《The Cherished Wife》 Wife 1 Wife 1 The Cherished Wife Ch weety Autumn had painted Brookville in shades of gold and crimson when Noelle Shaw stepped off the ne. She grabbed her suitcase and walked out into the crisp air, a familiar sense of home wrapping around her. A whole year had passed since she left to pursue a corporate training program overseas, and now, she was back just in time. Her third anniversary with her boyfriend Xavier Harris was just days away, and she had been working nonstop to make it back early enough to surprise him. N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content. She hailed a cab and headed straight for Xavier¡¯s office. The moment she walked through the -front doors, Alice, the receptionist, gave her a look of total shock. ¡°Ms. Shaw? You¡¯re back? Are you here for the CEO¡¯s engagement party?¡± Noelle¡¯s brow creased in confusion. The CEO¡¯s engagement party? What are you talking about, Alice?¡± ¡®It¡¯s Mr. Harris¡¯s engagement party with your sister!¡± ¡°What?¡± Noelle¡¯s heart skipped a beat, and the happiness drained from her face. ¡°Whose engagement party?¡± Alice seemed to realize she had dropped a bombshell and nervously swallowed. ¡°The CEO¡­ and your sister¡­¡± ¡°Where is it happening?¡± ¡°The¡­ Golden Oasis Hotel.¡± It felt like a punch to the gut. Noelle spun on her heel and rushed out. ¡°Driver, take me to the Golden Oasis Hotel, please.¡± She had not even made it inside the hotel when she saw a huge photo by the entrance. There Xavier was with his arm around Winter Shaw, who looked stunning in her elegant dress. They were gazing into each other¡¯s eyes, lost in a world of love. On her way over, Noelle was psyching herself up. Xavier was her boyfriend. He was hers! The idea of him getting engaged to her sister was just too bizarre. As she arrived, however, reality hit her like a ton of bricks. She walked in just in time to catch Xavier whispering sweet nothings into Winter¡¯s ear, making her cheeks tum a rosy pink. Noelle felt a surge of anger, her eyes zing with fury. +15 BONUS How ludicrous it was. Her boyfriend of three years, the one she had been with through thick and thin, was now cozying up to her elder sister while she had been miles away. Winter Shaw was mingling and toasting with the guests arm in arm with Xavier when she spotted Noelle. Her face drained of color, and her grip on Xavier¡¯s hand tightened without her even realizing it. Xavier¡¯s eyes met Noelle¡¯s. He paused for a split second, then shed Winter aforting smile before walking over to Noelle. ¡°Hey Noelle, did youe to celebrate me and your sister¡¯s big day?¡± His voice, which was usually so warm and gentle, felt like a knife twisting in her heart. Noelle clenched her jaw. ¡°Celebrate? Celebrate you stabbing me in the back? And Winter, really? Are you that desperate for a man? You knew he was mine, and you¡­ you both¡­¡± Before she could finish, a p snapped her head to the side, leaving her cheek throbbing. Holding her face, tears brimming in her eyes, she looked up in disbelief. ¡°Mom!¡± ¡®Don¡¯t you dare call me ¡®mom¡® right now! What kind of daughter or sister acts the way you¡¯re acting? It¡¯s your sister¡¯s engagement, and you can¡¯t even be happy for her? Instead, you show up here to make a scene. You¡¯re doing this on purpose, aren¡¯t you?¡± Jade Jones was fuming, her eyes shooting daggers at Noelle. Noelle¡¯s heart clenched. ¡°Mom, what are you even saying? Xavier¡¯s my boyfriend.¡± ¡°Your boyfriend? Xavier is your sister¡¯s husband. Why do you have to challenge your sister for everything? I¡¯m so disappointed in you.¡± Noelle could not help butugh. She stared at her mother, Jade, who had the nerve to twist the truth so tantly. She turned to Xavier. ¡°Xavier,e on. Tell us who you¡¯re really dating. His brow creased, his gaze on Noelle filled with uncertainty. The firm grip he felt, however, brought him back to the moment. ¡°Noelle, I¡¯m sorry, but there¡¯s only ever been one person for me, and that¡¯s your sister.¡± Noelle¡¯s heart felt like it was being sliced open as she listened to Xavier¡¯s emotionless confession. What a joke! What bitter irony! ¡°Xavier, you¡¯d better get this straight: it¡¯s me who¡¯s dumping you, not the other way round.¡± It took all her willpower not tosh out at the cheating couple. ¡°I hope you two have a long,¡® happy¡® life together,¡± she spat. Wife 2 Wife 2 Noelle bolted from the hotel, her previously defiant face now streaked with tears. Out of nowhere, a ck Cayenne screeched to a halt, its tires screaming against the pavement. Caught off guard, she tumbled to the ground. The driver gulped, his eyes darting to the man in the back seat, ¡°Sir¡­ Sir?¡± The man in the back, unfazed by the nearby ident, merely nced at the passenger seat beside him. ¡°Ronald, go see what happened.¡± ¡°Right away, sir.¡± Ronald was out of the car in a sh, checking the front for any damage. About six feet ahead of the car, a woman sat on the ground with her eyes wide open, looking totally freaked out. Her cheeks were streaked with tears, and she had obviously been crying.¡± Miss? Are you okay? Do you need a ride to the hospital?¡± Noelle was scared out of her wits. She just gazed at Ronald, lost in shock, until she finally managed to pull herself together and stand up. Without a word, she tried to sidestep him, eager to get away. Ronald was puzzled by her reaction. ¡°Are you sure you¡¯re alright? Do you need any¡­! off || ¡°I¡­ I¡¯m fine, really, I¡¯m okay.¡± Noelle¡¯s eyes darted to the ck Cayenne. She could not shake the feeling that someone was watching her, and it sent shivers down her spine. She scowled, hating the feeling, and hobbled away as fast as she could. Ronald watched her go, confused. He wanted to stop her, but she was dodging him like he was bad news, leaving him speechless. Back in the car, Ronald noticed the man in the backseat craning his neck to watch the woman through the window. ¡°Sir, we¡¯re at the hotel. Do you want to head straight in, or would you like to get out here?¡± The man, Charles Hoffman, did not say a word, and Ronald did not dare to make a move. Watching the petite figure disappear into the distance, Charles let out a slight smirk and tapped his finger against his knee in a steady beat. ¡°Let¡¯s head back!¡± Ronald was taken aback. ¡°But sir, isn¡¯t today¡­¡± Before he could finish, Charles cut him off with a piercing look. ¡°The show¡¯s over. There¡¯s nothing left to see,¡± Charles said, his words heavy with implication. ¡°Ronald, you seem to be losing your touch.¡± The Majestic Lounge was Brookville¡¯s hotspot, its lights zing and music pumping every night. Noelle¡¯s friend, Rowena Smith, always said it was the prime spot for a wild time after dark. ¨C Content held by N?velDrama.Org. +15 BONUS Noelle was not one for these scenes, but tonight, she was hunched over the bar, downing drinks as if there was no tomorrow. She peered at the sea of unfamiliar faces swirling around. her through half¨Cclosed eyes. ¡°Hey there. Did youe here alone?¡± A hand mped onto Noelle¡¯s shoulder, the stranger¡¯s touch lingering a bit too long. Noelle. jerked away, revulsion coursing through her. ¡°Back off.¡± The guy shot a knowing look at his buddy and smirked at Noelle. ¡°Feisty, aren¡¯t you? Back off? Ladies like you just y hard to get, secretly hoping for some attention.¡± He moved in as if to nt a kiss on her, but Noelle shoved him back and stood up, her stance unsteady and her heart racing. She shook her head, trying to clear the fog. ¡°I said back off! Is that so hard to understand?¡± She stumbled, nearly toppling over, but the man caught her, his arm snaking around her waist. ¡°See, you¡¯re saying no, but your body¡¯s telling a different story.¡± Comments Wife 3 Wife 3 Trapped in the man¡¯s grip, Noelle struggled to bre free, her body refusing to cooperate. Her vision was blurry as she red at him. ¡°What are you trying to do?¡± ¡°Just having a bit of fun¡­¡± He chuckled, his voice dripping with sleaze as he steadied her. Let¡¯s go somewhere more entertaining, shall we?¡± Noelle might have been out of it, but she could still sense the danger in the man¡¯s tone. However, her whole body ached, and she knew she was no match for them. She scanned the area for anyone who could help her, but she was invisible to the passersby. She spotted a figure approaching through her haze. Acting instinctively, she shoved the two men aside and bolted, mming right into the neer. ¡°Save me!¡± she gasped. Her fingers dug into the fabric of the man¡¯s shirt, and she inhaled a sharp, clean scent. Please, save me,¡± she pleaded. Charles squinted, taking in the woman who had just collided with him. There was a flicker of something sharp in his gaze. Noelle did not let go, pressing herself against him. Her lips, tainted with the strong smell of booze, were inches from his face, and her cheeks were unnaturally rosy. ¡°Sir¡­¡± Ronald, who was standing a few steps back, watched in disbelief. She had the nerve to approach Charles, yet he was not pushing her away? Charles shot a cold look at the two men harassing Noelle. ¡°Time to leave, don¡¯t you think?¡± ¡°You¡­ Who do you think you are? Do you even know who I am? I had my eye on that girl,¡± one of the men blurted out. Charles smirked and let out a softugh. ¡°Youid a hand on her? Which hand was it? Show me!¡± The courage of the other man drained away when he met Charles¡¯s icy stare. ¡°Uh¡­ Mr. Hoffman, we didn¡¯t realize who you were. We¡­ we haven¡¯t touched her, not at all,¡± he stammered, realizing they were in deep trouble. ¡°Ronald,¡± Charles shot him a look before scooping Noelle into his arms like she was the heroine in some epic romance, ¡°give these guys a lesson they won¡¯t forget. Make it clear that The Majestic Lounge isn¡¯t for scum like them.¡± With Noelle in his arms, Charles spun on his heel and left. Ronald gave a curt nod.¡± Understood.¡± A sly grin spread across his face as he faced the two troublemakers. ¡°So, which one of you was it that touched thedy?¡± The two guys exchanged panicked nces, too scared to utter a word. Ronald let out a mocking scoff. ¡°What, did both of you touch her? Mr. Hoffman wants to let you keep a little +15 BONUS bit of your offending hand as a souvenir.¡± They dropped to their knees with a thud, as pale as ghosts, begging, ¡°Please, have mercy! You can¡¯t do this. My dad is a big shot at Evergreen Group¡­¡± Meanwhile, Charles, with Noelle in his arms, was like a walking iceberg. Noelle felt she was being drained of blood and eaten alive by a swarm of ants. She Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. whimpered, ovee by a wave of dizziness, ¡°It¡¯s so hot¡­¡± Charles nced down at his shirt, which was now a mess thanks to Noelle, and his gaze frosted over. He held her tighter and picked up the pace to the elevator. Though she was barely conscious, she caught a glimpse of the man¡¯s strong profile. The chill from his body was oddly soothing, and she snuggled closer without thinking. Charles¡¯s eyes. darkened just as the elevator doors slid open, and he stepped out into the unknown. BIG SALE: 3500 bonus free e fou you Wife 4 Wife 4 At the top of The Majestic Lounge was a room that belonged to Charles alone. He swung the door open and carried Noelle in. She was feeling so awful that she hung onto Charles like she was trying to meld into him, her limbs all over the ce with nary a hint of elegance. Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. He managed to detach Noelle from himself with a bit of a struggle and gently ced her in the bathroom. Taking a deep breath, he dialed Ronald¡¯s number. ¡°I need ice, and make it quick,¡± Once he ended the call, he saw Noelle trying to get out of the tub. He gently but firmly pushed her back down and turned on the cold tap. ¡°Stay still!¡± His voice was firm and grew even more intense as he noticed how the water in the tub entuated her figure. His gaze sharpened. Ronald was fast, arriving shortly with two buckets of ice. ¡°Here¡¯s the ice, sir.¡± ¡°Hold on,¡± Charles instructed Ronald. ¡®Just set them down and leave, thanks.¡± His tone was cool and detached. Ronald raised an eyebrow at Charles¡¯s unusual sternness. However, he kept his thoughts to himself and left as told. Once alone, Charles brought the ice buckets into the bathroom. Noelle was submerged in the icy water, her body shaking uncontrobly. Her mind was still foggy, and Charles¡¯s expression was grim. Noelle was burning up inside, feeling like she was on the brink of copse. The icy water was a harsh contrast to that, enveloping her in a torturous chill. She squirmed in agony, but Charles¡¯s hands kept her steady, and his voice cut through the haze. ¡°Hang in there. It¡¯ll pass soon.¡± Noelle¡¯s eyes fluttered open, her body feeling sore and like it had forgotten how to function. Shey still, gazing up at the stark white ceiling. As the fog in her brain slowly lifted, the memories ofst night started to y like a movie in her head. Her face drained of color as panic flickered across her features. She flung off the covers and was relieved to find herself in pajamas, untouched. Still, that aching¡­ where did ite from? ¡°You¡¯re awake?¡± A chilly voice cut through the silence, and Noelle¡¯s head whipped toward the door. There she saw a man d in cool elegance and fancy threads who was obviously not your average Joe. His face was so drop¨Cdead gorgeous that even a beauty queen would swoon at him. Noelle¡¯s brow creased in confusion. She did not know this man. As the reality of her situation hit her, she bluted out, ¡°Who are you?¡± Her voice sounded so hin and grating that it scared her. The words came out as a dry, quacking mess. Charles arched an eyebrow, not bothering with an answer. He strolled over, poured her a ss of water, and handed it to her with smoomand elegant hands. Note was taken aback for a second but then grabbed the ss, downing the water with am eagerens That Sordered or uncouth, Chce the ss was empty, the eyed Charles sungutusy. ¡°Kee you the one who rescue? mu ** ||paren she did not say yes or no butelie let out a reed bram. Okay Thanks for whatever you din ng the nced down at hus chote a silent question hanging in the air, and that megamansion turned to one of contusion over gratitude and evident despite the Chacies & pacendet softly on Scalea face mind ying her stunning presence has The night Sectors and storing something within him. It¡¯s all good, the thaw Court worry about (4),¡± Ne band sideslopping The potential endarrassment with a smooth defectu Sole in her ligghting the unge to say more the would have to deal with the fallout and act like this whole messes upper That Tow did you find out myst name ¡°Surprised¡± There shot of buzz M. Shaw tostay Have you not heard?¡± Charles sar?, casualy fading was tus cuffinka, kuuxing the picture of cost, ellie¡¯s face and of color what are you talking about?¡± ¡°There are many versions of your story. Wiget one du you want to hear?¡± ¡°Who are you ready? And what do you want from me? Wife 5 Wife 5 +15 BONUS ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter who I am. What matters is that I¡¯m here to help.¡± Charles tapped his cufflink, his gaze steady and serene as he watched Noelle. A wave of rm washed over her. Something about this guy screamed that he was more complicated than he was making himself out to be. ¡°I don¡¯t need your help.¡± ¡°Really? Then why were you herest night, trying to drink away your troubles? Your boyfriend is now your brother¨Cinw, your parents don¡¯t trust you, and now, you¡¯re the town¡¯s favorite punching bag. Did you miss the front page of the news?¡± ¡°That¡¯s none of your business.¡± Noelle¡¯s jaw tightened. ¡°You helped me out yesterday, and yes, I¡¯m thankful for that.¡± She swung her legs out of bed and started searching for her clothes, but they were nowhere in sight. ¡°Hey, mister!¡± ¡°Charles.¡± He leaned against the wall with an easy grace, watching Noelle¡¯s panicked search. That¡¯s my name.¡± Hearing the name ¡®Charles¡® made her eyebrows twitch. It rang a bell. ¡°Are you rted to Xavier?¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to say no, but it¡¯s up to you to choose to believe me or not. Charles shot back without waiting for a reply. ¡®Do you really think I would fall for that? What¡¯s your real game here, getting to save the damsel in distress?¡± Noelle eyed Charles warily, convinced he was up to no good. ¡°Are you trying to use me to get back at Xavier?¡± ¡°Get back at him?¡± Charles chuckled with a sneer, looking at Noelle as if she had made a joke. ¡°Please. He¡¯s not worth the effort!¡± Noelle gasped, taken aback by Charles¡¯s bold arrogance. ¡°If it¡¯s not about Xavier, then we¡¯ve got nothing to talk about.¡± Content held by N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Don¡¯t you feel any bitterness, Ms. Shaw?¡± Charles locked eyes with her, probing. ¡°Doesn¡¯t it burn you up, being betrayed by someone you trusted?¡± ¡°What do you really want from me?¡± ¡°Marry me,¡± he said with a sly grin. ¡°I can offer you a kind of happiness that¡¯s out of reach for everyone else in this world!¡± He moved closer, each step deliberate, as Noelle backed away. Her heart raced, and as she looked up, she found herself lost in Charles¡¯s intense gaze. Shel was caught off guard by the intensity in his eyes. He squinted slightly and leaned in close, hist breath warm against her neck and stirring a mix of feelings, yet it was anything but romantic. ¡°Like what you see?¡± Jolted back to reality by the warmth on her neck, Noelle felt a shock run through her, pushing Charles away with all her might and stumbling back. ¡°You¡¯re espicable Charles¡¯s gaze intensified as he strode over and pulled Noelle to him, trapping her against the wall in a ssic wall¨Cpinning maneuver. He tilted his head down, his fingers deftly lifting her chin His breath was faint, a yful twinkle in his attractive eyes as he leaned in and whispered with a laugh, ¡°I¡¯d say that was pretty despicable. ¡°Back off!¡± Noelle was not a fan of Charles invading her personal space. Her heart raced uncontrobly. ¡°I don¡¯t owe you a walk down the aisle just because you saved me. What year do you think it is? You¡¯re acting like we¡¯re still in the dark ages.¡± ¡°Looks like you¡¯re not keen on the idea of our marriage. Charles teased, his fingertip tracing the line of Noelle¡¯s cheek. Her skin was soft and inviting to the touch. He spoke with a yful edge, ¡°What¡¯s a guy to do, then? I can¡¯t seem to shake you off. The less you want to marry me, the more I¡¯m convinced you should.¡± ¡°Why? We¡¯re practically strangers, and besides, you know my story. You would have to be out of your mind to tie the knot with someone as notorious as me.¡± Charles¡¯s brow creased, clearly not fond of Noelle¡¯s self¨Cdeprecation. ¡°Im Charles ¡± ¡°I know that,¡± Noelle snapped, convinced the man was utterly clueless. ¡°So, I know you¡¯re Noelle, and you know I¡¯m Charles. How can you say we don¡¯t know each other?¡± Charles retorted, his eyes locking onto hers. ¡°Don¡¯t sell yourself short. You¡¯re wrong if you think you¡¯ve got nothing left. From now on, you¡¯ve got me.¡± BIG SALE $500 bonus free fou your. D Wife 6 Wife 6 He must havepletely lost it! This guy must be out of his mind! ¡°Charles¡­¡± Noelle was on the verge of exploding. ¡°Are you even listening? I don¡¯t want to marry you. I don¡¯t know you, and I definitely don¡¯t love you.¡± ¡°Who loves you, then? Xavier? He¡¯s your sister¡¯s husband now,¡± Charles said, slicing through the truth with a cruel edge. ¡°You¡¯re not still pining for Xavier, are you?¡± He teased her chin with a taunting finger. ¡°Hmm?¡± Noelle swatted Charles¡¯s hand away. ¡°What is it to you? Why are you so set on marrying me? Can¡¯t you find someone else?¡± ¡°You¡¯re the first woman who doesn¡¯t make my skin crawl.¡± ¡°What?¡± Noelle was taken aback. Charles¡¯s lips tightened, and he let go of Noelle. She quickly stepped back, putting a safe distance between them. Charles watched her with a light chuckle. ¡°It¡¯s quite simple. You ran into my armsst night, and I didn¡¯t mind it one bit.¡± He squinted thoughtfully. ¡°How about we strike a deal?¡± Noelle stayed silent, and Charles settled himself on the couch. ¡°I¡¯m in need of a wife, and your fit the bill.¡± ¡®Insane!¡® she thought. Who did he think he was? ¡°Mr. Hoffman, maybe you¡¯re the one who needs a doctor.¡± ¡°Ms. Shaw, don¡¯t rush to give me an answer. Take your time,¡± Charles said, dialing a number on his phone. Shortly after, Ronald came in with a bag in hand. ¡®Sir, as you requested, this is Ms. Shaw¡¯s clothing.¡± With a slight nod of his chin, Charles directed Ronald to hand the bag to Noelle. She hesitated for only a second before taking the bag and heading to the restroom. The clothes were a surprisingly perfect fit down to the exact size of the underwear, as if they had been made just for her. Gazing at her reflection, Noelle saw a scowl flicker across her face before she slumped in defeat. She never imagined that her boyfriend would end up with her sister during her year away. She was the real victim here, but somehow, she had been cast as the homewrecker. Her mom was completely on her sister¡¯s side. With a twist of the faucet, Noelle sshed water on her face, clenching her teeth to hold back Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. +15 BONUS the tears. She pulled herself together before stepping out of the bathroom. Her eyes, red and puffy, gave her away, however. Charles caught a glimpse of her state and quickly averted his gaze. ¡°Ms. Shaw, you can reach out to me whenever you¡¯re ready,¡± he said, offering her a business card. Noelle eyed him warily as she took the card. ¡°Don¡¯t turn away help when it¡¯s offered,¡± Charles said as he pressed the card into her hand. ¡°Help?¡± she thought, skeptical of his so¨Ccalled kindness. Her eyes locked onto the title on the card, and she paused. ¡°You¡­¡± Before she could snap out of it, Charles brushed a stray hair from her forehead and walked away, leaving his parting words. ¡°I¡¯ll be waiting for your good news!¡± Noelle stood frozen, watching him go. His name rang a bell, of course. Charles was a big deal in Brookville. He was the top dog among the town¡¯s elite, one of the Four Young Masters of Brookville. While the eldest was a mystery, Mr. Hoffman and Mr. Lennon were household names, their fame echoing through the streets of Brookville. It was clear why Charles could not care less about Xavier. Xavier and his whole Harris family were probably not even a blip on his radar. Noelle¡¯s gaze dropped to the business card she was gripping a little too tightly. The name¡® Charles¡® seemed to be etched into her brain, ying on a loop she could not shut off. Why on earth would someone like Charles, who seemed to live in a stratosphere all his own, bother to lend a hand to someone smeared by scandal? Noelle did not have the answers, and frankly, she did not want them. She shoved the card into her purse, took a deep, steadying breath, and walked away. Once she was gone, Ronald stepped out from his hiding spot, eyes tracking Noelle until she was out of sight. He dialed Charles to say, ¡°Sir, Ms. Shaw has left.¡± D Comments Wife 7 Wife 7 After leaving The Majestic Lounge, Noelle hailed a cab to get home. She had moved out of her childhood home a long time ago because of her messy rnship with her family and because it made it easier for her to go to ande back from work. Content held by N?velDrama.Org. When Noelle got out of the cab, she stood and stared dazedly at the neighborhood she lived in. Xavier had helped her move out back then, and they even had ns to get engaged and then married when the time was right. She never imagined the entire thing to be nothing more than a joke and to beter reduced to nothing more than the ¡®instigator. She felt like everything that happened yesterday was just a bad nightmare. ¡°Are you home, Noelle?¡± When Noelle walked out of the elevator, she saw Winter standing by her front door with a worried look on her face. Her brows knitted themselves together instinctively, and she was about to turn and walk away when someone grabbed her arm. ¡°Noelle.¡± Noelle froze and tried shaking her arm free of Xavier¡¯s grasp. However, he kept a tight grip on her arm as he said, ¡°Where have you been? Winter and I spent the entire night waiting for you. Do you have any idea how worried we were?¡± ¡°Worried?¡± Noelle scoffed as she looked up and gazed directly into Xavier¡¯s eyes. ¡°Would ever be worried about me?¡± you ¡°Don¡¯t do this, Noelle,¡± Winter said, her high heels clicking against the floor as she brushed. Xavier¡¯s arm away withou batting an eyelid and held Noelle instead. ¡°Noelle, I know this is our fault, but Xavier and I truly are in love. You were gone the entire year and have no idea what he went through. I was the one who stayed with him and took care of him, so¡­¡± ¡°Hah¡­ You stayed with him and took care of him? Gosh. Thanks so much for taking care of Xavier when you already knew he was my boyfriend. Do you have a conscience, Winter Shaw?¡± Noelle roared. When she felt a sharp pain traveling up her arm, she frowned and instinctively shoved Winter away. Winter let out a scream as she stumbled backward. Xavier hurried over and grabbed Winter by the waist. A disappointed look appeared on his face as he swept his sharp gaze over Noelle. ¡°This is too much, Noelle. Winter and I might have wronged you, but what¡¯s done is done, and we¡¯ve already gotten engaged. Why can¡¯t you ept the truth for what it is?!¡± ¡°I¡¯m not epting the truth for what it is? Come on, you two are the ones who appeared on my doorstep.¡± Noelle never imagined Xavier would ever point fingers at her because of Winter. ¡°Get a grip on yourself. Didn¡¯t I give you my blessings during your engagement party? Go ahead and get engaged if that¡¯s what you want to do, and get married too for all I care. Just stay out of my sight. You disgust me!¡± +15 BONUS Noelle screamed at Xavier and Winter, ¡°Get the f*ck out of here right now!¡± ¡°Noelle, how could you do this?!¡± Winter cried, an aggrieved look on her face as she gazed at Noelle as if Noelle was in the wrong instead of her. ¡°Xavier and I just wanted to set things. straight with you. We had no intention of hurting you. We¡­ We¡¯re just¡­. truly in love with each other.¡± ¡°Truly in love? That¡¯s disgusting,¡± Noelle said as she gazed at Winter coldly. In the past, she merely thought her sister had a weak personality, and she had always let Winter have her way because she had saved her life once. However, that did not mean she would allow Winter to bully her relentlessly. She recalled how Winter would always eye whatever Noelle wanted over the years. ¡°Winter, if you¡¯re somitted to stealing someone else¡¯s man, you can have him. I¡¯m not interested in trash.¡± ¡°You¡­¡± Xavier gave Noelle an exasperated look. He raised his hand and was about to swing it toward Moelle¡¯s face when someone else grabbed his hand. Winter shook her head, her eyes teary as she wrapped both her hands around Xavier¡¯s arm. ¡± Don¡¯t do this, Xavier. Noelle is still young and doesn¡¯t know what she¡¯s talking about. I don¡¯t me her.¡± BIG SALE 3500 bonus free fou you Wife 8 Wife 8 ¡°Look at how kind Winter is to you, Noelle. How could you¡­¡± ¡°F*ck off. I don¡¯t want to see you two.¡± It was only then that Noelle finally knew what Xavier thought of her. ¡°Don¡¯t do this, Noelle. No matter what happens, we¡¯re still family. Do you know how angry. Grandpa was when he learned about what happened? He¡­. He wouldn¡¯t want bad blood between us sisters over something as minor as this.¡± Winter grabbed Noelle¡¯s arm, tears streaming down her face as she said passionately, ¡°You know just how much Grandpa loves you, Noelle. What happened is all my fault. Pleasee home with me! Grandpa would be so upset if you didn¡¯t!¡± Noelle¡¯s sadness only intensified when she heard those words leaving Winter¡¯s mouth. Grandpa? So, you know how disappointed Grandpa would be as well. If you knew that, you should never have done what you did in the first ce. Why didn¡¯t you think about how sad Grandpa would be when you did all this despite knowing Xavier was my boyfriend?¡± ¡°Noelle, don¡¯t you think you¡¯re being too selfish? ¡°Please, Noelle, I¡¯m begging you! You said yourself that Xavier was just your boyfriend. You two weren¡¯t engaged, nor were you married. It¡¯s perfectly fine that I got together with him.¡± ¡°What did you say?¡± Noelle could not believe her ears. ¡°So that gave you all the grounds you needed to steal my boyfriend from me?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not like that, Noelle. We just couldn¡¯t stop ourselves,¡± Winter said as she took Noelle¡¯s hand in hers, speaking as if they were still children. ¡°You know how Grandpa is, Noelle. He said he wouldn¡¯t approve of our marriage if you didn¡¯t return home with me. Come on, Noelle. Come home with me, and tell Grandpa you don¡¯t like Xavier, alright?¡± ¡°That¡¯s enough. You two disgust me.¡± Noelle never imagined Winter would still not let her live her life despite everything she had already done. ¡°I won¡¯t go home, and I couldn¡¯t care less about what will happen to you and Xavier. Please leave immediately.¡± Noelle shoved Winter aside and hurriedly retrieved her keys from her bag so she could unlock her front door. However, Xavier hurried forth and grabbed the handle, a confused look in his eyes as he gazed at Noelle. ¡°Can¡¯t we part on good terms, Noelle? Do you really have to destroy my good impression of you?¡± Xavier had a pained expression on his face as if Noelle had done something terribly wrong to him. ¡°Don¡¯t feel so aggrieved. We were never engaged, and Winter and I weren¡¯t doing anything wrong by getting together. She¡¯s your sister. Why can¡¯t you be considerate of her feelings?¡± Noelle felt a stabbing pain in her chest, which slowly spread to the rest of her body. Tears +15 BONUS welled in her eyes, but she gritted her teeth and forced herself not to cry as she stuck her neck out to stare into Xavier¡¯s eyes. She never imagined that one day, he would end up questioning her in this manner when she could still recall how he had made all sorts of promises to her. ¡°Listen to yourself, Xavier Harris. What did I not do well enough that warranted the two of you treating me this way? ¡°You were the one who asked me to date you in the first ce, and you promised you would never betray me. That wasn¡¯t even that long ago, yet you¡¯re asking me to be considerate of her feelings now? ¡°What about me? Have you ever been considerate of my feelings?¡± Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. P Wife 9 Wife 9 415 BONUS Noelle could not stop herself from raising her voice, and tears streamed down her face without warning. She reached out and pried Xavier¡¯s fingers off the handle one by one before shoving him away forcefully. ¡°If both you and Winter aren¡¯t to me, does that mean that I¡¯m the one to be med? If you had been even the slightest bit considerate of my feelings, you wouldn¡¯t need to be doing all this today. Xavier Harris, you could have told me you didn¡¯t like me, and we could have broken up. I¡¯m not the type of girl who¡¯d give you trouble over it. As for you, Winter Shaw, you say time and time again that we¡¯re sisters, but what have you ever done for me? You could have told me you had feelings for Xavier, and I would have given you two my blessings when I realized he liked you too. After all, I would not have survived till today if it wasn¡¯t for what you did all those years ago. But does that mean I¡¯ll forever be indebted to you? Huh?¡± (t Tears were flowing freely down Noelle¡¯s face when she finished speaking. She could not wrap her head around it. One was her older sister, and the other was a man she had spent the past three years loving. How could they have hurt her this way? ¡°You¡¯re asking me to settle for less after doing such things to me? Are you asking me to tell Grandpa that it was all my fault? Even a dog has more loyalty than you!¡± Noelle had never been one to cry much, but she felt ovee with aggravation right then. ¡°Noelle!¡± Winter pped a hand to her mouth, tears flowing down her face as she gazed at her with a heartbroken expression. However, she copsed into Xavier¡¯s arms as she said, ¡± Why would you say that? You¡¯ve always been my beloved younger sister. Trust me, you¡¯re thest person in the world I would ever hurt. Have you forgotten that I was the one who saved you when you were kidnapped as a child? If it wasn¡¯t for me, how would you still be standing here healthy and in one piece?¡± ¡°Yes, you saved me, but does that mean I have to be under your thumb for the rest of my life?¡± Noelle asked as she gazed at Winter disappointedly. ¡°You should leave. Like I said, you can do whatever you want to do. I¡¯ve repaid everything I¡¯ve ever owed you.¡± Noelle mmed the door in their faces. However, after the door shutpletely, she slumped against it and slowly slid onto the floor Winter continued rapping on her door, and her weak voice made it seem like Noelle was the evil one. Then, Xavier¡¯s cruel words rang out. ¡°I was wrong about disappointed me greatly.¡± you, Noelle. You¡¯ve Finally, everything went quiet Noelle sat on the ground and curled into a ball, wrapping her arms around herself as she did so. Her tears soon formed a puddle on her knees. A long time passed before she finally raised her head again, a dazed look in her eyes as she slowly got to her feet. After all, no matter what happened that easily dof. t Mes phase began singing, and a gloomy look appeared in her nyou when she saw the caller I Mecandal Yes, I just got home,¡± Noelle ke everything was perfectly time. ¡°Are you miss Oh, you willy, silly qui Sebastian Jenkins said d as she sniffled, doing her best to sound me, Grandpa?¡± he sighed morally. ¡°Come visit me at home After getting the door mmed in their tacos, both Navier and Winter had ugly expressions on thest Races Winter gave Navier a careful look before tugging on his jacket sleave and asking evestly. ¡°What should we do, Navier? It Noelle doesn¡¯te home with us, Grandpa will new agree to our marriage. I should have informed Noelle about this beforehand. That she hates us to our very core now. She¡¯s always been a stubborn gul who doesn¡¯t give a damn about how anyone else feels. I want to be with you, Xavier. I don¡¯t want us to be separated¡± Winter fell into Xavier¡¯s arms as she spoke and began sobbing. Xavier frowned and patted Winter on the back as he spoke to her in a soft andforting voice any trace of quilt he felt toward Noelle vajishing ¡°Don¡¯t worry. No matter what Noelle does, I won¡¯t let her get what she wants. Our familles are supportive of our marriage, and I don¡¯t care if your grandfather refuses to give us his blessing. The Harris family is more than happy to wee you into the family.¡± Upon hearing Navier¡¯s promises, the corners of Winter¡¯s lips curled upward as she held Xavier¡¯s hands and stood on her tiptoes to kiss him. ¡°I love you, Xavier.¡± ¡°I love you too!¡± Xavier said as he wrapped his amis around Winter¡¯s waist and kissed her passionately. When the two finally parted begrudgingly, Wintery her head on Xavier¡¯s chest, an evil glint appeating in her eyes. Look at your beloved man, Noelle Shaw. He¡¯s nothing more than a fish caught in my now! BIO SALE: 3500 bonus free fouContent held by N?velDrama.Org. Wife 10 Wife 10 Noelle slept through the night, but she was not in very high spirits when she awoke. As she gazed at her pale face and puffy eyes reflected in the mirror, she vehemently sshed water. at her eyes until some color returned to her cheeks. Then, she propped her hands against the sink dispiritedly and gazed at herself sadly. ¡°Wake up, Noelle! There aren¡¯t any hardships that you can¡¯t get past!¡± After preparing herself mentally, she began putting on makeup. She heaved a sigh of relief when ?ll signs of disheveledness could no longer be seen on her face. However, she frowned when she saw her grandfather, Sebastian, her maternal grandfather, calling her. She hurriedly answered, ¡°Hello, Grandpa? What¡¯s the matter?¡± ¡°You haven¡¯t forgotten that I asked you toe home today, have you?¡± Sebastian¡¯s voice rang out. He might be getting on in age, but his voice was filled with as much vim and vigor as it had during his younger years. He had his many years of delivering lectures to students to thank for that. Noelle was stunned when she heard Sebastian say that. ¡°Grandpa, I¡­ Alright, alright. I¡¯lle home. I¡¯ll drop by, alright?¡± Noelle gazed at her phone with a vexed expression for a long while before she heaved a sigh and grabbed her handbag to leave the house. Her initial n had been to head to work, but after everything that had happened in the past two days, she decided to change her ns. She first went grocery shopping at a nearby supermarket before heading to her grandfather¡¯s home. It had been an entire year since she had left Brookville, and she had spent all her time working without paying a single visit, only making the asional phone call to her grandfather. She felt slightly sheepish when she arrived at the front door and waited for May, the family to open the door for her. ¡°Ms. Noelle, you¡¯re home? Why didn¡¯t youe in yourself? Quick, quick,e in!¡± May took Noelle¡¯s hand in hers and smiled as she said, ¡°Sir Jenkins has guests today.¡± ¡°Guests?¡± Noelle asked curiously, ¡°What guests? Didn¡¯t Grandpa say¡­¡± Before Noelle managed to finish her sentence, she heard Sebastian¡¯s voice ringing from the room, ¡°Charles, it¡¯s been so long since you¡¯ve visited. Have you been busy?¡± Noelle was holding a gift in her arms, and May reached out to take it from her. When she looked up, she saw a man sitting with his back to her in the living room. He seemed familiar, and it confused her momentarily. ¡°Noelle, you¡¯ve arrived,¡± Sebastian said as he smiled and gazed at Noelle. However, the smile vanished from his face when he saw the gifts in her arms. ¡°It¡¯s enough that you dropped by. Why did you get a gift as well? I don¡¯t need anything more.¡± Despite that, Sebastian still beckoned May to bring the gift over. ¡°Come here, quick. Let me. take a good look at you.¡± Noelle handed the gift to May and walked over to Sebastian after slipping on a pair of house slippers. ¡°Long time no see, Grandpa. I¡¯ve missed you so much!¡± Noelle said as she took Sebastian¡¯s arm and rested her cheek against it, swinging to and fro as she asked, ¡°Did you miss me, Grandpa?¡± Property ? of N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Not at all,¡± Sebastian said as he gently pped Noelle¡¯s forehead. ¡°Watch yourself. Have you not noticed my guest?¡± Sebastian took Noelle¡¯s hand in his and walked over. ¡°Allow me to introduce you to my granddaughter, Charles. Noelle, this is a student of mine. His name is Charles Hoffman.¡± The look of surprise in Noelle¡¯s eyes betrayed her, and she burst out, ¡°What are you doing here?¡± Charles turned, and his good¨Clooking face appeared in her vision. His gentle eyes settled their gaze on her before he said, ¡°Greetings, Ms. Shaw.¡± Sebastian cocked an eyebrow, his shrewd gazending on both Charles and Noelle as he asked, ¡°Do you guys know each other?¡± Noelle¡¯s heart skipped a beat when she saw the look in Sebastian¡¯s eyes, and she hurriedly said, ¡°Haha, we¡¯ve met once. Mr. Hoffman helped me out when I ran into some trouble. Isn¡¯t that right, Mr. Hoffman?¡± Noelle waggled her eyebrows at Charles as she spoke, hinting that he should watch what he said. The corner of Charles¡® lips curled upward slightly when he understood what Noelle was trying to tell him, and he added, ¡°That¡¯s right, Sir, Ms. Shaw and I have met previously. But given the high spirits you seem to be in, I gather you¡¯ve gotten over your grief, Ms. Shaw?¡± ¡°¡­¡± Noelle gritted her teeth and narrowed her eyes. This man! Comments Wife 11 Wife 11 Sebastian caught on to what Charles was hinting at almost Instantly. His face tensed for a split second before he regained hisposure. ¡°Noelle just got back from a trip, so she¡¯s still mixing up timezones! Hey, Charles, you might as well stay for inner since you¡¯re here.¡± He waved May over. ¡°We need some groceries, May. Noelle and Charles are both dining in tonight, so make it snappy!¡± Sebastian handed her a wad of bills. May had been with the family long enough to read between the lines. With a knowing squint, she grabbed the cash and headed out the door. ¡°You three have a good chat.¡± Seizing the moment while Sebastian was busy giving May instructions, Noelle¡¯s gaze fixed on Charles. How on earth did Charles know her granddad? Charles¡¯s eyes, which were sharp and narrow, met Noelle¡¯s with a light¨Cheartedugh. ¡°Ms. Shaw, you look like you¡¯ve seen a ghost.¡± ¡°Give me a break. Aren¡¯t you the least bit shocked? You¡¯re really my granddad¡¯s student?¡± Noelle¡¯s skepticism was palpable. After all, Charles was no regr Joe. With a quirk of his eyebrow, Charles yed it cool. ¡°Do you think I would lie to you about your granddad?¡± he asked, leaving Noelle biting her lip and at a loss for words. Sebastian¡¯s eyes, deep and dark, sparkled with cunning glee as he nced between Charles and Noelle. ¡°Charles, meet Noelle, the girl I¡¯m always talking about. She¡¯s been a star student since she was a kid, and now she¡¯s all grown up and killing it as apany director.¡± Sebastianid it on thick, praising Noelle like a street vendor hyping up his best goods. Charles yed along, nodding seriously. He snuck peeks at Noelle, making her feel like she was under a spotlight. ¡°Okay, you kids have a chat. I¡¯m off to the study. Sebastian said, giving Noelle¡¯s hand a reassuring pat. ¡°Noelle, be a dear and look after Charles for your grandpa, won¡¯t you?¡± Before Noelle could even think of bailing, Sebastian was out of the room. She tried to follow, but Charles sat down, looking as cool as a cucumber. With a sigh, she sat back down. ¡°Mr. Hoffman, which year were you in my grandpa¡¯s ss? I¡¯ve never heard him mention you before.¡± Charles squinted a bit. ¡°Really? He talked about you all the time!¡± he imed, standing up. and inching closer, which sent Noelle scooting back with her eyes wide. ¡°Back off!¡± ¡°Ms. Shaw, you say you don¡¯t know me, huh? Well, let¡¯s fix that. Getting closer should help,¡± Charles teased with a chuckle, his breath tickling Noelle¡¯s ear. ¡°We can¡¯t disappoint your grandpa, can we?¡± ¡°You¡­¡± Noelle¡¯s cheeks turned a bright shade of pink, a clear sign of her mortification. She would be the biggest fool in the world if she had not already figured out why her grandpa 1/2 ummoned her home today However, the neverexpected him to be this desperate to get her a new man it was just a breakup, not the end of the world. Out of everyone he could have chosen, he had to go with Charles Grandpa was practically throwing her at : She had just turned him down yesterday, but fum. She wondered what Charles must be thinking of her now as she said. ¡°Don¡¯t make a mountain out of a mill Grandpa at gut too much time on his hands Don¡¯t sweat it She had more than enough men to choose from. She was young, for crying out loved. There were plenty of fish in the sea. Mi moman this a bit suffocating Noelle praped for ai tay handa pushing against Charlies a chest, ¡°Could you back off a lime? Give me some §Ü§â§Ú§ã§ä ??? ??? ???? ??? ??? ??? N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content. Wife 12 Wife 12 Charles squinted, his gaze dropping to the slender hands pushing against his chest. Noelle looked like she was ying hard to get, but Charles knew better that she was not the type to send mixed signals. Right now, her hands were shaking slightly, the warmth of her touch making his eyebrows rise a little. His eyes lingered on Noelle¡¯s overly made¨Cup face. Charles reached out with a frown and touched her cheek, his voiceced with Lay off the heavy makeup next time. It¡¯s not your style.¡± annoyance. Noelle¡¯s temper red instantly, and she shoved Charles back, ¡°Back off! It¡¯s my face, so I¡¯ll do whatever I want with it. I¡¯ll wear as much makeup as I want. Keep your opinions to yourself. Noelle stood up with a huff. ¡°I¡¯m going to check on what Grandpa is up to!¡± She made her way to Sebastian¡¯s study, tapped lightly on the door, and called out, ¡°Grandpa, can I come in?¡± ¡°Come in!¡± Upon hearing Sebastian¡¯s voice, Noelle swung the door open and found him by the bookshelf thumbing through a book filled with of modern¨Cday musings. Sebastian, spotting Noelle, beckoned, ¡°Get over here, kiddo!¡± Noelle strolled over and peered at what Sebastian was reading. It was full of diagrams and things she could not make heads or tails of, so she just shut the book in his hands. ¡°Grandpa, I don¡¯t get toProperty ? of N?velDrama.Org. visit often. What am I greeted with when Ie over for a rare visit? You invite random people over, then hide out here.¡± Sebastian chuckled and yfully tapped her forehead as he gazed at Noelle¡¯s familiar face, letting out a wistful sigh. ¡°You do know who Charles is, right?¡± ¡°Of course, everyone in Brookville knows him. Grandpa, howe you¡¯ve never mentioned you had a student like him?¡± Despite his fame, Grandpa had never mentioned him before. Noelle was practically raised by Sebastian and onlyter moved back in with the Shaws. She even tagged along to his sses when she was little, so she knew many of his students. Sebastian¡¯s eyes flickered with a shadow of concern before he broke into a smile. ¡°How old were you back then? Charles was my star student, but he went overseas, so it¡¯s no shock your haven¡¯t met him. He tucked the notebook away and gently held Noelle¡¯s hand. ¡°So, what¡¯s your take on Charles? I think he¡¯s a catch, especially since I know his whole story. If you were to¡­¡± ¡°Hold up.¡± Noelle¡¯s brow crinkled, her expression a mix of amusement and exasperation.¡± Grandpa, what am I to you? Do you think I¡¯m that desperate?¡± ¡°Look, even if you¡¯re not desperate, Charles is definitely a catch. I¡¯ve picked out a real gem for 1/2 +15 BONUS you! And don¡¯t think I don¡¯t know about your little escapades just because you¡¯ve been quiet. What did Julian have to say? And the Shaw family patriarch?¡± Sebastian was upset that his precious granddaughter had faced such troubles. ¡°I told you Xavier was no good, but you wouldn¡¯t listen.¡± ¡°Grandpa!¡± Noelle¡¯s eyes brimmed with tears, and she stomped her foot in frustration. ¡°Stop it. I didn¡¯t know at the time, okay? I¡¯ve learned my lesson, and it won¡¯t happen again.¡± ¡°Okay, okay, we won¡¯t talk about that mistake. Let¡¯s focus on Charles. Noelle, I¡¯m getting on in years, and I worry about you. I don¡¯t need you to be rich. I just want you to be safe and happy. Charles was my student, and I trust himpletely.¡± ¡°Mr. Hoffman, why are you the only one here? Where is everyone else?¡± May¡¯s voice echoed through the living room. Noelle and Sebastian shared a quick look before Charles chimed in, Seems like Ms. Shaw isn¡¯t the biggest fan of me, huh?¡± Comments Wife 13 Wife 13 +15 BONUS Noelle gritted her teeth and turned to Sebastian, who gave her an awkward nce. She huffed, ¡°Grandpa, I usually go along with your ideas, but not this. This is about who I spend. my life with, and I can¡¯t afford to make that decision light! I don¡¯t want a repeat of the Xavier disaster. That would just be¡­ tragic. Sebastian did not know what else to say. He had hoped that introducing Noelle to Charles. might ignite a spark, but with Noelle so against it, he could not push it. ¡°Okay, okay, I won¡¯t mention it again. But you should know that Charles is a great guy, and¡­¡± ¡°Grandpal¡± Noelle¡¯s frown deepened. ¡°If you keep this up, I won¡¯t visit you again!¡± Noelle cut off Sebastian, saying, ¡°We should head out. It doesn¡¯t feel right to leave Mr. Hoffman by himself in the living room,¡± ¡°You and your stubbornness¡­¡± Sebastian sighed, resigning himself to her will. As Noelle and Sebastian emerged, Charles¡¯s eyes twinkled with a teasing glint as he looked at Noelle. His lips curled into a sly smile. ¡°Mr. Jenkins.¡± ¡°Charles, you finally made it to see this old man, and here I am, not even offering you a proper wee,¡± Sebastian said, his face flushed with a mix of embarrassment and regret. After all, he had yed a part in setting up today¡¯s meeting. ¡°May, would you start on dinner, please?¡± Charles and Noelle ended up staying for a meal and spent the afternoon chatting with Sebastian, When Charles got a phone call, he had to excuse himself. Sebastian could not help but notice how his little girl and Charles looked like a couple straight out of a romance movie. They looked like a perfect pair, and he did not want them to miss out on a great opportunity. ¡°Noelle, it¡¯s gettingte. You should head home. Charles, you wouldn¡¯t mind escorting Noelle for me, would you?¡± ¡°Grandpa¡­¡± ¡°I would be delighted,¡± Charles chimed in, his eyes twinkling as he gave Noelle a smile that seemed to melt all resistance. Noelle¡¯s brow furrowed slightly. For some reason, she was not a fan of Charles¡¯s charm. However, it was toote to back out without seeming rude. With a forced smile, Noelle said, ¡°I guess I¡¯m in your hands then, Mr. Hoffman.¡± ¡°No worries at all!¡± After bidding Sebastian farewell, Noelle and Charles descended the stairs together. Noelle was quick to part ways, however, saying, ¡°Mr. Hoffman, you don¡¯t need to go out of your way. I can just get a cab.¡± ¡°Ms. Shaw, you seem to really dislike me!¡± Charles quipped, arching an eyebrow at her hasty retreat. ¡°Or could it be that you have a little crush on me?¡± Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. +15 BONUS Noelle could barely keep fromughing at Charles¡¯s wild reasoning. ¡°Look, Mr. Hoffman, don¡¯t read too much into it. We¡¯re strangers, so let¡¯s keep it that way, okay? You¡¯ve got stuff to do, and I don¡¯t want to be a bother.¡± She tried to make a quick exit. Charles, however, was faster, catching her hand in his. Charles squinted, a smirk spreading across his face when he saw Noelle¡¯s cheeks turn pink with irritation. ¡°It¡¯s not a big deal, and I promised our teacher I would be reliable. Can¡¯t go back on my word or ditch ady, can I? That wouldn¡¯t be very gentlemanly of me.¡± Charles might have looked like a pushover, but he was anything but. His grip on Noelle¡¯s hand tightened just enough to show he was not about to let go. Her eyes were fixed on her hand in his, her face burning with anger as she hissed, ¡°Charles, let go!¡± Wife 14 Wife 14 ¡°Ms. Shaw, don¡¯t fight it. If you can¡¯t avoid something, then just try to enjoy it. Makes sense, right?¡± Charles¡¯s gaze held a hint of mystery as he spoke. Noe bit her lip, her fight fading. away. When Charles felt Noelle¡¯s resistance ease up, he let go of her hand. ¡°Hop in, Ms. Shaw.¡± Noelle shot Charles a reluctant look but followed him into the car anyway. Charles shed a grin. ¡°Buckle up!¡± Noelle had barely settled into the car seat when she rattled off her address to Charles, then. mmed up, only piping up to correct his driving once or twice. Charles was not clueless and picked up on Noelle¡¯s cold shoulder. Pulling up to her ce, he shot her a look. ¡°Remember what I said before? The offer is still valid, Ms. Shaw. Call me if you¡¯re thinking about it again.¡± Noelle bit her lip, ¡°Look at you, Mr. Hoffman. You¡¯re sessful, loaded, and the town¡¯s most eligible bachelor. You could snap your fingers and have thedies of Brookville lining up from here to kingdome. Why bother with in old me?¡± ¡°You¡¯ve got it all wrong, Charles tapped a steady beat on the steering wheel, then clicked the doors open. ¡°We¡¯ve arrived, so I¡¯ll get out of your hair, Ms. Shaw.¡± As smooth as ever. He always knew when to push and when to back off, as patient as a cat with a mouse, calcting the perfect moment to pounce or let it scamper away. Noelle swung the door open, stepping out. ¡°Thanks for the lift, Mr. Hoffman, but it¡¯s a hard no from me. I just wed my way out of a mess, and I¡¯m not about to dive into another.¡± ¡°Who can say it¡¯ll be a mess when you haven¡¯t even given it a shot?¡± Charles¡¯s smile was easy. ¡°But it¡¯ste now, Ms. Shaw. Take care.¡± Noelle mmed the car door shut and watched Charles¡¯s sleek Cayenne fade into the distance. She held her breath, her face a mask of calm, until she could not see the car anymore. However, as she turned to leave, she froze. Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. There he was, not too far off: Xavier, looking sharp in his suit and like a perfect gentleman. A sharp pang squeezed Noelle¡¯s chest, her face draining of color. The act she had kept up all day threatened to crumble right there and then. Her hands balled into fists, nails biting into her palms, though she hardly noticed. She stared straight ahead, her lower lip caught between her teeth. Xavier had spotted Noelle the moment she stepped out of that ck Cayenne, and he had not taken his eyes off her since. He had imagined all sorts of awkwardness between them after what had happened and even thought she might resent him. He had not expected her to move on to another guy already. T ? +15 BONUS Xavier could not figure out why, but after seeing Noelle, something inside him twisted, and his breathing became uneven. His gaze fixed on her, his face clouded with annoyance. ¡°Who was that guy who just dropped you off?¡± Noelle could not help butugh. How dare he question her after all he had done! ¡°Whoever it was, it¡¯s none of your business!¡± ¡°How can you say it doesn¡¯t matter?¡± Xavier exploded. ¡°Noelle, do you have any clue what you¡¯re doing? Winter and I messed up, but what¡¯s done is done. You¡¯ve got to deal with it. That doesn¡¯t mean you should just throw yourself at some random guy!¡± Comments Wife 15 Wife 15 ¡°Throwing myself at some random guy? Xavier, do you hear yourself?¡± Noelle could not help. but laugh at the absurdity of it all. ¡°I get that you¡¯re not over what happened with me and Winter, but you¡¯re young. You¡¯ll find someone who¡¯s just for you. I¡¯m your brother¨Cinw now, right? I wouldn¡¯t do anything to hurt you,¡± Xavier said, stumbling a bit over the words ¡®brother¨Cinw.¡® He nced at Noelle, noticing she looked even prettier than she had just a day ago. ¡°Oh, I should be so grateful for your concern!¡± Noelle¡¯s voice dripped with sarcasm. ¡°Do me a favor, will you? Just stay out of my life from now on.¡± She was not the type to cling to what was gone. Sure, she could not just switch off her feelings for Xavier, but she would not let him see her crumble. ¡°Noelle, why do you have to be this way? If things had worked out, it would have been great, but otherwise, we should go our separate ways. We¡¯re not a thing anymore, and I¡¯m really into Winter.¡± ¡°Okay, I get it. You¡¯re head over heels for Winter, So, what do you want from me? I¡¯ve backed off as much as I can. I¡¯m not bothering you, so why can¡¯t you just leave me be?¡± Noelle was at a loss, trying to figure out what Xavier was really after. Why on earth did he think she could just smile and y nice after what he had done? Did he think she was some kind of saint? ¡°Winter threw herself under the bus to spare you from your family¡¯s wrath. She didn¡¯t say anything as they scolded her. I love Winted and she loves me, but Grandpa won¡¯t give us hist blessing because of you, Noelle. Don¡¯t you feel even a little bit guilty?¡± ¡°Guilty? Oh, please, Xavier, are you for real? Why would I feel guilty? You¡¯re the one who should be drowning in guilt.¡± She almost fell for it and thought she was the one at fault. ¡°Now, do me a favor and vanish, will you?¡± ¡°Noelle!¡± Xavier¡¯s face was a picture of shock, totally unable to grasp that this new Noelle no longer trailed behind him, agreeing with every word and always putting him first. ¡°How can you do this to me? I¡¯m so disappointed. I even bragged to Winter that you were her ride¨Cor¨Cdie and would never stab her in the back. Boy, was I wrong about you.¡± Property ? of N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Yeah, you¡¯ve got it twisted, Xavier. Did you forget your brain when you walked out the door? What girl in her right mind would forgive a cheater and a homewrecker? And you have the nerve to expect me to be sweet to you? Do you think I¡¯m that pathetic? Let me set you straight -it¡¯s not you who misjudged me. I¡¯m the one who had you all wrong. I must¡¯ve been blind to ever fall for a guy like you. Now scram! Get out of my face.¡± Noelle knew if she kept this up with Xavier, she would be the one losing her mind +15 BONUS haven¡¯t seen you for a single day, but whatever he said to youpletely changed your mind. ¡°Xavier could not wrap his head around the cold shoulder Noelle was giving him. Convinced that the guy from the car had messed with her head, he said, ¡°You never used to be like this.¡± ¡°Who was I before? Yourpdog? Remember when you said our love needed a ¡®test¡® and the company needed me, so off I went on a year¨Clong business trip to who¨Cknows¨Cwhere? The whole time, you wouldn¡¯t let me call you unless it was business Xavier, did you n this all along, just itching for me to get out of Brookville so you could cozy up with Winter?¡± BIG SALE: 3500 bonus free fou you Comments Support get it Wife 16 Wife 16 ¡°How can you even suggest something like that about me and Winter? It¡¯s not because¡­. ¡°Stop! Just stop. I can¡¯t listen to another word, Xavier. You¡¯re making me sick. Get out now before there¡¯s nothing left of you in my heart.¡± Noelle shoved Zaver back, shooting him a look that could freezeva. ¡°And don¡¯t you daree back.¡± Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. With that, she fished her keys out of her bag, strode to the apartment door, flung it open, and disappeared inside. She felt like she would totally lose it if she spent one more second with Xavier Xavier watched Noelle¡¯s back as she left,pletely lost. How had things between them gone so horribly wrong? Even if they could not be a couple, the bond they had once shared still lingered. He believed that if Noelle had even the slightest affection left for him, she would be mindful of his feelings. She should be cool about him and Winter being together, especially since Winter had once saved her life. He nned to make things right with her, hoping they could return to the way things once were. Noelle would remain the same big¨Chearted, empathetic girl he had always known. He was certain a shift had urred due to that guy she had been with in the car. Otherwise, Noelle would never have acted so coldly towards him. She would not have! Noelle waspletely drained. That talk with Xavier had her questioning everything about her life. Noelle spent the weekend trying to shake everything off before returning to work. She believed that no matter what, life went on and one could not just ditch work. However, she had given herself too much credit and underestimated the gossipmongers. Noelle was met with stares and whispers upon stepping into thepany lobby. ¡°Look, that¡¯s her! The girl who stooped so low as to snatch her sister¡¯s fiance.¡± ¡°Totally! I heard her sister even saved her life when they were little.¡± ¡°Seriously, how can someone bite the hand that feeds them?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s be real, she¡¯s never been Ms. Congeniality. Did you know she¡¯s one of us? She¡¯s the reason a bunch of women here got edged out.¡± Noelle stomped her foot, her piercing gazending on the group of gossiping women. Maybe It was themanding air she carried or her standing in thepany, but the women quickly scattered with their heads bowed. One of them could not resist a parting shot before leaving. ¡°You think being the third woman in someone¡¯s rtionship is something to brag about? We can¡¯t even talk about it now, huh?¡± +15 BONUS Noelle¡¯s breathing was erratic, her chest rising and falling as she fought to steady her roiling emotions. With a bitterugh, she watched the women¡¯s retreating figures. She knew returning to thepany would stir up drama, but expecting it and facing it head¨Con were two different things. Shaking her head, she turned to walk away. ¡°Ms. Shaw.¡± The receptionist, Alice, stopped her. Her eyes flickered to Noelle¡¯s with a mix of concern and awkwardness. ¡°Just so you know, pretty much everyone in thepany¡¯s heard about¡­ your situation. Brace yourself, okay?¡± ¡°Thanks for the heads¨Cup, Alice.¡± Noelle sighed. This was one storm she would have to weather. ¡°You¡¯re on my side, right?¡± ¡°Ms. Shaw, I know you¡¯re not that type of person, and¡­¡± Alice hesitated, her voice trailing off. She had seen Noelle and Xavier together before. They had been the real deal. ¡°Thanks, Alice. I appreciate it. I¡¯ve got to head up now, so you should get back to work.¡± She was genuinely thankful for the support, especially now. Comments Wife 17 Wife 17 The Frotconn weekly Monday meeting was the time to wrap the previous week¡¯s work. This was Noelle¡¯s first time back at the familiar table since she had left a year ago. The board members did a double take when they now hersome were clueless about her return, while others had their opinions of her colored by the recent scandal Noelle pretended she did not see a thing, grabbed the papers, and plopped down in her chair. Her gaze was steady as she ignored the buzz around her. The bigwigs, the chairman and the general manager, had not shown up yet, so the room was buzzing with chatter. Some of the older, more seasoned directors were acting like uncles at a family reunion, rehashing the drama from the engagement party with ir. One of the directors, who had butted heads with Noelle before over work matters, could not resist stirring the pot. ¡°Some people embarrass themselves and still strut into the office like nothing happened.¡± Noelle¡¯s brow creased ever so slightly. She meant to let it slide, but Mr. Lambert was on a roll and did not look like he was stopping anytime soon. ¡°She hasn¡¯t done anything noteworthy at work, yet she climbed thedder so fast. It makes you wonder, right? It turns out she had a big shot pulling strings for her. Too bad she¡¯s bitten off more than she can chew, trying to snag her sister¡¯s spot.¡± ¡°Is that so? That¡¯s sinking pretty low.¡± ¡°Tell me about it. With each word, Noelle¡¯s face turned stormiler. She bit her lip and shot Mr. Lambert a withering look, herugh sharp as ice. ¡°I always thought gossip was a game for thedies, but look at this! It turns out everyone thinks they have the right to run their mouths. Kids might get a pass for saying whatever pops into their heads, but grown¨Cups¡­ ¡°You¡­¡± Mr. Lambert¡¯s face immediately reddened. He smacked the table hard and said, Noelle, you dare talk back to me like that?¡± Noelle met Mr. Lambert¡¯s gaze without flinching, her eyes steady and fearless. After a long, tense moment, she burst intoughter. ¡°Was I talking to you just now?¡± I ¡°You¡­ you¡­ you think you¡¯re so clever, don¡¯t you? I know you were talking about mel¡± ¡°Oh, Mr. Lambert, you¡¯ve got it all wrong. Everyone here is a grown¨Cup. Did anyone else hear me specifically mention Mr. Lambert¡¯s name just now?¡± Since Noelle had not actually sold Mr. Lambert¡¯s name even once, he would have to think. twice before causing amotion. Sensing the electric tension between Noelle and Mr. Lambert, the other directors and executives decided to stay out of it. Mr. Lambert was so mad that he was at a loss for words. Just then, the conference room. +15 BONUS door swung open, and Xavier walked in behind Joseph Harris. Joseph could tell something was off the moment he stepped in. His eyes swept the room, pausing on Noelle for a split second before moving on as if she were a stranger. Xavier, on the other hand, was hit with a wave of mixed feelings when he saw Noelle. The memory of that night was still fresh, and the things Noelle had said to him were hard to swallow. Noelle caught the shift in Joseph¡¯s vibe towards her in a sh, and she could not resist a wry smile. She yed it cool, acting like she did not know him. Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. ¡°Okay, team, let¡¯s get this meeting rolling. First up, a big wee back to Ms. Shaw! She¡¯s been out there for a whole year, wheeling and dealing for thepany. She¡¯s put in some serious work, folks. Let¡¯s give it up for her and her return to home soil!¡± BIG SALE: 3500 bonus free fou you Wife 18 Wife 18 On the twenty¨Cseventh floor of the Collosus Group,nald shot Becky a quick ¡®hey and snagged the stack of papers she was buried in before rapping on the president¡¯s door. ¡°Come in!¡± The voice that cut through the silence was all business. Ronald stood tall and swung the door open, finding the man buried in paperwork. He did not even bother to look up. ¡°Mr. Hoffman, I¡¯ve got the monthly numbers here. Director Lore from the Finance Department mentioned that the Public Rtions Department¡¯s over budget. It¡¯s your call, Ronald rattled off his report and passed the papers to Charles. Content held by N?velDrama.Org. Charles¡¯s brow creased ever so slightly, his fingers drumming a steady beat on the desk. ¡± Don¡¯t sweat the small stuff. If they can handle it, no need to bring it to me,¡± he said, barely ncing at the report before flicking it back to Ronald. ¡°I didn¡¯t bring them on board to stir up trouble.¡± ¡°Got it.¡± Ronald let out a quiet sigh, then dropped another update, ¡°Ms. Shaw¡¯s back at the office today.¡± ¡°Mm¨Chmm.¡± Charles nodded. ¡°Anything else?¡± ¡°Yes, here¡¯s the scoop on Ms. Shaw, Ronald said, recalling Charles¡¯s request for the full lowdown on Noelle. At first, Ronald thought it was odd¨Cwas it about that fender bender the other day? Maybe the big boss had a crush? However, after seeing Charles¡¯s gentle side with Noelle, Ronald figured he might have jumped to the wrong conclusion. Charles took the papers with a look that said more than words ever could. Ronald snapped to attention, realizing he had spaced out in front of the boss. ¡°Mr. Hoffman, I¡¯ll get out of hair now.¡± your ¡°Wait.¡± Charles stopped him, rapping his fingers on the desk again. It was a sure sign he had more on his mind. ¡°Mr. Hoffman, do you need me to handle something?¡± ¡°Ease up on the deals with Frotconn.¡± That was all Ronald needed to hear to know Charles was about to shake things up. Once Ronald was gone Chad. dove back into the paperwork. It was not until a bitter that he picked up the file Ronald had just passed him on Noelle¡¯s details. It was packed, chronicling Noelle¡¯s life from day one to now. Charles gave it a quick once¨Cover but froze when he hit a photo of Noelle and Xavier from three years back. His eyes turned icy in an instant. He looked up and yanked the photo out. The edges of his lips curled up just a touch as his long fingers traced the face of the girl in the photo, outlining her delicate brows and eyes. However, the moment he saw her radiant +15 BONUS smile, his warmth vanished like a snuffed candle. In a swift move, he ripped the photo in two, severing the connection between them. Xavier¡¯s half was discarded, while Noelle¡¯s was tucked safely into his wallet. He lingered on Noelle¡¯s profile, which spelled out her rocky rtionship with the Shaw family. She had moved out years ago, thanks to the trouble stirred up by Winter and Jade. Despite the bad blood with Winter and Jade, the Shaw family patriarch was totally smitten with Noelle, spoiling her rotten. Except for Joshua, the rest of the Shaws saw her as the ck sheep of the family. Charles rubbed his chin thoughtfully and snapped the file shut. Picking up the phone, he buzzed Ronald. ¡°I need Winter¡¯s file, and you¡¯ve got thirty minutes.¡± Ronald, who was buried in work, nearly dropped his phone. ¡°Thirty minutes?¡± he muttered in disbelief. Could the boss be serious? Charles had already hung up, which left Ronald fighting back frustration. Where on earth was he supposed to dig up info in just thirty minutes? After a moment¡¯s hesitation, he dialed a number. ¡°Mr. Lennon, could I possibly borrow your assistant for half an hour?¡± D Wife 19 Wife 19 Peter Lennon squinted, picking up on the nervous tone in Ronald¡¯s voice, and asked, ¡°What¡¯s up? Did Charles throw another curveball your way?¡± Ronald let out a forced chuckle. ¡°Isn¡¯t your assistant some kind ofputer whiz?¡± ¡°Just call him yourself.¡± Peter¡¯s voice was curt, and the line went dead. Ronald stewed in silence, thinking about how Mr. Hoffman and Mr. Lennon must be cut from the same cloth. Both of them were cold businessmen with no patience or sympathy. Shaking it off, Ronald dialed up Lareal, Peter¡¯s assistant. ¡°You¡¯ve got thirty minutes to dig up info on ady. someone Mr. Hoffman¡¯s looking for.¡± Exactly thirty minutester, Ronald had the scoop on Winter. He was practically gushing with gratitude. ¡°Man, you¡¯re a lifesaver!¡± On the other end, Lareal gave a cool snort. ¡°Does Mr. Hoffman have his eye on this chick?¡± Winter did not seem like much, but she yed a tough game. Lareal could not see how she would be Charles¡® type, so he pried a little. ¡°No way! I¡¯ve gotta go. We¡¯ll catch upter. Time to brief Mr. Hoffman.¡± After a year away. Noelle could tell that Frotconn had changed a lot. They had made her job. obsolete. Sinceing back, she noticed that many of her old colleagues had bailed. Now it was just fresh faces, and someone else was keeping her old seat warm. Noelle massaged her temples. She was not naive. Frotconn did not do things by ident. They had been nning this long before she had returned. ¡°Ms. Shaw, here¡¯s the lowdown on the projects from thest six months. You¡¯ve been out of the loop for a while, so you might need a refresher on how things run around here,¡± said Larisse Yorell, the woman who had been warming Noelle¡¯s seat as the new department head. Her tone was too sharp, almost as if she wasying all her cards out on the table. Was she trying to be this upfront? Noelle¡¯s eyebrow quirked up a notch. She could practically feel the chill in Larisse¡¯s voice. Larisse probably thought she would always be the one calling the shots as director, but Noelle¡¯s return had clearly thrown her for a loop. Larisse had been the queen bee of the department for the past half¨Cyear. Now, with Noelle swooping in to reim her throne, it was no wonder she was steamed. To top it off, Larisse was probably all caught up on the office rumors about Noelle being the infamous homewrecker who only got her foot in the door and her cushy director gig at Frotconn thanks to her sister Winter. What really seemed to grind Larisse¡¯s gears was the idea that Noelle had betrayed her own +15 BCAUS sister. With that thought her tone took a nosedive. ¡°If there is anything you don¡¯t understand, Ms. Shaw, just ask. After all, I¡¯ve been the one running the show here for the past year.¡± Noelle¡¯s eyebrows knitted together in frustration, Larisse was acting so high and mighty, like Noelle did not even matter. Noelle was not a fan of her tone. Despite being on the same team now, she could not get too close to this woman. ¡°Thanks for that, Larisse. But you know, this is all part of your job. Since I¡¯ve been out of the loop for a while, I¡¯ll take all the help I can get without making a fuss.¡± N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content. She grabbed the hefty pile of project lists from Larisse and eyed her. ¡°Anything else?¡± Larisse was taken aback by Noelle¡¯s tough approach. She thought she had been crystal clear about her annoyance, yet Noelle was cool as a cucumber. ¡°Uh, no, that¡¯s it. Ms. Shaw, since you¡¯ve been away for a bit, you might not know the new faces around here. How about I treat us to dinner tonight? It¡¯ll be a good chance for everyone to mingle, yeah?¡± Noelle¡¯s grip on the papers tightened, and she shot Larisse an icy nce. Larisse squirmed under that stare and touched her face, asking. ¡°Something on your mind, Ms. Shaw?¡± ¡°Nope, nothing!¡± Noelle shook her head. ¡°I should be the one hosting, really, but I¡¯m swamped these days. I would hate to rain on everyone¡¯s parade.¡± BIG SALE: 3500 bonus free fou you Wife 20 Wife 20 got it Noelle managed to get rid of Larisse and rubbed her temples, feeling a headacheing on. She had been putting on a brave face all week, but seeing Xavi and Joseph in the meeting room today hit her hard. Joseph had shared a meal with her in secret just a year ago, hinting that he hoped she would end up marrying Xavier. Noelle could never have guessed that things would spiral into the mess they were in now. ¡°Ms. Shaw, Mr. Harris would like to see you,¡± Joseph¡¯s secretary said through the phone, catching Noelle off guard. She quickly recovered. ¡°Sure, I¡¯ll head over now.¡± After tidying up her papers, Noelle made her way to the president¡¯s office. She rapped lightly on the door and heard Joseph¡¯s voice from inside. ¡°Come in.¡± Pushing the door open, Noelle found Joseph lounging on the couch, flipping through a financial magazine. He looked up and gestured for her toe closer. ¡°Ah, Noelle, you¡¯ve arrived!¡± ¡°Mr. Harris!¡± Noelle¡¯s tone was polite but distant, a clear sign she was not about to forget what had transpired. ¡°What did you need?¡± Joseph let out a softugh and shook his head. I was just thinking that it¡¯s been a while since we caught up. You¡¯ve just returned. How is the job treating you?¡± ¡°It¡¯s going alright.¡± Noelle managed a tight¨Clipped smile. ¡°I¡¯m a bit out of practice, but I¡¯m holding up. No need for concern, Mr. Harris.¡± She kept the formality with ¡®Mr. Harris, putting up a wall between them. Joseph¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly, a flicker of sharpness passing through them before he smiled warmly. ¡°Good to hear. I actually wanted to discuss something about you and Xavier. As you know, Xavier and your sister Winter, well¡­¡± ¡°Mr. Harris, we¡¯re at the office, and it¡¯s work hours, Noelle cut off Joseph mid¨Csentence, her face tensing up as she spoke. ¡°Besides, Xavier and I aren¡¯t a thing anymore.¡± A knowing glint passed through Joseph¡¯s eyes for a second when he heard Noelle, then he squinted and cracked a smile. ¡°Right. Noelle, you¡¯re one sharp kid!¡± Noelle¡¯s words had put Joseph¡¯s mind at ease. Truth be told, he had always liked the idea of Noelle as his future daughter¨Cinw. She was smart, had a mind of her own, and could be a real asset to Xavier in the business world. However, she had made the mistake of falling out of favor with the Shaw family, which onlyplicated things¡­ Joseph¡¯s face went back to business as he gave Noelle a once¨Cover. Sure, she was impressive, but there were bigger fish to fry. After all, Winter was the Shaw family¡¯s golden +15 BONUS N?velDrama.Org exclusive content. girl. If Xavier ended up marrying her, the Shaw fortune was practically in the Harris family¡¯s pocket, right? i was Relying on the Hoffman family¡¯s influence was all well and good, but not the same as owning it outright. Joseph was not about to spend his life depending on someone else¡¯s charity. That was why he had turned his attention to the Shaws. They might not be as high up the socialdder as the Hoffmans, but they were still a catch. ¡°So, Noelle, doesn¡¯t this mean you should swing by the Shaws¡® ce? I¡¯ve heard you haven¡¯t been back since you returned. They¡¯re still your family, right? Even if you¡¯ve moved out, you¡¯ve got to catch up with them sometime, don¡¯t you think?¡± Noelle caught on to Joseph¡¯s game in a heartbeat. All her years in Frotconn had at least taught her to be alert like that. She let out a silent, mockingugh. Winter was the golden child of the Shaw family, and to top it off, the year Winter turned eighteen, Julian had handed over a sweet fifteen percent of thepany shares as aing¨Cof¨Cage present. Noelle, on the other hand, did not even get a crumb of thepany or the smallest gig there. 1 After Noelle graduated, Jade had insisted she find her own job, dressing it up as a lesson in standing on her own two feet and toughening up. Everything Noelle had paled inparison to Winter¡¯s, and at times, she seriously questioned whether she was even a Shaw. ¡°Mr. Harris, your advice is spot on. I do have to head back, but Granddad said I should hold off for now.¡± D Wife 21 Wife 21 An odd look appeared on Joseph¡¯s face upon hearing what Noelle said. He directed his stern. gaze onto her. It only made her sit up straighter, seemingly not at all afraid of his gaze. No matter how angry he felt, he could not berate her directly. He merely gave an awkward chuckle as he said, ¡°It¡¯s been so long since you¡¯vest seen your grandfather, child. Don¡¯t you miss him?¡± Noelle raised an eyebrow. If there was anyone left in the Shaw family she still cared for, that person would definitely be her grandfather. Joseph was urgently trying to make her go home because he wanted her to sing praises about him before the old man so he would relent and give his blessings to Xavier and Winter¡¯s marriage. What an intricate n they hadid out. They were the ones in the wrong, but they had somehow managed to back her into a corner. He noticed she had not said anything, so he added, ¡°It¡¯ll be his birthday in a couple of days, Noelle. No matter what Xavier and Winter have done, you¡¯re still part of the Shaw family, and your grandfather will always remain your grandfather.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Mr. Harris. I¡¯ll return home for my grandfather¡¯s birthday. Is there anything else I can help you with? If not, I¡¯ll head out now so I can return to work!¡± ¡°Think about what I¡¯ve just told you, Noelle. What point is there in keeping this going? Why won¡¯t you let go? I promise you¡¯ll get to be the general manager of the sales department if you throw in a few good words when you¡¯re speaking to Sir Shaw.¡± Noelle looked up in astonishment, an odd look in her eyes as she stared at Joseph for the longest time. Finally, she chuckled and asked, ¡°Mr. Harris, can¡¯t you tell the difference between private and public interests?¡± ¡°You¡­¡± ¡°I have work matters to attend to, so I¡¯m leaving unless you still have work¨Crted issues to discuss with me, Mr. Harris.¡± Noelle¡¯s bluntness caused an ugly expression to appear on Joseph¡¯s face. As he gazed at her retreating figure, he said vehemently, ¡°Preposterous!¡± One weekter, Noelle received a phone call from her grandfather. ¡°Pay a visit home, Noelle. I¡¯ll take your side if anything happens.¡± Noelle knew nothing could be resolved if she kept avoiding the proble the Shawst name and was a bad *15 BGANS my rock, Grandpa. Besides, how could I not be there for your birthday? I¡¯ll get you an extra present this year because I couldn¡¯t be there for your birthdayst year,¡± she said, trying her best to keep her voice steady. Samuel could tell, though, and said before saying, ¡°It¡¯s enough for me that youe home. I don¡¯t need any material goods.¡± ¡°That won¡¯t do. I¡¯ll bring you a present that you¡¯re bound to love.¡± Noelle hung up the phone, losing herself in a brief reverie when she noticed Xavier walking towards her. She had spent the past week avoiding Xavier as best as she could. However, he seemed particrly determined and gave Noelle no chance of escaping. He grabbed her arm when she got to her feet and said, ¡°We have to talk, Noello.¡± Noelle shoved him aside and met his gaze coolly ¡°There¡¯s nothing for us to talk about.¡± Her hatred for him was as passionate as her love for him in the past. ¡°I have a lot of work to do.¡± ¡°What¡¯s the point, Noelle? It was destined that nothing would ever happen between us. Why can¡¯t you ept the truth?!¡± Xavier¡¯s head pounded as he looked at Noelle, thinking to himself that the kind and considerate girl she used to be no longer existed. It had only been a year, but her personality had changed drastically. ¡°Can¡¯t we remain civil and be friends instead?¡± ¡°Friends?¡± Noelle scoffed. ¡°We could never be friends. Besides, I¡¯ve never pestered you since we broke up. Please don¡¯t spew such nonsense in public.¡± ¡°Noelle,¡± Xavier called out, ¡°Grandpa Shaw¡¯s birthday is next week. Both Winter and I would love to have you home!¡± Noelle froze. She felt a wave of hot anger wash over her, but she forced herself to keep her temper in check. As she tightened her grip on her purse, she straightened her back and said, ¡± I¡¯ll visit, but it won¡¯t be because of you two!¡± BIG SALE: 3500 b bonus free fou you N?velDrama.Org exclusive content. Wife 22 Wife 22 Noelle headed to Curio Corner. Sir Shaw did not have many hobbies, but he did enjoy collecting antiques, and the house was filled with various antique pieces of artwork. Rumor had it that he was an appraiser when he was younger but had given up that passion to inherit the family business. When Noelle entered Curio Corner, an employee immediately approached her and asked, ¡± What are you looking for, Miss?¡± Noelle was not particrly well¨Cversed in this area. She merely wanted to butter up Sir Shaw. After all, he was the only person in the Shaw family who was still civil to her, and she did not want him to be upset because of her. ¡°I¡¯ll just browse for a bit,¡± Noelle told the employee before looking around her. However, nothing stood out to her. ¡°Hello, Mr. Hoffman. We just received a shipment of items from the Renaissance a couple of days ago and have kept everything you requested reserved for you as per instructions.¡± Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. Noelle was still browsing when a trio of men entered the shop. The man taking the lead was none other than Charles Hoffman, whom she had not seen for a couple of days. He left the talking to the middle¨Caged man standing beside him and merely nodded from time to time. After they entered, Charles¡® wandering gazended on Noelle almost immediately. She happened to look up in his direction, and their eyes met unexpectedly. Noelle saw Charles. lips curve upward ever so slightly, a hint of a smile appearing in his good¨Clooking eyes as well. The middle¨Caged man was about to continue speaking when Ronald interrupted him and motioned for him to stop talking. Charles waved a hand at them. Ronald and the middle¨Caged man headed into the lounge. Charles spoke to himself under his breath as he strode toward Noelle, whose heart began racing uncontrobly. The evening sun shone in through the windows, and the man walked toward her with his back against the light. He looked like he had been bathed in gold, and she felt dazzled. Noelle had realized how attractive Charles was. He had features that made him look like a Greek statue, and one could only wonder just what sort of gicbination was required for a man to be born looking so fine. ¡°Long time no see, Ms. Shaw!¡± Noelle was still lost in her thoughts when Charles walked up to her. His long, slender fingers tugged at his suit jacket buttons slightly, an unreadable expression on his face. +15 BONUS Noelle jerked out of her reverie and blushed in embarrassment as she replied, ¡°Long time no see, Mr. Hoffman!¡± Noelle chuckled. When she felt a slight awkwardness between them, she added. ¡°Are you interested in antiques as well, Mr. Hoffman?¡± ¡°I dabble in them from time to time,¡± Charles said, a slight smile on his face. Today, he wore a light grey suit that made his body seem extremely well¨Cproportioned. His long legs folded over each other as he leaned against the pirzily, a far cry from his usual frosty self. He had unbuttoned three of the buttons on the shirt he was wearing, using his slender, elegant looking fingers to pinch and rub it between his fingers as he said, ¡°Are you interested in antiques, Ms. Shaw?¡± Noelle narrowed her eyes and gazed at Charles. She had to admit the man had a massive advantage over everyone else. He was just moving his hands in a way any other person would, but the action seemed to take on a whole different meaning when he did it. Noelle had to admit the man was a great flirt, even if she was not interested in him that way. Noelle shook her head, ¡°No, I¡¯m not well¨Cversed in them.¡± She frowned slightly before turning to look at Charles again, ¡°I was wondering if I could ask you for a favor?¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Charles raised an eyebrow. ¡°Tell me more¡± Noelle pursed her lips. ¡°Well, my grandfather¡¯s birthday is in two days, and he¡¯s interested in antiques. So¡­¡± ¡°Are you asking for my help in picking out gift, Ms. Shaw?¡± D Wife 23 Wife 23 Noelle nodded. ¡°I¡¯m not well¨Cversed in antique and can¡¯t tell the difference between most things. I was wondering if I could ask for your help, since you seem quite knowledgeable about these antiques.¡± ¡°I¡¯d be honored to!¡± Charles said as he narrowed his mind. ¡°What were you thinking of gifting Mr. Shaw?¡± ¡°Hmm, probably a calligraphy piece, but anything else would work too. My grandfather has beautiful handwriting. Oh, he also shares simr interests to my maternal grandfather.¡± Noelle felt that Charles would probably have a better idea of what to suggest if she told him that. Sure enough, Charles nodded when he finished listening to her. ¡°Ronald.¡± Ronald soon appeared. He gazed at Charles attentively, doing his best not to have his gaze stray toward Noelle. ¡°What can I do for you, sir?¡± ¡°Have Mr. Quinn bring out the newest shipment of antiques.¡± ¡°Well¡­¡± Ronald gave Charles a startled look, and he could not stop himself from ncing at Noelle. Noelle did not know what they were talking about and merely gave him a friendly smile. Charles¡® eyebrows furrowed together almost imperceptibly, and Ronald immediately jerked to attention, immediately averting his gaze away from Noelle as he said, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll get to it immediately!¡± Ronald thought to himself, ¡®Charles has spent so much time sourcing these antiques, and they¡¯re all collectors¡® items. If he¡¯s allowing Noelle to look through them, that means¡­¡± He did not dare dawdle and immediately passed the message to Mr. Quinn and his employees. When he emerged again, he saw his boss and Noelle leaning against different walls. A nervous look appeared on his face as he said, ¡°Everything has been prepared, Mr. Hoffman.¡± Charles nodded and nced at Noelle before he walked into the room. ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± Noelle hurried after him and nced around her surroundings in awe as they entered a charmingly decorated room together. Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. She had thought the antiques outside were already impressive enough and had not expected to be greeted with an even more breathtaking sight inside the room. Charles noticed the look on Noelle¡¯s face, and his lips curved upward subconsciously as he motioned for Ronald and Mr. Quinn to leave the room. The two exchanged nces before they left and closed the door behind them. +15 BONUS Noelle was distracted by the antiques in the room and had no idea that Ronald and Mr. Quinn had left. Charles smiled slightly as he leaned against the desk, propping one hand against the desk as he used his deep¨Cset eyes to gaze intently at Noelle¡¯s side profile. Noelle looked around and could not help but give Charles a doubtful look after seeing Francesco Petrarch¡¯s work. ¡°My grandfather owns his work too,¡± she said as her eyes met his. She felt her heart skip a beat, so she blushed as she looked away and asked, ¡°Oh? Where did your assistant and the shopkeeper go?¡± ¡°Got your eyes on it?¡± Charles asked, not answering the question. Noelle bit down on her lip. She had not managed to change the subject, and a slightly bashful expression appeared on her face as she shook her head and said, ¡°No. I¡¯m not too familiar with these works. Why don¡¯t you guide me along, Mr. Hoffman?¡± The corners of Charles¡® lips curved upward ever so slightly into a smile, and Noelle noticed. A surprised look appeared in her eyes, but she forced herself to calm down as she called out to him, ¡°Mr. Hoffman?¡± ¡°Alright.¡± A hint of an emotion that was difficult to ce was evident in his deep voice. Charles looked around him, and his eyes finallynded on a chessboard on the table. This chessboard differed from most other chessboards on the market as it was made from emerald. His elegant fingers moved against the chessboard, brushing against the scratches as he asked, ¡°Does Mr. Shaw y chess?¡± Noelle looked toward where his fingers were, and an excited look flitted through her eyes. when she saw the chessboard. However, she soon answered, ¡°It¡¯s alright, let¡¯s see what else would do!¡± She liked it, but given it was an antique, she was sure it would cost a lot of money. BIG SALE: 3500 bonus free fou you Comments Wife 24 Wife 24 A glint shed in Charles¡® eyes as his gazended on Hoelle¡¯s face. He had noticed how much she liked it, but what she said sounded like thepletely opposite of what she felt! His gaze traveled across her face as he said, ¡°Alright, then. What about something from Edgar Degas? Or perhaps this fountain pen?¡± Charles rmended several items to Hoelle, and she decided to purchase the pen. Samuel enjoyed calligraphy, and he was good at it too. Gifting him a pen seemed like a smart move, and it was probably the least expensive of all the antiques she had looked at today. Noelle might be working as a departmental director now, but she was still young and had spent plenty of her savings when she moved out. Moreover, her current situation with Xaner had further convinced her there was no one she could depend on other than herself. Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. She had to save up to pay for a house and a car. Even if she did not have a man, she still had herself! Charles could guess the thoughts running through Noelle¡¯s mind. After she decided, he called Ronald and Mr. Quinn into the roorn and said, ¡°Wrap this up for Ms. Shaw!¡± Mr. Quinn was stunned when he saw what Charles was pointing at. ¡°Um¡­¡± ¡°Is something wrong?¡± Noelle asked when she saw the look on Mr. Quinn¡¯s face. ¡°Money isn¡¯t a problem.¡± Mr. Quinn drew in a long breath, a glum look on his face as he said, ¡°No, no. I¡¯ll have it wrapped up immediately if that¡¯s what you¡¯ve taken fancy to, Ms. Shaw Mr. Quinn said as he gave Charles another look. However, Charles did not even seem to care. His gaze had never left Hoelle. Mr. Quinn shrugged as he took the fountain pen and handed it to an employee, Then, Noelle realized she had not asked how much the pen would cost. ¡°Oh, Mr. Quinn! How much does the pen cost?¡± Mr. Quinn was about to answer when he caught sight of Charlos giving him a sharp look. He felt his heart skip a beat as he chuckled and said, ¡°It¡¯s not too expensive.¡± Charles looked away from Mr. Quinn and walked over to Noelle. He stood by her and lowered his gaze to look at her, making her feel oddly pressured. ¡°Let Ronald deal with the bill,¡± cald in a voice that sounded is clear and soothing as a breeze. ¡°Ms. Shaw, what will you do for me in return for the favor I just did you?¡± Noelle was speechless. She turned to look at Charles and realized he was gazing at her intently. He did not seem like he was joking, and she could feel the stress mounting. ¡°How about I treat you to dinner?¡± +15 BONUS Charles chuckled again. ¡°Well, since you insist, might as well ept your offer, Ms. Shaw,¡± he said as he left the room. Noelle was stunned, and she had a nagging feeling that something was off. Had she been very insistent? ¡°I haven¡¯t paid yet, Mr. Hoffman!¡± ¡°You should leave with Mr. Hoffman, Ms. Shaw, I¡¯ll take care of the bill and help him pick out some antiques too!¡± Ronald said. ¡°Well¡­¡± Noelle hesitated. ¡°I¡¯ll have your present delivered to you!¡± Given everything Ronald had just said, Noelle thought it would be inappropriate if she said anything more. Thus, she conceded and hurried after Charles dazedly. Ronald waited until Noelle had left before he turned and said to Mr. Quinn, ¡°Please put away the items Mr. Harrison has requested. As for Ms. Shaw¡¯s purchase, feel free to name a price. Everything else can be put on Mr. Hoffman¡¯s tab.¡± Ronald thought he was doing a pretty good job at being Charles¡® assistant, given he even knew the exact thoughts running through Charles¡® mind. ¡°Well¡­¡± Mr. Quinn hesitated, ¡°That pen is¡­¡± Mr. Quinn thought about it for a minute before he looked at Ronald and asked, ¡°What is Ms. Shaw¡¯s rtionship to Mr. Harrison?¡± That pen was very expensive! An odd look appeared in Ronald¡¯s eyes as he chuckled and said, ¡°Don¡¯t ask questions you aren¡¯t supposed to know the answers to. Since when did you earn the right to probe into Mr. Harrison¡¯s private matters? Hurry, pack everything up!¡± Comments Wife 25 Wife 25 Noelle only realized she had walked right into a trap as she left the shop. She was here to buy a present, so how had she ended up buying Charles dinner? Besides, the present was not even in her possession yet! ¡°What are you thinking about?¡± Charles, who was walking in front of her, paused in his tracks when he realized the woman behind him seemed distracted. His abrupt stop caught Noelle by surprise, and she nearly walked right into him. Still reeling from her shock, she shook her head and asked, ¡°Where would you like to have dinner, Mr. Hoffman?¡± Charles narrowed his eyes, a hint of a smile tugging on his lips as he gazed at Noelle. ¡°Since you¡¯ll be buying me dinner, you get to decide where we eat, Ms. Shaw.¡± Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. Noelle hesitated, ¡°Alright, as long as you¡¯re okay with it.¡± She and Charles Hoffman came from different worlds. He had been born into a rich and noble family, so he must always have had ess to high¨Cquality food and clothing. However, she was different. Although she had been born into the Shaw family, no one had ever treated her as an heiress to the Shaw family. Noelle had started fending for herself when she was a young child and had led a life no different from any ordinary middle¨Css kid. There were massive differences between her and Charles, so her first thought after hearing his suggestion was that he had gone mad, ¡°You must have misunderstood me, Ms. Shaw, I¡¯m not as difficult to get along with as they make me out to be.¡± Charles chuckled. ¡°Pleasee with me, Ms. Shaw!¡± Charles was driving a different car today. It was a car that did not attract a lot of attention, and Noelle only hesitated briefly before getting into the car when Charles opened the passenger side door for her. After shutting the door, Charles walked over to the other side and got into the driver¡¯s seat, where he buckled his seat belt and turned to Noelle. ¡°Lead the way, Ms. Shaw.¡± ¡°Wanderlust Street. Thank you!¡± Charles typed the address into the navigation system and drummed his slender fingers against the steering wheel. ¡°Is it nearby Vista University?¡± An astonished look appeared on Noelle¡¯s face as she gave him a side¨Ceyed look. Charles smiled slightly and rested his chin on one hand as he said, ¡°Have you forgotten, Ms. Shaw? I graduated from Vista University as well!¡± Realization dawned over Noelle. Her grandfather had mentioned Charles- +15 BONUS students he had ever had. It looked like that was true. ¡°It¡¯s been so long since I¡¯ve been back there, though. I wonder how the university is doing now!¡± ¡°Have you never been back to visit your alma mater, Mr. Hoffman?¡± Noelle was extremely sentimental. Her attachments extended to include humans, objects, and memories. She was also a Vista University alumnus and visited the campus several times a year. Whenever she visited, she would also have a meal at the snack bars near the university to reminisce about her student years. However, Charles was such a sessful man that he probably attracted everyone¡¯s attention no matter where he went so he probably did not enjoy going to crowded ces! The look in Charles¡® eyes changed ever so slightly. ¡°Yes, I was too preupied with work! Besides, I¡¯m not one to get caught up in the past,¡± he said as he gave Noelle a pointed look. Noelle¡¯s heart skipped a beat, and she turned her head the other way, taking a long pause before finally saying. ¡°Everyone¡¯s got a past.¡± ¡°But don¡¯t you think it¡¯s a shame to get so caught up in your past that your present gets affected as well?¡± Noelle remained silent. She did not understand why someone like Charles was telling her such things. She tilted her head and stared at Charles before saying. ¡°You should be awyer or a therapist, Mr. Hoffman. ¡°Oh?¡± Charles raised an eyebrow. ¡°How did youe to that conclusion, Ms. Shaw?¡± ¡°Is this how you always console others?¡± Noelle could not help but wonder how Charles Charles drummed his index finger against the steering wheel. The look on his face was not solemn, but it was definitely serious as he said, ¡°There¡¯s no one else.¡± That surprised Noelle slightly. Then, Charles added, ¡°There¡¯s no one else but you BIG SALE: 3500 bonus tree tou you Wife 26 Wife 26 Support Noelle felt her heart start pounding rapidly. She did not like feeling lost for words. She forced herself to suppress those unfamiliar emotions and drew a long breath before forcibly changing the subject. ¡°Did you ever visit the snack bars right outside the university when you were a student, Mr. Hoffman? I used to enjoy having supper there with my ssmates.¡± Charles¡® eyebrows raised slightly as he nced at Noelle and asked, ¡°You guys scaled the walls?¡± Noelle blushed, feeling like Charles had seen right through her. However, there was no way she would admit that, and her face turned even redder as she retorted, ¡°No, of course not. We exited through the main gate!¡± She had answered so urgently that it made her seem even more like she was trying to cover something up, but Charles merely smiled without saying anything else. She also fell silent, thinking to herself that this man was a little different from the image she had formed of him previously. The shop Noelle was talking about was near Vista University. One merely needed to cross a road and walk down an alleyway to reach it. During her time as a student, she would often scale the walls and leave the university premises with her friend Sophie Yates or take advantage of when everyone was asleep at night to have supper there. Those were some of the happiest times of her life. However, she had not been here since her one¨Cyear business trip. Fork Charles pulled over and turned to look at Noelle. ¡°Why don¡¯t you head over first? I¡¯ll park the car at Vista University!¡± There were no parking spots avable nearby. N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content. ¡°It¡¯s alright, you can just park there so we can go together. I¡¯m not sure if you can find the ce yourself,¡± Noelle replied, thinking to herself that Charles had probably never been down the nearby alleyways. He seemed to have something to say, but after a moment¡¯s pause, he merely nodded and answered, ¡°Alright!¡± Charles guided the car into Vista University¡¯s parking lot. When he got out of the car, he gazed at Noelle standing beneath the oak trees, her purse slung over her shoulder as she nudged the pebbles around her half¨Cheartedly. Sunlight shone through the trees and dappled across her. Charles felt like time had slowed down as he narrowed his eyes and looked at her. When Noelle saw Charles standing with his car keys in hand, she waved at him. ¡°Over here!¡± Charles strode over and gazed at her. ¡°Should we take a walk?¡± Noelle raised an eyebrow. Autumn was in full swing in Brookville now, and students were traveling around the campus in groups. After a moment¡¯s thought, she shook her head and said, ¡°Maybe next time. Let¡¯s grab something to eat from the shops in the nearby alleyways. before the students¡® sses end. We should be able to get our food without waiting too long!¡± 1/2 ¡°Alright!¡± Noelle was more familiar with the area than Charles was, and they soon arrived at the snack bar she had been talking about. Things were not as ideal as Noelle had expected them to be. Though the students had not been released from their sses yet, the shop still seemed crowded because of how small it was. Noelle stood outside the shop hesitantly, wondering if she should have brought Charles here. Meanwhile, Charles made his way into the store, seeminglypletely at ease. She hurried in after him and made a beeline for a table when she saw someone getting up from their seat. Feeling rather anxious, she reached out to grab Charles¡® hand as they made their way over.¡± Hurry! There¡¯s a seat there.¡± Charles raised an eyebrow as Noelle grabbed hisrge hands, which were slightly rough to the touch. An odd look appeared in his eyes as he lowered his gaze and looked at where Noelle had grabbed him. She did not seem to sense anything off and excitedly dragged him over to the table before taking a seat. When she realized Charles was merely standing beside her, she returned to her senses and asked, ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± Comments Wife 27 Wife 27 The look on Charles¡® face changed slightly. However, he merely shook his head and said, Nothing!¡± before he continued standing beside her instead of taking a seat. Noelle gave Charles a long look and then turned to look at the stool before she epted her fate and began wiping it down. When she was done, she said to him, ¡°It¡¯s clean now, Mr. Hoffman!¡± Charles gave Noelle a pointed look. Did she think he found the ce dirty? His long stares made goosebumps rise on Noelle¡¯s arms. ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Shall we eat somewhere else instead? I know there¡¯s another restaurant nearby that¡¯s got pretty good reviews. Should we go there instead?¡± She was starting to regret bringing Charles here. Upon hearing that, he immediately sat down, his lips curving ever so slightly into a smile as he said, ¡°That¡¯s alright. This ce is fine!¡± Noelle heaved a sigh of relief and watched as the shop owner approached them. She was stunned when she saw Noelle. ¡°It¡¯s been so long since youst came here, missy! So¡­ Oh, is this your boyfriend?¡± ¡°No.¡± N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content. ¡°What are you going to order?¡± Charles interrupted Noelle before she couldunch into an exnation and ced the menu in front of her. Slightly stunned, she did not continue exining and instead let out an awkward chuckle. Charles nced at Noelle. ¡°What are you having?¡± ¡°Beef stew. What about you?¡± Noelle had initially wanted to order gumbo but had changed her mind because her throat was not feeling well. Charles nodded. ¡°Two bowls of gumbo, then! Is there anything you don¡¯t eat or are allergic to?¡± Noelle shook her head, and Charles snapped the menu shut before returning them to the store owner. ¡°Two bowls of beef stew. Make it less spicy, please.¡± ¡°Alright!¡± The shopkeeper said as she nodded, unable to stop herself from sneaking several more nces at Charles. She thought to herself, ¡°What a good¨Clooking man, and he¡¯s considerate, too. Much better than the one who was here previously.¡± They fell silent after the shopkeeper left, but the patrons at the next table were extremely rowdy. It was not lunch or dinner time, but there were plenty of other customers in the store with them. Those sitting at the next table kept ncing at them and pointing fingers. Noelle wanted to pretend she could not hear them, but they were way too loud for her to do that. Most of what they said was along the lines of, ¡°I can¡¯t believe there are such good. looking men near our campus!¡± ¡°Gosh, what a rare sight to behold. The campus Jocks are nothing. He¡¯s truly a rarity¡± Noelle remained silent for a while before she gave Charles a long, careful look. She agrand wholeheartedly that the girls were not exaggerating Charles Hoffman was truly a rarity. Charles narrowed his eyes when he noticed Noelle staring at him, and he chuckled ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Finding me good looking all of a sudden? Have you fallen in love with me?¡± Noelle looked away. ¡°You¡¯re such a narcissist, M, Hoffman!¡± ¡°I¡¯m just self confident!¡± Charles answered. ¡°Didn¡¯t you hear what they said?¡± ¡°They¡¯re young girls who are easily fooled by appearances!¡± Noelle replied, refusing to admit it. Given Charles¡® tongue, there was no telling what else he might say. As they chatted, the shopkeeper brought the beef stew to their tables. A delighted look appeared on her face as she gazed at Charles. ¡°Your boyfriend is so good¨Clooking, missy!¡± ¡°Thank you!¡± Charles¡® lilting voice was pleasant to the ears, and the shopkeeper felt even more pleased after hearing him speak. ¡°Enjoy your meal. I¡¯ll get you more food if you need it!¡± Noelle was silent. She had never seen her beef stew filled with so many chunks of beef before. ¡°I guess pretty privilege is a real thing!¡± Charles raised an eyebrow. ¡°So, are you admitting that you think I¡¯m good¨Clooking, Ms. Shaw?¡± This left her speechless. She had never met someone quite as shameless as he was. ¡°Just pretend I never said anything!¡± BIG SALE: 3500 bonus fea tou you Comments Wife 28 Wife 28 The stew was not particrly tasty. It was nothingpared to the delicacies someone as rich as Charles could enjoy in high¨Cend restaurants. However, Noelle had never been a picky eater and would eat anything so long as it filled her stomach. Besides, she was only here for old times¡® sake. It was almost time for sses to be let out, so Noelle was worried the crowd would growrger. Thus, she hurriedly finished her beef stew and suggested they head back. ¡°It¡¯s gettingte!¡± Charles nodded as his phone began ringing. It was from Ronald. ¡°We¡¯ve gotten things ready for Ms. Shaw, Mr. Hoffman!¡± ¡°Alright. We¡¯re at Vista University right now,¡± Charles said as he nced at Noelle. ¡°Do you have any more ns for the night, Ms. Shaw?¡± ¡°I¡¯m heading home,¡± Noelle answered. ¡°It¡¯s alright, I can stay here and wait for your assistant. You can take your leave first if you¡¯re busy, Mr. Hoffman!¡± ¡°No worries!¡± Charles said as he got to his feet to pay the bill. Noelle hurried after him while saying. ¡°We agreed that I¡¯d be buying you dinner today, Mr. Hoffman. It wasn¡¯t anything special, but I should still be paying!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it. It¡¯s not right to have a woman pay for her food after enjoying dinner with her!¡± Charles said as he stopped Noelle and retrieved a crisp bill from his wallet. He strode out of the shop after paying. Unable to do anything else, Noelle followed him. She always felt like she could not carry herself with confidence with him. No matter what she said, he would never do as he wished. Strangely, it did not feel as off¨Cputting as it should have. Since they were waiting for Ronald, Charles suggested they walk around Vista University. It had been a while since Noellest visited, and she felt the campus had changed significantly. She was curious which batch of her grandfather¡¯s students Charles had been.a ¡°You don¡¯t seem to be very old, and I know practically all of my grandfather¡¯s students, so why have I never seen you before this? Which graduating ss were you a part of?¡± Noelle was walking behind Charles, and she stepped on the shadows of him that the setting sun created. Charles seemed startled by that question. ¡°You were probably still a child when I attended university!¡± That¡¯s impossible!¡± Noelle did not believe him. I¡¯m twenty¨Cfive this year, and you don¡¯t seem that much older than I am. How could I have been a child?¡± Charles grinned, finding the slightly childish expression on Noelle¡¯s face amusing as he said, ¡± +15 BONUS You can ask him if you don¡¯t believe me. I spent two years attending university when I was around¡­ Hmm¡­ fifteen. You would have been seven or eight then, so wouldn¡¯t that have mado you a child?¡± ¡°T¨Cthat¡¯s impossible!¡± Noelle eximed. Then, in an even more incredulous voice, she said, So, you¡¯re a genius!¡± ¡°Genius?¡± An odd look appeared in Charles¡® eyes turning his previously lofty expression into a gloomy one. When Noelle noticed, she could not figure out what kind of person Charles was. Noelle remembered how her grandfather had mentioned ¡®a genius¡® to his colleagues when she followed him around as a child. She recalled him saying he could have been the pride of Vista University and it was a shame he had chosen to leave the country. Her grandfather had been so disappointed. It turned out that the student was Charles. Upon sensing Charles¡® guarded emotions, Noelle realized this might not be the best N?velDrama.Org exclusive content. conversation topic. T conversation topic. Thankfully, Ronald¡¯s phone call soon arrived. Charles put his phone away before he nced at Noelle and said, ¡°Let¡¯s go. Ronald¡¯s waiting for us at the parking lot.¡± They walked in a single file. The journey was not far, but it was not particrly short either. Ronald was waiting for them by the entrance, and he handed a wrapped package to Noelle when he saw them. ¡°This is for you, Ms. Shaw.¡± ¡°Thank you!¡± Noelle said as she nodded appreciatively and asked, ¡°How much is this?¡± Rnd handed Noelle the receipt, and she asked in astonishment upon reading it, ¡°Is it really that cheap?¡± She could not stop herself from staring at Ronald as she asked, ¡°Has it really a mistake?¡± Wife 29 Wife 29 Ronald instinctively looked toward Charles, but the nonchnt look on his face made it evident he did not n to say anything. He felt a headache forming, but he put on a bold face and said, ¡°No, there¡¯s no way it¡¯s a mistake. Definitely not. This is the correct price!¡± ¡°That can¡¯t be right!¡± Noelle might not be an expert in field, but she was no idiot either. There was no way something from Curio Corner could be purchased at that price. Besides, Charles had picked it out, and he would not have picked out something inexpensive. Noelle did not believe it one bit. Sweat pooled on Ronald¡¯s forehead, and he could not help thinking to himself, ¡®You¡¯re right that it wasn¡¯t cheap. It was so expensive! However, he did not dare say that aloud and merelyughed stupidly. ¡°You probably don¡¯t know this, Ms. Shaw, but Mr. Hoffman often purchases extremely valuable antiques from Curio Comer. The shopkeeper is a smart man, and he knows what discounts he can afford to offer. This pen isn¡¯t particrly valuable, and initially, refused baselle. However, I felt you would prefer some form of payinitially, gift for your grandfather, Ms. Shaw.¡± this is a Ronald snuck a look at Charles after saying that and heaved a sigh of relief upon noticing Charles was not saying anything. ¡°So, don¡¯t worry about it, Ms. Shaw.¡± Noelle finally understood what Ronald was telling her. The shopkeeper at Curio Corner would asionally offer loyal clients sweet deals so they could continue their business rtionship. She had just so happened to stumble across this amazing deal. Noelle peeked at Charles and noticed he was leaning against the car leisurely. She bit down on her lip and said, ¡°Alright, but how should I repay you? Could I have your bank ount, Mr. Hoffman?¡± ¡°No rush. Get in. I¡¯ll take you home!¡± Charles said as he nced at Ronald, who immediately got the hint and chuckled as he said, ¡°I just recalled something I need to take care of at the office, Mr. Hoffman. I¡¯ll head off first.¡± Ronald slipped away, moving even faster than a rabbit, and Noelle stared after him in astonishment. She seemed to have something else on her mind, but given the circumstances, she decided to get into the car. ¡°Thank you for all you¡¯ve done, Mr. Hoffman.¡± ¡°No worries.¡± The Shaw family mansion was on the western outskirts of Haven District. It was Sir Shaw¡¯s 79th birthday today, and as per tradition, they were celebrating it as his 80th birthday. That exined why it was particrly rowdy and crowded today. The Shaw family was not among the most influential families in Brookville, but they were still well¨Crespected, and that had only be even more evident under Joshua¡¯s leadership in recent years. +15 BONUS The Shaw family had begun preparations for Sir Shaw¡¯s birthday party over half a month ago. There was also another important reason why they were going over the top this time, Juliant and Jade had discussed among themselves and decided to take advantage of Sir Shaw¡¯s birthday party to convince him to bless Winter and Xavier¡¯s marriage. The joining of the Shaw and Harris families had been in the works for a long time, and they did not want their efforts to go to waste because of Sir Shaw. Since so many people would be present and watching tonight, there was no way Sir Shaw and Noelle would make a scene. They knew what Noelle¡¯s personality was like. She might seem stubborn, but she was extremely kind to Sir Shaw. If they took advantage of the situation and had Winter and Xavier attend Sir Shaw¡¯s birthday party together, she would be so concerned with her image that she would beg Sir Shaw to give them his blessing. Julian and his wife hadid out an extremely borate n involving both of these nay- sayers.¡± ¡°Has that rascal still not arrived yet?¡± After saying hello to severaldies, Jade looked around her before grabbing Julian¡¯s arm. That damn girl won¡¯t be a no¨Cshow, will she?!¡± mouth!¡± ¡°Watch your mouth!¡± Julian said in a displeased voice as he red at Jade. ¡°Be more mindful of where we are today. There are so many people here. You need to watch your Julian said as he looked around him. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Noelle knows her responsibilities as a child, and Sir Shaw has always been kind to her. She¡¯ll definitely attend his birthday party!¡± N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content. BIG SALE: 3500 bonus free fou you Wife 30 Wife 30 ¡°You¡¯re right, but you know what happened the other day Winter has alrea hegged her multiple times, but she always retums sobbing, doesn¡¯t she? That girl is so cruel. Is there really anything she won¡¯t do?¡± Jade said with gritted teeth, her disdain for Noelle evident.¡± Anyway, we can¡¯t mess up today. Call Noelle and tell her she has to be here because Sir Shaw misses her!¡± Jade would not allow her precious daughter, Winter, to suffer the slightest, However, Sir Shaw flew into a terrible rage after learning about Noelle and Xavier¡¯s rtionship, which meant. that he would not give his blessing to Winter and Xavier¡¯s marriage unless Noelle agreed as well That angered Jade so much that she nearly got into an argument with Sir Shaw. However, she knew what was going through his mind then and knew he was still calling the shots in the Shaw family. ¡°Alright, alright. I know what to do!