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
Just as Shane was about to call it a night, his phone vibrated. He picked it up and answered, "What’s going on?"On the other end, Dean said something that made Shane’s expression harden instantly.Haley, sensing the change in his demeanor, asked curiously, "What happened?"Shane forced a smile and shook his head, gently ruffling her soft hair. "Nothing serious. You go ahead and sleep. I’ve got something to take care of, and I’m not sure when I’ll be back."After saying that, he quickly went to the closet. He then grabbed a suit, and got dressed before heading out the door in a hurry.Haley frowned slightly as she watched him leave. "Why was he in such a rush?" she wondered. "Is he hiding something from me?"Shane grabbed his car keys and randomly selected a car from the garage, driving straight to the police station.Dean had just called to inform him that the police had received a request from William, who wanted to meet with Shane, claiming that he had something important to
Shane returned home to find Haley already asleep. Not wanting to disturb her, he quietly retreated from the room and made his way to the wine cellar. He poured himself a glass of red wine, but just as he raised it to his lips, his phone rang.Glancing at the caller ID, Shane answered in a cold tone, "This better be important."There was a brief silence on the other end before Dean spoke. "Sir, there’s been an incident. The police just called... William... has committed suicide.""What?"Shane’s grip tightened around his phone, disbelief washing over him. He swallowed hard, struggling to find his voice. "What happened?"Dean responded, "I’m not entirely sure of the details. After you left, his behavior seemed off, but no one thought much of it. Late at night, someone noticed blood on the floor during a bathroom break. By the time they realized what had happened, it was too late... They couldn’t save him."Dean paused before adding, "He left a letter. It’s addressed to both you and
Shane’s gaze landed on the envelope in Haley’s hand, and his eyes narrowed slightly. "You… you saw it?"Haley pulled out the letter, nodding gently, her face filled with regret and sadness. "So, last night when you came home late, you were at the police station to see him?"Shane lowered his head, responding with a quiet "Yeah." He sighed. "I had been having Dean investigate the truth behind William’s mother’s death for a while, and we finally found the evidence a couple of days ago. I just wanted to settle everything once and for all. But I never expected…"He never expected William to take such an extreme step and choose to end his life.Haley could see the turmoil in Shane’s eyes. She moved closer, wrapping her arms around him, and whispered softly, "It’s not your fault. This isn’t on you… Don’t carry that guilt."Shane shut his eyes tightly, holding Haley close, but remained silent for a long time.After what felt like an eternity, he finally steadied his emotions, took a dee