Hailey froze when she heard the news.
In her previous life, it was around this same time that her grandfather had left town to visit an old army friend. But he had slipped and fallen during the trip, ending up hospitalized for weeks.
He never fully recovered. His health declined rapidly after that.
And eventually—when she was sentenced to death and the entire family was thrown into chaos—he couldn't take it. The shock killed him.
Even if this lifetime would turn out differently, even if she wouldn't face a death sentence again, she couldn't let Grandpa get hurt like that again.
"Grandpa," Hailey asked urgently, "are you leaving right now?"
"Yes," Grandpa Hai replied gently. "The car's ready. We're heading out in a bit. If I don't go now, I might not get another chance to see him. I don't know how long he's got left…"
There was sorrow in his voice, but also determination.
Hailey didn't hesitate. She turned and bolted upstairs. "Wait for me, Grandpa! I'm going with you!"
"What?" Grandpa Hai sounded surprised. "Why would you come along?"
"Just wait for me!" she shouted as she ran. "I don't feel safe letting you go alone. If you sneak off without me, I'll track you down anyway, so don't even think about it!"
"You silly girl…"
"Promise me you'll wait!" she said before hanging up.
Hailey quickly grabbed her ID and bank cards, then stuffed a few changes of clothes into a travel bag. Without wasting a second, she dashed out the door.
Downstairs, the housekeeper, Aunt Zhang, saw her rushing and blinked in confusion. "Miss Hailey, where are you going in such a hurry?"
"I've got to take care of something. I'm going with Grandpa."
"You and the old master? But where—"
But Hailey was already out of earshot.
She drove straight to the Hai family's old estate and pulled up just in time to see Grandpa Hai being helped into the car by his driver.
"Grandpa!" she called out, hauling her luggage toward him.
Grandpa Hai turned and broke into a chuckle at the sight of her. "You really meant it, huh?"
"Of course I did," she said, beaming. "I've got nothing better to do, and I don't feel good about letting you go alone."
"You don't need to come," he said, shaking his head. "A'Cheng will go with me. That's enough. You're a married woman now, you can't just take off like this."
A'Cheng, the loyal driver and bodyguard, would indeed be traveling with him. But Hailey remembered clearly—he had been there last time too, and it still hadn't stopped the accident from happening.
She stepped forward, hooked her arm through her grandfather's, and grinned. "Ethan's going on a business trip tomorrow. He'll be gone for a while, and I'll be bored at home. Let me keep you company instead."
"Is that so?"
"Yup!" she nodded with full enthusiasm.
Grandpa Hai eyed her for a moment, then softened. He believed her without question.
To him, there was no reason for her to lie. If Ethan wasn't going away, she definitely wouldn't leave C City—not even for a day.
He smiled warmly. "Alright then. You'll come with me. It'll be good for you to see Old Tao, too. He used to carry you around when you were a baby. He adored you. Always said he wanted you to be his granddaughter-in-law one day…"
His smile dimmed as he sighed. "I just hope he pulls through this time. If he doesn't… I might never see him again."
Hailey had heard the stories about Old Tao.
He and her grandfather had fought side by side when they were young. They had saved each other's lives more than once. Their bond wasn't just friendship—it was forged in blood and loyalty, the kind that lasted a lifetime.
That was why her grandfather was so anxious. And that was why she couldn't stop him from going.
All she could do… was go with him.
Besides, she needed to get out of C City.
She needed to put some space between herself and Ethan.
It wasn't just about preventing Grandpa's accident. That was part of it—but there was more. So much more.
Hailey had felt it—bit by bit, Ethan was starting to affect her again.
She had sworn to herself that she wouldn't fall back into that trap. Not in this life. But it was hard.
He had changed, yes.
He looked at her differently now.
He was starting to act like… he cared.
And that was exactly why she had to get away.
She didn't want to be there when the lines started to blur. When her judgment got clouded. When old wounds started to feel like open invitations.
So she left.
For her grandfather.
For herself.
For a little peace and quiet.
And for a temporary goodbye to Ethan Yu.