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
Just then, Cassidy stormed into the room, wearing an expression of distress on her face. Upon seeing her, Leah exclaimed, "Cassie, dear, what's wrong? Why are you unhappy?" Cassidy walked towards them in her white lacy gown and heels, taking a seat on one of the sofas and crossing her legs. She clenched her fists tightly, her lips pursed, signaling to the couple that something was definitely amiss. Leah sat up, concerned, and held out her hands. "What happened?" "Yes, what happened?" Bernard chimed in. "If you don't tell us what's wrong, how can we defend you?" Cassidy seemed reluctant, but as she looked up at her father, a distressed expression crossed her face. "It's Hailey." Leah's expression immediately changed, showing signs of panic. "What happened?" "That..." "Speak up," Bernard finally intervened, his gaze fixed on his daughter. Cassidy sighed and faced him, wearing a hesitant look. "Daddy, you mustn't blame Hailey for this. She didn't do it on purpose." "What did she
Bernard froze as he heard the man's angry shout from the other end of the line, and he glanced at his wife, who appeared equally mortified. "It's not what you think, Mr. Rothschild," Bernard quickly interjected, his flustered demeanor evident. "I can explain..." "You made me look like a fool in front of that insolent brat," Max reprimanded, still clearly annoyed. "I apologize. In reality, we haven't violated our agreement," Bernard began, attempting to clarify the situation. "How?" Max inquired. "Hailey is our eldest daughter," Bernard explained. "The agreement with your family was for the first daughter, and Cassidy is the second daughter. We didn't want you to think we were going back on our word. Honestly, we did it for your sake." Max remained silent for a moment, then sighed and asked wearily, "So, how reliable is this girl Hailey? Will she follow through with our agreement?" Bernard chuckled immediately, nodding vigorously. "Yes, sir. She will." "She better," Max warned.
The call connected quickly, and Bernard, thinking it was Hailey who answered, was quick to reprimand her. "You brat, how dare you hit your sister? Have you forgotten who you are, or do you simply think you can act arrogantly now that you're getting into a wealthy family?" The person on the other end of the line didn't respond to his words, which only served to infuriate Bernard even more. He was about to continue scolding when a thick, male voice with a rich accent sounded from the other side. "May I know what my wife has done that you needed to scold her?" Bernard was so shocked that the phone nearly slipped out of his hands. He called out slowly, doubtful and unsure, "Mr. Nolan Rothschild?" Nolan's voice was carefree. "Mr. Lincoln, I certainly do not appreciate you accusing my wife so baselessly. Although we are not married yet, it's only a matter of time before we do." Bernard struggled to regain his senses. When he finally did, he muttered, "Why is it you...?" Nolan's voice r
He paused in his steps, his grip tightening on the door handle. He had been staying in his study since Hailey's return, preoccupied with important meetings. That's why he hadn't realized that Hailey had been sleeping in his room. He recalled Mrs. June, the housekeeper, asking him where to put Hailey's luggage, and he had casually given her an answer to dismiss her. He hadn't expected her to place Hailey in his bedroom. Reluctant to sleep in any of the guest rooms due to his habits, he found it difficult to sleep anywhere other than his usual spot. He had barely slept in the past few days, engrossed in his work, and had only managed an hour or two of rest occasionally. So far, there hadn't been any problems. Feeling helpless, he sighed and was about to turn his wheelchair around and leave when Hailey's voice came from inside the room. "Nolan?" He had no choice but to pause and enter the room. She had already turned on all the lights, filling the room with brightness. He could see Hai