She's Mine To Claim

Outside, the lights shone brightly, as elegantly dressed ladies with perfumed clothes and beautiful hair gathered upstairs for a lively drinking party. A large group of people enjoyed drinks and games.However, all this excitement meant nothing to Hailey Stewart. The only couple hosting the engagement ceremony upstairs was her ex-boyfriend and his new fiancée. Hailey, who had initially planned to confront them, was shocked to discover that she couldn’t even enter the banquet hall. How ironic!Looking at the blue rose a kind stranger had given her in the bathroom, Hailey hesitated to discard it, feeling it would be a waste. With the flower in hand, she left the hotel, which had soured her mood.As Hailey was about to enter the elevator, she realized she was about to make a mistake. Unsure of what to do next, she halted her steps.A man in black stood in the elevator’s corner. When he noticed the flower in Hailey’s hand, he appeared surprised.“Are you Mrs. Belle? Our boss has been waiti

Calvin Blake, the adopted son of the Blake family's second son, had been abandoned on a snowy day. The matriarch took him in, raised him like one of their own.Now, he lay on a hospital bed, pale, thin, clinging to life with only the machines beside him keeping him alive.Hailey stood frozen by the bed, staring at the frail man for what felt like forever.“Stop standing there like a statue,” snapped Rowena Harver, her mother-in-law. “If you can’t help, move aside.”A servant entered quietly, carrying a basin of warm water. Rowena, thin and tired herself, gently wiped Calvin’s face and hands. Her eyes, red from sleepless nights, never left him. She had no children of her own—Calvin was all she had.Feeling awkward, Hailey took two steps back, giving space to the grieving woman.Just then, Calvin’s fingers twitched.It was so slight, no one noticed at first. But then his eyelids fluttered open.“Quick, get the doctor!” Rowena’s voice shook, though she tried to sound steady. The servant r

Hailey furrowed her brow, quickly grabbing a thick pillow from the couch and slipping it under Travis’s injured hand. It lifted his wrist, making it easier to tend to the wound.The moment her fingers brushed his skin, two sharp gasps filled the room.All eyes turned toward them.From the corner of her eye, Hailey saw Travis’s mother, Thalia Blake, watching silently. Her expression was calm, but her sharp gaze missed nothing—the flicker of surprise on Travis’s face, the quiet tension in Hailey’s shoulders, the way both struggled to stay composed.Even the butler, usually expressionless, paused for a second, quietly observing.Hailey ignored them all. Her focus stayed on Travis’s hand as she dabbed it gently with alcohol. The sharp sting made his hand twitch, the muscles in his arm tightening for a moment.She hesitated.The memory of Travis’s fist slamming into the car window still lingered in her mind. His strength, his temper—she didn’t doubt for a second that if his anger turned on

Hailey glanced at the bus stop not far away, then crouched slightly to peer into the car. Travis sat inside, eyes fixed straight ahead, face expressionless.“Thank you for your kindness,” Hailey said calmly, “but I’ll be fine taking the bus.”At her words, Travis’s head turned. His sharp, displeased gaze locked onto her.“Do you want the public to think the Harvey family mistreats their new lady? That she can only afford a public bus to go out?”His voice was low, cold, carrying just enough weight to stifle any further protest.Hailey's lips pressed into a line. The so-called "Harvey family young lady" title was known only to the Harveys and the Stewarts. As far as the world was concerned, she was just… no one.What’s wrong with taking the bus? she thought, but wisely kept it to herself.She hesitated, debating whether to reveal her destination. But Travis’s patience had run thin.“Get in the car,” he ordered, voice taut with growing irritation.Suppressing a snort, Hailey got in. It’s

Before Hailey could process what was happening, someone grabbed her arm and yanked her forward.“Run!” the stranger shouted.She stumbled, but he didn’t let go. They sprinted together down the sidewalk, his grip firm but not painful. Just as they reached the corner, a deafening crash exploded behind them.Hailey's breath caught. She twisted around, her heart pounding.An SUV had slammed into the sidewalk, right where she’d just been. The front was crushed, smoke curling from the dented hood.If she hadn’t moved... she might be,Hailey shuddered and quickly pushed the thought away.“Are you okay?” came a soft, low voice near her ear.She turned and froze.A handsome young man stood beside her, his face glowing faintly in the afternoon sun. His eyes, dark and steady, looked her over with concern. There was something calm and gentle about him, his voice, his presence. Hailey didn’t know why, but he seemed... familiar.“Did you just save me?” she asked, still a little dazed.The corner of