Wife 61


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    The more Noelle thought aboutst night–how Julian had drugged her and Xavier had been in on


    it–the more she felt sick to her stomach, as if she had swallowed a fly. It was disgusting.


    Even with Xavier and Winter together, she had not thought about getting back at them. However,


    they seemed obsessed with tearing her down, even willing to trade her to a guy like Simon for


    cash.


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    Noelle could not bear to think about what might have happened if Simon had… or if Charles had not


    shown up just in time to get her out of there. What then?


    It was her Grandpa’s birthday party, with the Shaw family hosting a ton of high–society types. If


    anyone had caught her in a room with a guy doing who–knows–what, she would have kissed her


    reputation and her whole life goodbye.


    What was Xavier even trying to say? Was he actually worried about himself? Could he be?


    “Noelle, please open the door and hear me out. I honestly have no clue what went down yesterday.


    Winter told me you were gone, and that your old room’s door was locked. I was worried about you,


    so I…”


    “Cut it out, Xavier. Noelle cut him off, “I’m not a little kid anymore. I know what’s right and what’s


    not, and I’m well aware of the real story. Don’t bother with the fake concern. And just so you know,


    if you can trade me for the York family’s two hundred million, you’re living in a fantasy!”


    Noelle said with a bite, “Just go. You’re not wee here.”


    “Noelle!” Xavier was devastated by her words, “How did you get so cold? You’re all prickly like a


    hedgehog. We’re only trying to help you. We’d never hurt you.”


    Noelle just let out a coldugh at Xavier’s plea, “Never hurt me? Haven’t you done enough already?


    Xavier, please just go, will you? The sight of you, no… Even your voice makes me sick!”


    Despite Noelle’s harsh rejection, Xavier did not back down. He stood at the door, banging away with


    determination as if he would never leave if she did not open up. “Noelle, think about the neighbors.


    You don’t want to cause a scene, right? Open up, and let’s talk this through. You’ve got it all wrong


    about


    think!TM before. I admit I messed up by being with Winter, but everything else isn’t what you


    Xavier waited in silence, but Noelle’s response was nowhere to be heard. “Come on, spill it. Are you


    seeing someone else? I just caught you stepping out of some shy car downstairs. Noelle, were


    you with that guyst night? Where’d you guys go and what did you do? Noelle, you…”


    “Cut it out!”


    Noelle was fed up, Xavier’s wild usations were too much to take. “My business is mine to know.


    You are in no position to grill me about it.”


    Xavier’s temper red at her words, “How can you say that? I’m your boyfriend!”


    Ex–boyfriend! Get it straight!” Noelle shot back, her words dripping with irony. “Or did you forget


    that you’re engaged to Winter now?” She could not help butugh at the absurdity. “Xavier, don’t


    you see how ridiculous you look? You didn’t give a damn about our rtionship when you got


    engaged to Winter. What’s the matter now? Got regrets and came crawling back? Does Winter


    even know you’re here? What if


    I just give her a call…”


    “Noelle, why do you have to be like this?” Xavier was taken aback by her unyielding stance. “You


    weren’t


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    always this way. I remember you being kind and reasonable. What happened to you…”


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