Wife 44


    Noelle’s head smacked into the back of the front seat, the pain almost bringing tears to her eyes.


    She let out a soft cry, propping herself up, only to frown in confusion, “What’s this? It’s so hard!” she


    said, giving it an idental squeeze.


    Charles gasped, pulling her close, his voice tense. “Stay still.”


    Noelle heard the edge in Charles’s voice and pouted, giving him a woeful look, “Are you mad at


    me?”


    Although Charles did not know whether tough or cry, he managed to keep hisposure, gently


    patting Noelle’s head. “Calm down. Let go.”


    “You still haven’t told me what this thing is!” Noelle gave it another curious squeeze. “Why is it on


    you?” Her wide–eyed innocence was making it tough for Charles to keep his cool, let alone make a


    move.


    He took a deep breath, gently pulled Noelle’s hand away, and wrapped her in aforting


    embrace. “Try to stay still, okay?”


    As Charles rolled down the window, the chilly breeze rushed in, a wee distraction to help him


    settle his racing thoughts.


    “Step on it!” he urged.


    His gaze grew


    grew shadowy as he wrestled with the rising tide of emotions inside him. Grabbing his phone, he


    dialed Sean’s number. “Be at the Phoenix Tree Residence in twenty minutes,” hemanded, then


    hung


    1. up.


    Charles nced at Noelle, who was squirming against him, her restless movements rekindling the


    mes he just managed to douse. Clutching his phone like a lifeline, he took a few steadying


    breaths before tenderly stroking her cheek.


    Unaware of the turmoil in the backseat, Ronald floored the gas pedal, speeding towards Phoenix


    Tree Residence. They pulled up to see Sean casually leaning against the gate, twirling a cigarette


    between his


    fingers.


    Ronald popped the door open, and without missing a beat, Charles scooped Noelle up and carried


    her past Sean into the sanctuary of Phoenix Tree Residence.


    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.


    Sean fiddled with his cigarette, his gaze lingering on Charles’s back, the yful twinkle in his eyes


    now clouded with doubt. He did not snuff it out until Ronald came closer, then he asked with a


    curious grin, Who’s the girl? Since when does Charles bringdies home?”


    Ronald bit his lip, trying to figure out what to say. Before he could, however, Charles’s chilly voice


    cut through the air from inside the Phoenix Tree Residence, “Get in here, will you?”


    Sean’s eyebrow quirked up; it was not often that Charles sounded so irked. This was getting


    interesting. He gave Ronald a nudge, “Come on, let’s head in.”


    “Spill it, Charles. Who is thedy? You don’t drag me out of bed in the dead of night unless you’re in


    a jam,


    Sean said with augh that was all innocence, though hisid–back vibe shed with the crisp


    white coat he wore..


    Charles shot Sean a frosty nce, and Sean could not help but shudder, chuckling awkwardly,


    “Hey, don’t give me that death re, bro. I’m just looking out for you! Since when did you start


    bringing girls over to


    Phoenix Tree Residence? What’s up? Has she been drugged?”


    +15 BONUS


    Sean’s gaze was sharp; his medical instincts had kicked in. “Who’s got the guts to mess with your


    girl?”


    Charles scooped Noelle up the stairs andid her gently on the bed, his icy stare silencing Sean’s


    babbling. “Zip it! Let’s figure out what’s wrong with her


    D