Chapter 515


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    Charles frowned slightly. How could he not be aware of everything Noelle was saying?


    He was not mad, just a bit frazzled by how Noelle was handling things. Or maybe it was not about Noelle at all, but the way things out of their control had barged in, shattering the calm between them.


    "Do J''s hangouts with us bug you?" Charles asked, locking eyes with Noelle.


    Surprise flickered in her eyes before she masked it with a grin, resting her chin on her hand as she mulled over his question for real.


    Pretending she was not upset would be a total lie. Legally, she was Charles''s wife, which should mean something. However, hardly anyone knew they were together, and Charles''s mom was all about J, practically trying to snatch him away. Nobody would be cool with that, acting like it was all fine and dandy.


    However, she was the one who had wanted to keep her thing with Charles on the down low. She could not exactlyin about people being in the dark, especially since the person in question was Charles''s mom. That made it even trickier to speak up.


    "Huh?" Charles caught Noelle''s spaced-out look and gave the table a knock. "No sweat if you don''t wanna talk. Let''s just eat, okay?"


    "Charles, if I admit it''s getting to me, would you think I''m just stirring up drama?" Noelle nibbled on her lip before spilling her guts. She eyed Charles cautiously, but he just cracked up, leaving her totally baffled.


    Charles''s icy look melted away at Noelle''s words like an iceberg surrendering to the sun.


    Noelle blinked in surprise. "Charles?"


    "I''m actually d you''re bothered by it!" He shed a quick smile. "If it bugs you, I''ll have J out of here in a heartbeat!"


    "No, that won''t be necessary," Noelle


    said, pressing her lips together. She knew she could not just kick J out-she was risse''s niece, after all. If Charles sent J packing, it would only add fuel to the fire with risse, and their rtionship was already on thin ice.


    Besides, Noelle figured that even if J left now, risse would find another way to push her into Charles''s orbit. And deep down, Noelle was sure that Charles had no romantic feelings for J.


    "You don''t have to worry about me. If you really don''t want her around, I''ll handle it, Charles said, standing up and gently cing his hands on Noelle''s shoulders. "Because, let''s face it, you''re the one who matters most."


    S


    Noelle tilted her head back to meet his gaze, yfully tugging at his chin. "You know, you''re getting pretty good at this sweet-talk thing. It''s like you''ve got it down to an art!" His thoughtfulness touched her,


    Noelle was not the type to bo


    overbearing. "It''s okay, really. I know where your heart is, and trust you


    completely when ites to her."