Chapter 2
The sky was drizzling sofily.
Lucia hurriedly shoved a bright red umbrella and a black cloth bag into Hailey’s hands “This is from your sister. Don’t let her tough talk fool you. She’s the one who cares about you the most, even if she doesn’t always show it.”
Hailey swallowed hard, her throat tight with emotion. She barely managed to whisper, “I know”
She stood in front of the house, staring at the closed door. Neither Lydia nor her adoptive father came out to see her off, but she knew they were watching her from behind the curtains.
Lucia gently wiped the tear from Hailey’s cheek with her rough hand. “When you get there, take care of yourself. And remember to call us once you’re settled”
Hailey nodded, wiped away the tears, opened the umbrella, and walked out of the yard, looking back three times before finally leaving.
At the bridge, her family was waiting.
Ethan Middleton, the old butler who’d served the Dalton family for over twenty years, stood by a black car. He was in his fifties now, his hair touched with gray.
“Miss Dalton,” he greeted calmly, then opened the car door for her.
Hailey didn’t say a word. She climbed into the car, her face blank, clutching the umbrella and cloth bag tightly.
Inside the car, she slowly opened the bag. It was stuffed with homemade jerky and all her favorite snacks.
The zipper on one side bulged a little. Hailey opened it, revealing a thick stack of bills.
Her eyes instantly filled with tears, which slid down her face in silence.
She was finally back to the Dalton family.
Five hours later, Hailey stood outside the gates of the Dalton family mansion.
She’d landed at five o’clock. After rushing from the airport, she barely made it to the mansion in under an hour.
It had rained all day in Hallon City yesterday, but today, the sky was clear, the sun shining bright like it had been scrubbed
clean.
The Dalton family’s villa, located in the prestigious Midnight Bay residential area, was massive, just like one’d expect from one of the four major families.
This wasn’t the family’s old estate. It was a new villa they’d bought after their rise to power.
Why? Because the Calhoun family, the top dogs of the four, lived right next door.
The Daltons had spent a fortune to buy a place next to them–pretty obvious why.
Hailey stood in front of the iron gates, gazing at the grand villa with a bitter, almost mocking smile.
This was where it all ended for her in her last life. In this very villa. Now, standing here again, her heart felt like a mess.
At the same time, a black sedan was parked by the side of the road. A man sat in the back seat.
06:13 Fri, 28 Mar
Chapter 2
He wore a custom–made black suit, gold–rimmed glasses perched on his nose. His short hair was neatly styled, and his features were sharp with a chiseled jawline and breathtaking good looks
His eyes were especially captivating–slightly almond–shaped, with the outer corners lifting ever so slightly
When he wasn’t smiling, he looked cold and distant. But when he did smile, it was like warm spring water, so disarmingly charming it made your heart skip a beat.
This man was Owen Calloun, the head of the Calhoun family. At just twenty–four, he had already made it to the top of Hallon City’s elite.
He’d taken over the Calhoun family at eighteen and, in just six years, turned them from the second–largest family to the biggest power in the city. He’d made their economic empire one of the strongest in Asia. If there was a way to make money. Owen was all over it.
He was the ultimate business genius.
And this genius wasn’t just a mastermind at business. He also had looks that could stop traffic. No wonder every rich girl dreamed of becoming Mrs. Calhoun.
However, Owen was the kind of guy who kept a low profile–way too low. He didn’t show up at those flashy parties where the city’s elites strutted around.
The only place one’d catch a glimpse of him was at his grandpa George Calhoun’s birthday bash. Still, a lot of the city’s socialites would do whatever it took just to grab his attention.
But for years now, Owen’s life had been an open book–no one by his side, living so squeaky clean it made people raise an eyebrow. Some even started speculating that maybe he had a thing for men.
“Mr. Calhoun, we’ve arrived,” the assistant up front said, bringing him out of his thoughts.
Owen blinked, slowly opened his eyes, and gave a short nod. Just as he was about to get out of the car, his eyes landed on a girl standing a little further ahead.
She was wearing a simple black T–shirt and denim shorts, her waist so tiny you could barely see it, and legs that seemed to go on forever.
A basic black bag hung from her shoulder, and in her hand was a bright red umbrella. No flashy brands, but there was something about her, a quiet elegance that caught his eye.
First thought that hit him. ‘Damn, this girl’s skin is so fair it’s almost blinding
She stood sideways, so he couldn’t get a full look at her face, but he couldn’t forget that red umbrella and the glow of her skin.
“Miss Dalton, you can go in now,” Ethan Middleton said quietly beside her.
Hailey snapped out of her daze, nodded, and pushed open the iron gate, stepping inside.
The ladies of the Dalton family were already hanging out in the living room. The second Hailey stepped in, the entire room fell silent, and every single eye turned toward her.
It reminded her of when she first returned to the Dalton family in her past life. The whole room went dead quiet, all her.
She’d been so nervous, tripping over her own feet, crashing to the floor and getting nothing but mockery from everyone.
But now, Hailey stood tall at the entrance, calm as could be. She tucked her umbrella away smoothly, changed her shoes: without missing a beat, and walked toward the sofa, her steps steady, unhurried.
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She paused beside the sofa, scanning the room with a cool glance, until her eyes locked onto Selena, her half–sister from her
dad’s side.
Selena caught her gaze and shot her a look. Hailey quickly lowered her eyes, just enough to give off that perfect “I’m shy” act. “Hey, everyone. I’m Hailey Dalton.”
“Welcome home, Hailey, the man sitting at the center of the room stood up, grinning from ear to ear. “I’m your dad. Aiden Dalton. From now on, we’re family”
“Who the hell is family with her?” Eliza Dalton, the girl sitting to the right, scoffed, her tone dripping with sarcasm.
Eliza, adopted into the family as the fourth heiress, knew well she wasn’t blood. She’d been taken in for charity.
From day one, she’d figured out that to get in the Dalton family’s good graces, she had to suck up to their little princess- Selena Dalton.
Over the years, she’d done plenty of shady stuff to stay in Selena’s corner and keep her spot in the family.
With that confidence, she smirked and said, “I’ve only got one sister, and that’s Selena. So who the hell do you think you are?
Selena shot Hailey a smug smile, but her face pretended to be all disapproving. “Eliza, that’s not nice. Even though Hailey came from the countryside, she’s still a Dalton. We’re all family now.”
The two of them played their little game, trying to tear Hailey down. Meanwhile, the woman sitting next to Aiden acted like she couldn’t hear any of it, letting them talk all they wanted without lifting a finger to back Hailey up.
For a while, Selena figured Hailey would be totally humiliated and completely lost. But when she looked up again, she froze.
Hailey, standing by the coffee table, looked as cool as ever, her eyes twinkling with amusement. A little smile tugged at her lips, like she was enjoying the mess these two were making of themselves.
AD
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