¡± Julian fell annoyed as well. The marriage arrangements had been going smoothly, but Noelle had chosen now to return! Noelle had no idea what her parents were plotting against her before she arrived. Noelle had picked out a gown that seemed appropriate for the asion. She had left her luggage behind during herst trip back because she had been in a rush to get to the hotel. and lost many of her clothes. She did not have time to purchase any clothes on this trip yet, so she had to select something from the clothes she did not take abroad. After admiring herself in the mirror, Noelle eft the house in her car after applying makeup to her face. Despite everything Winter and Xavier had done to her, the man of the hour was her grandfather, and she could not be absent for his birthday. Noelle drove the car to Haven District and realized she could not enter because of how many cars were parked outside. Sheughed self¨Cdeprecatingly before getting out of the car. Of course, Noelle knew what Julian and the others were plotting against her. They were taking advantage of Sir Shaw¡¯s birthday to host an extravagant party and invite everyone who Wat any in Brookville to attend. If they decided to shove her and Winter into the limelight now, i N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content. would be no ce for her to escape, and she and Sir Shaw would be forced to ept whatever happened. Noelle gripped her purse and drew in a long breath. Then, she received a call from Julian. Where are you, Noelle? Grandpa is asking for you.¡± Noelle narrowed her eyes, her grip on her phone tightening slightly when she saw Winter and Xavier standing together and weing the quests. When Julian did not hear Noelle respond, he assumed she had not arrived yet and said, ¡°We¡¯re family. Let¡¯s talk out any misunderstandings there might be in person. Y¨Cyou can tell your grandfather if you¡¯re unhappy. Do you know how sad he would be if you weren¡¯t here? Noelle¡­¡± +15 BONUS ¡°Got it,¡± Noelle said somewhat impatiently, cutting Julian off. ¡°Of course I¡¯ll attend Grandpa¡¯s birthday party. Also, don¡¯t you know what¡¯s causing my unhappiness, Dad?¡± Julian was stunned. He had not expected his daughter, who was usually obedient andpliant, to speak to him that way. It humiliated him. ¡°What are you talking about? You¡¯re my daughter, and I¡¯d do anything for you if you were ever treated unfairly. Stop throwing a tantrum, and get here this instant!¡± Noelle hung up the phone and gave the entrance a mocking re. She felt nothing but distaste when she saw Winter leaning against Xavier. Were they in that big of a hurry? Did they really have to make a fool of her now? ÈÕ Wife 31 Wife 31 ¡°Has Noelle arrived?¡± The Shaw family¡¯s long¨Ctime butler, Mr. Thompson, was the first to catch sight of Noelle. He had a weing grin on his face. ¡°Come on in. Don¡¯t just stand there! It¡¯s not winter it¡¯s still cold. Hurry inside and see Sir Joshua. He¡¯s been missing you!¡± N?velDrama.Org exclusive content. yet, but Mr. Thompson had been by Samuel¡¯s side for ages, tending to him and dedicating his life to the Shaw family. He knew all the ins and outs, especially how much Sir Shaw doted on Noelle. Noelle¡¯s eyes lit up, and her hand wasforted by Mr. Thompson¡¯s warm grip. ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll go with you to see him! How has he been? Is he eating enough?¡± ¡°He¡¯s been eating great and full of energy!¡± Mr. Thompson chuckled. ¡°You¡¯re the one he¡¯s been waiting for, Noelle. Sir Shaw has been over the moon knowing you would be back today.¡± Mr. Thompson, knowing that Noelle preferred the quiet, steered her away from the bustling crowd, taking a shortcut through the backyard and straight upstairs to find Samuel, It was Samuel¡¯s big birthday party. The real motive behind the celebration, however, was Julian¡¯s n towork with the top dogs in the business scene under the guise of the party. Samuel was getting on in years, and these shindigs were not his cup of tea. If it were not for Noelle, he probably would not have bothered with the party at all. Noelle climbed the stairs to the second floor, made her way down the hall to Samuel¡¯s study, and tapped on the door. ¡°It¡¯s me, Noelle!¡± At the sound of her voice, Samuel¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°Noelle,e on in!¡± She pushed the door open and found Samuel just where she expected him, bent over his desk, absorbed in his calligraphy. She walked over with a bright smile. Meanwhile, downstairs in the banquet hall, Winter was getting antsy, pacing and throwing nces at the door. ¡°Mom, you promised Noelle would show up, right? So where is she?¡± *Just rx. She adores Sir Shaw too much to stay away. She will be here,¡± Jade reassured her, though she felt a twinge of impatience herself. Julian had assured them of Noelle¡¯s arrival, so she gave Winter¡¯s hand aforting pat. ¡°I¡¯m with you all the way. Today, we¡¯re going to make sure Sir Shaw and Noelle give their blessing to you and Xavier.¡± ¡°Thanks, Mom!¡± Winter¡¯s eyes brimmed with tears as she hugged Jade, nuzzling her head affectionately, ¡°You¡¯re always the best to me, Mom. And Xavier will be great to you too, once we¡¯re married!¡± Jade smiled, stroking Winter¡¯s hair, her eyes shing with a vengeful glint. If Noelle even thought about messing up her ns, she would regret it big time. busy introducing Winter and Xavier to big shots of the business world. Mr. and Mrs. Joseph looked on, more pleased by the minute with their soon¨Cto¨Cbe daughter¨Cinw Someone in the crowd could not help asking ¡°Mt Shaw, where¡¯s Sir Shaw?¡± Julian called over Mr. Thompson with an awkward wave. Mr. Thompson shot Julian a look that seemed to say more than his words did go get Sir Shaw and Miss Noelle right away.* Miss Noelle? Julian squinted ¡°Noelle¡¯s back? ¡°Yes. Miss Noelie¡¯s always been the dutiful type. She went straight to see the birthday boy the moment she got in,¡± Mr. Thompson replied. His words were polite, yet they had an edge that made Julian bristle Julian¡¯s face soured, but he could not exactly throw a fit with the crowd around. Besides, Mr. Thompson was the old man¡¯s right¨Chand man, and Julian was not about to start a feud. * Then, Ms. Thompson, would you mind fetching him and Miss Noelle, please?¡± As Noelle supported Samuel down the stairs, the ce was swarming with guests. Noelle was not a fan of big scenes, however, today was not just any day, and she would not be the one to spoil Samuel¡¯s fun Samuel caught on to Noelle¡¯s difort and gave her hand a reassuring pat, ¡°Noelle, if you¡¯re not up for this, you can head out. I won¡¯t mind.¡± ¡°What are you saying, Grandpa? It¡¯s only once a year. I¡¯m sticking with you, and we¡¯ve got a cake to eat!¡± People said Noelle was not as smooth of a talker or as instantly lovable as Winter, but Samuel knew the truth. Noelle had a heart of gold and could be just as sweet, depending on who she was with. BO SALE 3500 bonus free fou you D Wife 32 Wife 32 the Noelie put it that way, Samuel could only let out a resigned sign and gently pat her hand ¡°Don¡¯t you worry, kiddo. Your grandpa¡¯s got your back. And if you¡¯ve got a thing for that Javer, I see what I can do¡­ ¡°Grandpal¡± Noelle cut him off her head shaking just a bit. ¡°Fool me once, shame on your fool me twice, stame on me. I know that much. Besides, he¡¯s spoiled goods now. I¡¯m done with Then there Our Noelle knows her worth!¡± Samuel was proud that Noelle was not letting it get to her. However, he was not letting Winter and Xavier get away with pulling a stunt like ma Tige them to apologize to you and clear up the whole mess!¡± Hand in hand, Samuel led Noelle downstairs, where all the guests were buzzing with curiosity scout the girl he was with The recent scandal had not gone unnoticed. All this time, the Shaw family was known for Miss Wieter, with no mention of a Miss Noelle. After thest bit of gossip hit the airwaves, rerne stared whispering about Noelle being a secret child. Now, with Samuel¡¯s protective stance, they were all second¨Cguessing sade cought sight of Samuel holding Noelle¡¯s hand. At that moment, it was like she could breame fire. Her eyes, which were filled with venom, were fixed on Noelle, as if trying toser a hole night through her Winters face was a storm cloud of gloom. It only darkened when she saw how her grandpa was Sosing over Noelle A pang of jealourd twisted in her chest. She turned, catching Javers gaze lingering on Noelle, and her heart sank further into bitterness. ¡°Xavier, are you having second thoughts?¡± she asked, her voiceced with usation. Javer¡¯s attention snapped back to Winter, her eyes wide and pleading. His heart softened, and he gently took her hand, shaking his head. ¡°Not at all. Choosing to be with you is the best sepsion he ever made. But Winter, about Noelle today. He trailed off, unsure of how to exin his concem. Noelle stood out with her cool elegance next to Samuel, and Xavier could not help but be captivated. Still he knew hismitment wo to Winter. ¡°Im just worried about what your grandpa might think¡­ Don¡¯t sweat it Winter out in, her voice brimming with confidence. ¡°Grandpa wille around. He has to Noelle was helping Samuel down the stairs. Across the room, Jade was signaling frantically to Juan, who humed over ¡°Dad, Noeller he called out. Julian was iced that Noelle had shown up early and gone straight to the old man, but he had bigger fish to fry Noelle, I was starting to think you wouldn¡¯t show. Luckily for you, grandpa¡¯s got a soft spot for you. Good thing you made it +15 BONUS ¡°What¡¯s that supposed to mean?¡± Samuel bristled at Julian¡¯s words, his eyes narrowing. ¡°I¡¯m the one who asked Noelle toe straight to me. Got a problem with that?¡± ¡°Look, I¡¯m not trying to stir things up,¡± Julian stammered. ¡°I just didn¡¯t want Noelle to feel embarrassed again, you know, after what happenedst time¡­¡± His words trailed off as Samuel fixed him with a piercing stare. Julian had already spilled the beans, and now the whole room buzzed with whispers of that recent scandal. Winter stood a little way off, smirking at Noelle as if she had won the lottery. Noelle¡¯s face turned a shade paler, her fingers tightening around Samuel¡¯s arm. Samuel felt it, and his blood boiled. ¡°Today¡¯s my birthday party, and here¡¯s Noelle, my darling granddaughter. How could she possibly be an embarrassment? What kind of father are you? Hmph!¡± With a thump of his cane, Samuel shot Julian a withering look, then turned to Noelle with a reassuring smile. ¡°Don¡¯t you worry, Noelle. Grandpa¡¯s got your back. No one¡¯s gonna push you around like before. Remember, if something¡¯s tainted, we toss it out.¡± Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org. ¡°What are you saying, Father?¡± Julian¡¯s face twisted into an ugly scowl. Jade and Winter weren¡¯t looking too pleased either, shooting daggers at Noelle with their eyes. Noelle just narrowed her eyes, pretending not to notice. She would not have bothered showing up if it had not been for Grandpa¡¯s birthday. P Wife 33 Wife 33 Noelle was no fool. She knew she was not exactly the family favorite, but she had not expected them to stoop this low. Her dad, who was usually sopor, was showing his true colors at Grandpa¡¯s birthday, of all ces. It was a real eye¨Copener for Noelle. ¡°Grandpa, how about I hang out with you for a bit?¡± Noelle shed a smile. ¡°Check it out. We¡¯ve got a full house today, all here to party for you.¡± She gently took Samuel¡¯s hand, ready to head off. Julian was fuming his face red and his mustache practically bristling. With the crowd watching, however, he bit his tongue. Then, out of nowhere, the crowd started buzzing and a wave of gasps rolled through the room. Noelle peeked through the sea of people and spotted someone making an entrance at the door the Shaw family had been keeping an eye on. The guy was tall and striking, walking with a confidence that said keep your distance,pletely stealing the spotlight from Noelle and her grandpa Dressed to the nines in a sleek ck suit that made him look even sharper, he strode in confidently with a no¨Cnonsense guy on his heels. He was carrying a fancy gift box and heading straight for Noelle. The crowd could not stop whispering. ¡°Isn¡¯t that the hotshot from the Hoffman family?¡± ¡°Hey, that¡¯s Mr. Hoffman, right?¡± ¡°Wow, the Shaw family must be a big deal to get Mr. Hoffman to show up.¡± ¡°If you ask me, it¡¯s not about the Shaw family¡¯s reputation at all. It¡¯s totally because of the Hoffman family connections.¡± Winter¡¯s gaze was locked on the guy who was shining like a star in the middle of the crowd. She could not look away. Then, turning to Xavier with a puzzled frown, she asked, ¡°Hey Xavier, when did your family start hanging out with celebrities? Who is this Mr. Hoffman guy?* Xavier bit his lip, ncing at his dad with mixed feelings. He had to admit that Charles showing up was a big win for his family. He managed a small grin and said, ¡°That¡¯s Charles Hoffman.¡± No way, he was that Charles? One of the Four Young Masters of Brookville? Winter was stunned. A thrill zipped through her as she clutched Xavier¡¯s hand. ¡°That Mr. Hoffman?¡± Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org. Xavier pursed his lips, staying silent. While Winter was practically bouncing with excitement, Noelle was the picture of cool. She watched the glowing man walk toward her with all eyes on Wife 34 Wife 34 ¡°Mr. Hoffman sends his best to Sir Shaw. He wishes him all the happiness of the endless oceans and a life as enduring as the ancient mountains.¡± Joseph could butter anybody up. Spotting Charles, he could not resist the chance to strut his stuff in front of the crowd. He shot Xavier a look and sidled over. ¡°Mr. Hoffman! Xavier, aren¡¯t you gonna say hi? Your uncle¡¯s here because of you!¡± ¡°Uncle, you¡¯re here too!¡± Xavier might have been stewing on the inside; however, in front of Charles, he had to swallow his pride. After all, Charles was a big deal, and showing up here was a big honor¡­. Once Joseph spilled the beans, the dots connected for everyone. Xavier was Charles¡® nephew, and it looked like Joseph had the mighty Hoffman family in his corner. Charles squinted, a sly grin ying on his lips. It was a grin that said more than words could. His gaze fixed on Xavier with such intensity that Xavier felt a shiver run through him. Standing there with Charles, he was hit with a wave of intimidation. The room fell silent as Charles entered, his eyes twinkling with a distant amusement that left. everyone too intimidated to guess at what he was thinking. Ronald chuckled, breaking the silence. ¡°Mr. Shaw, aren¡¯t you curious about the gift?¡± Noelle shot Ronald a puzzled look, wondering what he was ying at. She caught Samuel¡¯s eye, and he gave her an encouraging nod. ¡°Noelle, since Mr. Hoffman was kind enough to bring a gift, let¡¯s see what¡¯s inside!¡± Samuel was as sharp as a tack. He had picked up on the fact that Charles was no ordinary guest, especially since he did not seem close to Joseph. He was itching to find out what surprise Charles had up his sleeve. With a nervous bite of her lip, Noelle unwrapped the gift. Her eyes widened in astonishment. This Sar OVE leaned in, equally taken aback, and his face lit up with delight as he ran his fingers contents of the box. ¡°Wow, this is a chessboard from the 18th century, carved from manowany!¡± He knew his antiques, and he could tell this was the real deal. ¡°This¡­¡± The crowd buzzed with curiosity, everyone stretching to get a better look. Only those near the door, like Xavier and his friends, could see the chessboard¡¯s obvious worth. Noelle was stunned. She had not expected Charles to gift her grandfather the very chessboard they had admired together at Curio Corner, especially since she did not have the money for it. +15 BONUS Catching Noelle¡¯s gaze, Charles gave a small, knowing smile that seemed to dim the room¡¯s lights. ¡°Sir Shaw, do you like it?¡± Charles was asking Samuel the question, but his eyes were on Noelle. Her cheeks flushed a soft pink, and she looked down shyly as her heart did somersaults inside her chest. ¡°I love it! But Mr. Hoffman, you must¡¯ve broken the bank with this one.¡± ¡°It¡¯s no big deal. Money¡¯s no issue. If you¡¯re happy, it¡¯s money well spent. Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org. Joseph caught the moment to push Xavier into the spotlight. ¡°You¡¯ve got to match the asion too, right? Xavier, what¡¯s your and Winter¡¯s gift?¡± Wife 35 Wife 35 ¡°It¡¯s right here!¡± Winter had already sent someone to grab th present. It was not as showy. as Charles¡®, but it was still top¨Cnotch. ¡°Grandpa, this is from Xavier and me. We wish you happiness and peace!¡± Everyone knew Winter could charm the stars out of the sky, especially with her celebrity status and her picture¨Cperfect image of elegance and grace. When everyone saw Winter¡¯s gift, they could not help but gush, ¡°Wow, the old man¡¯s got some amazing luck, having such a devoted granddaughter!¡± Winter had brought a painting, knowing full well Samuel would love it. She had scoured high and low for it. Then, with a smug look, she turned to Noelle. ¡°So, Noelle, what¡¯s your gift for Grandpa?¡± All eyes were on Noelle then. The unspokenparison between Samuel¡¯s granddaughters had begun. Next to Winter¡¯s glow, Noelle seemed to fade into the background, her quiet. nature making her seem even more subdued. She had barely said a word throughout this scene. Noelle¡¯s brow creased ever so slightly as Winter¡¯s self¨Csatisfied voice reached her ears. She knew exactly what was going on in Winter¡¯s head. It was not like she had not seen this before. She always figured it was easier to avoid drama than to stir it up. Winter, however, was not one to let things slide. Ever since the whole Xavier debacle, she was relentless. ¡°Right, Noelle? Your grandpa adores you. What present did you bring him?¡± chimed in Jade, stepping up at just the right moment to look like she was backing Noelle up. ¡°You¡¯re aware, aren¡¯t you, that Grandpa¡¯s been worried sick about you? He¡¯s worried you¡¯re unhappy. He¡¯s been counting the days until you¡¯de home, and it wasn¡¯t easy for him to finally get his wish.¡± Jade clutched Noelle¡¯s hand as if she was shielding her from embarrassment. ¡°Noelle, honey, I know you¡¯re upset, but we¡¯re all family here. Today¡¯s grandpa¡¯s birthday, and you¡¯re the picture of devotion. You wouldn¡¯t want to spoil his special day, would you?¡± Ieaning in close, Jade whispered, ¡°Listen, Noelle, grandpa¡¯s getting on in years. He can¡¯t indle any stress. Plus, your sister and Xavier are pretty much married already. Why tear apart, huh?¡± le was all sweet talk and reasoning, convinced she was making perfect sense. Did she even care about how Noelle felt? Feeling her blood boil, Noelle was blindsided by Jade¡¯s audacity in front of everyone. She could not help but let out a bitterugh. ¡°So, you¡¯re using grandpa¡¯s birthday bash to corner. me into submission? Mom, why go to such lengths? I¡¯ve said it a million times¨CI¡¯m done with Xavier.¡± She could not fathom why they would not stop hounding her. ¡°You say that, but Grandpa thinks we¡¯ve been picking on you. If you can chear Grandes us Mom will hook you up with someone even cooler, know plenty of awesome guys¡± N?velDrama.Org exclusive content. Noelle brushed off Jade¡¯s hand and stepped up to Samuel with a small, polite smile. Of course I¡¯ve got a gift for grandpa. Do you want to see it now? Samuel was about to say it was not necessary, but Noelle¡¯s troubled look and the expectant eyes made him nod. ¡°Alright, alright. What¡¯s Noelle got for me? I¡¯m gonna love whatever it is He then looked over at Mr. Thompoon. Mr. Thompsont ¡°Sir, I¡¯ve been keeping Miss Noelle¡¯s gift safe. Take a look, sir. This is what Miss Noelle has for you.¡± Mr. Thompson opened the gift box to reveal a fountain pen, which left everyone a bit stunned. After all the anticipation, just a pen seemed like a letdown. BIG SALE: 3500 bonus fraw fou »Ø Comments Wife 36 Wife 36 +15 BONUS Winter could not help smirking, though she put on a surprised face. ¡°A fountain pen? Noelle¡¯s so thoughtful, knowing how much grandpa loves his pens She¡¯s on the same wavelength as me. Luckily, our gifts didn¡¯t ovep.¡± Winter was not wrong. The crowd started to piece together the sisters¡± gifts, weighing their significance. They looked at Noelle with new eyes. ¡®Winter went for the obvious, thinking Grandpa would love some art, but she didn¡¯t see the pening.¡± Noelle watched Winter¡¯s dramatic disy, her feelings a tangled mess. She just did not know how to react, being the center of attention like this. Charles squinted and shot Ronald a quick look. Ronald felt a wave of embarrassment wash over him. How had he never noticed his boss loved to stick his nose into everyone¡¯s business? Ronald might have been grumbling inside, but he knew better than to ck off. He cleared his throat and put on a look of mock surprise. ¡°Hey, isn¡¯t that the pen we saw the other day at Curio Corner?¡± he said. He gave Noelle a sly look, then turned to his boss with a feigned casual air. ¡°So it¡¯s Miss Noelle who snapped it up! What are the odds? Mr. Hoffman wanted to gift that pen to Sir Shaw and had me go buy it, but Miss Noelle beat us to the punch!¡± The crowd suddenly got it. ¡°Oh, it¡¯s from Curio Corner? That¡¯s a real gem! If Mr. Hoffman was after it, it¡¯s got to be something special!¡± Samuel, hearing all this, picked up the pen and examined it with wide eyes. ¡°Youngdy, what did this cost you? You¡­ You know, I¡¯ve told you I don¡¯t need anything. Why go and spend a fortune?¡± Despite his worde Samuel was clearly smitten with the brush and could not stop admiring it. Someone in the crowd piped up, ¡°Isn¡¯t this a relic? I was lucky enough to see one before, and they say back then¡­ Noelle was stunned and turned to Charles, only to find him giving her a knowing look, his eyes twinkling with amusement. Noelle was at a loss for words. She could not figure Charles out, and what he was trying to say was beyond her. Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org. He had offhandedly mentioned that the pen was not anything special, so¡­ did that mean she was in his debt now? The incident was quickly forgotten by everyone else. It was, after all, just another piece of gossip, a fleeting moment of drama. After wandering aimlessly with Samuel, Noelle finally made her way to the back garden to get some air. Deep down, she knew what today¡¯s gathering was about, yet she still showed up, clinging to a vain hope that her parents might stand up for her. As usual, however, she was left feeling let down. ¡°What are you doing out here?¡± She spun around to find the tall silhouette of the man who had been the center of attention just moments ago. Noelle¡¯s lips curled into a half¨Csmile as she recalled the earlier incident and chuckled. ¡°And you? What¡¯s your story for dropping by?¡± She was curious about his reasons for coming today. 1/2 +15 BONUS Charles just grinned, closed the distance between them, and came to a halt right in front of her. Taken aback, Noelle stumbled a couple of steps backward and craned her neck to look up at him. He towered over her, and even in her heels, she felt dwarfed by his height. She gazed up at him, a bit strained. ¡°You¡­¡± Comments Wife 37 Wife 37 ¡°Shhi¡± Charles¡¯s eyes narrowed. In a swift motion, he grabbed Noelle¡¯s hand. Before she could even process what was happening, he yanked her arm, spun around, and whisked her behind a pir. His strong arms encircled her waist, pulling her close into his protective hold. Noelle was puzzled and tried to push Charles away. Despite her efforts, his arms held her tight, his finger pressed gently against her lips, signaling her to keep quiet. ¡°You promised that you¡¯d make Grandpa and Noelle see that Xavier and I are meant to be today. It still hasn¡¯t happened yet. Winter, fuming after her sh with Noelle, pulled Jade to the back garden. ¡°Mom, did you see Noelle earlier? She was so full of herself, making me look bad on purpose. She knows Xavier and I are the real deal. Why is she being so difficult?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, honey,¡± Jade reassured her, scanning the area before speaking. ¡°When have I ever let you down? I¡¯ve got this.¡± She continued, ¡°Just stick with Xavier, okay? I¡¯ll handle the rest.¡± As Jade and Winter¡¯s voices trailed off, Noelle blinked back tears and nced at Charles. Charles caught the fleeting look of confusion on Noelle¡¯s face before she hid it away. He let go of her. ¡°Feeling down?¡± Noelle¡¯s smile was tinged with sadness. ¡°What¡¯s there to be sad about? I¡¯ve known the score for a while. now.¡± She looked down, the lingering touch and scent of him already fading. ¡°Do you think I¡¯m pathetic? Charles studied her, his eyes searching. ¡°We all have our own journeys, but have you given any thought to what I suggested earlier?¡± ¡°What?¡± Noelle¡¯s eyes widened in surprise as she looked up. ¡°You came here today¡­ So you¡¯re actually rted to Xavier?¡± Charles¡¯s lips had quirked into a sly smile. ¡°Does it really matter?¡± His eyes were like dark pools, impossible to read, and Noelle¡¯s gut told her he was trouble. Her curiosity, however, was like a moth drawn to a me. Charles reached out, his fingers lightly grazing her cheek before yfully tapping her head. ¡°I live by a simple rule: never be the first one to start the fire. But if anyone wrongs me, I won¡¯t hold back. My ties with Xavier aren¡¯t the issue. It¡¯s what I can do with my status that counts. I¡¯m looking forward to your good news, my good girl!¡± Noelle was momentarily lost in thought, staring at Charles¡¯s departing figure until she was snapped back to reality. ¡°Miss Noelle, what are you doing here? Sir Julian has been asking for you.¡± Her dad wanted to see her? With a puzzled frown, Noelle had followed the servant. Julian was waiting upstairs in the study. He beckoned when he saw her. ¡°Noelle, over here. Dad¡¯s got something to discuss with you!¡± He shot a look at Jade, who reluctantly nodded. ¡°Noelle, make sure your talk things out with your dad. I¡¯ll step out.¡± Noelle bit her lip, watching Jade exit before turning to Julian. ¡°Yes?¡± Julian nced at Noelle and gestured to a nearby chair. ¡°Take a seat. That¡¯s the fresh tea Mom made, the first pick of the season. You¡¯ve been away for a year, and Dad¡¯s aware of the tough times you¡¯ve faced. 1/2 Charles just grinned, closed the distance between ther Taken aback, Noelle stumbled a couple of steps backw towered over her, and even in her heels, she felt dwarfe strained. ¡°You¡­¡± Comments +15 BONUS Charles just grinned, closed the distance between them, and came to a halt right in front of her. Taken aback, Noelle stumbled a couple of steps backward and craned her neck to look up at him. He towered over her, and even in her heels, she felt dwarfed by his height. She gazed up at him, a bit strained. ¡°You¡­¡± D ¡°Shhl¡± +15 BONUS process Charles¡¯s eyes narrowed. In a swift motion, he grabbed Noelle¡¯s hand. Before she could even proc what was happening, he yanked her arm, spun around, and whisked her behind a pir. His strong arms encircled her waist, pulling her close into his protective hold. Noelle was puzzled and tried to push Charles away. Despite her efforts, his arms held her tight, his finger pressed gently against her lips, signaling her to keep quiet. ¡°You promised that you¡¯d make Grandpa and Noelle see that Xavier and I are meant to be today. It still hasn¡¯t happened yet.¡± Winter, fuming after her sh with Noelle, pulled Jade to the back garden. ¡°Mom, did you see Noelle earlier? She was so full of herself, making me look bad on purpose. She knows Xavier and I are the real deal. Why is she being so difficult?¡® ¡°Don¡¯t worry, honey,¡± Jade reassured her, scanning the area before speaking. ¡°When have I ever let you down? I¡¯ve got this.¡± She continued, ¡°Just stick with Xavier, okay? I¡¯ll handle the rest.¡± As Jade and Winter¡¯s voices trailed off, Noelle blinked back tears and nced at Charles. Charles caught the fleeting look of confusion on Noelle¡¯s face before she hid it away. He let go of her. ¡°Feeling down?¡± Noelle¡¯s smile was tinged with sadness. ¡°What¡¯s there to be sad about? I¡¯ve known the score for a while. now.¡± She looked down, the lingering touch and scent of him already fading. ¡°Do you think I¡¯m pathetic?¡± Charles studied her, his eyes searching. ¡°We all have our own journeys, but have you given any thought to what I suggested earlier?¡± ¡°What?¡± Noelle¡¯s eyes widened in surprise as she looked up. ¡°You came here today¡­ So you¡¯re actually rted to Xavier?¡± Charles¡¯s lips had quirked into a sly smile. ¡°Does it really matter?¡± His eyes were like dark pools, impossible to read, and Noelle¡¯s gut told her he was trouble. Her curiosity, however, was like a moth drawn to a me. Charles reached out, his fingers lightly grazing her cheek before yfully tapping her head. ¡°I live by a simple rule: never be the first one to start the fire. But if anyone wrongs me, I won¡¯t hold back. My ties with Xavier aren¡¯t the issue. It¡¯s what I can do with my status that counts. I¡¯m looking forward to your good news, my good girl!¡± Noelle was momentarily lost in thought, staring at Charles¡¯s departing figure until she was snapped back to reality. ¡°Miss Noelle, what are you doing here? Sir Julian has been asking for you.¡± Her dad wanted to see her? With a puzzled frown, Noelle had followed the servant, Julian was waiting upstairs in the study. He beckoned when he saw her. ¡°Noelle, over here. Dad¡¯s got something to discuss with you!¡± He shot a look at Jade, who reluctantly nodded. ¡°Noelle, make sure you talk things out with your dad. I¡¯ll step out.¡± Noelle bit her lip, watching Jade exit before turning to Julian. ¡°Yes?¡± Julian nced at Noelle and gestured to a nearby chair. ¡°Take a seat. That¡¯s the fresh tea Mom made, the first pick of the season. You¡¯ve been away for a year, and Dad¡¯s aware of the tough times you¡¯ve faced. +15 BONUS About your sister¡­¡± ¡°Look, Dad, if you¡¯re going to bring up my sister again, Just don¡¯t. You know Xavier and I go way back, and we were practically engaged. I never saw iting¡­ my sister, she¡­¡± Noelle¡¯s smile was tinged with sadness. ¡°Did you ever stop to think about me? If you had, even for a second, none of this would¡¯ve happened,¡± Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. ¡°Noelle,¡± Julian cut her off, ¡°your sister didn¡¯t mean for things to go this way, but love can be complicated¡­¡± Comments L Wife 38 Wife 38 ¡°That¡¯s enough. You¡¯re my dad, and she¡¯s my sister, which means I can¡¯t really do anything. But it doesn¡¯t mean I have to forgive her or ept what happened.¡± Noelle took a sip of her tea, grimacing at the bitterness. ¡°New tea, huh? Mom probably never even thought about giving me the good stuff. It¡¯s always Winter this, Winter that. She never cares about how I feel. What about you, Dad?¡± ¡°Noelle¡­¡± Julian looked at her, his eyes filled with a hint of disappointment, and he shook his head, pained. ¡°I¡¯ve tried to get through to you, but you¡¯re still not getting it. How has your sister been to you all these years? Remember it was your sister who saved you when you were kidnapped. How can you be ungrateful enough topete with her for your boyfriend?¡± ¡°Dad, what are you saying?¡± Noelle stood up abruptly, her body trembling, her face turning ghostly pale as she stared at Julian. She could not believe her father felt the same way about the situation, Sure, Winter had saved her back then, but the kidnappers had been after Winter, not her. All these years, her mom had held onto that, always ming Noelle. To think that her dad would me her too was beyond her comprehension. Noelle¡¯s head was spinning. ¡°So, you¡¯re on their side too? You think I¡¯m the one who did Winter wrong? Come on, she¡¯s been grabbing everything that¡¯s mine for years. I¡¯ve let her have it all, every single time. Shouldn¡¯t that be enough by now? Will I always be in her debt? First, she took my toys, and now she¡¯s after my boyfriend. What¡¯s next?¡± Julian was silent, his eyes a dark, scary pool that Noelle could not recognize. She felt a tightness in her chest that was almost too much to handle, and she blurted out, ¡°Isn¡¯t it supposed to be the big sister who looks out for the little one? Why is it the other way around with the Shaws? You all bend over backwards to get Winter whatever she wants. What if she decides she wants my life next?¡± The study door flew open with a loud snap. Jade stormed in, livid, and pped Noelle hard across the face, ¡°What nonsense are you spouting, you little brat?¡± ¡°Why waste your breath on her? She¡¯s like a spoiled kid who won¡¯t take a hint until she¡¯s punished. She won¡¯t learn her lesson until she¡¯s put in her ce.¡± Noelle clutched her cheek where Jade¡¯s p hadnded. The pain was so sharp she was on the verge of tears, especially after hearing Jade¡¯s harsh words. ¡°A lesson? Right, that¡¯s what you were preaching in the back garden.¡± ¡°You heard that?¡± Jade¡¯s face twisted into an even nastier scowl as she turned to Julian. ¡°Why are you just standing there? This girl¡¯s a total disaster, but today, she can actually do something useful.¡± Jade shot Julian a look that clearly meant business. ¡°Your mom¡¯s set you up with a marriage match. The guy is¡­. Julian did not get to finish. Noelle felt a wave of dread wash over her, and she stumbled back, copsing into a chair. ¡°What did you guys do?¡± ¡°Noelle, your dad¡¯s justnded a mega deal. All you have to do is marry into the other family, and they¡¯ll give Helios two hundred million. You know how huge that is for your dad¡¯s business, right?¡± Jade said. Noelle scoffed. ¡°So you¡¯re just gonna trade me off? You guys¡­¡± She tried to sit up but crashed back down, drained of all strength, ¡°Dad, aren¡¯t I your kid too? Why are you doing this?¡± ¡°Why? Because the guy actually likes you. You should be stoked you¡¯re worth something,¡± came the cold N?velDrama.Org exclusive content. +15 BONUS reply. Jade¡¯s voice faded, and Noelle¡¯s world went fuzzy. She bit down hard, trying to stand, yet ended up mming into the floor. Right before everything went ck, she caught Jade¡¯s icy snort, ¡°Why isn¡¯t she in the next room yet? Master York won¡¯t like waiting!¡± Comments Wife 39 Wife 39 It was like being in an oven, heat sting from every direction, frying Noelle¡¯s brain. Through the haze, she thought she saw someone. A cool touch on her cheek, a moment of relief, made her grumble in protest. Blinking hard, the figure looming over her took her by surprise. She felt like she was floating on a cloud, then suddenly, she was free¨Cfalling. Snapping back to reality, Noelle¡¯s eyes flew open to an unfamiliar face. ¡°Who are you?¡± she croaked, shocked at the sound of her own voice. She shoved the guy away and bolted from the bed. ¡°What did you do to me?¡± The man ran his fingers along his jawline, his gaze sharp and calcting. ¡°Are you just ying dumb, or do you really have no clue?¡± Noelle¡¯s legs gave out. She stumbled into the coffee table before copsing to the floor. The man watched her with a hint of amusement, his eyebrow arching slightly as he said with a smirk, ¡°Your folks told me you were still a virgin when they gave you to me.¡± ¡°What did you just say?¡± Noelle¡¯s mind was foggy, her thoughts focused on the confrontation she had just had in the study. Her father¡¯s stern voice was still ringing in her ears, as were her mother¡¯s words. Was this guy they were talking about? The one who had poured a fortune into their lives? Noelle¡¯s face, paled, particrly when she caught the sneer on the man¡¯s face. She nced around, realizing she was in a Shaw family room. Was it true? Did her parents really hand her over to some stranger during her Grandpa¡¯s birthday bash? The man reached out to tilt her chin up, Noelle pped his hand away with all the strength she could muster. ¡°Don¡¯t touch me. Back off.¡± A shadow flickered in the man¡¯s eyes at her rejection, and he did note any closer. Instead, he watched as Noelle struggled weakly, clicking his tongue in mock pity. ¡°Quite the show, isn¡¯t it? I wonder what your parents are up to right now. Or how about your gorgeous sister and her fiance?¡± Noelle felt a wave of heat followed by a chill. She knew this feeling too well. She had been drugged before, but that was by a stranger. This time, her own parents were to me. She bit down on her lip so hard it started to bleed. It helped her focus. ¡°What do you want? Whatever it is, just say the word, and I¡¯ll get it done.¡± N?velDrama.Org exclusive content. Noelle¡¯s fists were balled up so tight that her nails were practically buried in her palms, but she did not. even feel the pain. The man cocked an eyebrow, clearly amused. ¡°What can you offer me? What on earth could I, Simon York, not already have in this world?¡± Simon York? A shadow passed over Noelle¡¯s eyes. She had not expected him to be Simon, the notorious Master York who was said to wee anyone¡¯s advances, regardless of gender. With a bitter chuckle, Noelle raised her head to meet Simon¡¯s eyes. Just then, a knock came from the door, followed by Winter¡¯s voice, ¡°Noelle, are you there? Grandpa¡¯s been looking everywhere for you. He sent me to find you. Noelle?¡± Noelle fought to keep herposure, her hands clenching her thighs so hard she could feel her muscles strain. She refused to let the drugs take over. Facing Simon, she forced a smile. ¡°Are you and Winter +15 BONUS working together? Did you really have to go this far?¡± Simon squinted, amused by her usation, and gave her a small, enigmatic smile. ¡°What¡¯s your guess?¡± ¡°You¡­¡± ¡°Noelle, are you okay in there? Are you sick? I¡¯m going to get help. Please, can you open the door?¡± Winter¡¯s persistent knocking and voice,ced with worry, felt like needles to Noelle¡¯s heart. She stared at the door, feeling a wave of despair. BIG SALE: 3500 bonus free fou you Wife 40 Wife 40 ¡°Interesting¡­.you¡­¡± As Simon turned his back, Noelle seized a vase and hurled it at his head with all her might. The vase crashed against his forehead, and as He slumped to the ground, his eyes locked on Noelle¡¯s. ¡°How dare¡­¡± Noelle had given it her all, and now she was totally wiped out, slumping to the floor in a heap. Outside, Winter¡¯s voice mixed with the others, worried because they could not find Noelle. They were outside the only locked room in the house, talking about busting the door down. Noelle¡¯s heart sank. She thought she was a goner for sure. Then, like a shadow slipping through the night, Charles appeared out of nowhere. His face, all sharp angles and soft skin, came into view as she looked up. She bit her lip so hard it turned a deep, enchanting red. Desperate, she grabbed onto Charles¡¯s pants and pleaded, ¡°Charles, save me!¡± Charles narrowed his eyes, a fierce look flickering across his face as he took in Noelle¡¯s flushed cheeks and the figure on the floor. A sh of anger sparked in his dark eyes. He shrugged off his suit jacket and draped it over Noelle. ¡°Put this on!¡± hemanded. Noelle¡¯s hands were shaking as she pulled the jacket tighter around her. The crisp, clean scent of Charles calmed her nerves. ¡°What now?¡± she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. The pounding on the door was getting louder, and someone was threatening to break in. They were trapped on the second floor with nowhere to hide. Noelle felt a wave of heat and cold crash over her, the feeling so strong she could barely stand it. She bit her lip hard again. Charles¡¯s eyes darkened, and he swiftly scooped her up into his arms. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ve got you,¡± he said, holding her close. Noelle¡¯s heart, which was pounding like a drum, finally slowed down. She clung to Charles¡¯s arms tightly, as if she feared he would slip away if she blinked. In a sh, Charles scooped Noelle up and whisked her into the bathroom. No sooner had they disappeared than the door to the room was booted open. Xavier and Winter burst in, taking the lead. ¡°Noelle¡­ Oh no¡­!¡± Winter¡¯s voice was a mix of shock and fear as shetched onto Xavier¡¯s arms. ¡°Xavier, who¡¯s that on the ground?¡± Winter¡¯s eyes darted around the room, desperately trying to find Noelle. Jade had just said Noelle was in here, drugged and unable to run off. Xavier spotted the figure on the floor too and hurried over to check. Flipping the person over, he was taken aback. ¡°Simon?¡± ¡°What? Simon?¡± Winter¡¯s voice pitched high in mock horror. ¡°Isn¡¯t that Master York? What¡¯s he doing here? And where¡¯s Noelle? What are we going to do, Xavier?¡± She gripped Xavier¡¯s hand, her voice tinged with panic. ¡°Why would Master York be in this room? It¡¯s Noelle¡¯s usual spot, and it¡¯s been empty for ages!¡± ¡°Calm down, Winter. Go get Mom and Dad,¡± Xavier said, trying to keep a level head. ¡°What¡¯s the fuss?¡± Julian and Jade arrived, breathless. Seeing Samuel on the floor, they were stunned. What are you standing around for? Let¡¯s get Master York to the hospital now!¡± N?velDrama.Org exclusive content. Julian kept his cool, scanning the room. ¡°What in the world happened here?¡± +15 BONUS ¡°I¡¯m clueless,¡± Winter said, her voice breaking as she gripped Xavier¡¯s hand. ¡°I can¡¯t find Noelle anywhere. I looked all over, then I found this room locked. I called Xavier for help, and that¡¯s when we found Master York on the floor with blood all over his forehead.¡± Winter¡¯s words were charged with emotion. ¡°Noelle was nowhere when we got here. Dad, I have no idea where she could be. I¡¯m so worried about her!¡± P Comments Wife 41 Wife 41 ¡°That little troublemaker could¡­¡± Jade started to say before she caught a stern look from Julian and quickly backpedaled, ¡°Where could she have gone? She¡¯s probably off messing around somewhere!¡± Jade grumbled, though she could not shake off her concern as she nced around. ¡°Did you guys check the whole room? Since it¡¯s Noelle¡¯s room, maybe she¡¯s hiding in here. Keep looking!¡± Jade, determined, flung open the wardrobe. However, I was empty. In the bathroom, the pair were as silent as graves, barely breathing. Noelle, in particr, was like a coiled spring, her hands gripping Charles tightly. She bit down hard, fighting to keep the turmoil inside her at bay. The drug¡¯s grip p proved too strong, and soon Noelle was struggling, her body burning up with heat. Charles knew exactly what was happening to Noelle. After all, he was a guy who understood the powerful effects of the drug coursing through her. He gripped her shoulders firmly, trying to snap her back to reality. Noelle, struggling to cope, clenched her eyes shut and bit her lip hard. ¡°Charles, it aches.¡± ¡°Shh!¡± Charles¡¯s brow furrowed as he heard Noelle¡¯s involuntary whimper and quickly covered her mouth. Her eyes, heavy with a sultry haze, made him swallow hard, his throat bobbing with tension. ¡°Did you hear that?¡± Xavier thought he had caught a sound in the room, but it was so faint he could not be sure. Charles¡¯s face hardened as he watched Noelle, now barely lucid, rubbing against him in a frenzy. A shadow flickered in his eyes as he took her hand firmly, ¡°Hang in there. Be strong!¡± ¡°I can¡¯t stand it. It¡¯s too much!¡± Noelle cried out. She was beyond caring about anything else. Her entire body felt like it was aze. The familiar andforting scent of the man before her enveloped her. She adored that clean, sharp fragrance, and she could not bring herself to pull away. Outside the bathroom, Xavier and Julian shared a look before focusing on the closed door. Xavier¡¯s frown deepened as he reached for the doorknob and swung the door open. To his disappointment, the bathroom was empty. It was too small to hide anyone. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content. Julian peered into the restroom, his eyes darting around for any sign of her, but it was like she had vanished into thin air. He could not shake the feeling of defeat as he scanned the room again, hoping he had missed something. ¡°Noelle¡¯s not here!¡± Xavier blurted out, a weird mix of confusion and relief washing over him. He could not shake off the words Winter had thrown at him earlier. His emotions were all over the ce, boiling up inside him. He just could not buy that Noelle was the person Winter made her out to be. That was why he had tagged along to see for himself. Seeing Simon in Noelle¡¯s room had sparked a storm of anger in him, so he was actually d she was not there now. Winter was not about to give up so easily. She had been banking on this chance to confront Noelle, and now it was slipping through her fingers. ¡°So, Noelle¡¯s really gone, huh?¡± Winter said, tugging Xavier¡¯s hand. ¡°Where do you think she could be?¡± ¡°We¡¯ve gotta keep looking!¡± +15 BONUS Out on the restroom balcony, Charles was demonstrating his strength and tenderness, one hand gripping the railing and the other wrapped around Noelle¡¯s waist. Noelle herself was barely present. Her mind was foggy, both of them were teetering on the edge. It would have been a heart¨Cstopping sight to anyone looking up. BIG SALE: 3500 bonus free fou you Wife 42 Wife 42 Noelle clung to Charles, her lips finding the curve of his neck, an oasis in the desert she felt lost in. His coolness was the perfect contrast to her fiery need. She was drawn to him, time and time again, desperate for a taste of his refreshing calm. Charles¡¯s gaze grew more intense as he gently caressed Noelle¡¯s cheek with his cool hand. ¡°Wake up!¡± he urged. Noelle could not hear him. She just wanted to be close to him. ¡°Don¡¯t push me away, it aches so much!¡± she pleaded. Charles caught his breath, his self¨Ccontrol nearly shattering at the sound of Noelle¡¯s soft, seductive voice. He was no saint, especially not when it came to Noelle With her, he had always been a little more patient. Now, with this beautiful woman in his arms, willingly embracing him, he could not just stand there unaffected charles, it aches,¡± Noelle¡¯s faint voice echoed in his ear. Her fiery lips brushed against his earlobe, nibbling with impatience. Charles¡¯s eyes darkened, his hand cradling the back of her head as he leaned in and captured her lips with his. Noelle let out a soft moan, her hands wrapping around his neck, her whole body clinging to him as kissed him back. N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content. she Gone was her usual reserve, now reced by a wildness. Maybe it was the drugs, but Noelle¡¯s kisses were frantic, like she was searching desperately for release. She clung to Charles as if she were a ship that had been adrift for ages finally finding its harbor. In the midst of their passionate kiss, voices returned to Noelle¡¯s room. Julian and Jade hade back. Impossible. We brought that girl here ourselves. How could she just vanish?¡± ¡°Keep searching! What¡¯ll we do about the funds if we cause trouble for Master York?¡± Julian chimed in, anxious about the prospect of alienating the York family after they had worked so hard to secure their investment. ¡°This is all on you,¡± he snapped. ¡°You were supposed to be on the lookout. Now that girl can¡¯t just vanish!¡± the deed is done, that Charles¡¯s gaze narrowed as Julian and Jade¡¯s voices drew nearer. He gently pulled Noelle back and caught a glimpse of her dazed eyes, which sent a pang through his heart. Whispering into her ear, he urged, ¡°Hang on to me, okay?¡± Noelleplied, her arms encircling Charles¡¯s waist and her head nestled against his chest. Charles inhaled sharply. ¡°Close your eyes.¡± She obediently shut her eyes. Charles took onest look downstairs, then, with a protective arm around Noelle, leaped from the second floor. Theynded softly, hidden among the backyard garden¡¯s thick bushes. Julian and Jade burst into the bathroom, spotting the open window. ¡°That cunning girl. She¡¯s slipped away through here!¡± ¡°What are you standing around for? Go find Noelle!¡± Julian was livid, unable to believe that Noelle, even under the influence of a drug, had managed to escape. 1/1 +15 BONUS Once the coast was clear and Julian and Jade¡¯s voices had faded, Charles rxed his vignt gaze. He looked down at Noelle, who was clinging to him like a ko, and could not help but shake his head with a mix of frustration and fondness. Charles hoisted Noelle in his arms and made a swift exit from the Shaw family¡¯s back garden, vaulting over the wall with ease. Ronald had already stepped out from the Shaw residence and was taken aback to see his boss cradling Noelle. Nheless, he dashed over to open the door, ¡°Mr. Hoffman, is everything okay with Ms. Shaw?¡± Comments Wife 43 Wife 43 A chill flickered in Charles¡¯s gaze as he nced at Ronald, who promptly stood up straighter and let out a nervousugh. ¡°Where to now, Mr. Hoffman?¡± ¡°To the Phoenix Tree Residence!¡± Charles gently settled Noelle into the car as if she were a delicate treasure. Ronald could not help but stare until a piercing look from Charles snapped him back to reality, and he hurriedly got the car going. The sleek ck Maybach vanished into the cloak of the night. The drug coursing through Noelle seemed too potent. She feverishly tugged at her clothes and whimpered softly, even though Charles had covered her with his suit jacket. Even Ronald, who was usually oblivious, could tell something was off with Noelle. However, he resolutely focused on the road ahead and did not dare sneak a peek at her. Angering Mr. Hoffman was thest thing he wanted. Noelle was in agony, her body burning up. She clutched at Charles¡¯s hand, pressing herself against him, and her lips found his in a clumsy, desperate kiss Charles tried to gently pull Noelle off him, but she was having none of it. She clung to him again and again until he finally gave up. Noelle snuggled against Charles with the carefree joy of a child, causing Ronald to nearly m on the brakes when he caught a glimpse of the cuddle¨Cfest in the rearview mirror. With one sharp nce from Charles, Ronald quickly flipped up the privacy screen, cutting off the front from the back. He let out a relieved sigh, his heart still racing from the surprise peek. Ronald could not help but wonder about the scene he had just witnessed. The big boss, who was usually so cool and collected, had a softer side after all. Charles, who was trying to regain hisposure, felt Noelle clinging to him like a little octopus, her tiny hands wandering all over him. It tickled so much that he could not help but gasp and firmly grasp her wandering hand. ¡°Enough, Noelle!¡± She pouted, her head still nestled against his chest. Feeling the firmness in Charles¡¯s voice, she frowned, looking hurt. ¡°You¡¯re being mean to me.¡± Despite his efforts to maintain a stern demeanor, Charles could not help but crack a smile, mixed with a bit of helplessness. He had not expected Noelle to be so clingy and yful. ¡°Mean? How am I being mean to you?¡± ¡°You just are! I¡¯m feeling hot and yucky,¡± Noelle mumbled, not fully aware of her actions. All she knew was that she felt bad and that being close to Charles, with hisforting scent and warmth, was where she wanted to be. Noelle did not care about the consequences as she climbed up and nted another kiss on Charles¡¯s lips. Her hands were all over him, exploring his body with a sense of urgency. She pulled at his clothes, her body pressing against his as if she could not get close enough. w.you Charles grabbed Noelle¡¯s wandering hands, his eyes dark and intense, ¡°Noelle, just so you know, you started this. He held her head firmly, deepening their kiss, while his other hand trailed down her back, his touch eager and a bit shaky. Noelle¡¯s head bobbed against Charles in rhythm with their movements. Out of nowhere, the car swerved, the tires screeching against the pavement. Charles¡¯s quick reflexes +15 BONUS brought Noelle into his arms, but they both still jolted forward, and Noelle ended up sprawled on top of him. Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. BIG SALE: 3500 bonus free fou you Wife 44 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¨Ceyed 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¨Cback 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 Wife 45 Wife 45 Sean sauntered over and gave the woman a once¨Cover. ¡°She¡¯s been drugged with something strong. How Tong has she been holding out? If she¡¯s your girl, why didn¡¯t you just deal with it? Why drag me into this?¡± He chuckled, taking in her good looks. As he stared longer, something clicked. A shadow of recognition flickered in his eyes. ¡°Wait, isn¡¯t she from the Shaw family?¡± Charles quirked an eyebrow. ¡°You know her?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t get it twisted. I don¡¯t know her!¡± Sean was quick to catch the hint in Charles¡¯s tone and shot back, I¡¯ve only had the pleasure of seeing her once, nothing more. I¡¯m curious. How did you get tangled up with the Shaws? I heard that Joseph¡¯s kid has some ties with them too.¡± ¡°Mhm,¡± Charles nodded, confirming the connection. Sean rubbed his chin thoughtfully. ¡°So, what¡¯s the n? ¡°You¡¯re the doctor, so you tell me,¡± Charles retorted sharply. ¡°What else would I call you for?¡± ¡°No way, Charles. A knockout like her, and you¡¯re just standing there? That¡¯s not your style,¡± Sean teased.¡± Imight just tell Peter¡­ Look, I may be a doctor, but this isn¡¯t my specialty. You didn¡¯t fill me in earlier. I¡¯ve just stepped away from surgery. I don¡¯t have a magic cure on me!¡± Sean¡¯s face was the picture of despair. ¡°You already know what¡¯s going to cure her, so why in the world do you need me?¡± Charles¡¯s lips thinned, and his expression turned stormy and a tad intimidating. N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content. Sean¡¯s eyes lit up with realization. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you haven¡¯t charmed her yet!¡± ¡°Quit the chatter. Are we doing this or what?¡± Charles shot a nce at the restless figure on the bed.¡± You¡¯re starting to sound like a quack!¡± ¡°Look, Charles, you¡¯re the one begging for my help¡­ Fine, we¡¯ve got no other choice. We need to cool her down with ice. Ronald, go grab some. Just a heads up, she¡¯s going to have a fever tomorrow, I¡¯ll write you. a prescription, and you¡¯ll be on nurse duty tonight.¡± With Sean¡¯s Instructions clear, Charles turned to Ronald, who was already at the door. He nodded. ¡°Iceing right up!¡± Since Noelle was under the influence of a particr drug, they could not just hand her off to anyone. There were no servants at Phoenix Tree Residence, just the three guys, Charles sent Ronald and Sean out of the room. Charles filled the tub with water, dumped in the ice, and gently ced Noelle inside. The cold hit her like a wave, and Noelle almost instantly tried to escape the tub, clutching desperately at Charles¡¯s arms, tears falling freely. ¡°You¡¯re so mean! It¡¯s so cold! You¡¯re evil!¡± Charles¡¯s deep¨Cset eyes softened as he patted her forehead, whispering soothingly. ¡°Stay still. Just soak in it for a bit, okay?¡± ¡°You have to stay with me!¡± Noelle¡¯s lips quivered in a pout. ¡°I don¡¯t want to be alone. It¡¯s too cold!¡± Sean led Ronald into the living room with a big smile. Ronald¡¯s whole body jolted as he caught Sean¡¯s eye, 1/2 +15 BONUS his own eyes wide with dread. ¡°Mr. Smith, staring me down won¡¯t do you any good. I¡¯m clueless, totally clueless!¡± The Four Young Masters of Brookville were a legendary bunch, each with their own irs. Sean might not have been a businessman, but in Brookville, his word wasw. The town¡¯s biggest projects were all tied up in Sean¡¯s ventures. Ronald had been Charles¡® right¨Chand man for ages. That did not stop him from doing Sean¡¯s bidding every now and then, though. He would not im to have Sean all figured out, but he knew a thing or two. BIG SALE: 3500 bonus free fou your Comments Wife 46 Wife 46 the Sean was not like Charles. Charles grabbed life by the horns with no hesitation or mercy. Sean? He was guy with the killer smile, all warmth andughs on the outside. What was he up to behind closed doors? That was anyone¡¯s guess. Right now, that smile of Sean¡¯s? It was the kind that spelled trouble. Sean squinted, a cold huff escaping him. His hands, always so pristine, were slender to the point of envy, even prettier than ady¡¯s. With a flick of his elegant fingers, he tossed his white coat at Ronald and sprawled out on the couch, a smile ying on his lips that could turn heads. ¡°You don¡¯t know? All that time shadowing Charles and you¡¯re telling me you¡¯re in the dark?¡± N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content. Ronald¡¯s whole body jolted, and he was on the brink of tears. ¡°I swear I didn¡¯t know, Mr. Smith. Mr. Hoffman wouldn¡¯t share anything with a lowly servant like me.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Sean¡¯s eyes, narrow and alluring like petals of a peach blossom, narrowed further as he smiled in a way that sent shivers down one¡¯s spine. ¡°You¡¯re telling me you had no clue? Miss Winter from the Shaw family just got engaged to Xavier, and now Charles is cozying up with Miss Noelle. You think I wouldn¡¯t find out even if you kept silent?¡± ¡°If you fighting already know it all, Mr. Smith, why even ask me?¡± Ronald was back tears. ¡°I honestly did not know about today. All I knew was that Mr. Hoffman attended Sir Shaw¡¯s birthday bash, and when he came back, he was cradling Miss Noelle in his arms.¡± ¡°Oh¡­!¡± Sean¡¯s voice trailed off as he nodded in understanding, ¡°Got it!¡± He was about to say more, his fingers drumming on the leather couch. Then he snapped to attention and looked up to see Charles¡¯s imposing figure at the doorway. Sean¡¯s scheming face instantly lit up with a weing grin, and his eyes sparkled with mischief. ¡°Miss Noelle doing okay?¡± Charles squinted slightly, ¡°You¡¯re still here?¡± Sean was speechless. That was a low blow from Charles. He had called Sean away from an important surgery, and Sean had dashed over without a second thought. This was the thanks he got. ¡°Come on, Charles, that¡¯s not very cool of you!¡± ¡°Not cool?¡± Charles let out a cold huff, his deep¨Cset eyes giving Sean a quick, dismissive nce. ¡°I don¡¯t need to waste words on you.¡± ¡°Come on, I did you a solid, right? Do you have to be like this?¡± Charles was itching to get rid of him, though Sean was not making it easy. ¡°What about Noelle? You¡¯re not worried she might need help in the middle of the night? I¡¯m a doctor, remember? It¡¯s in your best interest to keep me around!¡± ¡°I don¡¯t need you!¡± Charles¡¯s frown deepened, making it crystal clear he was done talking. ¡°Ronald, show him out!¡± Chades was not having any of it and headed upstairs. +15 BONUS With Charles gone, Sean¡¯s face took on a new look. He shot Ronald a frosty nce and casually fixed the third button on his shirt. ¡°You heard the man. Charles wants you to drive me home. Ugh¡­ I¡¯m beat. Let¡¯s go, chop¨Cchop!¡± Ronald watched Sean¡¯s quick switch with an internal eye¨Croll that could have set a world record, but he did not dare mouth off. Instead, he grabbed the keys and dutifully drove Sean home. Back upstairs, Charles found Noelle sleeping soundly. He breathed a sigh of relief and stood by her bed for a moment, his usually stern eyes softening as he watched her. Gently, he adjusted her nket, then stepped out onto the balcony. He lit ¨¤ cigarette, holding it between his fingers, but did not take a puff. Comments Wife 47 Wife 47 +15 BONUS Charles had always been the master of his own fate, unshakable and untroubled by others, but as he watched Noelle sleep, he wondered if she might be the one to break hisposure. He had not nned on getting her involved, but now that she was here, he was not about to let her slip away. Time was not on their side, but Charles never sweated the small stuff. As he nced down at himself, he was surprised by the effect she still had on him. He fought to keep his cool, though sometimes the body told truths the mind tried to hide. He had been so close to giving in to his desires, but the thought of her waking up scared or full of regret stopped him cold. Charles was out on the balcony, lost in the night air, until Ronald came back. Only then did he retreat to his study. ¡°Mr. Hoffman, here¡¯s the surveince footage from the Shaw ce tonight.¡± Ronald knew Charles like the back of his hand, having been by his side for years. He had already started digging into the Shaw family¡¯s drama on his way back from dropping off Sean. Charles, cigarette in hand, barely nced at the papers Ronald handed him. Ronald twitched, sensing something amiss. ¡°Mr. Hoffman?¡± Had he misread the situation? A slight smirk crossed Charles¡¯s face. ¡°Double your bonus this month!¡± Ronald¡¯s face lit up with delight. ¡°Mr. Smith¡¯s been fishing for info, but I kept silent. You know how he is¡­ ¡°Let him be,¡± Charles sald with a dismissive wave. ¡°He can fuss all he wants.¡± ¡°Mr. Hoffman, just so you know, Simon and Julian did shake hands on some deal about pumping money into the project, but it¡¯s all talk at this point. Also, Simon¡¯s voice doesn¡¯t carry much weight in the York Group. It¡¯s still Sir York calling the shots, and I bet he¡¯s clueless about this whole thing.¡± Ronald said, realizing that Charles was not too concerned, which meant Samuel was not a real hurdle. However, Ronald was puzzled, ¡°What¡¯s Julian¡¯s game, anyway? I heard Simon had his eye on Winter.¡± Charles¡¯s brow furrowed ever so slightly, a rare shift in his cool demeanor. ¡°Simon¡¯s after Winter? Charles let out a dismissive snort. ¡°You¡¯re not giving him enough credit.¡± N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content. Ronald was stumped. Everyone knew Simon¡¯s reputation. ¡°So, what¡¯s the y, Mr. Hoffman?¡± ¡°Just let it be for now. This isn¡¯t your circus,¡± Charles said, breezing through the paperwork. ¡°Go check up on how Hellos is doing.¡± ¡°Got it!¡± ¡°Oh, and another thing,¡± Charles drummed his fingers on the desk, lost in thought for a moment. ¡°About cutting back on our orders with Frotconn, how¡¯s thating along?¡± ¡°We¡¯re on it, but they¡¯re still in the dark!¡± Ronald recalled that there had not been a peep from Joseph¡¯s endtely. Joseph was practically a nobody in the grand scheme of things, though. A few years back, for reasons Charles could not fathom, Sir Hoffman took it upon himself to nudge Charles to keep an eye on a littlepany called Frotconn. Charles was not one for hassles, and he quickly pegged Frotconn as small fry and did not sweat it. However, two years down the line, he got the vibe that Joseph was ying a crooked game. *Shave off another ten percent. Isn¡¯t there a spot up for grabs soon?¡± Charles mused, rubbing his chin while his eagle eyes zeroed in on the project proposal sprawled across his desk. ¡°Step on it!¡± +15 BONUS BIG SALE: 3500 bonus free fou you D Comments Wife 48 Wife 48 Charles burned the midnight oil, wrapping up his workload before stashing it away. He sparked up a cigarette and stepped out onto the balcony, gazing Into the Inky vold that shrouded Phoenix Tree Residence. As thest wisp of smoke from his cigarette faded, he released it, his intense eyes cutting through the night like beacons. He swung by the master bedroom, where Noelle was put like a light. He kept watch like a silent sentinel to keep her from tossing and turning. He peered down at Noelle from his vantage point. The flush that had painted her cheeks was gone, leaving her looking serene and exquisite. Charles had clocked her as a knockout from the get¨Cgo, but her natural beauty caught him off guard. A chuckle escaped him as he gently flicked the quilt. There she was, all askew in her slumber, a far cry from her usual buttoned¨Cup facade. Maybe the night was too warm, or maybe it was just her habit, but she had kicked off her covers, baring her silky shoulders to the cool air. Charles¡¯s gaze darkened, his breath quickening with a rush of emotion. He looked down at Noelle, still lost in slumber, and then at himself, feeling a twinge of self¨Cloathing. Ever since this girl came into his life, he found himself. losing control. The phone by the window buzzed loudly, piercing the quiet of the night. With a secretive glint in his dark eyes, Charles strode over and picked up Noelle¡¯s phone. It was lit up several missed calls¨Cnot just from Samuel and Sebastian, but also from Xavier. with A mischievous smile yed on Charles¡¯s lips as he silenced the phone, letting it blink on in the darkness. He always enjoyed a bit of mischief! Noelle¡¯s sleep was anything but peaceful. At first, she felt like she was on fire, then as if she was freezing in an icebox. It was only when she finally warmed up that she began to feel lighter, more at ease. For some reason, she felt a persistent light behind her a gaze that seemed to pierce through her, leaving her restless even in her dreams. When she opened her eyes, she was greeted by an unfamiliar room bathed in white. For a moment, her mind was foggy, her eyes taking in the strangeness that made her feel uneasy, especially with the room steeped in a distinctly masculine scent. N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content. Realizing something was off, Noelle quickly threw back the covers and saw what she was wearing. Her ck cocktail dress was nowhere to be found, reced by a white shirt that was clearly a man¡¯s. Noelle swam in the fabric of the shirt that was way too big for her, the hem hanging comically down to her thighs. She looked down at herself, her mind foggy, taking its sweet time to piece together the reality of her situation. Shaw family¡¯s swanky vi. That was Just yesterday, she had been at her grandpa¡¯s birthday party at the when Winter started stirring up trouble, and her own dad pulled her aside. What followed was a blur. She was drugged and handed over to Samuel, and then¡­ Charles¡¯s face shed in her mind. Was he the one behind it all? The memories of the previous night crept back, painting Noelle¡¯s face a ghostly shade as a shiver ran +15 BONUS through her. She had always known her parents yed favorites, but deep down, she clung to the belief that they were still her flesh and blood. Never in her wildest dreams did Noelle imagine they would throw her to the wolves, trading her for Winter¡¯s sake, for Helios, all for two hundred million. Comments Wife 49 Wife 49 s was the harsh truth about her parents¨Cthey had never really put her first. Marriage? If marriage was the real goal, why had they rushed to toss her into Simon¡¯s bed? ¡°Awake?¡± The man¡¯s voice, crisp and icy, had sliced through the silence, jolting Noelle back to the present. She stumbled backward in a panic, crashing into the bed and copsing onto it, her face drained of color. Charles arched an eyebrow, taking in Noelle¡¯s panicked dance. Had he scared her that much? Realizing she might have overreacted, Noelle managed a sheepish grin. ¡°Mr. Hoffman! ¡°Mm,¡± Charles had hummed, nodding. ¡°Good to see you¡¯re up. Feeling alright? There¡¯s some medicine for fever on the table if you need it.¡± ¡°A fever?¡± Noelle was shocked. ¡°I wasn¡¯t running a fever.¡± Then she added quickly, ¡°Did you rescue mest night?¡± Charles squinted and shed a knowing grin. ¡°Pretty obvious, isn¡¯t it?¡± Noelle inhaled deeply. She really did not like the idea of being in debt to Charles, yet he had saved her life. ¡°Thanks! But, um¡­¡± She nced down at her clothes, her cheeks warming with embarrassment, ¡°About these clothes.¡± ¡°I changed you,¡± Charles said matter¨Cof¨Cfactly. ¡°No staff ordies at my ce, so¡­ Noelle¡¯s face turned a deeper shade of red, and she bit her lip. Feeling totally exposed in front of Charles, she stammered, ¡°I¡­ wasn¡¯t talking about that. Where are my clothes?¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± Charles raised an eyebrow, clearly amused by her shyness. ¡°They¡¯re probably still drying. There¡¯s no washer here, so I send myundry out.¡± He added casually, ¡°Hungry?¡± Noelle had not realized her hunger until he mentioned it. She had not eaten much at the Shaw¡¯sst night and merely nibbled something at home before heading over. N?velDrama.Org exclusive content. She nodded, and Charles gestured toward the master bathroom. ¡°There¡¯s a new toothbrush and towel for you. Freshen up. and we¡¯ll grab some food downstairs soon.¡± oh Noelle watched Charles walk away, her hand flying to her face as she felt her cheeks re up with a blush she could not control. She dashed into the bathroom and was struck by how everything screamed top¨Cnotch, from the room¡¯s design to the bathroom¡¯syout. The new items on the washstand had obviously been set out by Charles, and it sent a little ripple of warmth through her, Stepping out of the bedroom, Noelle was hit with the realization that she was in Charles¡¯s master +15 BONUS bedroom. A weird flutter tickled her chest at the thought. Downstairs, Charles leaned casually against the stair railing. He caught her lingering on the steps and gave a yful knock on the wood. ¡°Ms. Shaw, not hungry?¡± Snapping out of her daze, Noelle replied, ¡°Thanks, Mr. Hoffman.¡± She followed him into the dining room, which was surprisingly spacious. The ce was huge. Was Charles the only one living here? ¡°Don¡¯t you live with your family, Mr. Hoffman?¡± Charles¡¯s expression tightened. He shot her a look so cool it sent a shiver down her spine. She had not expected him to be so distant. Feeling awkward, she pulled out a chair and just stood there, unsure whether to sit. BIG SALE: 3500 bonus free fou you Wife 50 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¨Cfashioned 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¨C 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¨Cdead 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¨Cthe 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¨Cif 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¨Ccalled ¡®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¨Ctied, unsure of how to broach the subject. She had yed out this conversation in her head, rehearsing Charles¡¯s possible responses¨Cyes, no, maybe¨Cbut 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 ? Wife 51 Wife 51 Time froze, and Noelle¡¯s heart raced out of control. She Instantly wished she could take back her words, wondering why she had ever blurted them out. Her cheeks warmed with a blush, and she could not bring herself to look at Charles, feeling totally mortified. Girls were not supposed to ask guys questions like that, were they? Charles watched her, a yful smile creeping into his eyes as he saw her squirm. His fingers drummed lightly on the table, each tap echoing in Noelle¡¯s chest Noelle chewed on her lip, her embarrassment growing. She felt like she had lost all control of the conversation. ¡°I mean¡­ just forget I asked, okay? Don¡¯t take it seriously!¡± 1 ¡°What if I do take it seriously?¡± Charles¡¯s voice was cool but teasing. Noelle was ready to just shrug off the whole awkward moment, but Charles¡¯s response stopped her cold. She looked up at him, her eyes wide with surprise. ¡°What?¡± She had figured Charles was just messing with her, especially after his earlier gesture, and she had nearly given up hope. ¡°Can you repeat that?¡± ¡°You heard it,¡± Charles said, his eyes twinkling. ¡°I always keep my word, and I¡¯m not one for jokes. I told you I¡¯d give y you time to think, and now that you¡¯ve made your decision, there¡¯s no turning back.¡± He spoke with confidence, holding the reins of the conversation and, it seemed, her heart too. Noelle could not shake the sudden chill of fear that creeped up her spine. It disappeared as quickly as it hade. She tried to force a smile, tugging at the corners of her mouth. Sadly, it just would note. ¡°I¡­ I was just thinking¡­¡± ¡°No need to exin, Ms. Shaw,¡± Charles had cut her off with a wave of his hand. ¡°Whatever sparked this change of heart or sped it up, it is not my concern. I¡¯m only interested in the end result, and that¡¯s all that matters.¡± Was she really about to hand over her life story to someone else? Noelle¡¯s heart was a tangled mess of emotions. ¡°Do not worry, Ms. Shaw, Charles reassured her, rhythmically tapping the table with his fingers. ¡°Marry me, and I¡¯ll give you the happiness you¡¯re after. And if there¡¯s anything you want, just name it.¡± Noelle bit her lip, lost in thought for a moment. ¡°Can I ask you a question?¡± Charles raised an eyebrow, his tappinging to a halt. He gestured with an open hand, inviting her question. Noelle¡¯s voice was hesitant. ¡°It¡¯s the same question as before. Why me?¡± The silence stretched on, the air heavy between them. Charles¡¯s gaze was sharp, cold, scrutinizing Noelle as if trying to unravel a mystery, then he let it go and chuckled softly. ¡°Are you really hung up on getting an answer, Ms. Shaw?¡± After a brief pause, Noelle nodded. ¡°Fair enough,¡± Charles said with a nod. ¡°If we tie the knot, I¡¯ll put my all into our marriage. I¡¯m a simple guy. I don¡¯t do well withplications, and divorce has never crossed my mind 15 BONUS Noelle knew that if she was seriously considering marrying Charles, she had toy her cards on the table and talk to him about it. This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org . Charles quirked an eyebrow. ¡°Great minds think alike, huh? If you¡¯re on board, I¡¯m not the type to bail and suggest a divorce. But if you ever want out, just say the word He grinned ¡°Anything else on your mind, Ms. Shaw?¡± D Wife 52 Wife 52 ¡°You still haven¡¯t given me a straight answer,¡± Noelle pressed, her determination bordering on stubbornness. Charles paused, then offered a smile. ¡°It¡¯s no big mystery, really. You just happened to show up at the right time and ce. That was all there was to it.¡± Noelle searched Charles¡¯s eyes for something more, but their locked gazes offered no further clues. Feeling a bit let down, she averted her eyes. ¡°Got it.¡± ¡°So, what¡¯s your verdict, Ms. Shaw?¡± Noelle chewed on her lip for a moment. ¡°You were well aware of where I stood with the Shaws. I was never going to see a dime of their fortune, nor was I going to get a foot in the door of their company. You knew that from the beginning, didn¡¯t you?¡± He nodded. ¡°A guy¡¯s got nothing if he¡¯s waiting for a woman to bring him wealth.¡± Noelle let out a smallugh. ¡°You¡¯re one of few who think that way.¡± ¡°Any other questions?¡± Charles was the picture of patience. Whether it was business or anything else, he could outwait anyone. With women, however, his patience was off the charts. Noelle took a deep breath, her thoughts tangled like a knot. ¡°My ties with the Shaws are a mess, and you heard it yourselfst night. My dad¡­ he basically sold me to Simon for two hundred million, so if they Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org. ever¡­ ¡°Don¡¯t sweat it, Ms. Shaw,¡± Charles chimed in, his voice lifting with a touch of confusion. ¡°Once we tie the knot, I¡¯ll sort all that out. You do trust me, don¡¯t you?¡± Charles said, a note of surprise in his voice, ¡°I thought you¡¯d be all about what was in it for you!¡± ¡°In it for me?¡± Noelle felt an odd twinge in her heart. ¡°No need. I trust you, Mr. Hoffman!¡± She really did not like the idea of her marriage being all about deals and trades. Charles shed a sly grin. ¡°Well, if that¡¯s settled, when do you want to make it official, Ms. Shaw?¡± He was all charm when it came to this topic. Noelle¡¯s gaze dimmed, her heart a whirlwind of emotions. lo She had always dreamed of her wedding day, certain she would be walking down the aisle to Xavier, the f her life, in a moment of pure bliss. Xavier was supposed to give her a day to remember. Instead, he had left her with a memory that cut deep, leaving scars. Her dream wedding was off the table, and here she was, about to marry Charles. They had barely met a handful of times, hardly enough to understand each other, much less talk about liking or love. ¡°The sooner, the better!¡± If she could not marry the one she loved most, she would at least marry by her own choice. Even if it all went south, she would not have any regrets. I don¡¯t want my marriage to be just another cliche,¡± she dered. ¡°If I don¡¯t marry you, I¡¯ll never be free from my parents¡® plotting.¡± 1/2 Charles¡¯s gaze turned icy, a hint of frost in his eyes. ¡°Alright. Let¡¯s do it today!¡± +15 BONUS ¡°Today?¡± Noelle was taken aback. ¡°My ID is still with the Shaws!¡± she eximed, her voiceced with a hint of panic. She had promised to retrieve it quickly, but she had not expected Charles to be so urgent. ¡°Can it wait a few days?¡± Getting her ID from the Shaws was no walk in the park. If Julian and Jade got wind of her wedding ns, they would surely put up a fight. I Noelle was in a bind. ¡°There is no way I can get my ID from the Shaws today!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry about that!¡± Charles interrupted her with a wave of his hand. ¡°I¡¯ve got it covered.¡± Noelle was doubtful, but Charles just gave her a look. ¡°Come on, eat before it gets cold.¡± Hedled another bowl of porridge for Noelle, then got up and strode into the living room to make a call. It sounded like he was talking to Ronald. ¡°Do me a favor, will you? Bring them here!¡± US Wife 53 Wife 53 After hanging up, Charles caught Noelle¡¯s gaze on him. He lounged against the sofa, legs casually crossed, the picture of rxation. ¡°All done?¡± N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content. Noelle nodded, stood up, and began to tidy up the dishes. Charles just observed, making no move to assist. He watched her move about, the angled sunlight streaming through the window, bathing her in a glow that made her seem effortlessly at ease and content. Charles had always reveled in the quiet of his life. Phoenix Tree Residence had stood empty for years as his own personal haven. Now, with another soul wandering its halls, it did not seem too bad. He was not exactly put off by this woman¡¯s arrival. Perhaps having her around would spice up his days. Then again¡­ A shadow flickered across Charles¡¯s eyes, the hint of a smile giving way to something sharper, more guarded. Ronald was on the ball, zipping back to the Phoenix Tree Residence in less than thirty minutes with company in tow. Charles swung the door open, and Ronald, standing tall, peeked inside. Noelle was lounging in the living room, lost in a TV show, herughter ringing through the spacious house. It was oddly enchanting. Charles¡¯s brow quirked up, his gaze sliding coolly over Ronald, who quickly looked away. ¡°Mr. Hoffman, your guest has arrived.¡± ¡°Come on in, then!¡± Ronald ushered the neers inside with a, ¡°Right this way, please!¡± For them, it was their first time stepping into a ce like this, especially the home of Mr. Hoffman, one of the famed Four Young Masters of Brookville. They had not expected the Phoenix Tree Residence to be so¡­ different from the rumors. Its refined decor shed with the icy vibe of the man himself. ¡°Mr. Hoffman, are you tying the knot with this missy?¡± one of the older onlookers asked, eyeing Charles and Noelle. They looked like the perfect match, a real power couple. Charles squinted and gave a nod. Noelle paused, shooting Charles a curious nce before surveying the other three in the living room. Although she recognized Ronald, the other two were somewhat of a mystery, though she had pieced together bits from their earlier chat. What really threw her for a loop was that Charles had invited people over to his ce, which was pretty out of character for him. She eyed Charles, ¡°We¡¯re good even though I didn¡¯t bring any proof of residence?¡± ¡°It¡¯s no problem,¡± the staff member chuckled. ¡°You two haven¡¯t had your picture taken yet!¡± She thought to herself, ¡®Who does this guy think he is? Oh right, he¡¯s Mr. Hoffman of Brookville. He can probably get away with anything.¡± Truth be told, with Charles¡¯s clout, getting whatever he wanted had never been an issue. The burning question on everyone¡¯s mind was who this woman who had managed to snag the famously +15 BONUS aloof Charles was. ¡°Let¡¯s get a photo of Mr. Hoffman and thedy here!¡± In just a few minutes, they snapped the pictures, filled out the paperwork, and voil¨¤, two marriage certificates were in their hands. Charles shot Ronald a look, and Ronald snapped to attention, beaming at the staff members. ¡°You¡¯ve both made quite the trip. How about I treat you to a bite to eat?¡± Ronald had just said goodbye to thest of the staff, and the sprawling Phoenix Tree Residence was suddenly quiet, with only Charles and Noelle left. Noelle clutched the marriage certificate, her palm tingling with a strange warmth. She stared at the little booklet, her eyes wide. ¡°Did we really just get married?¡± Wife 54 Wife 54 Charles had just seen Ronald and the others out. Coming back, he caught Noelle¡¯s incredulous question and chuckled. ¡°Yep, we¡¯re married now.¡± Noelle¡¯s hands flew to her cheeks, surprised to find Charles right behind her. Flustered, she got to her feet quickly. ¡°It¡¯ste. I should head back.¡± Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Noelle!¡± Charles¡¯s voice stopped her in her tracks, and she halted, her steps halting just as quickly. She turned around stiffly, a puzzled ¡°Huh?¡± escaping her lips. Charles was barely holding back augh at Noelle¡¯s adorably confused look. ¡°It¡¯s actually morning,¡± he said. Noelle¡¯s cheeks med even hotter. ¡°Morning?¡± It was probably the most embarrassed she had ever been around Charles. Ever since meeting Charles, Noelle felt like her life had be a series of increasingly embarrassing moments. Every encounter with him seemed to leave her more flustered than the last. Charles watched her, the teasing mood fading. He stepped closer and gently pushed a stray lock of hair behind her ear. ¡°You want to head back?¡± She nodded earnestly. ¡°Yeah, I really should go.¡± Charles let out a sigh. ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll take you home then.¡± ¡°No, that¡¯s okay.¡± Noelle quickly declined, her words leaving them in an awkward silence. Charles one to break it. ¡°Seriously, look at yourself. How can you go home like that?¡± Noelle nced down at her outfit and felt her cheeks burn even hotter. She had been wearing Charles¡¯s shirt the whole time. Sure, it was way too big on her and gave off the wrong impression Then it hit her¨CRonald and those two staff members had been here earlier. She wondered if she had been looking like this the entire time. the Biting her lip, Noelle shot Charles a look of betrayal. ¡°Why¡­. why didn¡¯t you tell me?¡± She was a lady, after all. The staff might have been women, but Ronald was a guy! That exined the weird looks Ronald had been giving her, always looking away so quickly. Feeling a mix of sadness and embarrassment, Noelle thought about how nobody had bothered to tell her what she looked like. She had taken a wedding photo with Charles looking like this. It was just¡­ crazy! Noelle¡¯s face was now the color of a boiled lobster, and she felt like she wanted to disappear into the ground. Charles was definitely to me. He was the one who had put her in his shirt, and marriage was supposed to be a big deal. How could he be so nonchnt about it? While Noelle was dying of embarrassment, Charles was the picture of coolposure. Charles watched Noelle¡¯s face flicker with a mix of emotions, a yful smirk dancing on his lips. He reached out, hands firm on her shoulders, trying to soothe her fiery spirit. Noelle was not having any of it; with a swift smack, she knocked his hands away. ¡°Charles, you haven¡¯t seen thest of me!* +15 BONUS A chuckle escaped Charles, ¡°Okay, okay, I admit it¡¯s my fault.¡± His eyes took on a deeper hue, betraying a hint of delight at her feisty attitude. The memory of her slender, pale legs crossed his mind, and his gaze momentarily darkened. He rubbed the bridge of his nose, conceding, ¡°Totally my fault.¡± Deep down, he was not entirely selfless. The sight of Noelle¡¯s legs had sparked a rather embarrassing desire to have her beneath him. He was, after all, a man with desires, and she was his rightful wife. The night before, he had held back with everything he had, not out of chivalry but because he could not bear the thought of her waking up in a terrified daze. As Charles¡¯s strong hands gently gripped Noelle¡¯s shoulders, he could not help but acknowledge her beauty, especially in his shirt¨Cit added a certain allure. Dressing her up like this for the shoot was partly his own scheming. With Ronald having been around earlier, Charles wondered for a moment: should he deal with Ronald¡¯s prying eyes? BIG SALE: 3500 bonus free fou you P Comments Wife 55 Wife 55 Meanwhile, Ronald escorted two colleagues away when a sudden chill crept over him, a gut feeling that something was off. ¡°Seriously? Mr. Hoffman can¡¯t be that ruthless, can he?¡± Noelle listened as Charles did something he hardly ever did: he admitted he was wrong. She had to admit that part of the me was on her for not being more alert. She nced down at how close she and Charles were standing and felt her cheeks heat up again. She gently pushed away Charles¡¯s hand and turned her head to hide her flushed face. ¡°Where are my clothes?¡± Charles narrowed his eyes, feeling the loss of warmth from his hand, and looked away. ¡°Head upstairs first.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Noelle¡¯s emotions were a tangled mess. Could she really have just married Charles like that? It all had happened so fast that it still felt like a dream to her. She made her way to Charles¡¯s bedroom. Earlier, she had noticed that his house was tastefully decorated, with a simple yet sophisticated style that did not quite match the over¨Cthe¨Ctop luxury she expected from the homes of the rich. Noelle nced around, feeling the seconds stretch into hours, and started looking for her belongings. That was when she spotted her phone in Charles¡¯s room. She grabbed it in a hurry and saw it was powered off. She turned on her phone quickly and was bombarded with a bunch of missed calls. Most were from Xavier, but there were also a few from her grandfathers, Sebastian and Samuel, Noelle bit her lip and dialed her Grandpa Sebastian¡¯s number first. He picked up almost immediately. ¡± Noelle?¡± ¡°Grandpa, it¡¯s me, Noelle!¡± she said. ¡°My phone diedst night. Did you need me for something?¡± ¡°Where have you been?¡± Sebastian had tossed and turned all night. With Noelle¡¯s voice finally reaching his ears, he felt a wave of relief wash over him. ¡°Weren¡¯t you at Samuel¡¯s ce yesterday? He rang me up in the dead of night, worried sick, asking if I had any clue where you were. That¡¯s when it hit me that something was off. Noelle, you have to tell me what¡¯s going on with the Shaws Sebastian had always been frosty toward the Shaw n. Noelle had sensed his chill¨Cnot just with the Shaws but with his own daughter, Jade¨Cfrom a young age, but she was clueless about the beef, Noelle nibbled on her lip. ¡°Grandpa, don¡¯t worry. I¡¯m all good. I just had a rough night, so after we celebrated granddad¡¯s big day, I headed home. My phone just died, so I missed your calls.¡± She mulled it over but keptst night¡¯s drama from Sebastian. Knowing his fiery streak and his existing beef with the Shaws, he would storm their castle if he caught wind of the stunt Jade and the Shaw squad pulled. Noelle was not about to spark a family feud. Her granddad was nothing like those Shaw viins. He was a gem. For real?¡± Sebastian was skeptical, but seeing Noelle in one piece, he let it slide. ¡°Kiddo, if you ever get in a jam, youe straight to me, okay? I¡¯ll set things right.¡± +15 BONUS ¡°I get it, Grandpa. Who would even try to mess with me? You¡¯ve been up worrying all night, haven¡¯t you? Go get some sleep. I¡¯lle by to see you when I get the chance!¡± Noelle ended the call, a shadow passing over her eyes, and dialed Samuel. As expected, Samuel brought upst night¡¯s drama. ¡°I¡¯m not too old to have missed the racketst night, you know. I¡¯m aware you were treated unfairly, but you should¡¯vee to me instead of taking off on your own.¡± 1 ¡°Grandpa, I understand,¡± Noelle said thoughtfully. ¡°Really, I¡¯m okay. I didn¡¯t want to make you unhappy with what happened yesterday! And hey, I¡¯m fine now, right? ¡°Okay. I know you¡¯re a good kid, but you¡¯ve got to remember to look out for yourself. Stay away from the Shaw ce unless you really have to. If you¡¯re missing me, just let me know, and I¡¯ll have Mr. Thompson take me out for a bit.¡± N?velDrama.Org exclusive content. Comments Wife 56 Wife 56 ¡°Deal!¡± Noelle felt a weight lift off her shoulders; she was not keen on visiting the Shaw family anyway. ¡°If I want to catch up with you, Grandpa, we¡¯ll just meet up somewhere!¡± After hanging up, Noelle looked up to see Charles returning after a long absence, a gift box in hand as he strolled up to her. Her phone was still in her hand, her heartbeat erratic with anticipation. Charles offered the gift box to Noelle, ¡°Your clothes haven¡¯t dried yet. I picked this up for you to wear in the meantime. I hope it works for now!¡± ¡°Thanks!¡± Noelle snatched the package and eagerly tore it open to find a long, flowy dress that seemed to shimmer with magic. She inspected it, noticing the tag was missing. However, the faint outline of a logo and the feel of the fabric gave it away. It was a Saint Di creation, a brand famed for their exclusive designs. ¡°You don¡¯t like it?¡± Charles inquired, catching Noelle off guard. v size?¡± She shook her head. ¡°No, it¡¯s gorgeous. But how did you guess my The question escaped her lips before she could stop it, and Charles¡¯s knowing look sent a fresh wave of blush across her cheeks. ¡°I¡¯ll go try it on!¡± She dashed for the bathroom, narrowly avoiding a collision with the door. Charles¡¯s voice followed her, al yful chuckle hidden in his warning to be careful. Charles watched Noelle¡¯s flustered retreat and couldn¡¯t help but shake his head with a wry smile. To her astonishment, the dress fit like a glove, as did the lingerie. The thought that Charles, who was still a mystery to her, could size her up with a single nce sent a shiver down her spine. Noelle bit her lip, confronting her reflection¡¯s rosy cheeks. ¡°Get it together, Noelle,¡± she scolded herself, giving her face a light smack. After a moment of self¨Cencouragement, she adjusted the dress with a shy tug and finally shuffled back out. The bedroom was empty, and oddly enough, Noelle felt relieved. She let out a quiet breath, her hand resting on her chest. Then her eyes caught the sight of Charles emerging from the walk¨Cin closet. Momentarily transfixed, she had always known he was fit; however, the man was a walking masterpiece, clothes hanging on him as if he was born to wear them Charles stood there, looking sharp in a light¨Ccolored, custom¨Ctailored suit that fit him like a glove. The suit had a modern twist to it, and the top¨Cquality shirt he wore underneath was casually unbuttoned to the third button, showing off a hint of his tan chest. It gave him aid¨Cback vibe that made him seem approachable, despite his obvious ss. His cufflinks were nothing fancy, just a sleek silver pin design style. however, they added just the right touch of Noelle could not help but be wowed the moment sheid eyes on him. It was like he could wear a bup sack and still look like he stepped off a runway. She was totally hooked. Charles casually adjusted his cufflink, catching Noelle¡¯s gaze. He shed a small, confident smile, his 1/2 +15 BONUS N?velDrama.Org exclusive content. eyebrows lifting in a yful challenge. ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± Noelle looked away, her smile lingering. She kept her thoughts to herself, though. Just then, her phone ruined the moment with its insistent ring. Noelle gave an embarrassed grin, scooped up her skirt, and went to answer it. However, the name on the caller ID stopped her cold, her smile freezing awkwardly on her face. Charles caught the shift in her mood, his eyes narrowing slightly. Noelle bit her lip and dismissed the call, only for the ringtone to stubbornly sound off again. She frowned, staring down the persistent caller. Out of nowhere, a hand reached over and plucked the phone right out of her grasp. Charles¡¯s voice, low and smooth, floated down to her. ¡°If you don¡¯t want to talk to them, then don¡¯t. Indecision isn¡¯t your style.¡± BIG SALE 3500 bonus free fou you Comments Wife 57 Wife 57 Noelle watched her phone disappear into Charles¡¯s hand, let out a little sigh without even realizing it, then caught his teasing look. ¡°Having second thoughts?¡± Noelle bit her lip, her face a shade paler than usual. Charles¡¯s words had thrown her for a loop. Deep down, she knew the truth, though. Ever since Xavier¡¯s betrayal with Winter, her heart had checked out. ¡°No way!¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± Charles let out a skeptical chuckle, clearly not buying it. Noelle caught the disbelief in Charles¡¯s eyes and sighed inwardly. What was she expecting? Charles was a tough nut to crack, and their rtionship had taken a turn into uncharted territory. ¡°Believe it or not, Xavier and I are done,¡± she dered, pausing for emphasis. Since she was his wife now, she would not step out of line. ¡°You have my word.¡± Charles quirked an eyebrow, his eyes revealing a flicker of surprise before he gave a half¨Csmile. ¡°Good to hear. Let¡¯s get you home.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Noelle knew better than to argue. Charles was set in his ways, and she could not change his mind. He had been to her ce before, so the drive was quick and familiar. Just as Noelle reached for the door handle, Charles¡¯s voice stopped her. She turned to face him, her hand still on the handle. ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± Charles squinted slightly, the weight of his words hanging in the air. ¡°I know this all happened fast, but we are married now. You understand that, right?¡± Noelle¡¯s frown deepened, a silent acknowledgment, as she met his gaze. ¡°Do you understand it?¡± Charles pressed, his brow furrowed with concern. Although Charles was always the one pulling the strings, with Noelle, he handled things with kid gloves. Noelle bit her lip and gave a small nod. ¡°I need a little time.¡± She understood that they were hitched; however, it had barely been a day since they had said ¡®I do,¡± and she had rushed into this life¨Cchanging decision. The thought, left her head spinning. Still, she was at married woman now, and life was definitely different. With a forced smile, Noelle said, ¡°You know, you don¡¯t have to remind me. I¡¯m your wife now, and I¡¯ll stick to our¡­ you know, the promises we made to each other.¡± ¡°Noelle!¡± Charles cut her off, his deep eyes glinting with mischief. ¡°Rx, I¡¯m just chatting with you. I¡¯m not some monster out to get you!¡± Although Noelle¡¯s smile wobbled as she thought, ¡°You¡¯re way more terrifying than any monster.¡± She kept that to herself and managed a weak, ¡°Sure.¡± ¡°Head on up. You must have been beat fromst night. Just take it easy today, and don¡¯t go catching a cold,¡± Charles said, his gaze making Noelle¡¯s cheeks heat up. Nothing had even happened between themst night, but Charles¡¯s words were loaded with innuendo that could send anyone¡¯s mind racing¨Cnot that Noelle was the type to let her thoughts wander. Her face flushed, and her grip on the doorknob tightened. ¡°You¡­¡± N?velDrama.Org exclusive content. +15 BONUS ¡°I¡¯ll give you three days. I¡¯lle for you then,¡± Charles dered. ¡°Huh?¡± Noelle¡¯s eyes widened in surprise. ¡°Three days for what?¡± Charles chuckled, ¡°You don¡¯t seriously think we¡¯re going to live in separate houses after we tie the knot, right?¡± He put so much spin on the words ¡®live In separate houses¡® that Noelle felt a shiver run through her. Embarrassment creeped onto her face, a clear sign she had not even thought about the whole ¡®married and living together thing. Wife 58 Wife 58 Noelle¡¯s hands rxed, and she settled back into her seat. Her fidgety movements gave away her inner turmoil. N?velDrama.Org exclusive content. Feeling anxious, her palms started to sweat. She gripped her hands tightly, then let go a little, ¡°I¡­ I¡¯m. sorry. I¡¯m just not ready yet!¡± Even though they were married, Charles was practically a stranger to her. She knew he was the big boss of Collosus Group, one of the infamous Four Young Masters of Brookville, Mr. Hoffman, and that he was not someone people in Brookville crossed lightly. However, that was the extent of her knowledge. She was clueless about his likes, his family, or who he hung out with. It was only now that Noelle was facing these facts, realizing she had been pretty bold to marry a guy she barely knew. Rubbing her forehead to ease the headache, she gently tapped it and asked, ¡°Mr. Hoffman, is it toote to back out of this marriage?¡± Charles arched an eyebrow and turned to give Noelle a look. In just a couple of minutes, he had seen every emotion y across Noelle¡¯s face¨Ctwists of worry, shes of irritation, and outright panic. Not a single happy thought was in sight. Did Noelle really think he was such a ke? They had barely said ¡®I do,¡® and she was already having second thoughts? Noelle looked at Charles, eyes brimming with hope. Charles, however, just quirked an eyebrow and smiled, looking like he did not have a care in the world. The next thing he said totally burst Noelle¡¯s bubble, though. ¡°In my world,¡± he said, ¡°My women only get widowed, not divorced.¡± Noelle¡¯s heart had skipped a beat. She had just realized she might have been in way over her head. She gulped, trying to hold back tears. ¡°Mr. Hoffman, we just tied the knot, right? Maybe there¡¯s still time to back out. I mean, no one even knows we¡¯re married yet, so everything could still be¡­¡± ¡°Ms. Shaw!¡± Charles¡¯s fingers had danced lightly on the steering wheel, the picture of cool. He had not shown a hint of Noelle¡¯s chaos. ¡°Like I said, in my world, it¡¯s widowhood or nothing. And you want a divorce already?¡± Charles let out augh, ¡°You must have heard a thing or two about me, Ms. Shaw.¡± Noelle forced augh, though her words were stuck in her throat. Charles hit the button to unlock the car door and swiveled in his seat to give Noelle¡¯s face an intrigued. once¨Cover. The calmer he appeared, the more Noelle squirmed with unease. She averted her gaze, trying to open the car door, but realized it was locked. Panic rising, she blurted out, ¡°Charles, you can¡¯t just push people around!¡± Charles¡¯s brows knitted together in a frown, ¡°Push people around?¡± He tasted the usation, his intense eyes locking onto Noelle¡¯s with a predatory intensity. ¡°Seems like Ms. Shaw¡¯s memory is a bit hazy. Weren¡¯t you the one who pleaded to marry me?¡± Feeling cornered, Noelle¡¯s heart thudded. ¡°But¡­ I just¡­ As tears threatened to spill from Noelle¡¯s eyes, Charles¡¯s expression softened, and he let out a light laugh. +15 BONUS ¡°Did I spook you, Ms. Shaw?¡± He continued, ¡°I was only pulling your leg.¡± Noelle was genuinely scared, her knees weakening as she slumped against the car door. She looked up at Charles, finding herself at a loss for words. Charles gently pushed a stray lock of Noelle¡¯s hair behind her ear, making her shudder and look away. Then she heard the click of a seatbelt being undone. She nced up, startled, to find Charles¡¯s face just inches from her own, so close that her heart seemed to skip a beat. BIG SALE: 3500 bonus free fou you Comments Wife 59 Wife 59 Charles¡® slender hand picked at the seatbelt on Noelle, then he smiled and said, ¡°I hope you were joking.¡± Noelle gazed at Charles, her breath catching in her throat. She could not read him, he was way too close forfort. His presence and unique scent were overwhelming. A crisp blend of passionfruit and lemon lingered in the air, light yet impossible to ignore. She turned away, her heart racing. ¡°I get it,¡± she said with a quick nod. N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content. She knew she was no match for Charles in this game they were ying. Charles noticed her unease and softened his expression, ¡°Hey, I didn¡¯t mean to freak you out. Look, stuff happens, right? Why run from it? Face it head¨Con, ept it, and who knows? You might see things in a new light.¡± Noelle inhaled deeply, trying to steady her nerves. ¡®Fine. I¡¯ll give it a shot. Three days, right? You promised me three days.¡± A hint of a smile yed on Charles¡¯s lips. He found Noelle¡¯s mix of fear and feistinessng, not the usual reaction he got. ¡°I¡¯m a man of my word. Just don¡¯t act like this after the three days, Ms. Shaw.¡± Biting her lip, Noelle mumbled, ¡°I should head out now. ¡°Sure thing.¡± With a click, Charles unlocked the car door. Noelle¡¯s spirits lifted. She flung the door open and bolted, not even bothering with goodbyes, as if she could not get away fast enough. Charles could not help but chuckle as he watched Noelle sprinting with her skirt hiked up. Her clumsy steps gave her away, and remembering how she had second¨Cguessed herself earlier, he just shook his head, a mix of amusement and pity in his eyes A knock on the window snapped him out of his thoughts. Charles nced up to see someone standing right outside the car. His eyes narrowed, a frosty smirk spreading across his face. Xavier had been camped out at Noelle¡¯s ce since dawn. She had vanishedst night, and even though Xavier was partly relieved she was okay, he could not shake off his worry. He had bolted from the Shaw¡¯s and had been staking out her doorstep ever since. No answer camest night despite his endless knocking, nor any answer to the calls he had made all night long. That morning, having spotted the car parked under Noelle¡¯s apartment, he kept a close watch. The had been there for ages, and he had no clue what was going down inside. Just as Xavier was about to bail, he caught sight of Noelle dashing out of the car. That car was not just any car¨Cit screamed money and indicated that some high¨Croller owned it. Seeing Noelle¡¯s scramble from It, Xavier realized she had been dropped off home by this car before. Rage bubbled up inside him, and before he knew it, he was pounding on the car door. The guy inside might as well have been a ghost for all the attention he paid to Xavier¡¯s knocking. ¡°Open up! Who the heck are you, and what¡¯s your deal with Noelle?¡± Charles gave Xavier a look that could freeze boiling water, a wicked grin ying on his lips. Without 1/2 another word, he floored it and zoomed away. Did you want to see her? Good luck with that. Xavier did not have what it took! Comments Wife 60 Wife 60 Xavier¡¯s face turned red with fury as the car sped off into the distance. ¡°Some hero you are, hiding behind tinted windows! Come out and face me if you dare!¡± he yelled, though his challenge fell on deaf ears. Charles was long gone, the car a mere speck in the sprawling suburb. Xavier was left with nothing but the smoke of the car¡¯s trail and a firestorm of anger in his chest that he could not quell. It was maddening. Noelle had been with him for ages, yet she had never stayed the night. Now, some random guy showed up, and she did note home? Unbelievable. Xavier clenched his fists. If only that guy had stepped out of the car, he would have shown him what a real man looked like. Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org. Little did Xavier know that his outburst might spell disaster for his family¡¯spany. It was only after the car had vanished that Xavier calmed his anger. He could not believe Noelle would run around with some guy, noting home all night. He had not even stopped to think about what he had done the night before. Noelle burst into her house, mmed the door shut, and leaned against it. Sliding down to the floor, she took deep, ragged breaths. This was a terrible feeling, truly terrible. She was never one to act on a whim, always careful and thoughtful. However, somehow, she had thrown caution to the wind today and married Charles on a crazy impulse. Charles was a big deal, no doubt about it. Everyone else seemed to think twice before crossing him. As Noelle sat there, however, a new thought dawned on her¨Cshe did not have to marry Charles. There were other roads to take. It is just that the Shaw family had really spooked her yesterday, making her fear her whole life might get wrecked by their schemes. Now, was she not just handing her future over to Charles on a silver tter? ¡°Noelle, oh Noelle, what are you up to?¡± she muttered to herself. un and She clenched her jaw, sitting on the floor for what felt like ages before finally standing up straightening herself out. The girl staring back at her from the mirror, cheeks pink and eyes a little wild, seemed like a stranger. She had thought a betrayal from the one she loved most would crush her and leave her in pieces for days. However, the truth hit her fast¨CXavier was not her be¨Call and end¨Call. Maybe the Shaw family had been too pushy, too keen to shove her out the door, or maybe Xavier had just been that cold. Either way, the pain did not make her want to curl up and cry; it made her want to break free, After sshing her face with water and feeling a wave of rity, Noelle headed to the living room to chill. Then came a knock. Noelle¡¯s eyebrow quirked up. She paused, then peered through the peephole to see Xavier. Her brow furrowed instantly. Afterst night¡¯s drama, he had the nerve to show up here? Noelle watched him through the peephole, her gaze icy. She took a deep breath, steadying herself, and decided the door was staying shut. However, Xavier would not quit. His knocking was like a fly buzzing in 1/2 her ear, annoying and impossible to ignore. Xavier was already in a bad mood after getting a lungful of car fumes downstairs, and now Noelle would not even open the door. He had been knocking forever. He called out, louder this time, ¡°Noelle, open up.¡± No response came from inside. Xavier persisted, ¡°Noelle, I know you¡¯re in there. I saw youe home.¡± Did Noelle just raise an eyebrow? ¡°I¡¯m really worried about you. Where were youst night? Don¡¯t you realize your sister and I are freaking out over here? Why didn¡¯t youe home? We called you a zillion times. Why didn¡¯t you pick up? Don¡¯t you get that we¡¯re worried sick?¡± ¡°Worried?¡± Noelle¡¯s voice was icy with sarcasm. ¡°What¡¯s there to be worried about? It¡¯s not like Simon did anything to me. Or is that what you were hoping for? What exactly are you worried about?¡± BIG SALE: 3500 bonus free fou you Comments Wife 61 Wife 61 27 The more Noelle thought aboutst night¨Chow Julian had drugged her and Xavier had been in on it¨Cthe 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. Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org. 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¨Csociety types. If anyone had caught her in a room with a guy doing who¨Cknows¨Cwhat, 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¨Cboyfriend! 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 172 always this way. I remember you being kind and reasonable. What happened to you¡­¡± ÈÕ Wife 62 Wife 62 ¡°What happened to me? Oh, please. I¡¯ve always been this way. You never knew the real me, or maybe you Just never bothered to!¡± Noelle¡¯sugh was cold as she cut off Xavier¡¯s words. ¡°We¡¯ve had nothing to talk about for ages. I haven¡¯t forgotten what went downst night. I¡¯m not some puppet you can y with. Go tell Winter to watch her back. If she slips up, I¡¯ll make her wish she¡¯d never crossed me.¡± Noelle was not the type to be cold and unfeeling: she would not have turned this way if they had not pushed her to the limit. After her outburst, Noelle rubbed at her eyes, her head hung low, and she forced a bitter smile. No matter how much her parents yed favorites, she used to just get over it. She was great at making her own fun, or she would just hang out with her Grandpa, ying chess. Her Grandpa always said chess was a great way to calm down the mind. Noelle tried to tell herself that her parents just wanted her to learn to stand on her own two feet. Then she saw how they doted on Winter, and she started to doubt again. Years had passed, and she had always been thankful to Winter for saving her life when they were little. Meanwhile, Winter kept using that one good deed to take what was Noelle¡¯s and always get her way. As kids, it was toys and family affection. Now that they were older, it was her boyfriend, her love that Winter had taken! That was it. She had enough. She had paid back any debt from the past, and it was more than enough. Xavier froze when he heard Noelle¡¯s voice through the door. A strange feeling washed over him, like he was losing something precious that he could not quite catch¨Clike trying to hold onto water or sand slipping through his fingers.¡± ¡°Noelle¡­ about your sister¡­ I need to exin. Please, open the door. We¡¯ve known each other forever, and you¡¯re amazing, but you¡¯ve always been like a sister to me. Just a sister. You know how kind and generous she is. That year you were gone, I ended up spending a lot more time with her, and things just¡­. happened. I never wanted to hurt you. I meant to tell you when you got back, but we were afraid you wouldn¡¯t take it well, so we¡­¡± ¡°So you two decided to sneak around and get engaged while I was away? And by the time I returned, you¡¯d be an item, with everyone in Brookville thinking you¡¯re the perfect couple. And me? If I say anything. I¡¯m just the jealous little sister after her sister¡¯s guy, huh?¡± Noelle¡¯s voice was icy, cutting Xavier off as he tried to say, ¡°Noelle, you¡¯ve got it all wrong. We never meant to do this to you!¡± Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Really?¡± Noelle¡¯s voice wasced with scorn. ¡°If I hadn¡¯te back early, you would have had your happy little engagement party, right? None of you cared about how I¡¯d feel. So why are you here acting all sorry now?¡± ¡°Noelle, please¡­ don¡¯t be mad at us for what happened. Don¡¯t just run off with some random guy. Do you even know what he¡¯s like? Do you know what he¡­¡± ¡°I know he treats me better than you ever did. He¡¯s kinder to me than any of you. He wouldn¡¯t betray me, not for all the money in the world.¡± Wife 63 Wife 63 ¡°What¡¯s so great about him, huh? Do you even know him, Noelle? You¡¯ve barely met the guy. I know you¡¯re trying to tick me off because of the whole thing with your sister, but this isn¡¯t the way to do it, Noelle.¡± ¡°That¡¯s it, Xavier. Leave now, or I¡¯m calling the cops.¡± Noelle was fed up with Xavier¡¯s rant. She might not know Charles inside and out, but at least he was honest and would not hurt her. She was done with Xavier¡¯s drama. Dragging this out would help no one. Xavier could be as stubborn as a mule, refusing to back down. Even after Noelle told him off, he would not budge, just kept shouting her name outside. Some nosy neighbors even threw in their two cents. Feeling trapped, Noelle decided to ignore him. Meanwhile, Xavier, getting no response from Noelle, grew even more furious. ¡°Noelle, open up! We need to talk. You think running away will fix things?¡± ¡°Sir, do you live here?¡± After what felt like an eternity, two cops showed up and eyed Xavier. ¡°We have receivedints about a disturbance. If you do not live here, you are going to need toe with us.¡± Once the police escorted Xavier away, peace finally returned to Noelle¡¯s ce. She breathed a sigh of relief, only to be interrupted by her ringing phone. She eyed the strange number, hesitated, then answered with a cautious, ¡°Hello?¡± ¡°It¡¯s me!¡± The voice on the other end was deep and familiar, catching Noelle off guard. ¡°Charles?¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Charles confirmed with a nod. ¡°Is the guy gone? Noelle blinked in surprise. ¡°You¡¯re the one who called the cops? You¡¯re still here?¡± N?velDrama.Org exclusive content. She had been about to call them herself, but before she could, they had shown up. She thought maybe the neighbors had called, now it seemed it was Charles all along. Instinctively, Noelle dashed to the balcony. However, there was no sign of his car. Puzzled, she said, ¡°I don¡¯t see your car anywhere!¡± ¡°I¡¯m back already,¡± Charles said, pouring himself a ss of water and reclining on the sofa with a casual grace, his long finger tapping rhythmically on the side of the ss. ¡°I had a hunch that guy wouldn¡¯t be so easy to get rid of.¡± Noelle was at a loss for words. He had taken care of the problem even after leaving, and now she found herself in his debt once more. ¡°Thank you.¡± Charles raised an eyebrow, sipped his water, and let out a soft chuckle. ¡°No need for thanks between a husband and wife!¡± Husband and wife? Noelle¡¯s lips parted slightly, her cheeks flushing. The words had felt strangely righting from him, and to her own surprise, she had not minded them at all. ¡°Now that he¡¯s gone, get some rest,¡± Charles said. ¡°And pack your stuff. I¡¯ll pick you up in three days.¡± With +15 BONUS a final goodbye, he hung up. Noelle gazed at the silent phone for a long moment, a gentle warmth spreading through her chest. In this world, besides her two grandfathers, Charles was the only one who ever really cared about her feelings and what she was going through. Maybe marrying him would not be the worst thing, even if she did not exactly have a crush on him. Noelle hid her face in her hands, trying to cool her blushing cheeks. Soon, she ditched her phone and changed outfits. Charles had a point. They were hitched, and it made sense for them to live together. Anyway, there was not much left in this ce for her to hang onto. Xavier and Winter knew her address, so moving out was a smart move to dodge drama. Comments Wife 64 Wife 64 Noelle started packing up her stuff. It was just a rental, but she had umted a ton of things over time. If she was serious about this move, waiting until the third day to start packing would have been foolish. Decision made, Noelle got down to business, tossing out the junk and keeping what mattered. It was a full day¡¯s work. Meanwhile, Xavier was totally blindsided. He could not belleve Noelle had actually called the cops on him, and that they had just scoffed at his name, totally unimpressed. Dropping the Hoffman family name did not work either. The cops had said, ¡°Even if Mr. Hoffman himself showed up, we¡¯d still y it by the book!¡± Little did Xavier know that Mr. Hoffman was the reason the cops were there in the first ce. There was no way they were going to let him off easy. Xavier had had no other option but to ring up Winter. The moment Winter caught wind that Xavier was with the police, she dashed there without a second thought. Xavier had just wrapped up his statement when Winter came up to him, her hands sping his, ¡°What¡¯s going on? Why are you here? They¡¯re saying you caused a ruckus! Xavier, tell me what happened.¡± Xavier was starting to lose his cool with all the questions. However, after one look at Winter¡¯s anxious face, he swallowed his annoyance. ¡°It¡¯s about Noelle.¡± ¡°Noelle?¡± Winter¡¯s brow had creased in frustration. Not her again, she thought. Outwardly, she looked concerned and even a bit guilty. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry, Xavier. This is all on me. Maybe we should just forget the whole wedding thing. I¡¯ll step aside for Noelle, then maybe she¡¯ll stop being mad at us.