent behavior, I'm confiscating your phone. Maybe this will teach you a lesson."Without waiting for Joe's furious response, she turned and left. Joe was