Deanna was on the brink of being ousted from The O''Brien Group. Desperate times called for desperate measures, so she decided to secure her position through marriage.


    But fate was not on her side. After just a few years, Callie''s father tragically died in a car ident.


    What followed was a bitter battle over the inheritance he left behind, with Deanna squaring off against her inws in a showdown that became the talk of the town.


    In the end, Deanna lost.


    Callie''s grandparents had always been lukewarm towards her, simply because she was a girl. After Deanna''s antics, they went as far as to disown Callie.


    Furious, Deanna changed Callie''sst name to match her own.


    Haynes, true to form, delivered exactly what Deanna demanded. In just twelve months, he''d wed his way to the top tier of The O''Brien Group—not just securing his ce, but making it untouchable.


    Soon enough, Haynes became a household name in Novaris, known for his sharp business acumen and striking good looks. Heiresses from all over, including some from the most prestigious families, were eager to catch his eye.


    Deanna had already started vetting potential daughters-inw from equally esteemed backgrounds.


    But to her dismay, Haynes fell for Rachel, an ordinary girl with no notable lineage or connections.


    Deanna was livid. She employed every tactic to drive a wedge between them and eventually seeded.


    After the breakup, Haynes remained single. No matter how many women Deanna introduced into his life, he didn''t give them a second nce, throwing himself entirely into his work instead.


    Deanna wasn''t too worried, though. Haynes was still young. She figured that once his stature grew even more, he''d have his pick of exceptional women.


    What Deanna didn''t foresee was Ste suddenly entering the picture—and with a baby on the way no less.


    As soon as Deanna got wind of it, she was determined to have Ste terminate the pregnancy. She resorted to all sorts of pressure tactics, from threats to bribes.


    At that point, Ste and Haynes barely knew each other; their rtionship was purely idental.


    Since Deanna was against their union, Ste didn''t want to force it and agreed to the procedure.


    But on the day of the operation, Haynes burst into the clinic, halting everything. He solemnly promised Ste that he would take responsibility.


    Haynes kept his promise, standing firm against Deanna''s relentless attacks to shield Ste. Months turned into a quiet alliance, then something more. It was during this period that Ste fell for Haynes.


    Looking into his clear, unwavering eyes, a thought crossed her mind.


    She said to him, "You risked everything to protect me, going so far as to stand against your family. It wasn''t just about the baby, was it? You were trying to mend a regret, weren''t you?"


    Haynes'' eyes were deep and unreadable.


    Ste realized she was right.


    She let out a wry smile. "When you were with Rachel, you couldn''t protect her. You had to watch as your mother pulled her away, threatening her, until you had no choice but to part ways."


    "And here I am, just like Rachel, unapproved by your mother."


    "So, you fought hard, not just for me and the baby. You saw me as a stand-in for Rachel, a chance to fix what you missed out on with her, didn''t you?"


    Ste held Haynes'' gaze, her clear eyes piercing through the shadows, illuminating the hidden corners of his heart, leaving no room for denial.