¡± N?velDrama.Org exclusive content. ¡°Are you kidding me? What do you think I am, a baseball card to be traded? I¡¯m a person, Winter. And haven¡¯t you figured out yet how I feel about Noelle? She¡¯s like a sister to me, nothing more. You¡¯re the one I¡¯m crazy about!¡± Xavier wrapped his arms around Winter, giving her aforting pat, ¡°Promise me you won¡¯t talk like that again, okay?¡± Hearing that, Winter¡¯s lips had twisted into a smug smile. Despite this, she could not help asking. ¡°What about Noelle, though? She¡¯s got it all wrong about us. I never wanted to hurt her, not once.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll deal with thatter. Noelle¡¯s not exactly in a listening mood right now. I was worried sick about her yesterday, thinking something bad might have happened to her. I went to check on her today, and ended up at the police because of her.¡± ¡°Wait, you¡¯re saying Noelle is the one who tipped off the cops?¡± Winter¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief, shaking her head. ¡°That can¡¯t be right. Noelle isn¡¯t like that. She¡¯s always been into you, hasn¡¯t she?¡± ¡°Into me?¡± Xavier let out a bitterugh. ¡°She¡¯s not into me. Today, I caught her stepping out of some shy sports car. One nce and you could tell the guy who owns it is loaded. Noelle¡¯s always ying the victim, saying we¡¯ve done her wrong. It¡¯s all just a cover. She¡¯s been sneaking around with some other dude for ages.¡± Winter¡¯s Jaw¨Cdropped, a flicker of confusion passing through her gaze. Deep down, a fierce resentment boiled. She had always believed that Noelle¡¯s heart belonged to Xavier, which was why she had orchestrated Noelle¡¯s departure from Brookville. Over the past year, she had made sure to put herself in Xavier¡¯s line of sight at every turn, hoping he would notice her and eventually fall for her. 1/2 +15 BONUS Winter had every reason¡¯to be confident. She wa a master at making herself shine, especially with her star on the rise in showbiz. With her legion of admirers, how could Xavier resist her charms and go for Noelle, the in Jane? Her instincts had been right. Xavier had fallen for her pursuing her with a fiery passion. It was not long before they became an item, and Xavier was so smitten that he ditched Noelle to pop the question to Winter. BIG SALE: 3500 bonus free fou you Wife 65 Wife 65 It all had been going so well. Even the prestigious Hoffman family had taken a liking to her. Winter had felt like she had Noelle right where she wanted her, squashed under her heel. Now, Xavier¡¯s words were throwing her for a loop. Noelle could not have a sugar daddy! ¡°Xavier, are you for real? But that¡¯s just not Noelle!¡± Why wouldn¡¯t it be? I saw her this morning in an outfit that wasn¡¯t the same as yesterday¡¯s, and it looked expensive!¡± ¡°It might be worth hundreds of thousands!¡± Winter gasped, her teeth catching on her lower lip in worry. What are we going to do now? And what about Dad? He mentioned that Master York seemed pretty smitten with Noelle, right? Master York was in Noelle¡¯s room yesterday and ended up getting hurt!¡± A mean streak shed in Winter¡¯s eyes. She had been so sure that Noelle and Simon would end up in a scandalst night. Who would¡¯ve guessed Simon would be such a flop, getting knocked out cold? The word on the street was that Simon did not care who he mixed with, guys or girls, and he was not exactly known for holding back. His reputation for ying fast and loose was legendary in Brookville. That was exactly why Winter had set her sights on having Noellepromised by Simon. She would tarnish her image so badly that no guy would give her a second nce. Who could have predicted that Noelle would slip through the? Simon ended up in the hospital yesterday. Rumor had it he woke up today in a rage, bellowing for the Shaw family to make things right. Julian caught up with her this morning, wanting her and Xavier to go talk some sense into Noelle, to get her to grovel and apologize to Simon. Simon might not have been the golden boy of the York family, but he was still their blood, and the Yorks¡® clout in Brookville was no joke. Julian also had his eye on the two hundred million from the Yorks. There was no way he this chance slip by. was going to let ¡°What¡¯s our next move? We¡¯ve gotta calm Simon down, or Dad¡¯spany can kiss that two hundred million goodbye. We¡¯ll probably piss off the Yorks too Xavier said with a scowl, ming Noelle for the mess. ¡°But Simon¡¯s got his eyes on Noelle¡­¡± Winter chewed on her lip, torn. ¡°I can¡¯t stand the thought of her marrying a guy like that, but Dad says thepany¡¯s in deep need of the cash. If I didn¡¯t love you so much, if I could bear to be apart from you¡­ I¡¯d step in for Noelle myself.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be crazy!¡± Xavier¡¯s frown deepened at the mere thought of Simon, a real creep. He wrapped his arms around Winter. ¡°You belong with me, and I won¡¯t let you trade yourself to a guy like that. Anyway, Simon wants Noelle, not you. You stepping in wouldn¡¯t change his mind and might even make things worse. Don¡¯t say stuff like that again. It breaks my heart¡± Xavier cradled Winter, his hand gently brushing her hair. ¡°Let¡¯s head back and figure this out.¡± A sly smile flickered in Winter¡¯s eyes as she pulled away from Xavier, her face shifting back to a look of vulnerability. ¡°I get it, but you have to promise me we¡¯ll save Noelle, no matter what. She¡¯s my sister, my only sister, I¡¯d never want her with someone like Simon if we had any other choice.¡± N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content. Wife 66 Wife 66 The three days flew by in a blur. Noelle had her bags all packed, just waiting for Charles to swing by and pick her up. Thest few days were not just about waiting: they were filled with drama, like the York family finding out Samuel got hurt and deciding to cut all ties with the Shaws Julian was freaking out and running around like a headless chicken. He apologized to Samuel at the hospital and blew up Noelle¡¯s phone with calls. Noelle was not about to fall for that though. She knew better than to show up. Julian even had the nerve to say on the phone that if the Yorks came after thepany because of him, it would all be Noelle¡¯s fault. Noelle was so close toughing out of sheer frustration. She could not believe the nonsense coming out of her own dad¡¯s mouth. It was a sad moment when she realized she might not really know the man she called Father. Julian did not stop there. He actually had the gall to tell her to go and throw herself at Simon, to try and charm him into giving the Shaws a break. If she could snag a marriage proposal out of him, it would be even better. With the Hoffman family¡¯s influence and the Yorks backing them, the Shaws would be unstoppable. Noelle was not having any of Julian¡¯s crazy daydreams. She cut the call short and blocked his number without a second thought. Noelle was dead set against selling herself out for the Shaw family¡¯s sake, especially since she did not even have a stake in theirpany. She vividly remembered her grandpa¡¯s n to gift her five percent of Helios¡® shares for her eighteenth birthday, a rite of passage into adulthood, but the rest of the family had shot that down, iming she was too young and not business¨Csavvy. When Winter hit eighteen, she snagged ten percent of Helios without a peep of protest from the family. It was crystal clear to Noelle that the rules she had did not apply to Winter. What was she supposed to say? She was left speechless. She might not have cared about thepany, but as a Shaw, the tant inequality had stung. All she had ever wanted was fair treatment. Charles pulled up outside and rang Noelle. She answered without thinking, ¡°Hello. Who¡¯s this?¡± Charles squinted, his whole aura menacing. ¡°Didn¡¯t save my number?¡± he growled, clearly angry. If Noelle had been next to him, she would have been quaking in her boots from his scary.tone. She had gulped and forced augh. ¡°Slipped my mind! ¡°Do it now,¡± Charles hadmanded. ¡°I¡¯m right outside your door.¡± Noelle dashed to the balcony for a quick peek, and sure enough, Charles¡¯s car was right there below. ¡°Oh, I¡¯ll be right down, but my stuff¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯t bother. I¡¯m on my way up!¡± Charles ended the call, squinted, and shot a look at the guy sprawled out next to him. ¡°Up you go!¡± Sean¡¯s eyes snapped open, and he stared at Charles, still groggy. ¡°Come on, Charles, that¡¯s not cool. Why¡¯s it always me when you need something? You could ask the boss¡­ or even Peter!¡± Sean¡¯s rant continued, ¡°You have no idea. I was on the night shift yesterday. I just got out of surgery, and +15 BONUS I¡¯m not even rested yet, but here you are, dragging me out!¡± Sean was telling the truth. He had just stepped away from the operating table, and before he could even shed his white coat, Charles had called him. N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content. Charles shot Sean an icy look. ¡°It¡¯s because you¡¯re the youngest!¡± BIG SALE: 3500 bonus free fou you Wife 67 Wife 67 ¡°1¡­¡± Sean bit back his irritation, ¡°Fine, I¡¯m a nice guy. But seriously, Charles, what¡¯s got you hanging around someone¡¯s building like this?¡± Charles clicked his seatbelt open and stepped out of the car. Feeling it was a lost cause to argue, Sean followed sult without a word. N?velDrama.Org exclusive content. Sleepy as he was, Sean could not help but be curious. It was not every day you saw Charles make a beeline for someone¡¯s ce, especially to pick them up. Charles had never really had a significant other, and Sean had no clue who this mystery woman was. She had to be something special to get Charles, who was usually as unshakable as an old tree, to make the first move. After mulling it over, Sean could not help but feel a rush of excitement and a bit of pride, knowing he was the first person Charles had turned to about his crush, It was like being in on the biggest secret. Charles, on the other hand, was not hung up on Sean¡¯s musings. He climbed the stairs to find Noelle, who had the door swung open, waiting. ¡°Are you sure you can handle all this stuff on your own?¡± she asked, eyeing the boxes that seemed to have multiplied in the living room. Noelle had not realized just how much she had collected over the years. A trinket here and a keepsake there all added up to an overwhelming mountain of memories. Charles just lifted an eyebrow, taking in the cozy little space Noelle called home. It was snug, but it was homey. He gave the boxes a once¨Cover and let out a low whistle. ¡°Wow, that¡¯s quite the collection!¡± He had figured a few outfits would be enough, since his ce had everything else they needed. Seeing Noelle pack her life away like this, however, it hit him that she was really thinking about their long¨Cterm future together. A blush crept up Noelle¡¯s cheeks as she stammered, ¡°What should we do? I mean, we don¡¯t have to take everything. I just thought that since I¡¯m moving, why not just let go of this ce? Now there¡¯s no room for all my stuff!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t sweat it,¡± Charles reassured her. ¡°You don¡¯t have to give up anything. I¡¯ve got everything we need.¡± ¡°Oh!¡± Noelle nodded, starting to unpack, but Charles gently grabbed her hand. ¡°Hey, no rush,¡± he said with a soft smile. Noelle¡¯s eyebrow quirked up, a silent question in her gaze. Charles nced back towards the door with a yfulmand, ¡°Come on in already!¡± Sean shuffled in, grumbling. ¡°Seriously, Charles, is this how you treat a friend? Here I was thinking you had some cool adventure nned, and you drag me over to help you move? With all this stuff¡­ Wait, you¡¯re not that ¡± A lightbulb went off in Sean¡¯s head as he turned to Charles, a knowing twinkle in his eyes. His charming gaze shone brightly as he shed an innocent grin. ¡°Man, Charles, you¡¯re really on top of things today!¡± Noelle eyed the unexpected visitor, taking in his simple white shirt and tousled hair that gave him an effortlesslyid¨Cback vibe. Charles gently grabbed her hand, which made her feel a bit on edge despite the visitor¡¯s sharp eyes and smooth smile. +15 BONUS ¡°Hi, I¡¯m Noelle. And you are?¡± she inquired. Sean narrowed his eyes yfully and showed off a bright smile. I¡¯m Sean, Charles¡¯s buddy. You can just call me¡­ Hey! Charles, quit stepping on my foot!¡± Sean yelped, ¡°I¡¯m just saying hi to her, and you¡¯re getting jealous?¡± Noelle blushed and gently chided, ¡°Charles, he¡¯s your friend, so let¡¯s not be too rough, okay?¡± She figured that Sean must have been roped into helping with the move. Comments Wife 68 Wife 68 Noelle offered, ¡°What can I get you to drink?¡± Sean winked at Charles, clearly enjoying the moment, and said, ¡°I¡¯d love a drink from our gracious hostess. How about¡­¡± ¡°He¡¯s not having a drink. Sean, you¡¯re not tired, are you?¡± Charles¡¯s eyebrows knitted together, his piercing gaze sliding over Sean with an unmistakable warning. A yful glint danced in Sean¡¯s eyes, He could tell Charles was on the verge of losing his cool, so he dropped the act. I¡¯m good, really. No need to bother you. Just point me to the stuff that needs moving!¡± He made a mental note to tell the big guy and Peterter how Charles had kept picking on him. They had decided to keep the house, so Noelle had put some things back in their ces, only taking what she used daily. After watching Sean huff and puff as he copsed onto the couch, Noelle handed him a ss of water. ¡°Thanks a ton. You¡¯ve been a huge help today!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t mention it, really. No need for thanks!¡± Sean gave Noelle a quick once¨Cover. She was not the tough cookie everyone made her out to be. Catching Charles¡¯s eye again, Sean felt a lump in his throat. Charles seemed more formidable than ever. So, you¡¯re moving in with Charles?¡± Noelle blushed, stealing a nce at Charles. He took the ss from her, his look cool and detached as he turned to Sean. ¡°Got a problem with that?¡± N?velDrama.Org exclusive content. ¡°Nope, no problem at all!* Sean chuckled, downing the water. He was dying to get the juicy details. However, one look at Charles¡¯s face, and he decided some mysteries were better left unsolved. Noelle watched the two of them together and could not help but think they must be really close. She reached out and gently tugged on Charles¡¯s sleeve. ¡°Are you guys hungry? Want to grab a bite?¡± Charles quirked an eyebrow, ncing down at Noelle¡¯s hand on his sleeve. Realizing her own forwardness, Noelle quickly let go. ¡°Oh, look at the time! You must be famished. I¡¯ll make something to eat!¡± With plenty of ingredients at home and being used to living alone, Noelle had be quite the self- sufficient cook. Neither Charles nor Sean objected, so she headed for the kitchen. ¡°Just chill here for a bit, okay? I¡¯ll make us something quickly.¡± As soon as Noelle disappeared into the kitchen, Charles turned to Sean with a cool look. ¡°Time for you to hit the road, buddy.¡± Sean¡¯s eyes nearly bulged out of their sockets. He had seen people ditch their friends after getting what they wanted, but this was record speed. ¡°Hold up, Charles. Didn¡¯t you hear your girl? She¡¯s cooking for me. Anyway, this is her ce, not yours. You¡¯ve got no right to kick me out. I¡¯m staying put!¡± Charles¡¯s eyebrow arched again, a slight smirk ying on his lips. ¡°Sorry to break it to you, but what¡¯s Noelle¡¯s is mine.¡± ¡°You¡­ for real?¡± Sean was floored, never having seen Charles this intense. ¡°You¡¯re really getting with Noelle? As in, getting hitched?¡± 12 +15 BONUS Charles fell silent for a beat, his gaze wandering back to the kitchen where Noelle was bustling about. He pressed his lips together and then let out a soft, ¡°We¡¯re already hitched.¡± Sean nearly tripped, almost tumbling off the couch. His eyes popped wide open as he stared at Charles.¡± You¡¯ve got to be kidding me!¡± BIG SALE: 3500 bonus free fou you Wife 69 Wife 69 Charles shot Sean a quick look, a hint of a smirk on his face. ¡°Come on, you know I don¡¯t kid about stuff like this.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve lost your mind!¡± Sean couldn¡¯t wrap his head around the fact that Charles had actually tied the knot with Noelle. He peeked into the kitchen, still in disbelief. ¡°You know she¡¯s¡­ she¡¯s not the one!¡± A glint of steel shed in Charles¡¯s eyes as he smiled, his gaze sharpening as he looked at Sean, obviously not a fan of his words. Sean knew Charles had a serious hang¨Cup about that woman, but he pressed on. ¡°Look, Noelle¡¯s got nothing to do with this, and if she ever finds out¡­¡± This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org . ¡°I know exactly what I¡¯m doing.¡± Charles cut in, his voice icy. ¡°Stay out of it. All you need to know is that Noelle is now mine.¡± ¡°Would the Hoffman family even take her in?¡± Sean was not buying it. ¡°It¡¯s easy for you to say, but you and I both knew how messy your family politics were.¡± Charles arched an eyebrow, a cool edge to his look. At Sean¡¯s words, the corners of his mouth twitched into a faint smile. ¡°So, that¡¯s why you can¡¯t stand her?¡± Sean felt a chill run down his spine and quickly changed the subject. He had zero interest in discussing something that Charles was so touchy about. Charles cracked a grin and yfully pped Sean on the shoulder. ¡°Look, whatever¡¯s going on with you/ and her, I¡¯m staying out of it. Remember, I told you to keep out of my business too!¡± Sean gave a shrug. ¡°You think I¡¯ve got nothing better to do? I just don¡¯t want to get tangled up in all that, which is exactly why I didn¡¯t go to work for the Smith family¡¯spany.¡± Sean¡¯s family, the Smiths, were big shots in Brookville, but Sean never wanted any part of that life. The Smiths were not too happy about it, especially when Sean decided to be a doctor instead of joining the family business. Everyone tried to talk him out of it, but Sean was always his own man, doing things sway him. his way. He was set on his path in medicine, and nobody could In the kitchen, Noelle was blissfully unaware that she was the topic of conversation for the two men outside. She had not expected Charles to bring a friend home today, so the pickings were slim. She made a couple of simple dishes and, seeing Charles and Sean deep in conversation, announced with a smile, Dinner¡¯s ready.¡± Sean¡¯s eyebrow quirked up as he nced over at Noelle, spotting the few yet inviting dishes on the table. A teasing look passed between him and Charles. ¡°Wow, lucky guy! Who knew your wife was a whiz in the kitchen?¡± Sean yfully nudged Charles¡¯s shoulder, and augh flickered in Charles¡¯s eyes. He shot Sean a look and said, ¡°Come on, let¡¯s eat!¡± ¡°Sorry for the humble spread. I feel kind of bad that this is all I could offer you!¡± Noelle said, ncing at Sean with a sheepish look. Deep down, she felt a twinge of difort. Anyone who was close with Charles was probably rich, and Sean, with his ssy clothes and vibe, was obviously no exception. Sean just gave a casual wave. ¡°No worries, Noelle. This is great, seriously. You wouldn¡¯t believe how many times we skip meals at the hospital. And trust me, the food there is nothingpared to your cooking.¡± Wife 70 Wife 70 Sean took a whiff. ¡°Wow, that smells amazing. It¡¯s rare to find girls who can cook these days.¡± ¡°Thanks!¡± Noelle dished out some rice for them. ¡°Dig in! If you like it, help yourselves to seconds!¡± When Noelle passed the bowl to Charles, she caught him staring at her. Feeling a bit self¨C conscious under his gaze, she chuckled. ¡°What¡¯s up? Not hungry?¡± Charles squinted slightly, epting the bowl. His long fingers grazed Noelle¡¯s hand, sending a flutter through her chest. She quickly pulled back, a bit flustered, and served herself some rice. ¡°Come on, eat before it gets cold.¡± Charles¡¯s eyes twinkled with mischief at Noelle¡¯s bashful reaction, clearly enjoying the moment. He casually stretched his legs and gave Noelle a yful nudge under the table. Noelle straightened up immediately, her eyes darting to Charles with a mix of surprise and nervousness, as if to say, ¡°Hey, focus on your food. Stop kicking me! Charles could not help but let out a grin at her adorable bewilderment. Sean caught the whole show, his eyes twinkling with mischief as theynded on Charles. With a grin that seemed as innocent as amb, he teased, ¡°Hey, cut him some ck, will you?¡± Noelle¡¯s cheeks med up the second she heard that, realizing Sean had witnessed every move Charles made. She was mortified. Charles, however, remained cool as a cucumber and drawled, ¡°Sean, have you got enough on your te? Weren¡¯t you just sprawled out on the surgery table? You must be tired!¡± Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Nah!¡± Sean¡¯s grin vanished as he forced a smile. I¡¯m not even a little tired. Noelle¡¯s cooking is top¨C notch! While he praised her, inwardly, he was calling Charles out for being a sly dog. He never would have pegged his frosty brother as the type to flirt with his wife right in front of him. he Sean¡¯s eyes darted around, but when they met Charles¡¯s stern look, he quickly ate his food again. Still, was already plotting to spill the beans to the eldest brother and Peter. Charles was way more sly than he would ever have given him credit for. Sean had always figured Charles was a bit of an ice king, especially around women. Today¡¯s little dramal had totally blown his mind. As they ate their simple meal, each person was lost in their own thoughts. One thing was for sure, though: both Charles and Sean saw Noelle in a whole new light now. Noelle was not like other rich girls who lived in a bubble, their delicate hands never soiled by work, spending their days arranging flowers, sipping tea, and shopping. She was way more grounded. When Noelle came out after cleaning up the kitchen, she caught Sean just as he was about to leave. Hemented, ¡°Charles, now that you¡¯ve tied the knot with our little sis, you should hang out with us guys sometime.¡± Noelle stopped dead in her tracks, her cheeks burning. She lingered in the kitchen doorway, gripping the frame without even realizing it. Charles shot a sideways nce at Noelle, a teasing smile ying on his lips. ¡°We¡¯ll see!¡± He watched her flustered reaction. ¡°You¡¯ve gotta get used to all this before you join the outside world.¡± 1/2 +15 BONUS Noelle¡¯s face turned an even deeper shade of red, and she shot Charles a bewildered look before turning her back on him. Wife 71 Wife 71 +15 BONUS Charles shook his head with a chuckle, while Sean was left speechless, clicking his tongue in mock disapproval before nodding in agreement. ¡°Sounds good to me. I¡¯m free as a bird these days. If you can get Peter toe, it¡¯d be awesome for the gang to get together.¡± ¡°Got it!¡± Once Sean had left, Charles came up behind Noelle and gave her a reassuring pat on the shoulder. Noelle spun around, her lip caught between her teeth, ¡°When you say ¡®the gang,¡® are you talking about the Four Young Masters of Brookville?¡± ¡°Four Young Masters of Brookville?¡± Charles chewed over the title, a yful glint in his eyes. ¡°Who told you about that?¡± ¡°Come on, who needs to be told?¡± Noelle¡¯s eyes went wide with mock surprise. ¡°In Brookville, you guys are celebrities. Back when I was in school, you were all everyone would talk about.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Charles quirked an eyebrow, clearly amused. ¡°That¡¯s just abel others p on us. We¡¯re just a bunch of guys with the same hobbies. We¡¯re brothers. We¡¯ve never called ourselves that fancy title, you know.¡± They were not bored enough to make up titles for themselves. Then, with a sly grin, he teased, ¡°So, have you had your eye on me since your school days?¡± Noelle was speechless for a moment, biting her lip. Sometimes, she thought Charles could be so full of himself. ¡°Are you pulling my leg, Mr. Hoffman? I didn¡¯t even know you back then. It¡¯s just that my ssmates couldn¡¯t stop talking about how cool you guys were.¡± She had always heard tales of their escapades from her ssmates, and she did recall them mentioning how Charles was a genius who skipped grades and studied abroad. Noelle had not really paid much attention to it at the time and had not connected the dots. Now, reflecting on it, she had to admit Charles was kind of a big deal. 1 ¡°Ah!¡± Charles nodded, drawing out the word with a knowing look. ¡°It¡¯s gettingte. Let¡¯s head home, shall we, wifey?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not your-¡± Noelle¡¯s cheeks flushed at the question, and her heart raced. Before they made it official with a marriage certificate, he had always been so distant, like a chess yer thinking ten moves ahead. Now, it seemed as though he had morphed into someone else, saying things she never imagined he would! Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Aren¡¯t you? We¡¯re married now, legally bound as husband and wife, so you¡¯ve got to get used to the role,¡± Charles said, his teasing smile fading into something more serious. ¡°I¡¯m not going to introduce you to my brothers just yet. Do you know why?¡± Noelle¡¯s eyes widened in surprise. Her gaze lifted to meet his. Honestly, when Charles had brushed off the conversation earlier, a part of her felt let down. She could not pin down why, but his words left her feeling hollow. Perhaps deep down, she had already epted what she and Charles were to each other. +15 BONUS ¡°Why?¡± she asked, her voiceced with confusion. ¡°I need you to be my Mrs. Hoffman, not just Noelle. Until you¡¯re ready to embrace and recognize what we are to each other, I won¡¯t introduce you to anyone. I hope you understand that,¡± he exined. Noelle paused, her mind a whirl of thoughts. ¡°I¡­ I¡¯m sorry!¡± She didn¡¯t mean to be so distant. After all, Charles was still practically a stranger to her. ¡°I¡¯ll do my best. I promise!¡± Comments Wife 72 Wife 72 Charles led Noelle to his home, the Phoenix Tree Residence. Noelle had visited this ce before, so it was not entirely new to her. Nevertheless, as they pulled into the driveway, she could not resist taking in her surroundings with wide eyes. She remembered hearing ages ago how the prices in this neighborhood had shot through the roof, and someer went all out and bought a huge chunk of it. Back then, Noelle had been in awe, wondering who could afford such a splurge¨Cit turned out to be Charles. After Charles had parked in the garage, Noelle stepped out and was immediately struck by the sight.¡± Wow! Look at all these cars!¡± It was like stepping into an auto show. Charles caught herment and paused, a grin spreading across his face, ¡°You¡¯ve got a driver¡¯s license, right?¡± She nodded. ¡°Got it back in college with some friends!¡± It had been more of a spur¨Cof¨Cthe¨Cmoment thing. Although she had her license, she hardly ever got behind the wheel. Ever since she graduated and started job hunting, the Shaw family had not given her cash for a car, and her savings were nowhere near enough to buy one herself, so Noelle never got around to it. Charles gestured nonchntly toward a Ferrari tucked in the corner. ¡°I won that beautyst year in a bet with Sean. I hardly ever drive it, so feel free to take it for a spin!¡± Noelle blinked at the shiny red Ferrari and then shook her head. ¡°That¡¯s okay, really. I can just grab a cab!¡± ¡°It¡¯s just a car, and it¡¯s just gathering dust here,¡± Charles said casually, pulling her luggage from the trunk, Plus, this ce is pretty out of the way. You¡¯d have to trek miles to find a bus stop, and getting to work would be a hassle.¡± Charlesid down the facts: his ce was tucked away from the world. It was chosen for its solitude and the absence of any interruptions. He was not one for the hustle and bustle, which exined the lack of staff around the house. Everything that needed doing, he did himself. ¡°I don¡¯t keep any staff around. They onlye by to clean on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, so I¡¯m on my own when ites to meals.¡± Noelle helped with the luggage. Upon hearing Charles¡¯s words, she let out a relieved chuckle. ¡°No worries. I can handle the cooking, though I¡¯m not exactly a chef. You just tried my food.¡± She grinned, giving her head a self¨Cconscious scratch. ¡°I¡¯m not too keen on having strangers around either.¡± ¡°In the house?¡± Charles¡¯s smile broadened, pleased with how Noelle had phrased it. ¡°Looks like we¡¯re on the same page.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Noelle gave him a puzzled look. ¡°On the same page about what?¡± Charles just shook his head, a hint of mischief in his smile. ¡°Never mind. Let¡¯s head out!¡± He programmed Noelle¡¯s fingerprint into the front door lock. ¡°Now you¡¯ll have no trouble getting in and out. The passcode¡¯s my birthday.¡± Noelle pulled back her hand, nced at her fingertips, and nodded. ¡°Got it, thanks!¡± A momentter, curiosity got the better of her. ¡°Wait, when¡¯s your birthday?¡± Charles turned with a yful squint, his gaze lingering on Noelle. He teased her with a lifted tone, ¡°You +15 BONUS don¡¯t know?¡± This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org . Caught off guard, Noelle¡¯s eyes widened as she gazed at Charles, her heart skipping beats in a wild rhythm, especially when he drew out thatst word. It sent a shiver through her. ¡°How could I? You haven¡¯t told me yet.¡± Darkness flickered in Charles¡¯s deep ck eyes, a hint of danger in his gaze. Noelle licked her lips subconsciously. ¡°Maybe you could just tell me?¡± ¡°April 5th!¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Noelle blinked in surprise. ¡°That¡¯s my birthday.¡± She was momentarily lost in thought, and then it clicked. ¡°How do you know my birthday? Is it the same day as yours?¡± Comments Wife 73 Wife 73 Charles could not help butugh and shake his head. He yfully flicked Noelle¡¯s forehead. ¡°Looks like I¡¯m not really on your radar, huh?¡± Noelle was speechless. She truly had no idea, and since she had not known Charles before, how could she have randomly looked up his birthday? ¡°It¡¯s on the marriage certificate, Mrs. Hoffman. Try to remember these things from now on!¡± Charles hauled Noelle¡¯s suitcase up the stairs, leaving her alone at the door. Her expression was a mix of emotions as she watched him go. N?velDrama.Org exclusive content. She touched her forehead where Charles had flicked her, a faint sting lingering. She bit her lip, a wave of difort washing over her. Everything had happened so fast with this rtionship, and she was still trying to catch up. Charles, on the other hand, seemed to be adjusting just fine. Noelle followed him upstairs and saw that he had taken her luggage to the master bedroom. She rushed in, ¡°You know¡­ you could¡¯ve put my stuff in the guest room.¡± Charles stopped unpacking and turned to her. Noelle took a deep breath, ¡°I just think that maybe we¡­¡± ¡°Noelle,¡± Charles interrupted, setting aside a folded shirt, ¡°we¡¯re married now. As your husband, I don¡¯t see why we should sleep apart.¡± ¡°We barely know each other,¡± Noelle countered, struggling with the fact that they were lying on the same bed. ¡°You promised to give me time.¡± Charles quirked an eyebrow. ¡°Yes, I did promise you time. That was for you to getfortable with me, not to create more distance.¡± He strode toward her with a confident gait. Noelle backed away, her heart racing as she watched Charles close in. ¡°But¡­ it¡¯s all happening so fast. I can¡¯t handle it.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Charles was now right in front of her, and Noelle stumbled backward until she hit the wall, her hands bracing herself as she looked up at him, so close. Charles, with one hand against the wall, seemed to have her wrapped in his embrace. He gazed down at her, their faces inches apart. Noelle was trapped. She licked her parched lips nervously. ¡°You¡­¡± ¡°Too fast for you? I¡¯ve been taking it slow.¡± ¡°Charles, you can¡¯t just push me around!¡± Noelle¡¯s voice wavered, on the verge of tears. The pressure was too much. ¡°You have to keep your promises!¡± His gaze deepened, shadowed with thought, and then he stepped back, dropping his hand. ¡°Do you really think that if I wanted to do something, I would have waited this long?¡± Noelle paused; a mix of relief and regret washed over her as she watched him step away. She turned back to her luggage, her throat tight. ¡°I know. I¡¯m sorry ¡°You don¡¯t have to apologize to me. We¡¯re married. That means you¡¯re my wife, and I¡¯m your husband,¡± +15 BONUS Charles said with a knowing smirk. ¡°If I had any bad intentions, that time you were drugged would¡¯ve been my chance. I¡¯m not the type to take advantage of people, though.¡± Noelle¡¯s heart skipped a beat, and her hands balled into fists at her sides. ¡°I¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯ll give you time, but it won¡¯t be forever. You can take the master bedroom. I¡¯ll sleep in the guest room.¡± That night, Noelle was alone in the bed, restless and wide awake. The day¡¯s drama clung to her thoughts like ivy, with Charles¡¯s face haunting her every time she closed her eyes. Feeling miserable, she tossed and turned until she could not take it anymore and got out of bed. COIN BUNDLE: get more free bonus Comments Wife 74 Wife 74 +15 BONUS Charles was right next door in the guest room. Noelle knocked and knocked; however, there was no answer, which left her confused. When she passed the study and saw the light on, she paused at the door. The study door was slightly open, and there was Charles, lounging on the couch, buried under a mountain of paperwork. N?velDrama.Org exclusive content. He must have heard her because he looked up, and suddenly, they were eye to eye. Noelle felt her cheeks heat up and gave him a sheepish half¨Csmile. ¡°Aren¡¯t you tired?¡± Charles quirked an eyebrow, paperwork in hand. ¡°Just finishing up some stuff,¡± he replied. ¡°What about you? Couldn¡¯t sleep?¡± Noelle felt like a kid caught with her hand in the cookie jar, her gaze dropping to her slippers. Charles let out a soft chuckle. ¡°Having trouble sleeping?¡± She nodded. ¡°Can Ie in?¡± ¡°Sure thing.¡± Charles snapped his folder shut with a smile. ¡°Come on in!¡± Stepping inside, Noelle¡¯s eyes widened in awe. Charles¡¯s study was a world of its own, lined with shelves of books on economics, literary history, and anything else you could think of. ¡°Wow, this is like a library! My grandpa¡¯s a big book collector too!¡± Charles got to his feet with a nod. ¡°Is there something on your mind?¡± Noelle fidgeted, her cheeks warming as she picked up a random book from the shelf. ¡°I couldn¡¯t sleep, sa I thought I would wander a bit. I saw your guest room door shut, so I knocked but got no answer. You were hiding out here, then!¡± ¡°Yeah, I got caught up with work stuff. I need some of these papers for tomorrow. So, what¡¯s up? You seem like you¡¯ve got something serious to say.¡± ¡°I¡­¡± Noelle chewed on her lip, struggling to meet his gaze. ¡°Can we keep our marriage from my Grandpa for a bit?¡± Charles quirked an eyebrow. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°You know how Grandpa is. I¡¯ve juste out of a rtionship. He might¡¯ve wanted to set us up, but I told him nothing would¡­ ever happen!¡± She blushed a shade deeper. ¡°Even if I had agreed to dating you, I never thought we¡¯d tie the knot so fast. Grandpa won¡¯t see iting either.¡± Noelle was really thinking ahead, worried about Sebastian¡¯s reaction. ¡°If Grandpa finds out we¡¯re married, he¡¯s gonna grill us on why we did it!¡± Charles chuckled. ¡°Why else? Since when do two people need a reason to be together?¡± Noelle gazed at Charles, her eyes filled with hope. ¡°The thing is, I promised myself I wouldn¡¯t end up with you, and now, out of the blue, we¡¯re married. Grandpa¡¯s going to read too much into it. We¡¯re not stable yet, and I don¡¯t want him to worry. You wouldn¡¯t want him to worry about me, would you?¡± Charles could not suppress augh and shook his head. ¡°So are you saying you can¡¯t stand me?¡± ¡°That¡¯s not it at all,¡± Noelle rushed to rify. ¡°We¡¯re already legally married. I just meant that¡­ you were going to give me some time to get used to this, remember? Let¡¯s wait until things between us settle down before we break the news to our folks. I want them to be on board with us and our marriage¡­ We might +15 BONUS not have those deep feelings yet, but with my sister considering divorce, I really want us to make this work and stay together for good, so¡­¡± ¡°Alright!¡± ¡°What?¡± Noelle was taken aback by his quick response. ¡°What did you say?¡± Charles grinned. ¡°You¡¯ve thought it all out. I¡¯d be crazy to say no!¡± Comments Wife 75 Wife 75 With a mutual understanding in ce, Noelle headed off to bed, her mind at ease. Charles, left alone, watched her leave and felt his carefully controlled emotions begin to bubble up again. He was not Mr. Perfect, but he had bent over backward for Noelle time and again. His phone suddenly rang, disying Peter¡¯s number. Charles was caught off¨Cguard. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Peter, hearing Charles¡¯s voice, could not resist a smirk. ¡°Just a friendly call to pass the long night.¡± Peter¡¯s voice, edged with a challenge, buzzed through the phone, and Charles squinted his eyes, a hint of suspicion flickering through them. ¡°Did Sean spill the beans?¡± That had to be it. Peter was not the type to ring up in the dead of night without a good reason. Peter¡¯s tone dropped. ¡°I didn¡¯t picture you tying the knot with her. Are you sure about this?¡± ¡°Of course I¡¯m sure,¡± Charles replied, rising from his chair. His long fingers swept across the desk, tapping it assuredly. ¡°I know what I¡¯m doing.¡± ¡°If you say so,¡± Peter conceded. He was not one to poke his nose into others¡® business. ¡°So, when do we get to meet her?¡± He was genuinely intrigued by the woman who had gotten Charles to pop the question. He was not a gossip hound like Sean, but he was definitely keen on meeting thisdy. It¡¯s been ages since we caught up with Steven Fischer too!¡± Charles got the hint. Peter was less interested in meeting Noelle and more into luring Steven out. Charles gave a slight squint. ¡°Let¡¯s y it by ear.¡± It was obvious Noelle was not ready for the big reveal. When the time¡¯s right, I¡¯ll introduce her to the gang.¡± ¡°Cool,¡± Peter nodded, then could not resist teasing, ¡°So, is it true what Sean said? Are you tossing and turning all alone tonight?¡± He asked with a mischievous grin. Charles and Peter were not the closest, but they could poke fun at each other. Since they were both sharp as tacks, they often found themselves in a friendly rivalry. Peter, the master of snark, always yed by his own rules, while Charles, the more grounded one, was no stranger to getting crafty. Upon hearing Peter¡¯s words, Charles simply said, ¡°I remember Steven¡­¡± ¡°Charles, you¡¯re going to lose to me one of these days. Anyway, it¡¯ste and time for bed.¡± Peter hung up, and Charles squinted into the night, surprised at how fast Sean¡¯s gossip had traveled. Shaking his head, he pocketed his phone, lit a cigarette, and leaned against the balcony railing, staring into the sparse stars above. Noelle woke up refreshed and surprised to see it was nearly eight. She scrambled out of bed to get ready for the day. She had expected to toss and turn all night, but instead, she had fallen asleep almost instantly. Maybe it was the relief of solving her problems, or maybe Charles¡¯s bed was magic. As she drifted off, she had caught the faintest whiff of lime and a hint of orange, cool and crisp. Descending the stairs, Noelle was greeted by the scent of something delicious. At the bottom, she spotted an apron¨Cd Charles emerging from the kitchen with a steaming pot. He saw her too and nodded toward the dining room. ¡°You¡¯re awake? How¡¯d you sleep?¡± A bit embarrassed, Noelle said, ¡°Like a baby. Thanks for asking!¡± She stepped down and added, ¡°What¡¯s §á This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org . 1/2 +15 BONUS that amazing smell? Did you make it?¡± ¡°Yeah, Are you ready for the day?¡± She nodded. ¡°Need a hand with anything?¡± Just yesterday, she had boasted about not needing a maid and being able to cook, yet here she was, oversleeping while Charles was the one in the kitchen. ¡°You can wake me up next time. I¡¯ll make breakfast!¡± COIN BUNDLE: get more free bonus Wife 76 Wife 76 +15 BONUS ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it. I¡¯ve got my routine,¡± Charles said, unfazed. ¡°Grab some cutlery, will you?¡± ¡°Alright!¡± Noelle ran into the kitchen to figure out where to set the bowls and cutlery, with Charles right on her heels. He pointed to a spot. ¡°Just remember, this is where we keep them.¡± ¡°Got it!¡± Noelle grinned, noticing that Charles had every room¨Cfrom the kitchen to the living room and even the bedroom¨Carranged in perfect order. She stole another nce at Charles, puzzled. Who would¡¯ve guessed that a guy like him would be into cooking? Charles quirked an eyebrow, leaning casually in the kitchen doorway. ¡°Something on your mind?¡± Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org. Noelle shook her head, a touch of sheepishness in her voice. ¡°I just feel a little silly. I was the one who said I¡¯d cook yesterday!¡± Charles shed a yful smile. ¡°Time to eat!¡± After breakfast, Charles flicked a set of keys to Noelle, who caught them with a surprised look. ¡°Why are you giving me these?¡± ¡°Like I said yesterday, you¡¯ll be driving the Ferrari to work. We¡¯re far from downtown, and the bus won¡¯t cut. it,¡± Charles exined, ncing at his watch. Noelle peeked at the time and gasped, ¡°Damn it, I¡¯m going to bete!¡± She epted his generous offer without protest. After all, the Phoenix Tree Residence was quite the trek, from the city center. ¡°What about you?¡± she blurted out, instantly regretting it. With the kind of cars Charles had in his garage, he was hardly short of options for a ride. Charles, his suit jacket draped over his forearm, caught the question and smirked. ¡°Want to carpool with me?¡± ¡°Ah!¡± Noelle was caught off guard. As the implication dawned on her, a blush creeped up her cheeks. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean that!¡± ¡°Come on!¡± Charles had alreadyced up his sneakers by the door when he turned to Noelle with a wistful look. ¡°You know, I would love to drive you to work. It would give us more time to hang out. Even if our offices are in totally different directions, and you¡¯re still not ready to go public yet.¡± His voice had a touch of sadness, and his puppy¨Cdog eyes made it look like Noelle had stood him up at prom or something. Noelle squirmed. ¡°I¡­ you promised to give me some time, remember?¡± Charles chuckled as he saw her cheeks turn pink and yfully tousled her hair. ¡°We¡¯d better get a move on, or we¡¯ll bete for real.¡± Watching Charles stride away, Noelle felt her heart do a little somersault. She pressed a hand to her chest, trying to calm the butterflies, and then picked up the pace. He was right, of course. Her office was to the south, and his was to the north. Once they reached the city streets, they split up. Driving was not exactly Noelle¡¯s favorite activity, but she was careful, especially since this was her first time behind the wheel. She kept slow and made it to the office without a hitch, right on time. +15 BONUS Usually, Noelle took the bus or train, so today¡¯s carmute was new to her. After parking in the undergroundbyrinth they called a garage, Noelle bumped into Xavier, a face she had not seen in days. She barely had a second to dodge before he snagged her wrist. ¡°Xavier, cut it out! Let go of me, now!¡± ¡°Let go? Noelle, I can¡¯t believe how cold¨Chearted you are!¡± Xavier had not seen Noelle for days and was determined to have a real talk with her at work today. Catching her in a Ferrari was not what he expected. He knew Noelle, and there was no way she could afford a car like that. He had taken a good look, and that Ferrari was not just any model¨Cit wasst year¡¯s release, and it was tricked out and worth a fortune. Given Noelle¡¯s bank ount, a car like that was out of the question. There was only one thing that made sense: Noelle had found herself another guy, and a loaded one at that, who did not mind splurging on her. That shy car parked under her apartment the other day had ¡®money¡® written all over it. P Wife 77 Wife 77 The thought of Noelle with some other dude, and maybe even getting cozy with him, set Xavier¡¯s blood on fire. He could not keep a lid on his temper. ¡°Who was it? Who was the guy who dropped you off that day?¡± Xavier¡¯s grip on Noelle¡¯s wrist was iron¨Ctight as he spat out, ¡°You had the nerve to say Winter and I did you wrong. Looks to me like you¡¯ve been ying us all along. Noelle, you¡¯re making me sick.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a bunch of lies.¡± Noelle¡¯s wrist was trapped in Xavier¡¯s vice¨Clike hold, and she could not wriggle free. She tried to pry his fingers off with her other hand, but he was just too strong. ¡°Xavier, let go! Have you lost your mind?¡± ¡°Have I lost my mind? Yes, I¡¯m piss I camped out at your door for hours, and you called the cops on me. Noelle, do you even have a heart? Sure, I messed up, but I said I was sorry. I came to check on you because I was worried, and instead of hearin me out, you get the police involved and use me of harassment.¡± ¡°Wasn¡¯t it harassment?¡± Noelle snapped, giving Xavier¡¯s arm a hard pinch. ¡°Let go! We¡¯re at work. Do you want everyone to see this?¡± ¡°So what if they see? Everyone already knows what¡¯s going on between us.¡± Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org. ¡°What¡¯s going on? You¡¯re kidding, right?¡± Noelle shot back, her voice dripping with sarcasm. ¡°You¡¯re my brother¨Cinw, and I¡¯m your sister¨Cinw. Why put your hands on me in public?¡± ¡°Brother¨Cinw? Noelle, don¡¯t y dumb. You¡¯re still my girl,¡± Xavier growled, his voice dark. ¡°You belong to me.¡± ¡°I¡¯m your ex¨Cgirlfriend, or have you forgotten? You just got engaged to my sister Winter.¡± Noelle was disgusted, especially after his possessive im. ¡°You¡¯re not trying to get both of us, are you? Xavier, you¡¯re revolting!¡± In a burst of fury, Noelle bit Xavier hard. Yelping in pain, he released her and stumbled back, clutching the spot she had bitten. ¡°You think I¡¯m disgusting? Look in the mirror! I bet you¡¯ve been seeing that guy behind my back. What, is he richer than me? He gave you a brand¨Cnew Ferrari like it¡¯s nothing.¡± ¡°You¡­¡± Noelle was shaking with rage at his audacity. ¡°I bet you¡¯re only with that guy for his cash. All that talk about loving me was just lies.¡± ¡°It was a lie. How could I ever love you?¡± Noelle scoffed. ¡°You¡¯re a cheater. I don¡¯t need that. I was blind before, but now my eyes are wide open. You think I¡¯d still be into you after all this? You¡¯re engaged to Winter, remember? Stick with her since she¡¯s the one who actually loves you.¡± their Noelle tried to walk away, but Xavier wasn¡¯t having it. He grabbed her from behind, his arms locking around her waist and his chin resting on her shoulder. ¡°Noelle, I¡¯m sorry. It¡¯s all my fault. I know you¡¯re mad, but you¡¯re the one I truly love. My thing with Winter is just business¨Cour families want to merge empires. You know she¡¯s got a stake in Helios and she¡¯s set to take over. Just wait for me. Once I marry Winter and secure those shares, I¡¯ll leave her and we can be together. Please wait for me, okay?¡± ¡°Get off me!¡± Noelle snapped, breaking free from Xavier¡¯s grip and pping him hard. ¡°Xavier, don¡¯t push me!¡± COIN BUNDLE: get more free bonus Comments Wife 78 Wife 78 Noelle was truly taken aback by Xavier¡¯s behavior. It was obviously him and Winter who wronged her, but somehow, she had been twisted into the one to me. N?velDrama.Org exclusive content. Noelle shot Xavier a withering look. ¡°I¡¯m going to act like today never happened. I won¡¯t tell a soul, but don¡¯t pull this again, okay?¡± She tossed these words over her shoulder as she breezed past him and out the door. Xavier¡¯s gaze lingered on Noelle¡¯s fading silhouette. The sweet scent that lingered when he had held her earlier left him momentarily lost in thought. Noelle always smelled amazing. Back when things were good between them, he would hold her hand, and they would walk for hours on end together. His hands balled into fists, his eyes reddening with intensity. Noelle was his. She had to be his. Even if his feelings had changed, she was meant to be with him and only him! Noelle rushed upstairs, feeling a wave of nausea at the memory of Xavier¡¯s embrace. She dropped her bag and made a beeline for the bathroom, scrubbing her hands until they were raw and pale. Only after that did she let out a heavy sigh. She had convinced herself she was over Xavier, but memories of their time together still had the power to wound her. Xavier was her teenage dream. Even before they dated, she would always be running around with him. He was a few years older, and she would often see him as the boy in white, strolling past her junior high building after ss. Back then, she did not even know what it meant to have a crush, but just seeing him was enough to fill her with joy. Then, out of the blue, he saved her one day, and they struck up a friendship. That was before Winter came along and turned everything upside down, back when everything seemed perfect. THE Even though the Shaw family had given her the cold shoulder, Xavier was her beacon of warmth. On her eighteenth birthday, he was the one who stuck by her side and the first to celebrate with her. Noelle felt a sting in her eyes as memories shed by in a blur. She clung to the past, but the boy she remembered had transformed with time. Time, she realized, was the ultimate game¨Cchanger. Stepping out of the restroom, Noelle caught snippets of a conversation. ¡°Did you hear? Someone spotted Noelle rolling up to work in a high¨Cend car in the parking lot today!¡± ¡°A high¨Cend car? It¡¯s just a Ferrari. You¡¯re all making a mountain out of a molehill!¡± The first person¡¯s voice dripped with envy. ¡°You¡¯re all hung up on Ferraris. Real tycoons wouldn¡¯t even waste their time with those.¡± ¡°Really?¡± The second person chuckled. ¡°Sounds like someone¡¯s jealous! That Ferrari¡¯s the newest model, you know, and word is that it¡¯s tricked out. Who else but someone loaded would have that on hand?¡± The second person¡¯s voice was tinged with admiration. ¡°Ms. Shaw¡¯s got some secrets, huh?¡± ¡°You think that¡¯s Noelle¡¯s? It could be some guy¡¯s¡­¡± ¡°Shh!¡± A third person cut them off. ¡°You¡¯ve got some nerve, gossiping out in the open like this.¡± ¡°What¡¯s the big deal? It¡¯s not like she¡¯s off¨Climits!¡± +15 BONUS The chatter faded as the group dispersed. Noelle emerged from the stall, a wry smile tugging at her lips. She had not expected to stumble upon a gossip fest about herself first thing in the morning. She tidied herself up and headed back to her office. The early birds had already clocked in, and the buzz of earlier conversations died down as she entered. ¡°Ms. Shaw,¡± they greeted. Comments Wife 79 Wife 79 +15 BONUS ¡°Morning!¡± Noelle greeted with a smile, tapping her desk.¡°Frank, step into my office, will you?¡± Frank had been Noelle¡¯s right¨Chand man until a year ago, when she was sent on an assignment away from the office. In her absence, Frank had been reassigned. Now that Noelle was back, she was ready to bring her team together again. Frank blinked in surprise at her invitation, quickly straightening the papers on his desk before responding, Sure thing!¡± This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org . Once inside the office, Frank asked, ¡°What¡¯s up, Ms. Shaw? Did you need something?¡± ¡°No big deal,¡± Noelle said casually, leaning back in her chair. ¡°I just wanted to check in with you. Are you still on board with bing my assistant again?¡± Frank paused, his eyes suddenly misty, ¡°I was worried you didn¡¯t need me anymore.¡± Noelle chuckled, a yful arch in her brow, ¡°Why would you think that? I¡¯d be lost without you!¡± Frank had always been a ster assistant, organized and reliable. Noelle knew her year¨Clong absence might have left him feeling uncertain. ¡°You¡¯ve been back for a while, but you never came to talk to me about working together again. I was starting to think that¡­¡± Frank¡¯s voice trailed off. ¡°Hey, let¡¯s not dwell on the past,¡± Noelle cut in gently, her voice softening. ¡°I should have reached out sooner. I got caught up with some personal stuff and forgot. If anyone should be sorry, it¡¯s me.¡± ¡°No way, Ms. Shaw. I¡¯ve heard what¡¯s been going around about you, and they¡¯ve got you all wrong,¡± Frank said, his loyalty to Noelle unwavering after all the time he¡¯d spent by her side. ¡°Besides, I know for a fact you¡¯re not like that.¡± or be ¡°Okay, let¡¯s keep the personal stuff out of work hours. You¡¯ve chosen to be on my team, so we¡¯re in this together from now on!¡± ¡°Got it!¡± ¡°If there¡¯s nothing else, you can head out. I¡¯ve got a meeting to catch in a bit.¡± After sorting out Frank¡¯s issue, Noelle nced overst week¡¯s work n and paused, her brow creasing ever so slightly at a particr set of data. The Frotconn morning meeting was in full swing with most of the executives present, but Xavier was nowhere to be seen. Joseph nced at his watch and around the room. ¡°We¡¯re not waiting any longer!¡± ¡°Sorry for beingte!¡± Xavier burst in, immediately noticing the waiting crowd and offering a quick, apologetic bow. ¡°I got tied up with something earlier. I hope I didn¡¯t dy anything.¡± ¡°You¡¯re here now, so just listen up.¡± Joseph shot Xavier a look that meant business before kicking off the meeting. ¡°Let¡¯s get updates from everyone on their recent work!¡± As the Frotconn leaders shared updates from their departments, it was Noelle¡¯s turn. Joseph caught her eye. ¡°Ms. Shaw, you had a tough trip. Are you back in the swing of things?¡± 17 +15 BONUS Noelle squinted with a hint of a smile. ¡°Thanks for checking in on me, Chairman. I¡¯ve been back for a while now, so I¡¯m pretty much up to speed.¡± As she spoke, Noelle flipped through her work log, ¡°There¡¯s something concerning our department that I need to bring up. Frotconn¡¯s sales have taken a nosedive in thest month, and our order volume is shrinking. Has anyone else picked up on this?¡± She nced over at Mr. Lambert, ¡°Did you catch this issue in your report, Mr. Lambert?¡± Mr. Lambert looked taken aback. It was a big deal, and he should have been on top of it. ¡°That can¡¯t be right!¡± COIN BUNDLE: get more free bonus Wife 80 Wife 80 ¡°To be honest, I¡¯m having a hard time believing it myself, but this is what I stumbled upon this morning. Please, take a look,¡± Noelle said, highlighting several problems. ¡°Orders from Collosus Group have dropped off suddenly, and our products in department stores are being sent back.¡± Noelle paused, ¡°It might not look like much right now, but at this rate, I¡¯m worried there could be some serious issues brewing at Collosus Group.¡± At the mention of Collosus Group, Joseph and the other directors¡® faces darkened. Some in the room might not have been aware, but the chairman and directors knew all too well. Without Collosus Group¡¯s support over the years, Frotconn would never have grown sorge. Orders from Collosus Group were their lifeline. When Noelle dropped that bombshell, truth was like a public diss to Joseph and the crew ¡°ot, it rang rm bells in Joseph¡¯s head. Noelle¡¯s comment in.. in the middle of thepany¡¯s morning meeting. ¡°Ms. Shaw, what are you saying? We¡¯ve had nothing but good times working with Collosus Group for years. Let¡¯s move on to the next topic, shall we?¡± Noelle squinted a bit, taken aback by Joseph¡¯s brush¨Coff. She was thrown for a loop. Xavier shot her a look that could curdle milk, silently telling her to shut up. With a sly lift of her eyebrow and a yful smile, Noelle said, ¡°I must¡¯ve been mistaken!¡± Post¨Cmeeting, Mr. Lambert came up to Noelle. ¡°Listen, kiddo, you can mess around with your food, but words are a different story.¡± ¡°What¡¯s that supposed to mean, Mr. Lambert?¡± Noelle grinned, ying innocent. ¡°You¡¯ve lost me.¡± ¡°Are you hinting at problems with Frotconn¡¯s sales? What are you trying to do?¡± Mr. Lambert was fuming, his eyes shing a silent threat. Noelle was not blind to it, but she was all. business when it came to work. ¡°You know exactly what I¡¯m talking about, Mr. Lambert. I¡¯ll leave it at that.¡± Noelle breezed past him, leaving Mr. Lambert to stew as he watched her go. ¡°Pfft, that girl¡¯s clueless about the real world,¡± he muttered under his breath. Mr. Lambert was seriously irked by Noelle¡¯s nosy antics. If it had not been for the Colossus Group fiasco grabbing everyone¡¯s attention, they might have noticed something was off. With that thought, Mr. Lambert wasted no time and dialed a number. ¡°Keep those books squeaky clean!¡± This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org . Back in her office, Noelle breathed a small sigh of relief. That day was the day she finally learned who was supporting Frotconn all these years. To her surprise, it was the biggest name in Brookville the Hoffman family, Charles¡¯s family. Charles was not just some hotshot at Colossus Group; he was the heir apparent to the Hoffman throne. Reflecting on her chat with Charles, it clicked. No wonder he barely gave Xavier the time of day. Xavier¡¯s branch of the Hoffman tree was just a twigpared to Charles¡¯s mighty trunk. To put it nicely, Xavier¡¯s folks hung on Charles¡¯s coattails, and to say it less nicely, they were mooching off his leftovers. Noelle had not been at Frotconn for a long time, but she had been there long enough to see the writing on the wall. Thepany was a rookie league yer at best. Against the Collosus Group juggernaut, they did not stand a chance. Why had Collosus Group yanked the rug out from under Frotconn¡¯s feet all of a sudden, though? oelle chewed on her lip, her mind a whirl of confusion. Comments Support Wife 81 Wife 81 In Joseph¡¯s office, a shadow of concern crossed his face. The issue Noelle brought up at today¡¯s meeting had him sending people to dig up some information. If turned out Collosus Group had been cutting back on their orders, and it had been going on for a while. However, it was only getting serious now. Joseph could not figure out what game Collosus Group was ying. In the past, even if the books did not bnce, they had never meddled. Frotconn was its own thing, and barely connected to Collosus Group. The only reason they ever backed him was because he once helped out a kid from the Hoffman family, which had earned Frotconn some brownie points. Belonging to N?velDrama.Org. Joseph thought that favor would carry Frotconn forever, but now it looked like Collosus Group might be cutting them loose. ¡°Dad, what¡¯s the deal here?¡± Xavier was just as baffled about Collosus Group¡¯s motives. ¡°What¡¯s up with that Charles guy?¡± Mentioning Charles brought a scowl to Xavier¡¯s face, mixed with a hint of fear and distaste. Frotconn was practically in Collosus Group¡¯s shadow, and his dad was always nudging him to rub elbows with the big shots from the Hoffman family. However, in all these years, he could count his run¨Cins with Charles Hoffman on one hand. In Brookville, Charles was practically royalty, and Xavier had once dreamed of cashing in on his family¡¯s weak connection to the Hoffman family to climb the socialdder. As for Charles, he would not give Xavier the time of day. Joseph caught wind of Xavier¡¯s griping and scowled. ¡°I¡¯ve told you a million times, Charles is a tougher nut to crack than his old man. How¡¯s it going with getting on his good side?¡± Xavier bristled at the memory. ¡°What do you think? You know just how standoffish Charles is.¡± He recalled theirst awkward encounter. ¡°Remember the Shaw family¡¯s grandpa¡¯s birthday bash? You tried to bu up to him, and he acted like we were invisible.¡± Xavier clenched his fists. ¡°How long are we suppose keep chasing after someone who couldn¡¯t care less?¡± 16 ¡°Do you really think this is what I want?¡± Joseph scowled, frustration evident in his voice. ¡°If it wasn¡¯t for the big shot Collosus Group backing him, I wouldn¡¯t give that kid the time of day!¡± He paused, then said, ¡± Go dig up some dirt. Find out why Charles is cutting back on our orders, and look at the department store deal¨Cif we can¡¯t get our products into Collosus Group¡¯s stores, then what?¡± The thought alone was enough to give Joseph a headache. ¡°How are we supposed to hit the stock market?¡± ¡°Hitting the stock market?¡± Charles¡¯s fingers drummed a steady rhythm on the desk as he shot Ronald a piercing look. ¡°You¡¯re telling me Joseph¡¯s little kid wanted to go public this year?¡± ¡°That¡¯s the word on the street,¡± Ronald replied, standing a bit taller. ¡°Joseph had some nerve, aiming to go public with such a tiny operation. They were flying the Hoffman family g, and that was something.¡± Charles chuckled and shut the folder in front of him. They wanted a free ride with Collosus Group, did they?¡± He stood, hands casually tucked into his pockets, and gazed out at the sprawling view from the twenty¨Cseventh floor. ¡°The higher you climb, the more you see, but oh, the harder you fall.¡± Wife 82 Wife 82 +15 BONUS Ronald watched Charles¡¯s retreating figure, a smirk ying on his lips. ¡°You¡¯ve got it, Mr. Hoffman!¡± Charles¡¯s smile was a mix of amusement and challenge. ¡°Joseph¡¯s not ready for the big leagues. Going public?¡± He shook his head. ¡°We¡¯ll just have to wait and see.¡± ¡°Right,¡± Ronald agreed, then paused, a new concern flickering in his eyes. ¡°About Ms. Shaw¡­¡± Charles spun around, his gaze sharp, as itnded on Ronald. Ronald froze, his throat suddenly dry. ¡°Your wife, uh, she went to work at Frotconn today.¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± Charles quirked an eyebrow, ¡°Just say it!¡± ¡°Mr. Lambert was giving her trouble,¡± Ronald said, eyeing Charles warily, though he could not help but wonder why Mr. Hoffman had been acting so oddly. Was Ms. Shaw actually Mr. Hoffman¡¯s other half? ¡°Mr. Lambert?¡± Charles¡¯s eyes narrowed, ¡°What kind of trouble?¡± ¡°It looked like there was a mess with Frotconn¡¯s finances. Thedy must have picked up on something. She dropped a hint during the morning meeting, and right after, Mr. Lambert cornered her to stir up some trouble!¡± Ronald recalled what his colleagues had reported. Now that Mr. Hoffman was married to Noelle, he surely wanted to be in the loop about these issues. ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Charles nodded. ¡°Anything else?¡± ¡°Well, there was the matter with the York family¡­¡± Ronald paused. ¡°It¡¯s about Simon.¡± Charles gave a slight nod, urging Ronald to go on. Ronald cleared his throat. ¡°I spread the word like you told me to, and the Yorks are all over Simon and Julian¡¯s secret deal.¡± Ronald paused, then continued. ¡°About that promise Samuel made to Julian, the two hundred million for Helios, Chester hasn¡¯t said yes, but he hasn¡¯t said no either. It looks like he¡¯s letting it slide. But Chester¡¯s probably in the dark on the deal between Samuel and Julian.¡± Charles let out a shortugh. ¡°Chester, that sly old fox. You really think he¡¯s clueless?¡± He waved his hand dismissively. ¡°Cut to the chase!¡± ¡°Samuel¡¯s not going to let Julian off easy, and Julian¡¯s probably not getting the cash he¡¯s dreaming of,¡± Ronald said, barely hiding his glee. ¡°Mr. Hoffman, you haven¡¯t even stepped in, and the Yorks are already stirring the pot. But if Samuel and Julian¡¯s spat gets out of hand, it could spell trouble for the missus¡­¡± ¡°No way,¡± Charles cut him off sharply. ¡°She¡¯s grown up. She¡¯s got to go through some things and learn them the hard way, so she won¡¯t get burned again.¡± His eyes sparkled with determination as he adjusted -his tie. ¡°Anything else?¡± This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org . ¡°That¡¯s it,¡± Ronald replied. Charles lingered by the panoramic window long after Ronald had gone, gazing down at the ant¨Clike people below, a small, knowing smile ying on his lips. Noelle was in the middle of sorting out an order when her phone buzzed, The caller ID read ¡®husband¡®, which made her pause and stare at the screen, lost in thought. She had notbeled it that way, had she? That must have been Charles¡¯s doing. When had he fiddled with her phone to leave that behind? 1/2 +15 BONUS With a slight frown, she noticed the screen shing insistently. Snapping out of her reverie, she swiped to answer. ¡°Hello?¡± ¡°It¡¯s me!¡± Charles¡¯s voice, deep and seemingly cheerful, filled her ear. Noelle chewed on her lip, falling silent. Charles waited for a reply that did note, his smile fading.¡± Hmm?¡± Startled, Noelle let out a nervousugh. ¡°Oh, hey. What¡¯s up? Do you need something?¡± COIN BUNDLE: get more free bonus Comments Wife 83 Wife 83 +15 BONUS ¡°Why, am I not allowed to call my wife?¡± Charles¡¯s voice had a teasing edge, as if he was yfully challenging her. ¡°You sound like you¡¯re not exactly thrilled to hear from me.¡± Noelle was at a loss for words for a moment. ¡°You can¡¯t even see my face, so how would you know if I¡¯m thrilled or not? And about my tone¡­¡± She sighed, a mix of exasperation and affection in her voice. ¡°Look, I¡¯m at work. What¡¯s this really about?¡± This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org . ¡°Swamped, huh?¡± Charles juggled his phone in one hand and a pen in the other, signing off on a stack of papers. His eyes flicked down, caught something that made him pause, and his mood dropped. He shot a re at his secretary. ¡°Get the finance chief in here, now!¡± Noelle heard that and said, ¡°Looks like you¡¯re the one who¡¯s tied up! If you¡¯re too busy, I¡¯m just gonna hang up!¡± ¡°Wait!¡± Charles cut Noelle off, ¡°How¡¯d you figure I¡¯m busy? Just give me a second!¡± Without waiting for a reply, he mmed the phone down and drummed his fingers on the desk, fixing his gaze on Joey, the secretary, ¡°I brought you on board to lighten my load, not to make a mess. What¡¯s the deal with this?¡± He jabbed a finger at the price on the document, ¡°Exin this, now.¡± ¡°Mr. Hoffman, I¡­¡± Joey stammered, his face going pale with shock. ¡°I¡­ I¡¯ve got no clue!¡± ¡°No clue? You¡¯re telling me a hotshot from Harvard can¡¯t make heads or tails of a simple report? Did you just pass this mess to me to sign off on?¡± Charles¡¯s voice was frosty, all business, ¡°Where¡¯s the finance chief?¡± He hit the inte, and Ronald was in the room in no time. ¡°On their way.¡± Ronald caught a glimpse of Joey shaking like a leaf and mentally paid his respects. ¡°Mr. Hoffman, what about this?¡± ¡°If you can¡¯t even get a report right, I don¡¯t see why you should stick around.¡± Charles¡¯s words were like a final verdict for Joey¡¯s future. To work at the secretary¡¯s office of the Collosus Group was a dream job for many. Getting the boot from Collosus meant you were pretty much done for in Brookville. Because no one would touch you with a ten¨Cfoot pole since nobody wanted to mess with the big dogs at Collosus. Joey went white as a sheet and crumpled to the floor. ¡°Mr. Hoffman! Mr. Hoffman, you¡¯ve got to believe me! I¡¯m innocent. It was¡­¡± ¡°What?¡± Charles looked up sharply. ¡°Out with it!¡± ¡°The finance department chief told me everything would be fine as long as my part went smoothly, that you¡¯d sign off without a hitch,¡± Joey spilled the beans, scared out of his wits. ¡°You¡¯ve never checked the finance approvals yourself before, so¡­¡± ¡°So?¡± Charles¡¯s gaze was icy, a warning shing in his eyes, ¡°You thought you could pull the wool over my eyes? You know what¡¯s waiting for you outside Collosus¡¯s doors.¡± ¡°Mr. Hoffman, I¡¯m begging you, just give me one more shot, I¡­¡± ¡°Ronald!¡± Charles didn¡¯t even need to finish; Ronald got the message. ¡°Right away, Mr. Hoffman!¡± He shot Joey a look. ¡°On your feet. You¡¯reing with me.¡± Charles drummed his fingers on the desk, lost in thought, before finally reaching for his phone. ¡°Are you 1/2 +15 BONUS still there?¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Noelle¡¯s voice trembled a bit, ¡°Right here. Hey, your work was cut out for you. We could catch up after you clock out!¡± Charles let out a soft chuckle, his eyes twinkling with a yful glint. ¡°Did I startle you?¡± Comments „Ó Support Wife 84 Wife 84 +15 BONUS Noelle instinctively shook her head before realizing that they were on a call and Charles could not actually see her. She paused, thinking about it. She might not have seen this side of Charles before, but she knew the kind of man he was. The rumors in Brookville were enough to paint a picture. With that thought, everything clicked into ce. Charles was the head honcho of a big¨Ctimepany and had skills others could only dream of. It all added up. ¡°Nope.¡± Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org. Charles¡¯sughter came through again, light and easy. Good to hear I didn¡¯t spook you!¡± ¡°So, what¡¯s up? Why¡¯d you call?¡± Noelle had not forgotten that Charles was the one who called her up. Charles squinted thoughtfully for a moment. ¡°Oh, nothing much. Just wondering when you¡¯re clocking out. I¡¯m thinking about dinner. Do you wanna eat in or go out?¡± Noelle was speechless for a second¡­ He called just to chat about dinner ns? ¡°Mr. Hoffman, just a heads¨Cup, you¡¯re supposed to be working right now.¡± Charles¡¯sugh was knowing. ¡°I¡¯m the boss, remember?¡± ¡°Well, I¡¯m not!¡± Noelle bit back, a little exasperated. ¡°I¡¯ve still got work to do!¡± ¡°You¡¯re the boss¡¯sdy,¡± Charles teased, his voice a smooth,zy drawl that sounded nothing like the stern businessman he was moments ago. Noelle chewed on her bottom lip, her mind reeling. Had she not just heard Charles¡¯s icy tone with her own ears, she would never have pegged the easygoing guy chatting with her now as the same person. ¡°Only if you¡¯re up for it.¡± She paused, lost in thought, and Charles¡¯s brow creased when he didn¡¯t hear her reply. ¡°Giving me the silent treatment?¡± ¡°You¡¯ve pretty much said it all. What else do you want me to say?¡± Noelle¡¯s voice carried a touch of defeat: ¡°Let¡¯s just eat whatever. I¡¯m not fussy about food.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not gonna fly!¡± Charles objected, his frown deepening. ¡°You might be used to eating a certain way, but that¡¯s gonna change now that we¡¯re hanging out!¡± He then suggested, ¡°How about I swing by and pick you up when work¡¯s done?¡± ¡°No way. That¡¯s not necessary!¡± Noelle waved her hands, dismissing the idea. ¡°Your office is on one end of town, and mine¡¯s on the other. It¡¯s totally out of your way.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Charles¡¯s eyebrow quirked up. ¡°Is it such a big deal for me toe by?¡± ¡°No, that¡¯s not what I meant!¡± Noelle¡¯s teeth found her lip again. ¡°You know the distance between our offices is no joke. Plus, traffic is a nightmare after work. It¡¯d be a huge time suck for you!¡± She pondered a moment before offering apromise. ¡°Let¡¯s meet halfway. You asked what I¡¯m in the mood for, right? I¡¯m craving some steak today!¡± She gave it another thought. ¡°What about you? Got any cravings? I¡¯d be happy to make something for you.¡± The corners of Charles¡¯s eyes crinkled with amusement. He smoothed his brow and, spotting Ronald by the door, gestured for him to hang on a second. 1/2 +15 BONUS Ronald caught Charles on a call and figured he was chatting with Noelle. He nced over at the Finance Chief, Jenson Lowry, ¡°Mr. Hoffman says to wait for a second!¡± ¡°Sure, sure, I¡¯ll wait! No rush at all!¡± Jenson nodded eagerly, yet inside, he was freaking out. He was hoping Charles would be swamped with work, perhaps even too swamped to remember he needed to see him. Charles had a knack for remembering things, so forgetting was not in the cards. ¡°Great. If you¡¯re craving that, let¡¯s meet up at Berkly¡¯s after we clock out. It¡¯s not far from home. Just call me when you¡¯re done, okay?¡± COIN BUNDLE: get more free bonus Comments Support GET IT X Wife 85 Wife 85 ¡°Got it!¡± Noelle hung up quickly and fixed her gaze on the unexpected visitor, squinting slightly, ¡°Mr. Harris, did you need me?¡± Meanwhile, Charles, who had just ended the call, still had a yful smile lingering in his eyes. He swiped at his phone screen, but soon, the smile vanished. ¡°Enter!¡± Ronald walked in with Jenson, ¡°Mr. Hoffman, Mr. Lowry has arrived.¡± ¡°Right!¡± Charles acknowledged with a nod and gave Ronald a look. Ronald understood. ¡°I¡¯ve got stuff to handle, so I¡¯m heading out.¡± Once Ronald was gone, Charles tossed his phone aside and rxed on the couch, coolly eyeing Jenson. Jenson was drenched in sweat. He had been warned on his way over, since Ronald had escorted out Joey from the secretarial team. As to where Joey was brought, that was anybody¡¯s guess. Jenson was a bundle of nerves the entire way, but Charles would not throw him a bone. The trek from the finance department to the big boss¡¯s office was not exactly a marathon, but it sure felt like an eternity. He had enough time to run through every possible scenario in his head, even trying to figure out how to turn the tables in his favor. Charles, just stared him down with his poker face, leaving Jenson¡¯s mental scriptpletely useless. Figuring Charles out was like trying to solve a Rubik¡¯s Cube blindfolded. Even the old¨Ctimers at the company who were not exactly fans of Charles would not dare to butt heads with him. Crossing Charles was like painting a target on your back in Brookville. Sure, some of the gossip was probably blown out of proportion, but a lot of it was urate. Jenson kept his gaze glued to the floor, sneaking peeks at Charles but never daring to meet his eyes. Charles, cool as a cucumber, watched him. When Jenson mmed up for too long, Charles squinted and threw a curveball, ¡°Mr. Lowry, are you keeping track of time?¡± ¡°Wha¨Cwhat?¡± Jenson¡¯s head shot up, baffled, ¡°Mr. Hoffman, what do you mean?¡± ¡°Time¡¯s up,¡± Charles announced, drumming his long fingers on the desk before letting them fall with a thud. It was not a grand gesture, but it was enough to make Jenson jump like a scaredy¨Ccat, his face going ghost¨Cwhite. ¡°You had a full ten minutes to make your case, but you just stood there silently without a word in your defense, owning up to your mistake, or spilling the beans.¡± Charles rose to his feet, hands casually tucked into his pockets. ¡°So, what happened? How much did he pay you?¡± ¡°What?¡± Jenson¡¯s hand flew to his pocket, pulling out a handkerchief to dab at the sweat on his forehead.¡± -I didn¡¯t get any pay!¡± ¡°Really?¡± Charles arched an eyebrow, leaning back against the desk with an easy grace that belied the intense pressure he was exerting. His legs were crossed, and though he looked the picture of ease, his presence was sharp enough to slice through steel, leaving Jenson shaking in his boots. ¡°Yes, yes, Mr. Hoffman, what can I do for you? I¡¯m clueless about what you¡¯re implying, Mr. Hoffman!¡± ¡°Oh, acting clueless, are we?¡± A cold smile flickered across Charles¡¯s face, which had been all sunshine and lightness moments before. His brows knitted together, and his gaze cut right through Jenson. 1/2 +15 BONUS ¡°How much did Robert line your pockets with?¡± Belonging to N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Mr. Hoffman.¡± Jenson¡¯s head snapped up, shock written all over his face. He had not expected Charles to drop that name so openly, and he certainly hadn¡¯t anticipated that Charles was onto Robert¡¯s involvement. ¡°I¡¯m not sure I follow you. Mr. Harris never¡­¡± Comments 2 ÏÉ Wife 86 Wife 86 ¡°Really?¡± Charles stood abruptly, yanking a paper from the pile behind him. ¡°I didn¡¯te here to listen to your excuses. You seem to be in the dark on how I operate. Since I¡¯ve brought you in, it¡¯s clear¨Cyou¡¯re out of the Collosus Group.¡± ¡°Mr. Hoffman!¡± Jenson¡¯s legs turned to jelly, and he nearly dropped to his knees, ¡°Mr. Hoffman, I admit it, I messed up! I was backed into a corner, you know? I¡¯ve got my aging parents and my kids to look after, and sure, being the finance chief sounds like a sweet gig, but¡­ it takes guts to do this job! I was desperate. My mom¡¯s sick in the hospital with heart disease, she needs a transnt, and I was out of options.¡± Charles gave Mr. Lowry an icy stare. ¡°I gave you a chance toe clean, and you wasted it!¡± With that, Charles hit the inte button, and Ronald was in the room in a sh. ¡°Mr. Hoffman, Joey¡¯s spilled the beans. A bunch of those phony ounts never reached you, so things were smooth sailing until now.¡± A smirk yed on Charles¡¯s lips. ¡°So, you¡¯ve been pulling this off under the radar for quite a while, huh?¡± ¡°Mr. Hoffman, I¡¯m sorry!¡± Jenson hit the floor on his knees. ¡°I lost my way, but, but it was all Mr. Harris¡¯s idea. He told me that if I didn¡¯t participate, not only would my mom¡¯s treatment go south, but I¡¯d be out of a job too. My hands were tied.¡± Charles just waved him off. Ronald stepped right up next to Jenson. ¡°Mr. Hoffman, I¡¯ve called the cops, and they should be here any minute!¡± Jenson¡¯s world crumbled. His face was the color of concrete. ¡°It¡¯s all over! All of it!¡± ¡°Not yet,¡± Ronald chimed in. Jenson¡¯s head shot up, hope flickering in his eyes. ¡°You¡¯ve got a n?¡± Ronald squinted. ¡°Mr. Lowry¡¯s a clever guy. He¡¯s gotta have a backup n, right?¡± ¡°Of course, I do! I¡¯ve always been worried that my secret woulde out, so¡­¡± Mr. Lowry wasn¡¯t dumb, He had had an ace up his sleeve from the start, just in case his secret was revealed. ¡°If you can forgive me, I¡¯m ready to give up what I¡¯ve got!¡± Charles¡¯s eyes were like icy daggers as he red at Jenson. ¡°I really hate being pushed into a corner. It¡¯s a really bad feeling,¡± he said coldly. ¡°Too bad for you that you¡¯ve just hit my biggest nerve!¡± ¡°Mr. Hoffman¡­¡± ¡°Ronald, take him away. He needs some time to think about his next move.¡± ¡°Right away, Mr. Hoffman!¡± Ronald gave Jenson a sympathetic nce, shook his head, and tsked. After years of working with Charles, Ronald knew exactly how he yed the game. Charles was the one who called the shots, not the other way around. He figured Jenson must have lost his marbles to try and pull a fast one, ¡°Come on, Mr. Lowry, let¡¯s go.¡± ¡°No, I¡¯m not going anywhere. Mr. Hoffman, I¡¯ve got what you¡¯ve been after, the very thing that could topple Mr. Harris. Are you sure you don¡¯t want to think it over?¡± ¡°You are not the one setting the terms,¡± Charles said, his stare cold and merciless, as he took what Jenson had. ¡°I make the rules here!¡± Jenson gazed at Charles, his eyes filled with despair. 1/2 +15 BONUS Ronald had juste back when he spotted Charles gazing out the towering window, lost in thought. Clearing his throat to announce his presence, Ronald caught Charles¡¯s attention. Charles shot a brief look at Ronald, who snapped to attention. ¡°The guy¡¯s been taken care of, but Mr. Hoffman, are we good to go with this?¡± ¡°Why wouldn¡¯t we be?¡± Charles strolled over to his desk, picked up a cigarette, and rolled it between his fingers without lighting it. ¡°It¡¯s high time we dealt with this. Letting it drag on isn¡¯t doing us any favors.¡± Charles was the kind of guy who liked to get things done in one fell swoop since it was less hassle that way. ¡°He¡¯s so fond of making moves, so let¡¯s give him a grand one to think about.¡± Ronald sensed that Charles was dead set on taking Robert down this time. Things seemed to be moving faster than expected, and he could not quite catch Charles¡¯s drift. ¡°You said before that you¡¯d let him keep hopping around for a bit. I thought you weren¡¯t going to touch him just yet.¡± Charles¡¯s lips curled into a sly smile. ¡°I¡¯m feeling good today. Don¡¯t bother trying to guess what I¡¯m thinking.¡± ¡°I wouldn¡¯t dream of it!¡± Ronald knew better than to try and read Charles¡¯s mind. After all, figuring out what Charles was nning was a puzzle no one could solve. With a cold huff, Charles added, ¡°Joseph thinks he¡¯s invincible with Robert backing him up. ¡°Are you saying Mr. Hoffman wants us to move on Frotconn right now?¡± Ronald could not help but think of Noelle again. He did not see what was so special about her, but Mr. Hoffman seemed to have taken a liking to her. Ronald was a bit puzzled. Charles had been known for doing whatever he wanted, and even though he was caught up in the Hoffman family drama, his wild side was usually kept under wraps, except for the asional outburst. Was Noelle the reason this time? If Ronald was being honest with himself, he was not too thrilled about it. In his eyes, Charles was untouchable and almost wless. Noelle, however¡­ ¡°Have you got something to say?¡± Charles¡¯s eyes narrowed with a hint of challenge. ¡°No, sir!¡± Ronald was quick to deny it. ¡°Frotconn has been pushing it, hiding behind the Collosus Group¡¯s name for too long.¡± N?velDrama.Org exclusive content. ¡°Keep an eye on Mr. Lowry, and as for Joey¡­¡± Charles paused. ¡°You¡¯re on it,¡± ¡°Understood.¡± Ronald nodded. ¡°And what about Mr. Harris?¡± ¡°Why the hurry? He¡¯s the one who should be sweating it out,¡± Charles said with a dismissive snort. ¡°Give it three days¨Che¡¯lle crawling to us.¡± After hanging up on Charles, Noelle felt a mix of frustration and resignation. She had never expected Charles to call her during work to ask what she was having for lunch. Noelle was not exactlyfortable with being a couple yet, but if Charles was all in on this life¨C together deal, she would get on board. Charles had hit the nail on the head: she could not stay on memoryne forever or keep dodging reality. 1/2 +15 BONUS The best thing to do was to embrace reality. She owed it to herself to live a better life after all she had been through. Then Xavier showed up, and Noelle¡¯s brows knitted in annoyance. Xavier loomed next to her, his face all storm clouds and shadows, eyes drilling into her phone like he wanted toser through it. Noelle was not having any of it. She scowled and asked, ¡°Mr. Harris, what¡¯s up? Do you need me for something?¡± Xavier was not a fan of Noelle¡¯s chilly vibe. ¡°Who were you talking to just now?¡± Noelle¡¯s lips tightened. ¡°Why should I tell you?¡± P Comments Wife 87 Wife 87 Ronald had juste back when he spotted Charles gazing out the towering window, lost in thought. Clearing his throat to announce his presence, Ronald caught Charles¡¯s attention. Charles shot a brief look at Ronald, who snapped to attention. ¡°The guy¡¯s been taken care of, but Mr. Hoffman, are we good to go with this?¡± ¡°Why wouldn¡¯t we be?¡± Charles strolled over to his desk, picked up a cigarette, and rolled it between his fingers without lighting it. ¡°It¡¯s high time we dealt with this. Letting it drag on isn¡¯t doing us any favors.¡± Charles was the kind of guy who liked to get things done in one fell swoop since it was less hassle that way. ¡°He¡¯s so fond of making moves, so let¡¯s give him a grand one to think about.¡± Ronald sensed that Charles was dead set on taking Robert down this time. Things seemed to be moving faster than expected, and he could not quite catch Charles¡¯s drift. ¡°You said before that you¡¯d let him keep hopping around for a bit. I thought you weren¡¯t going to touch him just yet.¡± Charles¡¯s lips curled into a sly smile. ¡°I¡¯m feeling good today. Don¡¯t bother trying to guess what I¡¯m thinking.¡± ¡°I wouldn¡¯t dream of it!¡± Ronald knew better than to try and read Charles¡¯s mind. After all, figuring out what Charles was nning was a puzzle no one could solve. With a cold huff, Charles added, ¡°Joseph thinks he¡¯s invincible with Robert backing him up. ¡°Are you saying Mr. Hoffman wants us to move on Frotconn right now?¡± Ronald could not help but think of Noelle again. He did not see what was so special about her, but Mr. Hoffman seemed to have taken a liking to her. Ronald was a bit puzzled. Charles had been known for doing whatever he wanted, and even though he was caught up in the Hoffman family drama, his wild side was usually kept under wraps, except for the asional outburst. Was Noelle the reason this time? If Ronald was being honest with himself, he was not too thrilled about it. In his eyes, Charles was untouchable and almost wless. Noelle, however¡­ ¡°Have you got something to say?¡± Charles¡¯s eyes narrowed with a hint of challenge. ¡°No, sir!¡± Ronald was quick to deny it. ¡°Frotconn has been pushing it, hiding behind the Collosus Group¡¯s name for too long.¡± ¡°Keep an eye on Mr. Lowry, and as for Joey¡­¡± Charles paused. ¡°You¡¯re on it,¡± ¡°Understood.¡± Ronald nodded. ¡°And what about Mr. Harris?¡± ¡°Why the hurry? He¡¯s the one who should be sweating it out,¡± Charles said with a dismissive snort. ¡°Give it three days¨Che¡¯lle crawling to us.¡± After hanging up on Charles, Noelle felt a mix of frustration and resignation. She had never expected Charles to call her during work to ask what she was having for lunch. Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org. Noelle was not exactlyfortable with being a couple yet, but if Charles was all in on this life¨C together deal, she would get on board. Charles had hit the nail on the head: she could not stay on memoryne forever or keep dodging reality. 1/2 +15 BONUS The best thing to do was to embrace reality. She owed it to herself to live a better life after all she had been through. Then Xavier showed up, and Noelle¡¯s brows knitted in annoyance. Xavier loomed next to her, his face all storm clouds and shadows, eyes drilling into her phone like he wanted toser through it. Noelle was not having any of it. She scowled and asked, ¡°Mr. Harris, what¡¯s up? Do you need me for something?¡± Xavier was not a fan of Noelle¡¯s chilly vibe. ¡°Who were you talking to just now?¡± Noelle¡¯s lips tightened. ¡°Why should I tell you?¡± P Comments Wife 88 Wife 88 ¡°Why should you tell me? It¡¯s work time, Noelle. Check that attitude,¡± Xavier snapped, his voice taking on an edge. ¡°Do you even care about this ce?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t have to prove anything to you about mymitment here. If you don¡¯t need anything, Mr. Harris, I¡¯ve got work to do,¡± Noelle shot back, her voice icy. Her impatience was thest straw for Xavier. He grabbed her hand hard, forcing her to face him. ¡°Noelle, we¡¯re at the office, and I¡¯m the boss here!¡± ¡°Okay, Mr. Harris, what¡¯s the big deal? Tell me!¡± Noelle said with a frostyugh. ¡°Hey, we can talk without you grabbing my hand, right?¡± She clenched her teeth and said, ¡°Let go!¡± After a struggle, she finally wrenched her hand free. Staring at the red marks Xavier¡¯s grip left, Noelle felt a surge of annoyance. ¡°You were saying, Mr. Harris?¡± ¡°Do we really have to be like this, Noelle?¡± ¡°Not talking? Then I¡¯m going back to work!¡± Noelle obviously did not want to keep bickering with Xavier, not here in the office with everyone watching. She knew how to keep things professional. Xavier, however, with his eyes red with fury, seemed oblivious to their audience, ¡°Alright, let¡¯s talk work. What were you trying to say at this morning¡¯s meeting?¡± N?velDrama.Org exclusive content. ¡°What was I trying to say? Wasn¡¯t I clear enough?¡± Noelle gave a derisive snort, ¡°You¡¯re the big boss of Frotconn. Shouldn¡¯t you be on top of these things? They¡¯re hardly my business!¡± she pointed out. ¡°Now you¡¯re asking me to spell it out for you?¡± ¡°You mentioned the Collosus Group cutting back on orders, and something about the sales department¡­ ¡°Look, you should really get the full picture yourself. I only know bits and pieces, just enough to raise the issue in the meeting. Plus, the chairman told me to keep quiet about it, remember?¡± Xavier was hit by a wave of defeat. He felt that things with Noelle had changed for good ever since the incident. They used to chat about everything. It was never like this, never so tense and loaded with hidden jabs. Noelle had never been one to bite with her words. Now, however, Xavier was at a loss for words, unsure how to even deal with her. ¡°Okay, let¡¯s drop it. You¡¯ve juste back to thepany. Everything feeling familiar again?¡± ¡°What¡¯s not to feel familiar about? I¡¯m totally in my element!¡± Noelle said, peeking at her watch. ¡°It¡¯s time to clock out, Mr. Harris!¡± She shed a small smile and pressed her lips together, looking like she was easy to talk to. Anyone who really knew Noelle understood that beneath thatid¨Cback vibe, she stood her ground whenver it came toher principles. Xavier opened his mouth to say something else. Clearly done talking, Noelle quickly gathered her stuff and was out the door with her work card in hand. Xavier stared after her, his fists balled up tight, and he took off after her. Down in the parking lot, Noelle hopped into her car and zoomed off. By the time Xavier made it outside, all he caught was the tail end of her exhaust. He wanted to chase after her, but it was too late. Frustrated, 1/2 he mmed his fist against the wall. +15 BONUS Noelle had timed her exit perfectly, avoiding the heavy traffic. The roads were clear. She was about to call Charles when his call beat her to it. His voice, cool and refreshing, came through, ¡°Are you off work?¡± COIN BUNDLE: get more free bonus Comments ? Support Wife 89 Wife 89 ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m on the road. How about you?¡± Noelle asked. I¡¯ll be there in half an hour or so.¡± ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m out too. Let¡¯s meet up!¡± Half an hourter, Noelle spotted Charles chilling by the mall entrance, with no car in sight. She stepped out of the car. ¡°Where¡¯s your car?¡± ¡°Ronald drove it off.¡± Charles said with an easy grin, one hand chilling in his pocket. His smile was like a warm spring day, totally disarming. Noelle paused, a hand to her forehead, ¡°Oh!¡± She could not help but think Charles was ying dirty with a smile like that. She never knew a guy could look so good just by smiling. Charles narrowed his eyes, catching Noelle¡¯s vibe, a spark of mischief in his gaze. ¡°You don¡¯t seem too thrilled.¡± ¡°No way!¡± Noelleughed awkwardly, ¡°You¡¯re totally seeing things!¡± ¡°I guess I must be,¡± Charles said with a yful smile, ¡°Looks like I¡¯ll have to ask you for a lift home then, Mrs. Hoffman!¡± Noelle was speechless for a moment¡­ Was he for real? ¡°You can just call me Noelle.¡± ¡°But I prefer this!¡± Charles chuckled, gently sweeping Noelle¡¯s hair back from her face, ¡°That doesn¡¯t feel right to me!¡± ¡°Fine, bute up with something else!¡± Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org. ¡°I don¡¯t want to call you what everyone else does!¡± Charles¡¯s brow crinkled. ¡°I want something that¡¯s ours, something unique.¡± Noelle let out a soft sigh. This whole nickname thing with Charles was throwing her off. ¡°Okay, then come up with something unique!¡± Charles¡¯s frown deepened, a touch of thoughtfulness in his voice. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll think of something special just for you!¡± ¡°Oh!¡± Noelle gave a nonchnt shrug. To her, any name was fine as long as it was not too formal. It was just another nickname, really. Charles thought for a beat. ¡°I haven¡¯te up with anything yet. Let¡¯s go! You were craving steak, right?¡± Noelle nodded. ¡°Yeah, and what about you?¡± She paused, considering they were a married couple now. She could not just think about her own favorites. ¡°What¡¯s your go¨Cto? I¡¯m still not sure about your tastes, so give me a heads up, and I¡¯ll keep an eye out when we shop.¡± Charles squinted with a yful grin. ¡°I¡¯m easy. I¡¯m not fussy¨Cjust make sure it¡¯s cooked!¡± He paused, That¡¯s all you¡¯re in the mood for? What about veggies?¡± ¡± Noelle blinked, surprised, ¡°Veggies are all good, aren¡¯t they?¡± Was she supposed to have strong opinions on those too? ¡°So, you¡¯re a meat¨Clover, huh?¡± Charles teased, the word ¡®meat¡® rolling off his tongue with a sly undertone. Oblivious to the tease, Noelle hesitated, then nodded. Yeah. I loved my grandpa¡¯s steak when I was little. 1/2 +15 BONUS I¡¯m not quite the chef he was. His food was amazing. I¡¯d always go back for seconds, especially for the meat dishes.¡± Sheughed, a bit sheepishly. ¡°Sounds like I¡¯m bragging, huh?¡± Charles let out a softugh. ¡°Not at all. It sounds like you¡¯re pretty easy to please. You¡¯re a big fan of meat, I see!¡± Noelle paused, puzzled. Charles¡¯s words seemed fine on the surface, but they felt off to her. Still, she nodded in agreement. ¡°Yeah, I really do love my meat!¡± C Wife 90 Wife 90 It took Noelle a while to catch the hidden meaning in Charles¡¯s words. By the time she pieced it together, the moment had slipped away, and she could not find a decent excuse to circle back to that conversation. They walked into the mall and made a beeline for the fresh produce. Noelle usually cooked at home. She rarely went to the mall for groceries, usually sticking to the local market. However, with her job eating up her time, her pots and pans were gathering dust. Charles was in his element, unlike Noelle. Following him through the aisles, Noelle felt that familiar tug of something more than admiration for this guy. She could not put her finger on it, but Charles was not like any rich kid she had ever met. He had this air of elegance and a cool charm but with a sly twist. He had the polish of the well¨Coff without the usual arrogance. Noelle was at a loss for words. However, if anything, Charles was one of a kind. Charles, leading the way with the shopping cart, noticed Noelle had stopped dead in her tracks. He paused, turned back, and caught her gaze. With a quirked eyebrow and a rhythmic tap of his fingers on the cart handle, he asked, ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± Noelle blinked, snapped out of her daze, and gave a small shake of her head, ¡°Oh, it¡¯s nothing. Just trying to decide what veggies to go for.¡± ¡°You had a n, right?¡± Charles¡¯s voice was light with a tease. ¡°Or are you thinking that we need more? Or maybe you¡¯re in the mood for something totally different?¡± ¡°Ah? No way!¡± Noelle¡¯s cheeks flushed with a mix of embarrassment and surprise, like she had been busted. She quickly tried to cover it up. ¡°I was just trying to figure out which veggies I¡¯m in the mood for.¡± Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Oh?¡± Charles drew out the word, a yful grin spreading across his face. ¡°So, what¡¯s on your mind?¡± Noelle nibbled on her lip and shook her head, her eyes darting away. ¡°Nothing!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it. We will think of something as we go.¡± Charles gestured with a casual flick of his finger toward the path ahead. ¡°Come on, let¡¯s check out the fish first.¡± Charles really knew how to handle the day¨Cto¨Cday stuff. Noelle trailed behind him, watching as he confidently picked out the best ingredients. Charles always seemed to put his heart into everything he did. Noelle watched him and thought aloud, ¡± You know, you could totally take over cooking duties forever!¡± Charles turned to her with a warm, inviting smile. ¡°If you¡¯re cool with that, I¡¯d be happy to!¡± ¡°By the way, about your nickname¡­¡± Charles tapped his fingers thoughtfully, then paused. ¡°I haven¡¯te up with one yet.¡± ¡°Just call me Nelly,¡± she blurted out. ¡°My grandpa used to call me Nelly when I was little. There was a celebrity he liked with the same name who was also born on April 5th, my birthday.¡± ¡°Nelly?¡± Charles raised an eyebrow, the name catching him off guard. It sounded so informal, but then again, it was unique, and it was hers. He nodded, epting the quirky nickname. ¡°Alright, Nelly it is!¡± ¦³¦² +15 BONUS Noelle¡¯s cheeks were tinged with a soft blush that made her irresistibly charming. Charles couldn¡¯t help but feel his spirits lift. ¡°Come on, Nelly, let¡¯s hit the road!¡± Noelle paused, thrown off by the nickname that hade out of nowhere. She was fine with it, though. They picked out ingredients, stocking up not just for today but for the next few days as well. Charles, though, was not too keen on overbuying. ¡°If we keep them too long, they¡¯ll lose their freshness.¡± COIN BUNDLE: get more free bonus Comments Çú Support GET IT Wife 91 Wife 91 +15 BONUS ¡°Oops!¡± Noelle carefully put back the extra items she had grabbed, ¡°So now we¡­ Ouch!¡± Before Noelle could finish her sentence, she was jolted by a shopping cart that a customer had identally let go of. The cart hade out of nowhere, and even Charles, with his ninja¨Clike reflexes, could not catch it in time. Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org. Charles, with a swift move, pulled Noelle out of harm¡¯s way, but the cart clipped him, causing his ankle to twist. Noelle inhaled sharply, the throbbing pain in her calf forcing her to clench her teeth. Charles caught the pained look on Noelle¡¯s face and quickly shoved the cart aside, crouching down to massage the spot where she had been struck. ¡°How are you? Does it hurt much?¡± The spot where Charles¡¯s hands were was tender, but Noelle shook her head. ¡°I¡¯m fine, really!¡± ¡°Are you sure you¡¯re okay? I¡¯m so sorry!¡± A woman, clutching her child, hurried over, her face awash with remorse. ¡°I was watching my little one and didn¡¯t see the cart get away from me. I¡¯m terribly sorry. Are you sure you¡¯re not hurt? Maybe we should check it out at the hospital?¡± Thedy realized her mistake and kept checking on how Noelle was doing. Noelle nced up and gave thedy a reassuring smile. ¡°I¡¯m fine, really. No hospital trip needed.¡± ¡°Are you sure?¡± At that moment, Charles stood up, his tall figure casting a protective shadow over Noelle. Thedy caught sight of Charles and was momentarily spellbound by his striking looks. She had never seen anyone so breathtaking before. She was so captivated that she forgot to move, not even noticing her own child¡¯s cries. Charles gave a slight frown and shot a quick, displeased look at thedy. Noelle gently pulled on Charles¡¯s hand. ¡°Hey, I¡¯m okay, see? I¡¯m all in one piece!¡± She was worried Charles might get upset, and thedy wouldn¡¯t be able to handle it. Noelle shifted her leg a bit to show him she was really alright. Charles¡¯s eyebrows knitted together, and he looked like he wanted to say more. Noelle, however, shook her head. ¡°Come on, I¡¯m starving, and we¡¯ve still got shopping to do!¡± Limping slightly, Noelle led Charles away. Thedy took a moment to snap out of her daze, her cheeks flushed as she watched them go. Charles knew Noelle was downying her pain. This tough littledy was pretending she was just fine. However, seeing her limp, he could not help but pull her to a stop. Noelle gave him a puzzled look, not sure what he was getting at. ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± Charles suddenly scooped Noelle up into his arms, causing her to yelp in surprise as she instinctively clung to his neck. ¡°Hey! What are you doing? Let me go!¡± Blushing, Noelle stole a nce at Charles, then at the crowd that had gathered to gawk. Their suggestive stares made her cheeks ze even hotter. She lowered her gaze and fiddled with the cuff of Charles¡¯s jacket. ¡°Why did you pick me up? Come on, put me down¡­ Hey! Why are you dumping me in a shopping cart? I¡¯m not a little kid ante!¡± 1/2 +15 BONUS Noelle¡¯s face turned beet red as she found herself sitting in the cart, as red as a lobster. She could feel her ears burning up. She tried to climb out, but Charles gently yet firmly pushed her back down. ¡°Hey!¡± she protested. Charles¡¯s fingers gently pressed against Noelle¡¯s arm as he towered over her, a yful twinkle in his eyes. ¡°Stay put. You wouldn¡¯t want to hurt your legs, would you?¡± Comments Wife 92 Wife 92 +15 BONUS A warmth spread through Noelle¡¯s chest, though she tried to sound annoyed. ¡°Really, what will people think, seeing me in here like this?¡± ¡°It¡¯s either the cart or the hospital. Take your pick!¡± Charles challenged her with a choice. Noelle¡¯s mouth opened, but no words came out. She chose to remain silent. Sometimes Charles could be so overbearing, Noelle thought. However, in a strange way, his assertiveness was kind of endearing. Noelle knew Charles was only fussing over her because of her sprained ankle, and she realized that not every guy would be so thoughtful. She bit her lip and sat still in the shopping cart, twiddling her fingers. She was grateful, indeed, but she was also an adult, and being carted around by Charles was just in weird. Out of Noelle¡¯s sight, Charles let a smile creep into his eyes, a fond grin that made everyone else around wish they had someone to look at them like that. Pushing the cart with one hand and juggling some groceries with the other, Charles noticed Noelle giving herself a little pep talk before she finally peeked up at him. ¡°Need anything else?¡± ¡°Yeah, you brought a lot, we still have a few things to pick up,¡± Charles replied, ncing down at her. Noelle, all curled up inside the cart with those big, doe eyes staring back at him, brought back memories of a fluffy Samoyed pup he used to have. That little ball of fur used to follow him everywhere. After he moved away from Brookville, however, he could not take the dog with him, and heter found out it had grown old and passed away peacefully. A shadow passed over Charles¡¯s eyes, yet Noelle caught the shift in his mood and chose to stay quiet, understanding without words. Squinting yfully, Charles reached out and ruffled Noelle¡¯s hair. ¡°Wanna go faster?¡± Noelle made a face and shoved Charles¡¯s hand away. ¡°Look what you did to my hair!¡± She shot him an annoyed look; however, her irritation quickly turned to rm. ¡°Charles, what are you doing? Take it easy, will you?¡± #1 Charles was zooming along with the shopping cart, darting across the walkway. Everyone around them stopped to watch the two grown¨Cups acting like kids. Belonging to N?velDrama.Org. Caught up in Charles¡¯s yful energy, Noelle¡¯s gloom lifted. She grabbed the edge of the cart with one hand and pointed ahead with the other. ¡°Charles, go faster. Head to the front¨CI need to get my face wash! ¡°Got it!¡± Charles¡¯s smile widened, his eyes twinkling as he caught sight of Noelle¡¯s grin. Their fun and games, however,nded them in hot water when mall security stopped them and escorted them to a back room. ¡°Excuse me, sir, miss, but you¡¯re causing quite a disturbance in our mall.¡± Charles just nodded. ¡°Is there anything else?¡± The guard, taken aback by Charles¡¯s nonchnt response, bristled with irritation. ¡°Now, look here, sir¡­¡± ¡°Hold on, it¡¯s all a misunderstanding!¡± Noelle jumped to her feet, shooting Charles another look before bowing slightly in apology. ¡°We¡¯re so sorry for the trouble. It¡¯s my fault for getting carried away. Please Wife 93 Wife 93 Noelle, believing it was better to avoid making a scene, tugged at Charles¡¯s hand to keep him quiet.¡± We¡¯re really, really sorry!¡± N?velDrama.Org exclusive content. ¡°Look, ma¡¯am, you seem like a sensible person. There¡¯s been no harm done today, so we¡¯ll let it slide this time. However, you and your husband need to watch it from now on. What you do at home is your business, but in public, you¡¯ve got to mind yourselves. Think about it. The mall is huge, with tons of people around. Something could go wrong, you know?¡± ¡°Yes, sir. That makes total sense. We¡¯ve got it,¡± Noelle said, shing another smile and quickly adding, ¡± We¡¯re really sorry about this, won¡¯t happen again, promise.¡± After her apology, Noelle shot Charles a look that could freezeva. Noticing Charles¡¯s growing impatience, she took his hand and gave his palm a secret pinch. ¡°Hey, it¡¯s no biggie, right? We messed up, that¡¯s all. Your turn to say sorry.¡± ¡°Me, apologize?¡± Charles scowled. Noelle¡¯s warning nce, however, told him this was not the time for his antics. For the first time ever, Mr. Hoffman found himself cowed by a woman¡¯s stare and muttered, albeit unwillingly, ¡°Sorry, our bad.¡± The security guard was not out to give them a hard time. Seeing their apologies, he was ready to drop it, ¡± Alright then. I have nothing more to say. You two can¡­ ¡°Oops, my bad, I¡¯mte!¡± Ronald, who had been getting a kick out of the drama from a distance, finally showed up, huffing and puffing as if he had sprinted the whole way. Catching sight of Charles¡¯s thunderous look, Ronald¡¯s heart; skipped a beat, and he coughed awkwardly. ¡°Mr. Hoffman, I got caught in traffic. Sorry I¡¯mte. About this whole thing¡­¡± ¡°Could you be anyter?¡± Charles scoffed, his icy stare cutting through Ronald like a knife. Ronald, caught off guard, let out a nervousugh. ¡°Traffic was a nightmare, Mr. Hoffman, I swear!¡± Ronald was on the verge of tears, feeling utterly miserable. Then he remembered something that had almost knocked his socks off earlier: he had seen the big boss himself apologizing to some low¨Clevel employee. Knowing when to zip his lips, Ronald tried to salvage the situation. ¡°Mr. Hoffman, why don¡¯t you and Mrs. Hoffman head out? I¡¯ll take care of everything here.¡± Charles gave Ronald a look that could freezeva. With a grunt, however, he grabbed Noelle¡¯s hand.¡± We¡¯re leaving.¡± Noelle, about to speak, caught Ronald¡¯s desperate eyes and Charles¡¯s thunderous expression. She zipped it and followed Charles out. Ronald was kicking himself for missing his chance toe in earlier while he was too busy enjoying the show outside. The security guard, totally lost, looked at the group, especially Ronald. ¡°Sir, this has been settled. You¡¯re not needed here.¡± Ronald was speechless. 1/2 +15 BONUS The guard gave Ronald another once¨Cover. ¡°And who might you be?¡± Ronald snorted, ¡°Ever heard of who owns this mall?¡± ¡°Sure,¡± the guard said, looking at Ronald like he was a few cards short of a full deck, ¡°Collosus Group. So what¡¯s up? I¡¯m not here to chit¨Cchat!¡± ¡°Alright, I¡¯m not in the mood for small talk either. Did you catch a glimpse of the guy who just left? He¡¯s the boss of Collosus Group. Next time, keep your eyes peeled.¡± BIG SALE: 3500 bonus free fou you Comments Wife 94 Wife 94 ¡°What¡­ what?¡± the guard¡¯s eyes bulged, ¡°You¡¯re kidding, right?¡± ¡°Do I look like I¡¯m kidding?¡± Ronald had adjusted his cor, ¡°Next time, pay attention. The big boss does what he wants, especially with his wife.¡± Ronald gave the guard¡¯s shoulder a reassuring pat, ¡°You got lucky today, bumping into the boss¡¯s wife!¡± The guard was speechless Noelle carefully led Charles away, trying to read his mood. She had attempted to slip her hand away from his, but he gripped it even tighter. Noelle bit her lip. ¡°You¡¯re not mad, are you?¡± Charles stayed silent, and Noelle really thought he was mad. She stopped and pulled at his hand. ¡°Don¡¯t be so touchy. The guard was right. We did cause a scene, and he was just doing his job.¡± Charles stopped. A ticklish feeling in his palm made him raise an eyebrow, amused. He had put on a stern face to y along with Noelle. Turning to her, he had said, ¡°But you thought I should apologize? Noelle bit her lip, feeling cornered. She had not expected Charles to take it so hard. Someone like him had probably never had to apologize before! Did him apologizing wound his pride? ¡°Hey, it¡¯s not like anyone else knows about it!¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t Ronald somebody?¡± Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org. Charles¡¯s voice was icy, distant, ¡°You know, I¡¯m not a fan of apologizing.¡± ¡°Okay, okay. It¡¯s my fault, happy now? Ronald works for you. He wouldn¡¯t dare spill the beans, right?¡± Noelle retorted. ¡°We were in the wrong, you know¡­¡± Charles could not suppress a chuckle at Noelle¡¯s panicked state. Realizing she had been duped, Noelle¡¯s cheeks flushed with embarrassment. ¡°Oh, so I¡¯m just a pushover to you, huh?¡± She wriggled free and pinched Charles¡¯s arm hard. ¡°How could you?¡± Charles winced and inhaled sharply. Noelle¡¯s concern red. ¡°Too hard? I didn¡¯t think I pinched that much. Does it hurt?¡± She reached for his sleeve, but Charles wrapped his arms around her instead. ¡°I¡¯m fine, really.¡± Encircled by Charles¡¯s arms, Noelle¡¯s heart skipped erratically. The sensation was new and confusing, a mix of wanting to pull away, yet draw nearer. He smelled amazing, a crisp blend of lime and orange that was both invigorating and soothing. Noelle had never thought a man could smell so good. She was drawn close, her head gently pressed against his chest. Noelle¡¯s cheek was glued to his chest, feeling the steady drum of his heartbeat echo her own. Her face flushed, hands bracing against Charles¡¯s torso, she stammered, ¡°What are you doing? There are so many people here. Let go of me!¡± 1/2 +15 BONUS Attempting to wriggle free, with cheeks burning, Charles¡¯s firm hand guided her head back to his chest.¡± Stay stili.¡± His voice was a low rumble, and his scent enveloped her, freezing her in ce, her body tensing. ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± Comments Wife 95 Wife 95 ¡°Nelly.¡± He said her name like it was something sacred Noelle blinked up at him, ¡°Yeah?¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡± Charles inhaled deeply, releasing her gently to avoid frightening her. He grabbed something and started walking. ¡°Come on. We¡¯ve wasted enough time, and you said you were starving, right?¡± At his words, Noelle patted her stomach, ¡°I¡¯m totally starving!¡± She decided not to dwell on Charles¡¯s earlier behavior. ¡°So, who¡¯s cooking today, you or me?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll cook if you drive us home,¡± Charles offered with a smile. ¡°Let¡¯s hit the road!¡± Ronald could not believe his eyes when he stepped out of the mall. There was his boss, the epitome of cool and distant, looking down at Noelle with such warmth, his arms full of groceries. Ronald shook his head in disbelief. The thought of his usually unapproachable boss living a normal life was almost too much. If Peter and Sean caught wind of this, they would never let him live it down. Ronald shivered as he tried to shake off the haunting image. Noelle gripped the steering wheel, sneaking a nce at Charles, who sat serenely beside her. The quietness was new, unfamiliar, and oddly unsettling. Charles, lounging with one hand cradling his cheek, gave Noelle azy, sidelong look. ¡°What¡¯s with the stare?¡± Feeling caught, Noelle coughed awkwardly. ¡°Oh, nothing, just¡­ why am I driving when I¡¯m not exactly a pro behind the wheel?¡± ¡°Because you¡¯re not a pro. You know what they say, practice makes perfect. I think you should be the one driving whenever we¡¯re together,¡± Charles said with a hint of teasing. Noelle felt trapped by her own words and darted her eyes around, searching for an escape. Then, as if struck by a sudden thought, she blurted out, ¡°So, Collosus Group has ties with Frotconn, huh?¡± Charles¡¯s eyebrow quirked at her clumsy attempt to switch topics. ¡°Really? You¡¯ve been at Frotconn for years, right?¡± Noelle bit her lip, conceding, ¡°I never really followed that stuff.¡± She paused, then added, ¡°I had no clue Frotconn was linked to you or that Collosus Group was your family¡¯s business.¡± Suppressing augh, Charles teased, ¡°So, what¡¯s your question?¡± ¡°Why cut back on the orders to Frotconn?¡± Noelle asked, genuinely puzzled. Charles shed a sly grin, leaning casually against the car door with one hand while the other tapped rhythmically against his knee. ¡°Come on, you¡¯re too clever not to know why,¡± he teased. Noelle felt a jolt of anxiety, biting her lip as she eyed Charles warily. ¡°I¡¯ve been through Frotconn¡¯s records for the past few years. Without the Collosus Group propping it up, there¡¯s no way it would¡¯ve made it this far. So, I¡¯m lost here. What¡¯s your deal with Frotconn¡­ or more like, with Joseph and Xavier? Someone as sharp as you has got to see that it¡¯s just throwing money down a ck hole!¡± Charles cocked an eyebrow, a silent cue for her to go on. Noelle took a deep breath and ventured, ¡°So, is This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org . 1/2 this about not wanting to throw Frotconn another lifeline?¡± A glint of something fierce flicker in Charles¡¯s eyes. ¡°Like I said, you¡¯re really smart.¡± BIG SALE: 3500 bonus free fou you P Wife 96 Wife 96 Noelle was not exactly thrilled by Charles¡¯spliment. She gave a half¨Chearted smile and said, ¡°So, is this the end of the road for Frotconn?¡± Charles took a moment, then looked at Noelle with a tilt of his head, a yful challenge in his gaze. ¡°Why? Got a soft spot for it?¡± Noelle pressed her lips together, a little frustrated. ¡°You know that¡¯s not what I¡¯m saying.¡± She tried to keep her feelings out of it but could not help asking, ¡°Does it have to go down like this?¡± ¡°Stay out of the business stuff. There are things I cannot share with you,¡± Charles replied firmly. ¡°You¡¯ll be in the loop when you need to be.¡± ¡°Fine,¡± Noelle conceded, letting the subject drop. Noelle could tell there was more to the story than Charles was letting on. It was not just one thing that had him so determined. She smiled half¨Cheartedly. ¡°If Frotconn goes under, what¡¯ll happen to me?¡± ¡°You¡¯re smart. You¡¯llnd on your feet,¡± he said, tapping his knee as if to emphasize his point. ¡°Take a left here.¡± Snapping out of her thoughts, Noelle gave an embarrassed smile, ¡°Sorry, I shouldn¡¯t pry into your company¡¯s business.¡± ¡°No,¡± Charles said, giving her a look that hinted atyers of meaning, ¡°If you¡¯re curious, I¡¯m open.¡± Their eyes locked, and Noelle felt her heartbeat pick up. She cleared her throat, ¡°I¡¯d rather not. I¡¯m not part of yourpany, after all.¡± She quickly changed the subject, and luckily, Charles did not press further. Noelle was supposed to be the cook, but there was something oddly touching about seeing him bustling around the kitchen. Leaning against the doorframe, she hesitated before he caught her gaze, quirking an eyebrow, ¡°Something on your mind?¡± ¡°Need a hand?¡± she asked, nodding towards the veggies in the sink. ¡°I can cook, you know.¡± ¡°Alright, you¡¯re on veggie duty!¡± Charles said with a yfulmand. ¡°You¡¯ll have plenty of time to cookter. What is the hurry?¡± He gave her a teasing look that made her freeze for a second before she replied with a determined, ¡°Okay!¡± The doorbell echoed through the house, and Noelle shot Charles a wary nce. ¡°Who else could be dropping by at this hour?¡± Charles¡¯s eyes narrowed into slits, a sly grin spreading across his face. ¡°Go check it out!¡± Nodding, Noelle dried her hands and headed for the door, figuring it was probably one of Charles¡¯s buddies. The moment the door swung open, however, she was met with a towering presence that made her shriek and stumble backward, her heart racing as she stared at the unexpected duo¨Ca man and his dog. