Watching the car inside which there was Edward go until it disappeared in the distance, Hailey was still very worried about him. She was seized by the fear that something terrible might happen to him.

Tears began to well up in her eyes as she watched him go while recalling everything that happened in the past life.

Hailey swore to herself that she would protect everyone she loved this life at any cost.

Shen turned around and went back into the house. When she took her bag and was ready to head for the new school, Edward made a call to her.

“Hailey, you will be a member of this family for the rest of your life. This is your home and will be your home forever. I will take care of you all my life, okay?” he said gently over the phone.

“Yes. Thank you.”

Hailey could never resist Edward’s charm when he behaved softly to her. She still remembered that when she was a teenager in the past life, Edward always protected her from any harm. Despite she hated him, she still loved him from the bottom of her heart. Maybe she herself even did not realize that. But in this new life, she knew that she had feelings for him.

***

Edward successfully searched for a new high school for Hailey. That school had a good reputation. Hailey had been studying there ever since and never came back to the No.1 High School anymore.

Edward, on the other hand, did not go to America. He handed over the case of that problematic film investment to his cousin to deal with.

One day, Edward’s aunt, the wife of his father’s brother, invited him to her birthday party. Edward gladly accepted the invitation.

When the birthday party was held, Edward took Hailey there.

“No, Edward. I think I’d better stay outside. I don’t want to go there,” Hailey begged when they arrived at the gate. She was a little bit scared actually. In her past life, she did very ungracefully at the party and everyone laughed at her secretly. She just could not get rid of that terrible memory.

“Be a good girl, Hailey. She invites me here this time. If we don’t show up, it’s going to be a very awkward situation,” Edward persuaded patiently.

“But…” Hailey struggled. “But I did not bring anything as a gift. What’s more…”

Edward raised one of his eyebrows and said, “You are being afraid that they will find fault with me. Am I right? You are thinking that they may abuse me and hurt me after my father was gone, right?”

“Oh, you just saw through me. Yes, you are absolutely right. It happened once, after all,” Hailey admitted. His aunt and her family had contributed a lot to Edward’s bankrupt in the past life according to Hailey’s memory. That was why she did not trust them.

“It happened once and it will happen anyway. We can avoid it, so just let’s face it bravely. Don’t worry. I can protect you,” Edward said smilingly. He then took her arm and walked forward decisively.

Edward’s aunt, Lucy, was fifty years old that day. Many dignitaries and celebrates coming from various counties gathered here for the celebration. The party hall was shining with chandeliers. It was a luxurious birthday party.

The guests were chatting and laughing happily.

But when Edward and Hailey showed up, they went silent all of a sudden.

Everyone turned to gaze at Hailey.

The girl was eighteen years old or so. She was wearing a light pink tube dress. It fitted her very well and showed her beautiful shape. Showering by the flickering light, she looked very adorable with her bright and fair skin.

She had a small and delicate face and a pair of thin eyebrows. When she blinked her eyes, she looked like an angel. There was charm in her beautiful and big eyes.

Hailey noticed the admiration and surprise in the crowd’s eyes. Great! That was exactly what she wanted. She wanted everyone to see that she was with Edward.

She knew that she would meet Sally Li, the woman who hurt her with Philip in the past life. Hailey had a plan to deal with that woman.

What Hailey did not notice was that the second when she stepped into the hall and took a glimpse at Sally, Sally had already noticed her and there was a hint of maliciousness in her eyes.

“Hailey?” Daniel Zhang screamed in surprise. He was standing next to Sally, dumbfounded.

The silence continued until Hailey spoke.

“Aunt Lucy, I’m Hailey. I’d like to wish you a very happy birthday today. May you enjoy good health and a long life.”

Everyone began to gossip after Hailey finished her words.

Hailey?

The daughter of the Zhang Family’s driver who was adopted by Edward?

None of them had ever imagined that this elegant and beautiful girl was the daughter of a humble driver. That was just too shocking.

Hailey’s behavior eased Daniel Zhang’s tension. He sighed in relief in his heart.

Her father already died and his body had been cremated. There would be no more evidence left in the world.

This girl was just an innocent girl who knew nothing about the truth.

Hailey was sensible and made a curtsey to Lucy in a traditional way. She held a cup of tea, waiting for Lucy to take the cup from her and drink it. However, it was already three minutes gone. Lucy still did not make a move.

