After resolving the situation with Eason and Uncle John, Charles summoned all the extended family members to the Fisher estate. This time, before seeing Charles, everyone was on edge, worried they might inadvertently anger him and meet the same fate as Eason.Soon, Charles entered the room with Haley, Zac, and Ken, even bringing Gaius along. The previously noisy crowd fell silent immediately, their nerves evident as they watched Charles, unsure of his intentions.Charles took his seat at the head of the table, surveying the room with a commanding presence. "I know it wasn’t easy for everyone to come here, and I hope your stay in the capital has been comfortable. If there’s been any inconvenience, I ask for your understanding."Everyone quickly waved off his concern, nervously agreeing, "No, no, everything’s been great. The accommodations have been excellent, we’ve been so comfortable, we don’t want to leave, haha..."Their laughter quickly died out as they caught sight of Charles
In the evening, after they all had dinner together, Haley and Shane announced that they needed to head back.Charles raised an eyebrow in surprise. "Why the rush? Why not stay a few more days?""We can’t," Haley replied with a smile. "We’ve got a lot of work waiting for us in Jasper City. We can’t just leave it unattended."Charles nodded, a hint of reluctance in his voice. "Alright then, but I’ll go back with you to Jasper City. I’ve got some things I need to take care of there anyway."Haley blinked and teased, "Are you really going to leave Mom alone? Can you bear it? Maybe she should come with us to Jasper City."Without hesitation, Charles shook his head. "No way. I’ll be back tomorrow. I can’t stand the thought of her running around with me everywhere."Haley teased with a smile, "It’s winter in the capital right now. Mom might just prefer staying in Jasper City. What will you do then?"Charles shot her a playful glare. "What else? I’ll be right there with her, of course.
In the car, Haley gazed out the window in the direction where Charles had disappeared, her brows furrowing in concern. "Why do I feel like Dad is hiding something from us?" she murmured.Ever since they boarded the plane, Charles had seemed off. Whenever Haley tried to engage him in conversation, he appeared distracted, his thoughts clearly elsewhere.Shane wrapped his arm around her shoulders, pulling her close with a gentle smile. "He's a grown man. You don't need to worry so much. Trust me, he knows what he's doing."But Haley's frown remained. "I don't know… something feels different this time. It’s like there’s something strange going on."Shane glanced down at her, softly brushing a thumb over the crease in her brow. "Alright, stop worrying. We're in Jasper City, on familiar ground. No one can touch him here."Haley sighed, feeling somewhat reassured, and let the thought slip from her mind.Soon, they arrived back at Violet Grove. Shane stepped out of the car first, exten
Haley raised an eyebrow at him, "What are you up to?""Nothing much," Shane replied with a slight smile. He wrapped one arm around her waist, pulling her closer. And with the other hand, he gently cupped the back of her head, drawing her into a deep kiss.The sound of their lips meeting filled the room, lingering for a moment before fading away. "Just wanted to show you who’s sweeter," he murmured against her lips."Mmm…" Haley tried to respond, but her words were muffled as Shane’s urgent, passionate kiss left her no room to breathe or escape. She felt herself becoming lightheaded, completely overwhelmed by his intensity.Sensing her struggle, Shane finally released her, resting his forehead against hers. "How is it that after all this time, you still haven’t learned?" he teased.Haley’s cheeks flushed pink as she avoided his intense gaze. His eyes were filled with a heat that made her feel as though she might melt under his stare. She pouted, feigning defiance, "I’m just n
James bitterly smiled. Ever since he left the Ford family and lost his status as a member of the Ford family, whatever pride he had had long been shattered by reality. Only now, after everything, did he truly realize how lucky he had been, living carefree under Shane's protection. But those days were gone for good."Uncle, I have something I need to take care of. I'll be going now," he said quickly before hurrying away, unable to meet Shane's eyes any longer.Shane stared at James's retreating figure, his eyes clouded with thought. He didn’t snap out of it until Haley tugged at his sleeve."Come on, let’s go eat." He took her delicate hand, ready to lead her away.But Haley did not move. "Wait here for a second," she said, giving him a look before turning and heading toward a nearby private room. Shane watched curiously as she confidently pushed the door open and stepped inside."Mr. Watson, right?" she said, her voice calm but firm. "James may no longer be part of the Ford fami
Haley was shocked by her own suspicion, and for a moment, she did not realize how intently she was staring at Charlotte. But Charlotte noticed. Blushing, Charlotte nervously bit her lip and asked, "Is something wrong? Do I have something on my face?"Haley snapped out of it, realizing she had been staring, and quickly apologized. "No, no, nothing like that. I just suddenly thought you’re actually quite pretty."Charlotte’s cheeks flushed even deeper, and she waved her hands in embarrassment. "No, no, I’m nowhere near as pretty as you, Miss Haley. You’re the most beautiful girl I’ve ever seen."Compliments like that could make any girl smile, and Haley was not an exception. She smiled, thanked Charlotte, and quickly handed back the menu after placing her order.Once Charlotte left, Haley nudged Shane with her elbow and whispered, "Don’t you think something’s off?"Shane looked puzzled. "What do you mean?"Haley’s lips curled into a mysterious smile. "I’m talking about Zac. Don’t
After what felt like an eternity, Haley's entire body felt light-headed, as though she was being roasted over a fire.She could barely catch her breath when Shane finally released her reluctantly. His deep, dark eyes sparkled with a brilliant light.Leaning against his shoulder, Haley struggled to breathe, her chest rising and falling rapidly as though she had been harshly mistreated. This appearance made her even more captivating than before.Shane's Adam's apple moved slightly as his gaze fell on her full, rosy lips, growing more heated by the second.Sensing his intent, Haley glared at him sharply and covered her lips with the back of her hand, warning him in a low voice, "Don't even think about it."Shane silently regretted it but knew when to stop. With difficulty, he tore his gaze away from her.Seeing that he no longer attempted to touch her, Haley finally breathed a sigh of relief."By the way, has Dad contacted you recently? I haven’t seen him in ages." They had retur
Charles nervously touched his nose. "Let me explain...""Go on, you'd better explain yourself clearly, or don’t blame me for being harsh!" Haley sat down on the sofa, crossing her arms and glaring at him. She was giving off the vibe that if he dared lie, she would not hesitate to deal with him.Charles had no choice but to repeat what he had just said. "I really didn’t mean to lose contact. The mountain area was so remote that there was no signal. I had no choice."Haley snorted. "Stop making excuses. If you really wanted to contact us, you’d find a way, no matter what."Charles wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and helplessly glanced at Shane. These two were definitely a couple! They even thought alike."It’s true. There was no communication equipment at all. They live almost entirely like it’s the old days. I had no way to reach anyone."Haley gave him a stern look. "So, did you find the person you were looking for? You’ve been there so long, and you didn’t even find them?