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Charles rushed to the scene, alerted by themotion. Shaking, Noelle pointed at the doorstep invaders. ¡°I¡­ I got scared,¡± she stammered, recalling how the dog nearly lunged at her, only to be restrained by Sean in the nick of time. 1/2 +15 BONUS Charles¡¯s brow furrowed, his gaze sharp as itnded on Sean. ¡°Why are you here?¡± It was not a casual ¡®how did you get here?¡® but a pointed ¡®what are you doing here?¡®. Sean was clearly not on the guest list. Sean just smirked, giving the dog a reassuring pat. ¡°Thought I¡¯d swing by for a housewarming, you know? Don¡¯t worry, my dog¡¯s just super intuitive¨Cit only wanted to get friendly because it took a shine to you!¡± P Comments N?velDrama.Org exclusive content. Wife 97 Wife 97 Sean¡¯s grin was disarmingly innocent as he adjusted his sses, looking innocent. Noelle forced augh, her nerves still jangled. The phrase ¡®wolf in sheep¡¯s clothing¡® popped into her head unbidden, and she could not help but think it was the perfect way to sum up Sean right then. Charles squinted, a frosty glint in his eyes, ¡°Showing up unannounced?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t tell me my Noelle isn¡¯t happy to see me.¡± Sean¡¯s eyesnded on Noelle with a yful smirk. ¡°Hmm?¡± Noelle forced augh, ¡°You two chat. I¡¯ll just be in the kitchen!¡± Charles caught Noelle¡¯s hand just in time. ¡°You okay? You look a bit shaken.¡± Noelle gulped, shaking her head, ¡°I¡¯m fine, really. I just got a little spooked, but I¡¯m all good now!¡± She wriggled her hand free from Charles. ¡°You can catch up with Sean, I¡¯ll get started on dinner!¡± Seeing Noelle practically bolt away as he opened his mouth to respond, Charles could not help but let out a stifledugh. Sean, catching this rare sight, teased, ¡°What¡¯s this? Trying to be Mr. Nice Guy now?¡± Charles shot him a daggered look that made Sean¡¯s heart skip. Despite this, Sean just shed an award- winning grin. ¡°Come on, bro, you¡¯re not ying fair. Every man for himself!¡± ¡°Really?¡± Charles smirked, ¡°Should I call her back, then?¡± Sean¡¯s smile vanished, ¡°Dude, are you messing with me?¡± ¡°What about you?¡± Charles was not in the mood to be friendly, ¡°Why did you evene here?¡± ¡°Have you forgotten? It¡¯s to celebrate your partnership with our new sister¨Cinw. We nned a bros¡® get- together. Obviously, you¡¯re not on board. The big guy and Peter are busy, so I figured I would at least check in for them!¡± Sean said with a straight face, nudging the dog beside him with his foot. ¡°Arnold, sit!¡± Arnold, Sean¡¯s unlikelypanion, was a ck¨Cfurred pooch with a striking streak down his back. Whenever Charles shot him one of those piercing looks, Arnold would droop his head sadly and snuggle up to Sean¡¯s feet, looking guilty. Sean gave Arnold¡¯s head aforting pat. ¡°You¡¯re sure about this?¡± he asked. Charles shot Sean a skeptical look. ¡°We¡¯ve got the paperwork all sorted. What¡¯s left to doubt?¡± He let out a derisive snort. ¡°So, what¡¯s the real reason you¡¯re here today?¡± Sean gave a nonchnt shrug. ¡°Just bored, that¡¯s all. You know how swamped I¡¯ve been. And Arnold can¡¯t stand the Smiths¡® ce!¡± ¡°You¡¯re thinking of dumping Arnold on me?¡± Charles¡¯s voice was icy. ¡°You¡¯ve seen it yourself. Noelle can¡¯t stand the sight of him.¡± At the mention of Noelle, Arnold perked up, his eyes wide and pleading. He let out a couple of sad barks and shuffled over to Charles, nuzzling against his leg with his big head, trying to win him over. Charles would not have it. He nudged Arnold away without a nce. ¡°Why not leave him with Peter?¡± 1/2 This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org . +15 BONUS Sean massaged his temples in frustration. ¡°You think haven¡¯t thought of that? Peter¡¯s only got eyes for his own dogs. Arnold doesn¡¯t stand a chance there¡­¡± He sighed. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t be here if I wasn¡¯t desperate, Charles. I¡¯ve got a conference out of town in a few days.¡± Charles looked up, a frown creasing his forehead. ¡°The answer¡¯s no, Sean. Noelle doesn¡¯t like him.¡± ¡°Noelle hates everything.¡± Sean rolled his eyes at Charles with a look that could only be described as pure scorn. ¡°Honestly, I think it¡¯s got nothing to do with our dear Noelle!¡± BIG SALE: 3500 bonus free fou you Wife 98 Wife 98 ¡®Got nothing to do with me? What are they talking about?¡® Noelle had just stepped out of the kitchen when she overheard Sean¡¯sment. She stopped in her tracks. The sight of the massive, dark silhouette made her hesitate, and she stayed put. Arnold noticed Noelle¡¯s reluctance and let out a couple of sad howls, feeling totally rejected. He bounded over to her. Noelle, startled, quickly backed into the kitchen. ¡°No, no, stay back!¡± ¡°Arnold!¡± Charles¡¯s voice was deep and icy, cutting through the air. Arnold froze, his four paws halting mid- stride. He turned to Charles with a look that screamed, ¡®I¡¯m hurt.¡® Noelle could not help it. Arnold¡¯s dramatics cracked her up, and she let out augh. That was all Arnold needed. He perked up, howled joyfully, and dashed over to Charles, yfully tugging at the hem of his suit pants. He howled again, this time with a wag in his tail, as if to say, ¡®See, she loves me!¡® Charles surveyed the scene¨CNoelle, Arnold, and Sean¨Cwith his piercing gaze, finallynding on Sean.¡± How long?¡± Sean grinned, sensing an opportunity. ¡°Oh, not long at all. Just a week at most!¡± Charles¡¯s expression tightened ever so slightly as he turned to Noelle. ¡°Arnold¡¯s staying. What do you think?¡± Was he really asking for her opinion? Noelle blinked, taken aback. Was Arnold the dog in question? Noelle felt a bit awkward, mostly because Arnold had given her quite the scare earlier. She was over the initial shock, but she was not sure if she could really handle having Arnold around. Then there was Charles. It was his house, after all. Why was she being roped into this? Sean gave Noelle those big, puppy¨Cdog eyes. ¡°Come on, you can¡¯t just leave Arnold to fend for himself for a whole week, not eating or drinking, can you?¡± Noelle was speechless. Was the situation really that dire? She shot Charles a look, hoping he would offer up some wisdom. Charles, clearly annoyed, shot a nce at Sean before finally giving Noelle a nod. ¡°He¡¯s got a business trip for a week. If it¡¯s cool with you, we can keep Arnold here. But if you¡¯re not down, I¡¯ll kick them out now.¡± Sean was silent. Arnold too. Noelle let out an awkwardugh, looking at the pair of man and dog both giving her the most heart¨Cwrenching puppy¨Cdog eyes. ¡°I¡¯m okay with it!¡± she dered. 11 Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org. Sean exhaled in relief. ¡°You¡¯re a lifesaver. Arnold¡¯s a breeze to look after. Just toss him in a corner, and if he bugs you, just keep him at arm¡¯s length.¡± Noelle gave a hesitant nod, but then she gasped, ¡°My cooking! She dashed into the kitchen, leaving Charles and Sean to exchange a knowing look. Sean¡¯s lips quirked into a smile. ¡°She¡¯s got it under control!¡± Charles arched an eyebrow and let out a cold huff, ¡°She¡¯s good!¡± He pressed his lips together, giving Sean a look as if he had just bitten into a lemon, ¡°Since we¡¯re done here, how about you get out of here?¡± ¡°Get out?¡± Sean blinked, then shed an innocent grin, No way. I didn¡¯te all this way just to leave early. It¡¯s just about dinner time, and I¡¯m still dreaming of thest meal Noelle made us. It was out of this 1/2 +15 BONUS world!¡± ¡°Sean, are looking for a sparring session?¡± Charles¡¯s eyes narrowed, his handsing together with a crackle that suggested trouble. Comments Wife 99 Wife 99 Sean, of course, ended up staying for dinner. +15 BONUS He could not stop raving about Noelle¡¯s cooking, and she blushed at thepliments. Post¨Cdinner, Noelle tackled the dishes while Sean and Charles headed to the study upstairs to get down to business. Arnold, meanwhile, was huddled in a corner, his puppy¨Cdog eyes fixed on the kitchen door, silently pleading for Noelle, thedy of the hour, to notice him. Once upstairs, Charles flicked a cigarette Sean¡¯s way. ¡°Let¡¯s hear it.¡± Sean smirked and let out a low chuckle. ¡°You always know what¡¯s on my mind.¡± Charles tapped his fingers on the chair, his expression tight, ¡°Believe me, there¡¯s nothing I want less.¡± He paused before adding, ¡°So, what¡¯s thetest drama with the Smiths?¡± ¡°Oh, it¡¯s my cousin again!¡± ¡°Is it Andy?¡± Charles¡¯s lips curled into a half¨Csmile, ¡°What¡¯s he gotten himself into this time?¡± Belonging to N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Who¡¯s Andy? The Smiths don¡¯t even recognize that name!¡± Sean said with a half¨Csmile. Talking about his cousin could fill books. ¡°Why¡¯d he ditch Banyan City for Brookville, huh?¡± Sean was talking about their very own golden boy, Andy, who also went by Bob. In Brookville, the Smiths were adamant about calling him Bob and would not even touch the name ¡®Andy¡® with a ten¨C foot pole. Charles flicked his cigarette, ¡°Since when do you care about the Smiths¡® drama? Why does it bug you that he showed up?¡± He remembered Andy, alright. A couple of years back in Banyan City, he had bumped into Andy a few times. The guy was sharp, but he yed by his own rules. Sean scrunched his brow, annoyed by Charles¡¯s couldn¡¯t¨Ccare¨Cless vibe, ¡°You know I¡¯m not into the whole Smith enterprise. They¡¯ve backed off from me, but Bob¡¯s got a screw loose or something. He¡¯s always on my case!¡± Sean ran his fingers through his hair, exasperated. Charles quirked an eyebrow, ¡°So, you¡¯re telling me you skipped town for a ¡®meeting,¡® but really, you were ducking him?¡± Charles let out augh. ¡°Man, I¡¯ve never seen you so spooked. You¡¯re usually Mr. Cool, but after her, Bob¡¯s the only one who¡¯s got you all tied up in knots!¡± Sean red at Charles, frustration written all over his face. ¡°Come on, we¡¯re brothers, aren¡¯t we? I¡¯m in a real bind here, and you¡¯re bringing this up now? Don¡¯t forget, you had a hand in her leaving too!¡± Every time he thought of her, Sean¡¯s chest tightened with a pain he could not stand and wished he could forget. Charles¡¯s eyes were dark and intense as he looked at Sean, his voice cold and distant. ¡°You know, if you hadn¡¯t brought it up, I would¡¯ve totally forgotten she was part of our Hoffman crew.¡± He said icily, ¡°I wasn¡¯t helping you back then. You just weren¡¯t right for her.¡± A shiver ran through Sean¡¯s fingers, and a shadow of sadness flickered in his eyes. ¡°Then who is?¡± ¡°It¡¯s definitely not you!¡± Charles snuffed out his cigarette with finality. ¡°You made a promise to let her go. You owe her that much.¡± Sean went quiet, took a harsh drag of his cigarette, and coughed so hard he nearly teared up. His hands, 1/2 +15 BONUS usually stained with bleach, were shaking and unnaturally white. ¡°She probably still mes you, you know. You¡¯re her big brother, yet you took my side.¡± ¡°That¡¯s none of your business!¡± Charles¡¯s brow furrowed. ¡°Just because I haven¡¯t called you out doesn¡¯t mean you¡¯re off the hook. She wasn¡¯t right for you, and she¡¯s not right for the Hoffmans either!¡± BIG SALE: 3500 bonus free fou you Wife 100 Wife 100 +15 BONUS Sean closed his eyes for a moment, trying to let it go. ¡°Okay, enough about that. I¡¯m heading out in two days. Can you look after Arnold for me?¡± He got up to leave, then hesitated. ¡°And my cousin¡­ if he bothers you, just¡­ try to cut him some ck, okay?¡± Charles nodded, giving Sean a quick look. ¡°Just watch your back, alright?¡± Sean gave a half¨Csmile, a hint of caution in his voice. ¡°You¡® got to watch your back these days. I hear you¡¯re nning to take on Robert? He may not be a tiger, but watch out. Even a kitty can pack a punch!¡± Grabbing his suit jacket from the chair, Sean headed for the door and spotted Noelle with two bowls of gazpacho. ¡°Is this for us?¡± Noelle nodded. ¡°Try it!¡± N?velDrama.Org exclusive content. Sean chuckled. ¡°I¡¯d love to, but I¡¯ve got some loose ends to tie up at the hospital. Save it for a toast with my bro!¡± ¡°Sure thing. Catch youter!¡± Noelle replied with a warm smile, missing the stern look on Charles¡¯s face as Sean left. Turning around, Noelle found Charles holding her bowl. ¡°Want a taste? I made it earlier and just chilled it. Should be perfect!¡± Charles gave a sly squint, letting the previous topic slide. He sipped the soup, his eyebrows lifting in approval. Seeing his reaction, Noelle¡¯s tension melted away. ¡°Well?¡± ¡°It¡¯s delicious!¡± Charles said honestly. ¡°The perfect mix of tart and sweet, and just the right chill!¡± ¡°Great! If you like it, have some more!¡± Noelle beamed. ¡°I overheard you guys earlier. Running into any trouble?¡± Charles downed the rest of the soup and handed back the empty bowl, which Noelle took with ease. He hesitated for a moment. ¡°Nah, just the usualpany red tape.¡± Noelle gave a quick nod. ¡°You¡® got stuff to do, so I¡¯ll let you get back to it!¡± Charles caught her hand, causing Noelle to give him a confused nce. ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± ¡°You¡¯re with the Frotconn project team, right?¡± ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s right, the pro team,¡± she confirmed, then hesitated. ¡°Something wrong?¡± Charles shook his head. ¡°Ever thought about leaving Frotconn?¡± That threw Noelle for a loop. Honestly, the thought had never crossed her mind. Charles seemed different today, and it made Noelle give it some real thought. ¡°Why would I?¡± She gave a smallugh. ¡°I¡¯m not the type to just quit, but I¡¯m also not going to bang my head against a brick wall. Leaving because of something Xavier did is not my style.¡± She eyed Charles. ¡°However, after the mess today, maybe it¡¯s time to think it over.¡± Charles nodded in agreement. ¡°Frotconn¡¯s hit a ceiling. Joseph¡¯s stuck. He never thought to use the resources Collosus Group offered him to grow. Instead, he¡¯s just trying to snag benefits from them. A 1/2 +15 BONUS Noelle bit her lip. ¡°I might not see things the way your big boss does, but Frotconn¡¯s definitely got issues, and they didn¡¯t just pop up overnight.¡± ¡°Why¡¯d you even join Frotconn?¡± Caught off guard, Noelle¡¯s cheeks tinged pink. ¡°Would you think less of me if I said it was for personal reasons?¡± Comments Wife 101 Wife 101 ¡°No!¡± Charles spoke with twinkling eyes, but his words were serious. ¡°We all get the wrong impression of people sometimes.¡± He smiled. ¡°The important thing is that you see things clearer now!¡± Noelle bit her lip. Talking to Charles was like riding a roller coaster. The conversation could zoom off in any direction, and he had a way of making everything seem like just a game. She could not quite figure him out. ¡°Ever since I was little, I knew I couldn¡¯t be part of City Ring Corp., even though I didn¡¯t know why. But honestly, I didn¡¯t care much about it.¡± Noelle paused. ¡°Sometimes I wonder if all those things are really so important. My sister Winter and I never get along, and Xavier chose her over me because of all that stuff.¡± ¡°It¡¯s super important!¡± Charles said, tapping his fingers. ¡°It¡¯s not that you don¡¯t care. You just think there¡¯s a limit to how much those things matter, especially when youpare them to family.¡± Noelle looked up, surprised. ¡°How did you know?¡± Charles grinned. ¡°You¡¯re really straightforward. In this crazy world, I thought you¡¯d be the one to stand up and fight.¡± He stepped closer and took Noelle¡¯s hand. ¡°Letting things slide doesn¡¯t always get you the best oue. If you don¡¯t stand up for yourself, you won¡¯t solve anything.¡± ¡°But what will I get if I fight for myself?¡± Noelle shook her head. ¡°I don¡¯t want to! I don¡¯t want to make a mess of things.¡± ¡°Do you think things aren¡¯t already a mess now?¡± he challenged her. ¡°Don¡¯t you see that the more you back down, the more they¡¯ll walk all over you?¡± This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org . Noelle fell silent, knowing Charles was right. When Noelle was little, Winter always took her toys and messed with her grades. Noelle and her parents did not make a big deal out of it. As they grew up, Winter started to want everything Noelle liked. It got so bad that Winter ended up engaged to Noelle¡¯s boyfriend, Xavier, with their parents¡® blessing. Noelle¡¯s parents were willing to let her be mistreated to help Winter and to get money for City Ring Corp. ¡°Nelly, if you let people walk all over you, they¡¯ll just keep pushing until you¡¯re up against the wall,¡± Charles said, holding Noelle¡¯s shoulders and making her look at him. ¡°You don¡¯t have to fight them tooth and nail, but don¡¯t let them make you feel small, okay?¡± Noelle forced a smile and let out a sigh. ¡°I got it.¡± Charles¡¯s words were tough to hear, but they were true. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t let it happen again.¡± Now that Noelle saw things clearly, she would not let them push her around. She just needed time to figure things out. Charles nodded, his eyes showing a trace of concern. He knew his words might be too heavy for her, but he still warned her, ¡°Frotconn might be in trouble soon. Just watch out for yourself!¡± Noelle¡¯s eyes widened as she quickly understood what Charles meant. 1/2 +15 BONUS This was her problem, not Charles¡®, and Joseph¡¯s family did not really have much to do with the Hoffman family, so he did not have to worry too much about it. Noelle nodded. ¡°You can do what you want. I¡¯m just a mere worker to Frotconn, so you don¡¯t have to worry about my feelings!¡± She paused for a moment. ¡°Want another drink?¡± Charles smiled. ¡°Sure!¡± BIG SALE: 3500 bonus free fou you Wife 102 Wife 102 ¡°Mr. Harris, Director Harris from Frotconn is waiting for you in your meeting room.¡± Robert¡¯s secretary knocked on his door. ¡°What should I tell him?¡± ¡°How long has he been waiting?¡± Robert put down his pen and nced at his watch. ¡°Tell him I¡¯ll be there in a moment.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Robert frowned as he looked over the report that had been brought up that morning, then at the document on his desk. He took a deep breath and headed to the meeting room. Robert was a very charming middle¨Caged man who still maintained the same sparkle he had as a youth. However, after years of being outmaneuvered by Charles at Collosus Group, he had aged quite a bit. When Robert opened the meeting room door, he saw Joseph quickly stand up, looking as if he was greeting someone very important. ¡°Mr. Harris.¡± Robert raised an eyebrow. ¡°What brings you here?¡± ¡°I¡­ I wanted to ask if there¡¯s been any trouble at Collosus Grouptely.¡± Robert quirked an eyebrow. ¡°What prompted you to ask that?¡± He had not caught wind of any such talk, and besides, with Charles at the helm of Collosus Group, there was no reason to worry. Joseph bit his lip, wondering if Robert was truly out of the loop. ¡°Just tell me!¡± Robert checked his watch. ¡°I¡¯ve got another meeting soon.¡± Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Collosus Group has been cutting back on orders from Frotconntely¡­ Did you know about this?¡± ¡°Really? That¡¯s news to me.¡± Robert¡¯s eyes darted around, showing his surprise. Then, he grew serious. That can¡¯t be right. You know Collosus Group has always taken good care of Frotconn. There shouldn¡¯t be any issues like this. Did yourpany do something wrong?¡± Joseph¡¯s face fell. He could understand if Collosus Group was cutting orders because they noticed a mistake. However, he had thought it over and could not figure out what they might have done wrong. ¡°Could you talk to Mr. Hoffman for us? This year for Frotconn has been¡­¡± ¡°Mr. Harris!¡± The secretary rushed in, leaned in close to Robert, and whispered urgently. Robert¡¯s expression transformed in an instant, his hands gripping the sofa arms tightly. ¡°Are you sure about this?¡± The secretary nodded, looking serious. ¡°It¡¯s true. Someone saw Ronald taking away Mr. Lowry yesterday.¡± ¡°Ronald?¡± Robert¡¯s face darkened. Ronald was Charles¡¯s right¨Chand man. If Ronald was involved, it meant that Charles was too, and nobody knew the consequences of that better than Robert. ¡°Why are you only telling me now?¡± Robert asked. ¡°We weren¡¯t sure what was going on until today. Mr. Lowry didn¡¯t show up for work, so¡­¡± The secretary was worried too. His absence was a big deal, so they had checked on it right away. ¡°And the person from the secretarial office didn¡¯te in today either.¡± ¡°Okay, got it,¡± Robert said, dismissing the secretary with a wave. He turned to Joseph. ¡°Buddy, I¡¯ve got to handle some things today. I¡¯ll talk to Charles about what you mentionedter.¡± ¡± +15 BONUS With that, Joseph was shown the door. He was confused and wanted to say more, but Robert did not wait any longer. He had someone escort Joseph out. Comments ÏÉ Wife 103 Wife 103 With Joseph gone, Robert looked really upset. He picked up the phone and dialed a familiar number. ¡°Get to my office now. I want to know everything that happened yesterday, down to thest detail!¡± Joseph stepped out of the Colossus Grou building with a sinking feeling. He suddenly remembered that Jenson Lowry from Colossus Group was the head of the Finance Department. A jolt of fear ran through him. What if Jenson was in trouble? That would mean Robert could be in hot water too. The issues cropping up at Frotconn now were certainly no ident. He quickly dialed Xavier¡¯s number. ¡°Stop working on Robert¡¯s shipment right now. If you can, destroy it all, and don¡¯t leave any evidence in writing.¡± However, Joseph did not realize that he was only barely scraping the surface. This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org . Robert¡¯s secretary recounted every detail of the previous day¡¯s events to him. Robert¡¯s face turned a shade of stormy gray. ¡°What have you been doing? Why didn¡¯t you tell me yesterday? Where¡¯s Jenson now?¡± ¡°W¨Cwe don¡¯t know.¡± ¡°What do you mean, you don¡¯t know? How can someone just vanish into thin air? Did you even look for him?¡± Robert was fuming. ¡°He has too much important information. If Charles gets his hands on it, we¡¯re doomed.¡± At that moment, despite being restrained, Jenson was being treated to good food and drink by Ronald¡¯s crew. Jenson knew he was trapped. He had always known working for Robert might lead to trouble, but he never imagined it woulde knocking so soon. ¡°Mr. Hoffman!¡± Ronald spotted Charles¡¯s car rolling up and swung the door open for him. ¡°He¡¯s inside.¡± Charles stepped out, his dark eyes aloof and detached. At Ronald¡¯s words, he nced up. ¡°What was that? 11 ¡°He didn¡¯t say much except that he¡¯s excited to meet you!¡± Charles quirked an eyebrow, his long fingers drumming on the car door. ¡°Alright. Let¡¯s go check it out.¡± When Jenson caught sight of Charles, he shot to his feet. ¡°Mr. Hoffman, Lknow I messed up. I¡¯ll tell you anything you want to know about Mr. Harris. Just promise you¡¯ll free me! I have to look after my parents and my kids! I can¡¯t end up behind bars!¡± Charles shot Ronald a look. Ronald signaled the bodyguards, and two of them quickly stepped forward to yank Jenson to his feet. ¡°Men shouldn¡¯t kneel for no reason. I¡¯m not your great¨Cgrandpa, so why kneel to me?¡± Charles was clearly amused. He pulled a chair aside and took a seat with a rxed air. While Charles seemed totally at ease, Jenson was sweating bullets. Charles was even more notorious for his ruthless ways than Peter Lennon. If anyone in Brookville crossed 1/2 +15 BONUS Mr. Hoffman, he had a million tricks up his sleeve to use against them, none of which would require him getting his hands dirty. The bodyguards pinned Jenson¡¯s hands, not allowing him to move even an inch. His face was dripping with sweat. Charles squinted slightly and chuckled softly. ¡°Release him.¡± The moment the bodyguard let go, Jenson slumped to the floor like he was boneless. ¡°Mr. Hoffman, I¡¯ve got a ledger here with records of Mr. Harris¡¯s secret dealings over the years. He¡¯s also started twopanies with Collosus Group¡¯s money.¡± A sharp glint shone in Charles¡¯s eyes. ¡°Go on.¡± ¡°Mr. Harris has been pulling money out of Collosus Group every six months, using all sorts of excuses to funnel it into his own businesses. He¡¯d always shuffle the funds around to cover his tracks.¡± BIG SALE: 3500 bonus free fou you P Wife 104 Wife 104 +15 BONUS ¡°Hmm?¡± Charles rested his chin on his hand, his eyebrows lifting slightly with interest. ¡°Keep talking.¡± ¡°A couple of years back, a gap in the funds was almost spotted. Luckily, Collosus Group had put money into Frotconn, so¡­¡± ¡°So Robert used Frotconn to move the money around?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Jenson wiped the sweat from his forehead. ¡°That¡¯s all I know. Mr. Harris kept me out of the loop on the other stuff, but I kept track of everything I was involved in, so¡­¡± Charles gestured dismissively. ¡°I¡¯ve found the right help for your mother¡¯s heart condition.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Jenson¡¯s face lit up with hope. Even with his wealth, finding a heart for a transnt was nearly impossible without years of waiting. It would take a lot of power and connections, and he was just the head of the Finance Department, not a big shot with influence. Even his boss Robert would not bother to help with such a personal issue. ¡°Thank you, Mr. Hoffman. If you can save my mother, I¡¯ll give you all the evidence you want.¡± Charles gave a slight smile. ¡°You can¡¯t stay in Brookville.¡± ¡°I understand. I¡¯ll take my family and leave. I just ask that Mr. Hoffman spares our lives.¡± Charles looked over at Ronald, who simply nodded. ¡°Follow me.¡± Jenson finally breathed a sigh of relief once Charles was gone. ¡°The ledger¡¯s at the office.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Ronald raised an eyebrow, surprised. ¡°You¡¯re smarter than I thought.¡± Jenson managed a weak smile. ¡°The most dangerous ce is often the safest. But Robert¡¯s so careful. I¡¯m worried¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯t sweat it. He won¡¯t catch on that quickly!¡± Ronald called Charles. Just then, a group of men in ck stormed into Jenson¡¯s house. They ignored his wife¡¯s protests and ransacked the ce, searching everywhere. However, they found nothing. ¡°It¡¯s not here, Mr. Jacot!¡± Laird Jacot, who worked closely with Robert, received a phone call that left him with a worried expression. He rushed to knock on Robert¡¯s office door. ¡°Mr. Harris, there¡¯s trouble at Jenson¡¯s family home¡­ Mr. Hoffman!¡± Laird was shocked to see someone else in Robert¡¯s office. It was Charles. His hand shook a little, and he was at a loss for words. Charles quirked an eyebrow, his long fingers tracing the edge of his cup and tapping lightly. ¡°Robert, I hope I¡¯m not interrupting your work.¡± ¡°No, of course not!¡± Robert shot Laird a stern look. ¡°Can¡¯t you see I¡¯m in the middle of a meeting with Mr. Hoffman? Please leave us.¡± ¡°Right away!¡± Laird¡¯s face went white. What a disaster! 1/2 +15 BONUS Robert was wracked with nerves and confusion. He could not figure out what Charles, the much younger leader of the Hoffman family, was nning or how much evidence he had gathered. Charles usually stayed out of other people¡¯s business, but he hade straight to Robert this time. This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org . ¡°You know about that, don¡¯t you?¡± Robert asked. Charles lifted an eyebrow. ¡°Is this what you¡¯re looking for?¡± He held up a yellow folder, giving it a little shake. Robert¡¯s face twisted into a grimace. ¡°You¡­¡± ¡°Should I spell it out, or would you like to exin?¡± Charles asked. ¡°Charles, remember who you¡¯re talking to. I¡¯m a big shot at Collosus Group. You can¡¯t just push me around! ¡°1 Wife 105 Wife 105 Charles cracked a chilly smile. ¡°Robert, you know what I¡¯m like.¡± He set his water ss down, stood up tall, and looked down at Robert. ¡°I don¡¯t want to be too harsh, but I expect to see your resignation letter by tomorrow morning. Don¡¯t worry. You won¡¯t lose any Collosus Group shares, and you¡¯ll still get your yearly share of the profits.¡± That was as nice as he could spare to be. Robert was now fuming, puffing out his cheeks and ring. He stood up so fast that his chair almost toppled over. ¡°Charles, who do you think you are? Do you think I¡¯m scared of you? This company isn¡¯t yours to boss around. Your dad still shows me some respect, but you¡¯re totally out of line.¡± The more Robert thought about it, the angrier he got. He had been putting his heart and soul into Collosus Group for years. Charles was a new yer in this industry, but he was acting like a big shot already.¡°Don¡¯t think I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re plotting. Your fancy Hoffman family has always looked down on us, right? Well, if you start something, I¡¯ll finish it. Just you wait!¡± ¡°I guess we¡¯ll have to wait and see, Robert!¡± Charles¡¯s gaze turned icy. If Robert rejected his kind offer, he would not get any more mercy. ¡°If I don¡¯t hear the good news from you tomorrow, Robert, you¡¯ll have to wait for the surprise I¡¯ve prepared for you.¡± Charles tossed the document bag aside. ¡°You think this is all I¡¯ve got?¡± ¡°What are you getting at?¡± Robert¡¯s face went through a series of different expressions. ¡°Charles, what are you trying to pull? I¡¯m warning you! Even if I submit my resignation, the board won¡¯t ept it!¡± ¡°I gave you your chance.¡± With a flick of his wrist, Charles walked off, leaving no room for Robert to change his mind. Noelle was in the middle of a discussion with Ava when her phone rang. She recognized the number immediately, paused, and gestured to Ava that they needed to take a break. ¡°Hello, hello!¡± ¡°Hello, hello yourself, Noelle. Get over here and pick me up!¡± Rowena¡¯s cheerful voice came through the phone. Noelle narrowed her eyes before perking up. ¡°Pick you up? You¡¯re back?¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯m back. Enough small talk! Come and get me already!¡± ¡°Where are you?¡± Noelle felt a surge of joy. She had not seen Rowena in years and was so happy to finally hear her voice again. She had almost believed they would never meet again after Rowena left. ¡°Why did youe back?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s not get into that now. My car broke down on Cultural Street, so I need your help!¡± ¡°Alright, I¡¯m on my way!¡± Noelle ended the call. ¡°Ava, I need to run an errand, so let¡¯s wrap up for today. If anyone asks for me, just say I¡¯ve stepped out.¡± Noelle zipped up her purse and was about to leave when something popped into her head. She spun around and said, ¡°Oh, just hand the files for that project we talked about to Director Harris. Tell him I¡¯m out on a site visit.¡± 1/2 +15 BONUS ¡°Okay.¡± Ava nodded. ¡°But what if the boss shows up?¡± ¡°Forget about him.¡± Noelle frowned. ¡°And don¡¯t you dare tell him where I¡¯ve gone!¡± With that, Noelle dashed downstairs and hopped into the sleek Ferrari Charles had arranged for her. She zoomed off toward Cultural Street. The address Rowena had given was a bit out of the way. Noelle had to twist and turn down a few strange paths before she finally spotted Rowena, who had an ice cream stick dangling from her lips. She was waving, her hand folded around two boxes of ice cream. ¡°This way!¡± she called out. BIG SALE: 3500 bonus free fou you Comments Support This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org . get it Wife 106 Wife 106 Noelle walked up to Rowena and could not help but blurt out, ¡°You¡¯re so slim and tan now!¡± She stared at Rowena¡¯s new super¨Cshort hair. The cute, fair¨Cskinned girl she once knew now looked like a real tomboy. Why¡¯d you chop off all your hair?¡± Noelle gently touched Rowena¡¯s hair, a touch of sadness in her voice. ¡°What a shame.¡± Rowena just shrugged. ¡°Who cares? Afron is hot as hell, and hair is just a hassle over there. I chopped it off to finally feel the breeze again, and I don¡¯t regret anything!¡± Rowena gave Noelle a once¨Cover. ¡°Years have gone by, yet you haven¡¯t changed a bit!¡± Noelle bit her lip. ¡°Changed? How would I change? Anyway, you just got back, right? How¡¯d you end up in this situation?¡± Noelle was really sad when Rowena left years ago. Rowena had bravely decided to go to Afron against her family¡¯s wishes, saying she might never return. She was a journalist who had signed up as a volunteer there. She was fueled by the pain of a recent breakup to try for new beginnings, and no one could change her mind. ¡± Rowena quirked an eyebrow. ¡°Enough about that. I¡¯ve been back for a bit, and Inded a job not too long ago. But right aftering back from this work trip, I hit a streak of bad luck.¡± Rowena straightened up. After thinking about it, I realized I don¡¯t know anyone in Brookville anymore. You were the only person! could turn to!¡± Noelle raised an eyebrow too in response. ¡°So, you¡¯re saying you wouldn¡¯t have called me if you been in trouble?¡± Noelle sighed and touched her forehead. ¡°Rowena, are we even still friends?¡± hadn¡¯t ¡°Of course we are! I just wanted to wait until I was more settled before asking you to hang out.¡± Rowena said, looping her arm around Noelle¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Speaking of which, how have you and Xavier been? Have you guys finally tied the knot?¡± Noelle paused, her face freezing for a moment. She stayed quiet. Noticing Noelle¡¯s troubled look, Rowena guessed. ¡°You didn¡¯t! Did you guys break up?¡± 11 ¡°Mm¨Chmm!¡± Noelle nodded. ¡°Let¡¯s not get into that now. Come on, let¡¯s get in the car!¡± Wanting to avoid the subject, Noelle led Rowena to the car. Rowena stood in front of the shiny Ferrari, inspecting it from every angle. She then rubbed her chin, deep in thought. Seeing Rowena¡¯s curious gaze, Noelle hurried her into the car. ¡°Come on, I fill you in on everything soon. But first, tell me where you¡¯d like to go. Are you hungry?¡± ¡°No way, Noelle! You¡¯re living like a richdy now, huh?¡± ¡°Richdy? I¡¯m just an office worker.¡± Noelle paused. ¡°If you¡¯re referring to this car, it¡¯s my husband¡¯s.¡± ¡°Husband?¡± Rowena gasped, her big eyes growing even bigger. ¡°What¡¯s happening? You keep surprising me. You said you didn¡¯t marry Xavier, right?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t marry Xavier. I married someone else, and it¡¯s quite the story.¡± Noelle thought for a moment, then told Rowena the gist of what had happened. Rowena was so shocked she almost dropped to her knees. So, you married a guy you¡¯ve known for less than a month?¡± Noelle nodded and offered Rowena a piece of steamed fish with her spoon. ¡°Don¡¯t look at me like that. I +15 BONUS didn¡¯t have any other choice.¡± ¡°Noelle, you¡¯ve really changed! When did you get so daring? You¡¯re so bold! Do you even know what kind of person he is and what he does? And you married him just like that?¡± P N?velDrama.Org exclusive content. Comments Wife 107 Wife 107 Rowena could not believe how much had changed since theyst met. ¡°What¡¯s Xavier trying to do? Getting engaged to your sister while being with you? What¡¯s his n now?¡± ¡°What else can he do? They want me to go back to the Shaw family and practically beg Grandpa to give them his blessing,¡± Noelle said, her eyes dimming. Even after all this time, it was still tough for Noelle to think about. ¡°I can¡¯t believe it. Xavier is such a jerk! How did I never see it before? And Winter, that sneaky girl, has always been doing things behind your back! But she¡¯s gone too far now by stealing your boyfriend!¡± Rowena was fuming. ¡°No way! Did you give them a piece of your mind? The more I think about it, the madder I get. Why do they get to be happy and carefree while you¡¯re dumped and depressed?¡± Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org. Rowena was about to storm off when Noelle caught her hand. ¡°Hold on a second. I need to answer this call.¡± Noelle looked down to see ¡®hubby¡® on her caller ID. A surprised expression bloomed on her face. Rowena saw it too and teased, ¡°Look at you! You actually have a husband!¡± Noelle shot Rowena a look and picked up the phone. ¡°Hello?¡± ¡°It¡¯s me!¡± Charles¡¯s voice came through. ¡°When are youing home from work?¡± Noelle hesitated. ¡°I¡­ You might need to figure out your own dinner tonight.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Charles¡¯s voice grew serious, and his displeasure was evident. ¡°What do you mean? Do you have ns with someone?¡± ¡°Yeah. I¡¯m out with a friend right now!¡± Noelle said, ncing at Rowena. Rowena leaned in and whispered, ¡°Invite your husband to join us!¡± Noelle gave Rowena a sideways nce. ¡°Cut it out!¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Charles sounded puzzled. ¡°A friend? Is it a guy or a girl?¡± ¡°Hey, Noelle, I want to meet your husband!¡± Rowenained. ¡°You¡¯re married, right? I¡¯m your best friend, so you¡¯ve got to show me if he¡¯s cute or not. If he¡¯s not, we¡¯ll find you someone way better than that jerk Xavier!¡± ¡°Yes, he¡¯s cute. Rowena, please stop,¡± Noelle replied, feeling a bit helpless. ¡°My husband is really handsome, alright?¡± Charles did not say a word during this argument. At the other end of the line, his eyes sparkled withughter, and his lips curled into a slight smile. Noelle suddenly realized Charles was still on the phone. Had he heard everything? Her cheeks turned pink. ¡°Um¡­ My friend¡¯s just being silly. Don¡¯t listen to her.¡± ¡°Mm¨Chmm.¡± Charles¡¯s voice rose a bit. ¡°She¡¯s your best friend, so you guys should spend some time together. Okay, Nelly?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Noelle blinked. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± +15 BONUS ¡°Nothing. Juste back soon.¡± Noelle felt a soft warmth graze her cheeks like a gentle breeze. She blushed. ¡°Alright, I won¡¯t be long. Um¡­ What would you like to eat? I can bring something back for you.¡± ¡°Great!¡± Charles let out a rareugh. ¡°I¡¯ll be waiting!¡± After hanging up, Noelle saw Rowena grinning mischievously at her. ¡°Wow, your husband is really awesome, huh?¡± COIN BUNDLE: get more free bonus Wife 108 Wife 108 Noelle¡¯s cheeks flushed bright red, especially when Rowena started teasing her. She felt her face burning and shot Rowena a joking look of annoyance. ¡°You¡¯re the one to me!¡± ¡°What are you talking about? Why me me?¡± Rowena asked with a teasing smile. ¡°Looks like you and your husband are getting along well!¡± Noelle bit her lip, a little embarrassed. She had called Charles her husband without realizing it until afterward. ¡°Well, he¡¯s pretty nice,¡± she admitted. She thought about how Charles had always been there for her, helping her constantly since they first met. Rowena grinned. ¡°As long as he treats you well, that¡¯s all that matters. I was worried about Xavier and Winter getting you down, but you seem just fine. Don¡¯t be shy. You¡¯re married now! Live a happy life and bring him out sometime to meet us!¡± ¡°Sure!¡± It had been years since Noelle and Rowenast caught up, so they had plenty to talk about. However, Noelle was worried about Charles not having dinner at home. Since she had promised to bring him something to eat, she quickly made ns for another meet¨Cup with Rowena. Seeing Noelle so focused on her new man, Rowena felt reassured. ¡°I guess I don¡¯t have to worry about you two! You¡¯re really a couple of lovebirds. Let¡¯s meet up again soon!¡± After dropping Rowena off at her hotel, Noelle got a call from Charles on her way back. ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± ¡°Go on. Enjoy your time out with your friend a little longer!¡± he said. ¡°Huh?¡± Noelle frowned. ¡°Didn¡¯t you skip dinner? I got takeout for you.¡± ¡°No need. I¡¯ve got to head out now!¡± came Charles¡¯s voice, mixed with the sound of shuffling. Noelle paused, not knowing what to say. When Charles did not hear a reply, he added, ¡°I need to make a trip back to the old Hoffman ce. There¡¯s some business to take care of.¡± ¡°Oh!¡± Noelle nced at the takeaway box in the front seat and managed a weak smile. ¡°That¡¯s okay, you can go on. I¡¯ll just spend some more time with Rowena!¡± After hanging up, Noelle felt an unexpected wave of sadness. She knew she meant nothing to Charles, but hearing him refuse the meal still made her heart sink. Charles quickly changed and drove to the old Hoffman house, nestled near Mystic Crystal Hill in the suburbs. Sir Hoffman loved peace and quiet, so he had moved the family home there over thirty years ago. -As Charles pulled up to the gate, a servant hurried to let him in. ¡°Young Master, you¡¯ve returned?¡± Charles nodded through the rolled¨Cdown window. ¡°Who¡¯s here?¡± ¡°The master and the old master are in, along with the second master.¡± Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org. Charles nodded again and went to park in the garage. As he stepped out, a small figure wrapped around his leg. Startled, he looked down to see a child with a round, bowl¨Ccut hairstyle looking up at him. ¡°Uncle, did you bring me a present?¡± This little girl was his sister Chloe¡¯s daughter, Anna. She was his niece. Most people in the Hoffman family 1/2 were a bit wary of Charl¨¨s, but not Anna. +15 BONUS Charles quirked an eyebrow and bent down to scoop Anna into his arms. ¡°Hey there! What are you doing here?¡± ¡°I came with Mom.¡± Anna¡¯s big eyes sparkled as she looked up at Charles. ¡°Uncle, did you miss me?¡± ¡°Of course I missed you!¡± Charles directed a rare smile toward her. ¡°What about you? Did you miss me?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Anna giggled and nted a kiss on Charles¡¯s cheek. ¡°Mom says you don¡¯t have a wife yet, so only Anna can kiss you for now!¡± Comments Wife 109 Wife 109 ¡°Really?¡± Charles chuckled and kissed Anna¡¯s forehead. Then, he carried her into the old Hoffman house. They had barely crossed the threshold when they heard Sir Hoffman¡¯s voice, ¡°Has that little rascal finallye back?¡± ¡°Grandpa, Charles is all grown up now. You shouldn¡¯t call him ¡®little rascal.¡® It¡¯s fine inside the home, but what if outsiders heard you?¡± ¡°Hmph! What if they do? Is he going to turn the world upside down?¡± Sir Hoffman, also known as Maxwell, leaned heavily on his cane, giving Mateo a stern look. ¡°Look at the son you¡¯ve raised. What¡¯s he been up to?¡± ¡°Father!¡± Mateo¡¯s brow furrowed, but deep down, he was bursting with pride for his son. Charles was without a doubt the shining star of the Hoffman family¡¯s current generation. ¡°Great¨CGrandpa, Grandpa, Uncle¡¯s home!¡± Anna¡¯s young voice cut through the chatter in the living room. Everyone nced up to see Charles. One of his arms was cradling Anna, while the other was slipping off his shoes. 1 He took his time with his shoes, as if he did not notice the room full of people, then walked over at a leisurely pace. Anna, snuggled in Charles¡¯s embrace, let out a happy giggle. ¡°Mommy was right! Uncle really did come today!¡± This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org . Charles gave Chloe a quick look and passed Anna back to her. ¡°Big Sis, what brings you here today?¡± Chloe¡¯s smile faltered for a moment but quickly returned. ¡°It¡¯s all because of you. Dad called me and said you¡¯d stirred up some trouble again. I thought you¡¯ve long grown out of such habits. Not to mention that Anna was missing you!¡± Chloe¡¯s words were carefully chosen. No one could argue with them. Charles squinted and turned to Maxwell and Mateo. ¡°So, Grandpa, why did you want to see me?¡± Maxwell let out an exasperated huff. ¡°Just look at the fine mess you¡¯ve made. We¡¯ve gotints coming right to our door. We¡¯re about to hand thepany over to you, so why do your dad and I still have to worry about it?¡± Charles quirked an eyebrow, his gaze sharpening as he looked at the papers Maxwell had tossed his way. He picked them up with his long fingers, gave them a quick flip¨Cthrough, then threw them back down.¡± Who gave you these? You¡¯re pretty quick on your feet.¡® As Charles spoke, his eyes flicked to Chloe for just a moment. She straightened up a little, looking ufortable. Chloe always felt like her younger brother towered over her, even though she was the older sibling. She could not shake off the feeling of being squashed down whenever she was around him. ¡°Why are you looking at Chloe? We¡¯re talking about you. Sure, you¡¯re in charge of thepany, but that doesn¡¯t mean you can do whatever you want. Maxwell shot Charles a sharp look. ¡°I¡¯m talking to you!¡± ¡°I¡¯m all ears!¡± Charles leaned back, his fingers resting on his chin, facing the old man with aid¨C back air. I know what I¡¯m doing with thepany. You¡¯ve been retired for years now, so maybe it¡¯s best you don¡¯t 1/2 +15 BONUS butt in where you don¡¯t belong.¡± ¡°Y¨Cyou disrespectful little¡­¡± Maxwell was so angry he almost hurled his cane at Charles. Seeing that Charles did not care one bit, he turned to his eldest son. ¡°Mateo, have a word with him. Look at this fine son you¡¯ve raised!¡± Mateo, suddenly in the spotlight, looked a bit sour and scolded Charles without much heart. ¡°Your granddad¡¯s talking to you. What¡¯s with that attitude?¡± Charles quirked an eyebrow, lifted his hand from his chin, and epted the coffee from the servant. Grandpa, your old ways just don¡¯t work anymore. You know Collosus Group is branching out, and thepany¡¯s got a lot on its te. I¡¯m not asking you to relinquish the Hoffman family, but you can¡¯t hold our business back now, can you?¡± COIN BUNDLE: get more free bonus Comments Support GET IT Wife 110 Wife 110 ¡°What did you just say?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve made up my mind. I have to confront Robert. He¡¯s gone too far!¡± Charles tasted the coffee. He did not like it and set it down with a frown. He nced at Chloe and tapped his fingers. ¡°Some things are out of your control. ¡°Collosus Group has had its share of troublemakers these past few years. I get that you¡¯ve had Robert by your side for a long time and don¡¯t want to shake things up, but that doesn¡¯t mean I owe him any favors.¡± Maxwell closed his eyes for a moment. ¡°Do you really want to alienate the entire board? These folks have been with me since they were kids. Some of them are like brothers to your dad and uncle. If you go after them, it could really hurt Collosus Group.¡± ¡°Is Collosus Group doing so great now that we can afford to not act?¡± Charles challenged. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t get involved. I know what I¡¯m doing!¡± He stood up to leave. However, Chloe gently set down little Anna. ¡°Go y with your uncle.¡± Anna blinked her big eyes and scurried over on her tiny legs to hug Charles¡¯s leg again. ¡°Uncle, are you going away?¡± Charles narrowed his eyes and said, ¡°Yes. It¡¯s time for me to head home!¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t this your home, Uncle?¡± Anna asked, tapping her little head in confusion. However, her sparkling eyes showed she was brighter than she seemed. A shadow passed through Charles¡¯s deep, dark eyes, but he still lifted Anna into his arms. His words, though, were meant for Chloe. ¡°I¡¯m only going to deal with Robert. I expect his resignation letter by tomorrow. I¡¯ll also be keeping the Colossus Group shares. That¡¯s the biggest step back I¡¯ll take,¡± Charles dered. ¡°He has one more night to think it over. I¡¯m waiting for his good news.¡± When Charles handed Anna back to Chloe, the little girl clung onto him, nearly in tears. ¡°Uncle, do you not like me anymore?¡± Chloe¡¯s face fell, and she quickly took Anna from Charles. ¡°Anna, be good. Uncle¡¯s been working all day, and he¡¯s tired. If you miss him, you can visit another time, okay?¡± Charles shot Chloe a look that said more than his words could, leaving her looking awkward. Once Charles was gone, Maxwell let out a sigh. ¡°Chloe, it¡¯ste. You should head back too. Anna has school tomorrow.¡± ¡°Grandpa¡­¡± Chloe¡¯s face went white. ¡°I¡­¡± N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content. ¡°We¡¯ve never been able to stop Charles from doing what he wants to do. Don¡¯t worry. He¡¯s agreed, so everything will be alright.¡± Chloe bit her lip, clearly not happy, but she did not say more. After Chloe left, Maxwell let out a hum and shot Mateo a sharp look. ¡°You did a great job with your son,¡± he said, with a heavy dose of sarcasm. Mateo just smiled. ¡°Dad, you were actually waiting for Charles to do something, right? He¡¯s definitely braver than me,¡± Mateo admitted. ¡°But Chloe, she¡­¡± 17/2 +15 BONUS Charles did not leave right after walking out of the Hoffman family¡¯s old house. He drove halfway up the hill and stopped. Stepping out of the car, he leaned against the door and lit up a cigarette. Soon, Chloe¡¯s car pulled out of the residence too. She was surprised to see Charles¡¯s car parked on the mountainside and told her driver to stop. Anna had cried herself to sleep earlier, so Chloe gently put her down before stepping out of the car. ¡°Charles!¡± Charles gave Chloe a quick, detached nce. He flicked the half¨Csmoked cigarette between his long fingers, his lips curving into a smile that did not quite reach his eyes. Bathed in the moonlight, his face looked sharp and almost frigid. ¡°Only this time,¡± he said. Comments Wife 111 Wife 111 ¡°1 Chloe¡¯s face was pale and troubled. ¡°Charles, do you really have to be so stubborn?¡± she asked, her voice filled with distress. Charles shot Chloe a quick look and a tiny smile. ¡°You helped raise me. You know this is just the way I am. He flicked the ash from his cigarette and saw that Chloe looked upset. ¡°I have to deal with Robert, no matter what¡¯s going on between you two. Remember, the Colossus Group belongs to the Hoffman family, Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. not just one person.¡± ¡°You¡­¡± Chloe¡¯s face was pale, but she knew Charles too well. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ve got it.¡± ¡°Big Sis,¡± Charles said, tossing his cigarette away, ¡°I can¡¯t stand it when someone has control over me.¡± Chloe was taken aback as she watched Charles¡¯s car speed off, her body shaking a little. At that moment, Anna woke up. Not seeing her mom in tears, she called out, ¡°Mommy!¡± ¡°Here I am, sweetie,¡± Chloe replied. Knowing there was no going back, Chloe got into the car and instructed the driver, ¡°Take me to Mr. Harris¡¯s ce, please.¡± Charles arrived home as the night settled in. The trees around Phoenix Tree Residence whispered in the wind. Noelle had just finished her bath. She stepped out of the bathroom, drying her wet hair with a towel. She stopped for a second when she saw Charles, who seemed to have juste from the closet, holding a bathrobe. Charles spotted Noelle and narrowed his eyes, focusing on her. Noelle was wrapped in just a bath towel. She had meant to grab her pajamas but forgot. She figured it was okay since she was home alone, but she did not expect Charles toe back so soon. Feeling Charles¡¯s strange look, Noelle nced down and quickly covered herself with her hands. ¡°Oh! When did you get back?¡± she eximed. She dashed to find her pajamas and rushed back into the bathroom. Charles watched her, a slight smile ying on his lips as he saw her panic. After Noelle hurriedly changed in the bathroom, she came out to find Charles gone. She was not sure how to feel. She bit her lip and patted her cheeks until she finally came back to her senses. Noelle moved slowly around her room before she finally went out. Meanwhile, Charles was in the guest room shower, thinking about Noelle. He turned on the cold water, trying to cool his thoughts. He had not expected to find Noelle fresh out of the shower, especially dressed like that. He was a normal guy, and she was his wife, after all. Thinking about that, Charles sighed softly. He was usually not shy, but he always got a little flustered around her. Charles stepped out of the bathroom and headed straight for the study. To his surprise, Noelle was there too. He squinted a bit when he saw her. Noelle was flipping through an old history book called ¡®Chronicles 1/2 +15 BONUS of Ages¡®. Charles raised an eyebrow. ¡°Do you find that interesting?¡± Noelleughed and set the book down. ¡°My grandpa has this book in his study. I bet you picked up this hobby from him, huh?¡± Charles just gave a mysterious half¨Csmile. ¡°Did you need me for something?¡± COIN BUNDLE: get more free bonus Comments Wife 112 Wife 112 +15 BONUS Noelle nodded, then hesitated and shook her head, which made Charles¡¯s eyes twinkle with amusement. Well, what¡¯s on your mind?¡± Noelle fidgeted. ¡°The friend I met today is called Rowena.¡± Charles took the history book from Noelle. He was a bit surprised by her nervousness, and his fingers stopped for a second. He looked at her and grinned. ¡°She must be a really good friend!¡± Noelle nodded again. ¡°We went to college together, but she moved to Afron for some stuff a few years back.¡± Noelle paused for a moment. ¡°She just got back. We haven¡¯t seen each other in so long, so¡­¡± Charles nodded, showing he understood. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you guys talk more?¡± ¡°Wasn¡¯t I supposed to bring you dinner? Uh, have you eaten yet?¡± Charles paused, his long fingers wrapped around the book. He pressed his lips together and was quiet for a while. Noelle saw his look, and her brow furrowed. ¡°You didn¡¯t eat, did you?¡± Charles gave a small nod. ¡°I¡¯m not hungry.¡± ¡°How can you not be hungry?¡± Noelle scolded Charles with a mix of worry and annoyance. ¡°You¡¯ve got to take care of yourself. When I was little, I was super picky and skipped a lot of meals. I almost ended up with a stomach problem because I was so hungry all the time. It was awful.¡± As she talked, Noelle grabbed the book from Charles¡¯s hands and put it back on the shelf. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you were going to the Hoffman family¡¯s old house? Why didn¡¯t you eat anything? Did you miss dinner?¡± Noelle¡¯s voice was usually too loud for the quiet Five Elements Residence, but today it made the ce feel alive. Charles massaged his forehead, trying to hide a smile. ¡°It¡¯s not a big deal,¡± he said. Noelle was not having it. ¡°The food I packed for you is in the fridge. I¡¯ll warm it up,¡± she insisted, heading downstairs. Charles caught her wrist to stop her. Noelle turned to him, confused. ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t bother. It¡¯s too much trouble,¡± he said. Skipping one meal was not the end of the world! ¡°It¡¯s no trouble at all. Just wait!¡± Charles watched Noelle walk away, feeling a warm glow in his heart. The Hoffman family! He hadpletely forgotten about not eating until Noelle mentioned it. He touched his stomach gently, and the usual sharp look in his eyes softened. Noelle and Rowena had been enjoying a barbecue meal, but Noelle thought it would be rude to give Charles the bits and pieces left over. Thus, she ordered a few extra dishes. By the time she was heading back, Charles had unexpectedly gone to visit the old family home. 1/2 +15 BONUS When Noelle got back, she put the food in the fridge. Now, it just needed a quick warm¨Cup. This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org . Noelle walked out with a te and saw Charles casually leaning on the doorframe, looking effortlesslyposed and a bitckadaisical. He smiled when he saw Noelle and stood up. ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± ¡°Some leftovers I got from dinner. I¡¯m not sure if you¡¯ll like them. Did you wash your hands?¡± Charles nodded and took the te from Noelle. ¡°Ready to eat?¡± Noelle shook her head. ¡°No thanks. I¡¯m stuffed!¡± However, she sat down across from Charles anyway, watching him eat. He was a fast eater, but she could still see his natural grace and poise. Noelle sighed to herself. She felt a little rough around the edges next to this distinguished man. P Comments Wife 113 Wife 113 ¡°Why are you looking at me like that?¡± Charles asked, catching Noelle¡¯s gaze. Noelle quickly looked away, feeling a bit awkward. ¡°Oh¡­ Rowena mentioned she wants to meet you soon.¡± Charles stopped eating for a moment. Noelle, noticing his silence, felt a flutter of worry. Charles was not the kind of man whose time came cheap. ¡°Um¡­ If you¡¯re too busy, that¡¯s totally fine. My friend just wanted to make sure I¡¯m being taken care of. That¡¯s all!¡± Noelle said, feeling a bit embarrassed. Charles just smiled and asked, ¡°When?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Noelle blinked, then quickly added, ¡°Anytime, really. Whenever you¡¯re free. I hope it¡¯s not too much trouble.¡± ¡°Not at all,¡± Charles replied, his eyes crinkling with a smile. ¡°I¡¯d be happy to meet your friend. It¡¯s not a bother at all.¡± Charles had been concerned that Noelle had not quite grasped her role in their rtionship yet, which was why he had not introduced her to his friends. However, when he heard her call him ¡®husband¡® to her friend Rowena over the phone today, he felt a warm sense of pride. She was finally acting like a wife. Now that she wanted to introduce him to her friend, he could not help but feel thrilled. Noelle bit her lip, puzzled by Charles¡¯s tone. Was she the one in the wrong? ¡°I¡¯ll talk to Rowena, then. We can pick a timeter, okay?¡± N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content. ¡°Sure!¡± Charles was genuinely cheerful, a stark change from the gloominess he felt at the Hoffman family¡¯s old house. He polished off the meal Noelle brought home, nearly licking the te clean. Watching him eat, Noelle teased, ¡°Look at you. You said you weren¡¯t even hungry!¡± Charles shed a grin. ¡°It¡¯s all mine, right?¡± Noelle bit her lip and stood up to start clearing the dishes, but Charles reached out to stop her. ¡°I¡¯ll take care of it!¡± She nodded and stepped back, watching Charles as he busied himself. She lingered before heading upstairs, thinking she might have been making things tooplicated. Even though she and Charles did not have strong feelings for each other yet, they were married and living together. They would spend a lot of time together. Feelings could grow over time, right? Back in her room, Noelle got a message from Rowena. She shared the news, and Rowena¡¯s voice came through excitedly. ¡°Awesome, let¡¯s n another meet¨Cup. Your hubby must be loaded if he¡¯s giving you sports cars, huh?¡± Noelle pondered for a moment. ¡°Yeah, he¡¯s pretty rich.¡± ¡°Perfect. Tell him I want to eat at the fanciest restaurant in town and order the priciest dish they¡¯ve got!¡± Rowena cheered. Noelleughed. ¡°You and your big stomach!¡± she teased. ¡°So, are we thinking Bamboo Grave House or Noblesse House?¡± Just then, Noelle looked up to see Charles at the bedroom door. She hesitated, feeling a bit awkward 1/2 +15 BONUS about lying on the bed. She quickly sat up. ¡°Do you need anything?¡± Charles smiled. ¡°Let¡¯s go to Bamboo Grove House.¡± ¡°You were listening to my conversation?¡± Noelle¡¯s eyes went wide in surprise. Charles just shrugged and held his hands out wide. ¡°You were the one talking so loud.¡± Noelle puffed out her cheeks, looking a bit upset. ¡°That doesn¡¯t mean you can listen in!¡± She paused, then suggested, ¡°Maybe we could go to Bamboo Grave House?¡± COIN BUNDLE: get more free bonus Wife 114 Wife 114 Chloe gently lulled Anna to sleep at Robert¡¯s big house. However, there was no sign of Robert yet, and Chloe was getting worried. ¡°Robert hasn¡¯te back yet?¡± ¡°Miss, Mr. Harris¡­¡± ¡°Looking for me?¡± Robert walked in from outside and saw Chloe¡¯s car. His eyes turned a shade darker. ¡± What did Charles say?¡± ¡°He¡¯ll let you keep your shares, but you have to hand in your resignation tomorrow!¡± Chloe told him.¡± That¡¯s the best deal Charles is willing to make, Robert.¡± Robert shot Chloe a fierce look. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say your brother always listens to you?¡± ¡°You know Charles is being nice this time. You¡¯ve seen what he can do. I¡¯ve always said that as long as you don¡¯t go too far, Charles will look the other way. But you really did too much this time.¡± Chloe was so mad she could hardly speak. If she had not made a bad choice before, she would not be stuck with Robert now. ¡°Don¡¯t think Grandpa doesn¡¯t know about thepany you started on the side. Just because he hasn¡¯t done anything doesn¡¯t mean he¡¯s okay with it. I¡¯ve done all I can, so now it¡¯s up to you, You can either quit or end up in jail.¡± Chloe let out an icyugh. ¡°Don¡¯t say I didn¡¯t warn you. Charles can do much more than this to do.¡± Chloe finished her speech before storming out, clutching Anna in her arms. Robert¡¯s face turned livid with anger. With a swift kick, he sent the tea table tumbling over, startling the servant who rushed to his side. Mr. Harris¡­¡± ¡°Leave me alone!¡± The next day, at Collosus Group¡¯s early morning meeting, the directors gathered well before the usual time. A buzz of spection filled the room. They were not scheduled to meet that morning, but an urgent message had called them together. A few of the top directors, who had heard whispers of news, started whispering among themselves.¡± Looks like Charles is nning to shake things up with us.¡± ¡°That kid¡¯s still wet behind the ears, and he¡¯s already trying to ditch us? His dad would at least show us some courtesy.¡± ¡°Well, Collosus Group isn¡¯t what it used to be, and we all know what Charles is capable of.¡± ¡°Just watch. He doesn¡¯t make moves without thinking.¡± ¡°Shh, he¡¯sing!¡± Robert pushed the door open and walked in, his face clouded with displeasure. As he scanned the room, his annoyance seemed to deepen. Belonging to N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Robert, what¡¯s with your tardiness today?¡± Yaxkin, who never really got along with Robert, could not resistmenting. Robert just smirked and replied, ¡°I¡¯m right on time.¡± +15 BONUS ¡°Really?¡± Yaxkin squinted his eyes, giving Robert a quick, fox¨Clike nce. Seeing Robert¡¯s pale, tense face made him feel a bit better. ¡°I wonder what the Hoffman family¡¯s young Mr. Hoffman is up to today, calling all the shareholders to a meeting. Do you know what this is about, Robert?¡± ¡°You¡­¡± Before Robert could answer, the conference room door swung open again. Ronald stepped in with a smile. ¡°Everyone, Mr. Hoffman will join us very soon!¡± After Ronald¡¯s announcement, Robert stood up, frustrated. ¡°What¡¯s Charles up to? He called us all here, yet he doesn¡¯t want to show up himself?¡± Ronald squinted slightly. ¡°Mr. Harris, please be patient. Mr. Hoffman is just waiting on a document. He¡¯ll be here any minute.¡± Ronald noticed Robert¡¯s face tense up at the mention of ¡®a document¡®, a sure sign he was nervous. With a slight smirk, Ronald texted Charles, who was not really waiting for any document. He was merely in his office reviewing some files. Comments Wife 115 Wife 115 Charles¡¯s long fingers moved across the papers as he narrowed his eyes, focusing on the information in the documents. They contained details about the Shaw family and some issues involving Winter. After a moment, Charles tapped the papers, gathered them up, and texted Ronald back. ¡°I¡¯m on my way!¡± He straightened his tie and headed for the conference room. Everyone in the room was getting restless, especially Robert and his friends, who all stuck together. They all knew a bit about what was going down today, but none of them could really believe Charles would have the guts to go against them. Their shares might not be a lot, but if they sold them, it could really rock the boat for the Colossus Group. They just could not see Charles actually taking them on today. However, they guessed wrong. Charles was not just ready to make a move, he was ready to pull out his trump card. The moment Charles walked into the meeting room, he mmed his papers down on the table and took his seat like he owned the ce, a small smirk on his face. ¡°Mr. Harris, didn¡¯t you have something you wanted to tell us all today?¡± Robert¡¯s face turned sour. ¡°Charles, are you serious about this?¡± Charles just shrugged. ¡°Robert, you know what I¡¯m like. ¡°And what if I don¡¯t? You know my shares might not be the biggest, but¡­¡± Charles cut him off with a wave of his hand. ¡°No ¡®buts¡® about it. I¡¯m not one for bargaining, especially when the other party is at a disadvantage.¡± He nced over at Ronald, who quickly pulled out another document from his briefcase and handed it over to Robert. ¡°Jenson¡¯s shares aren¡¯t myst y. This is!¡± With a smallugh, Charles teased, ¡°Want to take a look at what I¡¯ve got here?¡± Robert paused for a moment when he heard those words, but then he puffed up his chest bravely. ¡°I don¡¯t buy that you have anything left to scare me with. Sure, Jenson¡¯s stuff might get me in trouble, but I sold my share ages ago. You think you can still push me around, Charles?¡± ¡°Sold them?¡± ¡°No way!¡± N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content. ¡°That can¡¯t be true!¡± The other shareholders were shocked, hardly believing Robert had actually sold his shares. A few of Robert¡¯s friends chimed in, ¡°Exactly! The tiny dividends from Collosus Group barely amount to anything. We¡¯ve all had it rough under you. We¡¯d rather sell our shares and live happy lives than work for you!¡± Robert gave Charles a smug look. ¡°The shares aren¡¯t ours anymore, so we¡¯re not part of Collosus Group. Your threats don¡¯t mean a thing to me now, do they, Charles?¡± However, Charles just gave him a little smile that seemed to say he knew something Robert did not. Robert felt uneasy, not sure what Charles was up to. Ronald, watching his boss with a knowing look, handed a document to Robert. ¡°Mr. Harris, don¡¯t you want 1/2 +15 BONUS to take a peek?¡± Robert¡¯s heart sank as he flipped through the documents Ronald handed him. His face drained of color, and he copsed into his chair. ¡°Y¨Cyou actually did this¡­¡± Charles¡¯s long fingers drummed on the desk. ¡°Had you handed in your resignation earlier, I wouldn¡¯t have needed to reveal this.¡± COIN BUNDLE: get more free bonus Comments ? Support X Wife 116 Wife 116 ¡°How could you possibly know?¡± Robert¡¯s face was ghostly pale. ¡°I can¡¯t believe it.¡± Charles gestured dismissively, and Ronald caught on quickly. ¡°Gentlemen, Mr. Hoffman would like a private chat with the three directors, please.¡± The usual crowd that hung around Charles left first. The neutral ones, sensing the tide had turned, did not want to get dragged down too, so they scattered quickly as well. Soon, therge conference room was left with only Charles, Robert, and two other directors. Charles gestured for them to sit. They were no strangers to tough times, but they had never seen Charles this assertive before. They realized they had underestimated him. ¡°Don¡¯t you gentlemen want to see?¡± Charles asked. ¡°No, we¡¯d rather not,¡± they replied. Charles¡¯s smile was thin but dangerous. ¡°Moneyundering overseas, dealings with arms dealers¡­ These are serious crimes.¡± His face turned stern. ¡°Collosus Group has always been clean. My grandfather may have retired, but his rules haven¡¯t.¡± Robert looked utterly defeated. ¡°When did you find out?¡± He could not figure it out. He had been so careful. There was no way anyone could have found out what he did. However, Charles knew everything. The fake records and the money he took were not even what Charles cared about the most. The only reason behind what he didst night¡­ Robert¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°You nned this all along? You helped Chloe escape? And made us sell our shares? So now our shares are¡­¡± ¡°Robert, you¡¯re notpletely clueless,¡± Charles said, tapping the desk. ¡°Too bad you realized it too late.¡± ¡°Wow, you really are a Hoffman. You¡¯re just like your dad, Mateo!¡± Robert¡¯s face turned pale. He thought that by selling his shares, Charles would at least be held back by the new owners, even if he would not get Collosus Group¡¯s perks. He thought thepany would not be all Charles¡¯s anymore. Once his newpany took off, Charles would not be able to touch him, right? ¡°How can you plot against your own family? Are you even human, Charles?¡± ¡°Are you really family to me?¡± Charles¡¯s face turned serious. He stood up, looked at Ronald, and said, ¡°You three are no longer part of Collosus Group. Please leave now.¡± ¡°Charles, what¡¯s there to be proud of? Aren¡¯t you scared¡­¡± Charles¡¯s sharp eyes quickly moved over Robert. As he checked his watch, a small smile appeared on his lips. Right then, someone knocked on the door. ¡°Mr. Hoffman, there¡¯s a call from downstairs. The police are here to ask some questions. They¡¯re looking for Mr. Harris.¡± A smirk appeared in Charles¡¯s eyes as he looked at Robert, whose face had turned ghostly pale. Robert almost passed out. ¡°Charles, you think you¡¯ve got me cornered? Well, I¡¯ve got Chloe¡­¡± ¡°Do you?¡± Charles¡¯s icy stare fixed on Robert. ¡°Go ahead and try. I never make a move unless I¡¯m sure I¡¯ll win!¡± He turned and called out, ¡°Security? Why haven¡¯t you taken Mr. Harris and his groupThis content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org . down to the Wife 117 Wife 117 +15 BONUS ¡°Charles, you¡¯ll pay for this!¡± Robert¡¯s curses filled Collosus Group as he was led away. No one knew what would happen to him, but everyone knew who really held the power here now. Belonging to N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Mr. Hoffman, the young miss is looking for you!¡± Charles¡¯s secretary was on the phone. ¡°She¡¯s already in your office!¡± ¡°Got it,¡± Charles replied, giving Ronald a meaningful look. ¡°Handle whates next. And remember, if you don¡¯t uproot the weeds, they¡¯ll grow back with the spring breeze.¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. Hoffman!¡± Ronald replied with a serious tone. ¡°I¡¯ll take care of it right away.¡± Charles walked back into his office and found Chloe sitting on the couch, looking fidgety and worried. She was holding a coffee cup, but she could not bring herself to drink from it. As soon as the office door opened, she jumped to her feet. ¡°Charles!¡± Charles gave a little squint and leaned casually against the door, a half¨Csmile on his face. ¡°We¡¯re at the office, you know.¡± ¡°Mr. Hoffman!¡± Chloe said, her voice showing she did not really want to say it. ¡°Mr. Hoffman, I came here today to¡­ Well, to ask¡­¡± ¡°To ask about how things went today?¡± Charles chuckled. ¡°I thought you¡¯d know best.¡± Chloe bit her lip, a sarcastic edge to her voice. ¡°You¡¯ve always been the smart one ever since we were kids. So, what¡¯s it going to be?¡± Charles raised an eyebrow, telling her to rx. He walked over to his desk, stood there for a second, then pulled out a document from the drawer and handed it to Chloe. Chloe looked confused. ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± ¡°It¡¯s what you¡¯ve been after!¡± Charles¡¯s voice was low but yful. ¡°Take it, and let¡¯s not have a repeat of this.¡± ¡°You¡­¡± Chloe¡¯s face went through a quick change of emotions as she took the document from Charles. When she saw what it was, she turned ghostly white. ¡°You mean¡­ Robert didn¡¯t quit?¡± Charles¡¯s smile was knowing. ¡°You¡¯ve worked with him long enough. Don¡¯t you know what he¡¯s like?¡± Chloe gave him a small, sad smile. ¡°You really do know it all, huh? Then why did you say that stuff to me yesterday?¡± It was clear that Charles had everything under his thumb, and he did not need to say those things at all. Chloe nibbled on her lip. ¡°I get it now, Charles. Thanks!¡± If she had not made a bad choice back then, Robert would not have been able to ckmail her, and she would not have teamed up with him. ¡°But how did you do it?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t need to worry about that. Just remember, it can¡¯t happen again,¡± Charles said, his eyes impassive as he looked at her. ¡°Anna¡¯s still little. She needs a real family.¡± 1/7 +15 BONUS Chloe¡¯s heart skipped a beat, but she knew this was as far as Charles could go to help her. That was okay. She never thought her old mistake would let Robert trick her. ¡°So, you told me all that yesterday just to get me to face Robert?¡± Charles¡¯s lips twitched into a smirk. ¡°Otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t have been backed into a corner.¡± ¡°But he still has shares in Collosus Group. If he and the others sell them off, we could be in big trouble!¡± If Chloe could think of that, Charles had already considered every possibility. ¡°They¡¯re in my hands now!¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°He sold his sharesst night. It¡¯s faster than I thought he would!¡± Charles grinned. ¡°Okay, I¡¯ve given you what you need. It¡¯s your move now.¡± COIN BUNDLE: get more free bonus P Wife 118 Wife 118 Charles had told everyone it was time to leave, and Chloe, having gotten what she wanted the most, did not n to stick around. However, she stopped and turned back at the door. ¡°Charles, if you ever need help in the future, you can count on me.¡± Charles just smiled and stayed quiet. Noelle was getting ready to leave work when her phone rang. It was her Grandpa Samuel, which caught her off guard. ¡°Grandpa?¡± ¡°Noelle, are you done for the day?¡± Samuel¡¯s voice sounded old and weary. ¡°I¡¯d like to see you.¡± Noelle bit her lip and checked the time. ¡°You mean right now?¡± ¡°Yes, it¡¯s been a few days since I¡¯ve seen you, and I miss you. But I know it¡¯s not easy for you to come to the Shaw¡¯s with your mom and dad¡­ Well¡­¡± Samuel let out a heavy sigh. ¡°Let¡¯s just meet up, okay?¡± ¡°Sure!¡± Noelle agreed. ¡°Let¡¯s meet at Homestyle Garden House.¡± She had started the coffee house with a . friend and had some shares in it. It was doing well, but it was not really of Noelle¡¯s concern. After setting up a time and ce with Samuel, Noelle called Charles. ¡°It¡¯s me!¡± Charles was also about to leave work and was surprised to hear from Noelle. ¡°Yes? What¡¯s up?¡± ¡°I might bete getting back tonight. My grandpa¡­ He wants to see me.¡± Noelle felt a little awkward. It was Rowena yesterday, and now her grandpa. ¡°He might need to talk to me about something.¡± Charles¡¯s face grew serious, and his eyes darkened a bit. ¡°Okay!¡± He added, ¡°Be careful out there, and call/ me if you need anything!¡± ¡°Okay!¡± Noelle ended the call, feeling a warm glow inside. She remembered how she and Xavier used to chat for hours on the phone, sharing what they were up to. However, after they both started working, those long talks became few and far between. With Charles, she was not quite sure what to make of it all. However, she figured that since they were married, keeping each other in the loop was just respectful. Noelle got to Homestyle Garden House right on time and saw her friend Teresa Saunders. ¡°Your grandpa¡¯s been waiting a bit.¡± ¡°Thanks, Teresa,¡± Noelle said with a smile. She slipped off her shoes and walked in to find Samuel sitting and Mr. Thompson standing nearby. Samuel waved her over. ¡°Noelle,e to Grandpa!¡± ¡°Grandpa!¡± she said, walking up to him. ¡°Did you get here early?¡± N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content. ¡°Yes,¡± Samuel replied, handing her a cup of coffee. ¡°Is work wearing you out?¡± ¡°Not one bit!¡± Noelle said cheerfully. ¡°What did you want to talk about today, Grandpa?¡± Samuel paused, then nced at Mr. Thompson, who quickly handed Noelle an envelope. She looked at it, puzzled. ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± ¡°Just take a look,¡± Samuel encouraged. Noelle hesitated, then opened the envelope with a look of surprise. ¡°Grandpa, why are you giving me ¥Ï¥ó +15 BONUS shares in City Ring Corp.?¡± ¡°My dear Noelle,¡± Grandpa Samuel said with a warm smile, ¡°I¡¯ve wanted to give these to you for a while. You¡¯re part of the Shaw family too. It wouldn¡¯t be fair if your sister had shares and you didn¡¯t. Here, take this pen and sign your name. I¡¯ll take care of the rest.¡± ¡°No. I don¡¯t want them.¡± Noelle pushed the papers away and shook her head. ¡°You know I don¡¯t care about this stuff. And you remember what happened with Mom and Dad¡­¡± She trailed off, shaking her head again. ¡°They¡¯re your shares, Grandpa. I really don¡¯t want them.¡± Wife 119 Wife 119 +15 BONUS ¡°Oh, Noelle,¡± Grandpa Samuel said, his voice full of concern. ¡°You¡¯re so stubborn. That¡¯s why things turned out the way they didst time. You need to take these shares, whether you like it or not. Now sign it! Aren¡¯t you going to listen to me?¡± He pretended to be upset. ¡°Your sister got her shares when she turned eighteen. It¡¯s only right that you get yours too. If your parents won¡¯t give them to you, then I will.¡± Noelle looked at her grandpa, feeling torn. She had never really wanted anything from him. He was right. On her eighteenth birthday, the whole Shaw family was against giving her shares in City Ring Corp. She had felt so sad, but not because she did not get the shares. She was hurt by the way her parents, Julian and Jade, had treated her. ¡°I never wanted to fight over the family fortune. If I take these shares now, won¡¯t Julian and Jade think I¡¯m trying topete with Winter?¡± Noelle was worried. She had a hard enough time getting along with them already, and iming her part of the inheritance might make things worse. ¡°Why worry about what they think? I want you to have this. Just sign it already!¡± urged a voice. ¡°Exactly, Miss Noelle. Sir Shaw has always intended for these shares to be yours. If you don¡¯t ept them, they might end up with your sister¡­¡± Mr. Thompson added, unable to keep quiet. ¡°Please, just sign.¡± ¡°But Grandpa¡­¡± ¡°Noelle, are you going to ignore my wishes?¡± Samuel¡¯s face was stern. ¡°Do you want to see the Shaw family legacy go to strangers?¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± Noelle was confused. ¡°Why are you saying this?¡± ¡°The Harris have big ns, and Xavier¡¯s marriage to your sister is part of that. You¡¯re young and might not see it, but your sister has never been interested in business, only showbiz. City Ring Corp. should be yours. ¡°Samuel exined with concern. ¡°The Harris aren¡¯t Shaws. You get that, right?¡± Noelle felt a twinge in her heart. She might not know much about business, but she understood Samuel¡¯s point. ¡°Holding these shares means no one can keep you out of City Ring Corp. Understand?¡± Samuel said. N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content. Noelle stepped out of the Homestyle Garden House with a heavy heart. She had waited until Samuel and Mr. Thompson were gone before leaving the coffee house, her mood dark and heavy. Samuel¡¯s words weighed on her, leaving her feeling trapped and unprepared. She felt like she was sinking in quicksand. ¡°Get in the car!¡± A car pulled up next to her, jolting Noelle out of her daze. She looked at the face peering out from the car window, surprised. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± Charles¡¯s lips tightened. ¡°Get in, and we¡¯ll talk.¡± He had been there for a while. Ever since Noelle mentioned she was going to see Samuel, he had waited outside herpany and followed her here. +15 BONUS He had watched Noelle walk into the coffee house, thene out looking lost and forlorn. Noelle climbed into the car, and Charles frowned slightly, leaning toward her. Noelle tensed, her eyes wide as she tried to figure out what he was doing. Then she heard a click¨Che was just buckling her seatbelt. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Noelle rxed, her gaze fixed on Charles¡¯s side profile. She bit her lip slightly and said, ¡°Grandpa gave me twenty percent of the shares in City Ring Corp.¡± COIN BUNDLE: get more free bonus P Wife 120 Wife 120 ¡°Just keep them!¡± Charles looked at Noelle. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t feel bad about it!¡± ¡°You¡¯re not even a little surprised? Twenty percent is a lot. That¡¯s more than what Winter got!¡± Noelle had her own thoughts about it. She had argued with her parents and Winter before, but she never really wanted to cut tiespletely with them. She just did not want to fight with Winter anymore. However, Samuel had suddenly given her a big chunk of thepany, and that meant things were going to get shaky. Noelle was not one to fuss over shares. Actually, the way the Shaw family had treated her made her stop caring about such superficial things. ¡°You do realize that with these shares, the Shaw family could be in for some big changes, right?¡± Charles chuckled and tapped his fingers on the steering wheel. ¡°It¡¯s not as bad as you think. Sir Shaw must have his reasons for doing this. It¡¯s just you and Winter, his two granddaughters, and Joshua¡¯s overseas, If thepany went to someone else, all of your grandpa¡¯s hard work would be wasted. He¡¯s just being careful by giving you the shares now.¡± ¡°How do you know all this?¡± Noelle looked up, shocked, staring at Charles. This was her family¡¯s private business. Outsiders were not supposed to know the details, but Charles seemed clued in. ¡°How do you know about Joshua and what my grandpa is thinking?¡± Charles just smiled a little and said, ¡°It¡¯s not that tough to figure out! Anyway, are you hungry?¡± That¡¯s when Noelle remembered she had not eaten anything since she left work. She nodded. ¡°Have you eaten yet?¡± Charles gave a softugh. ¡°I haven¡¯t eaten yet either. Where do you want to go?¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± Noelle paused to think. ¡°How about we eat out today?¡± ¡°Sure. It¡¯s gettingte anyway. We could go back and eat, but it might be a rush with all the grocery shopping and cooking,¡± Charles said, not really minding either way. ¡°Let¡¯s eat out, then. Is spicy barbecue okay?¡± Noelle asked a bit nervously. She was not quite sure what kinds of food Charles liked, and she was a big fan of spicy dishes. ¡°Sounds good to me!¡± Charles agreed with a smile. ¡°Where do you have in mind? Just tell me where it is!¡± Noelle mentioned a restaurant she used to go to a lot. Charles did not know the way, so Noelle scooted closer to type it into the navigation. ¡°It¡¯s not too far, actually. It¡¯s near Vista University. Do you know the shopping mall behind the university?¡± Charles raised an eyebrow and nodded. ¡°Looks like you had a lot of fun when you were a student!¡± He was familiar with the mall since it was owned by the Hoffman family. Belonging to N?velDrama.Org. Noelle scratched her head, feeling a little shy. ¡°Yeah, my friends and I would hang out here sometimes. It¡¯s close to the university, so we came here a lot. The prices were good too. But I haven¡¯t been here much since graduating.¡± She sounded cheerful as she talked about it, but then she looked a little sad. ¡°It¡¯s just Rowena and Teresa, my two best friends. Maybe I can introduce you to them sometime?¡± 1/2 +15 BONUS ¡°That¡¯d be great!¡± Charles said with a nod. It was not often that Noelle was so easy to get along with. Whenever you¡¯re ready!¡± He was waiting for the day she would really let him into her heart. Noelle sighed quietly to herself. She did not think Charles was like what everyone else described. ¡± Charles drove smoothly, and in about half an hour, they pulled up to the shopping center near Vista University. The shop Noelle had talked about had been around for a long time, ever since the mall first opened its doors. Wife 121 Wife 121 Every table was upied when they walked in. Thankfully, Noelle had made a reservation half an hour earlier. She looked embarrassed as she ruffled her hair and said, ¡°Actually¡­ We could go somewhere else for dinner!¡± ¡°It¡¯s alright!¡± Charles said as he took Noelle¡¯s hand and led her to the waiting area. She was stunned and allowed him to hold one of her hands while she used the other to hold their waiting number. Charles let go of Noelle¡¯s hand as they sat down, leaving her grasping air and feeling empty. She looked down at where Charles had been holding her just now, leaving her palm slightly damp. A slight blush crept onto Noelle¡¯s face as she gazed at her palm, and she hurriedly looked away, only to have her gaze collide with Charles¡® eyes. She felt her heart skip a beat as she instinctively tightened her hold on the number, the corner of her lips tugging upward as she said, ¡°What a crowd!¡± This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org . ¡°Yeah,¡± Charles replied, the hint of a smile appearing in his eyes. ¡°No rush.¡± ¡°No rush, no rush!¡± Noelle said as she smiled. When she saw Charles extend his hand outward, she unfurled her fingers and smoothed out the strip of paper she was holding, a knowing look in her smiling eyes as she did so. ¡°Two tables left!¡± Noelle felt slightly awkward. For some reason, it felt like Charles was doing this on purpose. She bit down on her lip as she said, ¡°Yes, just a while more to go!¡± Sure enough, the wait did not take too long. They only had to wait another two to three minutes before a table was avable. Noelle sprang to her feet as she said, ¡°Let¡¯s go. It¡¯s our turn!¡± Her hand instinctively grabbed Charles¡® hand as she got up. Charles¡® eyebrows raised slightly as he looked at Noelle take his hand without prompt. The corner of his lip curled upward slightly as he allowed her to do as she pleased. Noelle had acted on instinct, and by the time she realized what she had done, Charles was already holding her hand tightly. She wanted to remove her hand, but he had such a firm grip on it that she could not release him. Since it was just the two of them, they were not given a particrlyrge table. However, it was enough for them. Noelle wanted to amodate Charles¡® pte, so she pushed the menu toward him and said, ¡°Why don¡¯t you pick? I forgot to ask if you could handle spicy food before we came here.¡± She recalled having pretty mild food the past two days they spent at home, and there had not been many dishes that were particrly strongly vored. Hence, she was worried he could +15 BONUS not handle what wasing. Upon hearing that, Charles looked up, using his elegant fingers to pick up the menu as he said, ¡°Anything is good!¡± Noelle immediately understood that meant he could handle spicy food, but not anything extremely spicy. She nodded and said, ¡°Let¡¯s have something mildly spicy, then! Fish? Or¡­¡± However, Charles pushed the menu back toward Noelle. ¡°No need to make amodations for me. Order whatever you feel like having!¡± A glint appeared in Noelle¡¯s beautiful eyes, and her smile reached her eyes as she said, ¡± Alright!¡± Though she had agreed to that arrangement, she still went with only a mild spice in the end, and she also asked Charles for his opinion on every dish she found interesting. ¡°They¡¯re very popr, given all the customers here despite howte it is.¡± ¡°Indeed. You¡¯ve got good taste, Nelly!¡± Noelle had been sipping on a cup of tea, and she was stunned when she heard Charles nickname her so nonchntly. For some reason, it felt like she had once heard that exact phrase in the past. She felt somewhat embarrassed and changed the topic. ¡°You can just call me by my full name!¡± ¡°You don¡¯t like being called Nelly?¡± Charles asked, the corner of his lips curving upward. ¡°It¡¯s not a nickname anyone else calls you.¡± Noelle had nothing to say in response. She had merely mentioned offhandedly that he could call her that, bute to think of it, who in their right mind would use one¡¯s birthday as part of one¡¯s nickname? Thank goodness she had not asked him to call her number four, or else she would end up looking like a wannabe. She also secretly thanked the stars that her birthday did not have the number three in it. P Wife 122 Wife 122 At the thought of that, she let out a chuckle. Charles held his teacup in his hand as he raised an eyebrow at the sight of Noelleughing. ¡°What¡¯s so funny?¡± Stunned, Noelle bit down on her lip as she thought about how she should exin the situation to him. In the end, though, she chose to shake her head and say, ¡°It¡¯s nothing!¡± After all, she could not tell him she was thanking the stars she had not been born in March, could she? Charles smiled and poured Noelle another cup of tea as he said, ¡°Since your grandfather has given you a portion of the shares, you should keep hold of it without any worries. I¡¯m sure you know what Xavier and Joseph are plotting!¡± As Charles changed the subject, Noelle became serious as well as she nodded. ¡°I¡¯m sure Grandpa has his reasons for doing so. I just hope things aren¡¯t asplicated as they seem.¡°, ¡°Your grandfather is the founder of City Ring Corp, and he built your family¡¯s fortune up from the ground, which is why City Ring Corp is so important to him. Joshua is not rted to the Shaw family by blood because your grandfather adopted him. You and Winter are the only children he has, which means City Ring Corp will belong to the both of you in the future,¡± Charles said. ¡°Winter holds fifteen percent of the shares right now, but she¡¯s not well¨Cversed in doing business and is working in the entertainment industry. If she marries Xavierter on, do you want to guess where ownership of those shares will end up?¡± Noelle smiled a bitter smile. ¡°I know. It¡¯s also why Xavier¡­ decided to start dating Winter behind my back. I¡¯ve known about this for a long time. My dad probably knows I¡¯m not dumb, which is why¡­¡± ¡°Yes, you aren¡¯t dumb. I¡¯m even thinking of using you to earn some quick cash from the York family,¡± Charles said. However, when he noticed Noelle¡¯s face going pale, he frowned and hurriedly added, ¡°Sorry, I¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing. I know you¡¯re being honest,¡± Noelle said as she forced her lips upward into a smile. However, it was not a pleasant smile. ¡°To be honest, City Ring Corp is no longer as morous as it used to be, and my father¡­ I never expected him to do what he did. I always thought my mother was the one who yed favorites because my sister has always been the charming one.¡± ¡°Your grandfather is getting on in age now, and your father¡¯s the one making decisions for City Ring Corp.I¡¯m pretty sure he¡¯s had his eye on the shares under your grandfather¡¯s name for some time now. Otherwise, he would not have been so against your grandfather giving them to you.¡± Charles added, ¡°You¡¯re a smart kid. If the shares belonged to you, there¡¯s no way you would transfer ownership over to them.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right,¡± Noelle said as she smiled sadly. ¡°I¡¯m not the smart one. You are.¡± She was +15 BONUS stunned. She did not expect an outsider like him to see through her family¡¯s dynamics sol easily. ¡°If you don¡¯t want these shares, I have another n!¡± ¡°What?¡± Noelle asked as she looked up. ¡°Give them to Joshua!¡± Noelle was stunned. ¡°Are you saying that I should get in touch with my uncle and transfer ownership of the shares to his name?¡± Noelle chewed on her lip as she said, ¡°That won¡¯t work. My uncle left the family for this exact reason. He¡¯s an adopted child, and my father has been wary of him for a while now. My uncle decided to leave because he had zero interest in such affairs.¡± Sometimes, Noelle could not help but think about how she and Joshua were in the same boat! The only difference was that Joshua could choose to leave, while she could not. ¡°Is that so?¡± Charles said as his lips curled upward into a smile that did not reach his eyes. He looked down and used an elegant finger to point at the table where the soup was ced as he said, ¡°The food¡¯s here. Let¡¯s eat!¡± COIN BUNDLE: get more free bonus Belonging to N?velDrama.Org. Wife 123 Wife 123 Noelle smiled. When she saw that Charles was serving her food, she hurriedly took her bowl from him and said, ¡°Let me do it!¡± Charles merely smiled as he said, ¡°Let¡¯s eat!¡± Noelle enjoyed her meal thoroughly. After all, it had been some time since she could eat so freely. However, she noticed that Charles did not have much to eat. It was evident that he was not the biggest fan of spicy food, and she quietly took note of that. As the two headed downstairs after finishing the meal, they bumped into another couple leaving the cinema. It sounded like they were discussing the plot of the movie they had just watched. ¡°You said you¡¯d watch the movie with me, but you ended up falling asleep!¡± ¡°It¡¯s not my fault! Girls love watching mimunication tropes, but do misunderstandings really happen that frequently in real life?¡± ¡°But these movies are inspired by real life! Of course it¡¯s an exaggerated version of real life! There¡¯s no way it would be identical to daily life. I don¡¯t care. You promised to watch this with me! ¡°Pfft¡­¡± Belonging to N?velDrama.Org. Once there was enough distance between them, Noelle beganughing. Charles was standing right beside Noelle, and he could not help but raise an eyebrow when he saw the amused look on her face. ¡°What are youughing at?¡± Noelle turned to him and shook her head slightly. ¡°What the girl wanted was simple. All she wanted was for her boyfriend to keep herpany,¡± Then, she added, ¡°Girls need to be cajoled. It doesn¡¯t really matter if he watches the movie or not, as long as he¡¯s not too flippant about it.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± A glint appeared in Charles¡® eyes as he nced at his watch. ¡°It¡¯s still early. Let¡¯s go watch a movie!¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Noelle asked, startled. ¡°Watch a movie?¡± Hadn¡¯t they been talking about another couple? How did the topic end up on themselves again? Watching a movie with Charles Hoffman? Noelle could not imagine that happening. ¡°You want to watch a movie with me?¡± ¡°Yes. Is something wrong with that?¡± Charles asked as he called Ronald on the phone. ¡°Buy me two tickets to a movie. Yes, at Avenue Mall. What movie?¡± Charles frowned slightly as he took Noelle¡¯s hand and pulled her forward. He swept his gaze across the posters of newly released movies around the shopping mall¡¯s fifth floor as he said, ¡°Hmm, buy me tickets to Loving You¡°!¡± +15 BONUS ¡°Loving You¡°?¡± Ronald was stunned. ¡°Mr. Hoffman, are you sure?¡± ¡°Do you have an opinion you want to share?¡± Charles asked. Ronald immediately shook his head and said, ¡°No, Mr. Hoffman. I¡¯ll buy you the tickets right away. Do you want to watch the movie now?¡± ¡°Yes, get me tickets to the next screening avable!¡± Charles said before hanging up the phone. When he saw Noelle giving him a confused look, he asked her bemusedly, you looking at me like that?¡± Mare want to Noelle returned to her senses and shook her head. ¡°It¡¯s nothing. But are you sure you watch a movie with me?¡± She asked hesitantly. After all, this was a difficult scenario to imagine herself in, and it became even more difficult to imagine after hearing what movie Charles had decided upon. ¡°Are we really watching ¡®Loving You?¡± ¡°Is something wrong with that?¡± Charles asked, the corner of his lip curving upward. ¡°I thought girls liked movies like this?¡± Noelle was silent. She pursed her lips slightly as she said, ¡°You didn¡¯t have to specially choose something I¡¯d like. Besides, I didn¡¯t even say I wanted to watch a movie.¡± ¡°But you aren¡¯t against it, are you?¡± Charles asked as he nced at his phone. He had just received the verification code for the tickets from Ronald. Charles¡® eyebrows knitted together slightly as he said, ¡°Didn¡¯t you say girls cravepanionship? That couple were boyfriend and girlfriend, while we¡¯re husband and wife. Don¡¯t you think that makespanionship even more necessary?¡± Charles reached out to take Noelle¡¯s hand. Stunned, Noelle felt the urge to pull her hand away, but she resisted. Comments Wife 124 Wife 124 Charles took her hand and led her to the ticket redemption machine, where he frowned and stared at the machine in front of him instead of doing anything else. The people waiting in line behind them grew impatient and called out, ¡°Hey, you guys in front of us! Are you going to redeem your tickets or not? Get out of the way if you aren¡¯t going to redeem anything!¡± Sorry, sorry, we¡¯re almost done!¡± Noelle hurriedly apologized to the people waiting behind them before she stood on her tiptoes and whispered, ¡°Don¡¯t you know how to use the machine?¡± Charles nced sideways at her, an indescribable look in his eyes. He did not say anything as he gave Noelle a long, knowing look. For some reason, Noelle found it funny as she took Charles¡® phone from him and typed in the number disyed on the screen. Once the tickets were printed, Charles took them before Noelle could and held her hand in his as they walked away. Noelle allowed Charles to hold her hand as they walked away from the crowd, and the corners of her lips curved upward slightly as she gazed at the back of his head. They were getting along pretty nicely with each other now. Besides¡­ ¡°What are you thinking about?¡± Charles¡® cool voice jerked Noelle out of her reverie. The upward curvature of her lips lowered slightly as she shook her head and said, ¡°It¡¯s nothing. Anyway, we¡¯ve got more than half an hour before the show starts. Why don¡¯t we take a walk nearby?¡± She suggested, ¡°We don¡¯t have to go far. We can look around nearby.¡± ¡°Alright!¡± Charles said as he smiled, ¡°Let¡¯s see what¡¯s around here!¡± Charles put the tickets into his leather wallet before picking up Noelle¡¯s hand again, which was still an unfamiliar gesture to her. Charles raised an eyebrow before he directed his gaze at Noelle. ¡°Nelly.¡± ¡°Hm?¡± Noelle asked, craning her head up to look at Charles. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°We¡¯re married, but I know you still aren¡¯t used to our rtionship yet.¡± ¡°Sorry,¡± Noelle apologized, feeling somewhat ashamed. ¡°That¡¯s on me!¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s not your fault,¡± Charles said as he ced his hands on Noelle¡¯s shoulders, hunching forward slightly so that his gaze was level with Noelle¡¯s. ¡°You don¡¯t have to feel any toward our marriage. If you aren¡¯t used to this rtionship yet, we can start from the beginning!¡± burden N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content. ¡°What do you mean, ¡®the beginning¡°?¡± Noelle asked, confused. 1/2 +15 BONUS Charles grinned as he took Noelle¡¯s hand in his and slowly raised their hands into the air, intecing their fingers. He shook their hands slightly as he said, ¡°We¡¯re a couple.¡± Smiling, he added, ¡°We can start by being a new couple, and we¡¯ll do whatever other new couples do.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Noelle had a suspicious tone in her voice. ¡°Are you sure?¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯m sure,¡± Charles said as he gently touched Noelle¡¯s cheek with his free hand. ¡°Your don¡¯t have to feel overwhelmed. We¡¯ll take things one step at a time. All you need to know is that we¡¯re now boyfriend and girlfriend, and I won¡¯t skimp out on doing anything a boyfriend is supposed to do with his girlfriend!¡± When he saw the dazed look on Noelle¡¯s face, he shook his head and said, ¡°Don¡¯t look at me like that. I might not be able to stop myself from kissing you.¡± Noelle blushed as she turned her head away and wrung her hands together, her eyebrows furrowing together as she said, ¡°Quit joking around.¡± Charles smiled. ¡°Alright.¡± He let go of her shoulders and took her hand in his again. ¡°Come on. Let¡¯s look around and walk off some of the food we just had.¡± Though they said they were going to look around, they could not see much because of the timing, which made none of the ns they had in mind work out. The two merely poked around the fifth floor for a bit before heading into the theater. COIN BUNDLE: get more free bonus Comments Wife 125 Wife 125 Before heading in, Charles acted like any other diligent boyfriend and purchased popcorn and soda. Noelle held the bucket of popcorn in her arms and nced sideways at the man standing next to her. When she saw the bottles of soda in his hands, she gulped. ¡°Actually, you didn¡¯t have to¡­¡± ¡°Shush!¡± Cha Charles said as he ced a finger on Noelle¡¯s lips. ¡°Time to head in.¡± This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org . It was the evening, which made it the perfect time for most couples to go on dates. Hence, the movie theatre was nearly filled by the time they entered the room. Noelle and Charles¡® seats were nearer to the corner, and they had to traipse across the room to get to it. When they finally sat down, Noelle heaved a sigh of relief. ¡°It¡¯s been so long since Ist watched a movie. I wasn¡¯t expecting there to be so many people!¡± ¡°Yeah!¡± Charles helped Noelle hold on to her bag, and he waited until she had settled down before handing her a bottle of soda. ¡°Thirsty?¡± Noelle shook her head. ¡°I¡¯m alright!¡± However, she still epted the bottle and took a sip of soda. ¡°This ce is near Vista University, so there are a lot of students,¡± Charles said. Noelle nced around the room and noted that it was indeed filled with plenty of young couples. She chuckled as she nodded and said, ¡°Yes, the fact that it¡¯s so near Vista University means there are lots of students here. But the students now are so much braver than we used to be: I can¡¯t believe they aren¡¯t even trying to keep a low profile.¡± ¡°Huh? You dated while in university?¡± Charles asked as he exhaled. Noelle nced at him sideways and pursed her lips. ¡°Isn¡¯t that normal?¡± Then, she asked, ¡°Didn¡¯t you date while you were in university?¡± Charles chuckled and reached a hand out to ruffle Noelle¡¯s hair. ¡°You¡¯re being a smartass.¡± Noelle pushed Charles¡® hand away. ¡°I¡¯m not being a smartass. I¡¯m just stating the truth. At this age, we¡¯re all bound to have some history,¡± she said as she turned to look at Charles again. ¡°I refuse to believe that you never dated while in college!¡± The corner of Charles¡® lips curled upward as he ced his fingers on the armrest between them and took Noelle¡¯s hand in his. Noelle blushed. ¡°What are you doing?¡± All he replied was, ¡°Watching the movie!¡± Noelle seemed to have more to say, but she decided against it when she noticed Charles¡® full attention was on the screen. She could feel his hand on her finger and him squeezing it lightly from time to time. +15 BONUS Her entire body trembled slightly, feeling like an electric current was running through it. This sort of numbing feeling was not one she had ever experienced before. Noelle kept thinking of ways to remove her hand from Charles¡® grasp. She could not even focus on watching the movie. However, whenever she tried to remove her hand, he seemed to intentionally tighten his hold by the tiniest bit. Noelle bit down on her lip. ¡°Let me go.¡± ¡°Stop it,¡± Charles said in a low voice. He continued ying with Noelle¡¯s finger as he chuckled and said, ¡°I entered university before I was even eighteen years old. Have you forgotten?¡± This s stunned Noelle, and she turned to look at Charles¡® side profile. The shadowy lights of the theatre intersected on his well¨Cdefined side profile, and she felt her pulse gradually start to race. The movie just so happened to be focusing on the interactions between the male and female lead at the time. Noelle felt her heart skip a beat as the hold on her finger tightened slightly. He ced her hand on his thigh and lightly tapped the tip of their fingers together as he asked, ¡°So, Nelly, this is the sort of movie girls like? Ones with domineering CEOs?¡± Comments Wife 126 Wife 126 A slight blush crept onto Noelle¡¯s cheeks as she turned to Charles, feeling somewhat embarrassed as she said, ¡°Girls usually have a thing for the domineering types!¡± When she saw the slight look of disbelief on Charles¡® face, she bit down on her lip and added, ¡°I¡¯m serious, but this movie is stretching things out a little too far. If such domineering CEOs actually existed in the real world, I think it¡¯d be easier for their presence to be epted if they aren¡¯t the best in everything!¡± ¡°Mm¨Chmm!¡± Charles said as he raised an eyebrow. He did not retaliate but did not add on anything else either. Noelle felt somewhat embarrassed and hurriedly turned to watch the movie ying on the screen once again. However, she could not get over the fact that Charles was holding her left hand, and she could feel her heart racing. Noelle whispered, ¡°Um¡­ My palm is sweaty.¡± When Charles heard that, he gave Noelle a long, knowing look before he unfurled her fingers, ced her palm t against his thigh, and wiped it on the legs of his pants. Noelle was speechless.. ¡°How am I supposed to eat when you¡¯re doing that?¡± Noelle added, ¡°Charles, can you not be so ¡°Before she could say the word ¡°childish¡°, Charles used his other hand to grab a handful of popcorn and brought it toward Noelle¡¯s mouth. Noelle widened her eyes as she stared at Charles in disbelief. She had no idea what was going through the mind of the man beside her. ¡°Swallow it!¡± Charles¡® deep, sonorous voice was extremely pleasant to listen to. In fact, it sounded even better than the voice of the movie¡¯s male lead. Noelle recalled how Rowena and Teresa had talked about voice actors revered in the entertainment industry for having pleasant voices, to the point where just listening to them talk was enough to make one swoon. Noelle had used to think that was ridiculous, but now, as she gazed at Charles and listened to him talk, it felt like that statement was not as ridiculous as it once seemed. ¡°Why are you looking at me?¡± Charles chuckled. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you wanted popcorn? Are you dumbfounded?¡± Noelle hurriedly swallowed the popcorn. Her mouth felt dry, and Charles¡® slender arm immediately reached over to hand Noelle her soda. Noelle¡¯s eyes widened, and she did not move for a whole second. Charles said patiently,¡± Have some soda so you don¡¯t choke, but don¡¯t drink too much in one go.¡± 1/2 +15 BONUS Noelle instinctively opened her mouth to sip some soda before she realized how odd they must look. Right then, she heard a woman sitting behind them say, ¡°Look at how wonderful her boyfriend. is. Not only is he apanying his girlfriend to watch a movie, but he¡¯s also giving her food and drinks. ¡°And look at you! You made up all sorts of excuses when I asked you to watch a movie with me, and now that we¡¯re here, you¡¯re napping!¡± ¡°Well, why don¡¯t you date him instead if he¡¯s so wonderful?¡± ¡°You¡­¡± Noelle did not know what to say. She turned sideways to nce behind her and determine where the couple was seated before she turned to Charles and pointed to herself as she asked, ¡°Is she talking about us?¡± ¡°Do we not look like a couple?¡± Charles asked in reply. Chuckling, he asked again, ¡°Do you want any more popcorn?¡± This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org . Noelle said, ¡°That¡¯s not the point, alright? The point is that we¡¯re being observed.¡± Noelle felt somewhat upset because she felt awkward being observed in public and even more awkward at being used as an example. Charles did not seem to mind, though. ¡°It just means we¡¯re different. Have some popcorn!7 Charles used his fingers to scoop up some popcorn. Noelle could not help but think to herself that God had definitely been ying favorites when he was creating humans. Charles was a wonderful man with handsome features, a good¨Clooking physique, and defined fingers. Those fingers were always a joy to look at, no matter whether they were holding pen and paper or popcorn. COIN BUNDLE: get more free bonus P Comments Wife 127 Wife 127 ¡°Gosh, they¡¯re so sweet. You know, I¡¯m wondering why I even bothered watching a movie with you. It¡¯s one thing to see such sweet interactions in a movie, but it¡¯s happening in real life as well. Meanwhile, I feel like a neglected puppy.¡± The man¡¯s displeased voice rang out, ¡°Are you a bitch? You¡¯re so unreasonable today!¡± ¡°What did you say? Try calling me a bitch again!¡± the woman¡¯s voice, which took on a rough edge, rang out. ¡°Am I a bitch?* ¡°Did I say you were a bitch? You were the one going on about feeling like a neglected puppy.¡± The girl said, ¡°You don¡¯t love me anymore.¡± The guy answered, ¡°Do we have to act in such pretentious ways for you to believe that I like you?¡± Noelle was speechless. Why were they getting dragged into the fight? She turned to Charles and said, ¡°He said we¡¯re being pretentious!¡± ¡°Yep, it¡¯s because he¡¯s jealous of us!¡± Charles concluded before he picked up another piece of popcorn and stuffed it into Noelle¡¯s mouth. ¡°Have some!¡± Noelle marveled at how childish he could be at times. To be frank, she did agree with the man when he said she and Charles were being pretentious. However, she did not dare say that out loud because though they were not dating, they were married! Besides, everything Charles had done today was quite thoughtful, satisfying the tiny bit of pride within her. At least now, she was enjoying the time she was spending with Charles. The movie ended, and Noelle ended up being the one who ate most of the popcorn they had brought into the theater as well as being the one who drank most of the soda. She began feeling unwell as they walked out of the theater. She felt like her stomach was about to explode ¡°It¡¯s all your fault. Why did you feed me so much popcorn?¡± ¡°I thought you liked it!¡± Charles said as he directed his gaze downward to look at Noelle¡¯s stomach. Then, he said confidently, ¡°It¡¯s gotten a little rounder!¡± ¡°Charles Hoffman!¡± Noelle gritted her teeth. ¡°Can¡¯t you say it more nicely?¡± Charles smiled, his mood brightening as he watched Noelle grit her teeth at him. He reached a hand out to take Noelle¡¯s, wrapping hisrge palm over her small one, ¡°Alright, what would you like me to say?¡± ¡°What do you think?¡± +15 BONUS ora ¡°That I¡¯ll love you no matter if you¡¯re in the shape of a ball or a pancake?¡± Charles asked as he narrowed his eyes. Noelle bit down on her lip and tugged her hand free from Charles¡® grasp. ¡°You¡¯re so annoying!¡± Noelle strode forth as she spoke, and a smiling expression appeared in Charles¡® eyes. He grinned ruefully as he watched the petite woman walk away. In a couple of long strides, he caught up to her and took her hand. Noelle felt a warmth envelop her hand and smiled slightly as she watched Charles take her hand into his. ¡°Should we head back now?¡± ¡°Yes. Or do you want to continue shopping?¡± He added, ¡°I can apany you if you want to continue shopping!¡± ¡°It¡¯s not that,¡± Noelle said as she shook her head. ¡°My car is still at the teahouse!¡± Then, she bit down on her lip. ¡°Have you forgotten?¡± Charles grinned. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ve already asked Ronald to get the car back home. You don¡¯t have to worry!¡± Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. ¡°When did that happen?¡± Noelle asked, shocked. ¡°But the keys¡­¡± However, she reminded herself that it did not matter because Charles had his methods, and he would have thought things through more thoroughly than she did. He would have considered all these factors. ¡°Do you want to continue shopping?¡± ¡°Can we?¡± Noelle thought about it briefly. ¡°Will you be recognized?¡± The cautious look on Noelle¡¯s face amused Charles. ¡°Do you think I¡¯m some sort of celebrity who¡¯ll get surrounded by fans whenever I¡¯m in public?¡± Charles lightly knocked a finger against Noelle¡¯s nose as he asked, ¡°What¡¯s going through your mind?¡± Comments Wife 128 Wife 128 Noelle pouted. ¡°Well, I thought sessful people like you, especially business owners, are of the same caliber as celebrities.¡± She often heard rumors rted to the business sphere from entertainment industry¨Crted news and thus assumed that Charles was the same as them. However, Charles merely chuckled. ¡°That applies to the others but not to me.¡± Then, he added, ¡°No one really dares publish anything about me, and not that many people know what I look like.¡± He smiled. ¡°You don¡¯t have to worry about your husband being seduced by women with ulterior motives, Nelly.¡± Noelle did not know what to say to that. He seemed to have the ability to twist the truth into something that fit his narrative instead. ¡°Well, that won¡¯t work either. Didn¡¯t you promise that we wouldn¡¯t let anyone else know about our rtionship yet? They¡¯d figure things out if they saw us together, right?¡± ¡°Why do you keep thinking about such things?¡± Charles asked, a rueful look on his face. ¡°Why is it so tiring when all I want to do is go shopping and watch a movie with my wife?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t think I have no idea that this shopping mall belongs to Collosus Group!¡± Noelle said as she pursed her lips. She had no idea before this, but just now, she abruptly remembered overhearing someone say that the shopping malls belonging to Collosus Group could be found all across Brookville and that they had basically monopolized the market. Thus, no matter which local or international brands wanted to enter the Brookville market, they had to first speak to Collosus Group. Back when Frotconn was first established, they had wanted to join one of the shopping malls under Collosus Group¡¯s name as well. Noelle remembered that Collosus Group had agreed to nearly all of the conditions. ¡°I used to work at Frotconn, so I¡¯ve got a basic understanding of this stuff.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Charles narrowed his eyes, the smiling look in his eyes growing even more evident. Does that mean we can¡¯t continue shopping?¡± Noelle nodded solemnly. ¡°It¡¯s gettingte.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Even if these shopping malls belong to me, the management wouldn¡¯t be able to recognize me,¡± Charles said, the corner of his lips curving upward/¡°Do you think I¡¯m that easy to catch a glimpse of?¡± 1/2 +15 BONUS Noelle opened her mouth, but Charles dragged her ahead before she could say anything. Since we¡¯re going to start over by being an ordinary couple, going shopping and watching at movie together is the first thing we should do. It¡¯s time to apany you while you shop!¡± Charles made that decision by himself and did not even give Noelle the chance to retaliate. Noelle walked behind Charles somewhat passively, allowing him to drag her along. However, Charles was not walking particrly fast. He seemed to be making sure Noelle could keep up as well. She was wearing heels, and though they were not very high heels, her feet would still be tired after a whole day of wearing them. It would not be particrlyfortable to walk in them. Noelle¡¯s feet had already started hurting earlier, but as a woman, this was the pain she had to endure to look good. Noelle allowed Charles, whose hands were sped together behind his back, to lead her along. She was nearly a half¨Cstep behind him and had to look up at the back of his head. He was extremely tall, to the point where she had to crane her neck to look at him even though she was wearing heels. Charles seemed to sense Noelle looking at him and paused slightly to turn to her. ¡°Are you tired?¡± COIN BUNDLE: get more free bonus Belonging to N?velDrama.Org. Wife 129 Wife 129 Noelle shook her head. ¡°I¡¯m alright.¡± Charles looked at Noelle¡¯s feet, and a solemn look appeared in his eyes when he saw the high heels she was wearing. ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± ¡°Where are we going?¡± Charles answered, ¡°To get you some shoes! You have to speak up when you aren¡¯t feeling well in the future, alright?¡± Noelle was stunned, and she blinked before saying, ¡°It¡¯s alright, I¡¯m alright. I¡¯ve got a lot of shoes at home. No need to buy any more!¡± She thought Charles was overreacting, but he did not give her any chance to object to his decision before he took her to the area of the shopping mall dedicated to selling shoes and into one of the shops. When the attendant caught sight of Charles and the expensive¨Clooking suit he was wearing, she could not help but affix her gaze onto him. However, she hurriedly averted her gaze when Charles swept his stem gaze across her. Noelle pursed her lips and raised her eyebrows slightly. ¡°See? She doesn¡¯t know who you are, but your presence is already remarkable!¡± ¡°I like i when you praise me!¡± Charles epted thepliment and lightly stroked Noelle¡¯s cheek. ¡°Alright, go on and pick out a pair offortable shoes. No need to torture yourself when you spend time with me in the future. He then returned his gaze to Noelle¡¯s feet. ¡°Otherwise, you¡¯ll be the only one feeling horrible.¡± Noelle pursed her lips. She had a couple of expressions that she always made whenever she was feeling unhappy, and as they spent more time together, Charles naturally got used to seeing them as they appeared more and more frequently. He reached a hand out to ruffle Noelle¡¯s hair. ¡°Alright, go on!¡± Noelle batted Charles¡® hand away. ¡°Don¡¯t ruffle my hair. I feel like some pet!¡± Noelle was not pleased with what had just happened, but she still went to look at the shoes. It was good that Charles was willing to be chivalrous toward her, and her feet did hurt from wearing high heels all day. She had been wearing these shoes for so long that her toes and heels were starting to hurt. ¡°Why don¡¯t you take a seat?¡± ¡°Alright. Upon hearing that suggestion, Charles found himself an avable seat and reached out to grab himself a magazine. Noelle marveled at Charles¡® ability to always remain calm no matter what situation he was in +15 BONUS and act asposed and elegant no matter where he went. It was truly a skill hard toe 1. by. Noelle shook her head slightly and began carefully perusing the selection of shoes. The employees worked full¨Ctime to serve luxury retail customers and naturally knew how to deal with wealthy customers like Charles. Though they had no idea who he was, they could tell from the fact that his clothes fit well and that there were no obvious logos on them that they were custom¨C made. N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content. Thus, they concluded that Charles was extremely wealthy. Meanwhile, he had been holding the hand belonging to the woman who walked in with him just now. Given that level of intimacy, the sales attendant who saw them first decided it would be wise to pay her more attention. ¡°Hello, miss. Is there a particr style you¡¯re looking for? We¡¯ve got some designs that were just imported from Italy a couple of days ago, and I think they¡¯re a perfect match for your style.¡± Noelle looked up when she heard that and watched as the attendant pointed at the centerpiece disy. ¡°You¡¯re so elegant. I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll be able to pull off these shoes!¡± Noelle¡¯s eyebrows raised slightly as her attention was fully taken by those shoes. It was a pair of bright red high heels with a unique design at the ankle. The shoes were extremely beautiful, and one could tell at a nce that they were the works of a master. The shoes were so beautiful that anyone who looked at them would feel the urge to buy them on the spot. Noelle subconsciously walked toward those shoes and continued gazing at them. After all, women loved to dress up, and they loved wearing high heels. Noelle was no different from these women and naturally wanted to own beautiful things as well. Her gaze remained on the shoes for so long that the sales attendant could tell how much she liked them. [1] She added, ¡°You¡¯ve got wonderful taste, miss. These are the works of a well¨Cknown Italian designer¡­¡± D Wife 130 Wife 130 ¡°Wow! They¡¯re beautiful!¡± A tinkling voice interrupted the sales attendant. ¡°I saw them during fashion week and heard. that they¡¯re the works of Cox. They looked so beautiful on Aubrey, and I wanted them the minute Iid my eyes on them. I didn¡¯t know they were avable for purchase in Brookville now!¡± Noelle froze when she heard that voice. Sure enough, Winter stepped into the store. She was followed by two other women who Noelle had met previously. They were all part of Winter¡¯s posse and frequently caused her trouble. Noelle frowned and instinctively turned around to leave. However, Winter would not allow that to happen. She let out a cry of surprise, acting like she had just seen Noelle as she said, ¡± Noelle! My goodness, are you shopping here as well, Noelle?¡± Winter walked over and put on a look of sisterly love on her face as she grasped Noelle¡¯s hands. ¡°Noelle, have you been very busytely? Why haven¡¯t you been visiting?¡± Noelle¡¯s eyebrows rose so high they nearly disappeared into her hairline when Winter grasped her hands. She removed her hands from Winter¡¯s grip and smiled. ¡°It¡¯s been a while. Are you here shopping with your friends?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Winter smiled. ¡°These are my friends who you¡¯ve met before. Do you remember them?¡± ¡°Yes, I remember them.¡± How could she not? Noelle tugged the corner of her lips upward as her gazended on Winter and her two friends. She recalled that one was named Annie Adams, while the other was named¡­ What was her name again? Suzy Atherton! Noelle tilted her chin slightly. ¡°Well, I won¡¯t keep you guys from your shopping for any longer!¡± Noelle had not forgotten about the existence of one more person in that shop. She could not let Winter know she was in a rtionship with Charles now. She instinctively nced toward where Charles was but did not catch sight of him. A stunned look appeared in her eyes. She wondered if he had left because of what she said to him just now. Noelle could not describe the emotion she was feeling, but if she were to put a name to it, it would probably be ¡®disappointment! However, those feelings did notst long as she tore her gaze away and said, ¡°It¡¯s gettingte, and I have work tomorrow!¡± ¡°Noelle!¡± Winter reached out to grab Noelle¡¯s hand. ¡°Are you still mad at me? I know Xavier and I have wronged you, but it¡¯s been so long since everything happened. And at the end of the day, we¡¯re sisters, which is a truth that can never be altered, can it?¡± +15 BONUS Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. A sad look seemed to creep across Winter¡¯s features as she continued speaking, ¡°Mom and Dad are really worried because of how long you¡¯ve left home, and Grandpa¡¯s health hasn¡¯t been at its best recently. You can be mad at me, but you should visit them, Noelle!¡± Noelle sneered to herself as she listened to what Winter had to say. If she had not known that Winter was talking about her, she would have been under the impression that Winter was talking about some cruel and cold¨Cblooded person. Upon realizing Noelle was not responding, Winter added, ¡°If you really don¡¯t want to see me that badly, you can call ahead when you wish to go home and I¡¯ll leave the house. Noelle, 1-¡± your ¡°Enough!¡± Noelle frowned. ¡°Whether I go home or not is up to me, and it¡¯s none of business. Have you done something that requires you to avoid me? Does your conscience hurt?¡± she said as she sneered. ¡°You¡­¡± Winter had a look of hurt and disbelief on her face as she gazed at Noelle. ¡°Noelle, how could you say that? X¨CXavier and I are in love. Why bother badgering him if he doesn¡¯t have any feelings for you?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right! Gosh, Noelle, you really need to know when to stop. Xavier and Winter are deeply in love with each other, and they make a perfect match. Why are you trying to sabotage their rtionship?¡± Annie chimed in abruptly, her every word evidently attempting to frame Noelle as a homewrecker. COIN BUNDLE: get more free bonus Comments Wife 131 Wife 131 Noelle sneered as she watched them coborate, directly distorting the facts and confusing right from wrong. You guys are good friends.¡± ¡°Of course, we¡¯re good friends. It¡¯s because we are good friends that we¡¯re standing up for Winter. You¡¯re Winter¡¯s sister, and we can¡¯t do anything to you, but one shouldn¡¯t be too ungrateful. ¡°Don¡¯t forget that Winter saved you back then. Without her, you wouldn¡¯t be where you are now. And now, you want to steal Winter¡¯s boyfriend!¡± Noelle¡¯s lips trembled slightly. ¡°Enough. You don¡¯t need to keep repeating this. You know the truth very well. You also know very well who stole whose boyfriend. Do you want to disgrace me by distorting the facts in front of everyone?¡± Noelle clenched her fists, taking a deep breath. Just because I¡¯ve been backing down doesn¡¯t mean I don¡¯t have a temper. Winter, I will say this onest time. From now on, you go your way, and I will go mine. We have nothing to do with each other.¡± Noelle¡¯s peripheral vision caught a glimpse of a familiar figure, causing her to pause slightly. She quickly spoke up. ¡°As for Xavier, since you like him so much, you should cherish him. My biggest trait is that I never go back to what I left behind. ¡°He¡¯s nothing more than a pair of worn¨Cout shoes. If you like him so much, why would I stop you from having him?¡± ¡°You¡­¡± Winter¡¯s face turned pale. ¡°Noelle, how can you say that? How does ndering me benefit you?¡± Annie said impatiently, ¡°Why bother talking to her so much? Can¡¯t you see that attitude of hers? You treat her like a sister, but she may not see you as one!¡± Annie gritted her teeth and red at Noelle. Noelle chuckled lightly. ¡°Your friend is right. From the moment you stole my boyfriend, I really haven¡¯t considered you my sister. So, Winter, it¡¯s best to pretend not to know me when you see me.¡± ¡°Just look at her! Winter, I¡¯ve told you not to be so weak, or one day, someone will walk all over you!¡± ¡°Annie, don¡¯t say that. Noelle is still my only sister.¡± Noelle curled her lips, watching Winter and Annie echo each other while Suzy remained silent. Her eyes were fixed on Noelle the whole time. N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content. To be precise, her eyes were on the figure behind Noelle. Noelle squinted slightly and turned to look behind her. She was somewhat surprised to see Charles standing there. +15 BONUS A sh of panic crossed Noelle¡¯s eyes, and just as she was about to speak, Winter stepped. forward. ¡°Mr. Hoffman? Hello, Mr. Hoffman. Why are you here?¡± Noelle furrowed her brows and chose to remain silent after seeing Charles¡® signaling look. She stood aside without saying a word. ¡°And you are?¡± Charles looked at Winter suspiciously. ¡°Do we know each other?¡± Winter was stunned, biting her lip and looking a bit aggrieved. ¡°Mr. Hoffman, don¡¯t you remember? I¡¯m Winter Shaw, Xavier¡¯s fianc¨¦e. You visited the Shaw family for my grandfather¡¯s birthday before this and gave him a chess set. Do you remember?¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Charles suddenly realized and nodded. ¡°I vaguely remember.¡± He curled his lips upon seeing Winter¡¯s delighted expression and then asked, ¡°And who are you?¡± P Wife 132 Wife 132 Winter¡¯s face stiffened, utterly surprised by Charles¡® response. After all, she was the eldest daughter of the Shaw family and somewhat famous in the entertainment industry. She assumed anyone would grant her a bit of favor. She never expected Charles to outright say he did not know her, making it difficult for her to maintain herposure. Winter took a deep breath. After all, she was ady of a prominent family and still managed. to control her emotions. She smiled. ¡°Mr. Hoffman, you must be very busy. There were too many people that day, so it¡¯s understandable you don¡¯t remember. ¡°Let me introduce myself. I¡¯m Winter Shaw, the daughter of City Ring Corp¡¯s Shaw family and Xavier Harris¡® fianc¨¦e.¡± She thought Charles would surely recognize Xavier¡¯s name. Charles squinted his eyes and said, ¡°I remember the Shaw family, but who¡¯s Xavier?¡± He curled his lips. ¡°Ms. Shaw, are you here to buy shoes?¡± Winter¡¯s expression looked even more strained when she heard Charles say he did not know, Xavier, but she forced a smile when he continued the conversation. ¡°Yes, I¡¯m out shopping with some friends! Mr. Hoffman, are you shopping too?¡± Charles squinted his eyes and turned to Noelle. ¡°Ms. Shaw, are you here to buy shoes?¡± Noelle was slightly stunned as she pointed at herself. ¡°Mr. Hoffman, are you asking me?¡± Charles smiled. ¡°Who else?¡± Noelle¡¯s mouth twitched slightly as she saw the changing expressions on Winter¡¯s face, which truly looked awful. Thinking Charles might be helping her, she nodded. ¡°Yes. I¡¯m getting a pair of ts.¡± She smiled, deciding not to let Winter affect her mood. She turned to the sales assistant and said, ¡°Could you please get me those ts in size seven?¡± Noelle was still smiling. Meanwhile, the sales attendant was not oblivious to the situation and quickly went to get the shoes. From Charles demeanor and conversation, the sales -attendant guessed he was someone important. Hearing the women call him ¡®Mr. Hoffman¡®, she quickly realized who he was. She also noticed Noelle hade in with Charles, making it clear she could not afford to offend either of them. Belonging to N?velDrama.Org. Certainly, miss. Please wait a moment!¡± the sales assistant said and promptly went to find the shoes. +15 BONUS Noelle nodded slightly and turned to Charles. ¡°Mr. Hoffman, are you shopping too?¡± Charles¡® eyes brightened, showing a subtle smile that he quickly hid. He nodded slightly. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect you to still remember me, Ms. Noelle.¡± ¡°How could I forget you, Mr. Hoffman?¡± Noelle smiled. ¡°My grandfather loved the chess set you gave him. I wanted to get one myself, but the price was quite shocking!¡± Noelle said sincerely. She was not just saying this as a polite statement. The chess set cost several million, and she was amazed Charles gave it to her grandfather without a second thought. Charles squinted. ¡°I¡¯m d Sir Shaw liked it.¡± He added, ¡°The pen you gave mest time was also excellent, Ms. Shaw. You have a good eye!¡± Noelle raised an eyebrow, unsure whether tough or not. Although Charles seemed to be complimenting her, he was actually praising himself. He was the one who chose the calligraphy pen, and honestly, she did not know much about these things. Wife 133 Wife 133 +15 BONUS Noelle never expected Charles to be bored enough to join her in arguing with Winter. She had not seen Charles earlier and assumed he had left. At that moment, saying she was not happy would have been a lie. She felt good being treated so kindly by Charles. Their banter was almost enough to infuriate Winter. She could not believe Charles had approached because of Noelle, not her. Why did Noelle deserve to be remembered by a man like Charles? Both she and Noelle met Charles for the first time that day. At the birthday banquet, Charles had not even noticed Noelle. Why did he take the initiative to greet Noelle now? The more Winter thought about it, the angrier she became. She simply became a bystander as Noelle and Charles interacted. Charles hadpletely forgotten about her and was chatting enthusiastically with Noelle. In Winter¡¯s mind, Noelle was just unworthy. Annie and Suzy felt the same. At first, they thought the man looked impressive. After all, no woman could ignore a handsome man. Seeing Charles in his high¨Cend attire, they assumed he was a wealthy heir. When Winter mentioned his surname was Hoffman, they knew exactly who he was since there were not many wealthy people with that surname in Brookville. However, this man ignored them, focusing instead on Noelle. It was infuriating. ¡°Mr. Hoffman,¡± Annie interrupted the conversation between Noelle and Charles, unwilling to be overlooked. ¡°Hello, I¡¯m Annie Adams, Cody Adams¡® sister.¡± Charles furrowed his brows, raising an eyebrow at Annie. Annie felt a burst of joy as Charles finally noticed her. She looked at him expectantly, but he merely nodded slightly before shifting his gaze away. Annie¡¯s frustration grew as Charles¡® brief acknowledgment left her feeling ignored again. ¡°Mr. Hoffman-¡± ¡°Miss, here are your size seven ts. Pleasee try them on!¡± The sales attendant returned with the shoes and looked at Noelle. Noelle smiled while ncing at Charles. ¡°Mr. Hoffman, I¡¯ll go try them on, Belonging to N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Sure.¡± Charles nodded. As Noelle went to try on the shoes, he slowly turned his attention to Winter and her friends. +15 BONUS Annie¡¯s mood brightened again with Charles¡® focus on them. Winter and Suzy were equally hopeful. They were women, after all. They could not help but feel excited as Charles walked toward them. Winter even thought that if she were not already with Xavier, she would definitely pursue. Charles. Charles curled his lips, his gaze briefly lingering on the three women before moving on. He walked past them and headed to the disy cab, staring at a pair of high heels. The three women¡¯s expressions darkened once again. Being ignored by Charles multiple times was unbearable, especially in such a high¨Cend store with many eyes watching. Winter was a celebrity used to being the center of attention. She found it particrly hard to ept that only Charles consistently overlooked her. Comments Wife 134 Wife 134 Winter felt a bit resentful. Why did Charles remember Noelle yet remain indifferent to her? Ever since she was little, there had never been anything Winter wanted that she could not get. She stepped forward and walked to Charles¡® side as she said, ¡°Mr. Hoffman, do you like these high heels too? These shoes are- Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Wrap these shoes up,¡± Charles interrupted her while turning to the sales attendant. The sales attendant immediately understood. ¡°Yes, sir,¡± she said. She then added, ¡°Sir, is the size right?¡± Charles squinted, his long eyes falling on Noelle. As if sensing something, Noelle looked up at Charles, She pressed her lips together, feeling slightly nervous. She feared that Charles might say something shocking. Charles smiled slightly. ¡°Size seven,¡± he continued while looking at Noelle. ¡°But, Ms. Noelle, could you do me a favor?¡± Noelle felt a bit relieved and smiled. Holding the pair of ts she had just taken off, she said, Of course, as long as you don¡¯t mind.¡± ¡°Let Ms. Noelle try them on,¡± Charles instructed. ¡°Alright!¡± The sales attendant quickly handed the shoes to Noelle. ¡°Ms. Shaw, would you like to try them on? I think they would look great on you, and they match your foot shape perfectly! The sales attendant increasingly admired Noelle¡¯s beauty and her elegant demeanor, which was quite different from the other three women. Winter¡¯s face was unable to hide her emotions anymore. This was the first time in her 20¨Cplus years of life that she had been treated this way. Even if it was Charles Hoffman, it was uneptable. She clutched her bag tightly, nearly deforming it as her resentful gaze fixed on Noelle. She med her for being ignored by Charles. How could Charles let Noelle try on those shoes? What right did she have? ¡°Miss, please wrap those shoes up for me. I¡¯m also a size seven. No need to try them on,¡± Winter said through gritted teeth. Charles raised an eyebrow with a slight smile ying on his lips. Even so, he did not speak. Noelle held the pair of shoes in her hand and paused slightly when she heard Winter say this. +15 BONUS She had not intended to provoke Winter. However, Winter¡¯s reaction made it clear that her pride was severely hurt, all due to this calm andposed man. The sales attendant was originally kneeling. When she heard Winter¡¯s demand, she felt a sh of irritation. She stood up anyway and said, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, miss, but we only have this one pair in size seven.¡± *Then wrap them up for me!¡± Winter demanded, handing over her card. ¡°Hurry up!¡± The sales attendant maintained her smile. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but Mr. Hoffman has already purchased them.¡± ¡°He hasn¡¯t paid yet. Whoever pays first gets them. Here¡¯s my card!¡± Winter insisted, handing over her card. ¡°What are you waiting for?¡± The sales attendant continued smiling. ¡°Miss, I¡¯m really sorry, but Mr. Hoffman doesn¡¯t need to use a card. These shoes belong to Mr. Hoffman.¡± ¡°You¡­ Do you even want to stay in business? Do you know who I am? Believe it or not, I¡¯ll file a comint against your store right away and make it impossible for you to open another in Brookville!¡± Wife 135 Wife 135 The sales attendant looked at Winter in disbelief when she heard this. ¡°Miss, what you said isn¡¯t quite right. Mr. Hoffman saw these shoes first, and you haven¡¯t paid yet, so it¡¯s only fair I give them to Mr. Hoffman. *Besides, no matter who you are, everyone is a customer to me. Should I give you special treatment just because you¡¯re someone important?¡± ¡°You¡­¡± Winter was at a loss for words after being blocked by the assistant¡¯s response. As the eldest daughter of the Shaw family, she was used to people granting her wishes. Her fans. treated her like a treasure, yet this small¨Ctime sales attendant dared to speak to her like this. ¡°Get your store manager¡­ No, get your general manager here! I can¡¯t believe I have to take this nonsense just to buy a pair of shoes!¡± Winter was truly furious, almost to the point of losing her temper. Annie and Suzy were about to say something when the sales attendant replied while smiling in anger, ¡°Alright. I¡¯ll get our manager right away. Please wait a moment, miss!¡± The sales attendant nced at Charles, who nodded slightly, approving her actions. Charles curled his lips. Without looking at Winter or her friends, he walked over to Noelle and nced at the shoes in her hands. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Noelle hesitated slightly. ¡°Mr. Hoffman, do I still need to try them on?¡± Standing here was not going to solve anything, and Noelle did not want to be surrounded by people soon. She gave Charles a look, whispering, ¡°Let it go. Why bother arguing with them? Besides, these shoes are-¡± ¡°Please try them on, Ms. Shaw,¡± Charles interrupted. Noelle red at Charles from where Winter and the others could not see. The look in her eyes seemed to be saying, ¡°What on earth are you nning?¡± N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content. However, Charles smiled reassuringly at Noelle, signaling her not to worry. Seeing Charles¡® demeanor, Noelle decided not to argue further. She calmly sat down and began trying on the shoes. They were indeed beautiful shoes, and Noelle had liked them at first sight. However, liking them was one thing, buying them was another. She carefully put on the shoes and stood up but lost her bnce and nearly fell. Luckily, Charles reacted quickly. He quickly held Noelle¡¯s hand with one hand and supported her waist with the other, holding her entire body steady. Noelle was still shaken as she looked at Charles. She was motionless for a moment. She 1/2 +15 BONUS blinked, and her hand¡¯s instinctively gripped Charles¡® shoulders. She simply stared at him with herrge, innocent eyes. She was about to say something when she heard a voice from behind. It was Annie speaking, ¡°How shameless is she? Throwing herself at a man.¡± Noelle blushed, realizing the awkward position she was in with Charles. She gently pushed him away. ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°Are you alright? Charles frowned. When Noelle fell onto him, her fragrance enveloped him, making him momentarily dizzy. Charles was annoyed at being interrupted. He then nced sharply at Annie, his piercing gaze sending a chill down her spine. She shivered, sensing she might have offended Charles. Noelle ley of Charles¡® hand while forcing a smile. ¡°I¡¯m fine. Thank you, Mr. Hoffman.¡± Then, she added while looking at the shoes on her feet, ¡°Mr. Hoffman, these shoes are really beautiful!¡± Comments ? Chapter 136 Chapter 136 "Yes." Charles'' attention was drawn to Noelle''s feet. He found them unusually attractive. Though not a foot fetishist, he genuinely liked Noelle''s feet. He smiled slightly. "They do look very nice!" He had thought these shoes would suit Noelle earlier, but seeing them on her was even more astonishing. "Ms. Shaw, they look great on you!" Noelle blushed slightly. "Well, I''m d you like them," she said, sitting down to remove the shoes. At that moment, the manager arrived after being called in by the sales attendant. He wondered who could be causing such trouble that it required his intervention. As soon as he entered and saw Charles, his eyes widened in surprise. Especially when he saw Charles crouching down to help a woman take off her shoes. It revealed a rare gentle side of him. The manager was quite frightened, never expecting Charles to be there personally. "Mr. Charles, what brings you here?" Mr. Charles Hoffman? Annie and Suzy exchanged looks. They had spected about the man''s identity, thinking he might be from the Hoffman family, but they never imagined him to be Charles. Annie turned pale and walked over to Winter. "Why didn''t you tell us it was Charles Hoffman?" Winter looked upset, especially seeing Charles helping Noelle with her shoes. How could she get all the luck? "I did mention his surname was Hoffman." "Yet you still called the manager over!" Suzy was nearly furious with Winter. "Do you know who Charles really is?" "Isn''t he just someone from the Hoffman family?" Winter was too angry to think straight. She was fixated on Noelle receiving such treatment. "I''ve never been denied anything I wanted. I must have those shoes." "You... I think you should just forget about it!" Annie realized it was impossible. "This mall belongs to the Hoffman family." "What?" Winter was shocked. "You must be joking with me?" Suzy and Annie did not know what to say. "You''re from the Shaw family, and Xavier is your fianc¨¦. Don''t you know anything about the Hoffman family?" From Winter''s reaction, it seemed she really did not know. Winter indeed knew very little. She had always focused onpeting with Noelle, trying to take anything Noelle liked-be it toys, clothes, shoes, orter, Xavier. She had no idea about the Hoffman family''s affairs. Charles nced at the manager. "Those youngdies over there would like a word with you," he said with a slight smile. "Since they want to file aint, naturally, they should talk to you. If you can''t handle it, then there''s no need for you to be the manager." Charles'' words immediately rmed the manager, who wiped his sweat and looked at the sales attendant. He had some idea from their phone call that the issue was over a pair of shoes.Belonging to N?velDrama.Org. The manager looked at Noelle and the shoes in her hands, quickly understanding the situation. Being a smart man, he nced at Charles, who nodded. He then approached Winter. "Hello, miss. What is it that you wanted to file aint about?" Winter''s mind went nk, unsure of what to say. She did not understand business matters well, but she vaguely remembered something from a few days ago Xavier had been upset He mentioning issues with Frotcooln said they were losing orders and could not enter the mall. Frotconn was in chaos now. Chapter 137 Chapter 137 Winter did not understand these matters, so she asked her father for help. However, her father said he was powerless. It turned out the malls in Brookville were all owned by the Hoffman family? If that were the case, why was Charles not helping Frotconn? Was Xavier not rted to Charles?Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. "I..." "Miss? What do you want toin about?" "I..." Winter bit her lip. "I want to buy those shoes, but your store refuses to sell them to me. Don''t you want to do business? Do you know who I am?" Winter continued, "I have money, yet you refuse my business. Does that make sense? And your sales attendant is very rude. She''spletelycking manners. Why did your store hire such people?" Winter did not dare to direct her anger at Charles, but she could still vent about the sales attendant. The manager raised an eyebrow and looked at Winter. He was surprised she still dared to speak like that. Those shoes were chosen by Charles. Hardly anyone in the world would dare topete with him for something. The manager pretended to probe the sales attendant. "Is what thisdy said true?" The sales attendant feigned shock. "How could that be possible? In our service industry, customers are paramount. Customers are always right. But Mr. Hoffman selected these shoes and... has already paid for them!" "Nonsense! When did he pay?" Winter could not hold back when she heard the sales attendant lying. "We have so many witnesses and cameras here. You''re lying!" "I''m not lying. Mr. Hoffman doesn''t need to pay. Whatever he chooses is his. Mr. Hoffman doesn''t need to pay for anything in any mall in Brookville. It''s understandable if you didn''t know, so let me tell you now that Mr. Hoffman is the owner of this mall," the sales attendant said in a condescending tone. "Even if Mr. Hoffman wanted everything in this mall, he wouldn''t need to pay." Winter turned pale, her mouth opening and closing without uttering a word. The manager coughed. "It''s all cleared up now. It was a misunderstanding. It''s understandable that this youngdy didn''t know our boss as not everyone can recognize Mr. Hoffman." He continued, "Since these shoes already have an owner, why don''t you look at other pairs?" "Why-" "Let''s just go!" Suzy felt embarrassed, especially in such a high-end store where the clientele included wealthydies and heiresses. She did not want to be the subject of gossip. Suzy and Annie then pulled Winter away. Although Annie and Winter were resentful, Suzy remained rational Don''t forget your statuet You''re a big star and the eldest daughter of the Shaw familydt would look bad if someone saw you. "Besides, that man is Charles Hoffman. Do you really want to offend him?" Winter bit her lip and red at Noelle before reluctantly leaving. As Suzy dragged Winter away, she nced back at Charles. Throughout the entire episode, Charles did not say much and never even looked at them. However, his natural charisma made him hard to ignore. Noelle bit her lip. As she watched them leave, she felt resigned. "She''s really going to hold a grudge against me now." Chapter 138 Chapter 138 Charles chuckled and shook his head. He gently patted Noelle''s head. "Do you think she wouldn''t hold a grudge against you if you didn''t do this?" Noelle sighed, reluctantly admitting the truth in Charles'' words. Still, she decided to avoid Winter as much as possible in the future. "You don''t understand. Winter doesn''t let things go easily. She¡ª" Charles shook his head. "It seems like she bullied you often in the past, didn''t she?" Noelle gave a bitter smile. "I guess it''s pretty obvious!" Moreover, she would always end up on the losing side. To avoid direct confrontations with Winter, Noelle moved out early and only returned for family gatherings to see her grandfather, Samuel. Charles'' deep eyes settled on Noelle, and he could tell from her resigned expression that she had often been at a disadvantage with Winter over the years. "She''s quite something." Noelle raised an eyebrow. "I didn''t expect you topliment her!" She noticed the shoes being packed by the sales attendant, and the manager hade over as well. "Mr. Hoffman, these shoes..." "Give them to me!" Charles frowned slightly, taking the shoes. "What about those ts from earlier?" "They''re right here!" The sales attendant had anticipated this and quickly handed over the ts. "Ms. Shaw, please change into them." Noelle raised an eyebrow and nced at Charles. He nodded. "Go ahead and change. It''s better not to wear high heels when you go out." He paused and then continued with a smile, "You can wear them at home." Noelle puffed her cheeks, feeling there was something off with Charles'' words. It only dawned on her when she looked at the manager. Upon hearing Charles and Noelle''s conversation, the manager made a mental note to treat Noelle well if she ever came to shop here again. He signaled to the sales attendant and turned to Charles. "Mr. Hoffman, I''ll go back to work now." Charles nodded. After the manager left, Charles looked at Noelle and asked, "Do they fit well?" Noelle nodded, feeling much morefortable in the ts. She asked the sales attendant to pack her high heels and then approached Charles. Without the height boost from the heels, Noelle seemed quite petite standing next to Charles. Though Noelle was 5''5" tall and considered above average for women, she still looked small next to Charles, who was 6''1". Noelle smiled, took the bag from the sales attendant, and thanked her. She then looked at Charles. "Let''s go."Belonging to N?velDrama.Org. "Alright," Charles replied, walking behind Noelle. He gave the sales attendant a meaningful nce. The sales attendant quickly said, "Goodbye, Mr. Hoffman." After Charles and Noelle left, the store manager approached the sales attendant, giving her an approving look. "You did well today." "Thank you, sir!" Wearing the ts made Noelle feel much lighter. She walked ahead, turning back to look at Charles, who was following closely behind. "Thank you very much for today!" Noelle knew that if Charles had not intervened, she would have once again suffered at Winter''s hands. Winter always assumed Noelle would not cause any major conflict. Plus, with Annie and Suzy supporting her today t would have been at a disadvantage no matter what. Chapter 139 Chapter 139 Charles curled his lips. "That''s it? Two words? Just a simple thank you?" "I said thank you very much. That''s four words," Noelle replied before smiling. "Well, what else do you want?" Charles raised an eyebrow. "It''s no wonder you can''tpete with her." He walked briskly to Noelle''s side, took the bag from her hand, and quickly held her hand with his other. Noelle was stunned. Her face was flushing as she said, "What are you doing? There are so many people watching. Let go of me!" She struggled but could not break free. She looked genuinely worried as she nced around nervously. Charles nced at Noelle. Seeing her reaction, he lifted his eyebrows slightly. "Am I so embarrassing to be seen with?" Many women would love to walk with him, but this woman seemed to despise the idea. Noelleughed awkwardly. "It''s not that. I''m just worried Winter hasn''t gone far. If she finds out about our rtionship, I''m afraid..." "Afraid of what?" Charles snorted lightly. "I didn''t think you were so afraid of your sister. She''s just a paper tiger!" Charles did not regard Winter as a threat, so he could not understand Noelle''s fears. Noelle was slightly taken aback, her lips pressing together as her eyes dimmed. "I''ve been Winter''s sister for over 20 years. I know her well. Whatever I like, she''ll take it away from me. It used to be dolls and toys, then boyfriends and even parental love. I don''t know what''s next..." "Are you afraid she''ll take me from you?" Charles'' cool voice carried a hint of amusement. Noelle paused, clearly stunned for a moment. "No, why would you think that?" She instinctively denied it. However, seeing Charles'' slightly darkened expression, she realized she might have said the wrong thing. Noelle forced augh and quickly rified, "I didn''t mean it like that. I know Winter could never take you from me. I know what kind of person you are." She continued, "You don''t understand my family. They always exceed my worst expectations. If Winter finds out about us, our marriage won''t stay a secret If she can''t have the best, she''ll destroy it." "Do you think she can destroy me?" Charlesughed softly but seemed slightly cheered by Noelle''s words. "Don''t worry, your man isn''t that easily destroyed." Noelle acknowledged it, saying, "She certainly doesn''t have that power but shell harass you endlessly until you''re fed up. If my father finds out about us, what do you think he''ll do?" Noelle shook her head with a bitter smile. "He''d do anything for money, as you should have witnessed by now."Material ? N?velDrama.Org. After getting into the car and fastening her seatbelt, Noelle noticed Charles staring at her. She felt a bit uneasy. "Why are you looking at me like that?" Charles shook his head and gently patted her head. There was so much in Charles'' eyes, so much that Noelle could not tell if it was real or an illusion. She pressed her lips together and then noticed Charles'' right hand reaching over to hold hers. His palm was warm andrge as it rested on the back of her hand, giving aforting sense of security. Chapter 140 Chapter 140 "I''m not joking. For the sake of 200 million, he casually handed me over to a man with a terrible reputation and character. He has never cared about my feelings. If he knew we were married, given your status and position, you''d be entangled with the Shaw family in unnecessary ways for life." This was not something Noelle wanted to see. Charles, however,ughed at Noelle''s words. It was genuineughter. "Silly girl!" Noelle pressed her lips together. "I''m being serious. Why are you calling me names?" "I''m not calling you names!" Charles squeezed her fingers gently. "Since I chose to marry you, I''ve already considered all these things. And now that we''re married, shouldn''t we share our blessings and face difficulties together? Isn''t that what marriage is about?" He continued, "If I were so easily manipted, I wouldn''t be Charles Hoffman. Trust me, I''ll handle these things." Seeing Noelle''s confused expression, Charles patted her head again. Noelle was annoyed and pushed his hand away. "Do you have ADHD or something? Why are you always patting my head? You''ve messed up my hair." She leaned her head against the window, watching the buildings sh by. "Sometimes, I wonder why people can''t live more simply." Charles raised an eyebrow and smiled slightly. Then, he heard his phone ringing. "Can you answer that for me?" Noelle picked up his phone and pointed at the name on the screen. "It''s Mr. Wells!" Charles instructed, "Answer it. Put it on speaker." "Okay." Noelle did as he asked, and Ronald''s voice came through the speaker. "Mr. Hoffman, there''s news." Noelle looked at Charles, slightly confused. "Do you want me to turn off the speaker?" she asked. Charles replied, "What did they say?" "They''ve started an investigation, but Robert insists he was coerced and won''t name the person behind it." Charles frowned. "Keep monitoring him. Anything else?" Ronald hesitated. "I just received a video." After a brief pause, he added, "It''s about your wife." Noelle raised an eyebrow, looking at Charles with confusion while mouthing, "Me?" Charles frowned as well. "Speak!" Ronald swallowed hard, his hesitation making Noelle anxiou et She tightened her grip on the phone. Chartes noticed her tension and gave her a reassuring look. Belonging to N?velDrama.Org. Noelle forced a small smile, indicating she was okay. She then said into the phone, "Mr. Wells, it''s me. Did you say the video is about me? Just tell us directly." Content belongs to "Yes, it''s about you. It shows what happened upstairs at your grandfather''s birthday party." With a tter, Noelle dropped the phone. She froze for a moment and then picked it up with trembling hands. "What video? I was groggy that day. Who recorded it? Chapter 141 Chapter 141 "Well..." Ronald hesitated, but Charles took the phone. "Send the video to my phone," Charles instructed before hanging up. Noelle''s demeanor was clearly disturbed. The moment Charles took the phone, she seemed dazed. Although she had been groggy that day, she was still aware of what had happened to her. Now, she felt lost and unsure of what to do as she did not know who had done it. She looked at Charles, her eyes pleading for help. "Charles!" "Don''t worry," Charles said, holding the steering wheel with one hand while keeping the other around Noelle''s hand. "Nelly, don''t be afraid. I''m here!" He gently squeezed her hand to reassure her. "Let me handle this." Ronald quickly sent the video over. It was short but clear enough to identify who was in it.Belonging to N?velDrama.Org. Noelle was lying restlessly on a bed. The video was taken up close, probably with a phone. At that time, Noelle was still unconscious, and her movements were all subconscious. She stared at the person on the video, and her face turned pale. "It''s Simon. It has to be Simon." She remembered being alone in the room with Simon after being drugged by her closest family members and handed over to him. When she groggily woke up, she had been holding onto Simon. Noelle bit her lip while shaking her head. "It... It must be Simon. Why would he do this? How did this video end up with Mr. Wells?" Panic filled Noelle''s heart. "It''s a video of me. Why did Mr. Wells...?" "I had Ronald monitor Simon and the Shaw family''swork," Charles exined. He had pieced together some of the puzzle from the scattered clues. "This wasn''t sent to Ronald. Simon probably sent it to the Shaw family." Simon sent it to the Shaw family? Noelle turned even paler, not reassured by Charles'' words. "Do you mean to say that Simon is using this to ckmail or negotiate with my family because of what did to him?" "That''s a possibility," Charles agreed while squinting his eyes. He had not expected Simon to pull such a stunt. Although the video did not show Noelle and Simon doing anything inappropriate, it could still damage Noelle''s reputation if it was deliberately released. "What should we do?" Noelle was already panicking. "They failedst time, and now, Simon is threatening my parents with this video. I''m worried they''ll-" "Don''t be afraid," Charles interrupted, pulling the car over to the side of the road. He tapped the steering wheel with both hands and then opened the car window. Noelle looked at Charles. He was probably thinking about how to resolve this. He pulled out a pack of cigarettes from his pocket, taking one out but not lighting it. Content belongs to Holding the cigarette between his long fingers, he finally asked, "Do you want to go racing?" "Racing?" Noelle was taken aback, not understanding Charles'' intent. "You want to go racing? Now?" Charles raised an eyebrow, his fingers tapping rhythmically on the steering wheel. His deep eyes looked ahead through the windshield. Under the dim streetlights, the shadows of trees were nted, asionally rustling with the wind. "Right now." Noelle gasped. "Now? But where will you get a racing car? And who will race with you?" Charles smirked. "Who said I was going racing?" He unbuckled his seatbelt. Noelle was still puzzled. She watched as Charles leaned over and unbuckled her seatbelt too. Chapter 142 Chapter 142 When Noelle heard the click of the seatbelt, she snapped back to reality and pointed at herself. "You want me to race?" she eximed. "No, no! I can''t! I may have a driver''s license, but I''m a rookie. Just driving safely is already an achievement for me. Racing? No way! And this isn''t even a professional race car!" "Nelly, don''t be afraid. I believe in you!" Charles squeezed Noelle''s hand, encouraging her. "You never know your limits until you try. I didn''t know how to race before either." His calm voice acted like a spell, guiding Noelle.Material ? N?velDrama.Org. Noelle blinked, looking uncertainly at Charles. "But I don''t know how..." "When I''m in a bad mood, I like to race. Pushing myself to the limit helps me forget everything. Try it out, okay?" "Fine!" Noelle took a deep breath, opened the car door, and switched ces with Charles. Then, she took another deep breath with her eyes fixed on Charles. "I can do this." "Yes. I believe in you. I''m putting myself in your hands!" Charles buckled his seatbelt and gently touched Noelle''s still pale face. "Everything will be fine. Drive!" Feeling encouraged, Noelle stepped on the gas pedal and elerated steadily, pushing her limits. She kept her eyes focused on the road as she gripped the steering wheel tightly. Charles sat beside her, providing an invisible strength that pushed her forward fearlessly. The speed increased. The quiet night road was wide open. Noelle''s car sped along the road. Although it was different from racing, her speed was still astonishing. Fortunately, it waste, and there were few other cars on the road. Noelle felt the thrill of the speed. For the first time, she realized she could be this wild. She gripped the steering wheel tightly. "Charles, I feel like I''m flying, like I''m one with the car." "Yes!" Charles sat calmly beside her, watching Noelle''s excitement grow with the increasing speed. His lips curved into a slight smile. He then pressed a button that lowered the windows, allowing the strong and cold to rush in. The icy wind stung her face, but Noelle felt exhrated. "Charles, racing really can lift your spirits!" "Exactly!" Charles nodded, seeing Noelle''s improved mood. "Go faster!" he urged. Noelle elerated further. A car suddenly sped past Noelle''s, too fast to identify. Noelle excitedly pressed the gas pedal harder to catch up. Soon, more cars zoomed by, seemingly challenging Noelle. Noelle grew anxious and looked at Charles. "What do I do, Charles?" Charles raised an eyebrow, surprised by their luck at encountering an actual race. The other cars'' speed had clearly l triggered Noelle''spetitive spirit, something Charles was pleased to see. "Do you want to win?" Content belongs to Noelle nodded vigorously. "Yes! This is the first time in my life I really want to win. I don''t want to give up so easily." She recalled her childhood, when she and Winter each had a toy. She loved her doll, but Winter wanted it too. Their father had bought Winter one, but she still wanted Noelle''s. Hence, their father told Noelle to give hers to her sister and trade. Chapter 143 Chapter 143 Back then, Noelle was naive and agreed to trade dolls with Winter. However, Winter quickly destroyed her own doll. Noelle''s eyes darkened when she recalled this memory. She pressed the elerator to the floor. "I don''t want to lose. Not this time!" Charles smirked. "But they''re professional racers, driving professional race cars." "But I want to try!" She did not want to be deprived of her rights without even trying. She needed to make an effort, and if she still could not get it after trying, then she would let go. It would simply mean it was not meant for her. Noelle''s words were not only meant for Charles but also for herself. Seeing the determination in Noelle''s eyes, Charles knew she had made up her mind. "Alright, go for it." From start to finish, Charles did not say much. He was just there beside her, encouraging her and cheering her on. He put his trust in her, cing his life in her hands. Noelle bit her lip, feeling a different kind of emotion toward Charles. She gripped the steering wheel tighter and elerated again. She noticed several race cars ahead, seemingly waiting for her. She felt a bit surprised. As Noelle''s car finally caught up with them, one car rolled down its window. Upon seeing a woman at the wheel, the driver looked surprised. "Hey,dy, driving a Bentley in a race at this hour? Nice style!" Noelle pressed her lips together and elerated. The man also sped up. "Hey, we''re racing here. Want to join? There are prizes!" The man with a streak of fiery red hair seemed wild and unrestrained. Seeing a man in the passenger seat, he asked, "Hey, man. You in?" Charles looked at Noelle, whose eyes sparkled with excitement. He smiled. "Sure. Where to?" "From the intersection ahead, there''s a road up the mountain that''s closed off. It''s perfect for racing!" Charles and Noelle exchanged nces. Noelle pressed her lips together. "Isn''t that the way back home?" Charles was pleased that Noelle still thought about going home at this moment and nodded. "Perfect. We can ace all the way back." He told the man, "See you at the intersection!" S The man''s car quickly sped past Noelle''s, racing ahead. Noelle pressed the elerator harder to catch up. Even though it was a Bentley, it could not quite match actual race cars. When Noelle arrived, a row of cars had neatly surrounded the intersection, creating a spectacr sight. Noelle unbuckled her seatbelt while swallowing hard. "Charles, I don''t want to embarrass you or your car." "Hmm?" Charles raised an amused eyebrow. "How would you embarrass me?" Noelle pointed at his car. "It looks low-key, but it''s not. Your license te alone is hard to ignore. If I lose and they trace the license te, your reputation will be ruined," she said quickly. Charlesughed. "So?" "So, to avoid embarrassing you, I think you should drive this race!"Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. Chapter 144 Chapter 144 Noelle felt Charles'' gaze burning into her, and his eyes seemed to see right through everything. She looked at him shyly. "You don''t want your reputation ruined by me, do you?" Charles shook his head helplessly. This woman was clearly worried about losing, so she came up with this excuse. Just moments ago, she had been excited to race, and now, she was backing out.Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. "Hmm?" Noelle blushed. "Alright, I admit it. I''m afraid I''ll lose. Happy now?" She then urged him, "Hurry up!" Charles nodded and walked over to the group. "What are the rules?" One of the men in the group eyed Charles as if wanting to say something, but another interrupted him, "Our usual rules. We race to the mountaintop. Whoever gets there first wins. But hey, with your car... Do you want us to give you a head start?" The man with the red hair and a wild attitude added boldly, "Or... if you beat any one of us, you win." "Alright. It''s a deal." Noelle quickly interjected. "You said it first. If we beat any one of your cars, we win!" Charles squinted at Noelle, who stuck out her tongue and stepped back. He smiled, amused that she thought he would lose. He looked at the group and then at their well-equipped cars. It seemed they were up against real racers. "Alright, let''s start," he agreed. "Great!" the red-haired man agreed cheerfully. He believed that even with the Bentley''s performance, it was no match for their race cars. If Charles could beat any of them, it would show he had great skills. Charles got into the car, checked his seatbelt, and looked at Noelle. "Can you handle the speed?" Noelle thought about how fast she had driven earlier and nodded. "Yes, I can." "Sit tight." The group watched as Charles and Noelle got into the car. The man who had been interrupted earlier said Dude, that license te Isn''t that..." "Who cares! Get in the car!" The red-haired man was impatient. "Stay sharp and don''t let him overtake us. That would be a huge embarrassment." He got into his car with a flourish. He then snapped his fingers, and the convoy shot off like arrows from a bow. Charles floored the elerator, quickly matching their speed. The sudden surge of speed caught Noelle off guard, and she lurched forward. She looked at Charles with lingering fear. She had thought she was driving fast earlier, but Charles here had et immediately floored the elerator, rapidly increasing their speed He was far beyond her level. Noelle was stunned as Charles sped up, overtaking two cars at the first bend. She grabbed the handle, her eyes widening. "You..." Despite not knowing much about car cars, Noelle knew that Charles'' was just a luxury sedan, not a race car. But at that moment, it felt like he was driving a race car. Chapter 145 Chapter 145 Charles kept his lips tight and stared straight ahead. His focused and serious expression left Noelle no time to think about anything else. Material ? N?velDrama.Org. She gripped the handle with both hands as Charles elerated again, overtaking another car at the next bend. Noelle felt the wind rushing past her ears. It was an indescribable sensation. Her heart pounded in her throat, and she felt like she might scream at any moment. As Charles overtook another car, Noelle heard someone outside curse in awe, ¡°Holy crap! This legend!¡± guy¡¯s a Noelle bit her pale lip, ncing at Charles under the dim interior light. The man outside was right¨C Charles really was something else. Seeing his calm demeanor, Noelle bit her lip and asked, ¡°Were you a race car driver?¡± Charles raised an eyebrow, his lips curving into a smile, ¡°Scared now?¡± Noelle shook her head. Seeing that Charles could still talk to her, she could not help but worry. ¡°I¡¯d better not distract you. Just focus on driving!¡± Then, she added, ¡°Actually, you just need to avoid being overtaken by thest car to win, you know!¡± Charles smiled. From her angle, Noelle found his thin lips quite appealing. He replied, ¡°Don¡¯t worry.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not worried. Just focus on driving!¡± ¡°I¡¯m not,¡± said Charles. ¡°Huh?¡± Noelle was confused by his seemingly unrtedment. ¡°Not what?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not a race car driver.¡± He chuckled. ¡°I just liked ying with cars when I was younger.¡± Noelle¡¯s mouth twitched. If this was his idea of ying around, the professional drivers from earlier would be furious to hear it! ¡°Hold on,¡± Charles said. As he spoke, a bright yellow car sped past them. The driver waved mockingly at Charles. ¡°See youter, buddy!¡± Charles pressed his lips together and gripped the steering wheel, then floored the elerator. As they went up the mountain, everything around them fell silent except for the sound of speeding cars. Noelle kept her eyes on Charles. Despite racing, he appeared calm and collected. If not for the increasing speed, Noelle might have thought Charles was just taking a leisurely drive. ¡°Talk to me,¡± Charles¡® cool voice broke the silence. ¡°Talk about what?¡± Noelle asked, puzzled. ¡°Anything.¡± Charles smiled. ¡°Don¡¯t forget why we started this.¡± Noelle furrowed her brows, remembering that they had started racing to lift her spirits. She red at Charles. ¡°Could you stop reminding me?¡± ¡°We need to resolve this. Is your mood better now?¡± +15 BONUS Charles maintained a steady speed, neither overtaking the cars ahead nor allowing those behind to pass. He chatted leisurely with Noelle, ¡°Hmm?¡± ¡°No, but if you can overtake everyone, I might feel better!¡± Noelle teased. ¡°I doubt you can, though!¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± Charles smiled. ¡°If my wife says so, then I muste in first to meet her expectations.¡± He nced at Noelle and said, ¡°Hold tight!¡± He overtook several cars at the next bend in an instant. BIG SALE: 3500 bonus free fou you Chapter 146 Chapter 146 Noelle stared at Charles and then turned to look behind them. The other cars were already far behind Charles¡®. ¡°How did you do that?¡± Before she could finish her sentence, Charles¡® eyes grew sharp. ¡°Hold on tight.¡± As he spoke, he floored the elerator, speeding through the rough terrain. ¡°Fuck!¡± The red¨Chaired man, who had been in first ce, saw Charles elerating on the most dangerous saw Charle part of the road. ¡°Is he crazy?¡± Usually, they would slow down on this stretch, but Charles had sped up instead. N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content. Noelle gripped the handle tightly, her entire body grew tense. Her heart was seemingly pounding in her throat. However, she had no choice but to trust Charlespletely. To Noelle¡¯s surprise, the car came to a sudden stop. She turned to Charles in bewilderment. ¡°What happened?¡± Charles smiled lightly, shutting off the engine and rolling up the windows. He pulled Noelle into his arms. Were you scared?¡± Noelle swallowed hard, feeling as if she had been reborn. She wrapped her arms around Charles¡® waist with her body still trembling slightly. She stubbornly said, ¡°No, I wasn¡¯t scared!¡± Charles chuckled as he held her close. He ran his long fingers through her hair, gently patting her back. Alright, you weren¡¯t scared.¡± Noelle took a deep breath, clinging tightly to Charles. The subtle scent of lime mixed with a hint of tobo from him was unexpectedly pleasant. Noelle¡¯s nerves gradually settled. She pulled away from Charles slightly. However, in the next moment, she tilted her head up and kissed the corner of his lips. It was a brief kiss, like a dragonfly skimming the water. Nheless, it made Charles raise an eyebrow in surprise. The next moment, he wrapped his arm around her waist and kissed her lips. He had kissed her before, but that was when Noelle was unconscious. This time, she was fully aware. Seeing Noelle hesitate, Charles firmly held the back of her head, deepening the kiss. Noelle¡¯s kiss was clumsy and inexperienced, but under Charles¡® guidance, she gradually rxed. She wrapped her arms around his neck, responding to him, Her face flushed with eyes half¨Cclosed in a seductive daze. Cars zoomed past them, but they kissed passionately inside the car. Finally, Charles pulled back, resting his forehead against hers. They both panted lightly, and Charles gently squeezed her fingers. His rough fingertips brushed against her smooth skin, causing a slight shiver. As she was catching her breath, Noelle suddenly realized what she had done. ¡°I¡­¡± -Charles pulled her into his embrace, chuckling softly. ¡°Feeling shy now? Isn¡¯t it a bitte for that?¡± Noelle¡¯s face turned red as she pushed him away, only to see his smug expression. ¡°What? I was just going to remind you that we¡¯re losing!¡± Charles raised an eyebrow. ¡°Do you care about winning?¡± Noelle shook her head. ¡°No!¡± She had not nned to race seriously in the first ce. Besides, after witnessing Charles¡® driving skills, he was already a winner in her eyes. Comments Chapter 147 Chapter 147 Charles curled his lips upon seeing the unusual expression on Noelle¡¯s face. He gently patted her head. That¡¯s good!¡± He cared about winning, but not in this context. Charles drove to the finish line with a sense of joy, and as expected, they lost the race. However, the red- haired man could not help but admire Charles when his car arrived. ¡°Man, where do you race? You¡¯re pretty good.¡± The red¨Chaired man tossed Charles a cigarette, which he caught. However, he just yed with it without answering. The man raised an eyebrow, impressed by Charles¡® demeanor. ¡°Interested in joining our team?¡± Charles smiled. ¡°I lost!¡± ¡°No, we lost!¡± The red¨Chaired man, who could take a loss gracefully, understood Charles¡® skill. He was amazed. Having been in the racing world for so long, he had not expected to find someone who could drive like that. They were professional racers, calcting every detail and knowing their limits. However, seeing Charles¡® performance with just a luxury sedan was a first for them. This man had beaten their supercars with a business car, showcasing his skills. ¡°We agreed that whoever reached the finish line first wins. Clearly, you won!¡± Charles did not dwell on the loss. He patted the man¡¯s shoulder and said, ¡°We¡¯re home now, so we¡¯re heading off.¡± Charles took Noelle¡¯s hand and headed back to the car. The red¨Chaired man called after them, ¡°Hey, man. Aren¡¯t you taking the prize?¡± Charles waved his hand. ¡°No need!¡± ¡°Come on, at least tell us your name. Let¡¯s be friends!¡± The red¨Chaired man was persistent, not wanting to lose touch with such a skilled racer. However, Charles had no intention of staying. He gently helped Noelle into the car and then got in himself. They soon disappeared into the night. The red¨Chaired man felt a bit defeated, believing this victory was not earned fairly. ¡°Sully, find out who that guy is. He¡¯s incredible!¡± The man called Sully, who had been interrupted earlier, also watched the Bentley disappear into the night. His gaze slightly deepened. ¡°No need. I think I know who he is.¡± ¡°Who?¡± The red¨Chaired man was surprised. ¡°You know him?¡± Sully shook his head. ¡°Not personally, but in Brookville, there are only a few people who could have a license te like that.¡± Sully¡¯s words clicked, and the red¨Chaired man¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Damn. That was six zeros, right? Is it that guy?¡± The other racers paused at Sully¡¯s words. ¡°Holy crap, was that Charles Hoffman?¡± They exchanged nces, looking at the prize in the red¨Chaired man¡¯s hand. ¡°Jim, you beat Mr. Hoffman! Material ? N?velDrama.Org. 12 +15 BONUS You can brag about that for a long time!¡± ¡°Brag, my ass!¡± The red¨Chaired man, named Jim Langford, looked displeased. ¡°Didn¡¯t you see? He let us win.¡± If Charles had not stopped at the end, there was no way they could have won. They had even arrogantly said that if Charles could beat any one of them, he would win. However, the guy had shown he did not need to race to defeat them. ¡°Let¡¯s go! Get going! With skills like ours, we¡¯d better keep practicing to avoid embarrassment.¡± BIG SALE: 3500 bonus free fou you. Chapter 148 Chapter 148 The group howled in excitement, but Sully just smirked. It was the first time he had seen Jim so serious. After Charles led Noelle to the car, they drove away. Noelle¡¯s mind was still reying the scene of their kiss. She could not believe she had kissed him, and when she came to her senses, Charles had taken it seriously and refused to let her go. Noelle cautiously nced at Charles, thinking she was being discreet. As she watched his profile, she swallowed nervously and licked her dry lips. Charles¡® narrow eyes met hers, as if he were a predator locking onto its prey. Noelle¡¯s heart skipped a beat, and she quickly looked away with her heart racing. She stammered, ¡°Y¨CYou could have won, and they even admitted it! Why didn¡¯t you take the prize?¡± Charles raised an eyebrow and smiled. ¡°Do you really want the prize?¡± Noelle initially wanted to say no, but instead, she nodded. ¡°Yes. Your skills were clearly better. Why didn¡¯t you take the prize?¡± ¡°If you like it, we can go back and get it,¡® Charles said, starting to turn the car around. Noelle quickly grabbed his hand and bit her lip. ¡°I was just saying. We don¡¯t need to go back. Besides, they¡¯re probably gone by now.¡± She held onto Charles¡® arm with both hands. When she realized what she was doing, she looked down. and smiled awkwardly. Their posture felt almost¡­ intimate? N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content. The thought startled Noelle, and she quickly let go of his hand. What was even worse was that she actually felt happy in her heart, thinking they looked like a couple¨Ca couple having a yful argument. Charles did not notice the turmoil in Noelle¡¯s mind. He drove into the garage and saw her sitting still like a statue. He reached over and patted her head. ¡°We¡¯re home!¡± Noelle swatted his hand away. ¡°Stop patting my head from now on!¡± That night, as Noelle bathed, she remembered the video Ronald had sent. She bit her lip, soaked in the tub for a while, and then got dressed. She headed to Charles¡® study. Charles had gone to his study right after they returned, and Ronald had briefed him on the situation. Robert was in police custody, but he refused to reveal the mastermind behind the plot, making things extremely difficult. Although Charles was ostensibly targeting Robert, he was actually looking for the real mastermind. ¡°What did Robert say?¡± ¡°He insists he doesn¡¯t know who the person is!¡± Ronald said, feeling troubled. ¡°Mr. Hoffman, what should we do?¡± ¡°Go see Peter. He has his ways,¡± Charles replied with a smirk while rubbing his chin. His dark eyes grew even deeper as he contemted. ¡°And the Shaw family.¡± It¡¯s confirmed. Our sources say the Shaw family is Indeed in trouble, which is why Julian is pushing for Winter to marry Xavier quickly. They want to use Frotconn to help City Ring Corp, Ronald exined. He continued, ¡°Also, the deal with Simon was indeed orchestrated by Julian and Jade, with Winter¡¯s involvement. Xavier, however, seems to be unaware.¡± ¡°Unaware?¡± Charles scoffed. ¡°I doubt it!¡± He added, ¡°Are you sure Simon gave that video to Julian?¡± Chapter 149 Chapter 149 ¡°I¡¯m not sure,¡± Ronald admitted. ¡°The video dide from an IP address associated with the York family, but whether Simon was responsible is unclear. Our team intercepted it, but Julian also received a copy. ¡°Mr. Hoffman, what do you think Simon and Julian are up to?¡± Ronald was puzzled. ¡°Simon has everything he could want. Why target your wife? And Julian, he¡¯s her father, yet¡­ Ronald caught himself almost misspeaking and quickly corrected, ¡°Yet he behaves like this.¡± Charles replied coldly, ¡°Profit, of course. What else do businessmen care about? Noelle doesn¡¯t have shares in City Ring Corp. Logically, marrying her to Xavier would be the best choice as it wouldn¡¯t remove any shares from City Ring Corp. But he didn¡¯t do that!¡± Charles was also puzzled regarding this matter. If Julian intended to give Noelle to Simon, he must have expected to gain something from Simon. ¡°Find out what happened between Noelle and the Shaw family!¡± Charles sensed something was off. Although Noelle was also a child of the Shaw family, she did not seem to be treated as one, especiallypared to Winter. ¡°And don¡¯t mention this to Noelle for now.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Ronald nodded. He was not foolish. He could see from Charles¡® recent behavior that he had feelings for Noelle. Even if they were not in a romantic rtionship yet, there was definitely a special sentiment. ¡°Mr. Hoffman, I want to talk to Mr. Lennon¡¯s assistant. Can you help me set it up?¡± ¡°Do it yourself!¡± Charles hung up the phone just as he heard a knock on the door. ¡°Come in!¡± Noelle gathered her courage and pushed the door open. Seeing Charles with his phone, seemingly just having finished a call, she bit her lip. ¡°Am I disturbing you?¡± Charles smiled and gestured for her toe closer. ¡°Come here.¡± Feeling more relieved, Noelle walked over and nced at the items on his desk. ¡°It¡¯ste. Why aren¡¯t you in bed?¡± Charles raised an eyebrow, his gaze shifting from Noelle¡¯s face to her body with a hint of amusement. Noelle felt a slight shiver under his gaze and followed his eyes, immediately left out a gasp. She quickly pulled her neckline together. ¡°What are you looking at?!¡± she scolded, giving Charles a yful re. ¡°Stop looking!¡± Charles could not help butugh. ¡°My darling wife, youe in the middle of the night dressed so seductively. Were you not trying to tempt me? Plus, weren¡¯t you inviting me to join you in bed earlier?¡± he teased. Noelle felt flustered, her logic nearly giving in to his words. She frowned slightly. ¡°I¡­ I came here to ask you something¡­¡± Belonging to N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Hmm?¡± Charles raised an eyebrow. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°You know, about the video Mr. Wells sent tonight. About me. You were there that day. You know it¡¯s not what it looks like, right?¡± +15 BONUS Noelle¡¯s face reddened. Remembering the event made her ufortable. ¡°I don¡¯t know why he did it or what my father and the others are nning. Charles, you¡¯ll help me, won¡¯t you?¡± BIG SALE: 3500 bonus free fou you Comments Chapter 150 Chapter 150 ¡°You came here in the middle of the night just for this? After a long silence, Charles finally asked, ¡°Are you afraid?¡± Noelle felt a bit lost and nodded. ¡°I am a little scared. Will you help me?¡± he realized she was genuinely Charles curled his lips into a smile. Seeing Noelle¡¯s anxious expression frightened. Reputation was indeed very important for a woman. ¡°You don¡¯t need to worry about this for now. I¡¯ll take care of it.¡± Since they were already married, he would not let this matter go unchecked. Seeing Noelle visibly rx, he smiled. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it. It¡¯ste. Go rest.¡± Noelle bit her lip. Her previously agitated mind was now calm thanks to Charles. N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content. She trusted that he would help her. She could not quite pinpoint as to why she believed this, but she just felt that Charles was reliable. Seeing Noelle still standing there, Charles raised an eyebrow. ¡°My darling wife, are you waiting to invite to bed?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Noelle quickly looked up and shook her head ¡°No. I¡­ I¡¯ll go rest now. You should get some rest too! She hurried to the door but then paused and turned back to say, ¡°Charles, thank you!¡± As Noelle disappeared through the door, Charles retracted his amused gaze and called Peter. ¡°I might need your assistant for a couple of days.¡± ¡°Oh? What¡¯s in it for me? Are you in any trouble?¡± Peter responded. ¡®Just a small issue. Charles tapped his finger on the desk. ¡°Didn¡¯t you want the development rights for thend in the south of the city? Collosus Group is withdrawing from the bid.¡± Peter scoffed, clearly unimpressed. ¡°Charles, you¡¯ve be quite the shrewd businessman.¡± ¡°Keep your observations to yourself.¡± Charles smiled. ¡°Send Lareal over tomorrow. He¡¯s better with computers than Ronald.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Peter agreed. After Charles hung up, Peter¡¯s eyes held a hint of amusement. Collosus Group had never been very interested in thend in the south. Now that Robert was detained, the one who had been moring for thatnd was gone. Charles was not going to rush into it. That was why Peter had scoffed. Peter¡¯s gaze deepened as he called Lareal. ¡°You¡¯ll be going to Charles¡® ce for a few days.¡± Understood!¡± Knowing Peter well, Lareal understood that if Charles asked for him, it was for something important. ¡°When do I return?¡± ¡°Ask Charles!¡± Peter replied before hanging up. In his dimly lit study, Peter leaned back on his leather +15 BONUS couch with a cigarette between his fingers. His eyes were fixed on a book on the shelf. It took him a long moment to snap out of his thoughts. Time had passed so quickly. The next day, Lareal went to Collosus Group to find Charles, only to discover that he would be taking orders from Ronald.. This made Lareal somewhat unhappy. Seeing Lareal¡¯s expression, Ronald nudged him. ¡°Hey, I saved you, and you¡¯re still upset?¡± Lareal red at Ronald. ¡°Why do I have to take orders from you?¡± ¡°Ask Mr. Hoffman,¡± Ronald replied with a fox¨Clike grin. ¡°Let¡¯s get down to business. I need you to hack into someone¡¯sputer.¡± ¡°You¡¯re always making me do this kind of stuff,¡± Lareal grumbled. ¡°Just because I¡¯m good at it doesn¡¯t mean I want to spend all my time doing shady things!¡± He gave Ronald a sideways nce. ¡°Who is it this time?¡± Chapter 151 Chapter 151 "Robert!" Lareal raised an eyebrow in surprise. "You haven''t fixed it yet?" "Well, I''ve been tied up with other stuff, or I wouldn''t have asked for your help!" Ronald said with a shrug. Lareal booted up theputer and looked at Ronald curiously. "What''s up?" Ronald exined, "It''s about the boss''s wife. It''s a real headache, and I might need your helpter on!" "The boss'' wife? When did Mr. Hoffman get married? Why didn''t I hear about it?" Lareal''s eyes sparkled with excitement. --- Meanwhile, Winter stormed into her house, her rage causing a path of destruction and leaving the Shaw family''s maids too frightened to show their faces. Only Lucy, the maid who always stuck by Winter''s side, was left to tidy up the chaos. Winter was fuming from the snub she received at the mall. She was the Shaw family''s pride and joy, not to mention a famous star. Should people in town not be lining up to give her the time of day? However, Charles had ignored herpletely, and worse, he recognized that nobody, Noelle, instead of her. How could Winter stand it? She was Winter Shaw-stunning, famous, and in possession of everything anyone could ever want. What did Noelle have? She was just a nobody, a low-level employee. What gave her the right to catch Charles'' eye? Winter''s thoughts made her more and more upset. She stomped around the living room, knocking things over in a tantrum. She then dashed to her room. With a sweep of her arm, she knocked everything off her vanity, "Ugh, Noelle, you meanie!" Winter let out a loud scream, scaring Lucy, who wN?velDrama.Org: owner of this content. right behind her. Lucy stepped back, but when she saw the cut on Winter''s hand, she rushed over. "Miss, you''ve hurt yourself!" Lucy tried to go get the first-aid kit, but Winter grabbed her hair tightly. "You think this is funny, don''t you? Huh?" "No, I don''t, Miss. I swear I don''t!" Lucy cried out as Winter pulled her hair. Winter''s voice was like a siren in Lucy''s ears. Lucy could only cry and plead, "Please, miss. I don''t think it''s funny, I promise!" "You don''t? Just saying you don''t doesn''t make it true. I saw your reaction. You think it''s funny, don''t you? Let''s see if you''llugh now." Winter was so furious she did not realize what she was doing, taking out her anger for Charles and Noelle on Lucy. "Let''s see if you''ll dare tough again!" "I won''t, I''ll never dare to do it again," Lucy sobbed, curling up and covering her head. "What''s going on here?" A stern voice cut through the air, stopping Lucy''s sobs and snapping Winter out of her rage. Winter looked up to see the man and the people with him, her face going white. She turned to Jade, hoping for help, but Jade just frowned. "Hey, Winter. What''s happening? Did someone upset you?" Winter snapped out of her daze and started to cry loudly, "Mom, boo-hoo!" She ran into Jade''s arms, sobbing uncontrobly. Jade gave Lucy a stern look and turned toz Samuel and Julian, "Dad, Julian, someone outside must''ve made her upset. Just look at her crying." Samuel let out a sharp snort and gave Julian and Jade a stern look. "Just because someone upset you~~~ outside doesn''t mean you cane home and throw a fit. Did you e smash the things downstairs? Samuel was known for his short temper. Chapter 152 Chapter 152 Samiel knew Winter''s true colors all too well. She might act all proper when she was out, but at home, she was a different person. Her petty tricks might fool others, but they did not fool him. "Domestic helpers are people too. They work hard for their money and deserve respect. You shouldn''t be hitting people and breaking things. Where did you get such a temper?" Samuel tapped his cane on the floor before turning to Julian. "Look at the fine daughter you''ve raised." "Dad!" Julian was taken aback. He never thought Winter would do such things, especially at home. He believed that despite her asional spoiled behavior, she was still a well-mannered youngdy who mightin a bit about Noelle but nothing more. "I''ll make sure to teach her a lesson about this." "Please teach her the right way," Samuel said, clearly not convinced. "I just don''t understand how you''ve raised her. She''s been overlypetitive since she was little, always taking things from Noelle. Snatching a toy is one thing, but growing up to steal Noelle''s boyfriend? Is this the wonderful daughter you''ve brought up? And now, she''s even hitting people and breaking things. She doesn''t act like a proper youngdy at all!" Samuel continued to scold Winter. He had thought that since the incident was long past and Noelle had let it go, he might forgive Winter and Xavier. However, seeing Winter now, Samuel waspletely let down. "Dad..." Jade said, sounding upset with Samuel, "Winter is still young. Plus, she had a tough day outside. Shouldn''t we, as her parents, show her some concern instead of ming her? Won''t that just make Winter feel worse?" "Upset? She''s a big star, and everyone adores her. You''ve all spoiled her," Samuel said. Looking at Jade''s protective behavior, he shook his head, feeling a mix of helplessness and disappointment. "If Noelle were in trouble, would you stand up for her like this? Never mind, she''s your child. You handle it." With that, Samuel walked away, leaning on Eli for support. He did not notice the angry look in Winter''s eyes as she hid her face in Jade''s hug. Winter 3pped her hands tightly. SheN?velDrama.Org: owner of this content. unfair said angrily, "Grandpa is so I''m his grandchild too, but as Noelle, that mean girl-" belongs to "Stop talking!" Julian cut Winter off mid-sentence, looking frustrated. "Just look at yourself!" Winter, scared by Julian''s outburst, hid behind Jade. Jade stood in front of Winter, shielding her from Julian''s fierce gaze. "What''s your problem? What do you want to do? Was Winter wrong? Doesn''t Dad have favorites? They''re both his granddaughters, so why is it always Noelle this, Noelle that? Why can''t Winter do anything right?" Julian said sternly, "Y-You... You''ve spoiled the child." "What''s wrong with doting on Winter? She''s my daughter. If I don''t treat her well, should I be kind to that¡ª" "Enough!" Julian cut Jade off sharply. "Stop talking nonsense! Since Winter''s okay now, take her back to rest." Jade wanted to argue, but she ended up closing her mouth without a word Winter''s eyes sparkled, e though. She had picked up on something from Julian and Jade''s exchange! Was it about Noelle? Chapter 153 Chapter 153 Jade ushered Winter into the room. After shutting the door, she gave her a stern look. "What''s gotten into you? Didn''t I tell you to hold it in? You can''t lose your temper at home, especially not in situations like this." Jade''s heart sank as she recalled Samuel''s attitude. She had been part of the Shaw family for years, but Samuel had always been distant toward her, and it was the same with her children. "Mom, I know I messed up. Please don''t be mad at me anymore!" Winter, ever the skilled actress, had quickly pulled herself together and was now sweetly holding Jade''s hand. "I didn''t manage to stay calm today, but do you know why?" Winter bit her lip, still upset about it. Jade knew her daughter well. Winter was usually so graceful and knew exactly how to act around others. She would not normally do something so out of character as she did today. "What happened?" Winter said with frustration, "It''s all Noelle''s fault." "Noelle? What does she have to do with it? Did she cause you trouble?" Jade''s voice rose, clearly annoyed. Winter''s eyes sparkled. She was getting the support she wanted from her mom. Looking all sad and teary-eyed at Jade, Winter looked so pitiful that it would break anyone''s heart. Jade, seeing her daughter like that, asked, "What did that mean girl do? Is she trying to drive me crazy?" "I saw these shoes today, the ones that a big star wore at Paris Fashion Week. They finally had them in Brookville, but can you believe it? Noelle grabbed them right before I could." "Noelle took your shoes?" Jade was puzzled. She trusted Winter, but knowing Noelle, it did not make sense. Noelle would not just take something from Winter, especially not something as pricey as those shoes. How could she even afford them? Winter could tell by the look in Jade''s eyes that she was not convinced, but today''s events were no fairy tale they were real. Noelle had not taken anything from her. She just tried on those shoes for Charles. However, that was enough to make Noelle the bad guy in her eyes. "Mom, you don''t believe me?" "Of course, I believe you, sweetheart. What happened? Tell me everything!" Winter exined what had happened that day, leaving out e Charles'' name. "Mom, you tell me, was Noelle up to no good? She knew I loved those shoes, and then she teamed up with some guy to snatch them right from under me!" Jade zeroed in on that detail. "Noelle was with a man? Are you certain?" Under Jade''s intense stare, Winter felt a twinge of guilt. However, she then remembered that Noelle really was with a man, so she was not lying. She nodded firmly. "Yes. And Noelle said she likes Xavier. Can you believe it? She might''ve been secretly seeing him all along. Mom, why is Noelle so mean? She knows how I feel about Xavier. If she''s got a boyfriend, why can''t she leave Xavier alone? She''s doing it on purpose. And I thought we were sisters!" Jade clenched her teeth in anger. "That little troublemaker! She''s got a secret boyfriend!" Her eyes narrowed as she took Winter''s hand. "Does anyone else know about this?" Belonging to N?velDrama.Org. Winter shook her head. "No, I haven''t told a soul!" "Okay, you must promise not to tell a soul, got it? Not even Xavier!" Jade gripped Winter''s hand so tightly that it hurt. "Ouch, Mom! Let go, you''re hurting me!" Chapter 154 Chapter 154 Jade quickly let go. "I''m so sorry, sweetheart. Are you okay?" Winter shook her head. "Why are you telling me to keep it a secret?" She had been hoping to use that secret to persuade her grandfather to change his mind. Jade looked sad. "Have you forgotten about Simon?" "Simon York?" Winter gasped as the memory of that man shed through her mind. She remembered the day she had brought Noelle to Simon. It had been a perfect chance, yet somehow, Noelle slipped away. Noelle was drugged that day. Winter had seen her mom double the dose in the coffee. Winter figured if Noelle ended up with Simon at Samuel''s birthday party, Samuel would be let down by Noelle and Xavier would think less of her. If Noelle made a scene at Samuel''s party, she would be just as disgraced as Simon. Winter had thought figured out, but no one expected Noelle to slip away. Simon did not catch Noelle. Instead, Noelle turned the tables and injured him,nding him in the hospital. That mess caused City Ring Corp. to miss out on a whopping 30 million dors. After that, they started being cornered by York Group at every turn. Winter pinned all the me on Noelle, and her dislike for her grew even stronger. "Yes, your dad got an emailst night about Noelle," Jade whispered to Winter, who had let a smile creep across her usually somber face. "Mom, is that for real?" Jade said, her eyes gleaming with a hint of spite, Absolutely. Your dad still feels sorry for her, but I think she won''t learn her lesson until she''s had a taste of her own medicine. Ske had the nerve to mess with you, so I''ll make sure she regrets it! Content belongs to Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. "Simon has a soft spot for young women, and by sending that email to your dad, he''s made it clear he''s after Noelle. So, you must keep Noelle''s fling with that nobody a secret from everyone." "Got it, Mom!" Winter''s face twisted into a wicked grin. Just picturing Noelle soon cowering under Simon, a man notorious for his indiscretions, filled Winter with a sense of twisted satisfaction. Winter thought that once Noelle''s reputation was ruined, no one in Brookville would want her. "Mom, you have to help me. Xavier is mine and only mine!" "I understand, dear. I''ll talk to your dad about it right away," Jade said, her mind set on her n. She was going to make sure Noelle ended up with Simon no matter what. It was not just because Noelle had been mean to Winter. It was also because theirpany really needed Simon''s 30 million dors. Winter trailed behind Jade, peeking as Jade and Julian talked in the study. Julian hesitated, "About this... You know as well that Dad found out about what happened before. If we do this again, I''m worried..." "Worried about what? Dad''s always been biased toward Noelle, but you know how bad things are with City Ring Corp. right now. We can''t afford to upset the York family. Remember, Noelle hurt Mr. York. "We''re running low on money, and Dad might not know it, but you do, right? Even if Dad does know, he''ll probably agree with us. Dad built City Ring Corp. from the ground up. We can''t let it fall apart on our watch." Jade was slowly convincing Julian to make a risky move. "Come on, Julian, stop doubting. City Ring Corp. means everything to Grandpa, and we''re just keeping his stuff safe. He''d understand." Chapter 155 Chapter 155 Julian''s brows creased with worry. "What about Noelle?" "She has never repaid us with anything. It''s only fair she helps the Shaw family now," Jade''s biting words floated to Winter, who was surprised but kept listening. Julian was getting upset. "You''ve lost it! I told you we''re not talking about this again. Do you want the whole world to find out?"Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. Jade shrugged. "Why worry? I''m over it, and it''s not even your problem." She added with a scowl, "We never should''ve brought that troublemaker home. Look how Dad''s acting now." Julian cut her off, "That''s enough! I need to think this over." "What''s there to think about? Don''t forget about the Yorks..." "Enough. I''ve got to figure out how to bring Noelle back home!" Julian red at Jade. "I know you don''t like her, but do you think I do? Dad''s no fool, and he knows what''s going on." Jade stopped talking, though she was clearly upset. She could not help but take her anger out on Noelle. Winter lingered outside the door, listening. She did not catch the news she was hoping for, but she pieced together that Noelle was someone important and her parents were not fans of her. Her dad had even agreed to send Noelle off to Simon. Hence, all Winter could do was wait. ... Noelle was worried even though Charles had said he would handle things. She could not focus at work and was lost in her thoughts until Ava had to call her name a few times. She asked, looking at him with a puzzled expression, "What''s up? Any problems?" "Not really Just this," Ava said, handing her some papers. "These are from before you came back. You might not know how things work ad here now since you''ve been gone for a while..." Noelle nodded. "Got it. Give them to her, okay? We should always finish what we start, right?" Noticing Ava still hesitating, she asked, "Something else on your mind?" "Well, about thepany..." Ava trailed off, thinking about the recent rumors that had been circting. She felt sorry for Noelle. Noelle lifted an eyebrow, prompting her to continue, "Yes? What''s going on with thepany?" After a long pause, Ava blurted out "It''s just some silly stuff. I don''t get what''s going through people''s beads here Everyone knows you and Mr. Harris used to be close." Noelle looked down, a shadow crossing her eyes. "Ava, he and I are over," she said, not wanting to bring up that person''s name. "I get it, but the others at work don''t. They keep saying you''re the one who came between Mr. Harris and Winter, even using you of trying to steal your own sister''s fiance. They''ve got it all wrong." Ava''s voice rose with frustration. Noelle gave a small, sad chuckle. "Is that what''s bothering you?" Ava shook her head. "They''re also calling you shameless, saying you''re still chasing after Mr. Harris. But I know better. It was Mr. Harriss who came to you." Her words were fierce, and she seemed even more upset than Noelle herself. Noelle''s frown deepened as she forced a smile. "People will talk. What can we do about it?" "But..." "Let it go. If they want to gossip, we can''t stop them." Chapter 156 Chapter 156 Ava could not shake the feeling of injustice, believing that those who did not know the truth should not speak. Yet, she knew that when many voices joined together, the noise could be overwhelming, and things were rarely as simple as they seemed. "Time to get back to work!"Belonging to N?velDrama.Org. "Alright," Ava replied, her energy drained. However, as she turned, she caught sight of Xavier, and her expression turnedplex. Noelle caught sight of Xavier as well, and her eyebrows knitted together in a slight frown. Their rtionship had changed so much that she hardly ever spent time with him anymore. Xavier, however, did not seem to realize that things were different now. Xavier walked over, his lips pressed tightly together. He was not happy when he saw Noelle''s look. "Yesterday, you..." Noelle interrupted, looking up, "What? Is there something you need, Mr. Harris?" Xavier''s brows were creased with worry. "Why didn''t youe homest night? You''re a girl, and you didn''te home all night. Don''t you realize..." "How is mying home any of your business? Don''t you think you''re being a bit too intrusive, Mr. Harris?" Noelle set down her pen and gave him a mocking smile. "Noelle!" Xavier''s voice was a low growl. "I''m trying to have a civil conversation. Can you please stop being so sarcastic?" He felt he had not done anything to deserve that. Remembering how he had waited outside her house the night before, only to find out she never came home, made him even angrier. Xavier did not understand why he was so upset. Noelle used to be different, and it bothered him a lot. "You think I''m attacking you with hidden meanings? You''re way off base. I''m just telling it like it is. Whether I go home or not, it''s none of your business! Don''t you think you''re crossing a line?" Noelle raised an eyebrow. "Do you even hear yourself? Of course, it matters to me if you go home or not. We''re¡ª" "What are we?" Noelle interrupted, a smile ying on her lips. "Mr. Harris, let''s get one thing straight. This is an office, and sure, you''re my boss. But that doesn''t mean you get a say in my personal life. If you want to talk shop, I''m all ears. However, my private life? Sorry, you don''t get to weigh in on that." Xavier asked through clenched teeth, "Then who does get to weigh in?" "That''s for me to know. Just understand that you''re in no position for that" Noelle replied, tired of the back-and-forth. "I''ve got work to do, so if you''ll excuse me, Mr. Harris." Xavier reached out and grabbed Noelle''s hand. "Noelle, what''s gotten into you? You weren''t like this before." Noelle''s frown deepened. She paused, looking down at her hand in his grip, annoyance flickering in her eyes. With a firm tug, she pulled her hand free. "Mr. Harris, we''re not friends, so keep your distance, okay? Don''t you ever think about the consequences of your actions?" Xavier''s temples pulsed with frustration. "What''s that supposed to mean? What did I do to deserve this from you?" "Mr. Harriss, did you leave your common sense at home? Remember, you''re my brother-inw now. How can you act this way toward me without thinking about how it makes me feel or the position it puts me in? You can''t just think about yourself! Why should I be the one to take the fall for your actions?" Noelle''s thoughts raced back to Ava''s recent words. She knew all too well that their affairs were the talk of thepany behind closed doors. Chapter 157 Chapter 157 Noelle had wanted to earn Xavier''s affection through her own hard work, so their romantic rtionship was a secret to almost everyone. She never imagined that a single mistake would turn into a weapon for Xavier and Winter to use against her. Only their families knew the truth about them, but to everyone else, it was a mystery. Winter, a celebrity in the spotlight, had an engagement party with Xavier that drew in hordes of media. The story that Noelle hade between Winter and Xavier seemed to be confirmed.Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. Noelle did not know who had managed to keep the story quiet in the end, but she was sure she would be left with the me. Her eyes darkened as she locked eyes with Xavier. "What''s done is done, and I can''t change the past. But please don''te looking for me from now on unless it''s work-rted, especially not for these insignificant things!" "What''s not important?" Xavier was puzzled. He and Noelle had been so tight before, and she used to say yes to everything. Now, she was cutting him off with sharp words, and he just could not figure out why. "We were a couple before. You can''t just forget that. Now, we''re inws, and that means you can''t push me away even more. Noelle, you need to see the truth. I''m just trying to look out for you!" "That''s enough, Xavier. Have you lost your mind?" Noelle snapped back, herugh sharp with fury. "If you''re not right in the head, go see a doctor. Look out for me? I don''t need it. Just take care of Winter and leave me alone." Noelle felt if she kept talking to Xavier, she would get twisted up by his crazy talk. "I don''t have time for this nonsense." Xavier chased after her. "Noelle! You ??? didn''te homest night. Where were you? With that guy? Do you even know who he is? You''re not respecting yourself if you''re going off and staying the night with someone. Didn''t you think about-" "Stop it, Xavier!" Noelle''s expression turned stormy. She could have put up with him talking about her, but when he started on Charles, she could not hold back. In her heart, Noelle knew Charles was tough to warm up to at first and not easy to get along with. However, whenever she was in trouble, Charles was the one who always came to her rescue. Even though Charles had his own reasons for getting close, it was true that he had never done anything to hurt her. Besides, Charles was the kind of guy who had everything, so she had to stand up for him. "He''s not a bad guy like you''re making him out to be." Xavier was boiling with anger, and it could not even put it into words. The mere thought of Noelle with another guy, doing those things, drove him crazy. He grabbed Noelle''s shoulders, his eyes red with almo "Noelle, how could you not. care about yourself? How could you do this to me?" "Stop it, Xavier. You''ve lost it! Let me go!" Xavier dragged Noelle into the elevator and pushed her so hard she mmed into the wall. Noelle bit her lip, scared by how mad Xavier looked. "What are you trying to do? Xavier, I''m warning you, don''t you dare do anything stupid." "Who is he? Did anything happen between you two?" Xavier could not think of anything else. His head was filled with the thought of Noelle with some stranger, and he could not stand it. Noelle was his, always had been. "Tell me!" Chapter 158 Chapter 158 "Let me go!" Noelle squirmed, feeling sick as she looked at Xavier. She swung her hand and pped him hard across the face. "Snap out of it, Xavier! Look at me I''m Noelle, not Winter. If you''ve lost your mind, go chase after Winter." "Noelle, I made a mistake. You know you''re the one I love. With Winter... I just lost control. She lured me in, Noelle." Xavier suddenly wrapped his arms around Noelle. No matter how much she wriggled and squirmed, he would not let go. Xavier''s grip was so tight that Noelle could barely catch her breath. She felt gross all over, especially hearing his words. "Let me go, Xavier! If you don''t, I''m going to scream for help." "Go ahead and scream. I''ll just tell everyone you like me and that we''re a couple. Noelle, I know you''re mad about Winter, but you''ve got to understand that she has shares in City Ring Corp. I had no choice." He gripped Noelle''s arms, continuing, "After I marry Winter and get the shares, I''ll divorce her. Then, it''ll be just you and me." "Let go!" Noelle summoned all her strength and kicked Xavier right in the leg. His face twisted in pain as he clutched the spot where she had hit him. Noelle waspletely let down by Xavier. "Xavier, I can''t believe you''re this kind of person. You''re just gross! You said you loved Winter, so I put up with you two getting together because she''s my sister. "Since you''re with her now, you should be good to her instead of bothering me. You''ve made your choice, so stop doing things that make me sick." Noelle''s eyes showed nothing but disgust. Any feelings she might have had for Xavier before were totally wiped out because of the way he was acting now. Xavier, seeing how Noelle was so sure about her feelings, was in pain.N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content. At the same time, he looked really mad. "Make you sick? Are you saying you don''t love me anymore? Noelle, I was your first crush Can you just forget that?" Content belongs to Noelle snapped back, "Forget what? Who do you think you are? You think I''d stay with you after what you''ve done? "Yeah, I was dumb enough to like someone like you once. But I don''t like you one bit now. Please just stay away from me from now on because I don''t even want to see your face." Noelle hit the elevator button fast, her eyes glued to the changing numbers. She could not stand being in the same space as Xavier for even a moment longer. Xavier took a deep breath, feeling the pain begin to fade. As the elevator doors opened, he reached out and grabbed Noelle''s hand. "You don''t love me anymore? Have you fallen for some other wild guy?" Chapter 159 Chapter 159 ¡°No, he¡¯s not some kind of wild man,¡± Noelle said without thinking. After catching a glimpse of Xavier¡¯s face, she took a deep breath. ¡°Xavier, this is thest time I¡¯m going to say this¨Cstop doing things that gross me out.¡± She reached out and peeled Xavier¡¯s fingers away one by one. ¡°We really should keep our distance at work!¡± ¡°Noelle!¡± Xavier watched Noelle walk away. Feeling frustrated, he punched the elevator door, startling the nearby employees. ¡°Mr. Harris!¡± ¡°What are you doing here?¡± Joseph¡¯s voice came from behind Xavier, making him panic. ¡°Dad!¡± Joseph gave Xavier a fierce look. ¡°How many times do I have to tell you to behave at thepany? You¡¯re engaged to Winter, so leave Noelle alone!¡± Joseph was so disappointed with his son, wishing he could just shape up. ¡°You need to know what you really want!¡± Xavier scowled. ¡°But Dad, Noelle and I really love each other.¡± Material ? N?velDrama.Org. He did not want to be with Winter. He just wanted her shares and thepany. Even though he was attracted to Winter, he did not love her. ¡°Love? There¡¯s nothing in this world that can¡¯t be bought with money. Wait until you get your hands on the shares and then you¡¯ll see that I¡¯m right,¡± Joseph said with a hard stare at Xavier. ¡°Just look at yourself. I¡¯m warning you, if I catch you mixed up with Noelle again, you¡¯ll be sorry.¡± Xavier mumbled, ¡°I got it.¡± ¡°This is a crucial time for thepany. There¡¯s some trouble at Collosus Group. Go find out what¡¯s happening.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± After Noelle got away from Xavier in the elevator, she was feeling all kinds of ufortable. When she saw Jade¡¯s name on her ringing phone, her mood went from bad to worse. She watched the phone light up and go dark over and over until finally, with a sigh, she picked up. Jade¡¯s voice came through sharp and clear, ¡°What¡¯s with you? Why haven¡¯t you been answering?¡± Jade sounded really upset. Noelle knew all too well how Jade felt about her, but it still hurt. She just could not figure out why Jade was so nice to Winter but treated her like she was the enemy even though they were both her kids. Noelle nibbled on her lip and let out a silent, sad chuckle. ¡°I was busy at work and didn¡¯t hear the phone. Do you need me for something, Mom?¡± No matter how upset she was, Jade was the woman who had brought her into the world and cared for her. Noelle could not forget that, even if she was angry 1/2 Jade just huffed, ¡°Is your job more important than your own mother? It seems like you¡¯re not taking me seriously anymore,¡± Noelle mumbled, ¡°That¡¯s not true, Mom. I was really working. Is there something you were? Jade snapped, ¡°Do I need a reason to call my daughter? Look at yourself. I¡¯m your mom. You should be the oneing to me, not the other way around. You¡¯re acting too big for your boots¡± Jade¡¯s words were sharp and mean, not at all how a mother should talk to her child, No matter how much it hurt, Noelle could not talk back to Jade, She could only say, ¡°Work¡¯s been really busytely, I-¡± ¡°Busy, busy, busy. That¡¯s all I hear. Your sister¡¯s a big star. Are you busier than her? You¡¯re being disrespectful. She always makes time to visit me and calls to check on me. What about you? ¡°You moved out, and now, you won¡¯t evene home, How did I end up with someone as cold¨C hearted as you?¡± Comments Chapter 160 Chapter 160 Noelle¡¯s heart clenched sharply as she gripped the phone tighter. She closed her eyes, taking a moment to calm herself. ¡°Mom, do you really not understand the reason why I haven¡¯t been going home?¡± ¡°You¡­¡± Jade had not heard Noelle say a word until then. She had thought Noelle was still the same old pushover, easy for her to control. However, to her surprise, Noelle cut her off. ¡°What the hell are you trying to say here?¡± Noelle said with a sad smile, ¡°What do you think, Mom? You know exactly what I mean. Why did you call?¡± Noelle knew her mom well. Jade would not bother with her unless it was something big. Jade snapped, ¡°Come back home! Don¡¯t you forget, this is your home. Your grandpa treats you so well, you ¡°I¡¯m really busy right now!¡± Noelle cut in without hesitation. She would definitely visit Samuel because he had always been kind to her. However, he understood her and would not ask her to come back, so Jade¡¯s excuse was not going to work. Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. Jade said through clenched teeth, ¡°Busy, always busy. What¡¯s keeping you so busy? You¡¯re just working for someone else. I¡¯m warning you, if you don¡¯te back today¡­¡± Noelle asked with a weary smile, ¡°What will you do? Mom, I¡¯m your daughter too. If you cared about me a little more, I wouldn¡¯t dread going home.¡± Jade was furious at Noelle¡¯s words. ¡°What are you trying to say? Is this my fault? Noelle, I¡¯m warning you, if you don¡¯te back today, you¡¯ll be sorry.¡± Noelle¡¯s eyes narrowed as a thought shed through her mind, and a wave of unease washed over her Sorry for what?¡± ¡°That day, someone caught on camera all the embarrassing things you did with Mr. York. You¡¯ll regret it if you don¡¯te back, soe back right now!¡± Jade smugly demanded. ¡°Mom, what could there possibly be between me and Mr. York? I¡¯ve never even met him.¡± Noelle said, leaving Jade speechless. ¡°You¡­¡± ¡°Or are you trying to say that you and father nned that whole incident? Mom, I¡¯m your daughter too. Why did you do that?¡± Noelle¡¯s voice shook a little. Deep down, she kept telling herself not to get angry. Was this not something she already knew? Yet, she could not calm her heart. ¡°There¡¯s no reason. City Ring Corp. needs money, and Mr. York is willing to provide it. If you still think of yourself as my daughter, thene back. If not, I¡¯ll make this public. It¡¯s your choice!¡± Noelle¡¯s voice was a low growl, ¡°Mom! Are you really going to do this?¡± Jade dered, ¡°Yes, it¡¯s the only way. You know Simon is Mr. York, and the York family is way better off than our Shaw family, right? If you be Simon¡¯s, all that the York family has will be yours one day. I¡¯ve arranged everything for you. You¡¯ll thank me for all this one day.¡± ¡°Thank you?¡± Noelle had had enough of Jade. She knew that whatever Jade was holding onto was not safe for her. Jade would do anything for Winter, and the thought of her giving it to Winter made Noelle¡¯s stomach turn. +15 BONUS ¡°No, he¡¯s not some kind of wild man,¡± Noelle said without thinking. After catching a glimpse of Xavier¡¯s face, she took a deep breath. ¡°Xavier, this is thest time I¡¯m going to say this¨Cstop doing things that gross me out.¡± She reached out and peeled Xavier¡¯s fingers away one by one. ¡°We really should keep our distance at work!¡± ¡°Noelle!¡± Xavier watched Noelle walk away. Feeling frustrated, he punched the elevator door, startling the nearby employees. ¡°Mr. Harris!¡± ¡°What are you doing here?¡± Joseph¡¯s voice came from behind Xavier, making him panic. ¡°Dad!¡± Joseph gave Xavier a fierce look. ¡°How many times do I have to tell you to behave at thepany? You¡¯re engaged to Winter, so leave Noelle alone!¡± Joseph was so disappointed with his son, wishing he could just shape up. ¡°You need to know what you really want!¡± Xavier scowled. ¡°But Dad, Noelle and I really love each other.¡± He did not want to be with Winter. He just wanted her shares and thepany. Even though he was attracted to Winter, he did not love her. ¡°Love? There¡¯s nothing in this world that can¡¯t be bought with money. Wait until you get your hands on the shares and then you¡¯ll see that I¡¯m right,¡± Joseph said with a hard stare at Xavier. ¡°Just look at yourself, I¡¯m warning you, if I catch you mixed up with Noelle again, you¡¯ll be sorry.¡± Xavier mumbled, ¡°I got it.¡± ¡°This is a crucial time for thepany. There¡¯s some trouble at Collosus Group. Go find out what¡¯s happening.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± After Noelle got away from Xavier in the elevator, she was feeling all kinds of ufortable. When she saw Jade¡¯s name on her ringing phone, her mood went from bad to worse. She watched the phone light up and go dark over and over until finally, with a sigh, she picked up. Jade¡¯s voice came through sharp and clear, ¡°What¡¯s with you? Why haven¡¯t you been answering?¡± Jade sounded really upset. Noelle knew all too well how Jade felt about her, but it still hurt. She just could not figure out why Jade was so nice to Winter but treated her like she was the enemy even though they were both her kids. Noelle nibbled on her lip and let out a silent, sad chuckle. ¡°I was busy at work and didn¡¯t hear the phone. Do you need me for something, Mom?¡± No matter how upset she was, Jade was the woman who had brought her into the world and cared for her. Noelle could not forget that, even if she was angry Jade just huffed. ¡°Is your job more important than your own mother? It seems like you¡¯re not taking me seriously anymore.¡± Noelle mumbled, ¡°That¡¯s not true, Mom. I was really working. Is there something you want?¡± Jade snapped, ¡°Do I need a reason to call my daughter? Look at yourself. I¡¯m your mom. You should be the oneing to me, not the other way around. You¡¯re acting too big for your boots!¡± Jade¡¯s words were sharp and mean, not at all how a mother should talk to her child. No matter how much it hurt, Noelle could not talk back to Jade. She could only say, ¡°Work¡¯s been really busytely, I-¡± ¡°Busy, busy, busy. That¡¯s all I hear. Your sister¡¯s a big star. Are you busier than her? You¡¯re being disrespectful. She always makes time to visit me and calls to check on me. What about you? ¡°You moved out, and now, you won¡¯t evene home. How did I end up with someone as cold¨C hearted as you?¡± Comments Support +15 BONUS Noelle¡¯s heart clenched sharply as she gripped the phone tighter. She closed her eyes, taking a moment to calm herself. ¡°Mom, do you really not understand the reason why I haven¡¯t been going home?¡± ¡°You¡­¡± Jade had not heard Noelle say a word until then. She had thought Noelle was still the same old pushover, easy for her to control. However, to her surprise, Noelle cut her off. ¡°What the hell are you trying to say here?¡± Noelle said with a sad smile, ¡°What do you think, Mom? You know exactly what I mean. Why did you call?¡± Noelle knew her mom well. Jade would not bother with her unless it was something big. Jade snapped, ¡°Come back home! Don¡¯t you forget, this is your home. Your grandpa treats you so well, you ¨C ¡± ¡°I¡¯m really busy right now!¡± Noelle cut in without hesitation. She would definitely visit Samuel because he had always been kind to her. However, he understood her and would not ask her to come back, so Jade¡¯s excuse was not going to work. Jade said through clenched teeth, ¡°Busy, always busy. What¡¯s keeping you so busy? You¡¯re just working for someone else. I¡¯m warning you, if you don¡¯te back today¡­¡± Noelle asked with a weary smile, ¡°What will you do? Mom, I¡¯m your daughter too. If you cared about me a little more, I wouldn¡¯t dread Ing home.¡± Jade was furious at Noelle¡¯s words. ¡°What are you trying to say? Is this my fault? Noelle, I¡¯m warning you, if you don¡¯te back today, you¡¯ll be sorry.¡± Noelle¡¯s eyes narrowed as a thought shed through her mind, and a wave of unease washed over her Sorry for what?¡± ¡°That day, someone caught on camera all the embarrassing things you did with Mr. York. You¡¯ll regret it if you don¡¯te back, soe back right now!¡± Jade smugly demanded. ¡°Mom, what could there possibly be between me and Mr. York? I¡¯ve never even met him.¡± Noelle said, leaving Jade speechless. ¡°You¡­¡± ¡°Or are you trying to say that you and father nned that whole incident? Mom, I¡¯m your daughter too. Why did you do that?¡± Noelle¡¯s voice shook a little. Deep down, she kept telling herself not to get angry. Was this not something she already knew? Yet, she could not calm her heart. ¡°There¡¯s no reason. City Ring Corp. needs money, and Mr. York is willing to provide it. If you still think of yourself as my daughter, thene back. If not, I¡¯ll make this public. It¡¯s your choice!¡± Noelle¡¯s voice was a low growl, ¡°Mom! Are you really going to do this?¡± Jade dered, ¡°Yes, it¡¯s the only way. You know Simon is Mr. York, and the York family is way better off than our Shaw family, right? If you be Simon¡¯s, all that the York family has will be yours one day. I¡¯ve arranged everything for you. You¡¯ll thank me for all this one day.¡± ¡°Thank you?¡± Noelle had had enough of Jade. She knew that whatever Jade was holding onto was not safe for her. Jade would do anything for Winter, and the thought of her giving it to Winter made Noelle¡¯s stomach turn. 1/2 +15 BONUS ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll meet you, but I¡¯m not going home!¡± Jade grinned, sensing an opportunity. ¡°Alright, we¡¯ll meet somewhere else.