“Humph! You are supposed to present your gift to Aunt Lucy when you make the curtsey. Where is your present? I did not see any,” Sally Li sneered.

“I’m sorry, Aunt Lucy. I’m a high school student. I’m not old enough to earn money and buy any gift. Please accept my tea as the gift,” Hailey said in a respectful tone.

Lucy was about to say something. But she was stopped because Edward, who had been remaining silent, spoke at that time, “Aunt Lucy, please, accept her tea. Everyone is watching us.”

His voice was deep and charming. People would get drunk by hearing it.

Hailey blinked her eyes and looked to Edward gratefully.

He was sitting on the sofa with crossed legs. He looked rather arrogant and distant as if he was not a human being but a God with his handsome face taut.

He was looking back at her too.

There was affection in his eyes. But still, it was difficult for others the decipher his true feelings.

Hailey blushed immediately as he was gazing at her like that. She moved her eyes from him secretly to avoid eye contact with him any longer.

“Aunt Lucy, if she really cares about you, she would have prepared the birthday gift long ago. Being short of money is just an excuse!” Sully gritted her teeth. Before the birthday party, she had convinced Lucy to insist Edward in bringing Hailey to the party. Her intention was to make Hailey become a laughing stock in front of everyone. She hoped that by doing so, Edward would dislike her and finally abandon her.

She had been planning for this so long. There was no way she would let Hailey go that easily.

“Sally is right. Hailey, you can’t just come here with nothing. It doesn’t matter if you buy something inexpensive. But at least, you should show something,” Daniel Zhang echoed.

There was a hint of cunning flashed through Hailey’s eyes. That was exactly what she wanted to hear.

“Aunt Lucy, I did make some preparation in order to celebrate your birthday today. It’s a piano melody. But…” Hailey paused for a moment before she continued, “But I’m afraid I’m not so good at it yet. Sully played better than me. I’m afraid…” Hailey gritted her lower lip and acted in a seemingly awkward way.

Was she able to play the piano? That was totally a big joke! The throng almost could not hold their decency and burst into laughter.

This Hailey was indeed a fool! The rumor was right!

Sully was afraid that Lucy would allow Hailey not to play the piano. She immediately convinced Lucy and said, “Aunt Lucy, Hailey is being so considerate to prepare this piano melody. Aren’t you looking forward to her performance? I’m sure everyone wants to hear it!”

“Fine,” Lucy said in a helpless voice. She actually did not think Hailey would perform well, but she still agreed thanks to Sully’s persuasive words.

Hailey put the cup of tea on the table beside and walked to the center of the platform. She sat elegantly on the stool beside the piano.

She took a look at everyone gracefully with her beautiful eyes. The crowd was expecting a terrible performance from her. None of them believed that she was a good performer. So they were actually waiting for the time to tease her.

Hailey raised the corners of her mouth upwards and said with a sweet voice, “This melody I’m going to play is for Aunt Lucy in celebration of her fifty years birthday. I’m still not very skilled at it. But I wish everyone would enjoy it.”

Wish everyone would enjoy it? Play the piano?

Come one! She, Hailey, was nobody but a trouble-maker high school student! She liked fighting instead of playing the piano!

That was how everything saw her.

People did not stop teasing her in their hearts.

She is going to end up being mocked, everyone thought.

Hailey saw the sneer from them. She decided to ignore it, though. She stretched out her hands and stroked over the keys. Then her fingers began to dance on the keyboard. A beautiful and smooth melody echoed the hall.

In a few seconds, all those guests who had been originally taunting her, became mute.

The beautiful melody just shocked everyone. They held their breath and listened carefully. All of them were seized by the melody.

Lucy, especially, wore a gentle facial expression after she heard it.

“This song… This song…” she murmured and could not complete her words.

“This song is the promising song of you and uncle,” Edward said with a low voice. He locked his sexy and wild eyes on the pretty figure on the stage. Meanwhile, he clenched his hands which were resting crossed on his legs.

Edward had been behaving restrainedly all the time when he saw they were treating Hailey with unkindness and tease.

Hailey closed her eyes while playing the piano. Her eyelashes shivered from time to time to the melody. Her song was full of affection and love, which brought everyone into a beautiful and pink world.

That was a place where there were sweetness and bitterness, melancholy and missing. It was the feeling of first love.

When everyone was recalling the beautiful memories as they listened carefully to the melody, Hailey retreated her hands. The song stopped abruptly.

The whole hall fell silent like it was a tomb.