Wife 50


    +15 BONUS


    Charles looked away, a slight smile ying on his lips. Family? I guess I’m still looking for one.”


    Noelle’s heart started to dance a wild rhythm, thumping all over the ce. She felt totally out of her


    element.


    Charles shed a warm smile as he brought out a steaming pot of porridge from the kitchen. “Last


    night, we had to cool you down the old–fashioned way. The doctor warned you might have a fever


    today, but you’re fine. That’s awesome. Let’s keep it light with the food today, okay?”


    Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org.


    Noelle stared at Charles, her eyes wide with surprise. He was a different person from the buttoned–


    up guy she had met before. Dressed down in light gray casual wear instead of his usual sharp suit,


    he still managed to look drop–dead gorgeous.


    Who knew Charles had this homey side to him? He could cook!


    “That smells amazing,” Noellemented, taking in theforting scent of the porridge.


    Charles’s smile grew as he served her a bowl. “Give it a taste. I’ve been at it since the crack of


    dawn, but I’m not sure I gave it enough time.”


    “It’s perfect, way better than anything I could make,” Noelle said after tasting it. Charles was not just


    a looker with brains, but a good chef too!


    Pleased by her reaction, Charles’s eyes crinkled with delight. “If you like it, make sure you have


    some more!”


    “Will do!” Noelle agreed, nodding enthusiastically. A secondter, however, she hesitated, her gaze


    lifted to meet Charles’s. Memories ofst night came rushing back–the things Julian had said about


    her being useful, the moment on the balcony when she had held Charles close, and how she had


    leaned in….


    Noelle bit her lip, stirring the porridge absentmindedly. “Mr. Hoffman, about what you said the other


    day.. Does it still stand?”


    Noelle had mulled it over countless times–if she had to tie the knot with someone, Charles was a


    solid pick. He would make her feel less like she was being cornered into marriage. He was her


    granddad’s protege, someone her granddad trusted inside and out Plus, her grandpa seemed to be


    quite fond of him, Charles, well, he was not the type to have ulterior motives, which meant she


    would not be forced into a marriage with Simon, right? She would not end up as just another one of


    Simon’s trophies:


    The mere thought of Samuel made her skin crawl. His so–called ‘heroic feats‘ were the talk of


    Brookville, though he was anything but a hero. Her dad was still ready to hand her over to this guy,


    all for a pile of


    cash.


    Noelle was chewing on her lower lip, her eyes glued to the floor and her fingers wrapped tight


    around her spoon, a bundle of nerves.


    Charles squinted at Noelle, breaking the silence. “What did I say?”


    Caught off guard, Noelle’s gaze snapped up to meet his, her cheeks tinged with a rosy flush of


    awkwardness. She was tongue–tied, unsure of how to broach the subject.


    She had yed out this conversation in her head, rehearsing Charles’s possible responses–yes,


    no, maybe–but she had not prepared for a curveball. How was she supposed to respond to that?


    +15 BONUS


    “Hmm?”


    Charles set his spoon aside, his long fingers drumming casually on the tabletop. His piercing eyes


    locked onto Noelle, making her feel like she was under a spotlight. With no ce to hide, she


    mustered her courage and blurted out, “You know, that thing you said about marrying me the other


    day… Was that for real?”


    Although Charles’s eyebrow quirked up, a yful glint in his eyes, he kept silent.


    The silence stretched, and Noelle’s nerves wound tighter. She could not stand the suspense. “Well?


    Was


    it?”


    Comments


    ?