¡± She did not want Noelle anywhere near the Shaw family anyway, With Samuel and Eli always lurking, it would be too difficult to do what they needed to do, BIG SALE: 3500 bonus free fou you Comments ? Support Chapter 161 Chapter 161 Noelle ended the call and felt like all her energy had been sucked out. She slumped to the floor, her eyes empty and unfocused. Ava rushed over when she saw her. "Ms. Shaw, are you okay?"Material ? N?velDrama.Org. Noelle forced a weak smile and shook her head. "I''m fine, really!" She told Ava to get back to work and made her way to her seat. "Are you sure you''re okay?" Ava asked, still worried. Noelle nodded, and Ava reluctantly went back to his desk. After sitting quietly for a moment, Noelle pulled out her phone and looked up Charles'' number. She paused when she saw his name, then quickly changed it to ''The Man at Home.'' She tried calling Charles, but there was no answer. It seemed he was busy, too busy to pick up the phone. Charles was in the middle of a meeting, with his phone on silent mode, so he missed Noelle''s call. The atmosphere in the meeting room was tense, with the recent trouble involving Robert causing a split among the group. Some supported Charles, but others were upset with him, especially since he had bought out Robert and two other shareholders'' stakes for himself. That move made Charles'' piece of Colossus Group pie even bigger, and not everyone was happy about it. With Robert''s sudden departure, his old department was leaderless, and everyone was either eyeing the vel position for themselves or for someone in their corner. The meeting had been dragging on since morning. S Charles, with his long fingers tapping on the table, watched the long-timepany members argue heatedly. He seemed cool as a cucumber, though. Maybe the meeting had gone on too long because there was a knock on the door. Everyone paused and looked at Charles. With a raised eyebrow, he waved his hand. "No worries, carry on!" he said. However, he then nodded at Ronald, who got the hint and opened the door. Charles'' secretary stood there, a worried look on her face. "Mr. Hoffman, there''s an international call for you about the partnership with Whitehall Heritage Company. They''ve been waiting for half an hour." QUMS Charles knitted his eyebrows together. His voice,posed and firm, cut off a shareholder mid-sentence. "Why didn''t you remind me? How do you handle things?" The secretary looked ufortable. "You said before the meeting started that we shouldn''t interrupt you while you were with the directors, so I..." Charles''s gaze turned icy, and he rose to his feet. "Sorry, everyone. I need to step out to take a call." His voice left no room for argument. The directors, who had more to say, were speechless when they heard the name ''Whitehall Heritage Company''. Everyone knew that Collosus Group was eyeing a partnership with that renownedpany. Whitehall Heritage Company was a big name in Amestia, and a coboration could mean a huge leap into the international market for Collosus Group. With the directors at a loss for words, Charles stood up and left the room with ease, a slight smirk on his face. Ronald and the secretary quickly followed. "Mr. H those old-timers really are too much!" "Mm!" Chapter 162 Chapter 162 They were more than just old-timers. However, Collosus Group''s current structure dictated theirposition. Even if Charles had great abilities, he could notpletely change Collosus Group. The old-timers at thepany usually did not do much work, and Charles thought it would be great if they just backed off. However, would they give up that easily? Charles had just handled a problem with Robert, taking over his and his buddies''pany shares for himself. That was what really ticked off the old- timers. They kicked up a fuss today, trying to snatch the shares back from Charles or water them down so he would not have them all to himself. They were worried Charles would get too powerful and hard to handle. Charles was young, but he was sharp and knew how to y the game just as well as they did. Now that Robert was out, his department was up for grabs, and everyone wanted to put their own people in charge to get a piece of the pie. Ronald asked, looking over some papers, "Mr. Hoffman, what''s our next move? The old-timers won''t give up. They''ll try again!" "We''ll see," Charles said with a half-smile, not really worried about them. He nced at his quiet secretary and said, "Good job!" Her eyes lit up. "Thanks, Mr. Hoffman!" She beamed. Then, she remembered something and said, "Oh, Mr. Hoffman, your phone rang earlier, but I didn''t pick it up." Charles nodded and then paused. "Hand me my cell phone!" She quickly handed him his phone. Charles took a quick look, a bit surprised to see Noelle''s name. He wondered how she got his work number. He squinted, put it aside, and checked his personal phone. There it was-Noelle''s name under his el missed calls. Charles smiled slightly and waved his hand dismissively. Ronald got the hint and waved to the secretary. They both slipped away quietly. The secretary was curious. She had never seen Charles show anyN?velDrama.Org: owner of this content. emotion other than his usual vel.ne coolness. "Ronald, who was that call from?" n Ronald gave her a sharp look. "Don''t ask about things that don''t concern you!" "Understood," she replied quickly, taken aback by Ronald''s stern tone. Charles stared at Noelle''s number, saved as ''Nelly'', and tried to call back, but her line was busy. He smirked, shook his head, and put his phone away. Noelle, unable to reach Charles on either of his numbers, figured he was busy and decided to call her good friend, Rowena, instead. Rowena was out and about when she got a message from Noelle saying she needed to talk. Quickly, Rowena made up an excuse to leave. "What''s going on?"Are you trying to invite me out for a meal?" Rowena had been back home for some time and was swamped with things to do. She had promised to treat Noelle to lunch, but she had not found the time yet. "Kind of!" Noelle filled Rowena in on the details, and Rowena got hopping mad. "What''s with Xavier, that asshole? And what''s up with your parents?" Chapter 163 Chapter 163 Rowena was always blunt and did not like beating about the bush. When she heard what Noelle said, she got really upset. "And your husband? What does he think?" Noelle bit her lip. "He knows about it and said he''d take care of it. But just a dayter, my mom showed up. I bet he doesn''t even know yet! I tried calling him, but he was busy and didn''t pick up. What should I do now?" Noelle looked worried. "Your mom''s being really weird, using that to threaten you. Shouldn''t that stuff be destroyed? Shouldn''t she go stand up to the York family?" Rowena was just as puzzled as Noelle about the Shaw family''s behavior. Rowena did not hear anything back from Noelle and was worried her words had been too harsh. "I''m sorry, I..." Noelle shook her head. "It''s fine, you''re just stating the facts. I have to go there today, Rowena. Can youe with me?" "Absolutely!" Rowena eximed, her hand on her heart. "What time tonight? And where?" "Seven o''clock, at the Golden Oasis Hotel!" Noelle replied, the memory of the hotel shing through her mind. It was the same hotel where Xavier and Winter had their engagement party. Noelle could not believe her parents had chosen that ce. Her gaze fell slightly. "You''ve got to be there!" "Got it, I''ll be there. And hey, make sure to call your husband again. He needs to know about this. It''s important." Rowena had never met Charles, but she knew from Noelle that he was a good man. She liked him already. After hanging up, Noelle hesitated and then dialed Charles'' number one more time. He picked up after just one ring. "Hello?" Noelle''s heart skipped a beat, and she suddenly found herself speechless. Charles''s brows furrowed together as he nced at his phone, "Nelly?" Noelle responded, "Yes, it''s me!" Charles'' voice brightened with a smile. "I was in a meeting and have my phone on silent. What''s was the first time Noelle havd him first, and he sounded happy. Noelle nodded even though Charles could not see her and replied shyly, "My mom called me today."Belonging to N?velDrama.Org. When Charles heard the news, his eyebrows knitted together in worry. He had a feeling that was not going to be good. "What did she say?" Noelle replied in a heavy voice, "It''s about that video. Charles, she wants to meet with me." She remembered Jade''s words from earlier that day and felt a pang of unease, but she did not spill all the details to Charles. Charles had a pretty good idea of what was going on. Frowning, he tapped his fingers on the desk. "Did you say yes?" "Yeah, she threatened to leak the video if I didn''t show up. Charles, should I go?" Noelle was torn. "You should go and find out what she''s really after. I''lle with you," he suggested firmly. Noelle quickly refused, "No, that''s okay. I couldn''t get through to you earlier, so I asked Rowena for help. She''s a reporter, and she''s agreed to go with me." Charles'' eyes narrowed as he thought about Rowena, remembering she was Noelle''s closest friend. "That might be for the best. It''s not really easy for me to be seen with you right now. I''m not worried about me but you..." His voice trailed off, tinged with a touch of sadness. Chapter 164 Chapter 164 Noelle shivered, unustomed to hearing such a tone from Charles. "And you promised we''d keep our rtionship a secret for now." Charles sighed. There was a note of resignation in his voice as he said, "I know. It''s like I''ve be someone who can''t be seen." "Don''t be like that, okay? I promise I''ll introduce you to my friends next time!" Noelle could not help butugh and shake her head, thinking Charles was being as sulky as a kid. "I''ll go over with Rowena tonight. She''s a reporter, so she can help me out!" Charles grinned. "That''s true! Just be safe, alright?" He could not argue if she wanted to handle things on her own. "I''ll be waiting for you at home!" "Alright!" After hanging up, Noelle felt a surprising sense of relief. Charles, on the other hand, gazed at his phone for a long time after the call ended. He then pressed the inte and asked Ronald toe in. Seeing Charles'' serious expression, which was rare, Ronald thought about Noelle''s earlier call. "Mr. Hoffman, did you need me?" Charles said, his brow furrowing together with concern, "Nelly''s meeting with the Shaw family at the Golden Oasis Hotel today. Make sure your team keeps a close eye on her. If anything goes wrong, it''s on you."N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content. Ronald understood the seriousness and nodded. "Understood." By 6:30 pm, Rowena and Noelle were already near the Golden Oasis Hotel. Rowena was fully prepared, with all her gear stashed in her bag. Rowena, holding Noelle''s hand, stood across the street from the hotel. She then pulled out two small gadgets from her bag and handed them to Noelle. Noelle gave Rowena a puzzled look. "What are they?" Rowena bit her lip. "It''s a voice recorder and a tiny camera. I''m a reporter, you know. I need gadgets like these for my work!" She gave a littleugh. However, Noelle frowned. "Why are you giving them to me?" "Come on, you need to take them. You know what your mom is like She threatened you with that video, didn''t she? You''ve got to be ready just in case something like before happens again." Noelle was too nice to think about such things, but Rowena had met all kinds of people in her reporting career. She knew all about people''s tricks. "I''ll be right next door. If anything happens, call me. Let me show you how to use this recorder," Rowena said seriously as she exined the instructions to Noelle. "Later, when you go in, find a moment when they''re not looking to stick the recorder under the table. Got it? Make sure it''s on. We need to record everything they say "You can''t be too careful. They may be your parents, but you know what happened thest time." Noelle managed a weak smile, knowing Rowena was right. "Got it." "I''ll put the tiny camera in your bag now. Later, just casually put your bag down, but make sure the camera is pointing at your parents and Simon, okay?" Chapter 165 Chapter 165 Rowena was worried Noelle might not get it, so she went over it again and again. Noelle felt a bit lost but was warmed by how truly nice Rowena was to her. She was not fake like some of the Shaw family members.Material ? N?velDrama.Org. "Why are you smiling?" Rowena caught Noelle zoning out after talking for so long. She gave Noelle a stern look. "This is important! You need to pay attention!" "I understand." Noelle tucked the voice recorder into her bag and took a quick peek at the bag with the hidden camera that Rowena had nudged at, making a mental note. "Don''t worry, I''ll be careful!" Rowena pouted. "Alright, I guess I got worried for nothing. Just be sure to watch out for yourself, and don''t just drink anything, okay?" "I know." Noelle would not make the mistake of drinking something strange again, but she appreciated Rowena''s reminder. Sometimes, trouble came when she least expected it. "They''re here!" Noelle spotted Julian and Jade stepping out of the car, and Winter was with them. She gripped Rowena''s hand, and they hid behind a tree as they watched the three walk into the Golden Oasis Hotel. Noelle''s face lost some color, but she remainedposed. "That''s just too much. How could they bring Winter along as well," Rowena said, clearly upset. "This has got to have something to do with her!" "Of course." Noelle forced a smile and gave Rowena''s shoulder a gentle pat. "I''ve got to go in now." Rowena clutched Noelle''s hand. "Hold on! Just a little longer until Simon gets here!" Noelle shook her head. "I can''t wait. I''ve only met Simon once, but he''s not as straightforward as he seems. I''ve got to set everything up before he shows up!" Rowena agreed with a nod, "You''re right. You always think ahead. Go on, then. I''ll be in the private room next to yours!" Noelle was about to head off when her phone buzzed with a call from Jade. She bit her lip and answered, "Hello?" "What do you mean, ''hello''? Listen, Noelle, don''t count on your luck. You have to be here today. Where are you? It''s nearly seven." Jade''s voice was filled with annoyance. A shadow crossed Noelle''s eyes. "I''m on my way. Which room are you in?" Jade snapped, "It''s Room 3702. Get here now." Noelle ended the call. "I''m heading in now." "Alright." The private dining room was on the third floor, a ce usually reserved for fancy gatherings, but the west wing had its own set of private rooms that were quite charming. Noelle made her way to Room 3702. Before she could even open the door, she heard Winter''s voice from inside. "Mom, didn''t you say she wasing? Why isn''t she here yet? What if she doesn''t show up?" "That''s impossible. She wouldn''t dare not toe. Did you forget I still have that video of her?" Jade''s chilly voice floated through the door. Noelle''s hand froze in mid-air, and her expression quickly turned sour. Inside the private room were her parents and older sister, yet they held no regard for her. They were always trying to trick her. Today, they wanted to throw her into a really tough spot! Taking a deep breath, Noelle finally knocked on the door. Inside, Jade and Winter looked at each other. Julian red at them and snapped, "Go and open the door already!" Winter jumped up and rushed to the door. Seeing Noelle outside, she breathed a sigh of relief and felt a little proud, but she did not let it show. "Noelle, you made it!" Chapter 166 Chapter 166 Winter tried to grab Noelle''s hand, but Noelle dodged it smoothly. A look of hurt crossed Winter''s face. She gave Noelle a sad puppy-dog look and said, "Noelle, I know you''re still mad at me, but¡ª" Noelle cut her off while stepping away from Winter with a smirk, "I''m not mad at you. What did you do that I should be mad over?" Winter was taken aback, not expecting that response. She bit her lip and looked over at Jade for help. Jade banged her hand on the table, saying, "What are you talking about? What could your sister have done to upset you? We should be the ones upset, not you." Noelle just looked at Jade, not saying a word. However, the corners of her mouth twitched. Her clear eyes locked with Jade''s, and without a word, Jade felt a chill run down her spine for just a second. Jade stared at Noelle, giving her a sharp look. "Don''t go thinking your parents are mean. You know the Yorks are a big deal in Brookville. Simon liking you is like winning the lottery, so don''t miss out on your luck without even knowing it."Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. Noelle let out a briskugh and turned to Julian. "Really? Do you think I don''t know how fortunate I am too, Dad?" Julian squirmed, feeling awkward. He had always felt Noelle was distant, and he just could not figure out what she was really thinking. "What''s that supposed to mean? You think your dad and I are out to get you?" Jade''s temper red at Noelle''s words. "Do you even get how important the Yorks are? They''re way richer than us Shaws. Being with Simon is a stroke of luck for you." "Luck? Mom, you''re just too good to me!" Noelle''s voice dripped with ice, but her eyes were busy scanning the room, taking in where the coffee was set on the table. She frowned slightly, trying to guess the reason behind the setup. "It''s such a great opportunity, and you didn''t save it for your favorite daughter, Winter. Instead, you passed it to me, the daughter everyone looks down on. You''re just too good to me, Mom!" Jade snapped, "You little brat! I''m your mom. Would I really hurt you?" "You sure wouldn''t hurt me. You didn''t spike the coffee, you didn''t shoot the video, and you''re not the one who made mee here today." "Brat!" Jade lost it and pped Noelle across the face. Noelle had seen iting but did not move an inch. She just took the p. The sound of a p rang out, and it oline was extra loud in the cozy room. Winter gasped before rushing, Jade''s side and then turning to Noelle with worry in her eyes. "Mom, what are you doing? You can''t just p Noelle!" she eximed and then quickly added, "Noelle, are you okay? I''ll go get you some medicine!" Noelle replied calmly, "There''s no need. Time''s almost up, right? M really think this is the time too York will be here any minute. Do you air our dirtyundry?" With that, Noelle found a seat and discreetly ced a recording pen under the table. Just as she finished, the door swung §Ö open. Simon, in a pink shirt with jacket draped over one arm, stood at the entrance, eyeing the room with azy curiosity. Noelle''s heart skipped a beat when she caught Simon''s amused gaze. She quickly pulled back her hand and tried to look calm as she put down her purse. Simon noticed Noelle''s flustered move and watched her with a sly, knowing smile. Noelle bit her lip and shot him a defiant look. Simon just raised an eyebrow and said with a hint of tease, "It''s been a while, Ms. Noelle!" Chapter 167 Chapter 167 Even though Winter had seen Simon before, his face was not clearst time because of an injury on his forehead. Now that she was looking at Simon''s face, which was prettier than any girl''s, Winter could not help feeling dazzled and a little bit jealous. Why did every guy Noelle knew have to be so good-looking? First, it was Xavier, and then Simon. Even Charles had given Noelle special attention at the mall. Hidden from view, Winter gave Noelle a mean re. "Noelle, didn''t you notice that Mr. York is here? Come and say hello!" Jade scolded Noelle, urging her to stand up. Noelle just pressed her lips together. "I''m not feeling too good. Mr. York, you won''t mind, right?" she said, staying where she was. Simon just lifted an eyebrow, suddenly thinking Noelle was way more interesting than anyone else in the Shaw family. He shed a grin. "Ms. Noelle, if you aren''t feeling well, then stay seated!" he said, sitting down next to her. Noelle felt stiff all over and sat up as straight as she could. Simon seemed to enjoy that even more. Hezily pushed an empty cup toward her. "Your hands aren''t feeling bad, are they?" Noelle scowled. She really did not like Simon acting so carefree, but she managed to hold back her annoyance. With a small smile, she poured coffee for Simon. Julian watched Noelle and breathed a little easier when he saw she was following along. "It''s a real honor for our Shaw family to have you visit, Mr. York" Julian said, ncing at Noelle. "About what happened before, Noelle just got mixed up and hurt you by mistake. We''re really hoping you won''t hold it against her, Mr. York." Simon raised an eyebrow. "Really? And why did you ask me here today, Mr. Shaw?" Julian got to his feet quickly. "Noelle knows she messed up, and she''s here to say she''s sorry to you, Mr. York. Isn''t that right, Noelle? You said at home how sorry you were and that you wanted to apologize to Mr. York yourself, didn''t you?" Julian''s eyes were busy sending signals to Noelle. Noelle bit her lip. With everyone''s eyes on her, especially Julian''s, she finally spoke up, "I was wrong about what happened before. I shouldn''t have thrown that vase at you, Mr. York."Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. Simon looked surprised, not really expecting an apology. He seemed a bit let down. Noelle added, "But after what you did to me, Mr. York, throwing a vase doesn''t seem too bad, does it?" Jade yelled, furious, "What are you talking about? Do you even know what you''re saying? What did Mr. York do to you? You... You''re so ungrateful!" "Ugh, so annoying!" Simonined. His eyes, sharp as daggers, cut a nce at Jade. Jade flinched and tried to step back, but Julian shot her a stern look. "Mr. York, please don''t mind my wife. This is just what my wife is like!" He then turned to Noelle. "Why haven''t you apologized to Mr. York?" Noelle scoffed. "Apologize? Your daughter is being picked on, and you''re doing nothing to help. Instead, you want me to say sorry?" Noelle''s gaze on Julian and Jade was filled with disappointment. "But then again, shouldn''t be surprised. After all, you''re the ones who In drugged me and sent me to another man''s bed. Nothing can surprise me anymore." Chapter 168 Chapter 168 "Nonsense! What are you bbering about?" Julian banged his hand on the table when he heard Noelle''s words. "Mr. York is right here! Stop talking rubbish and apologize to him!" "Dad, can''t you say anything else?" Noelle''s voice dripped with sarcasm. "If you''re so worried about Mr. York getting the wrong idea, you shouldn''t have brought me here." She then nced at Winter, who was sitting in silence, her eyes growing colder. "Since your precious daughter is here, she can be the one to look after Mr. York." "What nonsense are you spouting?!" Winter cried out, "Mom!" "Noelle,e with me!" Jade shot Noelle a fierce look and yanked her hand, trying to pull her out of the room. Noelle was not having it and kept fighting back. The room turned into total chaos in no time, and only Simon was sitting back, calmly sipping the coffee Noelle had made earlier. "Mr. Shaw, your family sure knows how to make a scene!" Julian''s face turned a shade of gray. He could not believe a dinner that was supposed to be about making up had turned into this mess, and he was even more shocked that Jade and Noelle were being so rude and causing trouble right this moment. He gave Jade a hard stare, dragged her to his side, and then shot a look at Noelle before turning to Simon. "Mr. York, I''m sorry about this. It''s my wife''s and daughter''s fault. I hope you won''t hold it against us." "Hold it against you?" Simon squinted his eyes and gave his cup a little shake. "If I''m not mistaken, Mr. Shaw, you were the one who invited me here today. Do you need something from me?" Simon''s lips curled up as he looked at Noelle with a meaningful nce. "Your daughter doesn''t seem too happy to be here!" Noelle bit her lip. "I''m sure you wouldn''t want to force anyone, Mr. York. It wouldn''t be right for you to dine with someone as rough as me." Julian snapped, "Be quiet! It''s not your turn to talk!" "Mr. Shaw that''s not fair. I think Ms. Shaw seems really into it," Simon said, taking a sip of his coffee. His eyes were narrow slits, shining like he was about to catch his prey as he stared at Noelle. Noelle shuddered. Simon was definitely not as simple as he seemed. Simon noticed Noelle''s reaction and raised an eyebrow. He tapped his fingers on his knee, asking, "Won''t you sit down, Ms. Shaw?" Biting her lip, Noelle thought about the video that Julian and Jade had of her. She had no choice but to sit down, feeling trapped. Simonsmiled slightly. "Let''s eat!" In the room next door, Rowena was eavesdropping against the wall. When she heard Jade threaten to get physical with Noelle, she almost lost it and wanted to rush in and confront her. However, she thought of Noelle and held back. Listening to the bits and pieces of the Shaw family''s threats to Noelle, Rowena felt sure they were bad news. Rowena''s hands balled into fists, especially when she heard Simon talking to Noelle. Her heart raced with worry. All of a sudden, the private room door burst open. A bunch of people rushed in, startling Rowena so much she bumped into the wall. "Who are you guys?" Ronald, who led the group into the room, was surprised to find someone else there. He asked, "Who are you?" Rowena''s eyes darted around. Rowena stood her ground, her voice full of confidence. "Why did you just walk into someone''s private room like that?" Ronald lifted an eyebrow and let out augh. "This room is Mr. Hoffman''s. Are you sure it''s yours?"Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. Chapter 169 Chapter 169 Mr. Hoffman? Rowena felt confused. When she looked up, she saw a man in a light brown suit step in. He was tall, and his neat suit made him look very respectable. However, there was something chilly about him, especially his eyes. When Rowena identally caught his icy stare, she felt a shiver run through her. She bit her lip and swallowed hard. "Um... you can''t stay in this room, I..." Rowena was frightened, but she thought of Noelle in the next room and knew she could not leave. She had to stay put. "Rowena?" The man spoke up, his eyebrowsing together slightly and his voice carrying a note of certainty. Rowena jumped, feeling even more nervous then. The man had a powerful aura, and he had so many men with him. However, after thinking it over, Rowena could not recall offending anyone. "Who are you?" "Charles!" Charles introduced himself. Rowena, who had been so flustered, suddenly brightened at the mention of Charles'' name. She quickly responded, "That''s right, I''m Rowena, Noelle''s best friend. Mr. Hoffman, huh? Noelle''s told me about you. You''re her husband, haha!"All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. Rowena bounced with excitement. "Mr. Hoffman, you''re here atst! Noelle''s in the next room. You wouldn''t believe how awful the Shaws and Simon have been. They''ve actually..." "I know." Charles gave the chatty woman a long look. If she were not such a good friend to Noelle, he would have been tempted to send her chattering self right out the door. With a wave of his hand, Ronald ushered the other two out with a knowing nod. The room quieted down, leaving just Rowena and Charles. Rowena gulped. "Mr. Hoffman, did youe to rescue Noelle?" Charles raised an eyebrow and motioned for Rowena to take a seat. She hesitated, her ears straining for any sound from next door, but everything had gone eerily silent. Rowena''s nerves tightened. "I can''t just sit here. What if they''re being mean to her again? I have to check!" Charles'' voice stopped her in her tracks. "Ms. Smith, she''s going to be okay." While Rowena was a bundle of nerves, Charles remained the picture of calm. "Please sit down." Rowena still had some concerns. "But if those people bully her..." "Do you think Noelle is the type to get pushed around?" Charles asked with a smirk. Rowena paused, then shook her head. "No way. Noelle might be sweet, but she''s too stubborn to let anyone walk all over her. It''s just that those bullies are from the Shaw family, so Noelle, well..." "She''s got to learn to stand on her own two feet, right?" Charles said, dialing Ronald''s number. "Keepza close watch on what''s happening there!" "Got it!" Ronald was already near Noelle''s private room. The two men from before were skilled operatives brought by Charles. Ronald had actually rigged Noelle''s room with surveince gear before they arrived to keep tabs on every move inside. The door swung open, and Lareal stepped in. "Mr. Hoffman always et ropes me into these kinds of jobs. I''m going to tell Mr. Lennon," Lareal grumbled. Ronald just shrugged. "What can I say? You''re the expert!" "Hey..." Ronald cut him off, waving his hand, "Shh! Mr. Hoffman''s still on the line!" Lareal fell silent. Charles, overhearing Ronald and Lareal''s chat, frowned slightly. "Focus on the job," he said. He then ended the call and turned to Rowena. Chapter 170 Chapter 170 Rowena had never met anyone as calm as Charles. His wife was the one in danger, yet he did not seem the least bit rattled. However, then Rowena paused to think about Charles. He was always so sure of himself, so she did not doubt him. "Ms. Smith, you''re very clever!" Rowena bit her lip. She did not really think Charles was praising her, but she thanked him anyway because it was the polite thing to do. "Aren''t you worried about Noelle being all alone with them? The Shaws aren''t exactly nice to her. But Noelle can''t seem to let them go. Otherwise, they would have never been able to bully her." While tapping his fingers, Charles exined, "Family ties are the hardest to break in the world. Nelly has a big heart. She can''t just give up on them. However, she''s never felt total despair. Once someone feels that, family ties might not mean much anymore." Rowena was shocked. "You... That''s too harsh for Noelle." Charles squinted. "Is it any less harsh now? You''ve been her friend for years. You know her." He did not say more on the subject. "You haven''t had dinner yet, have you?" Charles'' words made Rowena realize she was actually hungry. She felt a little embarrassed. "I was too busy thinking about how to handle them." Charles ordered the meal to be served. "Nelly mentioned she wanted to introduce us. Why not make it today?" Rowena was pleasantly surprised. "Mr. Hoffman, you''re too gracious." Noelle barely touched her food. She was upset as Jade kept sweet-talking Simon the whole time. She could not take it anymore and stood up. "I need to use the bathroom!" "I''lle too." Noelle and Winter headed to the bathroom, one behind the other. Winter was feeling all mixed up inside. Part of her hoped Simon would fall for Noelle, which would mean Noelle might get hurt and then Xavier would stop thinking about her. However, another part of Winter was green with envy. Why did everyone always pick Noelle over her? With those thoughts, Winter red at Noelle''s back. "You''re lucky Mr. York likes you," she said bitterly. Noelle stopped walking and looked back at Winter with a small smile. She locked eyes with Winter. "Really? Then I guess I should be grateful. After all, Mr. York chose me over you, right?" Winter was caught off guard byContent is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. Noelle''seback. "You... Why are you so smug? Remember, Mom has that video of you. And you''ve heard the rumors about Simon, right? He''s into some pretty dark stuff. He doesn''t care who it is." "Winter, dropping the act now?" Noelle snapped, shocked at how mean Winter could be. Winter had always been faking it, putting on a show for everyone. However, today, she was done with pretending. Noelle red at Winter. "A video? Wow, you''re such a wonderful sister. It wasn''t enough to steal my boyfriend. Now, you''re threatening me with a video? Winter, are you really that jealous of me?" Content belongs to Noelle just could not figure it out. They were sisters, but Winter acted like she was Noelle''s worst enemy. "Yes, I am jealous! Why do you always get everything that''s best? I''m just as good as you are!" Chapter 171 Chapter 171 "Indeed, you''re no worse than I am. In fact, you''re even better than I am, and there''s nothing about me that''s better than you. Winter Shaw, is there something wrong with you?" Noelle did not understand how Winter''s prejudices toward her had formed. "Whatever. I can''t be bothered talking to you." "What do you mean you can''t be bothered? I think you''re just scared! Makes sense, though. I heard Simon has some odd in-bed fetishes. You and him.......¡± Winter grinned, the evil look in her eyes difficult to disguise. "You''ll never be able to escape, Noelle Shaw!" "You''re not the one who gets to decide whether I escape or not!" Noelle countered, her eyebrows knitting themselves together. "Good luck does not always favor you, Winter!" Noelle said as she walked past Winter and into the bathroom. As Winter stood at the entrance and watched Noelle walk away from her, the corner of her lips curved up into a long, knowing smile. The fact she had to interact with Winter when all she wanted to do was go to the bathroom had Noelle thinking she had terrible luck. However, something about the interaction had struck her as odd because Winter was not the kind of person who would let her off the hook that easily. When outsiders were present, Winter would pretend a deep sisterly bond existed between the two and only let her true colors shine when no one else was there. The fact she had bothered to tail her all the way here meant things were not as innocent as they seemed. Why had she left after only exchanging a few sentences with her? Noelle thought that was strange. As she walked out of the cubicle and washed her hands at the sink, a figure abruptly materialized behind her and pped a hand over her mouth. They moved so quickly that she did not even have any time to react. A pungent odor entered Noelle''s nose, and she passed out. A glint shed through the man''s eyes as he gazed at Noelle''s unconscious body before dragging her out of the bathroom. Winter had already returned to the private room for some time. She swept her gaze across the room and soon received a text message. The corner of her lips curved upward as she turned to Simon and said, "Mr. York, Noelle said she has a surprise for you." Simon was here to find out where the Shaw family stood since they had not done anything about the fact he had gotten knocked out previously. However, he still swept a nce at Winter, where sure enough, he spotted a gleeful grin on her face. The corner of Simon''s mouth curled upward as he pressed a palm into the table and gazed at Winterzily. That half-smile caused Winter''s heart to begin racing as she gulped and called out, "Mr. York?" "Is that so?" Simon asked, his lips curling upward. Jade immediately understood what Winter was trying to hint at and hurriedly added, "Mr. York, there''s plenty you haven''t seen yet. My younger daughter is shy, but she''s told me previously that she''s interested in you. "I''m sure you understand how shy girls can be and how panicked that can make us parents. It''s why this gathering even came to exist in the first ce, Mr. York. Noelle swnovel genuinely has feelings for you, Mr. York!" Genuine feelings? Simon frowned but did not say anything. BUMSN?velDrama.Org: owner of this content. Winter did not know what exactly was running through Simon''s mind then, and that made her feel nervous. However, when she recalled the state that Noelle al in then she felt gleeful once again. "Mr. York?" "Alright!" Simon smirked. "Since Ms. Noelle has expressed her heartfelt feelings to me, it would not be chivalrous of me to refuse to acknowledge them!" Winter''s eyes immediately lit up when she realized things were looking promising. "This way, please, Mr. York." Winter got to her feet and smiled flirtatiously as she whispered into Simon''s ear, "Noelle is shy, so you may need to make the first move, Mr. York." Simon got to his feet and gave Winter a long, knowing look. "You really do love your sister, Ms. Winter!" However, there was no warmth in the look in his eyes as he spoke. Chapter 172 Chapter 172 A fragrant aroma wafted through the dimly lit room. Simon immediately noticed what was different about the room when he walked in, and he frowned slightly as he switched on the lights. A sharp look appeared in his eyes when he saw the familiar-looking figure lying in bed, but the expression on his face remained unreadable. He hurriedly pursed his lips together and held his breath. Living full-time with the York family meant he always had to be on his guard, and it was the same now that he had stepped into this small trap. A sleazy look appeared in Simon''s eyes as he smirked. Things were getting interesting. He had not expected to end up as their target. However, the look in his eyes changed once again as he looked at the person lying in bed. Tough luck for her! "Mr. Hoffman, she''s gone!" Ronald had noticed what was going on in Noelle''s room almost immediately. He had overheard every bit of Winter''s conversation with Simon and realized the severity of the situation. "Madam has not been seen since she went to the bathroom!" Frowning, Charles gave Ronald a stern look. "Didn''t your men bother tailing them?" "Yes, they did, and they were on high alert, but..." "Seal the hotel entrances immediately. No one is allowed to leave or enter the premises!" Charles said as he got to his feet, startling Rowena so badly that she hurriedly stopped eating and put down her cutlery. "Didn''t you say your men were keeping a watch on Noelle? Why is she " "Now''s not the time to be discussing such things," Charles interrupted Rowena coolly. "Ronald, get one of your men to escort Ms. Smith home." "No, I don''t want to head home. I want to find Noelle!" There was no way Rowena would agree to that arrangement since they had basically lost Noelle despite her being right under their noses. Besides, Noelle was probably in a lot of danger now, and it would be impossible for Rowena not to be worried. However, Charles refused to let Rowena join them. "Ms. Smith, if you truly are concerned for Nelly''s well-being, please head home immediately. I''ll take care of things here!" Rowena hesitated. "But Noelle is..." "I''m herwfully wedded husband. I won''t allow anything to happen to her," Charles began making §Ö§ä promises, which was something he rarely did. "I promise that she''ll appear before you without even a single hair out of ce tomorrow." "I..." Rowena started, knowing that she would not be able to offer any help and might even end up causing more trouble if she stayed here. "Well, alright then!" ¡°There might be a time when I need your help in the future, Ms. Smith," Charles said just before Rowena left the room. A spark appeared in Rowena''s eyes. "If it''s about Noelle, I''m willing to do anything!" Once Rowena left, Charles turned to give Ronald a long, solemn look. Ronald knew that this problem had only arisen because he had neglected his duty. He immediately apologized, "This happened because of my oversight. Please feel free to punish me however you wish once Madam has been found, Mr. Hoffman!" Charles scoffed. "Call Jacob York!" "What..." Ronald then understood the assignment and dialed Jacob''s number on his phone before handing it to Charles. "Here, Mr. Hoffman!"Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. The corner of Charles'' lips curled upward. "Mr. York, it seems that you still aren''t the patriarch of the York family yet, are you?" Jacob asked, sounding surprised, "Charles Hoffman? May I know how I can help you?" The York family rarely had dealings with the Hoffman family. Thus, Jacob immediately realized the severity of things when he received a call from Charles out of the blue. "Has an idiot from the York family offended you, Mr. Hoffman?" Charles sneered, "I''m at Golden Oasis Hotel right now. Perhaps you should find out who else is at this hotel as well this evening, Mr. York." Then, he added, "Give thend in the western suburbs some thought, Mr. York!" Chapter 173 Chapter 173 The look in Jacob''s eyes darkened as he tightened his grip on his phone. "Thank you for the reminder, Mr. Hoffman. I''ll look into it right away!" Jacob took action quickly and soon learned that Simon was not at home. After double-checking with the hotel employees, he discovered that Simon was, in fact, at the hotel and had met with the Shaw family. The entire York family soon learned of this news, and Norman York even called up Simon himself. When Simon got the call from Norman, he was watching Noelle roll amongst the sheets as she battled the heat building inside her. An odd look appeared in his eyes as he cleared the smoke from the room and destroyed all the surveince cameras ced within the room. Then, he broke a vase and used one of the shattered pieces to make a cut on Noelle''s arm. He bent down and took a close look at her face. She had skin so pretty that it was practically glowing, and there was not a single blemish on it. He reached a hand out to touch her face as his eyes narrowed themselves together. "Today''s your lucky day!"Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. Charles'' men immediately notified him when they noticed Simon walking out of Room 808. The smoke had not been fully cleared from the room when Charles rushed over. He swept his stern gaze across the room and noticed it had been cleaned earlier. Meanwhile, Noelle was lying in bed, her face a bright red. Charles hurried over and noticed how unnaturally red the color of her face was. It was identical to the past two struggles, but she was considerably quieter this time. His gazended on Noelle''s body. Her clothes were still intact on her body, and it seemed that nothing had happened. However, a dark look appeared in his eyes when his gazended on her arm. He picked up Noelle''s arm and used a handkerchief to bandage the blood oozing from her arm. Ronald called out from where he stood at the entrance, "Mr. Hoffman! Simon York has already left." Charles nodded. "Call Sean and have him make a trip to Phoenix Tree Residence!" As he finished his sentence, he took his suit jacket off and wrapped it around Noelle before he picked her up and carried her out of the hotel. He carefully ced Noelle in the car and made sure she wasfortable before he looked out the window. "Send the stuff over to Simon, Ronald." Ronald was slightly stunned. He had thought Charles would lose his temper and get caught up in a fight with the York family. Naturally, Charles noticed the surprise in Rnd''s eyes. If he had not entered the room just now, he might have dered war on Simon and the rest of the York family. However, he no longer had such ns after entering the room. At least, for now, he could noty a finger on Simon or the York family yet. "I told you to look into Winterst week, didn''t I? How''s that looking like?" Charles said as he gazed at Ronald coolly. Ronald immediately snapped to attention and answered, "Mr. Hoffman, don''t you know just how skilled Lareal is? Once he begins. putting his skills to work, we''ll even be able to find out who Winter''s great-great-great-grandparents are! We''ll know everything and anything there is to know about her!" Content belongs to The corner of Charles'' lips curled upward. "That''s good. I want to see Winter''s name on tomorrow''s headlines. Got it?" "Yes, sir." Ronald knew this was a warning sign that Charles was pissed off and secretly felt sorry for Winter. However,e to think of it, Winter had been stupid to piss off Charles. After all, Charles was the kind who would take revenge on whoever had wronged him, no matter whether they were a man or a woman. Not to mention the fact that Charles'' wife was the one she had chosen to wrong this time. All he could say was that it was bad luck end. Winter''s "I''ll get things done immediately!" Ronald then added, "Which agency?" "Let''s not do anything yet!" Charles said as he gazed at the woman lying with her head in hisp, a gentle look in his eyes. Chapter 174 Chapter 174 Sean had never expected Noelle to still be the reason he visited Phoenix Tree Residence a second time. He gazed at the woman lying in bed and the man standing guard by her. A spark appeared in his narrow eyes as he watched the other man''s careful, considerate movements. He clicked his tongue, "Gosh, Charles, can this not always be the reason you reach out to me?" Sean spread his hands out, a rueful expression on his face. "This always happens just as I''m about to get some rest afterpleting a surgery." "Well, might as well then, since it''ll give you something to do with your time. Come and take a look at how Nelly is doing," Charles said solemnly instead of squabbling with Sean, which was a rare sight. A grim look appeared on Sean''s face as he gazed at Charles, and he could not help but shake his head. "I''ll take a look. But to be honest, it''d make more sense for you to reach out to any other general practitioner! I''m a-" Charles said impatiently, "Cut the crap! Attend to her!" Sean pursed his lips and lifted a corner of the nket. A stunned look appeared on his face when he saw the cut on Noelle''s finger. "Who did this?" A dark look appeared in Charles'' eyes, and he did not say anything else. Sean seemed to understand what was going on and added, "Smart of them to know to use bloodletting to ease the symptoms. Also, Noelle didn''t inhale that much poison this time." Sean put Noelle''s arm back down. "Looks like there won''t be too much of a problem." Charles could not help but cry out, "But she won''t wake up! Can you take a look and see if there''s anything else going on?" "Gosh, Charles. I''m a doctor, not a miracle worker. Could she just be knackered out because she''s tired?" Sean said as he looked at Charles as if he were stupid. "Don''t worry. Noelle''s simply asleep now because she was knocked out just now."Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. Based on Sean''s observations, Noelle had simply inhaled a knockout drug and was not down with any particrly severe illness. "She doesn''t need any medication?" Charles asked, still worried. "Medicines are also a form of poison. Besides, Noelle is fine now. She just needs to get some rest," Sean said, pausing shortly before he added, "Though this is the first time I''ve seen you so nervous, Charles!" "Fuck off!" Charles cursed. He narrowed his eyes and pursed his lips as he stared at Sean, who began giggling. He was not afraid of Charles even when he was in such a state. "I''ll prescribe Noelle some medicine to calm her nerves, and she needs to get plenty of rest now. If you''re still worried, advise you to take her to the hospital to get things checked out when she wakes up tomorrow. Find out what the knockout drug contains and whether there will be any other side effects." Content belongs to "Mr. Hoffman!" Ronald called out as he knocked on the door and stood at the entrance. "The men who kidnapped Madam have been caught." Charles and Sean exchanged nces before walking out of the room. Charles closed the door carefully. "Let''s go to the study!" Ronald walked behind Charles into the study. "M. Lennon''s men have caught the men who kidnapped Madam. They aren''t your run-of-the-mill hooligans, but wil aren''t sure who they work for yet. Lareal is interrogating them right now." "You got Peter''s men involved as well?" Sean asked with interest, an inquisitive look on his face as he leaned on the doorframe and looked at Charles. Charles frowned. "Why are you still here?" The corner of Sean''s lips curved upward slightly. "I won''t be able to rest any time soon, so I might as well watch the drama unfold," he said. There was a smile in his almond-shaped eyes as he gaveline Ronald an innocent-looking gaze that had the man trembling with fear. "They''ve got guts, making moves on your wife!" Sean added with a click of the tongue. "What do you n to do next?" Chapter 175 Chapter 175 Charles nced at Sean before turning back to Ronald. "Tell Lareal to find out whose instructions they were acting on. Feel free to use any unique interrogation methods he has should the need arise." "Yes, sir." Ronald nodded, realizing that Charles was truly angered this time. Sean raised an eyebrow. "Where''s Lareal? I''ll go hang out with him!" Charles looked at Ronald, who felt a feeling of helplessness wash over him. However, since it was Sean, there was nothing else Ronald could do other than say, "The usual spot.¡± The usual spot Ronald was referring to was the underground arena that functioned as Brookville''srgest meeting spot. There were plenty of legends surrounding that ce. Not only was it a ce where people went to entertain themselves, but it was also a living hell for those who did not know what was best for them. Sean''s gaze instinctivelynded on Charles once again. He had not expected Charles to be taking things so seriously this time. He gave Charles a long, knowing look as he said, "I''ll go check things out and report back to you with results within a day."Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. Once Sean left, Charles drummed his fingers against the table, a smile curving his lips. "Have Lareal work with Sean!" "Yes, sir!" Ronald answered with a small smile. When he saw the glint in Charles'' eyes, Ronald finally understood that Charles had managed to trick Sean into assuming responsibility for the entire affair. "Mr. Hoffman, about Winter Shaw..." Ronald handed over everything he had managed to find out to Charles. "This is all the information we''ve gathered regarding Winter''s time in the entertainment industry these past years. I must admit that Winter''s got some moves hidden beneath her belt. "Otherwise, given her experience and skillset, there''s no way she would''ve made it to where she is now that quickly!" Ronald paused for a minute before adding, ¡°Madam is not the only person she has been mistreating over the years. She''s also been doing plenty of shady things in the entertainment industry." Charles raised a hand and signaled for Ronald to pause. "Don''t spill everything all at once. Do it one at a time. It''s more fun that way." As Charles spoke, he pulled out two sheets of paper from the stack ced before him and swept his gaze over. "Let''s go with this!" Ronald took the papers and nced at them. A glint appeared in his eyes. "I''ll get on with this immediately!" Charles called out to Ronald, "Wait. Send it to the tabloids." "Yes, Mr. Hoffman!" Charles continued working in his study for a while after Ronald left and only returned to the bedroom after midnight. Noelle was fast asleep and had let her guard downpletely. However, that was precisely what allowed Charles a glimpse at her innocence and purity. Charles took a quick shower in the bathroom and came out wearing only a white-colored bathrobe. An odd look appeared in his eyes as he stood by the bed and gazed at Noelle''s face intently. Charles dimmed the lights in the bedroom slightly. Noelle''s even breathing could be heard in the dimly lit bedroom, and she looked utterly harmless. He walked over and sat by the window, where he reached out to touch her cheek. As Noelle slept soundly, she felt a warm hand cradling her face and smacked her lips together in contentment before reaching out to hold Charles'' hand. He raised an eyebrow, a gentle expression settling across his features as he observed her subconscious movements. He took his shoes off and leaned over slightly, causing the mattress to sink lower slightly. Noelle seemed to know that Charles was nearby and shifted slightly to make space for him. Her subconscious movements pleased Charles immensely. With a smile on his face, he hooked an elegant finger beneath her chin and ran the tips of his fingers against her smooth skin. Finally, he leaned down and pressed a gentle kiss to her lips. Chapter 176 Chapter 176 Noelle felt like she was floating mid-air in a dream-like world. In her dreams, a man held her hand as they took a walk together. When they grew tired, theyy on the grass to take a break. As she closed her eyes, the man leaned over and pressed a gentle kiss onto her lips. Noelle smiled. Things felt so sweet in the dream that she could not help but want more. She reached her arms over and wrapped them around Charles'' neck just as he was about to let go of her, burrowing herself onto Charles. The look in Charles'' eyes darkened. He used one arm to stabilize himself on the bed and lowered his gaze to look at Noelle, who seemed extremely happy. The corners of her lips curved upward as she tugged at him and called out, "Charles!" Although her voice was soft, he heard her. A glimmer appeared in his eyes as he lowered himself and kissed Noelle again. This time, though, the kiss was not a gentle one. He had always been someone who would do whatever it took to get what he wanted, even if it meant using extreme methods. Noelle was the only person he exercised all his patience with. It was not like he had not been anxious or impatient before this. Noelle took a lot of time before she was ready to be emotionally attached to a rtionship, and she exercised even more caution now because of the betrayal she had once been subjected to. He was understanding of her cautiousness, but he also wished she could ept him. Thankfully, all the waiting he had done was not for nothing. He would still be content even if there was no romantic love between them. Charles deepened the kiss, nimbly drawing his lips across the outline of Noelle''s tantalizing lips. Noelle could sense the man''s enthusiasm even in her dreams. Unable to control the passion building up within her chest, she braced her arms against Charles'' shoulders as she tried to open her eyes before closing thempletely again. The smile did not leave her face the entire time. It truly felt like she was in a dream. Finally, Charles was satisfied, and he let go of the woman who was still fast asleep, Charles'' eyes narrowed slightly as he gazed first at the. woman who had calme wed and then at his crotch. Closing his eyes, he muttered, "What a minx He lifted the covers off himself so that he could get out of bed. However, Noelle seemed to guess what he was about to do and reached out to grab his arm, her lips forming a pout as she called out, "Don''t go!" Charles felt his heart immediately softening. "Alright, I won''t leave!" He reached out to pat the back of Noelle''s hand and squeezed it gently as he said, "I won''t leave. I''ll stay right here with you!"Material ? N?velDrama.Org. Upon hearing Charles'' promise, Noelle pursed her lips together and smiled as if something marvelous had just happened to her. She fell asleep once more. Noelle was satisfied, but this was like torture to Charles. No man would be able to withstand such torture. The woman before him his wife, but he could only force passion he felt and remind himself over and over again that now was not the right time. He could not do such things to Noelle. himself to suppress the force nest What he wanted was her consent. They were husband and wife. He did not want her to agree because she felt obligated to but because she felt naturallypelled to. "Rest up. I''ll always be with you!" Chapter 177 Chapter 177 Noelle felt like she had dreamed a long, long dream. In her dream, Charles held her hand in his as he led her forward. Although she did not know where the destination was, she still walked joyfully alongside him. Charles never let go of her hand and always stayed by her side no matter what happened. Noelle''s dream went on for extremely long. When she finally woke up, she gazed dazedly at the ceiling, seemingly still half-dreaming. The warmth in her palm surprised her slightly, and she turned her head in rm when a thought struck her. She was met by the sight of a man fast asleep. The familiar-looking face was several timesrger than what she usually saw. The man had such good skin that even a woman would be jealous of him, and there were shadows beneath his eyes, framed by a set of long eyshes. Noelle was stunned as she recalled what had happened in the washroom. She remembered getting knocked out by a man but did not know what had happened after that. Her lips felt slightly numb, and she realized they were swollen after bringing her fingers to them. Noelle became even more panicked and hurriedly threw the covers off herself as she tried to get out of bed. However, a pair ofrge hands reached out to grab her wrists. Noelle turned around and realized that Charles had opened his eyes. He had just woken up, and the usual sharp glint in his eyes was nowhere to be found. His sleepy gazended on her, and it took a minute before he frowned slightly and sat up. "You''re awake." His voice was slightly hoarser because he had just woken up. It sounded just as deep and melodious as a cello''s tone. Noelle felt her heart skip a beat before it began thumping wildly. She pursed her lips and looked down, somewhat afraid to meet Charles'' eyes. Charles narrowed his eyes as he took in all of Noelle''s movements. He chuckled as he asked, "Why aren''t you saying anything?" Noelle bit down on her lips, the sparkle in her eyes dimming slightly as she began, "You... I... Last night..." "Nothing happened to youst night," Charles said as he chuckled, lightly squeezing Noelle''s slender arm. "Nothing at all!" "Really?" Noelle asked as she raised her head, the sparkle returning to her eyes. She had a look of surprise and relief as she took Charles'' hand in hers. "You aren''t lying to me, are you?" "Why would I lie to you?" Charles asked as he gave a slight smile. He lifted the covers off himself and got out of bed, keeping his hold on Noelle''s hand all the while. Since Charles was holding onto her, Noelle had no other choice but to get out of bed as well. Charles handed Noelle a pair of slippers. "The floor is cold!" A warm, fuzzy feeling washed over Noelle as she looked down and slipped her feet inside the slippers Then, after a moment''s thought, she asked, "I fought with Winter velime yesterday and got drugged almost immediately after. What on earth happened?" She had experienced a lot of fear and had no idea what to do. Herst thought before losing consciousness was, ''Oh no, I''m done for.'' Yet, Charles was now telling that nothing had happenedst night. herAll content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. "You got kidnapped, but my men saved you in time because they were tailing you," Charles offered a brief exnation, omitting everything else that had happened in between. Noelle knew there was no way things were as simple as that, but since Charles was not sharing the details, she would not press for them. However, Charles had ended up saving her as well this time round. "I''m useless, aren''t I can''t do anything right!" Content belongs to "No, you aren''t!" Charles said as he squeezed Noelle''s finger. "You did a great job. You and Rowena nted audio and video recording devices, and those will be extremely useful." He had not expected his Nelly to know how to utilize such devices! Chapter 178 Chapter 178 Noelle ruffled her hair, feeling bashful after hearing Charles praise her. "Rowena taught me that. I think I''ve told you this before, but Rowena works as a reporter!" "Indeed. You''ve got a wonderful friend!" Charles said as he nodded. "Alright, since you''re awake, why don''t you go wash up and give your friend a call? She was extremely worried about youst night!" ¡°Oh, right, I nearly forgot. Rowena must be worried sick!" Noelle said as she hurriedly tried to locate her phone. "Charles, have you seen my phone?" "It''s on the bedside cab!" Charles rarely saw Noelle this flustered and could not help but shake his head as he said, "Don''t panic. Who knows? She might not even be awake yet!" Despite saying that, he did not stop Noelle. After taking a quick shower, he changed into some loungewear before heading downstairs. It was only then that Noelle realized she must have spent the night in the same bed with Charles. Noelle instinctively bit down on her lip, and she turned to the mirror on the vanity to take a quick look when she felt her lips stinging slightly. She got a fright when she looked at herself. Her lips were bright red and swollen. Noelle touched her lips as Rowena''s sleepy-sounding voice rang out from the other end of the line. "Who is it? Who dares awaken me from my slumber? Do you know you''ll get struck by lightning for interrupting someone while they''re sleeping?" Rowena''s low voice was tinged with immense displeasure, and that jerked Noelle out of her reverie as she answered, "Struck by lightning? The sun is already hanging high up in the sky, Rowena." "Noelle?¡± Rowena immediately jolted awake and bounded up in bed as her eyes widened. "Damn it, girl, you finally called! Do you know how scared I was when you disappearedst night?!" Rowena was truly terrified. Although Charles had promised over and over again that Noelle would be alright, she was still worried. "How are you?" "I''m alright!" Tears welled up in Noelle''s eyes when she heard the worry in Rowena''s voice. "Sorry for making you worried, Rowena!" "Gosh, it''s alright as long as you''re okay!" Rowena''s frayed nerves finally settled down. "But why are you only calling me now? I was so worried the entire night and only managed to fall asleep around five!" Content belongs to "Oh, do continue resting, then!" Guilt washed over Noelle when she heard Rowena say that. "I just woke up, too. Charles said you were worried about me, which is why I..." .ne "It''s alright, I''m awake now anyway But how did Charles manage to rescue you? Did you know I initially wanted to join them in their search, but Charles said I didn''t need to." "I don''t know how I got rescued either, but what matters is that I''m fine now," Noelle said as she smiled. ¡°Alright, given everything, shall we meet up after breakfast?" "Sure!" Noelle and Rowena had spent so long talking on the phone that Charles was already done making breakfast by the time she washed up and headed downstairs. The fragrant aroma found its way into Noelle''s nose when she headed downstairs, and a glimmer appeared in her eyes. "It smells wonderful!" "Are you hungry? Come have something to eat!" Charles waved aAll content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. hand and beckoned for Noelle toe over. However, a wave of awkwardness washed over Noelle then as she recalled how the two had woken up in the same bed that morning and how much her lips hurt. nas Noelle instinctively looked at Charles, and upon noticing he had a small injury on the corner of his lips as well, she looked down and pursed her lips. "What''s the matter?" Charles asked, noticing Noelle''sck of enthusiasm as he ced the food on the table. "Did the call go badly?¡± Chapter 179 Chapter 179 Noelle shook her head, unsure what she should say in response. When she looked up at Charles, she felt that he looked even better than he usually did. She also noticed that he had a perpetual grin on his face. ¡°Are you in a great mood?" Charles raised an eyebrow. "Should I be unhappy instead?" That stumped her, and she did not have an answer for him. She pursed her lips as she pointed at his lips and then at hers. "Did something happenst night that I''m unaware of?" A smile that reached Charles'' dark brown eyes tugged at the corner of his lips. His smile was as warm and beautiful as springtime. Noelle gave an involuntary shudder. Charles'' smile was too beautiful for his own good. "Why are you smiling?" "Did you forget what you didst night, Noelle?" Charles asked, a look of interest settling across his features as he bnced one hand on the dining table and drummed his elegant-looking fingers against the tabletop. The way he looked at her made her feel like there was nowhere she could hide. Noelle felt anxiety creep over her, and she did not like that feeling because it meant things were spiraling out of her control. She had regretted asking that question the instant it left her mouth. Why did she ask such a foolish question? Hence, she said in despair, "I was knocked out yesterday, so how am I supposed to remember anything?! I don''t remember anything, and I bet you did something bad!" Charles let out a chuckle, and that aggravated Noelle. ¡°Isn''t that so? I wasn''t even conscious, so it''s not like I could pounce on you, could I?" Charles raised an eyebrow as he watched Noelle throw a temper tantrum that reminded him of a toddler''s stubbornness. He had a rueful look on his face as he shook his head and said, "Whatever you say, Madam!"N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content. "You..." Noelle was stumped for words and felt embarrassment wash over her. "I was unconscious and had no idea what was going on!" She gave up arguing and pulled a seat out for herself. Charles shook his head and handed Noelle a bowl. After taking it, Noelle had a vexed look on her face as she got herself a bowl of oatmeal before pretending that Charles was not within her line of sight. Charles did not say anything and merely nced at Noelle with tender love in his eyes. She lowered her head in embarrassment, almost burying her entire face in the bowl. Charles was tapping on the table while looking at her, and she raised her head, meeting his gaze. Just then, his phone rang, forcing the couple to break their moment. ¡°What''s the matter?" Charles'' voice immediately turned several degrees colder as he answered the call. Ronald''s heart skipped a beat. Ayer of cold sweat formed on the back of his neck as he gulped. ¡°Am I interrupting you, Mr. Hoffman?" "You may speak!" Charles spoke in a clipped tone. Then, his voice turned syrupy sweet as he got Noelle another bowl of oatmeal and said, "Eat up." Both Noelle and Ronald marveled at Charles'' ability to switch between being sweet and frosty so seamlessly. Then, Charles'' cold voice rang out once again. "Nothing important?" "It''s not that, Mr. Hoffman. Mr. Smith has already used the most painful methods he has, but that person is extremely tight-lipped and insists that it was all on Winter Shaw''s instructions. "However, we checked his bank records and noticed he had received two payments recently. One of them was indeed from Winter Shaw, but the other came from an overseas ount that we have no way of tracing!" Ronald ryed all the problems they were facing before he added, "I''m sure you know what Mr. Smith is like, Mr. Hoffman. He''s always preferred those who are more docile, which is why..." "Hm?" Charles narrowed his eyes. "He shattered the man''s kneecap!" Ronald shuddered thinking about it. "Mr. Smith said it''s been a while since the white shark was fed." Chapter 180 Chapter 180 The look on Charles'' face darkened slightly, and a foul aura began emanating from him. Noelle paused in the middle of eating her oatmeal, and she instinctively turned to Charles. "Is something wrong?" Charles immediately switched up the aura emanating from him and smiled at Noelle as he shook his head. "Everything''s alright!" His voice sounded calm, and no one could decipher any particr sort of emotion he was feeling. Then, he said to Ronald, "It''s alright if he''s chucked. As long as we got the stuff!"Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. "He hasn''t been chucked yet, Mr. Hoffman. We''re just... getting ready for that," Ronald said, unsure if he shouldugh or cry. Why did both these men just do as they please? Charles frowned slightly. "Tell him to hold on. I''ll drop by and have a lookter, but he can take care of everything else." Ronald shuddered. He could just about imagine how bloody the scene would getter. Compared to Sean, Charles'' methods were truly scary. "Alright, I''ll get Lareal to continue tracing that foreign bank ount as well. We looked into the aroma in the roomst night, and it doesn''t look like something off the market. Looks like Winter doesn''t have anything to fear." Ronald''s point was clear-Winter might be able to pull off a trick or two, but because of how meticulously nned this was and the fact that the drug used was not easily essible, it meant there was no way Winter was the mastermind behind everything. ¡°Alright, continue looking," Charles said before he hung up the phone and nced at Noelle. "Are you full?" Noelle nodded. "Yes. You didn''t have much to eat just now, though. Have more food to eat!" Shedled more oatmeal into Charles'' bowl as she spoke, and her finger stung slightly as it came into contact with the bowl''s edge. When she looked down, a surprised look settled across her features. Charles frowned. "What''s wrong?" Noelle shook her head. "It''s nothing. I probably just cut myself without even realizing it." However, since it had already stopped bleeding, Noelle could not be bothered about the wound. Charles, on the other hand, frowned. "Does it still hurt?" "No, it doesn''t hurt. Do I look that fragile?" Noelle asked. Pausing, she called out, "Charles." Charles looked up. "Yes? What is it?" "Thank you for what happenedst night." Noelle was truly thankful to Charles, and she had taken note of all the kindness he had shown her. ¡°I''ll introduce you to my friends when we find the time for that!" Charles raised an eyebrow and grinned as he asked, "Does that mean that I''ve passed the test?" Noelle blushed slightly. "Perhaps!" She was nervous as she continued, "I don''t have that many friends. It''s just Rowena and Teresa. Rowena is a reporter while Teresa opened up a garden house with me. It''s called Homestyle Garden House. Charles nodded. Noelle had met Samuel at that very garden house once when he went to pick her up. "You can pick the time." Charles was avable whenever and was just worried Noelle might feel awkward. Noelle''s eyes lit up upon hearing that. "Alright, I''ll meet Rowena and Teresa today to discuss it, then! She rubbed her palms against each other while saying, "It''s been so long since we three got together!" Content belongs to "Sounds good!" Charles said as he nodded. Given all that happenedst night, it would be a good idea for Noelle to spend some time outside as well. "Why don''t you drive yourself there?" Once Noelle left, Charles called Ronald and instructed, "Send two men to tail Noelle. Make sure she isn''t alerted of their presence." "Yes, Mr. Hoffman!" After receiving that call, Ronald immediately sent two men who were nimble on their feet and quick-witted to tail Noelle. They kept Charles'' instructions in mind and did not dare get too close to her. Noelle, Rowena, and Teresa immediately arranged for a time to meet up. It had been so long since the threest met, and they would have to spend their time eating and drinking to their heart''s content! Chapter 181 Chapter 181 Teresa was a quiet girl, which was why she and Noelle had opened a garden house together. Apart from managing the garden house, she spent her days reading. Rowena, on the other hand, was different. She was energetic and lively, the most active of the three. That was why Rowena chose a career as a reporter, and she was constantly traveling across the country. The three good friends finally got together, so they made sure to have a great time. They visited several shops and bought a bunch of clothes. Then again, most of them were picked out by Rowena, though they were not for herself but for Noelle.All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. Rowena''s reasoning was simple. Since Noelle was now married to Charles, she needed to dress up and could not continue dressing in her old style. Noelle did not see anything wrong with her previous wardrobe, but she went along with it. Teresa was quite surprised. "Noelle, you''re married?" Teresa was indeed taken aback. She knew a bit about Noelle and Xavier''s situation. Noelle had been on a business trip at the time, so Teresa did not know that Winter and Xavier had gotten together and even gotten engaged. It was not until Noelle and Samuel came to the garden house that Teresa learned of Xavier''s betrayal. It had not been long since then, and now, Noelle was married? "When did this happen? I had no idea!" Noelle smiled awkwardly. "It wasn''t long ago. We just got the marriage certificate, no wedding yet." She paused before continuing, "I didn''t want to tell you and Rowena initially, but something happened, and Rowena found out." Content belongs to Noelle worried Teresa might feel left out, so she tugged on Teresa''s sleeve. "I was still unsure about our rtionship and hesitated to introduce him to you." Teresa had no hard feelings. She was just surprised that Noelle, who had just broken up with Xavier, had gotten married so quickly. "Is he good to you?" "He''s extremely good to her," Rowena chimed in,ughing as she pulled Teresa''s hand. "I''ve met him. He''s incredibly handsome and treats Noelle exceptionally well. You should''ve seen it!" "Alright, alright. I get it," Teresa said, rolling her eyes at Rowena. "You''re the only one who''s met him." "When do you n to introduce us? We need to make sure he''s the right guy for you. You were so deeply in love with Xavier, Noelle... And now, you''re suddenly married..." "I know what you''re thinking, but don''t worry wasn''t an impulsive decision. Once you meet him, you''l understand," Noelle said confidently. Then she turned to Rowena, looking puzzled. "When did you meet him? Why don''t I remember?" Rowena raised an eyebrow. "Did you forget what happenedst night? I told you I couldn''t find you, and Charles asked me to go back while he looked for you. God, you should''ve seen how worried he was about you. They say Charles Hoffman is cold and distant, but Noelle, you''ve managed to warm up his cold heart!" Teresa eximed again, "Charles Hoffman? You married Charles Hoffman?" "Shh! Keep it down!" Noelle quickly covered Teresa''s mouth and looked around to make sure no one had overheard. She sighed in relief. "You''re usually so calm. What''s with the reaction? You''re acting just like Rowena today." Chapter 182 Chapter 182 Teresa finally calmed down and gave Noelle an exasperated look. "My calmness depends on the situation. I mean, this is Charles Hoffman we''re talking about! How can that not be shocking? Just ask Rowena." "Exactly. Teresa is absolutely right," Rowena agreed, nodding earnestly. "When I first heard that she married Charles, I had the same reaction as you, Teresa." Rowena hooked her arm around Noelle''s shoulder. "But seriously, there''s no time like the present. Since you''re going to introduce us to Charles, let''s do it today. We''re free, and it''s the weekend. Who knows when your busy husband will have time otherwise?" "Now?" Noelle thought for a moment. "Alright. Let me call him and see if he''s avable."Material ? N?velDrama.Org. The three of them found afortable ce to sit, and Noelle dialed Charles'' number. Rowena nced at the screen and burst intoughter. "Teresa, guess what name Noelle has saved for Charles in her phone?" "Hubby?" "That''s too cliche. Try again." "Sweetheart?" "She''sbeled him as ''The Man at Home.'' Hahaha. You''re such a weirdo, Noelle. How could you save his caller ID like that? If Charles saw that, he''d be... totally speechless." Noelle rolled her eyes at Rowena. "What''s so weird about that? I think it''s fine!" she said as she dialed Charles'' number. Meanwhile, in a dark room, only the sound of agonized screams could be heard, echoing throughout the space. Qutside, the scene was one of vibrant nightlife. This ce was Brookville''srgest trading venue. It had a mix of all kinds of people, and Charles and his crew were the rulers of this dark domain. Content belongs to Andrew opened the iron door and stepped out. That was when he saw the man in a white shirt that contrasted sharply with the darkness and blood inside. The man held a cigarette between his fingers, and in the dim corridor, the smoke spiraled upward. "Mr. Hoffman!" Even someone as big as Andrew showed utmost respect and a strange sense of reverence to Charles. Charles turned with one hand in his pocket and nced inside. "How is it?" "That kid''s stubborn and won''t talk," Andrew replied while gritting his teeth. "But Mr. Smith''s methods worked well. We can use them in the future Andrew said, feeling a sense of satisfaction from the scene in the UMS room. Charles'' eyes narrowed slightly, carrying a hidden intensity. "As long as we get results, the process doesn''t matter," he said. He thought of Sean''s effectiveness. Despite having a surgeon''s hands, Sean engaged in activities that made life unbearable for others. "Since he won''t talk, there''s no use keeping him. Have Sean handle it." "Yes, Mr. Hoffman!" Andrew then said in a deep voice, "I failed toplete the task. Please punish me." Charles narrowed his eyes at him. He was about to respond when his phone rang. The distinctive ringtone made him immediatelypose himself. He answered, "What''s up?" Chapter 183 Chapter 183 "Didn''t you say to call you when my friends were ready to meet? Is today okay?" Noelle asked cautiously while Rowena yelled from the side, "Hey, Noelle''s darling, when are you treating us to a meal?" Charles'' narrow eyes brightened instantly at Rowena''s words, his lips curving into a smile. He suddenly felt a surge of good mood. He then waved to Andrew, indicating that he was leaving. Andrew stared at Charles in disbelief. To him, Charles had always been an imposing figure, someone who kept others at a distance. He had never seen this gentle side of Charles before. As Charles walked away, he exuded a soft aura.Material ? N?velDrama.Org. "What the hell?!" Andrew''s back was suddenly pped by someone, and he instinctively countered with a grappling move. It led to a brief tussle before it stopped. "Don''t p my back like that." Andrew was big but not dim-witted. "By the way, is Mr. Hoffman in a celebratory moodtely?" Ronald was Charles'' assistant and was often by his side, which made Andrew a bit envious. Ronald was much closer to Charles than the others. Ronald pushed up his imaginary pair of sses, mimicking Lareal. He smiled. "You noticed Mr. Hoffman''s change too?" "No kidding. Mr. Hoffman was so grim just now, but after that call, he suddenly became gentle. I''ve been with Mr. Hoffman for so many years and I''ve never seen him like this!" "What about the previous one?" Ronald smirked. Andrew shook his head. "No, Mr. Hoffman''s attitude toward the previous one was always strange. I can''t exin it, but it wasn''t like this.'' "Well, Mr. Hoffman''s matters aren''t for us to interfere with. But since you asked, I''ll be honest. The call was probably from the madam. The two people treassigned from you are now protecting her. Make sure your men stay alert. If anything happens te Mrs. Hoffman, I won''t take responsibility!" "Madam? Mr. Hoffman got married?" Charles was in a particrly good mood after hearing Rowena call him Noelle''s darling. He asked, "Are you all free now?" §× Noelle blushed and pinched Rowena, nodding shyly. "Yes. We just finished shopping. Rowena and Teresa want to meet you. I just thought since you''re off today..." Charles agreed without hesitation, "Alright! Do you want to pick the ce, or should I?" Noelle said, "You decide. It''s still early, no need to rush out." "Okay!" Charles smiled softly. He drove back to Phoenix Tree Residence from the parking lot. "Are your friends picky?" "Not really!" Noelleughed. "They''re just like me, so not picky at all. We can eat anywhere." "Exactly! As long as you''re there, anything will do," Rowena shouted in her loud voice. "We just want a free meal." "Alright then, Ms. Smith. Do you want to eat out or..." "Can we visit your ce?" Rowena grabbed the phone from Noelle. "Teresa and I don''t mind what we eat. It''s rare for you to treat us, so maybe we could tour your home with Noelle?" Chapter 184 Chapter 184 Noelle instinctively wanted to refuse when she heard this. To her surprise, however, Charles agreed without hesitation, "Sure, get Noelle to drive you all backter." As he said this, he turned the car around and headed to thergest nearby mall to do some shopping. Rowena hung up the phone and looked at Teresa with a sly smile. "See? Charles is so easygoing!" Teresa shook her head disapprovingly. She felt Rowena''s actions might not be appropriate. "This is the first meeting. We should make a good impression since he''s Noelle''s husband." "It''s fine. We can also check out Noelle and Charles'' home and see how well Charles treats her!" Rowena''s intention was clear. She was not concerned about a meal but wanted to ensure Noelle was well taken care of. With Xavier as a precedent, Rowena was now cautious of everyone. Despite Charles'' good impression the previous night, Rowena wanted to see for herself how Noelle was doing. Even if Noelle did not say it, Rowena could tell that Noelle and Charles'' rtionship was not as intimate as Noelle portrayed. Noelle was unable to argue with Rowena. She sighed and said, "Alright. Should we head back now?" "What''s the rush? Let''s shop some more," Rowena said nonchntly. "Can''t Charles cook? Noelle, you need to be careful. If a man can''t cook, it''s the woman who suffers. Don''t let yourself turn into a haggard housewife!" Noelle could not help butugh. "What kind of logic is that?" "Actually, Rowena has a point," Teresa agreed. "Let''s shop a bit more." Charles was always efficient in everything he did. Shopping and cooking were no exceptions. He usually adjusted to Noelle''s pace when they shopped together. It took him just over 20 minutes to finish all his shopping before he drove back to Phoenix Tree Residence. Phoenix Tree Residence was a property he bought a few years ago. He owned several simr ces, but he chose to live at Phoenix Tree Residence for convenience. It was far from the Hoffman family''s main house, offering peace and quiet. Only a few close friends, subordinates, and Noelle had been here before. Noelle had wanted to refuse earlier because Charles valued his privacy, and strangers rarely visited this ce. Charles sensed Noelle''s hesitation and agreed without hesitation. He wanted to show her that she was different from anyone else. Charles was a good cook. Having been through many experiences in his youth, especially his time abroad alone, he developed the habit of taking care of himself. He quickly prepared the ingredients and leisurely started cooking, knowing he had plenty of time. Soon, Noelle brought Rowena and Teresa along They marveled at how remote the ce was. The environment was lovely and the air was fresh. "Wow! Charles has great tastel Pheard this area is now one of the most sought-after in Brookville. It''s not just the demand but the skyrocketing prices!" Content belongs to All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. Rowena was quite gossipy, so she was well-informed about such matters. "Your man is very wealthy!" "Of course, he is. Just mentioning the name Charles Hoffman would scare just about anyone," Teresa remarked while shaking her head. "By the way, Noelle, how did you meet him?" Chapter 185 Chapter 185 Noelle bit her lip, unsure of how to exin. "It was a coincidence. I was drugged twice, and he saved me both times. Later, I found out he was my grandfather''s student. "Do you remember my grandfather''s favorite student? The prodigy who finished all university courses at a young age and then went abroad?" "That''s Charles? No way!" Rowena eximed, ncing at Noelle in astonishment. "You two are really fated! So, you married Charles because he was your grandfather''s student?" Noelle shook her head. "You know my situation. Besides my grandfather, the rest of the Shaws treat me terribly." Noelle then told Rowena and Teresa the gist of what had happened. Rowena''s eyes widened. "So, that''s why you married Charles? This sounds so unreal. But the Shaw family members are truly awful. You''re also a part of the family. How could they treat you like that?"N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content. "That''s not the main point. But is this truly what you want, Noelle?" Teresa was more concerned about Noelle''s feelings. "I understand the Shaw family pressured you, so you chose Charles. But what about your feelings..." "Teresa, I know what you''re worried about. Feelings don''t juste from nowhere. He treats me very well. With a man as exceptional as Charles, falling in love with him is inevitable, isn''t it?" Noelle took a deep breath, unsure if she wasforting Teresa or herself. However, when she spoke of Charles, her heart started beating irregrly. "As long as you know what you''re doing." Teresa knew that although Noelle appeared soft, she was very resilient. "In the future, don''t shoulder everything alone. You have me and Rowena." "Yes. You have us," Rowena added while patting her chest. "But Noelle, you do have a knack for cunning ns." Noelle was driving, and she nced sideways at Rowena. "What do you mean?" "You said Xavier''s family is just a small branch of Charles'' mom''srge family, right? And by seniority, Xavier has to call you ''Aunt'', right? Rowena chuckled. "Just imagine how furious Xavier and Winter will be when they find out you''re married to Charles." Rowena''s words made her feel vindicated. "When Xavier and Winter get married, their whole family will have to bow and scrape before you and Charles. Just imagining that scene is satisfying!" Noelle had not considered that before. Thinking about it now, she smiled. "Maybe." "Not maybe but definitely. Especially for Winter. Her facial features will probably twist in anger, right, Teresa?" Rowena turned to Teresa, who sat quietly in the back seat. Teresa could not help butugh. "Now that you mention it, it is quite amusing. Xavier and Winter do deserve someeuppance. They bullied Noelle so much before. Let''s see them get their due when Charles puts them in their ce!" Chapter 186 Chapter 186 Noelle could not help but nce at Teresa a few more times. "I see you''ve been corrupted by Rowena!" "What do you mean corrupted? I''m perfectly fine!" Rowena protested with a huff, "Teresa and I just can''t stand seeing people bully you. They only pick on you because you''re their rtive. If it were me, I''d hang them up and give them a beating!" "Oh,e on!" Noelle smiled wryly. "I know you too well. You''re all bark and no bite!" The three of them chatted andughed in the car. Noelle drove steadily and at a slow pace. Suddenly, a speeding car zoomed past them. The driver rolled down the window to make a mocking gesture. "Who the hell is that? So annoying!" Rowena''s temper red immediately. "Noelle, overtake them." Noelle pressed her lips together and shook her head. "I''m not that skilled a driver. And why get into a fight with a stranger? Besides, we''re almost there." Her calm demeanor made Rowena fume. "Didn''t you see how that guy looked down on us?" Noelleughed softly and shook her head. "Maybe I was in his way." "You''re killing me here!" Rowena muttered, frustrated by Noelle''s good-natured attitude. When they arrived at Phoenix Tree Residence, they saw a shy car parked outside. Rowena gaped. "Is that Charles'' car?" Noelle shook her head. "No, it''s not." Although Charles had many cars, he did not own such ostentatious ones. Noelle was puzzled too. "It must be one of his friends." The three of them got out of the car. Noelle parked in the garage and led Rowena and Teresa inside. Rowena looked around like a country bumpkin visiting a grand mansion for the first time, her reaction amusing everyone. "Wow, Noelle knew your man was rich, but didn''t know he was this rich. Is this entire estate his?" Rowena nced around Phoenix Tree Residence''s exterior. The ce covered several hundred square meters with no other houses nearby. "Don''t you feel lonely living here?" "It is quiterge." Noelle chuckled, opening the door and finding slippers for them. "Here, put these on." Just then, they heard a voice from inside, teasingly saying, "Charles, I haven''t seen you cook in ages. Did you know I wasing and prepared all this for me?" Noelle raised an eyebrow, exchanging looks with Rowena and Teresa. They then heard Charles'' cold response. "Why are you here?" His tone was clearly unweing. "Come on, Charles. Is this how you treat your friends? Who else would you cook so much food for... Oh." Sean, who was leaning against the kitchen door frame, noticed the three women standing in the living room. His eyes twinkled with amusement. "It seems our wife''s back?" Noelle''s mouth twitched slightly, and she nodded. "Yes, hello." "Do you remember me, Noelle?" Sean crossed his arms and legs, looking very rxed. Charles walked out of the kitchen and nced at Sean. "Get out of here and go back where you came from." His voice was icy and devoid of warmth. He then turned to Noelle, and his tone softened remarkably. "You''re back home?" His voice was so gentle it gave everyone goosebumps.Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. Chapter 187 Chapter 187 Not only Sean but even Rowena and Teresa noticed something different about Charles. Noelle smiled. ¡°Yes, I¡¯m back.¡± ¡°Hi, Charles. Remember me? We metst night.¡± Rowena waved. ¡°I¡¯m Noelle¡¯s friend, Rowena. And this is Teresa.¡± ¡°Yes, hello!¡± Charles greeted them with a smile. Rowena¡¯s friendly greeting put him in an exceptionally good mood. ¡°Hey, hey, hey, Charles Hoffman. Is this how you treat your friends?¡± Sean could not stand Charles showing favoritism right in front of him. ¡°Do you have a problem with that? Why are you here this time?¡± Charles nced at Sean. He had not Invited him over. Sean pursed his lips. ¡°Can¡¯t I just visit you after not seeing you for a while?¡± Sean had seen people burn bridges before, but not quite like this. His charming eyes, though smiling, gave off a menacing vibe. Charles narrowed his eyes, not bothering to respond to Sean. Instead, he walked over to relieve Noelle of her things, taking them in his hands. ¡°Are you tired? Go rest with your friends and watch some TV. The food will be ready soon.¡± He then turned to Rowena and Teresa, nodding slightly. ¡°It¡¯s my first time hosting you both. Please forgive me for any shorings.¡± ¡°No, no, we¡¯re the ones imposing!¡± Despite her brashness, Rowena understood the nuances of social courtesy. She and Teresa knew that if it were not for Noelle, meeting someone like Charles would be incredibly difficult, let alone being hosted by him. ¡°You¡¯re too kind, Charles. Don¡¯t worry about us. We¡¯ll take care of ourselves, right, Noelle?¡± Rowena said with a wink, making Noelle smile helplessly. ¡°You go ahead and finish up. I¡¯ll stay with them.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Charles nodded and went upstairs to put things away. The three women then sat in the living room and chatted. Finding the situation intriguing, Sean followed Charles upstairs and leaned against the bedroom door. ¡°Seems like you¡¯re serious this time.¡± Charles looked up, pausing his task of sorting through Noelle¡¯s shopping bags. He shook his head at the sight of all the clothes she had bought. ¡°When was I ever not serious?¡± Sean¡¯s demeanor¨Cturned serious. ¡°I know it¡¯s not my ce to say this, but as your friend, I must remind you once you start, don¡¯t let her down.¡± Charles frowned. ¡°I know what I¡¯m doing,¡± he said, needing no further reminders. Sean slightly twitched his lips when he heard this. ¡°You know how hard it is for people like us to find real feelings.¡± Charles replied coolly with one hand in his pocket, ¡°Sean, I¡¯m not like you. I¡¯ve always been different from you, and you know that. Sean opened his mouth to argue but then closed it, rais different. Anyway, since she brought her best friends he Charles smiled knowingly. ¡°So why did youe over t ¡°Oh, right. This.¡± Sean pulled a piece of paper from his drug your wife was givenst night. It¡¯s something from be a front. We still don¡¯t know who¡¯s really behind all thi BIG SALE 3500 bonus free fou you Comments you, and you know that. Material ? N?velDrama.Org. +15 BONUS Sean opened his mouth to argue but then closed it, raising his eyebrows with a resigned smile. ¡°Yes, we¡¯re different. Anyway, since she brought her best friends here, it seems she¡¯s epted you.¡± Charles smiled knowingly. ¡°So why did youe over today?¡± ¡°Oh, right. This.¡± Sean pulled a piece of paper from his pocket and handed it to Charles. ¡°We identified the drug your wife was givenst night. It¡¯s something from Kerlsberg. Be on guard because Winter might just be a front. We still don¡¯t know who¡¯s really behind all this.¡± BIG SALE: 3500 bonus free fou you Chapter 188 Chapter 188 Charles took the paper and nced at it, his brows furrowing together. ¡°Are you sure?¡± Sean replied, ¡°Don¡¯t you trust me? I tested it myself. So, you need to be careful, and keep an eye on your wife.¡± ¡°Yes. I understand,¡± Charles nodded, putting away the test results. ¡°Since you¡¯re here, stay for dinner.¡± ¡°Of course.¡± The two friends went downstairs together, and they could hear the pleasantughter of the three women in the living room. Charles¡® lips curled into a warm smile. Sean nced at Charles and chuckled. ¡°You¡¯re definitely smitten.¡± Charles shot him a look. ¡°Don¡¯t want dinner anymore?¡± Sean shrugged helplessly. ¡°I¡¯m just joking. No need to be so serious!¡± Noelle and Rowena were reminiscing about their school days, sharing embarrassing stories from when were ssmates and dorm mates. They knew each other inside out. ¡°What are you lovelydies talking about?¡± Sean walked over, smiling harmlessly. Noelle stoppedughing and greeted him, ¡°Mr. Smith.¡± ¡°No need to be so formal, Noelle. Call me Sean or Seanie,¡± Sean said, acting very familiar. ¡°And these beautifuldies are¡­¡± ¡°Oh, let me introduce you. This is Sean, Charles¡® brother from another mother. Sean, these are my best friends, Rowena and Teresa.¡± ¡°Hello!¡± Sean nodded with a harmless smile. ¡°Hello!¡± Teresa smiled back. Rowena suddenly asked, ¡°Is that car outside yours?¡± Sean raised an eyebrow and nodded. ¡°Yes, Ms. Rowena. Why? Rowena gritted her teeth. ¡°So, you were the one who taunted us on the road earlier?¡± Sean saw Rowena¡¯s angry expression and realized that he might have indeed taunted them earlier. The car he had seen was one he had lost to Charles in a bet, and he had thought it was Charles driving it slowly. So, he overtook it and teased the driver. He had assumed it was Charles and had been puzzled when the car had not caught up. Now, he understood the misunderstanding. ¡°Did Charles give that car to you, Noelle?¡± Sean asked Noelle. Noelle nodded. ¡°Phoenix Tree Residence is quite far from the office, so¡­¡± ¡°I see.¡± Sean smiled harmlessly again. ¡°That car was one I lost to Charles in a bet. You know as well that Charles doesn¡¯t like that style, so he never drives it. It suits you well.¡± With a few words, Sean exined the misunderstanding. He had thought the driver was Charles, which N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content. +15 BONUS was why he taunted them. ¡°Oh, I guess it¡¯s just a misunderstanding.¡± Noelle smiled. ¡°I¡¯ll go check on Charles in the kitchen. You all sit tight!¡± Noelle headed to the kitchen, leaving the others to chat. Comments Chapter 189 Chapter 189 Noelle entered the kitchen and saw Charles busy cooking. She stood at the door for a while. Sensing her presence, Charles paused and asked, ¡°Why aren¡¯t you sitting with them?¡± ¡°We¡¯re all just sitting around while you¡¯re busy by yourself. Can you manage everything?¡± Noelle observed Charles for a bit, noticing his methodical approach to cooking. She watched for a while before asking. ¡°Do you need any help?¡± Charles¡® movements hesitated slightly and then he nodded. ¡°Check on the stew. I had it on high heat. earlier. You can turn it down to a simmer now.¡± ¡°Okay!¡± Noelle walked over and took a sniff. ¡°It smells great. What kind of stew is it?¡± ¡°Lamb stew,¡± Charles replied after a moment. ¡°You were drugged yesterday. There¡¯s probably still some residue in your system. Eating some stew will be good for you.¡± Noelle smiled and nodded. ¡°Alright. But what kind of drug did I take? I don¡¯t remember anything. And about Winter¡­¡± Noelle suddenly realized something had been bothering her all day. Given Winter¡¯s usual behavior, she would eithere to gloat or angrily confront Noelle after any incident. However, this time, Winter had beenpletely silent. Material ? N?velDrama.Org. The more Noelle thought about it, the more suspicious it seemed. Especially since she could not remember much from yesterday, and Charles had not given her a full exnation. ¡°Was it really Winter who kidnapped me?¡± Charles raised an eyebrow. ¡°You¡¯re only thinking of asking that now?¡± Noelle bit her lip. ¡°You said I was drugged, so my mind is a bit fuzzy.¡± After stirring the stew, she turned down the heat and leaned against the counter, watching Charles. She noticed that even when Charles was doing something as mundane as cooking, he was a pleasure to watch. Mimicking his usual mannerisms, she tapped her fingers. ¡°You said you rescued me yesterday. What do you think Winter will do now? Knowing her, she¡¯ll definitely cause trouble for me since she didn¡¯t seed. But it¡¯s been silent all day!¡± Charles raised his eyebrow slightly. Then, with a smile, he said, ¡°Isn¡¯t it good that she¡¯s not causing trouble? Or do you have a masochistic streak?¡± ¡°That¡¯s not what I meant!¡± ¡°If it¡¯s not, thene over here and slice some garlic for me,¡± Charles directed Noelle as he continued. cooking. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about those things. They won¡¯t affect you anyway.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true,¡± Noelle agreed, feeling relieved not to be bothered by Winter. Still, something felt off, but she could not pinpoint what it was. Meanwhile, in the living room, a fierce battle was underway. Despite saying earlier it was a misunderstanding, Rowena was still not satisfied. She found Sean too arrogant and annoying when he smiled. Hence, she decided to challenge him. Theirpetition was simple. It was a game of cards and the loser had to have a sticky note ced on +15 BONUS their face. This was a game Rowena and Noelle used to y in school to pass the time. Rowena thought she was unbeatable, but today, she met her match. Sean was a seasoned yer in various clubs and rarely lost at cards. He was always confident and rarely made mistakes, finding himself matched against Rowena¡¯s determination. BIG SALE: 3500 bonus free fou you Chapter 190 Chapter 190 So, after several rounds, Rowena¡¯s face was covered with sticky notes while Teresa¡¯s and Sean¡¯s faces remained clean. ¡°Ugh, I don¡¯t want to y anymore! You¡¯re cheating!¡± Rowena threw her battered cards onto the table. Why do I always lose? My cards were so good.¡± Rowena red at Sean, convinced he was cheating. Otherwise, how could she lose every round while Sean and Teresa never lost once? Teresa, who usually yed just to make up the numbers in their dorm, was somehow ying better than her today. Rowena could not believe Teresa had suddenly be so skilled, so the only exnation was that Sean was using some trick to make her lose. Sean raised an eyebrow and smiled innocently at Rowena. ¡°Ms. Rowena, that¡¯s an unfair usation. I yed fair and square. If your card skills aren¡¯t up to par, you can¡¯t me me.¡± ¡°You¡­¡± Rowena gritted her teeth. ¡°I¡¯m done ying.¡± She tore the sticky notes off her face. ¡°I¡¯m not ying anymore, okay?¡± ¡°Fin¨¦. A gentleman doesn¡¯t fight with ady.¡± Sean shrugged and threw his cards onto the table with a smile. Feeling bored, Rowena grabbed the remote and started flipping through the channels. She stumbled upon an entertainment news channel reporting gossip. On the screen was Winter¡¯s face, surrounded by reporters bombarding her with questions, their microphones nearly poking her in the face. Winter looked panicked and distressed, a sight Rowena and Teresa had never seen before. Rowena froze, then turned to Teresa. They both saw the news headline¨C¡®Popr Actress, Winter Shaw, used of Sleeping Her Way to the Top.¡® Rowena and Teresa exchanged looks. ¡°What¡¯s going on? Is this karma?¡± Rowenaughed and quickly pulled out her phone to check thetest news. Sure enough, headlines from various media outlets and blogs were all about Winter The more Rowena read, the more shocked she became. The reports detailed Winter being kept by a wealthy man and having inappropriate rtionships with directors to get roles. There were even photos. Winter would not be able to talk her way out of this one. Seeing Rowena so happy, Teresa also took out her phone. ¡°Oh my gosh, no wonder Noelle couldn¡¯t win against her. Winter is so devious and cunning.¡± Sean narrowed his eyes. His usual yful look was reced by a rare glint of interest. His long fingers. stroked his chin as he watched the TV screen, He smirked while ncing toward the kitchen. He had not expected Charles to go this far. It seemed he was truly serious about Nocile. All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Who did she cross this time?¡± ¡°What do you mean? Who crossed who?¡± Noelle walked out of the kitchen while carrying a tray. Hearing Rowena and Teresa¡¯s conversation, she set down the tray and walked over. Seeing Rowena¡¯s odd expression, Noelle looked at Teresa. ¡°What¡¯s going on with you guys?¡± +15 BONUS Noelle noticed the mess of cards and sticky notes on the coffee table. ¡°ying cards? Who lost?¡± ¡°No one lost.¡± Rowenaughed awkwardly. ¡°Noelle, take a look at this.¡± She handed her phone to Noelle, the screen fully lit. D Chapter 191 Chapter 191 Noelle took the phone with suspicion. After just one nce, her eyes widened in surprise. She read through it again, not quite believing it. ¡°When did this happen?¡± It was no wonder Winter had not caused her any trouble today. She was dealing with her own mess. ¡°Just today,¡± Rowena replied, shaking her head. The entertainment industry is really wild. Scandals blow up in no time. Look, in just a few hours, Winter is stered all over the front pages and is trending on Facebook and other tforms.¡± Rowena sighed. ¡°I didn¡¯t think Winter would get worse than we imagined.¡± ¡°Who leaked this?¡± Noelle asked, still shocked at the turn of events. ¡°I don¡¯t know. A lot of people on YouTube are talking about it. They say Winter offended a lot of people over roles and even sabotaged others. The entertainment world is so murky. Maybe it¡¯s one of those stars she wronged getting revenge,¡± Rowena spected, not really caring who was behind it ¨¤s long as Winter got what wasing to her.. Noelle bit her lip. ¡°I need to call Grandpa!¡± ¡°What are you doing?¡± Rowena snatched the phone from Noelle and red at her. ¡°Winter¡¯s getting what she deserves. If you call the Shaw family now, what will they think?¡± ¡°But my grandfather is old. He can¡¯t handle this kind of shock.¡± Noelle frowned, worried about Samuel rather than Winter. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Grandpa Shaw is tougher than you think. He might not even know about this yet. If you call now, what if your parents or Winter answer? They¡¯ll probably take it out on you or think you¡¯re mocking them.¡± Noelle sighed. ¡°You have a point.¡± ¡°Ms. Rowena is right!¡± Sean chimed in after listening for a while. ¡°The entertainment world is very complicated. It¡¯s best for outsiders like you to stay out of it.¡± ¡°Exactly, Mr. Sean¡¯s right,¡± Rowena agreed, nodding vigorously. ¡°Just forget about it. Winter¡¯s been in the Industry long enough to have made plenty of enemies. Think of this as karma, a way to get back at her.¡± Noelle raised an eyebrow. ¡°Isn¡¯t this kicking someone when they¡¯re down?¡± ¡°Kicking who when they¡¯re down?¡± Charles asked,ing in with a dish. He nced at Noelle. ¡°Dinner¡¯s ready. Come and eat.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Noelle smiled, putting her phone away. ¡°Let¡¯s go wash our hands and then eat.¡± Sean lingered behind the others, pausing beside Charles. ¡°Impressive, Charles Hoffman.¡± Charles raised an eyebrow. ¡°What do you mean?¡± Material ? N?velDrama.Org. Sean smirked. The stuff about Winter online. That was you, wasn¡¯t it?¡± He gave Charles a thumbs¨C up. Your wife thinks it¡¯s one of Winter¡¯s enemies.¡± Charles arched an eyebrow. ¡°She knows?¡± Chapter 192 Chapter 192 With those online revtions, Winter found herself under a barrage of attacks from fans and keyboard warriors. Some expressed deep disappointment in her while others were furious because their own idols had been secretly sabotaged by her. Several producers and directors associated with Winter remained collectively silent. Reporters tried to reach them but were met with various excuses, pushing Winter further into the eye of the storm. The entertainment industry had always been a ce where the ones at the top were praised and the ones at the bottom were trampled upon. In response to the scandal, Winter¡¯s management companyunched an emergency public rtions campaign, insisting that she had been framed and that the allegations were untrue. However, just a day after the PR statement was released, a small magazine leaked some risqu¨¦ photos of Winter. In the photos, she appeared to be only 17 or 18. It was when she had just entered the entertainment industry. This release rendered herpany¡¯s PR efforts futile. Winter¡¯s managementpany immediately sent her home to rest, canceling all her uing work. Brands Winter had been endorsing also began terminating their contracts with her. The Shaw family home was enveloped in a dark cloud. Winter threw a massive tantrum, sensing even the household staff looked at her differently. Winter had been holed up at home for two whole days, afraid to go out for fear of being hounded by paparazzi and unable to escape their scrutiny. In her frustration, Winter smashed anything and everything she couldy her hands on. Knowing how upset Winter was, Jade had instructed the household staff to be more attentive. Still, it did little to ease Winter¡¯s distress. She could not understand who was behind her downfall this time. N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content. Such incidents were all toomon in the entertainment world¨Cless famous stars being undermined by more famous ones or rivals sabotaging each other. These conflicts were usually subtle, not openly broadcasted like this. This attack caught Winter off guard, leaving her no time to respond. The adversary was clearly prepared as every time her PR team issued a statement, new scandals emerged immediately. If Winter ever found out who was behind this, she would not let them off easily. ¡°Winter, please eat something!¡± Jade urged, watching her daughter waste away. ¡°I made -foods. Just try a little.¡± your favorite ¡°I don¡¯t want to eat! I¡¯m not hungry!¡± Winter shouted, pushing Jade¡¯s hand away and sending the food crashing to the floor. ¡°Winter!¡± Jade gritted her teeth. ¡°How long are you going to keep this up? Look at yourself! You¡¯ve barely eaten in two days, destroying everything the staff brings you. What good does this do?¡± ¡°But Mom, what am I supposed to do? I feel like I¡¯m done for.¡± Winter had lost a significant amount of weight and was genuinely at a loss. ¡°Thepany says they¡¯re giving me a break, but I know they¡¯re abandoning me. The advertisers are all recing me. Mom, who is trying to ruin me?¡± P Chapter 193 Chapter 193 Winter threw herself into Jade¡¯s arms, feeling aggrieved. ¡°I worked so hard to be a big star admired adm by everyone. I don¡¯t want my career to end here. Mom, please help me!¡± She clung to Jade¡¯s sleeve. ¡°Mom, haven¡¯t you always been the best to me? You must have a way to help, right?¡± Jade frowned. What could she do? She had no power or influence. She only relied on the Shaw family. Yet now that this scandal had broken out, the other members of the Shaw family would definitely have their objections, making it difficult to resolve. Seeing Jade¡¯s hesitant expression, Winter felt even more disappointed. ¡°Mom, do you not love me anymore? Are you just going to stand by and watch me be ruined like this?¡± ¡°Of course not! How could I not love you?¡± Jade hugged Winter, gently patting her shoulder. ¡°You¡¯re my only daughter. Who else would I care for if not you? There¡¯s a way to solve this, but¡­¡± ¡°But what?¡± Winter urgently grasped Jade¡¯s hand while biting her lip. ¡°Mom, you have a way, don¡¯t you? I knew you would.¡± Jade felt troubled, but for the sake of her daughter, she nodded. ¡°Have you forgotten about Xavier?¡± ¡°Xavier?¡± Winter was stunned. With so much happeningtely, she had not thought about him. Now, as she was reminded of him by Jade, Winter remembered that as her fianc¨¦, Xavier, had not appeared recently. Feeling even more wronged, Winter looked at Jade. I¡¯ve been in trouble for so long, and he hasn¡¯t even called. Mom, do you think the Harris family will abandon me because of this scandal?¡± All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. After all, Joseph had agreed to her being with Xavier because she was the eldest daughter of the Shaw family and held shares in the family. Thinking of this, Winter unconsciously gripped Jade¡¯s arms tightly. Jade gasped in pain. ¡°Winter, what are you doing?!¡± Jade¡¯s sharp reprimand brought Winter back to her senses. She looked pitifully at her mother. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Mom. I didn¡¯t mean to. I just¡­ Thinking about Xavier not caring at all, I¡­¡± ¡°Who said Xavier doesn¡¯t care about you?¡± Jade scolded her lightly. ¡°You locked yourself in your room, refusing to see anyone. Xavier came to the house, but I thought you wouldn¡¯t want him to see you like this. She hugged Winter,forting her. ¡°Silly girl, you¡¯ve had your phone off. Xavier is worried about you.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Winter¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°Xavier really came to see me?¡± ¡°Of course. Why would I lie to you?¡± Jade seemed to remember something. ¡®Do you remember the important guest at your grandfather¡¯s birthday banquet?¡± ¡°Mom, you mean¡­ Charles?¡± ¡°Yes, Xavier is connected to Charles, Isn¡¯t he? As long as Charles is willing to help, you¡¯ll be fine!¡± Jade had this n in mind. +15 BONUS When Charles hade to the Shaw family, Jade had someone investigate him. She discovered Charles¡® considerable influence. Since Xavier also had the same surname as Charles¡® mother, there had to be some connection between him and Charles. The Harrison family had a vast business empire, and Charles was the head of Collosus Group. It was said that he had numerous personal enterprises and various industry involvements, including a filmpany. To a man like him, Winter¡¯s troubles would seem insignificant. BIG SALE: 3500 bonus free fou you Chapter 194 Chapter 194 Winter immediately perked up, but thinking about Charles¡® previous attitude toward her, she wilted again. But that Charles guy is really annoying. He¡­¡± ¡°Do you want to make this right or not?¡± Jade said sternly. ¡°If you still want to stay in the entertainment industry, you can¡¯t be so arrogant. Besides, if the Shaw family can get close to Charles, your father wouldn¡¯t need to rely on the York family.¡± Jade thought about thest time when Noelle, that wretched woman, disappeared again for some reason. Although Simon did not say anything about pursuing it, the York family clearly stated they would not cooperate with the Shaw family anymore. With the York family saying that, who in Brookville would dare to take the initiative to work with the Shaw family? Recently, Julian was busy to the point of being overwhelmed, and Jade was extremely angry, ming everything on Noelle. If it were not for Winter¡¯s sudden trouble, Jade would definitely have gone to find trouble with Noelle. Winter¡¯s eyes flickered. Winter was furious as she was thinking about how she had gone to such lengths but Noelle still managed to escape unscathed. Considering her current predicament, Winter¡¯s hatred for Noelle deepened even more. ¡°Mom, I¡¯ll eat now, and then you can take me for a spa treatment. I want to look my best when I see Xavier. He¡¯ll definitely help me, right? With Xavier¡¯s rtionship with Charles, Charles will surely help, right? ¡°Yes. My daughter is so beautiful. Any man would be moved by you!¡± Seeing Winter perk up, Jade happily held Winter¡¯s hand and stood up. ¡°Come, I¡¯ll get you more food. You go wash up and get yourself ready.¡± ¡°Okay, Mom. Hurry up. I¡¯ve been starving for days.¡± Winter, thinking she would soon be back in the public eye, felt ted. She ate three full tes of the meal Jade brought, feeling satisfied. She then dressed herself up nicely before leaving with Jade. Samuel stood on the balcony while being supported by Eli, watching Winter and Jade. He shook his head disapprovingly. ¡°Oh lord. Just what sin has the Shaw familymitted?¡± ¡°Sir Shaw, don¡¯t worry about it,¡± Eliforted, patting Samuel¡¯s hand. ¡°Ms. Winter and Madam Jade are just beyond saving.¡± Samuel shook his head again. ¡°Forget it, let them do what they want. Let¡¯s see what tricks they can come up with this time.¡± He waved his hand. ¡°How¡¯s Noelle beentely, Ell?¡± Eli¡¯s eyes shed, making Samuel frown. ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Tell me. ¡°Something happened a few days ago, but Ms. Noelle is fine now,¡± Eli hesitated. Samuel grew more suspicious. ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°It seems Mr. Julian and Madam Jade are still not giving up. They threatened Ms. Noelle a few days ago, taking her to have dinner with Mr. Simon of the York family. Ms. Noelle almost got into trouble, but she¡¯s fine now, so¡­¡± Material ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell me something so important sooner?!¡± Samuel angrily struck his cane, ring at Eli. 1/2 What a beast! How could these family members of mine trade a daughter for money?!¡± P Chapter 195 Chapter 195 +15 BONUS Winter had a good treatment session and then called Xavier. Lately, Xavier had been overwhelmed with work, and Winter¡¯s recent scandal had negatively impacted the Harris family. Even though their family was small, the internal personnel wereplicated. Xavier¡¯s father, Joseph, had managed to climb up with great difficulty. However, Winter¡¯s scandal had caused both him and his father to face criticism from the Hoffman family as well. Xavier felt embarrassed and could not easily counter theparisons between himself and Charles, the head of the Hoffman family. Despite his exhaustion, Xavier followed his father¡¯s instructions to visit Winter. However, Winter had refused to see him. With his pride, Xavier decided to let it be. He had not expected Winter to call him today. Staring at the phone for a while, he finally answered. ¡°Hello, ¡°Xavier, are you busy?¡± Winter¡¯s voice sounded slightly cheerful. Xavier raised his eyebrows, feeling surprised. ¡°Yes, I am busy. What¡¯s up?¡± Winter bit her lip. ¡°I¡¯m downstairs at yourpany. I brought you some food. Can Ie up to see you?¡± Holding the lunch box, she added, ¡°Xavier, this whole situation is my fault. I¡¯ve been feeling down these past few days, so¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay. I was worried about you too.¡± Xavier rubbed his brows. ¡°Come on up.¡± He hung up, feeling a bit irritated. Everyone at Frotconn knew Winter, not just because she was a famous actress but also because she was the fianc¨¦e of their young boss. Recently, the employees¡® understanding of Winter had deepened with all the gossip surrounding her scandal. Although not all of it was true, at least half of it likely was. When Winter arrived at Frotconn, the employees whispered among themselves, discussing her scandalous news. Pretending not to hear them, Winter forced a smile and greeted the staff, seething inside at their gossiping. Walking into Xavier¡¯s office area, his secretary stood up quickly. ¡°Ms. Shaw, Mr. Harris has been waiting for you.¡± Winter squinted her eyes while smiling. ¡°Thank you!¡± Pushing open the door, she said, ¡°Xavier, look what I brought you!¡± However, before she finished, Xavier said, ¡°Sit down for a bit. I have some work to finish.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± As she needed his help, Winter understood to be patient. Not familiar with work matters, she watched Xavier focus on his tasks quietly. After finally finishing his work, Xavier saw Winter jump up. She poured water for him and handed him tissues to wipe his face with. ¡°Xavier, you must be hungry. I made something delicious for you!¡± Winter opened the lunch box, handing him the cutlery with a smile. Xavier¡¯s expression subtly changed as he looked at Winter. Feeling nervous, she asked, ¡°W¨CWhat¡¯s wrong? +15 BONUS Don¡¯t you like the food?¡± Xavier shook his head. ¡°No, it¡¯s just¡­ You never used to cook. You said the kitchen was too smoky and you didn¡¯t like it.¡± He took the cutlery and started eating though he had little appetite. BIG SALE: 3500 bonus free fou you getit All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. Comments Chapter 196 Chapter 196 Winter nervously tugged at the corner of her mouth. ¡°People can change, can¡¯t they? Don¡¯t you like the food I made?¡± ¡°I like it,¡± Xavier replied, lowering his head to continue eating. Xavier knew exactly what kind of person Winter was. She was the type who never lifted a finger in the kitchen. The food tasted just like it was from a restaurant. He had eaten Noelle¡¯s cooking before. Although the food was simple, it had a homely taste, unlike these delicately prepared dishes. The moment Winter opened the lunch box, Xavier knew the truth. However, since Winter wanted to deceive him, he saw no need to expose her. Hearing Xavier¡¯s response, Winter let out a sigh of relief and smiled. ¡°I¡¯m d you like it! You should eat more. You work so hard.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Xavier nodded. ¡°Why did you have time toe over today? Feeling better?¡± Winter bit her lip, wringing her hands together. ¡°Xavier, you love me, right?¡± N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content. Xavier¡¯s hand paused. His eyes darkened, but he still nodded. ¡°Yes. What¡¯s with the sudden question? Did something happen?¡± ¡°Xavier, since you love me, you¡¯ll help me, right?¡± Winter grasped Xavier¡¯s hand. ¡°Only you can help me now. Please, I beg you.¡± Xavier lost his appetitepletely. He put down his cutlery and scrutinized Winter. There was a hint of suspicion in his eyes. ¡°What do you want me to do?¡± He had an inkling but was not sure.. ¡°Aren¡¯t you close with Charles? You¡¯re rtives, right? The one who gave Grandpa a chess set at his birthday party¡­ He¡¯s very powerful, isn¡¯t he? I heard he has a filmpany. Can you¡­¡± Xavier frowned as he pulled his hand away from Winter. He pressed his lips together, clearly displeased. He had not expected that after being constantlypared to Charles by his family, Winter would bring him up too. This naturally annoyed Xavier. Winter did not notice his displeasure at all. ¡°Xavier, you¡¯re rted to Charles, right? Can you ask him to help me get through this tough time? With his help, I can make aeback in the entertainment industry. Winter clung to his hand. ¡°Xavier, I know you care about me the most. Please help me, okay?¡± ¡°But¡­¡± The mere thought of Charles¡® cold expression made Xavier reluctant to approach him. His father had previously urged him to get closer to Charles, but Charles never reciprocated, leaving Xavier feeling defeated. ¡°But what? You don¡¯t want to help me?¡± Winter looked at Xavier pitifully, using her acting skills to her advantage now this mess is my fault, but not everything that was reported is true. I did have conflicts ¡°I with a few people, but it was justpetition for resources. I didn¡¯t do anything unforgivable. Someone is targeting me. Xavier, please help me.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°This matter is settled. Xavier, you¡¯ll talk to Charles.¡± Joseph pushed open Xavier¡¯s office door. His shrewd eyes scrutinized Winter, and then he smiled. ¡°Winter, don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll make sure Xavier helps you. Charles will certainly assist.¡± +15 BONUS ¡°Dad¡­¡± Xavier frowned, but Joseph shot him a sharp look ¡°Winter is your fianc¨¦e. It¡¯s only right to help her. Besides, I believe she¡¯s being framed. Will you stand by and watch her suffer?¡± Joseph¡¯s voice was stern. ¡°Alright, it¡¯s settled.¡± P Comments ¿µ Support SANDB SI Chapter 197 Chapter 197 Joseph made the final decision for them. ¡°Are you feeling better now, Winter?¡± ¡°Yes, thank you, Mr. Harris!