Chapter 257


    Ronald shook his head quickly. “Nope. I’m all done with my report!”


    Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org.


    Charles gave Ronald a look, and Ronald mped his mouth shut, then blurted out, “Oh, I just


    remembered. I’ve got something else to do, Mr. Hoffman, Madam. I’ll be on my way!”


    “Um…” Noelle, noticing Ronald’s rush, felt a bit puzzled. “I’ve cooked some food, Ronald. You can


    eat before you leave!”


    Ronald stopped for a second, feeling sharp eyes on him. He straightened up and let out a goofy


    laugh. “Madam, you’re too kind, but I really have to run. I’ve got some urgent things to handle. Enjoy


    your dinner. I won’t keep you!”


    Watching Ronald zoom off, Noelle paused, then turned to Charles and bit her lip. “Why did he rush


    off like that? Did you give him something urgent to do?”


    Charles narrowed his eyes in thought, then stood up and waved Noelle over. “What’s up?” Noelle


    asked as she came closer. She nced at the papers on the desk and raised her eyebrows. “Is this


    Winter’s contract?”


    He nodded and handed her the contract. “Want to take a look?”


    Noelle smiled, took the papers, and started reading. She looked up, shocked, thinking she must


    have misread. However, even after checking again, she was still amazed. Her jaw was practically on


    the


    floor.


    She touched her face in disbelief. “I can’t be seeing this wrong!”


    “What do you think?” Charles teased, tucking a loose strand of her hair behind her ear with a


    chuckle.


    You’re seeing it right!”


    #


    “But Winter is smart, and this contract seems so unfair. How could she agree to it?” Noelle bit her


    lip, struggling to believe it. She had always seen Winter as someone who would not let anything get


    past


    her.


    Noelle had been as close as sisters with Winter for so long, so she knew her well. She could not


    imagine Winter agreeing to such an unfair deal.


    Charles smiled slyly. “It might seem unfair to you, but maybe not to her.” He took the contract from


    Noelle and led her out of the study by the hand. “So, what yummy food did you make today?”


    The dishes on the dining table were all pretty in. “I’ve noticed you coughing a lottely,” Noelle


    said, a bit annoyed. “You won’t go to bed early, and you ignore me when I tell you to take your


    medicine. So, I guess I have to make sure you eat right.” She paused, then added, “And don’t try to


    change the subject. You said the contract might not be unfair for Winter. What did you mean?”


    “Think about her situation right now,” Charles replied, his usuallyposed eyes revealing a touch


    of warmth as he led Noelle downstairs. He nced at the dinner table and raised an eyebrow.


    “Noelle, this meal really is… incredibly in!”


    “If you’d just take your medicine, I wouldn’t have to do this,” Noelle shot back, her eyebrow raised.


    1/2


    +15 BONUS


    Charles let out a resigned sigh. “Maybe I need to think about what a married man should be careful


    about…”


    “Oh? And what do you think that should be?”


    P