"What is going on in here?" Nolan asked, unable to disguise his disgust. Both Hailey and Max were sitting on the same couch, engrossed in a book, and they were so shocked when the young master rolled in. They quickly gave each other some distance, and Hailey was terribly flushed, patting her palms on her cheeks. Max, on the other hand, was less embarrassed and more surprised. "Hey, Nolan. Hailey got lost, and I thought I would show her where the library was. Turned out she is a Shakespearean, just like your mum was," Max explained, picking up the dusty book they had been reading and showing the cover to Nolan. It was a comedic play by William Shakespeare titled "As You Like It." However, Nolan was not satisfied with the innocent explanation and frowned at the other occupants of the library. "So, let me get things straight: I asked you to get guidance from your maid, and instead, you somehow managed to drag my busy uncle into a book study with you. Am I on track, Miss Lincoln?" "It w
Living with the Rothschilds took some time for Hailey to adjust to. She no longer had to wake up early or do chores. She was pampered and the maids treated her kindly. Mika slept in an adjoining room, ready to assist Hailey if needed at night, although such instances were rare. Nolan made sure to speak to her at least once a day, and that brought her contentment. "Mika!" Hailey called one day while she was in the garden, enjoying the delightful scent of the flowers. Rows upon rows of them stretched out before her, some with complicated names that Mika had once told her, but she had long forgotten. After spending two weeks with the Rothschilds, Hailey had come to understand that things were never simple. "I'm in the garden!" Hailey responded, counting the flowers she had plucked from the abundant bunches. She had found the prettiest vase in the attic and wanted to decorate her room with some flowers. Her room was already beautiful, but flowers symbolized beauty and life. Mika came run
An hour and a bottle of white wine later, they had finished with the wedding preparations, and Lynn had jotted down enough to satisfy her curiosity. Subtly, she observed the couple about to wed and noticed the stark differences between them. Despite his physical disability, Nolan exuded confidence and spoke his mind without hesitation. On the other hand, Hailey was more reserved, willing to go along with Nolan's decisions and Lynn's suggestions. It was her wedding, and Lynn believed she needed to take ownership of it to avoid any future regrets. Her heart went out to Hailey, wondering if she would be more relaxed without her fiancé present. If she could help her loosen up, they might have more fun together. "Can I call you Hailey, Miss Lincoln?" Lynn asked, appealing to her generosity. "Yes, please," Hailey responded immediately, sighing wearily. Nolan noticed her expression change, and his own grew even more strained, if that were possible. "Okay. Perhaps you can visit me in my off
The drive to the hospital provided ample time for Nolan to brief Hailey on the details she needed to know about the patriarch they were about to visit. Initially tempted to write down the information, Hailey resisted the urge to avoid appearing foolish. Instead, she discreetly recorded the details on her phone, later listening to the instructions through her earphones to reinforce her understanding. Although the repeated information caused her head to ache, Nolan's soothing voice had an underlying ominous tone that captured her attention. Sitting so close to her, Nolan's warm breath on her shoulders made her self-conscious. A wave of discomfort washed over her, questioning whether she needed to maintain physical contact with him since they were not yet married. She shifted slightly, testing his awareness, and he instinctively pressed down on her palm. Unintentionally pouting, she was oblivious to how childish it made her appear. Placing his phone on the seat, Nolan scrutinized her sul
The drive to the hospital gave Nolan sufficient time to fill Hailey with the details she needed to know about the patriarch they were going to visit. She had been tempted to write some down to prevent forgetting anything but at the risk of seeming daft, she withheld against the urge. Instead, she subtly recorded them on her phone and when Nolan was done scaring the hell out of her, she plugged in her earphones and listened to the instructions all over again. There were a bunch of them but she was a quick learner when she set her heart to something. She was determined to leave a good impression of herself on the old man so as to hold up her side of the bargain. “Breath, Hailey,” Nolan admonished, feeling her pulse jump every now and then. “I don’t want you looking flushed when we have to go in neither do I want you to have a heart attack.” Hailey gulped hard and peeled the earphones off to take a break. Her head ached from hearing his voice repeat information over and over again. Alt
Hailey's response was a composed silence, refusing to engage with the petty insults. She remained focused on her objective and waited for Nolan, not allowing herself to be affected by the girls' taunting remarks. As Nolan approached, he positioned his wheelchair beside Hailey, signaling his presence and support. Hailey stood up, wearing a tight smile, ready to face the situation. Nolan coughed to draw Hailey's attention and remind her of her role. Hailey immediately stepped forward, greeting Master Rothschild with a polite tone. "Hello, grandfather. I have heard a lot about you." Master Rothschild's gaze remained stern and unyielding. His hawk-like eyes scrutinized Hailey, making her feel uneasy. It was clear where Nolan inherited his attitude from. Looking back at Nolan, Master Rothschild questioned, "Why have you brought her here?" "To pay her respects, grandfather," Nolan explained. Master Rothschild's gaze shifted back to Hailey, his scrutinizing gaze conveying his skepticism
Hailey sat alone on a bench in the hallway, waiting for Nolan to finish his conversation with his grandfather. She pondered why Nolan wanted her to please his grandfather, knowing that Master Rothschild didn't like her. She still couldn't fully comprehend why he offered to help her if she played the role of his wife, but she didn't want to pass up the opportunity. Lost in her thoughts, Hailey was suddenly interrupted by a snarky voice from across the room. "Cassidy, isn't that your sister? The one you showed us pictures of." Hailey quickly turned her head to see the source of the voice, and indeed, it was her half-sister Cassidy, accompanied by her sarcastic group of friends. They were all dressed in chic outfits, and it was evident they were socialites from wealthy families. "Yeah, that's her," Cassidy replied, grabbing her friend's wrist. "Come on, let me introduce you." Before Hailey knew it, the three girls were approaching her at a rapid pace. "Sister!" Cassidy beamed when t
Hailey and Nolan exited the hospital and walked towards the car. Tino, who was already there, quickly opened the car door for them, assisting Nolan inside. "Are you okay?" Nolan asked as they settled into their seats. Hailey nodded. "Yes, thank you." After that, the duo remained silent as the car slowly made its way towards the mansion. Along the way, Hailey recalled her appointment with Lynn and requested to be dropped off at her office. Nolan watched her leave thoughtfully, aware of the purpose behind their meeting. However, he wasn't concerned, as Hailey knew the terms of their cooperation. She wouldn't foolishly disclose anything to a third party. Upon arriving at the office building, Hailey approached the receptionist's counter and spoke up, "Hello, I would like to see Ms. Rosalinda Pepple." The receptionist, a young woman of average height with wavy brunette hair, smiled warmly at Hailey. "Hello. Do you have an appointment with her?" Hailey furrowed her brows; they hadn't