¡± Hearing Joseph¡¯s assurance, Winter feltpletely at ease. ¡°Mr. Harris, I¡¯ll head back now and not disturb your and Xavier¡¯s work Winter carried her bag and walked out cheerfully. Xavier¡¯s expression, however, was dark. ¡°Dad, what are you thinking? You want me to beg Charles? You know what he¡¯s like, he¡­¡± ¡°Do you have a better solution?¡± Joseph looked at Xavier with disappointment. ¡°I¡¯m doing this for you. If you had Charles¡® abilities, would I be letting you marry an idiot? Don¡¯t forget, she holds 15% of the Shaw family shares. Once you marry her, those will be yours. Xavier growled, ¡°Dad, I don¡¯t need them!¡± ¡°How can you say that?¡± Joseph¡¯s voice turned cold. ¡°This is settled. You¡¯ll go to Charles. We¡¯re also associated with the Hoffman family, so he won¡¯t ignore us.¡± In the CEO¡¯s office on the 27th floor of the Collosus Group building, Charles paused his writing and looked up with narrowed eyes. ¡°He¡¯s here? That¡¯s faster than I expected!¡± ¡°Mr. Hoffman, you really are good at predicting things Ronald admired Charles¡¯s foresight. He had not expected Xavier to seek Charles¡¯s help so soon. ¡°But there¡¯s one thing I don¡¯t understand. Xavier has faced rejection from you so many times. Why would he stille?¡± Ronald had seen Xavier a few times and knew he was a proud man. It seemed unlikely he would return Charles smirked. ¡°No one refuses money. Even if he doesn¡¯t want toe, his father would find a way to make him.¡± Ronald nodded. ¡°So, what do we do now?¡± ¡°Let him up,¡± Charles said, signing thest document. ¡°Make sure this project starts within a year. The first phase must begin soon.¡± ¡°Yes, sir!¡± Ronald collected the document. ¡°I¡¯ll bring him up now.¡± Xavier was escorted by the secretarial staff to Charles¡® office. It was his first time in the core level of Material ? N?velDrama.Org. here. Collosus Group¡¯s headquarters. Previously, he had not been able toe up Xavier looked at the grand yet simple office floor, feeling a surge of envy and dissatisfaction. Despite sharing the same blood, he was not only a generation below Charles but also far less fortunate. Xavier did not think his abilities werecking, but he felt inferior in front of Charles. It was a deeply unpleasant feeling. ¡°Mr. Harris, we¡¯re here!¡± Charles¡® secretary smiled and knocked on the door. ¡°Mr. Hoffman, Mr. Harris is here!¡± Come in!¡± Charles¡® cool voice came from inside the office. The secretary opened the door and gestured for him to enter. Xavier pressed his lips together, took a deep breath, and stepped into Charles¡® territory. Chapter 198 Chapter 198 Xavier immediately tried to establish a familial connection with Charles, attempting to close the distance. between them. Even if Charles was displeased, he would not outright reject someone with such a familial tie in front of him. Charles knew exactly what Xavier was aiming for. However, Xavier was a proud person. If he was not in need, he would not have called him ¡®Uncle¡® so w willingly Charles raised an eyebrow and gestured for Xavier to sit. ¡°What would you like to drink?¡± ¡°ck coffee,¡± Xavier replied, having already learned about Charles¡® preferences. He knew that Charles had a fondness for simple beverages, especially coffee. Charles raised an eyebrow in response. ¡°Ms. Coleman, two cups of coffee, please.¡± While it was true that Charles liked coffee, he was not particrly fond of drinking it early in the morning. Clearly, Xavier had not done his homework thoroughly enough. Material ? N?velDrama.Org. Charles tidied up his desk and then stood up, walking over to a nearby seat next to Xavier. He crossed his legs and sat leisurely, contrasting sharply with Xavier¡¯s more formal posture. The difference in their demeanors was stark. Xavier immediately felt at a disadvantage and adjusted his posture, trying to appear more rxed andposed. However, Charles¡® powerful presence was hard to ignore. Ida Coleman, the one who had brought Xavier upstairs, entered with two cups of coffee. One for Charles and the other for Xavier. ¡°Mr. Harris, please enjoy.¡± Xavier felt a bit awkward and nervously took a sip from his cup. ¡°To what do I owe the pleasure of your visit today, dear nephew?¡± Charles asked indifferently while casting a brief nce at Xavier. Xavier nearly choked on his coffee at Charles¡® words. He hastily put his cup down and sat up straight once more. He regretted trying to leverage their familial rtionship as it had only served to highlight their disparity. Charles was clearly the elder and superior in this context, making Xavier feel even smaller. However, he could not backtrack now, so he had to press on. Xavier was secretly unhappy, but he did not dare to show it. ¡°Uncle, to be honest, I¡¯vee to ask for your help with something,¡± Xavier began. Charles raised an eyebrow, indicating he was listening. ¡°Go on.¡± Xavier took a deep breath. ¡°Do you remember the birthday celebration at the Shaw residence for Grandpa Shaw?¡± Charles nodded. ¡°I remember. But why bring this up now?¡± He looked at Xavier, who was beating about the bush, making Charles Impatient. ¡°Just get to the point.¡± ¡°Are you close with Grandpa Shaw?¡± Xavier asked. ¡°Not particrly, Charles replied. +15 BONUS Xavier¡¯s face twitched. ¡°Perhaps you¡¯ve heard that I recently got engaged to Grandpa Shaw¡¯s granddaughter. You might have seen her. She was the one standing beside me, the eldest daughter of the Shaw family.¡± Charles nodded, then added, ¡°I don¡¯t recall.¡± Xavier¡¯s expression stiffened. He had not expected Charles to be so blunt. However, looking at Charles, it did not seem like he was lying. Could it be that Charles really did not remember Winter? Given Winter¡¯s striking looks and her fame in the entertainment industry, it seemed improbable that Charles had no impression of her at all. Chapter 199 Chapter 199 Charles held the cup by its handle, his slender fingers t?pping lightly on its surface. ¡°Say what you need to say,¡± he urged. Xavier felt a bit awkward but had no choice but to continue, ¡°Winter has been working in the entertainment industry, which is filled with all sorts of people. This recent incident has blown up, and Winter is the biggest victim. She¡­ She¡¯s being attacked online.¡± ¡°And how does that concem me? Get to the point, Charles said, setting down his cup and rubbing his temples. Xavier could tell that Charles was growing impatient. ¡°I know you own a filmpany, Uncle. I was hoping you could help Winter. She¡¯s being targeted right now, and her career might be over.¡± Charles raised an eyebrow. ¡°So, you want me to help? You should¡¯ve said so earlier.¡± He stood up and pressed the inte button. ¡°Ronald,e in.¡± Ronald quickly responded to the summon, knocking and entering the room. ¡°Mr. Hoffman, you needed something?¡± he asked, ncing at Xavier and giving a slight nod. Xavier nodded back with a polite smile, Material ? N?velDrama.Org. Charles motioned with his hand. ¡°I remember owning a filmpany, right?¡± Ronald was momentarily taken aback but quickly recovered. ¡°Yes, Mr. Hoffman. You left it under my management. What would you like to do with it?¡± ¡°Xavier, tell Ronald what you need. He¡¯s my assistant and manages thatpany. He¡¯ll know what to do better than I would,¡± Charles said, tapping his fingers on the desk. ¡°I have other work to attend to. Ronald will handle everything for you.¡± Xavier felt a wave of relief upon realizing that Charles was agreeing to help. He nced at Ronald, surprised that a mere assistant had the authority to manage an entirepany. ¡°Thank you, Uncle.¡± ¡°Mm.¡± Charles waved him off, signaling for Ronald to take him out. Ronald smiled slightly. ¡°Mr. Harris, pleasee with me.¡± Ronald led Xavier to the meeting room and had Ida bring in a cup of coffee. Xavier¡¯s expression stiffened at the sight of the coffee. Having just had a cup earlier, he was not thrilled about another drink. ¡°Thank you, Mr. Wells,¡± he said, trying to be polite. ¡°It¡¯s no trouble. Since Mr. Hoffman gave the instructions, I¡¯ll handle it. Can you exin the specifics of what you need?¡± Ronald asked. Xavier repeated his prepared speech, exining Winter¡¯s situation and his hopes for her recovery. ¡°I need advice on how to handle this.¡± Ronald responded confidently, ¡°That¡¯s simple. Our filmpany is currently preparing a new TV show. I was about to ask Mr. Hoffman about investing in it. The lead roles have been cast, but the second female Head is still open. If Ms. Shaw is interested, she can audition for it. Of course, the audition will only be a formality. The role be hers. will ¡°Mr. Harris, please wait a moment.¡± +15 BONUS Ronald then called Ida to bring the filmpany¡¯s project files and handed the relevant details to Xavier.¡± Take a look. If Ms. Shaw agrees, we can finalize it.¡± Xavier frowned, not familiar with the entertainment industry. He had only heard about it from Winter asionally, so he could not give Ronald an immediate answer. BIG SALE: 3500 bonus free fou your D Chapter 200 Chapter 200 Ronald noticed Xavier¡¯s hesitation and offered a solution. ¡°Here¡¯s what we¡¯ll do. I¡¯ll have my assistant give you the script. You can take it back and discuss it with Ms. Shaw. But Mr. Harris, you should also know that Ms. Shaw probably offended someone high up, which is why everyone is attacking her. ¡°From what I understand, her endorsements and projects have been canceled, and her current agency is giving her the cold shoulder. The only way to resolve this is for her to bounce back by taking on a TV show. ¡°By staying in the public eye and producing new work, the previous issues will eventually fade away.¡± Xavier¡¯s expression darkened. He knew the impact of Winter¡¯s situation. Despite his reluctance, he hade to Charles as Joseph had suggested. He understood that only Charles could help. ¡°Alright. I¡¯ll take the script back and discuss it with Winter. I¡¯ll get back to you as soon as possible.¡± ¡°I look forward to hearing good news from you, Mr. Harris,¡± Ronald said, closing the project folder and handing Xavier part of the script. ¡°I hope the news will be positive.¡± Xavier left the Collosus Group building, where Winter was anxiously waiting. She had insisted on coming along despite Xavier¡¯s objections. As Xavier approached, she rolled down the car window and asked, Xavier, how did it go? Did Charles agree to help?¡± Seeing Winter¡¯s anxious gesture from a distance, Xavier felt a pang of difort but suppressed it. He walked over and handed her the script. Winter looked at the script in surprise. ¡°What¡¯s this for? I asked if Charles agreed to help?¡± She knew that Charles did not have a good impression of her. Xavier frowned. ¡°Don¡¯t you see what this is? His tone was sharp.. Winter sensed his irritation but said nothing. She brightened when she saw the script. ¡°Is this for me? From Charles?¡± ¡°Can you stop saying ¡®Charles¡® every second?¡± Xavier snapped, growing impatient. ¡°You know your situation. He didn¡¯t explicitly agree to help but gave me this script and asked if you¡¯d take the role.¡± ¡°Of course! I¡¯ll take it!¡± Winter agreed without hesitation, not even looking at the script. She knew that since the scandal broke, she had lost many endorsements and offers. Herpany had sidelined her, and if this continued, she would disappear from the public eye, which was uneptable to her. Winter craved the spotlight and enjoyed being the center of attention. ¡°This is my big chance to make aeback. But who are my co¨Cstars?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Xavier replied, frowning. ¡°I don¡¯t understand your industry. His assistant just said that the lead roles have been cast, but they¡¯re still looking for the second female lead. Material ? N?velDrama.Org. He asked if you¡¯re interested and gave me time to consider. If you agree, you can audition, though it¡¯s just a formality. If you ept, the role is yours.¡± Chapter 201 Chapter 201 +25 BONUS ¡°What? The second female lead?¡± Winter¡¯s mood plummeted. ¡°Why can¡¯t I be the leadingdy?¡± Winter was an ambitious woman and had been eagerly waiting for Xavier to bring her good news. However, the second female lead? That was not what she had in mind. ¡°Didn¡¯t you tell me you were rted to Charles? Why can¡¯t he help out just this once?¡± Upset, Winter spoke without thinking; almost ready to toss her script away in frustration. Xavier grabbed the script from her, annoyance written all over his face. ¡°Be grateful! I don¡¯t have to prove my connection to Charles to you. Look at where you stand right now. You should be thankful they¡¯re even considering you for a role, and you¡¯re practically guaranteed to be the second female lead. What more could you want?¡± Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. Xavier remembered Ronald¡¯s words about theplexities of showbiz and how rumors often had some truth to them. Charles had helped him even though he was not obliged to, which was a big favor to Xavier. Xavier did not understand the fuss over being the first or second lead. To him, any role that could turn things around was more than enough already. However, Winter¡¯s reaction made him regret asking Charles for a favor. He had worked so hard, and she was so ungrateful. ¡°If you don¡¯t want it, just say no. It¡¯s not set in stone yet, and they¡¯ll find someone else for the role if they have to!¡± ¡°I¡­¡± Winter only realized how upset Xavier was when she saw his face. She quickly grabbed his hand, trying to make things right. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Xavier. I was just so mad. I didn¡¯t mean to do that¡­ I just can¡¯t handle all this at once. I didn¡¯t mean to snap at you. I know you¡¯re going out of your way to help me. I¡¯m really sorry.¡± Winter picked up the script, folded it neatly, and tucked it into her bag. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, okay? I promise I won¡¯t do it again. I¡¯ll think things through. Really, I will.¡± She gave Xavier a big hug, looked up at him, and gave him a yful nudge. She held him tight, whispering, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Xavier!¡± Xavier¡¯s face was still displeased. ¡°Winter, that¡¯s enough,¡± he said. They were in public, and he did not expect her to be so daring. Winter did not let go, yfully nibbling on Xavier¡¯s ear. ¡°Don¡¯t you like it?¡± Xavier caught his breath and gently set Winter back, trying to keep things under control. Winter giggled but did not let go, still hugging him tightly. ¡°Xavier!¡± Her voice was soft and sweet, and Xavier could not help but feel a rush. Winter always knew how to stir up his emotions. ¡°You little minx!¡± he said, half¨Cexasperated yet half¨Cfond Ronald bid farewell to Xavier before hurrying to Charles¡¯s office. ¡°Mr. Hoffman, all is in order.¡± Charles was gazing out therge window at the tiny figures below when Ronald¡¯s voice caught his attention. He turned and gave Ronald a brief look. ¡°Okay.¡± Ronald bit his lip, unsure if he should speak. Charles lifted an eyebrow. ¡°Got a question for me?¡± Nodding, Ronald said, ¡°I¡¯m not sure why you¡¯re doing this, Mr. Hoffman. If we want to take down Winter, we¡¯ve got plenty of dirt on her. We could release it gradually, and she¡¯d be done for. I don¡¯t really Chapter 202 Chapter 202 +25 BONUS Ronald knew Charles to be decisive and unforgiving, just like Steven. He never held back against his foes, which made his current actions all the more puzzling. Charles just smirked. ¡°Seems like using Mr. Fischer¡¯s tricks once in a while isn¡¯t a bad idea!¡± Material ? N?velDrama.Org. Steven? Ronald¡¯s brow creased as he remembered a story about Steven. He had wanted to turn a woman into a top¨Cnotch agent. He supposedly threw her into a den of snakes and wolves, making her fight for survival among the beasts every single day. He kept the woman close, finding joy in breaking her spirit every day. Eventually, she turned into his most powerful ally. She served the heartless man as a tool for others and for herself. Ronald never understood why Steven liked to be so cruel, but Steven sure seemed to love it. Charles and Peter usually did not agree with Steven, but Charles was acting just like him now. Ronald felt sorry for Winter. She had made an enemy of the wrong guy. ¡°Just killing her would be too easy,¡± Charles said with a steely smile. ¡°We¡¯ll do it slowly. We¡¯ll build her up and let her shine. Then, when she¡¯s at her highest, we¡¯ll knock her down. Even if she doesn¡¯t breakpletely, she¡¯ll be crushed. That¡¯ll hurt more, right?¡± Ronald shivered. He reminded himself to never make an enemy out of Charles. ¡°Start giving her the best opportunities you¡¯ve got,¡± Charles instructed. ¡°But first, she¡¯s got to get rid of her old debts!¡± Ronald blinked in surprise. ¡°You want me to sign Winter?¡± Charles nodded. ¡°If she wants the spotlight, we¡¯ll give it to her,¡± he said, his lips curling up. ¡°She¡¯ll learn that the spotlight can turn pretty ugly.¡± ¡°Sure. I¡¯ll get right on it.¡± Ronald thought back to how Xavier had not said yes right away. ¡°I wonder if Winter will say yes. I only gave her the part of the second female lead!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry. She¡¯ll definitely say yes,¡± Charles said with certainty. ¡°Someone as driven as her won¡¯t say no. Off you go!¡± Once Ronald left, Charles got busy with some work before he picked up the phone to call Noelle. ¡°Hello!¡± Noelle had just wrapped up her work and picked up the call without even ncing at who it was. Charles frowned a little when he heard Noelle¡¯s business¨Clike voice, but he kept quiet. Noelle, hearing silence, looked at the phone in surprise. ¡°Charles? Why did you call me?¡± ¡°You didn¡¯t save my number?¡± Charles¡¯s voice was deep and clearly not happy. Noelle could tell he was upset, even over the phone, and she felt a bit sorry. ¡°I did save it. I just didn¡¯t see who was calling because I was upied.¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± Charles made a sound that showed he did not quite buy it. Noelle did not really believe her own excuse either. She bit her lip. ¡°I¡¯m serious. Do you want me to send you a screenshot to prove it?¡± ??? +25 BONUS ¡°Never mind. Just make sure you save it for next time,¡± Charles said, his annoyance fading away when he heard Noelle¡¯s yful voice. Charles had cooled off, but Noelle still felt a little hurt. I did make a note. Really!¡± Chapter 203 Chapter 203 ¡°Really? What did you write in that note?¡± Charles asked with a lightugh, teasing her because he was in a good mood. ¡°Tell me!¡± ¡°Uh, do I have to say it?¡± Noelle¡¯s cheeks turned pink as she thought about the name she had written down. It was one thing for her to look at it, but the idea of Charles seeing it made her squirm. ¡°If you won¡¯t say it, then you didn¡¯t write anything!¡± Charles said, sounding let down. ¡°You don¡¯t even want to lie to me now?¡± ¡°I¡­¡± Noelle felt like crying, but no tears came. She had not expected Charles to be so difficult. ¡°I really did write something down. Oh, please, can we drop this? Don¡¯t you have work to do? And¡­ just because you¡¯re the boss, it doesn¡¯t mean you can ck off! How are you supposed to be a good role model for your employees like this?¡± Charlesughed. He could almost picture Noelle¡¯s flustered face, but he knew she got embarrassed easily, so he decided to let it go. ¡°Okay, we won¡¯t talk about that anymore.¡± Noelle let out a relieved breath when Charles moved on from the topic. ¡°So, did you need me for something?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± Charles nodded. ¡°What do you feel like eating tonight?¡± Noelle was surprised and bit her lip. ¡°You called just to ask me about dinner? That¡¯s not a good use of your time!¡± She did not know what to do with Charles sometimes. ¡°We could¡¯ve talked about this after work.¡± ¡°Uh, I¡¯ve got some free time right now, and¡­¡± he paused. ¡°I¡¯ve been thinking about you.¡± Noelle¡¯s heart started racing, and her cheeks turned a little pink. She held her cheek with one hand. You¡¯re so¡­ Well, I¨CI really want pumpkin pie tonight!¡± 13 Charles¡¯s eyes twinkled withughter. ¡°Okay, we¡¯ll make pumpkin pie tonight. What else would you like?¡± ¡°Meatloaf.¡± This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org. ¡°And?¡± ¡°Mashed potatoes.¡± ¡°Anything else?¡± ¡°Barbecue ribs!¡± 01 #1 Charles paused andughed softly. ¡°You¡¯re in the mood for some pretty rich food today, huh? Are you sure you don¡¯t want some steamed veggies?¡± ¡°I just love a hearty meal. What¡¯s wrong with that? Do you have a problem with it?¡± Noelle, remembering how Charles had been teasing her, boldly teased him back. ¡°Or is it that you can¡¯t afford it?¡± ¡°Alright, we¡¯ll get whatever you¡¯d like to eat,¡± Charles said, shaking his head with a smile. ¡°If you¡¯re craving something bold and vorful, it¡¯s only right for me to make it happen.¡± ¡°You¡¯re so silly!¡± Noelle said with a sigh. ¡°Okay, I¡¯ve got to get back to work. You might be the boss with no +25 BONUS one to answer to, but I¡¯m not!¡± Noelle felt that if she kept talking to Charles, she would bepletely embarrassed, She quickly hung up the phone, her cheeks still warm. She felt more and more unlike herselftely. She was growing closer to Charles, and their yful banter¡­ Noelle blushed just thinking about it. She had never talked to a boy like that before, not even Xavier. They had only ever shared simple meals, never whispering sweet words to each other. ¡°Ah, stop thinking about it, Noelle! Keep it together!¡± she told herself, giving her cheeks a quick p. ¡°Just focus on your work. Forget everything else!¡± Chapter 204 Chapter 204 Noelle had mentioned craving certain dishes, but she did not really intend to eat all those rich and heavy foods at once. They decided to shop for ingredients together at the supermarket. When they got back, Charles had some work to do, so Noelle volunteered to cook. Charles was happy with the arrangement and said just one or two dishes would be plenty. When Noelle finished cooking, she went to find Charles. However, he was not in his study. She was surprised to see some papers on his desk. She picked them up and looked at them, puzzled. Charles walked in just then and saw Noelle¡¯s concerned expression. He smiled and, seeing the papers in her hand, said, ¡°Go ahead and ask me anything!¡± ¡°You¡¯re nning to sign Winter? I mean, did you invest in a moviepany or something?¡± Noelle felt a bit confused. She thought she knew Charles pretty well after all this time. Charles took the papers from her and gently squeezed her wrist. ¡°Did youe to tell me dinner¡¯s ready?¡± Noelle nodded and looked at him again. ¡°It¡¯s okay if you don¡¯t want to talk about it.¡± Charles chuckled and yfully tousled Noelle¡¯s hair until it was all messy. Noelle, who was already a little upset, did not know what to say and pushed his hand away. ¡°Stop messing up my hair!¡± ¡°You know, you¡¯re usually so easygoing. I never knew you had a rebellious streak!¡± Charles said with a teasing smile. Feeling grumpy, Noelle missed his teasing tone. ¡°Rebellious? You¡¯re the rebellious one. You¡¯re not making any sense right now!¡± Holding Noelle¡¯s hand, Charles led her downstairs. ¡°I invested in the filmpany a few years back, but I¡¯ve let Ronald and his team handle it so far,¡± he exined, then quickly added, ¡°Winter asked Xavier to get my help!¡± ¡°So you said yes?¡± Noelle was confused about why Charles would agree. ¡°You know there¡¯s tension between me and Winter¡­¡± S ¡°Just trust me,¡± Charles reassured her, giving her hand a gentle squeeze. ¡°Let¡¯s have dinner first. I¡¯ve got a surprise for youter!¡± Charles seemed cheerful as they reached the dining room, He raised an eyebrow at the feast on the table. ¡°I thought I asked for something simple!¡± Noelle bit her lip. ¡°I¡¯m not silly, you know. You¡¯re behind Winter¡¯s situation, aren¡¯t you?¡± Charles stopped mid¨Cmotion as he was pulling out a chair, then let out a soft chuckle. He had always known Noelle was sharp, so he had not even tried to keep the secret from her. Seeing that she had figured things out, he nodded. ¡°I had to step in, didn¡¯t I? You¡¯re my wife. I can¡¯t just watch someone push you around. That¡¯s not how I do things!¡± Noelle understood why Charles was helping Winter now. However, she was still pretty shocked. ¡°From what I know about Xavier, he¡¯s too proud and snooty to ask for your help. It¡¯s pretty clear he¡¯s not your biggest fan!¡± Charles lifted an eyebrow. ¡°You¡¯re right.¡± Xavier was around his age, but their lives were worlds apart. 1/2 +25 BONUS Joseph had once told Xavier to hang out with him more, but Charles had sized him up and figured he was not going to make it big. ¡°But don¡¯t forget, money and power can make a person drop everything!¡± Xavier was just that type of guy. The shares Winter had were enough to make him swallow his pride. Plus, Joseph had big dreams!¡± This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org. Noelle bit her lip and nodded. ¡°I get it. Go ahead with your n. I¡¯ll support you.¡± +25 BONUS Chapter 205 Chapter 205 Now that she understood Charles¡¯s reasons, Noelle felt her frustration fade away. Charles then sat down beside her, gently holding her hand on his knee. He cupped her face in his hands, and they looked into each other¡¯s eyes, understanding each other without words. Noelle¡¯s heart raced a little. She looked away, but Charles gently turned her face back to him. ¡°Trust me, okay?¡± She nodded. ¡°I trust you!¡± Charles gave a small smile. ¡°Time to eat!¡± They both enjoyed their meal. When it was over, Noelle got up to clear the dishes, but Charles stopped her. ¡°I¡¯ll take care of it. We¡¯re in this together, right?¡± Feeling a warm glow, Noelle did not argue and stepped aside to watch Charles clean up the table and start washing the dishes. Then, her phone rang. It was Jade. ¡°Noelle, you need toe to the hospital right now!¡± Noelle¡¯s brow furrowed. She did not want to deal with Jade, but she could not ignore family. Jade¡¯s mention of the hospital made her anxious. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t know? Your sister¡¯s had an ident, and you didn¡¯t even call. Now Grandpa¡¯s sick. Are you going to pretend he¡¯s not your grandpa now too? You¡¯re so heartless!¡± ¡°What are you talking about? Say that again!¡± Noelle was only thinking about her sick grandfather, not Jade¡¯s harsh words. ¡°What happened to Grandpa?¡± ¡°It¡¯s all your fault!¡± Jade¡¯s voice was angry and desperate. ¡°What did you tell Grandpa? You made him so worried, you¡­¡± ¡°That¡¯s enough! Where¡¯s Grandpa?¡± Noelle yelled. ¡°I¡¯m on my way!¡± Jade was shocked when Noelle¡¯s voice boomed through the phone. She froze for a second before blurting out, ¡°City Hospital!¡± Noelle hung up before Jade could say another word. Jade red at her phone and muttered, ¡°Jerk!¡± ¡°What happened? What did Noelle say?¡± Winter asked with worry as she grabbed Jade¡¯s hand. ¡°Mom, don¡¯t stress yourself out. Maybe Grandpa¡¯s just tricking us. There¡¯s no way he¡¯d do that. I can¡¯t believe it!¡± However, deep down, Winter was fuming. Why did Noelle get everything? Material ? N?velDrama.Org. Why did Grandpa and her maternal grandfather always take Noelle¡¯s side? She was not superior to Winter in any way, but they treated her like she was the most important person in the world. ¡°I don¡¯t want to believe it either, but¡­¡± Jade was so mad she could barely breathe. She turned to Julian, who had not said a word. ¡°Come on. Say something!¡± ¡°What should I say? That you made Dad so mad he ended up in the hospital?¡± Julian shot back, his eyes sharp. ¡°If anything happens to my dad, Jade, you and I are going to have a serious problem!¡± ¡°Why are you yelling at me? Did I make him mad? Or is it because he¡¯s always favored Noelle? Have you ever thought about how hard I¡¯ve worked for the Shaw family all these years? Yet Dad still won¡¯t ept me!¡± ¡°Stop it!¡± Julian said, rubbing his temples. ¡°Let¡¯s wait until Dad wakes up.¡± Noelle ended her phone call and quickly dialed Mr. Thompson. She found out that her Grandpa Samuel had had a huge fight with Julian and Jade that day. It all started because Jade wanted Grandpa to split up the family business shares. Grandpa said no, and the argument blew up. Rushing upstairs, Noelle changed clothes in a sh. As she dashed downstairs, Charles stepped out of the kitchen. He could tell by how she looked that she was heading out, especially with her worried face.¡± What¡¯s wrong? You¡¯re going out?¡± he asked. Chapter 206 Chapter 206 ¡°Grandpa¡¯s in the hospital. I have to go see him!¡± Noelle said, grabbing her car keys and heading for the door. However, Charles grabbed her hand. ¡°Hold on. I¡¯lle with you!¡± ¡°There¡¯s no need.¡± Noelle pulled away. ¡°If you show up now, the Shaw family might get the wrong idea. They¡¯re the ones who upset Grandpa so much that he ended up in the hospital. It¡¯s because of this whole mess with the shares. I have to sort this out!¡± The thought of her grandpa being in the hospital because of her made Noelle¡¯s heart ache. Charles¡¯s eyes sparkled with concern, yet he held her hand tighter. ¡°That¡¯s exactly why I should be there.¡± ¡°But¡­¡± Noelle had her reasons for not wanting Charles toe. She was afraid he would get caught up in the family drama, just like Simon did before. The Shaws wouldtch onto Charles, and he would never hear the end of it. Noelle knew her parents all too well. They were definitely the type to stir up trouble. ¡°No more ¡®buts¡®. I¡¯ming with you. I¡¯ll just wait downstairs. I won¡¯te up!¡± Charles hurried upstairs, threw on his jacket, and led a stunned Noelle out the door. He gently guided Noelle into the car¡¯s front seat, quickly started the engine, and zoomed off to the hospital. Charles found a hidden spot to park. Noticing Noelle¡¯s nervousness as she reached for the door, he caught her hand. ¡°Nelly.¡± Noelle looked back, worried. ¡°Is there anything else?¡± ¡°Just be careful, okay? Call me if you need anything!¡± Charles gave Noelle¡¯s hand a reassuring pat. Remember, you¡¯ve always got me!¡± All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Okay!¡± Noelle¡¯s heart felt warm as she nodded. ¡°Charles, once Grandpa¡¯s better, I¡¯ll introduce you to him!¡± Charles gave her a small smile and gently ruffled her hair. ¡°I thought you¡¯d want me to meet your maternal grandfather first!¡± He gazed at her fondly. Noelle paused, puzzled. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Just go,¡± Charles said with a shake of his head. ¡°Alright!¡± Noelle stepped out of the car, gave Charles onest look, then hurried into the hospital. She reached the emergency room and saw the Shaw family waiting outside. Jade saw Noelle first and charged at her, pping her face. ¡°You piece of trash! Look at what you¡¯ve done! You¡¯ve sent your grandpa to the hospital with a stroke!¡± Noelle did not see the ping. Holding her cheek, she stared at Jade, her eyes wide with shock. ¡°I have no idea what you mean. What¡¯s happened to Grandpa?¡± All Noelle could think about was her grandpa and what might have happened to him. She did not have the patience to deal with Jade right then. +25 BONUS Jade was fuming. ¡°You don¡¯t know? How did you trick Grandpa into giving you all his shares? You¡¯re nothing but trouble. What are you up to?¡± Jade raised her hand to strike again, but Noelle was ready this time. She caught Jade¡¯s hand, her gaze icy. ¡°I¡¯ve always respected you because you¡¯re my mom and you took care of me. But I see now that you never deserved that respect, because you¡¯ve never really seen me as your daughter.¡± With a strong shove, Noelle pushed Jade away. ¡°It was Grandpa¡¯s choice to give me the shares. Why are you fighting with him about it? Don¡¯t think I don¡¯t know what you¡¯ve done to him. I can¡¯t deal with this now. Step aside!¡± Chapter 207 Chapter 207 +25 BONUS ¡°You¡­¡± Jade stumbled, nearly falling, but Xavier was quick to catch her. ¡°Madam Shaw, are you okay?¡± Xavier shot a worried look at Jade, then red at Noelle. ¡°Noelle, that was too much. Apologize to Madam Shaw now!¡± ¡°Apologize?¡± Noelle¡¯s mouth twisted into a half¨Csmile. ¡°Is this really the time? Grandpa¡¯s still in surgery, and you¡¯re all ming me? We¡¯ll see who¡¯s really at fault when Grandpa wakes up.¡± Noelle did not want to deal with them, so she quietly walked to the other side. Winter bit her lip and gently pulled on Jade¡¯s hand. ¡°Mom, Noelle¡¯s worried about Grandpa too. Please don¡¯t be mad. And Xavier, Noelle didn¡¯t mean to do that.¡± Winter walked up to Noelle and asked, ¡°Noelle, are you okay?¡± Noelle squinted her eyes. She had to admit that Winter was pretty bold. This was why Charles always said she could not beat Winter¨CWinter was a much better actor. When Noelle did not respond, Winter reached out and tugged at Noelle¡¯s hand with a sad look. know you¡¯re still upset with me, but Grandpa¡¯s sick now. What can¡¯t we fix between us sisters? I was wrong before, Noelle. Can we forget all that for Grandpa¡¯s sake?¡± Noelle turned away from Winter, her eyebrows knitted together. She saw Jade and Xavier watching her, then looked at Winter. She understood what Winter was up to now. Noelle smiled slightly. ¡°You¡¯re right, Sis. With Grandpa sick, we shouldn¡¯t talk about trivial matters. I just want some quiet now, okay?¡± ist want some quiet now, okay?¡± ¡°Noelle!¡± Winter¡¯s voice was anxious. ¡°I really care about Grandpa too.¡± ¡°Do you?¡± Noelleughed softly, squinting at Winter. ¡°Was there anything else you wanted to tell me?¡± ¡°Noelle, do you know why Grandpa had a stroke?¡± Noelle was puzzled by what Winter was trying to say. She stayed silent, just gazing at Winter. Winter gripped her bag so hard it almost changed shape, boiling with anger at Noelle. When Noelle did not answer, Winter felt a mix of anger and urgency. ¡°Noelle is Grandpa¡­?¡± ¡°Who¡¯s here for the patient?¡± Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. Right then, the operating room doors swung open, and the doctor stepped out. Noelle saw him and immediately left Winter¡¯s side to approach him. ¡°I am! I¡¯m his granddaughter! My name is Noelle!¡± The doctor gave Noelle a nod and said, ¡°Your grandpa¡¯s stable for now, but he¡¯s old and can¡¯t handle much stress. We can¡¯t have another day like today.¡± ¡°Yes, I understand.¡± Noelle nodded quickly. ¡°So, how¡¯s my grandpa doing now?¡± ¡°He¡¯s still out cold and needs to spend the night in the ICU. If he wakes up tomorrow, he should be okay,¡± the doctor said, then nced past Noelle at the others and took off his mask. ¡°You should go pay for the treatment now. Don¡¯t crowd here. You don¡¯t need to stay with him tonight. He needs his peace and quiet.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a relief. I¡¯m happy as long as he¡¯s okay!¡± Noelle let out a sigh of relief. ¡°Thanks so much, doctor!¡± The doctor looked at the whole family. Only Noelle had stepped up to ask about the patient¡¯s situation. He shook his head with a sense of resignation and added, ¡°Don¡¯t mention it. We¡¯re just doing our job.¡± 1/2 Since Samuel had to stay in the ICU for the night, nob nur Chapter 208 Chapter 208 +25 BONUS Noelle nced back and saw Winter holding her hand. ¡°Noelle, can we please talk?¡± Noelle pulled her hand away, feeling a bit annoyed. ¡°There¡¯s nothing to talk about. I can¡¯t stay with Grandpa tonight, so I¡¯m heading home. I¡¯ll visit Grandpa tomorrow!¡± Noelle tried to leave, but Jade wouldn¡¯t have it. ¡°Noelle, stop right there!¡± Noelle hesitated, then kept walking without looking back. Jade, who was in a huff, yanked Noelle¡¯s hand so hard she nearly stumbled. Noelle braced herself against the wall and looked at her with a frown. ¡°What do you want now?¡± ¡°We¡¯re going to clear this up today, or you¡¯re not going anywhere!¡± Jade was fuming. Feeling ignored by Noelle, she remembered the upsetting things Samuel had said that evening again. Her anger red up. Spill it! Did you trick Grandpa into giving you City Ring Corp.¡¯s shares?¡± Noelle squinted her eyes. ¡°Trick?¡± She thought Jade was being ridiculous. ¡°What are you trying to say, Mom?¡± ¡± ¡°What do you think I¡¯m trying to say? Grandpa¡¯s old, yet you¡¯re taking advantage of him? Don¡¯t y dumb with me. You¡¯re not close to us, so you sucked up to Grandpa for his shares, right?¡± ¡°So, you really think I¡¯ve only been pretending to care about Grandpa to get his shares?¡± Noelle was shocked to hear those words from Jade. ¡°I thought you didn¡¯t like me because I did something wrong. But now, it¡¯s clear that it¡¯s not me who¡¯s in the wrong¨Cit¡¯s you. I care about Grandpa grandfather, not because of his shares.¡± Decause he¡¯s my ¡°Fine. If that¡¯s how it is, give up the shares,¡± Jade challenged, not buying Noelle¡¯s words. ¡°Give them to your sister, then I¡¯ll believe you. I¡¯ll start treating you better, too!¡± Noelle let out a bitterugh. She felt so sad. She never imagined she would have to use such tactics to get even a little bit of motherly love. Biting her lip, Noelle struggled to stay calm. She looked up at Julian and Xavier, who had been quiet the whole time. They were looking at her with the same expression, and Noelle realized just how much she had failed. ¡°You all seem to want the shares so badly, so just wait for Grandpa to wake up. He can give them to whoever he wan and I won¡¯tin about his decision. But for now, I won¡¯t give anything to you, be it shares or anything else!¡± This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org. ¡°You little brat!¡± Jade tried to hit Noelle but was pushed away hard. ¡°Everyone has their limits. I¡¯m sure even you know that, Mother. I have some patience, but it¡¯s not endless. It¡¯s been wearing thin over the years, and once it¡¯s gone, it¡¯ll be gone for good!¡± Noelle¡¯s voice was as frigid as ice, just like Charles¡®. She was surrounded by an icy aura, her eyes clear yet frosty. She squeezed her fists tight, then released them. ¡°You people better behave!¡± Noelle walked away with firm steps, her demeanor so different from when she first arrived at the hospital. Her heart, which was once warm with affection for Julian and Jade, now felt frigid. She had nearly erased all her fondness for them. She was not sure she could t her since she was a little girl. She used to think she was numb and could not feel pai was just like everyone else¨Cshe wanted to be happy ar +25 BONUS all her fondness for them. She was not sure she could take much more. They had always been like this to her since she was a little girl. She used to think she was numb and could not feel pain anymore. However, she eventually learned she was just like everyone else¨Cshe wanted to be happy and have the best things in life. ? ? Lucky K ??? ? ??? Chapter 209 Chapter 209 ¡°Jerk! Noelle, you¡­¡± ¡°That¡¯s enough!¡± Julian shot Jade a fierce look. ¡°Aren¡¯t you embarrassed enough? I sure am!¡± Julian clenched his fists. ¡°Break it up, everyone. We¡¯lle back tomorrow to check on Grandpa.¡± Xavier kept his gaze on where Noelle had vanished, his fists tightening at his sides. If Noelle really did have some of Samuel¡¯s shares, then¡­ Could he still have a chance with her? ¡°Xavier?¡± Winter shook Xavier¡¯s hand. ¡°Time to go!¡± Xavier snapped out of it and gave Winter a reassuring smile. ¡°Grandpa will be okay. Don¡¯t worry too much.¡± Winter tried to smile, but she could not hide her sadness when she looked at Xavier. She knew he was not really paying attention to her. ¡°I¡¯m sure Grandpa will be okay,¡± she said. ¡°But why can¡¯t we talk things out? We¡¯re family. Grandpa gave all his shares to Noelle without telling anyone. No wonder Mom and Dad are upset. They think Noelle did something wrong, but she¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± Xavier said, giving Winter¡¯s hand a gentle squeeze. ¡°Noelle isn¡¯t the type to want things just to show off. Maybe your parents got it wrong, and Grandpa didn¡¯t give the shares to Noelle.¡± He smiled at her. ¡°Let me take you home.¡± ¡°Actually, I¡¯d like to go to your ce today,¡± Winter said, holding onto Xavier¡¯s arm and leaning on his shoulder. ¡°It¡¯s been so long since we¡­¡± ¡°Not today, Winter,¡± Xavier said, his brow furrowed. ¡°Grandpa is still in critical condition.¡± ¡°But I¡­¡± Noelle stepped out of the hospital into the biting wind, feeling empty inside. She walked without purpose, her eyes looking at nothing in particr. She did not even notice a car following her until she found herself in a small park. Only then did Noelle look up, startled, and finally take in her surroundings. A light shone from behind her, getting closer. Noelle turned and was surprised to see Charles¡¯s car. Noelle squinted at the bright car lights and tightened her fists. However, inside her chest, her chilly heart blossomed with a little bit of warmth. Her eyes got watery, and she hurried over. Charles had been driving behind Noelle, going slowly. He did not know what had happened to her, but she was so sad that she did not even notice a car following her. He felt really sorry for her when he saw her running toward him. He rolled down the window. Noelle ran up to Charles¡¯s car, out of breath. When she saw Charles sitting there, it was like the stars were shining just for her. ¡°Hop in!¡± Those two words made Noelle, who had felt lost for so long, feel like she finally belonged somewhere. Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. Noelle gripped the car door tightly. Suddenly, as if she had made a huge decision, she leaned in, held Charles¡¯s face in her hands, and put her frosty lips on his +25 BONUS It was an eager kiss, like she was searching for something. She was clumsy and did not know how to kiss, but it was so exciting. She wanted to find her safe ce so badly, and just like that, the spark between them lit up into fireworks. Charles¡¯s dark eyes got darker, and he smiled a little. With one hand, he gently held the back of Noelle¡¯s head and deepened the kiss even more! Chapter 210 Chapter 210 +25 BONUS The kisssted forever. Noelle had been nervous and careful, but Charles guided her, and in that moment, Noelle felt like she truly belonged in his arms. She wrapped her arms around Charles¡¯s neck, pressed her forehead against his, and took slow breaths. (1) They kissed for quite a while. Afterward, Charles got out of the car and gently fixed Noelle¡¯s messy hair, smiling slightly as he pulled her close. She rested her hands on his chest, listening to his strong heartbeat. She felt her face warm up. Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. Charles just held her, his arms making her feel safe and warm. He did not say anything and did not ask any questions. He just held her. After what seemed like forever, Noelle looked up at him. She noticed his lip was hurt and touched it gently. ¡°Are you okay?¡± Charles looked at her with soft eyes and a small smile. He held her hand and shook his head. ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± Noelle gave him a small smile. ¡°Why aren¡¯t you asking me what happened?¡± He shook his head and hugged her again. ¡°You¡¯ll tell me when you¡¯re ready.¡± He did not need to know everything right now. However, he then gently touched the faint mark on Noelle¡¯s cheek. ¡°Did they hurt. you?¡± Noelle tensed up, remembering something sad. She did not say anything. Charles stroked her cheek and kissed it softly. ¡°You don¡¯t have to go through things alone. Remember, I¡¯m here with you.¡± Noelle looked up and found herself lost in Charles¡¯s deep, dark eyes. She fumbled with the fabric of Charles¡¯s shirt, her mouth opening and closing without a word, until she finally nodded. ¡°We should head back. I¡¯m tired!¡± ¡°Alright. We¡¯ll go home,¡± Charles said as he opened the car door for Noelle and buckled her in. Once he was in the driver¡¯s seat, he added, ¡°Get some sleep once we¡¯re back. We can talk about anything you want to talk about tomorrow.¡± 1 Noelle gave him a small nod, her eyes weary as she gazed at Charles. He reached out and softly caressed her cheek. ¡°Sleep. I¡¯ll wake you when we¡¯re home.¡± Home? A shiver ran through Noelle, but she shook her head. ¡°I can¡¯t sleep. I just want to talk to you!¡± ¡°Sure.¡± As the car hummed away, Noelle kept her body turned towards Charles, watching him as he waited for her to start talking. ¡°They found out about Grandpa giving me the shares.¡± It took a while before Noelle spoke up in a whisper, ¡°But they think I tricked Grandpa, so they want to take the shares back¡­¡± ¡°That was to be expected,¡± Charles said, tapping on the steering wheel. He had seen this day coming, just not so soon. ¡°The Shaw family is still led by Sir Shaw. Your dad isn¡¯t happy, so of course he wants the shares. What happened next?¡± Noelle¡¯s lips curved slightly as she touched her cheek. ¡°Grandpa got so upset with them that he had a stroke. He¡¯s in the ICU now, and we don¡¯t know if he¡¯ll wake up tomorrow. But they know I have the shares, so they won¡¯t leave me alone.¡± She knew the Shaw family too well. They would do anything to get what they wanted. * Chapter 211 Chapter 211 They had wanted to get that thirty million dors from Simon by making her do something she did not want to, right? However, it did not work out, so... Noelle''s hands balled into fists. "I always thought that if I just kept quiet, things would work out. But after today, I see it doesn''t matter how much I back down. They''ll never feel sorry. They''ll just push harder!" Her grip was so tight that her knuckles turned white. She was shaking, feeling hopeless about her family. She had always kept a distance from them, not because she could not stand up for herself, but because they never seemed to care. Then, she felt a warm hand on hers. Charles was patting her hand gently. "What do you want to do?" Noelle bit her lip, her eyes showing her struggle. After a moment, she put her other hand on Charles''s. "You said you''d help me, right?" Charles''s eyes sparkled, and a smile spread across his face. "Yes." "I want to swap shares with you!" Charles''s smile grew. "You can do whatever you want." He was her husband, after all, and he was on her side. "You''re not even going to ask why?" Noelle was taken aback. "Aren''t you scared..." "Why worry?" Charles asked with a shake of his head and a gentleugh. "I''ve got your back, so just go for it." Noelle could not help but smile for real this time. She knew Charles cared about her, but she never imagined he would go so far. What had she done to deserve so much support from this amazing guy? Her hair was tousled from Charles''s big hand, so she gently pushed his hand away, "Keep your eyes on the road!" she said, then paused and added, "I''m thinking about swapping shares with you for Royal Star Entertainment." This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org. "That''ll be easy," Charles replied, his long fingers rxed on the steering wheel. He took a deep breath. "Are you sure about this?" Noelle nodded. "I''ve given it a lot of thought. Grandpa gave me those shares so I''d have something solid for the future and I wouldn''t be left with nothing. I know he means well, but owning shares can be a hassle." Charles understood what she meant. He knew Samuel''s intentions. "I don''t really get how City Ring Corp. works, so having shares and being part of thepany wouldn''t make much sense for me. Plus, the other Shaws would just try to trip me up It''s a headache I don''t need. It''s better to pass it on to some it''s pet else she exined, looking at Charles. "If I gave them to Joshua, he might not even want them. And since he''s part of the Shaw family too, they''d treat him the same as me. I don''t want to drag him into this mess!" Charles understood. "Giving it to Joshua? You might as well give it to anyone off the street." He understood what Noelle meant. "I''ll take great care of it!" "You''re not just anyone to me!" Noelle insisted. "To the Shaw family, sure, you''re an outsider. But you''re not one to me. That''s a big difference." A warm smile spread across Charles''s face. It was so rare for her to see things so clearly. Even if this meant a little trouble with the Shaws for him, it did not seem like such a big deal anymore. "Yeah, I get it." Back at Phoenix Tree Residence, Charles led Noelle to the study. She was confused until he pulled out a contract from the safe. Noelle''s eyes widened. "You had this ready? Is it for me?" Chapter 212 Chapter 212 Charles shook his head. "It''s yours, but it''s not a trade for shares with you." Noelle bit her lip, a little lost. "What is it, then?" "Remember that at dinner, I mentioned I had something for you?" Charles held the contract gently. "It turns out we were on the same page without even knowing it." Noelle felt a rush of feelings she could not name. She tried to speak, but the words just would note out. Charles saw Noelle looking troubled and pulled her into a hug, gently ruffling her hair. "Silly girl. We''ve been married for quite a while, and I''ve never given you a proper wedding gift. These shares, twenty percent of them, are for you."All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. "But this... it''s too much," she said, shaking her head. "You really don''t have to give me anything. I won''t even use it!" "Nothing is too much when ites to you!" Charles replied, shaking his head. "Your grandpa was right. Money might be something we have outside of ourselves, but we still need it. I can''t let you be unhappy because you married me." "But my grandpa already gave me..." Charles gently ced his hand over Noelle''s lips. "Tomorrow, I''ll ask Ronald to put together another contract for you to look at. What your grandpa gave you was his way of showing you that he cares, and this is mine!" Noelle could not help but giggle. "Okay then! I can''t turn down such kindness." She felt so happy. She did not really care about the shares, but if Charles thought it would protect her, she was okay with epting them. "Charles, why are you so nice to me?" With a yful look and a smile, Charles said, "Because you deserve it!" Noelle went over to give him a big hug. This was the first time she had initiated a hug with him. Charles tensed up for a second, then hugged her back, full of joy. ? As Noelle''s fuzzy head snuggled against Charles''s chest, it tickled his heart. Charles, if you''re going to be nice to me, you have to keep it up forever. No changing your mind!" She looked into his eyes and said softly, "My heart is fragile. It''s been hurt before, and it can''t take breaking again. If you ever velet down, I won''t be able to forgive you." "I won''t let you down, ever!" he promised, holding Noelle''s hand to his lips. "I''ll never betray you in my life!" Noelle''s eyes crinkled with a smile. She gently touched Charles''s chin and stood on her tiptoes to nt a kiss on his lips. Her kiss was clumsy, but it made Charles''s heart race. The look in his eyes grew deeper, but he stood still, letting Noelle lead. It was the first time she had been this bold, and Charles was thrilled. He wanted their first time to be something she wanted too. Noelle kissed him until her lips felt numb, but Charles did not kiss back, which made her feel a bit sad. She. looked up into his deep, starry eyes, stood on her tiptoes again, wrapped her arms around his neck, and bit his lip gently. "I''m trying so hard. Can''t you show me you feel the same way?" Chapter 213 Chapter 213 Charles had never seen such hopeful eyes from Noelle before. He bit his lip, gently took her by the shoulders, and stepped back. Noelle was surprised. She did not understand why Charles was pulling away when she was being so open. She felt a little hurt and bit her lip, tasting the warmth from Charles and the slight tang of blood where she had bitten him. Noelle was confused and frowned, not understanding why Charles was saying no. Noelle''s falling smile did not escape Charles''s notice. He curled his lips into a smile, and before Noelle could even catch her breath, he gently lifted her chin. His eyes sparkled like stars in the night sky. "Are you sure?" Noelle felt a warm flutter in her heart. She wanted to say no, but she nodded instead. "Sure!" She took a deep breath, as if she had made a big decision, and held both his hands tightly, their fingers intecing. She looked at Charles with all the seriousness in the world. "We''re husband and wife, right?" "Yes!" He frowned slightly, his forehead touching hers as he caught his breath. "We are husband and wife. Nelly, do you realize what you''re saying? Once we begin, there''s no going back, and I won''t let you back out." Noelle nodded, a bit shyly. "Mhm, I understand." He smiled atst, took her hand in his, and guided it behind her. Then, he gently kissed her lips. The kiss was sweet, just like before, but with a new, slight difference. His kiss was soft and patient, nothing like her awkward attempts, slowly leading her into this dance of discovery. Only their heavy breaths could be heard in the quiet of the study. Feeling a bit shy, Noelle hugged Charles tightly, sensing a strange new feeling in her body. He wrapped her up in his arms and lifted her onto the desk. With a little gasp, Noelle wrapped her hands around Charles''s strong arms. Her shirt had been removed and her skin was blushing a pretty pink. He looked at her deeply, his hands bracing on either side of her, and kissed her once more. Noelle was feeling a little jittery, her body tight with nerves. Charles''s deep breaths were right next to her ear, making her feel all warm inside. This was nothing like the times she had been drugged. The feelings during those times were because of the drugs, but this was all natural. Charles could tell Noelle was tense. He let go of her hand and pulled back from her lips, squinting a bit. "Are you scared?" She nodded, then shook her head, looking so forlorn that Charles did not know what to do. He was usually so in control, but with her, it was different. He gently pushed her tangled hair behind her ear and let out a soft sigh. "If you''re not ready, just tell me to stop, okay?" She was the one exception to his steadfastly controlled life. However, Noelle clutched Charles''s hand tightly and shook her head fast. "No, I''m not scared. I''m ready." She squeezed his arm, trying to show how determined she was. She put her hands on his shoulders, stood up straight, and gave Charles a kiss on the lips, the chin, and then the throat. Charles caught his breath, his whole body waiting for her next move. Noelle bit her lip, lingering at his throat and feeling a bit unsure. She tilted her head and looked up at him. Her hands held onto him, her legs wrapped around his waist, and she kissed him again, on his lips, his nose, and then his eyelids.This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org. Chapter 214 Chapter 214 ? Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. Her kiss was gentle and careful, like she was kissing the most precious treasure in the world. She might not have been in love with Charles yet, but she definitely liked him. She was ready to give her whole heart to him, hoping he would embrace every bit of her. Charles had been patient for so long, but he had reached his breaking point now. He had not touched her before not because he did not want to, but because he respected her. He did not want to force her into anything, and he could control himself no matter how hard it was. However, he did not want to hold back anymore. Seeing Noelle working so hard to make him feel good, his dark eyes grew more intense, and he gently took hold of her and led the way. Noelle''s eyes sparkled with joy, and she let her body rx and respond to him. His hands wrapped around her from behind, taking away thest of her guardedness. There was no turning back then. Charles was very gentle as he explored Noelle''s body. Every touch made her tremble. She grabbed Charles''s back, her face filled with a little worry. "Don''t be scared. Trust me," he whispered. She seemed happy with his carefulness, and he was even gentler with her. After Noelle got used to his gentle touches, he slowly slid down and took off her pants, his eyes growing deeper. "Nelly." "Hmm?" Noelle looked up, confused, and Charles bent down to kiss her again, his warm lips guiding her. As Noelle got lost in the moment, he moved quickly. Noelle let out a surprised shout, but her cry was muffled by Charles''s kiss. Charles had been so gentle from the beginning that Noelle only winced for a second before feeling light and tingly all over. She could not help but gaze at Charles, who was mesmerized by her charm, his heart racing as he kissed her softly. Their time together was brief, considering it was Noelle''s first experience, Charles held himself back with great effort. Before Noelle could even catch her breath, he swept her into his arms and carried her to the bedroom. Content belongs to As he stepped back, Noelle looked up at him, her eyes wide and innocent. It nearly made Charles lose hisposure. "It''s okay. I''ll take you to get cleaned up," he said gently. Noelle was really tired, so she nodded. However, she could not help asking shyly, "Is it over already?" Charles squinted, amused by her question. It was innocent, but it was the kind of question that could fluster any guy. He smirked. "Do you still want more?" Noelle was speechless. Charles could not help but smile at her embarrassed expression. He kissed her lightly on the lips. "Since it was your first time, I was gentle. But next time, I might not go so easy on you!" Noelle''s cheeks zed red, and she wished she could disappear into the floor. "Okay!" Charles nodded with a smile as Noelle snuggled up to him like a kitten, making his heart feel all warm and fuzzy. Chapter 215 Chapter 215 Charles shook his head with a sigh and crawled into bed, feeling cozy and warm. Noelle must have felt him moving because she suddenly rolled over and hugged him tight. Charles froze for a second. He turned around to see Noelle sleeping peacefully, her lips moving slightly. The gentle glow in his eyes felt extra warm in the soft light. Noelle slept well but woke up feeling a little sore. It was not as bad as some tales had made it out to be, but it still hurt. She touched the warm spots on her body and smiled faintly at the light marks on her skin.Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. "Up already?" Hearing Charles''s clear voice, Noelle looked down, feeling a bit shy. "Yeah. Y-you woke up really early!" she said, her cheeks turning pink. "About yesterday..." "What''s wrong?" Charles asked, noticing her shy expression. He thought she might feel awkward about something that happenedst night. He sat down beside her on the bed. Noelle was wearing her nightgown, which hade a little undone. When Charles came closer and saw Noelle looking like that, his gaze deepened. Noelle saw him looking and quickly pulled the covers up, blushing and stuttering. "Y-you can''t look!" Charles could not help butugh at her cute reaction. He gently patted her head and hugged her close. "Is my Nelly feeling shy now? That''s not how you were actingst night!" "Stop talking about it!" Noelle quickly covered Charles''s mouth with her hand, her cheeks turning even redder. "Just pretendst night never happened, okay?" ¡°How could I do that?" His warm breath tickled her palm, making her heart skip a beat. Charles gently moved Noelle''s hand onto his leg, leaned in so their foreheads were touching, and smiled. "Pretend it never happened? How could I do that? Last night was our special night. It''s one we''l remember forever, Nelly!" "I..." Noelle stumbled over her words, not sure what to say next. "Just... You''re not allowed to remember it! I..." "Okay, okay. I''ll stop teasing you," he said with a soft kiss on her lips. "Are you hungry? Let''s get up, wash up, and have some breakfast." "Okay." Noelle nodded, got out of bed, and gave Charles another look. Charles let out a softugh. "I''ll head down first." Once Charles was gone, Noelle pressed a hand to her chest. She could not ignore the butterflies fluttering inside. It was her first time feeling this way, and she had not expected to be so overwhelmed by her emotions. Remembering how forward she had been the night before made her cheeks heat up all over again. She quickly patted her face to cool down and waited until her heart stopped racing before changing her clothes. Now, she was truly Charles''s wife, and she knew their bond would only grow stronger. Looking at her clothes in the closet, Noelle touched the empty space next to them and made a silent promise to herself. Dressed for the day, she went downstairs to find Charles emerging from the kitchen with breakfast ready. He nced at her and smiled warmly. "Come on. Let''s eat!" Chapter 216 Chapter 216 Noelle was supposed to visit Samuel in the hospital after they finished breakfast. Mr. Thompson had called with good news: Samuel was awake. Noelle was in a hurry to see him, but Charles gently pulled her back. "Hold on!" Confused, Noelle asked, "What is it?" "Let''s go upstairs first," Charles said, putting away the dishes. He led Noelle to his study and handed her the contract from the day before. "This is yours. Go ahead and sign it." Noelle hesitated. "Didn''t I say I''d swap shares with you once mine were sorted?" "Do you think you''ll run into your parents on the way to see your grandpa?" Charles asked, getting right to the heart of the matter. Noelle''s face tensed up a bit. She nodded, her smile tinged with a touch of sadness. "I suddenly feel like I''m not doing so great at this whole ''life'' thing." Charles gave her a reassuring grin. "You''re making a smart move right now. Go ahead and sign it!" He wanted to make sure she got the best, even if she did not seem to care much about this gift he was giving her. Charles''s phone buzzed. It was Ronald on the line. "Mr. Hoffman, everything''s ready. I''m sending it to your email now!" "Got it!" Charles replied, ending the call. Ronald''s email was already in his inbox. He quickly reviewed the document and found no issues, so printed it out for Noelle. Noelle looked at Charles, surprised. "That was quick!" However, she then remembered how Charles always got things done fast. She skimmed the contract. It was all in her favor. She hesitated for a moment. "Are you sure about this? I only suggested it yesterday, and dealing with the Shaw family can be tricky." Charlesughed softly and patted Noelle''s head. "Why should I worry about the Shaw family? Since I''m your husband now, your problems are my problems. We''ll handle this together." Noelle''s heart warmed as she nodded. "Just a second!" She hurried to her bedroom and grabbed the stocks certificate Samuel had given her. Then, she quickly drafted a document on herputer for Charles. Charles did not even look at l it before he printed it out and signed it. "Ronald will drop it off at the notary''s officeter. It''ll be done in no time!" Charles was always quick when it came to getting things done. There was no time to waste. After signing the paper, Noelle felt a twinge of worry. This did not seem quite fair to Charles. He was very skilled, but the Shaw family was a huge handful. "What will they think if they find out I''ve transferred the shares?" "Who cares what they think?" Charles walked over, took Noelle''s hand, and hugged her close, nting a warm kiss on her cheek. "I''ve got a meeting this morning, so you can visit your Grandpa by yourself, okay?"This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org. "Sure!" Noelle had not meant for Charles toe along anyway, since they had not made their rtionship public yet. She gripped Charles''s hand, their fingers weaving together. "Charles." "Yes?" He lifted an eyebrow, amused by Noelle''s unusual shyness, and yfully tousled her hair. "What''s up?" "I''ll make sure to introduce you to Grandpa and my maternal grandfather.properly soon," Noelle promised pecking Charles on the lips before trying to dash away However, Charles was quick and pulled her back into his arms with a gentle tug. That time, he gently wrapped his arms around Noelle''s waist, lifted her, and kissed her soft lips. Chapter 217 Chapter 217 Noelle''s heart skipped a beat, and she felt a mix of embarrassment and happiness. She tried to push Charles away, but he just would not let go. His kiss was gentle, and he traced her lips slowly, deepening it further. It was the gentlest kiss Noelle had ever felt, and for the first time, she realized that kissing could be something truly amazing. It was like Charles was magical. He made her rx and start to kiss him back. Still, he was definitely leading the way. Noelle got lost in his sweet kisses, and it was a long while before they could bring themselves to stop.Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. Noelle''s face felt warm, and she held Charles''s arms, her cheeks red as he nibbled on her lip. Charles looked down into her pretty eyes, hidden beneath her longshes. He softly touched her cheek, lifted her chin, and gently bumped foreheads with her. "Nelly, what do we do now?" "What?" Noelle was confused. Charles held her chin gently and kissed her again. This time, Noelle was a bit surprised, but she was ready. She wrapped her arms around his neck, clinging to him, and kissed him back with a new eagerness. They stayed like that for a long time, not wanting to let go. Noelle felt breathless. She realized that kissing was something she could get better at with practice. She gently pushed Charles back and coughed twice. "Look at the time. Aren''t you supposed to be at work?" "Yep!" Charlesughed softly, holding Noelle''s hand. "It''s definitely time for work!" His voice had a yful sadness to it. "But what can I do? I wish I could keep you with me forever!" Noelle giggled at Charles''s silly words. It was like something a kid would say. "But you don''t have a magic pocket like Doraemon to carry me around all the time!" Charles looked thoughtful for a moment, making Noelle chuckle. "What''s with that look? We''re not far apart. We see each other every day!" "Maybe I should just keep you on a leash so can keep you close!" Charles sighed and gently squeezed Noelle''s cheek. "Off you go. Get ette''s and out the door!" Content belongs to "Alright!" Noelle touched her cheek where Charles had caressed it, her heart fluttering with joy. What should she do? She was really starting to like him. Noelle stepped out of the wardrobe. By this time, Charles was already dressed, waiting by the bedroom door with his tie crooked. Noelle went over and straightened it for him. With her ts on, she was quite a bit shorter than Charles. She tiptoed to fix his tie, reaching up toward him. Charles was a bit taken aback by her abit unexpected move. He squinted and looked down at her as she focused intently. His eyes paused on her ne vern slightly open neckline, and he swallowed hard, remembering how she had lookedst night with him. He quickly looked away, taking a deep breath to calm himself. Noelle, busy with the tie, did not notice the thoughts racing through his mind. Once the tie was neatly done, Noelle let out a relieved sigh and smiled. "All set!" Charles nced down, a satisfied grin spreading across his face. Noelle caught Charles''s smile and blinked, feeling a bit shy. "I just saw your tie looked a little out of ce, so..." Chapter 218 Chapter 218 "Oh, I''m not the best with these things. I guess you''ll be responsible for tying my ties from now on!" Charles said. Noelle paused. Was there a hint of joy in his voice? The thought of tying his tie every day made her feel warm inside, so she did not object. "But I''ll need a little something for my trouble!" "How about I make you breakfast every morning to make up for it?" Charles suggested with a lightugh, enjoying their yful banter. He pulled her close and nted a kiss on the corner of her mouth. "See you tonight!" "See you tonight!" Noelle almost added something more, but she then thought better of it. She decided to keep quiet and save the surprise for Charles when she saw himter that evening. They walked downstairs together, where Ronald was already outside waiting for them. When he saw Charles and Noelle, he quickly stood up straight and greeted them, "Good morning, Mr. Hoffman, Madam." Charles nodded and handed Ronald some papers they had signed. "Please take care of these quickly." Ronald looked at the papers, a bit surprised, but he nodded right away. "Will do, sir! Oh, Mr. Hoffman, the hospital called this morning. Sir Shaw has woken up, and the Shaw family is already with him." Ronald nced at Noelle, who nodded in response. "I know. I''ll head over there soon!" Noelle knew what Ronald was worried about, but she could not keep avoiding things. It was time to face her problems and get them sorted out once and for all. "Mr. Hoffman, do you need to go with...?" "No, I''ll go alone," Noelle interrupted, shaking her head. "Charles, you have your own work to get to, right?"All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. Charles gave her a small smile. "Alright. Just be careful. Call me if you need anything, or you can ask Ronald for help." "I will," Noelle said with a resigned smile. "I''m not a little kid, you know." Charles watched Noelle''s car disappear down the street, and his face went back to being serious andposed. "Someone needs to keep an eye on her. Send Andrew." "Andrew?" Ronald blinked in surprise. Charles just gave him a look. "Do you have a problem with that?" Ronald shook his head hurriedly. How could he possibly have any objections? He just felt that Charles'' concern for Noelle seemed to ??? exceed his own expectations. He knew better than to argue. After all, Andrew was Charles''s go-to guy for tough jobs, and if Charles wanted him on this, it must be important. "Mr. Hoffman, got a call from Winter''s agent," Ronald reported. "She''s in for the role! However, getting her to sign might be tricky She''s still tied up with her currentpany, and if she makes a comeback, they won''t want to let her go." "Then we''ll just have to make sure she stumbles before she gets that chance Charles said with a chift in his voice. "Make her fall hard. Without help, she won''t get back up. You got that?" Chapter 219 Chapter 219 Noelle rushed to the hospital and found Samuel awake. The doctors had checked him over and said he was stable, so he was resting in a regr ward now. Samuel had been so angry that he had a stroke. When he finally woke up in the hospital, the only person he wanted to see was his granddaughter Noelle. The doctor remembered Noelle from the day of the surgery and agreed to Samuel¡¯s wish. Even the Shaw family could not visit Samuel without his permission. The doctors were worried about him suffering another stroke because he was old and had been so sick. Jade was really mad outside the hospital room, saying she would sue the hospital for what they were doing. Julian sat quietly, but inside, he was hurt. He was Samuel¡¯s son, yet his dad did not ask for him first. Winter was bundled up and wearing sses, trying not to be seen. She was already in a lot of trouble, and she did not need more problems. She was worried she would lose everything. Jade¡¯s loudining was getting on her nerves, but thinking about who caused all that mess made Winter even angrier. ¡°Mom, please stop yelling!¡± ¡°Stop arguing! Didn¡¯t you see how they pushed us around? They won¡¯t even let us see our own family!¡± Jade was too upset to care about anything else. She just wanted to check on Samuel and figure out how to get Noelle¡¯s shares back. Material ? N?velDrama.Org. Noelle got there just as Jade¡¯s voice was cutting through the air. When Jade spotted Noelle, she dashed toward her. Remembering what happened the night before, Noelle quickly stepped aside. Jade stumbled, growing even angrier. ¡°You little troublemaker! What are you doing here?¡± Noelle¡¯s eyes narrowed as she gave Jade a chilly look. I¡¯m here to see Grandpa.¡± She tried to walk past Jade into the room, but Jade grabbed her hand. ¡°You can¡¯t go in. Until we sort this out, nobody¡¯s going inside!¡± ¡°Let go!¡± Noelle was surprised at how clingy Jade was being. Jade was from a well¨Cknown family, after all. Her grandfather was a respected professor from a family known for their love of learning. Noelle could not understand how her mother could be so different from her maternal grandfather. Noelle shook off Jade¡¯s hand, her eyes frosty. Jade was taken aback by that icy stare. It reminded her of that woman, the one who always looked down on everyone with such pride. No, it could not be! She was not her! (1 Jade let go, still in shock, and Noelle hurried to the ward door. Just then, a nurse came by, saw Noelle, and asked, ¡°Are you Noelle?¡± Noelle nodded. ¡°Yes, that¡¯s me!¡± ¡°Perfect timing. The old man inside has woken up and is calling for you. Come with me, the nurse said. ¡°Okay!¡± Noelle nodded and followed the nurse into the room. The nurse gave Samuel a new IV bag and, seeing he was awake, patted him on the shoulder. ¡°Your granddaughter¡¯s here!¡± Samuel looked up and saw Noelle. He waved eagerly. ¡°Noelle!¡± Chapter 220 Chapter 220 ¡°Grandpa!¡± Noelle set her things aside and rushed over. Seeing how frail Samuel looked, tears welled up in her eyes. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I got herete.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be silly, my dear,¡± Samuel said, taking Noelle¡¯s hand in his. Noelle squeezed his hand. ¡°Grandpa, are you feeling any better?¡± ¡°I¡¯m doing quite well,¡± Samuel replied, though it seemed hard for him to speak. He nced outside. Noelle nodded. ¡°Everyone¡¯s waiting outside. Grandpa, they found out you gave me the shares!¡± Noelle said. ¡°Did Mom argue with you about it?¡± ¡°I saw iting.¡± Samuel shook his head. ¡°I¡¯ve been expecting it, but I¡¯m not as strong as I used to be,¡± he sighed. ¡°Noelle, I gave you the shares, so I won¡¯t take them back. I know they¡¯ll give you a hard time, but I can¡¯t do much about it. I¡¯m getting old, and one day I¡¯ll be gone. If I don¡¯t give them to you, they might end up with strangers, and then our City Ring Corp. won¡¯t belong to the Shaw family anymore. You understand, right?¡± Noelle stopped talking, her fingers freezing for a moment. Samuel narrowed his eyes. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Don¡¯t you want this too?¡± Noelle bit her lip, looking uneasy. ¡°It¡¯s not that I don¡¯t want it, Grandpa, I just¡­ Please don¡¯t get mad, okay?¡± ¡°Go ahead and tell me. I¡¯m tougher than you think!¡± After what happenedst night, Samuel felt like he could handle anything. After all, he hade close to dying before, so nothing much scared him anymore. Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. Noelle took a deep breath. ¡°Grandpa, I sold my shares in thepany.¡± ¡°What?¡± Samuel was surprised. ¡°Noelle, why? I know you have a good reason. What¡¯s going on?¡± Samuel was sure Noelle would not do something like that without a reason. She nodded, knowing she could not keep secrets from him. With a smile, she said, ¡°Grandpa, I got married.¡± ¡°You did what?¡± Samuel was shocked again. ¡°Noelle, you didn¡¯t do this just because of Xavier, did you?¡± ¡°No, Grandpa. He¡¯s really good to me, and you know him too.¡± When Noelle talked about Charles, her smile was real and warm. Samuel had been around long enough to know a true, smile when he saw one. It looked like Noelle had really found someone special. However, he was surprised he knew the guy. ¡°Who is it?¡± ¡°It¡¯s Charles, Grandpa. Remember him? He¡¯s the one who gave you that beautiful jade chess set for your birthday!¡± ¡°Oh, it¡¯s him!¡± Samuel suddenly remembered Charles. That day, he stood out the most among all the guests. He was like a shining star. Samuel spoke up again, ¡°He didn¡¯te for the Hoffman family that day, did he? Did hee for you?¡± Noelle nodded. ¡°Yeah, he¡¯s the one who saved me that day.¡± She exined what happened but made it sound like it was no big deal. 1/2 +25 BONUS Samuel had a feeling something had happened that night, but Noelle did not want to talk about it, so he never asked. Knowing that Charles had saved her from certain harm made Samuel feel better. ¡°So, what happened next? You two got married, and your shares¡­?¡± ¡°You guessed it, Grandpa. I gave my shares to Charles. Are you upset?¡± Noelle was really worried Samuel might be mad, so she was extra careful. Samuel shook his head. ¡°Silly girl, why would I be mad? You¡¯re married now, so it¡¯s up to you what you do with them. I just want to make sure you¡¯ve thought it all through.¡± Noelle nodded more surely than ever. ¡°With Charles¡¯s status, if he gets involved with City Ring Corp., it won¡¯t end up in Xavier¡¯s hands. And Grandpa, I didn¡¯t just give the shares away for nothing.¡± Noelle grinned. ¡°He¡¯s given me his Royal Star Entertainment stocks in return.¡± Chapter 221 Chapter 221 +25 BONUS Samuel sounded startled again as he asked, ¡°Royal Star Entertainment?¡± Samuel was not in the entertainment industry, but he had heard of Charles¡® name. Charles was involved in plenty of industries, so he was not unfamiliar with Royal Star Entertainment. However, he had never imagined Charles would go to this extent for Noelle. Finally, Samuel felt the stress that had been weighing him down recently lifting off his shoulders. He patted Noelle¡¯s hand as he smiled in relief. ¡°Alright, my dear child. I always knew you¡¯d be able to find someone who treated you much better than that detestable man before.¡± ¡°I did, Grandpa. He¡¯s really good to me,¡± Noelle said as she smiled shyly. ¡°Grandpa, once you¡¯re all better, shall I arrange a meeting so you guys can get to know each other officially?¡± ¡°Of course!¡± Samuel was delighted to hear his granddaughter willingly offering to introduce his grandson- inw to him. He suddenly felt like there was nothing wrong with his health anymore, and he could not wait to be discharged from the hospital to meet Charles. Noelle could tell Samuel was delighted, but it was not the right time yet. ¡°Don¡¯t get overexcited, Grandpa. You can meet him anytime. I could even get him to drop by the hospital tomorrow, but I wanted your first meeting to feel a little more official!¡± ¡°Alright!¡± Samuel said as he patted Noelle¡¯s hand. ¡°But Noelle, about you and Charles getting married¡­ Your parents¡­¡± ¡°You¡¯re the only one who knows!¡± Noelle said as she smiled. ¡°I don¡¯t feel like telling them, nor do I feel like letting too many people know that Charlie and I are getting married.¡± This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org. Noelle had ns of her own. Her marriage to Charles only involved the two of them. It was no one else¡¯s business. Besides, if Julian and Jade were to learn that she had gotten married to Charles, they would probably start buttering him up. That was not what Noelle wanted. Samuel said understandingly, ¡°That¡¯s what I meant. It¡¯s your life, so I don¡¯t have much to say about it as long as you¡¯re happy. But what does Charles¡® family think?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Grandpa. Charles will introduce me to his family once we¡¯re a bit more settled in,¡± Noelle said as she smiled. Her phone screen lit up and showed she was receiving a call from someone whose number was saved as ¡®My Home¡®. A smile spread across her features. ¡°Grandpa, I¡¯m going to take this call!¡± ¡°Hello, Charlie!¡± Charles had just ended a meeting and decided to call Noelle so he could check in on how she was doing. When he heard Noelle calling him by his name, the corners of his lips curved upward as he said pleasantly, ¡°Say that again!¡± Noelle was stunned. ¡°Say what?¡± Then, she realized what Charles was talking about and blushed as she used a hand to cover her face. ¡°No, I won¡¯t!¡± Noelle bit down on her lip as she said, ¡°Stop it. I¡¯m still with my grandfather. He¡¯s awake now!¡± ¡°Alright,¡± Charles said as he sat down and motioned for his secretary to leave. Then, he added, ¡°How is he 1/2 doing?¡± +25 BONUS ¡°The doctor just gave him a checkup and said there¡¯s nothing major to worry about anymore. He still needs plenty of rest and quiet, though. Oh, also, I¡¯ve told Grandpa about us,¡± Noelle said as she turned to look at Samuel. ¡°Grandpa, would you like to speak to Charlie?¡± Samuel shook his head. ¡°No, that¡¯s alright. You two should talk to each other!¡± ¡°Alright!¡± Noelle said as she pulled a nket over Samuel. Then, she tugged on the corner of her shirt. ¡°I¡¯ll introduce you to Grandpa once he¡¯s better!¡± Today¡¯s Bonus Offer 1. X) GET IT NOW Chapter 222 Chapter 222 +25 BONUS Noelle continued talking to Samuel, but he soon fell asleep because of his frail health. She pulled a nket over him and gazed at him for a while before taking her purse and leaving the room. Both Julian and Jade were still outside when she left the room. Upon seeing her, Jade hurried over and asked, ¡°What did your grandfather tell you? Did you talk to him about the shares?¡± Jade grabbed Noelle by the arm and shook it violently. ¡°Come on! Say something. Has he agreed to transfer ownership of the stocks to your sister?¡± ¡°Let me go!¡± If Noelle had harbored any hope for Jade to eventually start treating her better, she could admit now that she had been a blind fool. Jade¡¯s intentions were obvious. She could not care less about Noelle or about Grandpa¡¯s health. All she wanted was the shares. ¡°Grandpa is still unwell, yet all you care about are those shares and not his health.¡± Noelle gritted her teeth. ¡°I¡¯ve already told you that I won¡¯t help you with that. It¡¯s up to Grandpa how he wants to allocate ownership of those shares, and neither of us has the right to interfere!¡± ¡°You b*tch!¡± Jade blustered. ¡°How dare you speak to me that way! I am your mother!¡± ¡°Now you remember that you¡¯re my mother?¡± Noelle scoffed at how ridiculous Jade was being. ¡°I¡¯m afraid it seems that you¡¯ve never thought of me as your daughter! The same applies to you, Dad!¡± ¡°Noelle, how could you speak to Mom and Dad like this?¡± Winter asked disapprovingly. She walked over and tried to take Noelle¡¯s hand, but Noelle managed to dodge it. Winter met Noelle¡¯s eyes sheepishly. She had a few tricks that she used over and over again, but they were always effective. The pitiful look on Winter¡¯s face immediately made Julian and Jade¡¯s hearts melt, and they both gave Noelle criticizing looks. This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org. Julian was extremely displeased with the way Noelle had spoken to him. Was the gentle and docile demeanor she disyed in the past just an act? Were her true colorsing to light now that she had gained ownership of Sir Shaw¡¯s shares? ¡°Noelle, what did your grandfather say to you?¡± ¡°He didn¡¯t say much. All he said was that he experienced a rpse because someone deliberately made him lose his temper, and he told me not to worry!¡± Noelle replied, directing her gaze toward Julian and Jade as she spoke. ¡°Mom, Dad, since you guys are living with Grandpa, I believe it¡¯s your duty as his children to be more mindful of his health.¡± ¡°B*tch! Is that how you should talk to me?¡± Julian replied angrily. He had noticed Noelle¡¯s usatory tone. He was her senior, but she was finding fault with him. Imagine what that did to his ego! ¡°I want to know what your grandfather told you just now. You can tell me if you need money. I can give you more money. However, I won¡¯t allow you to take ownership of thepany¡¯s stocks. How are you supposed to manage apany when you know nothing?¡± Noelle smirked. ¡°I¡¯m sure that¡¯s what your actual n is!¡± ¡°What?¡± 1/2 er 222 +25 BONUS Julian was stunned. I¡¯m one of City Ring Corp.¡¯s executives. It only makes sense that I would be concerned!¡± Then why weren¡¯t you concerned about Grandpa¡¯s health when you¡¯re his son? Grandpa woke up last night, but have you asked about his condition even once? No, you didn¡¯t!¡± This was the actual reason Noelle was so disappointed in Julian. ¡°Do you know why Grandpa wants me to own those shares instead of you? Are you sure you really don¡¯t know his reasons? ¡°Why even bother talking to her? This is how that little brat has always acted. She¡¯s infuriating!¡± Jade was much less patient than Julian was, and she was extremely annoyed at the way Noelle was acting. ¡°Make her cough up those shares!¡± Chapter 223 Chapter 223 Noelle beganughing all of a sudden. She gazed coldly at Jade as she said, ¡°You guys should just give up. I¡¯ll never let you guys have ownership over these shares!¡± ¡°Does that mean you really do own them now?¡± Winter caught the point Noelle was trying to make, and a sinister look settled across her features as her hatred intensified. She had not expected that old geezer to actually give Noelle, that b*tch, ownership over those shares. How could that be allowed? If Noelle owned shares in City Ring Corp., it would mean she had a voice within the organization. If that were the case, Noelle would take away everything that rightfully belonged to her. Winter nced at Xavier, who had remained silent all this while, as she gritted her teeth and curled her hands into fists. However, she soon drew in a deep breath and smiled as she turned to Noelle and said, ¡± Noelle, I don¡¯t think you have much use for those shares anyway, right? How about I buy them from you? What do you think?¡± ¡°Buy them?¡± Noelleughed. ¡°How much money do you have to do that?¡± ¡°I¡­¡± Winter gritted her teeth. ¡°I¡¯ve spent some time working in the entertainment industry and have quite a bit of savings. How much are you asking for?¡± Noelle gave Winter a mocking look, marveling at how innocent she could be at times. ¡°Since you¡¯re such a fan of the entertainment industry, why don¡¯t you continue in that line of work? Who knows? Perhaps you might win an Oscar or an Emmy in the future! I don¡¯t think you would have any idea how to do business either!¡± An ugly look immediately appeared on Winter¡¯s face. She could no longer keep the smile on her face and wished desperately that she could strangle Noelle. ¡°Noelle, what are you talking about? If there¡¯s anything I don¡¯t know, I can just learn. You don¡¯t even like doing business, so there¡¯s no point in you having ownership over those shares. You might even end up getting scammed in the future!¡± ¡°I might not be the one who ends up getting scammed!¡± Noelle said bemusedly. She imitated Charles and smiled a smile that did not reach her eyes. ¡°Everything I¡¯ve said remains true. I won¡¯t give you ownership over the shares no matter how much money you offer me!¡± Noelle swept a cold gaze over them. ¡°Grandpa is asleep now. I¡¯m leaving.¡± ¡°You can¡¯t leave!¡± Jade stood in Noelle¡¯s way. ¡°You aren¡¯t going anywhere until we get everything sorted out!¡± Jade was determined to stop Noelle from leaving because she could not ept the way things had progressed. Noelle could not have ownership over these shares. What would happen to her darling Winter if that happened? Julian walked over. ¡°Be a good girl, Noelle. I¡¯ll give you anything you want, other than those shares!¡± ¡°Hah!¡± Noelle scoffed. ¡°So, you¡¯re resorting to threatening me now?¡± She curled her hands into fists and drew in a deep breath. ¡°Threats won¡¯t work either. I won¡¯t hand those shares over to you!¡± 1/2 +25 BONUS She had expected that the Shaws would not just sit back and watch, but she did not expect them to take things to such an extent. Noelle smiled slightly. ¡°Oh, I forgot to tell you guys that although Grandpa has given me ownership over the shares, I¡¯ve already transferred to someone else!¡± Material ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°What did you say?¡± Julian eximed as he gave Noelle a look of disbelief. ¡°You transferred ownership over the shares to someone else? When did that happen? Who did you give them to?¡± Julian reached out to grab Noelle¡¯s arm, a bone¨Cchilling look in his eyes. ¡°Did you give them to Joshua?¡± Noelle was startled by the fury on Julian¡¯s face. It was her first time seeing Julian this agitated. Julian was much stronger than Jade, and he tightened his grip on Noelle¡¯s arm when she said nothing. ¡° Answer me, Noelle. Did you give your uncle the right to own those shares?¡± Today¡¯s Bonus Offer Chapter 224 Chapter 224 +25 BONUS Noelle gritted her teeth and nced at the arm Julian was gripping before she looked up. ¡°What do you think, Dad?¡± ¡°Did you really give them to Joshua? Have you gone mad? Your grandfather adopted him as a child, and he¡¯s not even an actual Shaw! How could you transfer ownership of those shares to an outsider? Do you know just how many shares your grandfather owns? If you¡¯ve really given them to Joshua, City Ring Corp. will have to undergo an entire structural change!¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think it¡¯s that serious!¡± Noelle chuckled, cing a hand on Julian¡¯s before shoving it away with great force. ¡°Uncle Joshua has lived with Grandpa for many years, and Grandpa is genuinely fond of him. He¡¯s long treated Uncle Joshua like a member of the Shaw family! Dad, are you denying that he¡¯s part of the family when not even Grandpa is doing that?¡± ¡°What do you know? At the end of the day, he¡¯s not rted to the family by blood. Your grandfather might be nice to him, but who knows what¡¯s actually going through Joshua¡¯s mind? What if your grandfather¡¯s inheritance is all he cares about?¡± Noelle was truly pissing Julian off. He had never expected Noelle to be such an ingrate and to transfer ownership of the shares to Joshua. Material ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Where¡¯s Joshua? Did he go into hiding after getting those shares?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t give the shares to Uncle Joshua,¡± Noelle said as she gazed at Julian cooly. ¡°He¡¯s still out of the country now, and he couldn¡¯t care less about fighting against you for the Shaw family inheritance. Don¡¯t assume the worst of everyone, Dad. Uncle Joshua has always thought of us as family, and he¡¯d be devastated if he found out that this is how we think of him in return.¡± ¡°Then, who did you give them to?!¡± Julian asked as he gritted his teeth. ¡°Who else could you have given them to besides Joshua?¡± Julian could not care less what Joshua thought. All he wanted to know was who owned the rights to City Ring Corp¡¯s shares now. Noelle smirked. ¡°Stop wasting your time, Dad, I won¡¯t tell you. All you have to do is promise me you¡¯ll do a good job managing City Ring Corp and that you won¡¯t transfer ownership of whatever shares you hold now to anyone else.¡± As Noelle spoke, she turned to meet Winter and Xavier¡¯s eyes before she smiled and said, ¡°If you do that, I can promise that the shares under Grandpa¡¯s ownership won¡¯t do anything to threaten your position in City Ring Corp. But I¡¯ll definitely take action if there are any changes made to the shares under your ownership.¡± ¡°Are you threatening me?¡± Julian asked, his teeth gritted together. ¡°Do you know who you¡¯re talking to?¡± ¡°Yes, of course I do. You¡¯re my father! But you¡¯re also Winter¡¯s father and the president of City Ring Corp. Many things demand your attention, and I have a lot of balls in the air too. I¡¯m no longer the person I once was, Dad. I won¡¯t make anypromises on these shares the way I used to give in to you when it came to other matters. That¡¯s all you need to know!¡± Noelle swept her cold gaze across Winter and Xavier as she spoke. Winter¡¯s hands were curled into fists, and the look in her eyes was simr to that of a venomous snake¡¯s as she red at Noelle. Meanwhile, Xavier¡¯s eyes glinted greedily as he wrapped an arm around Winter¡¯s shoulders. Noelle frowned in disgust as she averted her gaze. ¡°I have other matters to attend to. I¡¯ll be taking my leave now.¡± 1/2 +25 BONUS ¡°Stop right there, Noelle Shaw. You b*tch!¡± Jade rushed over to stand in Noelle¡¯s way, but Noelle swiftly dodged past her as she said, ¡°Mom, I¡¯d advise you to stop meddling if you¡¯re truly concerned for the wellbeing of both myself and City Ring Corp! If I get upset, thepany will undergo a massive restructuring!¡± Chapter 225 Chapter 225 ¡°Noelle, wait!¡± Noelle was already at the hospital¡¯s main entrance when Xavier¡¯s voice rang out from behind her. She paused and watched as he made his way toward her. Xavier hurried over to stand before Noelle. He smiled at her. ¡°Noelle, was everything you said true?¡± +25 BONUS Noelle narrowed her eyes and gave Xavier a wary look. ¡°What are you referring to?¡± Based on the look in Xavier¡¯s eyes, she had already figured out what he was talking about. Sure enough, he asked, ¡°Did Grandpa Shaw really give those shares to you? You were lying when you said you¡¯d given ownership of them to someone else, weren¡¯t you?¡± Noelle¡¯s eyes remained narrowed as she burst intoughter. ¡°Do you think I was lying or telling the truth?¡± She chose to answer his question with another question, and that visibly stunned Xavier. He frowned, seemingly displeased by her attitude. ¡°I asked you first.¡± Noelle pursed her lips, a sudden wave of annoyance toward Xavier washing over her. She wondered how she had such bad taste in the past to fall for a man like him. This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org. ¡°I don¡¯t think it¡¯s any of your business who owns those shares, Mr. Harrison!¡± Noelle said sternly. ¡°After all, you¡¯re not part of the Shaw family.¡± ¡°How is it none of my business?!¡± Xavier asked, flustered. ¡°We¡­ You and I¡­¡± ¡°You and I?¡± Noelle scoffed. ¡°You and I have nothing to do with each other, which means that you have no right to ask about those shares and whether I own them or not!¡± ¡°Noelle!¡± Xavier frowned. ¡°How could you say that?! Have you forgotten how happy you were and how much you loved me when we were together? Have your feelings changed after so little time has passed?¡± ¡°Have my feelings changed? Xavier Harrison, have you no shame?¡± Noelle was truly offended by Xavier¡¯s words and actions. ¡°Which one of us was the first to betray the rtionship? You betrayed me by getting with my sister, so don¡¯t forget that you wronged me first. Don¡¯t use me of not being loyal to the rtionship. Yes, I used to have feelings for you, but that¡¯s all in the past. Did you think I¡¯d have so little respect for myself that I¡¯d willingly let you insult me? I¡¯m not that lowly!¡± Noelle gritted her teeth. ¡°What are you trying to say? If there¡¯s nothing else you want to talk about, I¡¯ve got other matters to attend to and no time to waste with you!¡± As she turned to walk away, Xavier grabbed her hand and forcefully stopped her from leaving. ¡°Noelle, do things between us really have to end this way?¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure you know that Winter and I don¡¯t love each other. You¡¯re the one I¡¯m in love with, and I only got together with her because she¡­¡± ¡°That¡¯s enough!¡± Noelle wrestled herself free of Xavier¡¯s grasp, a cold look in her eyes. She had long since that he could do or say that would change her impression of given up on Xavier, and there was Charles. ¡°Your rtionship with Winter has nothing to do with me.¡± ¡°How could it have nothing to do with you, Noelle? You¡¯re the one I¡¯m in love with. If you had¡­¡± ¡°What about me?¡± Noelle scoffed. ¡°Are you going to tell me that if I¡¯d gained ownership of City Ring Corp¡¯s 1/2 +25 BONUS shares earlier, you would¡¯ve never got together with Winter?¡± Noelle gritted her teeth. ¡°You¡¯re despicable, Xavier Harrison. Don¡¯t destroy what little goodwill I have left toward you now.¡± Noelle gave Xavier onest look. ¡°Since you¡¯re with Winter now, you should stop causing so much trouble. Don¡¯t think that I¡¯m an easy target for you to pick on. I won¡¯t hold back if you guys cross my boundaries!¡± Chapter 226 Chapter 226 Noelle turned away without hesitating and drove off. She had never imagined Xavier would go this far and pull such disgusting moves. How dare he come buttering her up now that he knew she was a shareholder of City Ring Corp? Did he really think she was an idiot he could summon as he pleased? She had not reached the point where she had that little self¨Crespect! Winter stood in a corner and watched the exchange between Xavier and Noelle. Her hands were gripping the wall tightly as she gritted her teeth and red at Noelle until she finally left. For a moment, Winter wished to herself that the wall in her grasp was actually Noelle so that she could strangle her to death. Why? Why were both her paternal and maternal grandfathers so nice to that bitch? Her paternal grandfather had even transferred ownership of his shares to Noelle! All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. As for Xavier¡­ Well, she had always known he had only gotten together with her because he had his eyes set on the shares she owned. However, she did not care. She would take everything that Noelle wanted and treasured no matter what it took¨Ceven if it meant giving up what she cared for most in the world. Winter drew in a deep breath and recollected her emotions before she walked out and linked arms with Xavier. ¡°What did Noelle say, Xavier? Has she really transferred ownership of those shares to someone else?¡± Xavier was in a terrible mood now. He felt overwhelmed with regret whenever he thought of what Noelle had just said to him, and his annoyance only increased when Winter walked over to him. ¡°Xavier?¡± Xavier turned around and said exasperatedly, ¡°How am I supposed to know?¡± ¡°Xavier!¡± Winter called out as she bit down on her lip. Her hands were trembling when she wrapped them around Xavier¡¯s arm. Guilt washed over Xavier when he saw the look on Winter¡¯s face, and he forced himself to speak to her patiently, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Winter. What happened just now was my fault. ¡°I¡¯m sure you know what Noelle is like. She hates our guts right now and thinks that we¡¯ve wronged her. She¡¯s getting her revenge on us!¡± Xavier patted Winter¡¯s hand. ¡°She¡¯s refusing to tell who she¡¯s given those shares to. What should we do now?¡± ¡°What else can we do other than think of a way to force her into handing over ownership to those shares? I refuse to believe that she just gave them to someone else without wanting something in return.¡± After all, this was not a small percentage of shares they were talking about but rather half of the shares of City Ring Corp. Winter refused to believe Noelle was that stupid. There was no doubt Noelle was lying to them. 1/2 +25 BONUS ¡°Yes. We must think of a way to have Noelle give up ownership of those shares to you. After all, you¡¯re the rightful heiress to the Shaw family and the only one who has the right to inherit the Shaw family¡¯s assets!¡± Xavier spoke as he patted Winter¡¯s hand. Since Noelle was refusing to get back together, there was nothing he could do now other than make sure Winter remained firmly within his clutches. Upon hearing what Xavier said, Winter ced a gentle kiss on his lips. ¡°I always knew you¡¯d look out for me, Xavier. We muste up with a well¨Ccrafted n. Noelle has no knack for doing business, and her hostility is extended toward everyone in the Shaw family besides Grandpa. ¡°I¡¯m worried she¡¯ll use her ownership of these shares to stir up drama and cause problems that won¡¯t benefit us, the Shaw family, and City Ring Corp. This means that the shares can¡¯t belong to Noelle. I know doing this may be unfair to Noelle, but I have no other choice!¡± ¡°I understand. You¡¯re doing this for her own good and preventing her from being manipted in the future,¡± Xavier said as he patted Winter¡¯s hand. ¡°Let¡¯s go. Don¡¯t you have an audition today? I¡¯ll drop you off!¡± ¡°Alright. I always knew you loved me most, Xavier.¡± As Winter imagined herself returning to the stage and doing better than she ever was, she felt like the future held endless possibilities. Chapter 227 Chapter 227 What did Noelle have that would make them equals? She was nothing more than a mere employee at Frotconn. ¡°Oh, that¡¯s right, Xavier,¡± Winter said as she chewed on her lip. ¡°Given how tense my rtionship with Noelle is, do you think it¡¯ll bring any harm to Frotconn if she continues working there?¡± An odd look appeared on Xavier¡¯s face. He had not even considered this problem. However, it seemed tough to have Noelle fired from Frotconn when she had not done anything wrong. ¡°What are you thinking about, Xavier?¡± Winter asked as she shook Xavier¡¯s shoulder lightly. ¡°Do you think I¡¯m being too harsh on Noelle?¡± ¡°No, don¡¯t overthink things!¡± Xavier began thinking about what Winter had just brought up. An ugly look settled across his features when he realized Frotconn seemed to be experiencing a decline in orders recently. ¡°You¡¯re right. I must discuss this with my father. Given how much Noelle hates me, I don¡¯t think it would be good for Frotconn if she continues working there!¡± While Xavier was thinking of ways to have Noelle fired from Frotconn, Noelle had also made a decision. Previously, she had thought of herself as someone who could keep her private life separate from her professional life and had not wanted to leave her job at Frotconn just because she was no longer romantically involved with Xavier. However, after what just happened, she felt she could no longer work with Xavier. Besides, back when they worked in the samepany, Xavier frequently harassed her and made snidements about her while at work. Noelle could pretend she had not heard hisments, but she could not stop herself from feeling hurt. Noelle returned to Phoenix Tree Residence after her visit to the hospital. Charles had not gotten off work yet. Noelle moved all of Charles¡® clothes and belongings from the guest room into the master bedroom and then began decorating the room once everything was moved in. Once she was done, she put the sheets into the washing machine. After doing all that, Noelle decided to get some groceries since it was still early. Her n was to prepare a sumptuous meal for Charles. Charles did not see Noelle anywhere in the house after returning from work He had gotten off work early that day because he thought Noelle might be bored at home and had wanted to surprise her. He had not been expecting to receive a surprise from Noelle instead. The minute Charles stepped into the living room, he immediately noticed the minute changes made, thanks to his astonishing memory. The living room looked much cozier after being redecorated, and Charles¡® eyes crinkled in pleasure when he saw the fresh flowers on the coffee table. He walked up the stairs with anticipation. Sure enough, his belongings were gone from the guest bedroom. The corners of his lips curved upward into a smile as an excited look appeared in his eyes. Smiling, Charles opened the door to the master bedroom. Sure enough, it had a brand¨Cnew look to it. Even the curtains seemed to have been changed into a mo Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. The sheets were new too. When he opened the doors were now filled with his clothes. His color palette was colors. Just that one look alone was enough to satisfy He rested his elegant fingers against the closet doors voice rang out from behind him. ¡°You¡¯re back!¡± Today¡¯s Bonus Offer the curtains seemed to have been changed into a more The sheets were new too. When he opened the doors t were now filled with his clothes. His color palette was colors. Just that one look alone was enough to satisfy He rested his elegant fingers against the closet doors voice rang out from behind him. ¡°You¡¯re back!¡± Today¡¯s Bonus Offer +25 BONUS the curtain¡¯s seemed to have been changed into a more warm¨Ctoned set. The sheets were new too. When he opened the doors to the closet, he saw that the once¨Cempty spaces were now filled with his clothes. His color palette was more monochromatic while hers had pops of fresh colors. Just that one look alone was enough to satisfy Charles. He rested his elegant fingers against the closet doors and tapped out a gentle rhythm. Just then, Noelle¡¯s voice rang out from behind him. ¡°You¡¯re back!¡± Chapter 228 Chapter 228 +25 BONUS Noelle saw Charles standing in front of the closet with a look that signaled he was deep in thought. She bit down on her lip as she walked over hesitantly. ¡°I¡­ I was thinking that since we¡¯ve¡­ So, I decided to bring your clothes over. Are you mad?¡± Noelle snuck a careful look at Charles¡® face, observing the changes in his expression. She was worried Charles might get mad at what she had done. Charles grinned, a warm and fuzzy feeling washing over him as he gazed at Noelle. He reached out to ruffle her hair before he pulled her into his arms. ¡°Silly girl, why would I be mad? I¡¯m absolutely delighted!¡± He had not expected her to have that sort of self¨Cawareness and had never imagined she would be this proactive. How could he get mad at that? Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. Upon hearing what Charles said, Noelle rxed and rested her head against his chest. ¡°Why are you back home this early today?¡± ¡°I missed you!¡± His low voice rang out as he reached up to ruffle Noelle¡¯s soft hair. There was a sparkle in the depths of his eyes. Noelle felt like she was about to overflow with love as shey against Charles¡® chest. She bit down on her lip momentarily before lifting her head to press a kiss against his chin. ¡°I bought some groceries to prepare your favorite dishes tonight!¡± Noelle began heading toward the kitchen, but Charles pulled on her hand and said, ¡°It¡¯s been a long day for you. Why don¡¯t you go get some rest? I¡¯ll prepare dinner!¡± ¡°Oh, but¡­¡± ¡°Treat it as a reward,¡± Charles said as he tapped her nose gently, a smile spreading across his features. It¡¯s a reward for your proactiveness!¡± A blush crept across Noelle¡¯s face as she gazed at Charles¡® retreating figure. She lifted a finger to touch the spot where Charles had touched just now, and it still felt slightly warm to the touch. A wave of emotions rippled its way through her, leaving her breathless. Charles had always been quite the chef. This was a fact Noelle had learned from all the time they had spent together. However, today¡¯s meal tasted even better than it usually did. She had already snuck several looks at Charles, acting as if she were peeking at some sort of treasured possession. Charles had a rueful look on his face as he put his cutlery down and turned to look at Noelle. That move startled Noelle, and she bashfully lowered her gaze. Charles smirked. ¡°Aren¡¯t you hungry?¡± Noelle hurriedly shoveled several forkfuls of food into her mouth, lowering her head so much that her tiny face was about toe into contact with her te. Charles shook his head ruefully. ¡°Let¡¯s have dinner first We can talk about whatever¡¯s on your mindter!¡± ¡°Okay!¡± Noelle answered, feeling embarrassed. It was her first time sneaking looks at Charles, and he had caught her in the act. Noelle did not have too much to eat. She sat primly in her chair and gazed at Charles when she was done, +25 BONUS She had to admit that Charles was extremely good¨Clooking and that one would not tire of his looks easily. His calm demeanor was very attractive to her. Noelle felt like she was about to go mad. Her mind was filled with nothing but thoughts of Charles. Charles finally put his cutlery down and drummed his elegant¨Clooking fingers on the table as he grinned.¡± You had something you wanted to say?¡± Noelle nodded. ¡°I told Grandpa about our rtionship.¡± Charles nodded. He had already guessed it when he called Noelle the other day. ¡°What else?¡± ¡°My parents know too, but they don¡¯t believe me. They think I¡¯m lying and that there¡¯s no way I would transfer the ownership of the shares to someone else.¡± Noelle scoffed as she shook her head. ¡°They really think I¡¯m after the Shaw family¡¯s fortune!¡± Given their personalities, there was no way they would believe Noelle had transferred out the ownership of those shares. Chapter 229 Chapter 229 ¡°What do you n on doing?¡± Charles asked, a slight frown creeping across his face. ¡°Do you need my help?¡± ¡°Not yet,¡± Noelle said as she shook her head. She did not want to sit back and do nothing while Charles took care of everything for her. ¡°I¡¯ve already told them that I won¡¯t pose a threat to them as long as they don¡¯t do anything funny with the shares they now hold. If they try getting up to any funny business, I¡¯ll use the power I hold from the shares currently own to assert dominance over them!¡± Charles pursed his lips together as Noelle gazed at him nervously. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Have I said something wrong?¡± ¡°No, no. You¡¯re doing things right.¡± He just did not want Noelle to get involved so soon. The Shaw family did not pose a massive threat, but at the end of the day, they were Noelle¡¯s parents, and he wanted to dy the ruthless treatment for as long as possible. ¡°But the shares you own now aren¡¯t enough for you to assert dominance over them yet. It¡¯ll merely allow you to be their equal in thepany. You¡¯ll need to ensure you have a massive advantage over them if that¡¯s what you n on doing. Do you understand what I¡¯m getting at?¡± Noelle¡¯s heart sank. ¡°I¡¯m sure you know that I¡¯m reluctant to get involved, but I understand everything you¡¯re talking about. These are all the shares I own for now, though.¡± Samuel had given her plenty. The 15% he had given her previously and another 25% he had given her on yet another asion meant Noelle owned a total of 40% of thepany¡¯s shares. That was a greater sum than anyone else in the Shaw family. ¡°Are you saying I should buy off shares from someone else?¡± It was only today that Noelle learned that the agreement Samuel had asked her to sign previously was a fake and the one that came after was the real one. She had not taken a close look back then and only learned that her grandfather had left all his shares to her when they spoke in the ward earlier. No wonder her parents were so flustered. Even Noelle, who was not well¨Cversed in this area, understood what ownership of 40% of a company¡¯s shares meant. ¡°I¡¯ll take care of this. You don¡¯t have to worry,¡± Charles said as he got up to clear the table. Noelle hurriedly followed suit. ¡°I¡¯ll do it!¡± However, Charles ced a hand on Noelle¡¯s and shook his head slightly. ¡°Go take a seat. I¡¯ll clean up!¡± Noelle removed her hands but followed Charles into the kitchen and gazed at him. ¡°I always thought that since you were from a rich family, you wouldn¡¯t do all these chores.¡± Charles paused. ¡°Then, what did you think I¡¯d do?¡± Noelle gave it some thought before answering, ¡°Eating and drinking to your heart¡¯s content and just 1/2 +25 BONUS having a jolly good time!¡± Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. Noelle meant what she said, but Charles merely chuckled upon hearing that. ¡°You know that I went overseas when I was still a kid, right? Besides, not all well¨Cto¨Cdo kids live that sort of lifestyle. The Hoffman family was very strict in my upbringing!¡± Noelle gazed at the slight smile on Charles¡® face and caught sight of the loneliness in his eyes. Walking over, she leaned her head against his back before wrapping her arms around his waist and hugging him tightly. ¡°Thank you, Charles!¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Charles could smell the fragrance emanating from her as well as hear the loneliness in her tone. The sudden embrace had him spreading his arms open so that she could hug him as she liked. ¡°Why are you thanking me?¡± ¡°Thank you for giving me a home.¡± It was only now that Noelle finally felt like she and Charles were a couple and a family of their own. Though she had parents and a sister, she rarely felt any warmth or familial love from them. No one, other than her maternal and paternal grandfathers, was this nice to her. Chapter 230 Chapter 230 Noelle nestled herself against Charles¡® back as if she were a kitten. ¡°I¡¯ll take good care of you, and I¡¯ll always be on your side!¡± Charles grinned. There was a warm and loving look in the depths of his eyes that Noelle could not see. ¡°Alright. I¡¯ll always be on your side too. But, Mrs. Hoffman, I don¡¯t think I¡¯ll be able to finish washing these dishes by tonight if you continue hugging me!¡± Charles said teasingly with a grin on his face. Noelle immediately let go of him and jumped away from him upon hearing that. She maintained a distance between them. A blush crept across her face as she said, ¡°Alright, go ahead and clean up, then. I¡¯ll go watch some TV!¡± Noelle hurried into the living room. Charles grinned when he turned and saw her escaping the kitchen. Noelle¡¯s heart was racing. It was her first time making the first move, and she was still in disbelief. After all, she had never been the one to make the first move in the years she and Charles had known each other. As for what was on the TV¡­ Noelle had no idea because her mind was preupied with thoughts about Charles. She felt like she was about to lose her mind and that she was starting to develop feelings for him. When Charles finished washing the dishes, he walked to the couch and sat down before waving a hand at Noelle. She bit down on her lip and slowly edged toward him before looking up at him. He reached out and patted his thigh before wrapping an arm around Noelle and pulling her toward him. Noelle allowed him to move her around as he liked, and her head ended up on Charles¡®p while one of her hands found its way onto his knee. Her eyes widened as she gazed up at him. Charles reached out and began massaging her temples gently. She found itfortable and smiled as she got cozy and closed her eyes. Not only were Charles¡® fingers elegant and good¨Clooking, but they were also extremely nimble. A short massage had Noelle¡¯s entire body feeling rxed, and his gentle fingers felt like they were dancing across her forehead. The corners of Noelle¡¯s lips curved upward into a slight smile as her fingers began imitating Charles¡® movements. Raising her hands, she brought them toward Charles¡® chin. ¡°Lower, lower. That¡¯s right, lower your head a little more!¡± Charles obediently lowered his head slightly, and his good¨Clooking face appeared before her eyes. Her fingers danced across his face without rhyme or reason, and she dragged them across the stubble that had appeared on his chin, which was prickly to the touch. Noelle reached out and poked it gently. A rueful look appeared on Charles¡® face as he reached out to grab her hands and say lovingly, ¡°Stop it!¡± Noelle removed her hands from his grasp and continued running her fingers across his face. ¡°Why do you have such good skin? It¡¯s even better than mine!¡± At that, Noelle touched her face momentarily before she continued touching Charles¡® face, sounding slightly disgruntled as she said, ¡°You¡¯ve got better skin than a woman. I¡¯m so jealous!¡± 1/2 +25 BONUS ¡°Why are you jealous? I¡¯m yours!