As soon as they got into the car, Shane's phone suddenly rang. He glanced at the caller ID, answered, and asked, "What’s up?"Henry’s voice was filled with excitement. "I heard Zac is back! Want to go over? It’s been ages since we’ve all seen him, and I really miss the guy.""Zac’s back? When did that happen?" Shane was momentarily stunned. How could Zac come back without letting them know?Henry replied, "It should be today. I think he’s still at the airport. He’s probably got some business to handle, and he’ll have to head back soon. That’s probably why he didn’t notify us."Shane thought for a moment and then looked over at Haley.Meeting her curious gaze, Shane said, "Alright, we’ll head over right away."After hanging up, Haley asked, "Was that Henry? What’s going on?"Shane gave her a reassuring look and explained, "Zac’s back. Henry asked if we wanted to stop by his place.""Sure, but why’s he coming back at this time?"Shane casually drummed his fingers on the steering
Charlotte opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but in the end, not a single word came out. She lowered her head, her ears turning a deep shade of red, lost in her thoughts.But Zac was not going to let her off so easily. "You called me earlier today, saying you were in pain and asking if I could come be with you. Are you backing out now?"Charlotte bit her lip, still silent, unsure of what to say.It was true that she had called Zac, pleading for him to return, but things hadn’t gone the way she expected.She had always seen Zac as someone she could rely on. Aside from her mother, Zac was the only one who had ever treated her kindly. At the time, she didn’t even know what had come over her, daring to ask Zac to come back because she needed him.What she never expected was that Zac would actually return just because of her request.Charlotte felt like something had hit her heart hard, sending ripples through her emotions.Then, somehow, things had escalated, with Zac becom
In the car, Henry leaned forward curiously. He rested his arms on the backs of the driver and passenger seats, his eyes darting between the two of them."Shane and Haley, are you two hiding something from me?"Haley blinked innocently. "No, why would you think that?"Henry snorted, his tone suspicious. "I don’t know. I just have a feeling that something’s off with you two. You’re definitely hiding something from me. Did something happen to Zac?""No.""Of course not."Haley and Shane answered in unison.They exchanged a quick glance, then simultaneously looked away with perfect synchronization."Something’s definitely up. You two are acting way too suspicious. Pull over. I’m going back. I want to see what’s going on with Zac."Haley quickly grabbed him, lowering her voice. "Don’t do anything rash. Fine, I’ll tell you."Seeing that his little trick had worked, Henry couldn’t help but smirk before straightening up, putting on a serious face."Alright, now you can explain."Wi
Haley sat up in bed and wrapped her arms around Shane again, nuzzling him softly. "Of course, you’re more important than barbeque."As if to prove her point, she planted a quick kiss on Shane’s cheek without hesitation.Shane wasted no time pulling her into his embrace, his arms around her waist, holding her tightly, not allowing her to slip away.Haley smiled up at him and kissed him again. "Is that enough?""Not enough," Shane murmured as he leaned in closer, capturing her soft, rosy lips in a kiss.Haley wrapped her arms around Shane’s neck, timidly responding to his kiss.Her willingness was like fuel to Shane’s fire, and the kiss grew hotter, more intense.Haley slowly closed her eyes, and before long, it felt like the air was being stolen from her lungs bit by bit.She could hardly catch her breath.Haley gently pushed against Shane’s solid chest, and sensing her need, he pulled back just slightly.His gaze lingered on her glistening lips, his eyes darker than before.
Henry quickly shut his mouth at Shane's words. "Got it, Shane. Just hurry down, the ingredients are almost here.""You guys go ahead and start. I've still got some work to finish," Shane replied before hanging up.With a sigh, Henry turned to Zac and Jenny. "Shane's still busy with work. He said we should get started, so let's get things moving."Zac nodded, his expression still as cold as ever.Henry, remembering what had happened yesterday, couldn't help but feel curious. He lowered his voice and asked, "Zac, were you up to something shady behind our backs yesterday?"Zac paused briefly, his gaze flickering for a moment before he returned to his usual calm demeanor. "Why would you ask that?""Don't pretend with me, I already know," Henry said with a playful snort. "Did you really fall for that Charlotte? I just don't see how she's a good match for you."He had seen Charlotte before. While she was pretty, in their social circles, beauty was hardly rare. Plus, she seemed way too
Haley paused for a moment, then smiled sweetly and said, "Mr. Ford, make sure you eat more. You've worked so hard too."Pregnancy was tough, but caring for someone who was pregnant wasn't easy either. Shane had been constantly busy lately, moving a lot of his work home just to be there for her. Important meetings had been shifted to online video calls, and documents were now being delivered by Dean, which wasn’t always convenient. Yet, Shane never once complained. He actually seemed to enjoy it.Shane smiled, feeling a warmth he couldn’t quite describe. "It’s not hard at all. You’ve been so considerate that taking care of you hasn’t been much work."Haley smiled and nodded, then, in a sneaky move, tossed a piece of tender spicy beef into the grill. She thought she was being subtle, even glancing away as if nothing had happened.But Shane had seen it all."You can’t eat that. It’s too spicy and not good for you," Shane said sternly.Haley pouted, her lips curling in a slight fro
Haley looked at Shane in surprise. "So soon?"Although she had been eagerly anticipating the wedding, a part of her couldn’t help but feel a little nervous.Shane smiled, gently ruffling her hair, and softly reassured her, "Don’t worry. I’ve got everything under control. You just focus on being a beautiful bride."This wedding was something Shane felt he owed Haley. Their initial marriage had been rushed, just a simple agreement on paper, with no real ceremony or even rings. At the time, he hadn’t held much hope for their relationship, convinced that Haley still harbored feelings for his nephew, James, and would never truly fall in love with him.Fortunately, he had made the right choice back then.Haley blinked, then smiled as she nodded. With a playful glint in her eyes, she said, "Alright, I’ll leave everything to you. Make sure you plan it well."Shane pulled her into his arms and kissed her softly on the lips. "As you wish, my wifey."After spending a little more time str
Haley touched her now rounder face and couldn’t help but pout. "No way, I’ve definitely gained weight. Look, it’s all soft and squishy." Mrs. Ford Sr. reached out and gently pinched Haley’s cheek, indeed noticing the extra softness. But as an elder, she loved seeing her younger family members looking healthy and well-fed."It’s still not enough. You need to take better care of yourself. You're pregnant, so you need to keep up with your nutrition to make sure the baby grows strong and healthy."Haley smiled and nodded. "Alright, alright, I’ll make sure of it. You don’t need to worry so much about me, Mom. Shane’s been taking good care of me."Mrs. Ford Sr. let out a light snort, dismissing the idea. "A grown man, no matter how caring, can only do so much. Make sure the chef prepares more nutritious meals. Your health is the top priority now."Haley nodded and handed Mrs. Ford Sr. an insulated container she brought. "This is a special remedy my dad prepared for you. I had it brewed
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