¡± Charles said as he gazed down at her, meeting her beautiful eyes framed by a long pair of eyshes. This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org. The color of his pupils darkened slightly as his gazended on her luscious red lips. His Adam¡¯s apple bobbed up and down as the color of his eyes turned into that of the night sky. He let out a gentle sigh before he tilted her chin upward and kissed those lips he had been longing for. Chapter 231 Chapter 231 His kiss was gentle, carrying a tender affection that left Noelle bewildered. She gazed at him through half- closed eyes, her hands cradling his cheeks while her fingersbed through his hair. She began to kiss him back. He took the lead, guiding her deeper into the embrace and drawing her further into the moment. They kissed passionately, losing track of time until Charles finally pulled away. Noelle exhaled slowly, trying to catch her breath. Charles lifted her gently and held her close, his forehead resting against hers. Does it still hurt?¡± he asked softly. Noelle was taken aback, and it took her a moment to respond. She then shook her head shyly. ¡°No, it doesn¡¯t hurt anymore.¡± He was very gentlest night. She recalled Rowena telling her that a woman¡¯s first time could be very painful, but for her, the pain had only been brief. Very soon, she was lost in the sensations he brought her. Just thinking about it now made Noelle blush. She tugged at his shirt. ¡°Why did you even ask that?¡± She felt incredibly embarrassed. Charles chuckled, lifting her chin with his fingers and kissing her lips again. A smile was ying at the corners of his mouth. ¡°I want more.¡± Noelle felt her mind explode. She was overwhelmed by his words. She reached up to cover his eyes with her hands. ¡°You¡¯re so shameless!¡± With a softugh, he picked her up and carried her upstairs. She gasped as she instinctively wrapped her Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. arms around his neck. He kissed her as he carried her to the bedroom, then gentlyid her on the bed. His movements were careful and tender. Noelle felt enveloped by aforting warmth as his tall frame loomed over her, though he did not let his full weight press down on her. He kissed her again, tracing the shape of her lips. His hands began exploring her body, igniting sparks wherever they touched, like kindling to a fire that grew hotter with each moment. Noelle was lost in desire as she clung to him. She matched his movements and weed his every advance. This time was different from the hesitant exploration of the previous night. He moved with a blend of passion and tenderness, guiding her as they discovered each other anew. Noelle was sopletely immersed in his touch that she even lost track of time. Shey sprawled on Charles¡® chest in exhaustion while his hand rested on her waist, encouraging her. She reached up to touch his jaw, murmuring, ¡°No more¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± Charles nipped at her ear. ¡°We¡¯re just getting started.¡± Noelle¡¯s eyes flew open in surprise, and she pushed at him, protesting, ¡°No more, really! You weren¡¯t like thisst night!¡± She had only just experienced such intimacy and was unprepared for his stamina. Charles took her hand, kissed it, and then lifted her onto him. ¡°Nelly, your stamina is too poor.¡± Noelle froze, unable toprehend his words for a moment. +15 BONUS Was he criticizing her? Also, what did stamina have to do with it? Clearly, it was his own issue. ¡°With more practice, you¡¯ll get used to it,¡± Charles whispered in her ear, his tongue teasing her earlobe. Noelle shivered and nearly fell off him, but Charles caught her just in time. She smacked his shoulder as she blushed furiously. ¡°Stop it. I¡¯m all sticky. I need a shower!¡± ¡°Just once more, just once!¡± Charles held her waist, and Noelle winced. Her brows furrowed together in pain. ¡°Go slow¡­ It hurts!¡± Chapter 232 Chapter 232 This feeling was strange. Noelle even felt a tremor in her heart. Even though she wanted to push Charles away, when she looked into his deep, dark Yes, it was as if she was drawn into them. She was gently carried along by the waves of passion. Her hands clung to his shoulders as she bit down on her lip, her fingers digging into Charles¡® arms. It was only after a long while that she felt ite to an end. Noelle was breathing heavily,pletely exhausted. Shey atop Charles, her eyes half¨Clidded as she red at him. However, in Charles¡® eyes, she looked more enchanting than intimidating, rekindling the desire he had just sated. Noelle looked at him in fear. ¡°No more!¡± she pleaded. Charles narrowed his eyes, then pulled Noelle into his embrace. Stroking her hair, he said, ¡°Alright.¡± Though he still had energy, he had to consider her feelings. She had only just experienced intimacy for the first time, and he did not want to frighten her. They had plenty of time ahead of them, so there was no rush. He kissed her forehead and gently tucked her disheveled hair behind her ear. ¡°Tired?¡± Noelle nodded. ¡°Rowena lied to me!¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± He raised an eyebrow, surprised that she was thinking about someone else after the moment they had just shared. ¡°What did she lie to you about?¡± ¡°She said this would be addictive and very enjoyable.¡± ¡°You didn¡¯t enjoy it?¡± Charles¡® eyebrow arched, his tone lifting slightly. He gently caressed her flushed face with his long fingers as he let out a soft chuckle. ¡°Are you saying I didn¡¯t please you?¡± ¡°No, I¡­¡°. Noelle stammered, lowering her head in embarrassment. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean it like that.¡± She just found it different from what Rowena described. Although Charles had not caused her pain and had indeed captivated her, Rowena had not mentioned the possibility of Charles going at it repeatedly. Noelle bit her lip, feeling aggrieved. ¡°I don¡¯t know how to exin it. I¡¯m tired. I want to sleep.¡± ¡°Good girl, don¡¯t sleep yet.¡± Charles chuckled when he saw Noelle¡¯s anxious expression, feeling a rush of affection. He pecked her reddened lips. ¡°Get up and take a bath.¡± Noelle was indeed feeling ufortable. She wrapped her arms around Charles¡¯s neck. ¡°I can¡¯t move. You carry me.¡± ¡°Are you sure?¡± Charles¡® gaze darkened. Before Noelle understood what he meant, Charles scooped her up and carried her to the bathroom. Afterward, as he stood at the bathroom door and held her waist, Noelle finally realized what Charles had meant by that question. Noelle gritted her teeth. ¡°Charles, you¡¯re going back on your word!¡± Thinking about how Charles had carried her into the bathroom only to envelope her again in the bathtub, Noelle felt that the cold, aloof image of Charles she had in her mind hadpletely shattered. 1/2 +15 BONUS Charles raised an eyebrow as he looked at Noelle¡¯s exasperated expression. He gently picked her up andid her softly on the bed when they were done, kissing her forehead. ¡°Alright, you should sleep now.¡± Noelle held onto Charles¡® hand, her eyes fixed on him. ¡°What about you? Aren¡¯t you going to sleep?¡± Charles¡® eyes twinkled with a smile. ¡°Yes, I will.¡± He moved past her andy down beside her. This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org. Noelle found this feeling incredibly strange. Originally, she and Charles had no connection, but now, they were together. The man who was rumored to be cold and ruthless was now beside her, giving her endless warmth. Comments Chapter 233 Chapter 233 Noelle shifted closer to him. Her smooth, slender arm brushed against his. Charles then turned his head, his deep eyes falling on her face. Noelle froze for a moment. She stared back at him before leaning her head on his shoulder, clutching his arm with both hands. Charles kissed her forehead and said, ¡°Go to sleep.¡± Noelle closed her eyes. She was still holding onto him, and soon, her steady breathing signaled she was asleep. Charles opened his eyes and looked at her peaceful face. There was a smile ying on his lips. Under the soft light of the bedsidemp, his handsome smile became visible. Noelle woke in the middle of the night and noticed the emptiness beside her. She immediately opened her eyes and fumbled to turn on themp, only to find Charles was not there. Feeling a wave of disappointment, she touched the spot where he had been. It was no longer warm. Biting her lip, she clutched the nket tightly. After a while, Noelle made up her mind. She got out of bed and walked to the guest room. She knocked on the door, but there was no response. She pushed open the door while biting her lip, only to find that the room was empty. Feeling even more dejected, she turned to go back to her room but froze when she saw Charles standing less than a meter away. He was wearing light gray pajamas and holding a ss of water, his brows furrowed together. ¡°Why are you up?¡± Charles¡® gaze shifted from Noelle¡¯s face to her feet. Seeing she was barefoot, his expression darkened. ¡± Why didn¡¯t you put on slippers?¡± Noelle finally recovered from the shock. She looked down at her bare feet and felt a little aggrieved. ¡°I thought you left. When I woke up and you weren¡¯t there, I thought¡­¡± Sighing, he offered her his slippers. ¡°Put these on.¡± Noelle obediently put on the slippers. ¡°W¨CWhere did you go?¡± she asked cautiously. ¡°It¡¯s already so late.¡± ¡°I was in the study. I had some work to finish,¡± Charles replied, handing her the ss of water before lifting her into his arms. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Where would I go in the middle of the night? Go back to sleep.¡± ¡°And you?¡± Noelle looked up at Charles. ¡°It¡¯s sote. Can¡¯t the work wait until tomorrow?¡± She had genuinely feared Charles had disappeared, and the thought brought back the painful memories of being betrayed by Xavier and Winter. She thought Xavier was hers but, in fact, he was not. She had always thought of herself as strong because she did not rely on anyone. Now that she believed she had found someone she could rely on, she was terrified of losing this newfound security. ¡°Don¡¯t work anymore, Stay with me, please?¡± She tugged on Charles¡® sleeve. She admitted that she was being a bit needy, but she just wanted Charles by her side as his presence made her feel secure. This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org. Charles raised his brow, his dark gaze softening as he nodded. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll do the work tomorrow.¡± He +15 BONUS held her close, trying to provide her with the security she needed. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m not going anywhere- ever.¡± BIG SALE: 3500 bonus free fou you Comments ÏÉ Support Chapter 234 Chapter 234 +15 BONUS Winter¡¯s agent called the producer of the film, which was invested by Royal Star Entertainment, and arranged the audition time. The agent then took Winter to the headquarters of Royal Star Entertainment. This was Winter¡¯s first time entering the building. Although she had been quite sessful in the entertainment industry, she had never managed to tap into Royal Star Entertainment¡¯s resources before. Her agency was decent but still fell shortpared to Royal Star Entertainment. When she was shunned by the media recently, the agency was nning to drop her. However, upon hearing she mightnd a role in a Royal Star Entertainment film, they started considering bringing her back. Winter was displeased with this, thinking the agency was being too opportunistic. When she arrived at Royal Star Entertainment, she could not help but marvel at Charles¡® influence. It was said thispany was not even directly managed by Charles but by one of his mere assistants. Recalling her newfound connection to Charles Hoffman, Winter strutted in with full confidence. Her agent also felt incredibly fortunate and became equally proud. ¡°If you get this role, Winter, your future will be¡ª¡± ¡°What do you mean if?¡± Winter snapped at the agent. ¡°It¡¯s a certainty!¡± The role had already been reserved for her. She was just here to go through the motions. ¡°Do you really think my acting needs to be judged by anyone else?¡± The agent finally caught on. She raised an eyebrow and then let out a chuckle. ¡°With your acting skills, you¡¯re bound to win awards.¡± ¡°Of course!¡± Winter lifted her chin, behaving like a queen. Meanwhile, the producer informed Ronald of Winter¡¯s arrival. Bosses usually did not make regr appearances, but Ronald was a frequent presence in Royal Star Entertainment and essential to the company¡¯s operations. Winter was said to be Ronald¡¯s suggestion, but he had warned them to be cautious. Therefore, the producer decided to report her arrival to Ronald. Ronald was reporting something to Charles when his phone rang, causing him to get slightly startled. Charles looked up at Ronald, asking, ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°It¡¯s Royal Star. They mentioned Winter¡¯s audition is today. This call is likely about that.¡± Ronald saw Charles gesture for him to answer, so he did. ¡°Hello?¡± ¡°Mr. Wells, the person you mentioned has arrived. So¡­¡± The producer sounded somewhat doubtful.¡± Should we proceed with giving her the role?¡± ¡°Yes, give it to her, but wait a moment.¡± Ronald turned to Charles, ¡°Mr. Hoffman, Winter is here. What should we do?¡± ¡°Let her wait,¡± Charles said while standing up. Ronald hurried to follow as Charles grabbed his coat. ¡°Mr. Hoffman, where are you going?¡± ¡°To take a look.¡± Charles smiled. Then, he called Noelle. ¡°Are you busy?¡± Noelle was surprised to get a call from Charles but was indeed overwhelmed at the moment. The high¨Cranking executives had approached her that morning, iming thepany¡¯s bidding +15 BONUS documents had been leaked and that these documents had been in her care. Noelle was sure she had secured them properly, yet she found herself unable to exin how this situation urred. Comments Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. Chapter 235 Chapter 235 The afternoon bidding was scheduled to take ce soon. Previously, Frotconn had been severely weakened due to Collosus¡® sudden reduction in orders. If the bidding did not go well this time, Frotconn would be in serious trouble. Joseph urgently called a meeting, and Noelle became the target of everyone¡¯s criticism. She had juste out of the meeting and was feeling quite down. She had not recovered her mood yet when Charles¡® call came in. Her lips twitched helplessly. ¡°What do you need?¡± For Charles to call at this hour, it was presumably because of something important. Nheless, Charles could tell something was off in Noelle¡¯s voice. ¡°What happened?¡± Noelle exined the situation briefly. Charles scoffed, his long fingers tapping on the steering wheel. ¡°If you¡¯re not happy there, why stay?¡± Noelle was taken aback, not expecting Charles to say that. She gave a wry smile. ¡°I¡¯ve been thinking about this for a while. If this hadn¡¯t happened, I probably would¡¯ve already started the process of resigning.¡± She knew people in thepany seemed to be against her, partly rted to her past with Xavier. Charles smirked. ¡°Let¡¯s not talk about this now. I¡¯lle to pick you up.¡± ¡°Pick me up? Where are we going?¡± Noelle was surprised. ¡°Don¡¯t you have work?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll take you out for just a while. You¡¯re not busy at Frotconn anyway, right?¡± Charles had a point. During the meeting, Noelle had been told to hand over her work to others. The matter was rather serious. They med her for the incident, effectively sidelining her. Noelle was not naive. She understood what was happening. She chuckled. ¡°Alright,e get me!¡± She then hung up the phone. Noelle paused for a moment before starting to pack her things. Her assistant, Ava, saw this and rushed over to stop her. ¡°Ms. Shaw, what are you doing? This isn¡¯t your fault. If you leave now, they¡¯ll think you¡¯re guilty!¡± Noelle smiled and patted Ava¡¯s hand. ¡°I¡¯m not leaving permanently. I¡¯m just going home early since there¡¯s nothing to do. Thank you for believing in me. You should keep working hard. I have to go for now.¡± ¡°Ms. Shaw!¡± Ava watched Noelle leave with a frown on her face. She felt something was off with Noelle, especially her hesitant look earlier. All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. Downstairs, Noelle waited for a while before seeing Charles¡® car pull up not far away. Her phone rang, and it was Charles. Smiling, Noelle waved before ending the call and running over. When she walked around to the front passenger seat, she noticed Ronald inside. Feeling somewhat stunned, she shut the door and got into the back seat instead. ¡°Mr. Wells, you¡¯re here too!¡± ¡°Yes, hello, Madam!¡± Ronald was startled when Noelle first opened the door but was relieved when she moved to the back. Charles nced at Ronald. ¡°Why aren¡¯t you driving?¡± +15 BONUS ¡°Yes, Mr. Hoffman!¡± Ronald quickly started the car, but he kept stealing cautious nces at Noelle and Charles. He then sat up straight and focused on the road. Noelle was a bit surprised to see Ronald. She turned to look at Charles, who was calmly tapping his knee. ¡°Is my wife staring at me because she finds me handsome?¡± BIG SALE: 3500 bonus free fou you Chapter 236 Chapter 236 Noelle hesitated for a moment. When she nced at Ronald, she noticed that he seemed to be startled as well. Unable to hold back herughter, she smiled and nodded seriously. ¡°Yes, you¡¯re very handsome!¡± Charles felt a warmth in his heart seeing Noelle¡¯s reaction. He took her hand and ced it on his knee. He then began to gently y with her fingers. ¡°I¡¯m taking you to Royal Star Entertainment for a visit.¡± Noelle was surprised. ¡°Why are we going to Royal Star Entertainment?¡± she asked. Then, she realized something. ¡°Is Winter going to audition today?¡± Charles nodded. ¡°Since you have nothing else to do, I thought you coulde and see for yourself. Let¡¯s see how good your sister¡¯s acting really is.¡± Noelle knew Charles¡® words were not meant as apliment. She smiled slightly. ¡°Well, I have nothing better to do.¡± Although Noelle knew Winter was an actress, she rarely watched the shows Winter acted in. The only time she had seen Winter¡¯s acting was when she brought drama into their real lives. Noelle thought for a moment and then shared some of her thoughts about today¡¯s events with Charles. ¡°I suspect they want me to resign voluntarily.¡± ¡°Does that make you feel disappointed?¡± Charles asked. Noelle looked up at Charles and then down at her hand that was resting on his knee. He was still idly ying with her fingers. She wondered why he found her fingers so interesting. Were they slender? Flexible? Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. ¡°Well?¡± Charles prompted, seeing she had not answered. He gently nudged her fingers against his knee. Noelle came back to herself and smiled. ¡°Not really. I just think it¡¯s a bit redundant. I was nning to resign anyway, so this might be for the best. I¡¯ll resign tomorrow! But it might ruin my reputation.¡± ¡°Reputation?¡± Charles scoffed. ¡°Do you care about something that insignificant?¡± Noelle raised an eyebrow. ¡°Don¡¯t you?¡± ¡°As long as you¡¯re capable, there will always be people willing to hire you,¡± Charles replied as he rubbed her palm. His long, well¨Cdefined fingers traced patterns on her palm, making her a little ticklish. When she tried to pull her hand away, Charles held it firmly. His gaze deepened as he said, ¡°Come work at Collosus.¡± Noelle was stunned, thinking she had misheard. ¡°What did you say?¡± ¡°Come work at Collosus,¡± Charles repeated earnestly, looking directly at her. Seeing her surprised expression, he smiled and brushed her cheek with his finger. ¡°I know how capable you are. Come join us at Collosus. Blushing, she moved his hand away and said, ¡°That doesn¡¯t seem right.¡± After speaking, she nced at Ronald. Charles noticed and asked, ¡°Why are you looking at him?¡± +15 BONUS Ronald immediately straightened up, focusing on driving and pretending not to hear their conversation. Noelle sensed Charles¡® displeasure and muttered, ¡°I just do want to get in through connections.¡± Comments ÏÉ Chapter 237 Chapter 237 Charles raised an eyebrow and smiled slightly. ¡°Is my wife trying to avoid suspicion?¡± Noelle rolled her eyes at him, feeling that his words carried a hint of mockery. Chuckling, Charles squeezed Noelle¡¯s hand. He sighed softly. ¡°No one knows about our rtionship.¡± Noelle turned her head to meet his resigned gaze. It was as if he wasining. She bit her lip and thought for a moment. Indeed, it was her decision not to disclose their rtionship. However, he had agreed to the arrangement back then. She did not force him. She nced at Ronald and then back at Charles, clearly indicating that some people did know about their rtionship. Charles narrowed his eyes and cast a warning look at Ronald. Ronald straightened his back even more, feeling a bit aggrieved. It seemed he was frequently caught in the crossfire. He feigned a cough to boost his courage before saying, ¡°Actually, you can pretend I don¡¯t exist, Madam. In most situations, I¡¯m very discreet¨Calmost invisible!¡± Noelle was surprised and looked at Charles before bursting intoughter. She found Charles¡® assistant quite interesting and not at all shy about his im of being discreet. Noelle smiled. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll try to pretend you don¡¯t exist!¡± The car arrived at the underground parking garage of Royal Star Entertainment, where Charles had a reserved parking spot. Ronald quickly got out and opened the door for Charles. ¡°Mr. Hoffman, Ruby called again to hurry us. She said Winter is throwing a tantrum.¡± Charles pursed his lips. ¡°Let her wait.¡± He wanted to see just how big of a tantrum Winter was capable of throwing. Noelle got out of the car too. Upon hearing Ronald¡¯s words, she frowned slightly. ¡°She¡¯s throwing a ¡¤ tantrum?¡± Noelle was surprised because Winter, although unpleasant to her, usually controlled her temper in public. As a celebrity, Winter was always careful about her image. Noelle did not expect her to lose her temper. ¡°Yes. She¡¯s probably been waiting for too long,¡± Ronald said with a smile, showing no surprise at Winter¡¯s behavior. ¡°That¡¯s the way it is with celebrities¨Cbig egos.¡± Ronald then looked at Charles. ¡°Mr. Hoffman, what do you think?¡± ¡°Take her to Studio No. 1 and make sure the monitors are on.¡± Charles had his hands in his pockets. He paused for a moment before asking, ¡°What script did you give her?¡± He usually left the entertainmentpany¡¯s operations to others and was not familiar with the details. Ronald thought for a moment. ¡°It¡¯s a historical drama about spies. The role of the second female lead is a viin who meets a tragic end. Mr. Hoffman, should we change it?¡± Charles replied, ¡°No need. That will do. Who¡¯s the director?¡± +15 BONUS Ronald answered with a smile, ¡°Mr. Miles Chevalier. Mr. Chevalier is known for being strict. He¡¯s not happy about this casting decision.¡± Hearing that, Charles furrowed his brows together. ¡°Then find a way to appease him.¡± He turned to Noelle and said, ¡°Let¡¯s go up and take a look. You might have toe here often in the future.¡± ¡°Alright!¡± Noelle smiled, recalling the words she exchanged with Charles earlier and understanding his meaning. Charles and Noelle headed straight to the CEO¡¯s office while Ronald called Ruby rk. ¡°Take Winter to Studio No. 1. Has Mr. Chevalier arrived?¡± ¡°He refuses toe. He said there¡¯s no point if the role has already been decided. He¡¯s quite unhappy about it but knows that he can¡¯t do anything,¡± Ruby replied, still puzzled by Ronald¡¯s intentions. ¡°What¡¯s the deal with this Winter chick? How does she have the connections to get the second female lead role directly? Mr. Chevalier has had his eyes on Brielle ke for this role, and he¡¯s really upset about the change now.¡± All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. BIG SALE: 3500 bonus free fou you Chapter 238 Chapter 238 ¡°Enough. Do you think I wanted this? This is the higher¨Cups¡® decision. But as for how you treat her, that¡¯s up to you. Just make sure she gets the role,¡± Ronald said nonchntly. ¡°Alright!¡± Hearing that it was an order from above and gauging Ronald¡¯s attitude, Ruby understood. ¡°I¡¯ll bring her over now. Mr. Wells, are you going to watch the show personally?¡± Watch the show? Ronald smiled, thinking about Charles and Noelle in the CEO¡¯s office. ¡°Yes, we¡¯re about to watch a good show.¡± Winter had been there for over an hour. Initially full of excitement, she was now on the brink of losing her temper. If not for her agent holding her back, she would have already thrown a fit. This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org. She felt that the people at Royal Star Entertainment were toox. After all, she was someone introduced by Charles. Charles had already promised her the role, and today was just a formality. She thought she was doing Charles a favor by showing up, but it was clear that Charles¡® people did not take her seriously. Winter was growing increasingly impatient in the waiting room. She finally stood up and said, ¡°Let¡¯s go. The role is mine anyway!¡± She was about to leave when her agent quickly pulled her back. ¡°Winter, don¡¯t rush out just yet. You know as well that Royal Star Entertainment is a bigpany. Even though this role is almost certainly yours, we don¡¯t want to ruin our rtionship with them. ¡°They might be busy. Let¡¯s wait a bit longer!¡± ¡°Wait? They¡¯ve been making me wait for so long. Do you know how valuable my time is-¡± Before Winter could finish, the door to the waiting room opened, and a young woman who looked like a secretary was standing at the door. ¡°Ms. Winter Shaw? Ms. rk and Mr. Wells are ready for you. Please follow me to Studio No. 1.¡± The young woman maintained a formal demeanor, showing no signs of being star¨Cstruck or nervous. She had likely seen many celebrities in her role and was not easily impressed. Winter¡¯s expression stiffened when she realized the secretary might have overheard herints. She signaled her agent, who quickly pulled out an envelope and handed it to the secretary. ¡°Please take good care of us.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not necessary. I¡¯m just a small¨Ctime secretary. I can¡¯t possibly take care of a big star like Ms. Shaw, the secretary replied, refusing the envelope and motioning for them to follow. ¡°Mr. Wells is here from headquarters, and his time is valuable.¡± Winter¡¯s expression changed slightly, but she forced a smile. ¡°Of course. I get that Mr. Wells is very busy. Please lead the way!¡± Despite her polite words, Winter was fuming. She did not think much of Ronald, seeing him as just another one of Charles¡® subordinates. He was not Charles himself, and thispany was not his. Even though these were her thoughts, Winter kept a pleasant smile on her face as she followed the secretary. 1/2 +15 BONUS The secretary led Winter to Studio No. 1 and opened the door. ¡°Ms. Shaw, please go in.¡± Inside, Winter and her agent found an empty room with just three people. She recognized Ronald from their brief encounter at the Shaw residence and also saw Ruby, the producer. The third person was a stranger,ter introduced as the assistant director of the drama¨Cnot a particrly important figure. Winter approached and greeted everyone. Then, with amanding presence, Ruby said, ¡°Ms. Shaw, I assume you¡¯ve read the script Mr. Wells gave you. Let¡¯s get started right away!¡± P Chapter 239 Chapter 239 Winter¡¯s expression stiffened as she awkwardly nced at Ronald. Ronald raised an eyebrow and nodded. ¡°Let¡¯s begin, Ms. Shaw.¡± With that, Winter¡¯s expression darkenedpletely. Yes, Xavier had indeed given her part of the script, saying it was from Ronald. However, she had only skimmed through it because she was already sure she had secured the role. She did not take the audition seriously at all, thinking it was just a formality and that her presence alone was a huge favor. Noticing Winter¡¯s demeanor, Ronald was slightly surprised. ¡®Ms. Shaw, are you not prepared?¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s not that¡­ Um¡­ ¡°Ms. Shaw, my time is also very valuable. I came from headquarters specifically for your audition. Mr. Hoffman instructed me to ensure everything went smoothly. You¡¯re making this quite difficult for me,¡± Ronald said with a hint of annoyance. Winter¡¯s facial features grew even more rigid. ¡°Mr. Hoffman? Mr. Hoffman personally intervened?¡± ¡°Of course, this drama has a significant investment from Royal Star Entertainment. Even though you¡¯re only ying the second female lead, you should understand that this role is substantial. A well¨Cexecuted performance can make you outshine the lead actress. ¡°I assumed that after what you¡¯ve been through, you¡¯d cherish this opportunity.¡± Ronald shook his head before adding, ¡°It seems this role isn¡¯t appealing enough for you?¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s just¡­ I¡¯ve been unwell recently, so I haven¡¯t been able to study the script thoroughly.¡± Winter had not expected Charles to personally intervene, making her feel embarrassed. Moreover, Ronald¡¯s tone suggested dissatisfaction with her. ¡°Unwell? It seems you¡¯re not in good shape. Perhaps you should take more time to rest? We can wait, but the director, Mr. Chevalier, is already displeased with having someone pushed into the cast. He had his preferences for the role-* ¡°Mr. Wells, please give me some time. I¡¯ll prepare right away. I¡¯ll be ready shortly!¡± Winter was panicking now. All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. She knew how crucial this role was for her. She was nearly sidelined by her agency. It was only because she had secured a role in a film invested by Royal Star Entertainment that their attitude toward her improved. If she lost this role now, hereback would be much more difficult. Winter bit her lip and adopted a pitiful expression, her eyes welling with tears that did not fall. She looked at Ronald with a beseeching gaze. Ronald felt a twinge, but it was not out of pity. It was because he thought Winter was a born actress. Her dramatics in real life were impressive. No wonder Charles had brought Noelle to watch this spectacle. ¡°In that case, I¡¯ll give you half an hour. That should be enough, right?¡± Ronald said, ncing at his watch with a performative air. Winter nodded vigorously. ¡°Yes, that¡¯s enough!¡± She hurriedly turned to her agent for the script. Her agent was equally anxious. She mouthed, ¡°I didn¡¯t bring it!¡± RE¨CSEE +15 BONUS Winter froze, stunned and motionless for a moment. Ronald raised an eyebrow and asked suspiciously, ¡°What¡¯s the matter now?¡± Winter¡¯s face was beyond description as awkwardness oozed out of her. She could only look at Ronald in embarrassment. ¡°Mr. Wells, could I borrow the script? I left in a hurry and forgot to bring it.¡± BIG SALE: 3500 bonus free fou you P Chapter 240 Chapter 240 ¡°You forgot to bring it?¡± Ronald¡¯s expression turned gloomy, but after a moment of contemtion, he waved his hand. ¡°Ms. rk, please give the script to Ms. Shaw.¡± Ronald¡¯s tone sounded troubled as he continued to address Winter, ¡°Ms. Shaw, Mr. Hoffman ces great importance on this project and has invested a significant amount of money. If I don¡¯t handle this well, it¡¯ll be difficult to exin.¡± Realizing the gravity of the situation, Winter felt even more embarrassed. She could not help but me her agent for mishandling things. ¡°Yes, this was our mistake. I promise it won¡¯t happen again. Please give me half an hour. I¡¯ll-¡± ¡°Alright,¡± Ronald cut her off while massaging his temples. ¡°Please hurry, Ms. Shaw. Mr. Hoffman has other matters that need my attention.¡± ¡°Okay!¡± Winter was now feeling increasingly flustered, finding it hard to concentrate and memorize her lines. Her mind was cluttered with anxious thoughts. She shot her agent an angry re. Her agent was equally stressed and began to sweat profusely. At that moment, Ronald received a phone call, and his expression became grave. ¡°Ms. Shaw, I must leave now. As for the matters here¡­¡± Ronald looked at Ruby and continued, ¡°Ms. rk will oversee the rest. Please take good care of Ms. Shaw.¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. Wells,¡± Ruby responded. She was frustrated with the situation but had to carry out her orders, regardless. Winter was relieved to hear that Ronald was leaving: She forced a polite smile. ¡°Mr. Wells, I apologize for today¡¯s inconvenience-¡± ¡°Enough, Ms. Shaw. Discuss it with Ms. rk. I really need to go. Mr. Hoffman is waiting for me.¡± Ronald waved dismissively, clearly displeased with Winter. Winter was internally fuming after hearing this but outwardly maintained a stiff smile. Watching Ronald leave, she finally breathed a sigh of relief. Turning to Ruby, she asked, ¡°Ms. rk, what do you think?¡± ¡°Mr. Wells may not have time, but I do. Take your time, Ms. Shaw. I¡¯ll stay here and wait for you,¡± Ruby replied, her tone suggesting she had all the time in the world as she settled in to wait for Winter. Noelle frowned as she watched through the monitor. She was surprised by Winter¡¯s behavior. ¡°I¡¯ve never seen her like this before,¡± she said in astonishment. Charles smiled while turning off the video. ¡°Feeling reflective?¡± Noelle nodded. ¡°I feel like I was foolish before.¡± She realized that sometimes, people¡¯s dislike of her was baseless, and trying to please everyone was futile. Watching Winter¡¯s behavior earlier reinforced this realization. ¡°You brought me here today just to watch her performance?¡± Noelle asked. Charles smiled as he beckoned her over. Though puzzled, Noelle still approached him. Suddenly, he pulled her onto hisp, causing her to gasp in surprise. She red at him. ¡°What are you doing? Let go!¡± 1/2 Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. +15 BONUS Chuckling, he rested his chin on her shoulder and nuzzled closer to her. ¡°Don¡¯t move. Let me hold you for a while.¡± Noelle felt resigned, so she just let Charles embrace her. After a while, they heard a knock on the door. ¡°Is it Mr. Wells?¡± ÈÕ Chapter 241 Chapter 241 Charles released Noelle, who quickly stood up and adjusted her appearance. She then heard Charles say, "Come in!" When Ronald entered and saw Noelle fidgeting with her clothes, he realized he must have interrupted something between his boss and Noelle. He awkwardly coughed twice. "Mr. Hoffman, this Winter is quite the character!" Smirking, Charles gestured for Noelle toe over. "Want to go out for a walk?" Noelle looked puzzled. "Where to?" Charles chuckled, nced at Ronald, and said, "Since she likes to make trouble, go along with her antics. How you do it is up to you." Charles rarely liked dealing with trivial matters. This time around was solely because of the woman in front of him. After a pause, he added, "Give her a bit more of a shock." Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. "Charles!" Noelle bit her lip. "Are you really going to do this?" Charles looked at Noelle seriously. "You don''t want me to? If you don''t want to, I won''t do it," he said earnestly. It did not look like he was joking. "But you need to understand that your kindness won''t necessarily be returned with kindness." Noelle''s lips twitched. She knew that Charles''s words were merely facts. "Do what you think is best." She knew very well what kind of person Winter was. If Charles did not do this, Winter would have more time and energy to trouble her. Not to mention, her family knew that her grandfather''s shares were in her hands now. "Alright!" Charles waved his hand, signaling Ronald to leave. Ronald nced at Charles and then at Noelle before leaving the room. As he exited, he thought to himself that the boss'' wife was too kind-hearted. If it were up to him, he would have crushed Winter without hesitation. This was a world where the weak were devoured. Those who showed weakness first would lose. Having followed Charles for a long time, Ronald saw him as a strong, undefeated figure. It was no wonder Noelle was previously trampled on by Winter; she was too kind. In this world, excessive kindness was not a virtue. "What are you thinking about?" After Ronald left, Charles walked over to Noelle. Noticing that she seemed lost in thought, he gently rubbed her head. "Hmm?" Noelle shook her head. "I just realized that I''m bing more like Winter, but it doesn''t seem so bad." "You''re nothing like her." Charles let out a sigh and rested his deep gaze on her. He ruffled her hair and then cupped her face, speaking with conviction. "She isn''t even a fraction of what you are." Noelle felt a warmth in her heart. Even if Charles was lying, it still made her happy. "Come on. You haven''t been here before. I''ll show you around." Charles took her hand and led her out of the office. They had used the private executive entrance earlier, so no one had seen them enter the office. Now, seeing the legendary CEO hand-in-hand with a beautiful woman, everyone in the office began to specte about her identity. Was she a new artist brought in by the boss, or was she the boss'' girlfriend? Seeing the shocked and curious nces, Noelle noticed her hand was still held by Charles. She tried to pull away. "Stop it. Let go of my hand." Nheless, Charles only tightened his grip. He smiled as he walked ahead of her, leading her by the hand. This disy of affection made it clear to everyone that she was someone special. Chapter 242 Chapter 242 Noelle felt that Charles was being too high-profile. "If you do this, everyone will know about our rtionship by tomorrow!" "Does that bother you?" Charles turned to look at Noelle. His question caught her off guard, but she quickly shook her head. "It doesn''t." Charles was pleased by her answer. He reached out and patted her head, which caused a group of onlookers to squeal in delight. Yet, Charles'' entire focus was on Noelle. "If you don''t mind it, then it''s fine. Don''t worry, they won''t spread rumors," he said with a chuckle. "How can you be so sure?" Noelle found it hard to believe. People loved gossiping, and something as significant as Charles holding hands with a woman would undoubtedly spread like wildfire. Everyone would be specting about who she was and why she was with Charles. Previously, Noelle wanted to keep their rtionship private because she did not want others to know about it. After all, back then, they did not have any genuine feelings for one another. Now, things were different. She felt their rtionship was evolving. However, she also knew that if people found out Charles had a girlfriend or wife, it would cause quite a stir. Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. Seeing her concern, Charles gently squeezed her hands. "This is mypany. I set the rules and regtions. If I can''t control these things, how can I manage a conglomerate?" Noelle was taken aback. A momentter, she understood the implications. "Alright. I guess my worries were unnecessary." She nced around and noticed that high-level managers were already sending the onlookers back to their work. She sighed in relief. "Seems like I truly was worrying for nothing." Charles smirked. "Let''s go. I''ll introduce you to some people." He then called Ronald. "Gather all department heads for a meeting in ten minutes." Ronald was stunned for a moment until Charles'' cold voice came through. "Didn''t you hear me?" "Yes, sir. I''ll take care of it right away!" Ronald immediately hung up and notified all the senior managers at Royal Star Entertainment. He wondered to himself if Charles was nning to make everything official. Could Noelle be taking over Royal Star Entertainment as the new boss, or was Charles just announcing her identity as his wife? This thought spurred Ronald into action without dy. When the senior managers of Royal Star Entertainment received Ronald''s notification, they were equally stunned. Though they knew Charles was their ultimate boss, they rarely had the opportunity to see him in person. Royal Star Entertainment might be a big deal in the entertainment industry, but it was small in comparison to the others within Charles'' extensive portfolio ofpanies. He typically did not involve himself in the day-to-day operations. When everyone gathered in the conference room, they saw Charles seated at the side with a young woman in the main seat. Most importantly, he was holding her hand. They were all astonished. They could not hide their surprise, and some even recalled seeing Charles walking through the company earlier, holding hands with the same woman. What exactly was the boss nning? Chapter 243 Chapter 243 Seeing the astonished looks on the crowd''s faces, Noelle shook off Charles'' hand and gave him a look, signaling him not to misbehave. She then smiled at the people who had just entered. Upon seeing Noelle''s warm smile, the group felt a sense of relief. Compared to the intimidating Charles, Noelle was godsent. Noelle had no idea what they were thinking. She just felt they were too serious. She thought it was because of Charles. Charles calmly scanned the room before asking, "Aren''t you going to sit?" The group of executives quickly filed in and found their seats, sitting in an upright manner. Noelle was amused by their actions. She knew meetings were serious, but she had never seen people look so grim. Seeing Noelle''s amused expression, Charles could not help but smile a little.Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. The executives noticed Charles'' rare smile and were even more surprised. Compared to their earlier shock, they were now moreposed. Charles released Noelle''s hand and began tapping his fingers rhythmically on the conference table. The senior executives'' hearts beat in time with Charles'' tapping. They were puzzled why this man, who rarely appeared at Royal Star Entertainment, showed up today with a young woman. From the interaction between the two, it was clear their rtionship was not simple. Seeing how Charles indulged the woman, even letting her sit in the main seat, they started specting about Noelle''s identity. "I called you here for a simple reason. It''s to introduce you to someone," Charles began, and the executives held their breath, waiting for him to continue. Charles nced at them, then at Noelle. "This is Noelle Shaw, thergest shareholder of Royal Star Entertainment." As soon as Charles finished speaking, the usually serious executives were in an uproar, clearly surprised by the news. However, since Charles had said it, it had to be true. Noelle pursed her lips. She had not expected Charles to reveal her identity so directly. She awkwardly smiled at the executives and greeted them, "Hello, everyone." "Hello, Ms. Shaw!" They all responded to Noelle''s greeting. Charles'' eyes narrowed slightly, making Noelle think he was about to get angry. Instead, Charles smiled. "I brought her here just to introduce her, nothing more." The executives understood the message and quickly nodded in agreement. "From now on, Noelle is in charge of Royal Star Entertainment. You can still go to Ronald with issues, but the final decision-maker is Noelle. As for me also have to listen to her. Understood?" "Understood, sir!" The boss had made it clear, so they had no choice but to follow. They were just employees. When it came to leadership changes, they only had to obey. Although the sudden change surprised them, they quickly epted the new reality. This group of people was rather experienced when it came to dealing with significant events. Ruby, in particr, remained calm. She connected Noelle''s and Winter''s surnames and made a few guesses. However, she misinterpreted the situation, assuming Noelle and Winter had a good rtionship. She began thinking about how to promote Winter to please Noelle. Chapter 244 Chapter 244 However, Ruby felt conflicted as she thought of Winter''s demeanor. Despite her long experience as a producer, it was the first time she encountered someone she disliked to such an extent, which left her quite astonished. Noticing Ruby''s persistent gaze, Noelle nced over in a puzzled manner. Recognizing Ruby as the person who conducted Winter''s audition, she smiled and nodded slightly. Feeling ttered by Noelle''s acknowledgment, Ruby returned the smile. Charles tapped the meeting table, drawing everyone''s attention. "I don''t want Noelle''s identity to be discussed by outsiders, especially those outside of Royal Star Entertainment. Hence, this is also not to be discussed internally." "Yes, we understand!" With that, Charles dismissed the meeting, "You can all go back to work now." He then added, "Ms. rk, please stay behind." Ruby was stunned to hear Charles call her name directly, "Yes, Mr. Hoffman!" Once everyone else had left, there were only the three of them in therge conference room. Charles smiled slightly. "How did Winter''s audition go?" Realizing that the boss indeed had some connection with Winter, Ruby nced at Noelle and was hesitant to speak. Charles noticed Ruby''s hesitation and asked, "Why are you looking at her?" Ruby took a deep breath. "Mr. Hoffman, may I ask if Royal Star Entertainment is really going to sign Winter Shaw?" "Do you have any objections?" Charles asked, his tone t and indifferent. Ruby quickly shook her head, "No, I wouldn''t dare!" She continued, "Ms. Winter''s acting skills are impressive. It''s the first time I''ve seen someone live their life as if it were a theatrical performance!" Noelle smiled slightly. She very quickly understood Ruby''s genuine dislike for Winter. Charles raised an eyebrow and nced at Noelle. "This is Ruby .n¨¦t rk. If you have any questions in the future, feel free to ask her. Although you won''t be here often, this ce is still under your control. As for Winter, does making her your direct subordinate feel satisfying?" Noelle raised her eyebrows. "You want me to suppress her?" "No. How could I propose that? After all, she''s your sister. It''s more like you''ll be looking after her by signing her and making her famous. Isn''t this a favor to her?" Charles said, standing up and gently tucking a strand of hair behind Noelle''s ear. "How does that sound?" Noelle burst outughing. "You think further ahead than I do. I never thought of this when we exchanged equity. You''re quite devious. If Winter finds out, she might despise me!" Charles chuckled. "She chose to jump in here herself. No one forced her!" He then saw Ruby''s expression of sudden realization and narrowed his eyes. "Alright, that''s all for now. You can go back to work. As for the new drama, make sure to reassure Mr. Chevalier and ask for his understanding." Ruby immediately understood Charles'' instructions. It seemed she was kept behind to learn how to handle the situation.All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. As Ruby left, she could not help but nce back at Noelle and Charles, feeling the situation was almost... unbelievable. In her eyes, Charles had always been a serious and stern man, yet here he was, showing a different side of him. When Ruby returned to her office, she found a fellow executive waiting for her. Seeing her somewhat dazed expression, they asked, "What''s Mr. Hoffman up to today? Who exactly is Noelle Shaw? I feel like she..." Chapter 245 Chapter 245 Ruby came back to her senses and looked meaningfully at Cade Zachmann, the man from the publicity department who was trying to get more information out of her. She shrugged. "Nothing much, just that this Noelle Shaw is not to be underestimated. From now on, we have to listen to her. Didn''t you hear Mr. Hoffman say he himself would have to listen to her?" Cade did not take it seriously. "I think Mr. Hoffman was just saying that. She''s just a woman..." He saw Ruby''s expression change. Realizing his mistake, he quickly patted his mouth. "Haha, I''m just joking. But didn''t Mr. Hoffman ask you to stay back earlier?" "It was about the new drama. He asked me to appease Mr. Chevalier. That Winter is really something..." "I heard about that too. You know, suddenly bringing in someone like her... Wait, Winter Shaw, and that woman is called Noelle Shaw? What''s their rtionship?" "Nothing at all!" Ruby had not forgotten what Charles had said earlier. Since he had asked her to stay back on her own earlier, she figured Charles had his own ns.This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org. "Just do your work. Mr. Hoffman''s affairs are not for you or me to specte on. But I''m warning you, next time you see Ms. Noelle, make sure to have a better attitude. With the way you just talked to me, you''d be finished in no time!" Cade waved his hand. "Got it." Winter had finally finished performing a scene for Ruby. Seeing Ruby''s expressionless face made Winter extremely ufortable. As the eldest daughter of the Shaw family, everyone always greeted her with a smile. Moreover, she was a popr star. Ruby definitely knew her identity, but she still disyed such an attitude. As for that Ronald guy, he was just a mere assistant. Yet, he did not show her any respect either. Winter felt furious as she got into her van and angrily threw the script Ruby had given her. Ruby had said to her "Ms. Shaw, you''d better keep this script well. If you lose it or forget to bring it again, it''ll be troublesome!" What did Ruby mean by that? What was that supposed to mean? Winter had wanted to throw a tantrum right then, but her agent stopped her in time, reminding her to watch her image. She managed to hold back her anger but felt a fire burning inside that she could not release. "She''s just a mere producer! Does she think she''s the big boss? Even Charles didn''t say anything!" "Yes, yes!" Hekagent, Jane Gordon, quickly handed her a bottle of water. "Have some water and calm down Your performance just now was t. You got into the role so great. quickly, and it really set the vel.n atmosphere. Your acting skills are getting better and better, Winter." Hearing Jane''s praise, Winter finally calmed down and exhaled a breath. "My acting has always been good. Did you just notice?" "Yes, it''s always been good, but now, it''s even better," Jane quickly agreed. "Don''t worry about Ruby. Remember, you know Charles Hoffman himself. They''ll surely treat you with respect, no? Once this drama is sessful, those who tried to bring you down Will be pissed!" Chapter 246 Chapter 246 Winter thought her role was already secured. After all, she believed that being associated with Charles meant getting a part in a drama was just a matter of him making a call. However, Winter had oversimplified things. The day after her audition, her confidence in securing the role was shattered by yet another scandal. Miles, the director of the drama, was dissatisfied with Winter to begin with. This new scandal only made things worse. The trouble began right after Winter''s audition. Despite her displeasure with Ruby, a producer of Royal Star Entertainment, she believed she had managed her rtionship well. Yet that evening, news about her past resurfaced on Facebook and entertainment forums. Winter had previously managed to suppress those stories, but this time, more explosive news emerged. Years ago, Winter had gone to Maldoria to shoot a film for an entire year. She was only 18 or 19 at the time. Suddenly, photos of Winter linking arms with men and other more explicit photos were all over the inte. These old photos, which no one would have recognized if not released, clearly showed Winter. As the person involved, Winter instantly recognized her younger self in those photos. She had been casually browsing Facebook in her room when she saw herself at the top of the trending news again. She began assuming it was due to her recent audition. However, upon clicking in, she discovered it was far from what she expected. Her feed was flooded with these indecent photos, and herment section was filled with fans, haters, and trolls attacking her. Winter''s Instagram notifications were blowing up, and she was overwhelmed, unsure of what to do next. Just then, her phone rang, startling her. She almost dropped it before hurriedly answering. It was the director from her management agency, demanding, "Winter, exin this! What''s going on?" "I... I don''t know! Someone must be framing me. I..." "Framing you?" The director''s coldugh echoed through the phone "Spare me your excuses. I''m not interested. Just figure out how to fix this mess." "But I..." "Get to thepany right now!" After staring at her phone in shock, Winter quickly got dressed and prepared to leave. Jade was standing by the door when saw Winter''s panicked state and sensed something was wrong. "Winter, what happened? Where are you going sote at night? Content belongs to "Mom, there''s no time to exin. I need to go to thepany. If... If any reporters or paparazzie, don''t open the door or say anything, okay?"All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. Winter rushed out, leaving Jade stunned for a moment before she hurried to Julian''s study. "Julian, has something happened to Winter?" Chapter 247 Chapter 247 Julian was busy when he heard Jade''s question. He frowned. "What could be the matter? She''s always either busy with one thing or another... Didn''t Charles already agree to help her? "I''m swamped here, and the old man is still in the hospital. You and Winter shouldn''t add to my troubles!" Jade felt upset upon hearing this, thinking that he was always ming everything on her. She wanted to retort but then remembered Winter''s anxious demeanor. Jade quickly went online, and upon seeing the indecent photos of her daughter, she felt devastated. "No! We can''t let Winter be ruined by this! We can''t!" As Winter''s scandal continued to spread, the inte was buzzing with discussions about her behavior. People felt betrayed by Winter. She had always portrayed a pure and innocent image, which was the main reason her fans adored her. They affectionately called her ''Princess Winter'', praising her perfect demeanor and graceful presence. However, with these photos and videos surfacing, Winter''s fans were in shock. They just could not believe what they were seeing. The more they scrolled, the more scandalous photos appeared. It was blow after blow. Initially, fans tried to defend her against haters and trolls, but eventually, they were overwhelmed. Meanwhile, Winter was at herpany, enduring a scolding from the higher-ups. Even though everyone knew she had connections with Charles, she was still just a second female lead, and her role was only verbally promised. She had not officially signed any contract. Winter had be a liability to her management agency, a ticking time bomb that could explode at any moment. The agency, which was still in its infancy, had hoped to turn Winter into their leading star. Now, with her scandals stered everywhere, those ns had to be shelved. As Winter''s agent, Jane was frantic. She wanted the agency to help suppress the negative news about Winter, but the agency found it challenging. It seemed like Winter had fallen into a massive trap. Even when they managed to take down some tabloids, they would quickly reappear. This was a battle of financial might, and the opposing side had deep pockets.Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. It became apparent that the agency was not willing to get involved in this mess. As an entertainment vel company, they understood the. marketing tactics at y and realized Winter had been targeted by a significant adversary. Content belongs to They ultimately decided to wait and see what the opponent''s next move would be. Winter had not slept all night, which was the reason for her bloodshot eyes. She waited for the higher-ups to save her, but it felt like her pleas were falling on deaf ears. She could not get in touch with any of the agency''s executives. Jane looked defeated when she came out of the meeting room. Seeing Winter''s state, she felt a pang of sympathy but also frustration. She knew these issues were partly Winter''s doing. Winter rushed over. "What did Mr. Lason say?" "There''s nothing we can do. It''s clear that whoever is behind this has a personal vendetta against you. Who exactly did you offend, Winter?" "I... I don''t know! You know how it is in this industry. You bump into people, but nothing warrants this level of retaliation..." Winter was bewildered. She could not fathom who would go to such lengths to ruin her unless someone was out to get her specifically. Chapter 248 Chapter 248 Winter thought for a long time but could not figure out who would hate her enough to do this. "I don''t know what to do either. Mr. Lason has already left, Winter. You need to prepare yourself mentally." "What do you mean? Aren''t you my agent? Think of something! Are you just going to let them continue like this? My career is-" Winter''s words were cut short by the ringing of her phone. Seeing it was Xavier''s number, her hand trembled. Jane noticed it, and her eyes shed. "Take the call. It''s your fianc¨¦." Winter''s hand shook for a long time before she took a deep breath and answered. "Hello, Xavier..." Her voice was pitiful and trembling, carrying a tone that could elicit sympathy. Nheless, Xavier was not in the state of mind to be sympathizing with her. His dissatisfaction with Winter had been growing, and now, there was yet another problem. "What''s going on with you? My phone has been ringing off the hook since early morning, all from entertainment reporters. Previously, didn''t you say those things were fake and that you were framed? Exin this new scandal to me now! Is this also a setup?" Xavier was furious. He had hoped to move forward with Winter since things with Noelle were not going anywhere, but what the hell was Winter doing? "What do you take me for?"This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org. "Xavier, let me exin. What you''ve seen isn''t real. It''s all fabricated by someone who wants to harm me. Xavier, you have to believe me. The photos... Yes, the photos are fake. That''s not me!" Winter was panicking. She had worked hard to be with Xavier, to take him from Noelle. This man was hers, and she could not lose him. "You don''t understand the entertainment industry. I must''ve offended someone, which is why-" "Enough. Don''t take everyone for a fool. If you don''t give me a clear exnation, then we''re o¡ª" "Xavier!" Winter interrupted, her voice cracking. "Don''t say that. I don''t like it! Never say that to me. This must be a setup. Please help me. Wait, Charles can help. Can you ask e Charles to help me again? He''ll help me! "Charles?" Xavier scoffed. "You want me to beg Charles again?" "But-" Winter could not finish her sentence before Xavier hung up. Winter stood there, clutching her phone tightly with an incredulous look on her face. She could not believe Xavier had refused her and actually hung up on her. No! Xavier was hers! Winter gritted her teeth and turned to Jane. Aren''t you going to help me think of a way out? You''re my agent! If you can''t fix this, what kind of agent are you?" e "Winter, be reasonable!" Jane was furious. She was shocked at how quickly Winter had turned on her. "I can''t do anything about this. The situation has blown up, and Mr Lason wants no part of it. I''m just a small-time agent. Do you think I have the power to suppress all this news?" Chapter 249 Chapter 249 Power? Winter''s perspective shifted. "Yes, I have to find someone with the power to suppress the news. That''s the n!" Winter suddenly felt invigorated. "Jane, call Ruby and say... Never mind, I''ll do it myself." Winter called Ruby, who had just seen the news about Winter. Ruby did not know what to think of Winter anymore. Ruby had received orders from Charles the previous day to keep Winter on board. From Charles and Noelle''s conversation, Ruby gleaned some understanding of why. When Winter called, Ruby yed hard to get.Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. As she needed help, Winter was much more humble than the previous day. "Ms. rk, could we meet?" "Ms. Shaw, you know how busy I am right now, right? And shouldn''t you be dealing with your situation?" Ruby had seen the news about Winter and felt even more disdain for her. "Ms. rk, please don''t misunderstand. The things online aren''t true. Can we meet to discuss this? Or could you give me Mr. Hoffman''s number? Mr. Wells'' number would work too." Winter thought that if she could meet Charles, he would help her out of respect for Xavier. However, Winter''s n backfired. Ruby did not give her Charles'' or Ronald''s contact information. Winter had no choice but to go to Frotconn to look for Xavier. When the secretary told Xavier that Winter had arrived, he did not want to see her. However, Winter barged in anyway. "Xavier, you have to help me this time!" With a pitiful look on her face, she closed the door and hugged Xavier before he could react. She buried herself in his chest before bursting into tears. "Xavier, believe me, the photos aren''t real. I''ve been framed." "Framed? Winter, do you think I''m an idiot? Those photos are from years ago when you were a teenager. Tell me, what exactly..." "Xavier!" Winter stood on her tiptoes and kissed the corner of Xavier''s mouth. Seeing him freeze, she continued, passionately kissing him all over. Winter was always good at this. She was confident Xavier would fall for it. Soon, she aroused his desire and pushed him onto the couch. Kneeling down, she unzipped his pants. Xavier''s eyes darkened as he tried to push Winter away, but her skilled movements quickly made him sumb. Winter worked hard to please Xavier, and just as he was about to release, she stopped abruptly. Xavier''s eyes turned cold. He grabbed Winter''s head, pulling her closer. "Winter!" Winter''s lips were swollen, and she looked at him with teary eyes, which softened Xavier''s heart. Seizing the moment Winter said, "Xavier, I was a virgin when I was with you. You know that. I''ve only ever been with you. "Those photos are the result of someone framing me. I admit one or two photos might really be me, but they''re just stills from a film. You can check if you don''t believe me!" Xavier was on edge and desperate. Grabbing Winter''s head, he said, "Okay, I got it. Winter, hurry!" Smirking, Winter bent down and worked hard to satisfy Xavier. It was not until Xavier let out a satisfied sigh that she stood up and sat on hisp. "Xavier, no matter what, I know that this is my fault. I''m sorry." Chapter 250 Chapter 250 Xavier reached out and stroked Winter''s silky hair. "I understand. I''ll speak on your behalf, but this is thest time." "Alright. I love you, Xavier!" Winter kissed Xavier on the lips. "Do you want more?" Xavier''s eyes darkened, but he shook his head. "We''ll continue tonight."Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. Xavier made his way to Collosus once again for Winter''s sake. However, Charles was not as amodating. In fact, Xavier could not see Charles right away. He waited at Collosus for an entire afternoon before Charles finally arrived. Although Xavier felt frustrated, he could not show it since he was the one seeking help. "Two cups of coffee," Charles ordered through the inte, instructing his secretary to bring two cups. He then squinted slightly, a smile ying on his lips as he motioned for Xavier to sit down. For some reason, every time Xavier saw Charles, he felt a sense of trepidation. He was always feeling inferior in Charles'' presence. "Sit," Charles said, his lips curling into a smile. "It seems this Ms. Shaw truly has captured your heart!" Xavier''s face stiffened slightly. He had not even started speaking, yet Charles had already guessed his purpose and stated it outright, making Xavier feel somewhat embarrassed. Charles'' eyes narrowed further. When the secretary brought in the coffee, Charles gestured, and the secretary handed a cup to Xavier. "This coffee brand is new this year. I remember your father enjoys a good cup. I wonder if you share his taste." "My father does enjoy coffee," Xavier replied, feeling ttered that Charles remembered. "Thank you, Uncle Charles." Charles chuckled softly. He took a sip before setting the cup down. "After all, we''re from the same family." Xavier lowered his eyes, feeling a mix of fear and respect for Charles. He replied, "Uncle Charles, you''re very considerate." "Tell me, what do you want me to do this time?" Charles asked, tapping his fingers lightly on the table. Your fianc¨¦e... is the Shaw family''s eldest correct?" Content belongs to "Yes," Xavier said, his voice tinged with anxiety. Winter has been framed this time, so... Didn''t you previously arrange for her to participate in one of Royal Star el Entertainment''s dramas? Uncle Charles, Royal Star Entertainment holds significant influence in the industry. Can you-" Charles raised his hand, stopping Xavier mid-sentence. "Helping her isn''t out of the question, but this situation is far more serious than before. "I''m a businessman and don''t engage in unprofitable deals. Xavier, you''re helping your father with Frotconn, so you should understand this principle." "Uncle Charles, you''re absolutely right," Xavier acknowledged, fully grasping Charles'' implication. However, he had already promised Winter that he would get Charles'' help. This issue was big, and resolving it required Charles'' intervention. "You must understand, the entertainment industry is deep andplex. I can assist her, but she must at least show some sincerity," Charles said. "What do you mean, Uncle Charles?" Xavier frowned, sensing theplexity of the situation. "Uncle Charles, please borate. As long as it''s within my power-" Charles interrupted, raising his hand, "Given Winter''s current situation, her agency probably doesn''t want to keep her." Xavier''s expression stiffened. "Uncle Charles, you truly know everything!" Chapter 251 Chapter 251 "Go ask her if she wants to join Royal Star Entertainment," Charles said in an icy voice. Xavier was taken aback. He did not expect Charles to make such an offer. "Charles, are you really going to sign Winter?" "She''ll need toe here to discuss it herself. If she''s interested, she should see Ronald. He''s the one in charge of everything at Royal Star Entertainment. If youe to me, all I can do is introduce you two," Charles exined. "Got it. Thanks," Xavier said, understanding what he needed to do. Xavier left feeling a bit rattled. He had braced himself for a tough conversation, but Charles had been unexpectedly bold. Winter rushed over to Xavier as soon as she saw him. "Xavier, what happened? Did Charles say yes?" He nodded, and Winter hugged him tightly, beaming with joy. "Dear, I just knew it would work out! You''re the best," she said and quickly kissed Xavier. Xavier, a bit overwhelmed by Winter''s excitement, gently pushed her back. "Don''t celebrate too soon. Charles said he''d help, but it means you''ll have to sign with Royal Star Entertainment!"Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. "Sign with Royal Star Entertainment?" Winter paused, a bit surprised. She chewed on her lip, feeling torn. "But I''m still under contract with Whitemoor Company..." "It''s your choice," Xavier exined. "Charles says he''s happy to help family, but he''s not in the business of giving away his hard work for free. Winter, he''s a businessman, after all!" Xavier remembered howmanding Charles had been when he spoke and realized he was nowhere near that level. Winter was unsure at first, but the idea of being considered ''family'' by Xavier made her decision clear. "Okay, then I''ll go break my contract with Whitemoor Company right now." How could Whitemoor Company evenpare to Royal Star Entertainment? Whitemoor Company was just a small yer, but Royal Star Entertainment was a part of the mighty Colossus Group, which Charles owned. Who was Charles? He was a big name in Brookville, someone famous and influential. If she could get on Charles''s good side, would her future in showbiz not be a breeze? With that thought, Winter''s mind was made up. "Xavier, tell Charles I''m in." Xavier rang up Ronald to tell him about Winter''s choice. Ronald mentioned that they would have to wait until Winter waspletely finished with her contract with Whitemoor Company before Royal Star Entertainment could step in. Winter had to agree to end her contract with Whitemoor Company as quickly as she could. She really hoped that Royal Star Entertainment would help keep the news quiet right away. After hanging up, Ronald turned to Charles and said, "Mr. Hoffman, Winter''s on board." Charles gave him a small,posed smile. "Nicely handled!" Ronald smited back. "Thanks for your kind words, Mr. Hoffman! I''ll get the contract ready now. As soon as Winter is free, I''ll sign her up." Ronald was excited about what wasing next. What would Winter think if she found out the real story? Would she regret how she acted today? What if she knew that Noelle, the person she could not stand, was actually her new boss? What would her face look like then? Chapter 252 Chapter 252 No one knew what Winter''s face would look like when she found out, but she was feeling great for now. She thought she would be set for sess with Charles''s support, so why worry about the future? Winter did not waste any time. She went straight to Ethan at Whitemoor Company to ask him to break her contract. Sure, Winter was not the star she used to be, but Whitemoor had spent a lot of time and money making her famous. They were not too happy about letting her walk away for nothing.This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org. However, Winter had some powerful friends. The Shaw and Harris families knew she was close to Charles, who was a big deal in their circles. Thus, they decided to help Winter talk to the big boss at Whitemoor. The boss did not want to let Winter go at first, but he got a phone call in the middle of their discussion, and whatever he heard made him change his tune. He agreed to let Winter out of the contract, but Winter would have to pay to leave thepany. The Shaw and Harris families were ready to do whatever it took, even if it meant paying up. Just like that, Winter was free from Whitemoor Company. She immediately reached out to Ronald, hoping he could make the negative news go away. Ronald said they should meet face-to-face and talk it over, especially if Winter was ready to sign on with him. Winter hurried back to the Royal Star Entertainment building without a second thought. Her mood was different now. She was ready for anything. Her reputation was not great, and she was without a contract, so she was eager to get the weighty support of Royal Star Entertainment. When Ronald handed her the contract, Winter signed it before even reading it. Ronald was taken aback and chuckled. "Ms. Shaw, don''t you want to read the contract before signing it?" Winter gave him a small, confident smile. "I trust you, Mr. Wells. You''re willing to help me even when times are tough. I believe in you!" Ronald did not feel sorry for her or desire her. He just thought she was not very smart. Charles usually had a good eye for people, and he was right about Winter. She might not be the sharpest, but she knew how to y the game. Ronald touched his chin, pleased with what Winter had said. "We should keep things professional," he suggested. "Ms. Shaw, you might want to take a closer look at the contract. After all, we''re going to be working together. If you run into any troubleter on, we''ll be in it together with Royal Star Entertainment. Right, Ms. Shaw?" Ronald''s words were not straightforward, but even Winter, who was not the sharpest knife in the drawer, felt that something was off. She frowned a little and opened the contract she had shut earlier. Just one nce at the page made her face turn white. Winter looked through the contract, shocked. Her expression was one of regret. After reading all the pages, Winter could not hide her upset feelings. "Mr. Wells, I trusted you so much," she said, her voice tight. "This contract... it''spletely against my favor. Why didn''t you tell me before?" Ronald smiled slightly. "I thought I gave you a heads-up, Ms. Shaw. You were quicker than I expected. I had some things to say, so I thought we''d go over it together." Chapter 253 Chapter 253 ¡°You¡­¡± Winter said angrily. ¡°This contract is unfair and invalid!¡± ¡°Unfair and invalid? Ms. Shaw, a contract is valid from the moment you sign it. I¡¯m pretty sure you know that, even if you¡¯re not a business whiz,¡± Ronald said, tucking the contract away with a sly grin.¡± You think this deal¡¯s bad for you? You need to understand the kind of gamble Royal Star Entertainment is taking by stepping up despite the way things are going for you right now. If you don¡¯t want to follow through with it, sure, the deal¡¯s off. However, if you¡¯re going to back out after agreeing¡­ Well, you¡¯d better think long and hard about that.¡± ¡°You¡­¡± Winter was totally blindsided by Ronald¡¯s bold move. ¡°I¡¯m rted to Mr. Hoffman!¡± ¡°Who are you talking about?¡± Ronald teased with a smirk. ¡°Royal Star Entertainment is mine to run now that Mr. Hoffman has handed it over. ¡± Winter¡¯s face lost a bit of color. ¡°Does Charles know you¡¯re doing this?¡± ¡°Mr. Hoffman¡¯s name isn¡¯t something just anybody can throw around,¡± Ronald said, standing up with a piercing look. ¡°Take your time to think about it, Ms. Shaw. When you figure it out, let me know. Royal Star Entertainment¡¯s door is always open for you!¡± Ronald was just about to walk away when Winter gathered all her bravery, clenched her fists tight, and said with a fierce determination, ¡°Wait!¡± Ronald stopped in his tracks, a small smile ying on his lips. ¡°Go ahead, Ms. Shaw!¡± ¡°I¡¯ll do it, but you have to take care of this problem right now, and¡­ even though I¡¯m not the main star of the show, I want to make sure I¡¯m in a really good position.¡± Ronald lifted an eyebrow and turned back to Winter. ¡°You¡¯re quite the decisive one, Ms. Shaw. As long as you stick to the contract, there¡¯s nothing to worry about, is there?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Winter was so mad she could bite through steel. It was true, but there was a part of the contract that was really bad for her. Royal Star Entertainment promised to make her a huge star over the next five years, but she could not get caught up in any scandals or faux pas during that time. Additionally, they would keep all the money she made from endorsements and her pay for thest year, which meant she would not see a dime of it. The worst part was that if she broke the contract, she would have to pay Royal Star Entertainment half of what she would have earned in those five years. The contract was a total rip¨Coff when she looked at it, and the worst part was that she had signed it without even reading it first. Ronald tapped the contract and said, ¡°Ms. Shaw, there¡¯s no need to worry. Royal Star Entertainment is going to make you the next big thing in showbiz. You know they¡¯ve got the magic touch!¡± ¡°Yes,¡± she agreed. What else could she say now that she had signed on the dotted line? 1/2 +15 BONUS However, after Winter got home and let off some steam, she was shocked to see that all the nasty rumors about her online had vanished. Royal Star Entertainment¡¯s official social media page had posted about weing her to thepany, and they even mentioned her in the post. Everyone knew Royal Star Entertainment was a big deal in showbiz. Before long, people were buzzing about Winter¡¯s connection to them. The show¡¯s social media page mentioned her too, announcing the character she would be ying. All of a sudden, the inte was alive with chatter about Winter. Sure, there were a few mean comments, but things were looking up. This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org. Royal Star Entertainment had made a huge investment into theirtest project, but they had not yet revealed the lead actors would be. Surprisingly, they announced Winter first, leaving everyone buzzing about what made her special enough to snag such a key role. Royal Star Entertainment had also quickly cleared up some rumors about Winter, even proving that some controversial photos of her were just scenes from a show. Chapter 254 Chapter 254 Winter let out a huge sigh of relief when she saw that. The way Royal Star Entertainment handled things was truly impressive. As Jade walked by Winter¡¯s messy room, she grew worried something bad had happened. ¡°Winter, what¡¯s going on? Is there a problem with Charles?¡± ¡°No, Mom. Charles said yes, and I¡¯ve signed the contract. Don¡¯t worry!¡± Winter replied, remembering the contract she had signed but choosing not to mention the details to Jade. ¡°I¡¯m all good now. Mom, I really have to thank Xavier for helping out this time. If it wasn¡¯t for him¡­¡± ¡°My dear, he¡¯s your fiance. Of course he¡¯s going to help you. But you¡¯ve got to step up too. Remember what happened back then¡­¡± Jade let out a sigh. ¡°Now that it¡¯s all sorted, just keep the past to yourself. Thankfully, Xavier didn¡¯t make a fuss. And make sure you keep Xavier¡¯s dad happy too!¡± ¡°I understand!¡± Winter¡¯s eyes sparkled as she remembered how Xavier had treated her that day, and she clenched her teeth. ¡°Xavier really loves me, and his dad treats me well too, so don¡¯t worry, Mom! The only people we need to handle are Grandpa and Noelle¡­¡± Winter realized she had been so caught up in all these issuestely that she had not had time to focus on Noelle. ¡°Mom, we can¡¯t let Noelle get her hands on the City Ring Corp. shares.¡± ¡°I understand!¡± Jade¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°Grandpa might be getting forgetful, but Dad and I know what¡¯s going on. We know who our real family is!¡± Jade said that, but she could not help feeling anxious. She could not believe that the stubborn old man of the Shaw family had given all the shares to Noelle, that sneaky girl. If Noelle still had those shares, they could deal with her easily. Jade knew how to handle someone like Noelle, with a firm stance and a clever n, they could get those shares back quickly. However, Jade was worried then that if Noelle had really sold the shares like she imed she had, they were in for a big problem. ¡°Mom?¡± Winter noticed something was wrong with Jade¡¯s expression. ¡°Are you worried Noelle has sold off the shares?¡± Winter added. ¡°You don¡¯t have to worry. She¡¯s been obsessed with Grandpa¡¯s shares for years. Do you really think she¡¯d be silly enough to give them away? No way! She¡¯s always tried to take everything from me¨Cmy toys, Grandpa and Granddad¡¯s love, and even Xavier. She¡¯s not going to hand over the shares she finally got.¡± Winter gritted her teeth as she spoke. ¡°Noelle¡¯s probably got the shares now, and she¡¯ll be showing off in front of me. Mom, we have to get those shares back!¡± Winter grabbed Jade¡¯s hand tightly. ¡°We have to!¡± COIN BUNDLE: get more free bonus ÈÕ Comments Support X GET IT Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g! Chapter 255 Chapter 255 Noelle had not been back to Frotconn since her incident. It seemed like Frotconn was just waiting for her to quit on her own, and Noelle knew it. However, she was not about to give up and resign. She had been hanging out at Phoenix Tree Residencetely. Charles had Ronald show Noelle how Royal Star Entertainment had been doing over the years. Noelle had never worked with showbiz before, so she did not know much about it. However, now that she owned part of Royal Star Entertainment, she had to start figuring some things out. For the past few days, Noelle had been busy reading up on Royal Star Entertainment. She pored over files and learned about the stars signed with thepany and the new projects they were launching. Ronald used to take care of all those details, only sometimes showing them to Charles for a quick check. Charles trusted Ronaldpletely and never really asked about the business. Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. However, things had changed a bit recently. Ronald had started to report to Charles almost every day about what was going on at Royal Star Entertainment. However, it seemed more like he was reporting to Noelle than to Charles. Luckily for them, Noelle was pretty smart. Ronald found it easy to exin things to her. He was reminded again how Charles had such a good eye for picking people. Noelle was amazing, especiallypared to Winter, who did not seem to have a clue about business. Noelle did not see herself as anything special, though. Still, after hearing Ronald¡¯s updates these last few days, she was starting to get the hang of the entertainment business, which was way more Today, Ronald showed up right on schedule. He also brought Winter¡¯s contract with him. Charles was up in his study, buried in work, while Noelle was in the kitchen, stirring up something delicious. The doorbell chimed, and she went to answer it, seeing Ronald at the doorstep with his briefcase in hand. ¡°Good day, madam!¡± ¡°Just call me Noelle, please!¡± sheughed. Ronald always sounded so stiff and formal, calling her ¡® madam¡® like that. She had tried to get him to stop, but he just kept on doing it. Noelle had pretty much given up on changing his ways. ¡°Charles is upstairs!¡± ¡°Okay,¡± Ronald replied with a nod, slipping off his shoes and stepping into house slippers without being asked. Noelle shook her head, smiling, and returned to her cooking. Ronald quickly swapped his shoes and caught a whiff of the delicious scent wafting from the kitchen. He thought to himself that Charles was lucky to have such a gem for a wife. Meanwhile, Charles was on a long international call, discussing a deal for Colossus Group with a company in New Britannia. With the time zones being what they were, he had to call them during their business hours. 1/2 +15 BONUS A knock came from the door, and Charles, excusing himself, called out, ¡°Come in!¡± Ronald entered and waited quietly while Charles wrapped up his call, which took a good half an hour. When it was over, Charles shut off the video and looked at Ronald. ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± ¡°Mr. Hoffman, I¡¯ve got Winter¡¯s contract details for you.¡± ¡°Is it done?¡± Charles asked with a raised eyebrow, quickly looking over the document. ¡°She didn¡¯t have anything to say about it?¡± ¡°She was steaming mad!¡± Ronald remembered how Winter looked that day. ¡°She signed it without even ncing at it!¡± Charles smirked and tossed the contract aside. ¡°I guess I gave her too much credit.¡± He added, ¡°You should take care of whates next!¡± ¡°Sure thing, Mr. Hoffman!¡± Ronald understood that Charles was telling him to make the decisions, which meant he should probably give Winter a treat to keep her happy. However, he then seemed to remember something. ¡°I ran into someone today!¡± P Chapter 256 Chapter 256 ¡°Who?¡± Charles asked, tapping on his desk. +15 BONUS ¡°Winter¡¯s agent, Jane Gordon!¡± Ronald exined. ¡°She used to work for Whitemoor Company, and she¡¯s not too happy with Winter. Now that Winter¡¯s cut ties with Whitemoor, Jane didn¡¯t stick with her!¡± Charles revealed a small smile and lifted an eyebrow telling Ronald to go on. Ronald nodded and said, ¡°The folks at Whitemoor Company found out that Royal Star Entertainment wants Winter, so they agreed to let Winter go. Whitemoor didn¡¯t say much about Jane. I figured that since she used to be Winter¡¯s agent, why not keep her on? She knows Winter better than anyone else!¡± ¡°Go ahead with handling these smaller matters,¡± Charles said. ¡°Will do!¡± Ronald could tell Charles was happy with his n. ¡°Oh, and there¡¯s something else.¡± Charles frowned and gestured for him to continue. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°It¡¯s about Madam¡¯s old ce¡­¡± Ronald hesitated. ¡°She never gave it up, so thendlord¡¯s been holding onto it. It wasn¡¯t a problem, buttely¡­ Well¡­¡± Charles¡¯s frown deepened, and he looked a bit upset. Ronald cleared his throat and got to the point. ¡°Thendlord called me today asking about Madam. I had a hunch, so I warned him about this before. He said someone¡¯s been hanging around her ce a lottely!¡± Ronald was being subtle, but Charles was quick to catch on. ¡°What exactly did he say?¡± ¡°He didn¡¯t say much. He just asked if Madam had made any enemiestely. He snapped a picture and wondered if he should call the cops next time.¡± Handing the photo to Charles, Ronald watched his reaction. Charles took a quick look. His eyes were icy, but he smirked. ¡°We definitely should call the police. Creepy strangers hanging around our house is a job for the cops. We pay them to keep us safe, right?¡± Charles sounded as cool as a cucumber, but Ronald got the message: Charles was pissed off. Xavier had dumped Noelle to chase money. Even though he had Winter now, he just could not leave Noelle alone. Ronald had no respect for that kind of guy. ¡°I¡¯ve already filled in thendlord,¡± Ronald said, thinking Xavier must have a death wish to mess with Noelle. ¡°And there¡¯s more¡­¡± He wiped his forehead, feeling overwhelmed with today¡¯s news. Charles was getting antsy. ¡°Just tell me everything!¡± ¡°Madam¡¯s mom stopped by Madam¡¯s ce. It looks like she didn¡¯t find Madam, so she left. But she left a storm behind, saying some nasty stuff about Madam!¡± Charles¡¯s gaze turned stormy. ¡°Got it.¡± Ronald hesitated. It was Noelle¡¯s mom, after all. No matter how bad she was, she was still her mom. He was not sure how to handle this. 1/2 +15 BONUS ¡°When¡¯s Xavier and Winter¡¯s wedding?¡± Charles blurted out, catching Ronald off guard. Ronald blinked and said, ¡°Uh¡­ I don¡¯t think Xavier has nned that yet.¡± ¡°Well, let¡¯s get him nning, and get them married right away,¡± Charles said, a bit annoyed. Just then, a knock came from the door, and soon after, Noelle peeked in. ¡°Are you still working? Sorry, am I This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org. interrupting?¡± COIN BUNDLE: get more free bonus P Chapter 257 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 Chapter 258 Chapter 258 Samuel had been in the hospital for a week. Noelle visited him whenever she had the chance. Ever since Samuel learned about Noelle¡¯s marriage, he could not wait to meet her husband. The anticipation seemed to speed up his recovery. Noelle had not been back to Frotconn since. She spent her days either at Phoenix Tree Residence or by Samuel¡¯s side in the hospital. One day, she ran into Jade in the hospital. Jade was already fuming at the sight of Noelle, especially angry that she had not been able to find Noelle at her home recently. It made her itch with frustration. Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g! Jade stood in front of the ward¡¯s door, her arms crossed. She did not let Noelle inside. Noelle tried to step around her, but Jade caught her arm. ¡°Hey! Don¡¯t you know how to greet your own mother?¡± Noelle¡¯s eyebrows pinched together as she looked at her arm in Jade¡¯s grip. It hurt a little, and she pulled away. ¡°Mom!¡± she said, her voice strong and clear. Anyone listening could tell Noelle was not happy with Jade. Jade was angry, her teeth clenched. ¡°Is this how you¡¯re going to act?¡± ¡°If you don¡¯t need anything, I¡¯m going in. I made soup for Grandpa, and he¡¯s waiting for me!¡± Noelle tried to move past Jade again, but she would not budge. ¡°Hold it right there. Tell me what happened the other day. Did you really give Grandpa¡¯s shares away?¡± ¡°Wasn¡¯t I clear enough back then?¡± Noelle said with a sarcasticugh. ¡°You heard me just fine, Mom No need to go over it again.¡± She continued, ¡°Like I said, as long as City Ring Corp.¡¯s shares stay the same, it doesn¡¯t matter who has mine¨Cit¡¯ll be just like when Grandpa owned it. However, if those shares change¡­ Well¡­¡± ¡°Are you threatening me?¡± Jade snapped. ¡°You don¡¯t even own any part of City Ring Corp. How could you give those shares away? Who did you give them to?¡± Jade was fuming. ¡°How much did he pay you? Tell me so I can get those shares back!¡± ¡°No way!¡± Noelle¡¯s voice turned icy. ¡°Mom, I used to wonder if I did something wrong. I wondered why you favored Winter over me. But now, I see it¡¯s not me, it¡¯s you. Grandpa owned those shares, and he can do what he wants with them. He gave them to me, so now I can do whatever I want too. They¡¯re not yours, so why can¡¯t you let it go?¡± ¡°You little brat!¡± Jade pped Noelle hard across the face. ¡°Is that how you want to talk to me?¡± ¡°I think you¡¯re the brat here!¡± The hospital room door burst open, and Samuel stormed out, ring at Jade. ¡°You dare hit Noelle right in front of me? What would you do if I weren¡¯t here, huh?¡± ¡°Dad, I¡­¡± Jade was caught off guard, not expecting Samuel to wake up and see her fighting with Noelle. ¡°Dad, you don¡¯t understand. Noelle gave away all the shares you gave her. Isn¡¯t that betrayal? Those shares are the empire you built, and it¡¯s a big deal if City Ring Corp.¡¯s shares end up with strangers!¡± ¡°Hmph!¡± Samuel snorted, his icy eyes sweeping over Jade before he waved Noelle over. ¡°Noelle, come Chapter 259 Chapter 259 Noelle¡¯s face grimaced as she touched her pped cheek, but she went to help Samuel. ¡°Grandpa, you should be resting. Let me help you back to bed.¡± Samuel waved his hand and gently patted Noelle¡¯s hand. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m fine. I¡¯ve been feeling better for quite some time!¡± he assured her. Then, he turned to Jade with a stern look. ¡°I gave those shares to Noelle. They¡¯re hers now, and she can do what she wants with them. If you want to talk about outsiders, you should consider how you¡¯re disgracing the family now, not Noelle.¡± ¡°Dad, how can you say that?¡± Jade gasped in shock. ¡°You know we would never give away City Ring Corp.¡¯s shares to strangers!¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± Samuel scoffed. ¡°It seems to me like that¡¯s exactly what you¡¯re nning to do. Don¡¯t think I don¡¯t know what¡¯s going on just because I¡¯m old. You¡¯re not fooling me.¡± His sharp gaze made Jade uneasy, but she quickly replied, ¡°Julian, Winter, and I are all Shaw family members. Our shares would never go to outsiders. Noelle won¡¯t even say who she gave her shares to, Dad¡­¡± ¡°That¡¯s enough!¡± Samuel cut her off. ¡°If you have so much free time, you should focus on taking care of Winter. Make sure she doesn¡¯t embarrass us. Leave Noelle¡¯s business to me and her grandfather. It seems you¡¯re too busy to care for both your children anyway.¡± This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org. ¡°Dad¡­¡± ¡°I need to rest now, so you should head back,¡± Samuel said, clearly done with Jade. He turned and walked into the hospital room with Noelle, leaving Jade alone at the door, her fists clenched and her teeth gritted in anger. She could not believe that Samuel, the stubborn old man, was so nice to Noelle. She also could not believe that Noelle managed to charm both Samuel and Sebastian so easily. Once Noelle helped Samuel sit down, she opened the thermos and smiled warmly. ¡°Grandpa, you won¡¯t have to worry about these things from now on!¡± ¡°I don¡¯t need to worry about you?¡± Samuel did not agree. He looked at the bruise on Noelle¡¯s cheek and said tenderly, ¡°Silly girl, why didn¡¯t you dodge when she hit you?¡± Noelle¡¯s eyes twinkled with a mix of emotions as she tried to smile, but it hurt her cheek, making her wince. ¡°Grandpa, you know my mom. If I had dodged, she would¡¯ve just tried again. And I really didn¡¯t see iting!¡± It seemed Noelle was used to this kind of treatment. ¡°Grandpa, you¡¯re not fully recovered yet. Why are you out of bed?¡± ¡°If I hadn¡¯t checked on you, would you have been able to handle your mom so quickly?¡± Samuel said, getting upset at the thought of Jade. He took the soup bowl from Noelle, sighed, and said, ¡°I know you¡¯ve been treated unfairly. Your mom¡­¡± ¡°Let¡¯s not talk about her, Grandpa,¡± Noelle said, trying to change the subject. ¡°Try the soup I made you this morning, okay?¡± Samuel looked at Noelle, shook his head with a smile, and took a sniff of the soup. ¡°It smells 1/2 delicious. Noelle, your cooking just keeps getting better!¡± ¡°Grandpa, if you like it, have some more!¡± Noelle said as she pulled up a little stool to sit down. ¡°I bought chicken just for you, and Charles said it smells great.¡± Samuel smiled with his eyes, clearly happy. ¡°Charles really looks out for you, doesn¡¯t he?¡± ÈÕ Chapter 260 Chapter 260 ¡°He does!¡± Noelle blushed a little as she saw Samuel finish his bowl and quickly got him another. ¡± Drink up, Grandpa!¡± Samuel was touched by how thoughtful Noelle was. Suddenly, something crossed his mind, and he looked at her curiously. ¡°You¡¯ve beening around a lottely. Aren¡¯t you still working?¡± Noelle¡¯s gaze darted away, and she told Samuel all about what had happened at Frotconn. His eyes, which were usually calm, suddenly sparkled with anger. ¡°That Joseph treats my Noelle so badly!¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay,¡± Noelle reassured him. ¡°Even before all this happened, I was thinking about quitting. Things with Xavier are so awkward now, and Winter can¡¯t stand me. I didn¡¯t want to stay at Frotconn, but I never thought they¡¯d let me go first.¡± Noelle sounded a bit sad. She had been at Frotconn since she graduated, and she and Xavier had been so happy together once. back then, they even nned out their future. Joseph had liked her then and had given the rtionship his blessing. Noelle never imagined that just one year away on a business trip would change everything so much. ¡°Let it go. He¡¯s not worth your time. Since you¡¯ve stopped working there, just move on!¡± Samuel was not really on board with Noelle working at Frotconn anymore, but he knew his granddaughter well. This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org. Noelle might look gentle, but she was actually very determined and strong¨Cwilled. She knew right from wrong and was not afraid to show her feelings. Samuel did not want to meddle in Noelle¡¯s life. With the kind of family she had, he could not always be there to protect her, even though he was her grandfather. Noelle cared deeply about her family and friends, and even though her parents were not always kind, she could not be harsh with them. That meant she often got the short end of the stick. ¡°So, what¡¯s your n?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sure yet. Maybe I¡¯ll just rest for a bit!¡± Noelle said with a smile. ¡°Grandpa, you¡¯re not worried about me finding a job, are you?¡± ¡°Oh, you!¡± Samuel knew Noelle was just trying to make him feel better. With her skills, she would not have trouble finding another role. ¡°What does Charles think about you being out of work?¡± Noelle bit her lip, sensing that Samuel was still worried about her. She took a deep breath and exined, ¡°Charles thinks I should take a little break before I start working at Collosus Group.¡± She chuckled. ¡°Collosus Group is great, but I want to forge my own career path.¡± Samuel nodded. ¡°Charles is smart. Working at Collosus Group would be good for you.¡± He patted Noelle¡¯s hand gently. ¡°Sweetie, are you sure you¡¯re okay with giving up your City Ring Corp. shares?¡± Noelle blinked in surprise. ¡°Grandpa, are you having second thoughts?¡± ¡°Oh, kiddo!¡± Samuel gave her a yful yet exasperated look. ¡°The shares are yours now, so you can do whatever you want with them. I just want you to think it through, especially when ites to Charles¡­ 1/2 ¡°Grandpa, Charles already gave me shares in Royal Star Entertainment.¡± COIN BUNDLE: get more free bonus Comments Support +15 BONUS Chapter 261 Chapter 261 Samuel paused, then broke into a smile. ¡°You mentioned thatst time!¡± He remembered Noelle telling him about the Royal Star Entertainment shares. ¡°What I meant was¡­¡± Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g! ¡°Grandpa, don¡¯t worry. Charles is really good to me,¡± Noelle told Samuel, signaling that she was okay. ¡°He¡¯s not like Xavier. He¡¯s got everything he needs, and he definitely doesn¡¯t need any shares in City Ring Corp.!¡± Samuel¡¯s eyes twinkled, and he nodded. ¡°I get it,¡± he said. City Ring Corp. was tinypared to the giant Collosus Group, and Samuel knew that well. ¡°All I want is for you to be happy, Noelle. Sure, money and shares are just material items, but sometimes, they¡¯re pretty important!¡± Noelle nodded back. ¡°I know what you mean¨Cyou want me to be safe and sound in the future! Charles told me that even though he has the shares, he won¡¯t use them. They¡¯re basically still mine.¡± She grinned. ¡± Actually, I got a better deal. I traded shares with him for Royal Star Entertainment, and he even gave me his shares. So now, I¡¯m the biggest owner of Royal Star Entertainment!¡± Samuel looked surprised. ¡°So, you¡¯re the top owner of Royal Star Entertainment now?¡± He had not expected Charles to do so much for Noelle. ¡°Well, that¡¯s a relief. Noelle, when can you bring him to see him? I¡¯d like to meet him properly.¡± ¡°Sure!¡± Noelle promised with a smile. ¡°As soon as you¡¯re out of the hospital, I¡¯ll bring Charles to meet you, Grandpa!¡± ¡°Okay, okay!¡± Samuel chuckled. He chatted with Noelle for a long time. After the doctor checked on him and told Samuel he needed to rest, Noelle finally left. Noelle did not realize that someone had been watching her from the moment she walked into the hospital. When she stepped out, the man suddenly appeared in front of her, startling Noelle so much that she 1/2 lorded at the man standing before Auhtuse avier bent down too. geker She ghood up and hurried away sae locked up it, but he followed her ¡°Noelle. Noelle did not stop walking, even as Xavier spoke. He quickly stepped in front of her, blocking her path. ¡°Does it have to be this way between ¡°What other way could it be?¡± Noelle¡¯s lips twisted into a mocking smile. She looked at Xavier with disdain. He had destroyed thest shred of her respect for him. ¡°Mr. Harris, please move!¡± Xavier stood in her way. ¡°I heard about your troubles. Why didn¡¯t youe to me?¡± ¡°What troubles?¡± Noelle looked up, her eyes icy. ¡°Why should Ie to you?* ¡°You know what I mean. I could help you with thepany. You¡¯re in trouble, so why didn¡¯t you seek me out? And as for those documents, did you¡­¡± ¡°Does it matter?¡± Noelle cut Xavier off, a yful smirk on her lips. ¡°Do you really care if something bad happens to me? Or if I was the one who leaked the information?¡± Xavier scowled, not liking this sharp version of Noelle. He remembered her differently. ¡°Of course it matters. You¡¯re¡­¡± ¡°Stop, Xavier.¡± Noelle waved him off, tired of his excuses. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter anymore. I don¡¯t want to talk about it. You know the truth. I¡¯m not in the mood, and I don¡¯t have time for this.¡± Chapter 262 Chapter 262 ¡°order¡± Xavier reached out suddenly, grabbing her arm. ¡°Can¡¯t we just talk? Why are you always so mad at me? Don¡¯t you remember? Before This w ¡°Before? I¡¯ve forgotten the past, Noelle said, pulling away with a sarcastic tone. ¡°Remember who you are, Mr. Harris. We¡¯re just brother¨Cin daw and sister¨Cinw now. I¡¯ll handle Frotconn on my own. You don¡¯t need to worry about it.¡± ¡°Noelle,¡± Xavier said through clenched teeth. ¡°I told you about Winter. I don¡¯t love her. I¡­¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter to me who you love, Xavier. You chose her, so just be good to her. Stop talking to me about it.¡± Noelle was furious. She could not believe Xavier would be so shameless, telling her over and over that he did not love Winter. However, back then, she came back home to see him secretly promising himself to Winter at the Golden Oasis Hotel. What had he told her then? He had said that Winter was the one he had always loved and he had never had feelings for Noelle. Was he really iming did not love Winter now? ¡°You¡¯re on your own!¡± ¡°Noelle.¡± Xavier red at Noelle¡¯s retreating figure, full of anger. ¡°Do you think you¡¯ve done nothing wrong? You might be the second daughter of the Shaw family, but you¡¯re not the favorite. You don¡¯t even have a share in the family¡¯spany, and you have no standing in the Shaw family. You don¡¯t have anything. Do you really think you¡¯ll get anywhere in life like this?¡± Xavier¡¯s hands balled into fists. ¡°If you had the same standing in the Shaw family as Winter and had shares in City Ring Corp., then it would be us getting engaged and married today. I wouldn¡¯t need to marry Winter. Everything was fine between us.¡± 1/2 Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Bay, this is all my fault? Noelle looked at Xavier, her eyes wide with disbelief. He was ridiculous. ¡°That¡¯s the funniest thing I¡¯ve ever heard.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve got everything you need to be rich, as well as Frotconn behind you. I thought you were better than this, Xavier. Needing Winter¡¯s shares to show your worth? I don¡¯t have shares, but she does, so you pick her? I¡¯m not mad at you, yet you¡¯re mad at ine? Only a guy with no skills would climb the socialdder using a woman¡¯s sess. I didn¡¯t think you were like that, but I guess I was wrong,¡± Noelle said with an icy stare, ¡°Mr. Charles Hoffman is way better than you.¡± ¡°What did you just say, Noelle?¡± Xavier¡¯s eyes were fiery red, ¡°You¡¯reparing me to Charles? What¡¯s so great about him? He¡¯s nothing without his family and the Collosus Group. If you take that away, he¡¯s just like me.¡± ¡°No, Xavier, you¡¯re not the same. You don¡¯t evene close to Charles,¡± Noelle said with a dismissive snort. ¡°He¡¯s got a lot more going for him than just his family and theirpany,¡± ¡°You know him that well?¡± Xavier asked, fists tight. ¡°What are you to him?¡± ¡°We¡¯re nothing. But seeing how youpare to him, you just disappoint me,¡± Noelle replied, her gaze icy, ¡°You¡¯re supposed to be somebody, yet here you are, throwing a tantrum in front of the hospital at me. Don¡¯t you care about your reputation?¡± Noelle smirked. ¡°You might not be famous, but your fiancee Winter sure is.¡± She chuckled and nced over at a spot nearby, Sure enough, there were camera shes pointed at her and Xavier, Chapter 263 Chapter 263 Xavier saw them too, and his face turned pale. Noelle squinted her eyes. While Xavier was not looking, she dashed away and hopped into her car, leaving him coughing in a cloud of exhaust. Xavier tried to follow, but the sight of the shing cameras made him clench his teeth in frustration, and he walked away quickly. The photographers, realizing they had been spotted, scrambled off. Meanwhile, Winter was studying a script when a package arrived for her, The downstairs servant brought it up, and she opened it, puzzled. However, her confusion turned to fury when she saw the photos inside. She grabbed the photos and tore them to shreds. ¡°Noelle¡­ You snake!¡± Winter shook with anger. ¡°Xavier is mine, all mine!¡± Noelle felt she was still being followed, so she called Charles. She was still feeling sick from her encounter with Xavier, and her voice was sharp with irritation. Charles was in a meeting when he heard Noelle¡¯s special ringtone. His eyes narrowed for a moment. The other managers at the meeting were shocked into silence, each one afraid to even breathe. They all wondered whose phone had interrupted them. Not silencing one¡¯s phone in a meeting could be a fatal blow. Charles had made it crystal clear: no phones during meetings. So, every time a meeting was about to start, everyone would turn off their phones, no matter what. Nothing was more important than Charles¡¯s rules. However, someone messed up today. Their phone was left on. was the picture of calm. Ple slowly front of all the other managers, answered ate, cooing Hello? The managers could not believe their ears. They had never heard Charles¡¯s voice sound so warm before. Charles gave them a quick look, his fingers drumming lightly on the table. ¡°What¡¯s up?* Noelle nodded. ¡°I went to see Grandpa today,¡± she said, pausing a bit. But I ran into two unpleasant people!* Charles raised an eyebrow, making everyone sit up a little straighter. He nced around calmly. ¡°Did they bother you?¡± ¡°Yeah, my mom and Xavier, Noelle said, biting her lip. Charles¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°What did they do?¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing, really!¡± Noelle said, shaking her head. ¡°But when I left, it felt like someone was following me, taking pictures. I haven¡¯t made any enemiestely, except maybe Winter and her crew. Could it be them?¡± Charles¡¯s eyebrows knit together for a moment as he raised his hand, signaling Ronald to take over the meeting. Ronald¡¯s heart sank, but he did not dare to object. He could only watch as Charles walked out of the room with his head held high, leaving behind a few words offort to Noelle. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, take your time. I¡¯ll take care of it. They won¡¯t dare to do much!¡± Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g! Chapter 264 Chapter 264 Noelle was not really worried, but she thought it was important to let Charlee know what was going on. Charles¡¯s words made her feel better. ¡°I wasn¡¯t worried. I just wanted to keep you in the loop. I have no idea why they¡¯re following me! ¡°4mm,¡± Charles murmured as he got back to his office and opened up his documents. Sure enough, there was an email with photos of Noelle and Xavier. The pictures were taken from such an angle that anyone who did not know better might think there was something going on between them. Charles tapped his fingers on the desk, a sharp look in his eyes. ¡°I¡¯ll sort this out. Are you on your way back now?¡± Noelle was feeling down, so she was just wandering around. ¡°No, there¡¯s nothing for me to do back home. Are you busy?¡± It hit her then that she might be interrupting Charles¡¯s work. He was always so busy, yet she was calling him at the office. ¡°You know what? You should go back to work. We can talk after you¡¯re off.¡± ¡°No need for that.¡± Charles chuckled. ¡°I¡¯m not busy at the moment!¡± He noticed Ronald had finished the meeting and was carrying a bunch of files. Charles raised an eyebrow to tell him to hold on. ¡°Is there anything else you need?¡± ¡°Nope. I was just wondering what you¡¯d like for dinner tonight,¡± Noelle asked. Since she did not have work at the moment, she decided to pick up some fresh ingredients from the market and prepare a meal for when Charles got home. ¡°I¡¯m off to the grocery store now!¡± ¡°I¡¯m easy to please. You can choose!¡± Charles replied, his eyes softening as he fiddled with some papers. He took a quick look and said, ¡°Head back early after you¡¯re done shopping. If you get bored, you could always visit your two friends!¡± +25 BONUS ¡°Sure!¡± Noelle cheerfully agreed and hung up the phone. The unease Xavier had caused was quickly calmed by Charles¡¯s words. She headed to the mall, her spirits lifted. After the call, Charles looked up at Ronald, who snapped to attention and handed over some documents. ¡°Mr. Hoffman, these are the main points from our recent meeting.¡± Charles nodded and nced at the emails on hisputer. ¡°Send these photos to Winter.¡± Ronald looked puzzled. ¡°These¡­¡± He knew the photos were not genuine, and he hesitated. ¡°What if Madam finds out?¡± ¡°She won¡¯t,¡± Charles said sharply, his gaze intense. ¡°She¡¯ll never find out. Ronald mmed up, realizing he had broached a sensitive subject. ¡°I¡¯ll handle it immediately!¡± After taking the photos, he added, ¡°What if Winter ends up resenting Madam?¡± Charles shot Ronald a quick look, his long fingers drumming on the table. ¡°You think she¡¯s over her grudge against Noelle?¡± Winter was known for her nasty temper, and she would probably do mean things to Noelle even without any provocation. ¡°Sometimes, tough situations call for tough actions. You can go now.¡± Charles said. Being kind to someone like Winter was not necessary. Charles did not mean to use Noelle, but dragging things out was not good either. Xavier and Winter¡¯s wedding had to happen soon, and it was better sooner rather thanter. Winter¡¯s face twisted in anger when she saw the photos. Jade, who came to check on her, saw Winter¡¯s meltdown and worriedly asked, ¡± What¡¯s wrong now?¡± Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. Chapter 265 Chapter 265 ¡°Mom!¡± Winter, on the verge of tears, clung to Jade. ¡°What do I do? Xavier still loves Noelle¡­¡± Jade¡¯s eyes were icy. She despised Noelle deeply too. ¡°You¡¯re overthinking it. You¡¯re engaged to Xavier. Why worry about Noelle?¡± ¡°But it¡¯s just an engagement, not a marriage. You know how Xavier is¡­¡± Winter¡¯s grip tightened in frustration. ¡°I don¡¯t care. He has to be mine!¡± Even though she initially got close to Xavier to steal him from Noelle, she fell for him after spending so much time together. She was so happy with Xavier, and if Noelle was not in the way, Xavier would have surely fallen for her too. ¡°Mom, can you help me, please?¡± Winter put all her hope in Jade. ¡± Noelle isn¡¯t with Xavier anymore, so why does she keep hanging on to him?¡± Jade saw the photo on the ground, her face turning stormy and fierce. The face from her memories and Noelle¡¯s face merged in her mind, and Jade clenched her teeth. ¡°Winter, don¡¯t worry. I won¡¯t let you go through what I did back then. That woman¡­¡± Without realizing it, Jade squeezed Winter¡¯s arm so hard that Winter gasped in pain. ¡°Mom? Mom!¡± Jade snapped out of it, looking a bit embarrassed. Winter was confused. She hardly ever saw Jade like this. ¡°Mom, what were you talking about when you say, ¡®back then¡®? What woman?¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing!¡± Jade¡¯s eyes darted away, and she gave Winter¡¯s shoulder a reassuring pat. ¡°I¡¯ll take care of this for you,¡± Jade said. ¡°Winter, if you¡¯re worried, why not just go ahead and marry Xavier right away?¡± ¡°Marry him?¡± Winter gasped, her eyes wide. ¡°But I¡­¡± She wrung her hands, feeling stuck. ¡°My career¡¯s been on pause, and after all my hard work to sign with Royal Star Entertainment, I¡¯m just about to start b?ttang married right now could She trailed oft, Yws mind racing with doubts about Royal Star Entertainment and Xavier. Her mom gave her a knowing look. ¡°Honey, those rumors that went around about you did affect your reputation a bit. Think about it if you and Xavier tie the knot, you¡¯ll be the talk of the town! You two look great together, so there¡¯s nothing to worry about. Plus, Royal Star Entertainment will eat up the chance to spin your wedding into a media frenzy. They¡¯d love that kind of buzz! Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g! Winter chewed on her lip, a lightbulb going off. ¡°You¡¯re right, Mom!¡± She had been so wrapped up in her nerves that she missed the forest for the trees. ¡°But what about Xavier?¡± Jade¡¯s eyes sparkled with mischief. ¡°Even if Xavier¡¯s got a soft spot for Noelle, what does it matter? You think they stand a chance?¡± She scoffed. ¡°Leave it to me. I¡¯ll handle everything. Just give me the go- ahead, and I¡¯ll make sure your wedding is a dreame true.¡± ¡°Mom, I knew I could count on you,¡± Winter said with a relieved smile. Jade was always quick to act, making sure her words turned into actions. She worried that if Xavier and Noelle got back together, all their hard work would be for nothing. Without wasting a moment, Jade called Joseph¡¯s wife, Emilia Lindsey. Emilia was the kind of mom who did not engage in business dealings but always kept a close eye on her son¡¯s life. When Jade mentioned she wanted to talk about their kids getting married, Emilia perked up. Chapter 266 Chapter 266 Emilia told Joseph about the conversation. He just raised an eyebrow. That night, Joseph seemed pretty happy about it in the study. ¡°The Shaws are getting impatient, huh?¡± ¡°It looks like it. Thedy called today. She was kind of feeling things out, and she invited me out for tea tomorrow,¡± Emilia exined. ¡°Looks like it might get decided soon.¡± She paused, then asked, ¡°What do you think?¡± Joseph let out a short, briskugh. ¡°What do I think? Of course we¡¯ll say yes.¡± Emilia was not so sure. She was a woman of simple values and did not get the world of business. She had met Winter a few times. She was beautiful, sure, but she just did not click with her. However, she had liked Noelle, Winter¡¯s sister Her son had talked fondly about Noelle before, and Emilia had high hopes for those two. She never saw his new rtionshiping¡­ ¡°I get what¡¯s on your mind, but you¡¯ve got to realize that kid¡¯s got no standing in the Shaw family. She can¡¯t do a thing for Xavier. Winter¡¯s a whole different story. She¡¯s got a whopping fifteen percent of City Ring Corp. Think about it. The Shaws don¡¯t have a son. If Winter marries Xavier, doesn¡¯t that pretty much mean the Shaws are his?¡± Joseph was always thinking ahead. The Shaws might not be the most prestigious family in town, but they were still a force to reckon with. Fifteen percent of a bigpany like that was nothing to sneeze at. Even if the old man would not give his shares to Winter, her mom and dad, Julian and Jade, had plenty, and that would all go to Winter someday. Winter had been in showbiz for so long that she did not know the first thing about the business world. That meant that Xavier would probably 1/3 end up with anything she got. Emilia zipped her lips, smart enough not to bring up Noelle again. ¡°So, should I go see Jade tomorrow? If we get this sorted, does that mean Xavier¡¯s wedding is a done deal?¡± ¡°Yes. Test the waters with the Shaws. When ites to getting hitched, the sooner the better!¡± A chilly glint appeared in Joseph¡¯s eyes. Just thinking about Noelle¡¯s sway over Xavier made him scowl. ¡°That Noelle¡¯s nothing but trouble. We¡¯ve got to kick her out of Frotconn!¡± This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org. The study door burst open, and there stood Xavier, his face pale with anger. ¡°Don¡¯t you think you should ask me what I think about getting married?¡± ¡°What do you think? You¡¯re supposed to be happy to marry Winter!¡± Joseph shot Xavier a sharp look. ¡°What¡¯s with this attitude? Weren¡¯t you the one who wanted to be with her?¡± Joseph saw how Xavier was acting and spoke with a mix of anger and disappointment. ¡°People who do big things don¡¯t sweat the small stuff. Just look at you! What¡¯s going on? You chose Winter, so what are you trying to say now?¡± Xavier¡¯s lips were pressed together tightly. ¡°I¡¯m not ready to get married yet!¡± He balled his hands into fists, standing his ground. ¡°I¡¯m still young. I want to work on my career. Plus, you know all about the rumors regarding Winter. Who knows if she can clear her name?¡± ¡°Are you thinking of breaking off the engagement? Do you want to be with Noelle?¡± Joseph was so mad at Xavier¡¯s stubbornness that he blurted out, ¡°Listen, you¡¯re going to marry Winter. Her being in the middle of scandals is actually good, since your marriage will shut down those rumors. And don¡¯t forget, Charles from Royal Star Entertainment is no pushover. He¡¯s promised to help, and he¡¯ll make sure Winter 2/3