The Cherished Wife

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 pillar.

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 clash 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 glanced 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 related 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 flame. Charles reached out, his fingers lightly grazing her cheek before playfully 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 glanced 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.

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…”

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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”

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 pillar.

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 clash 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 glanced 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

related 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 flame. Charles reached out, his fingers lightly grazing her cheek before playfully 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 glanced 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.

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 it coming… 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,”

“Noelle,” Julian cut her off, “your sister didn’t mean for things to go this way, but love can be complicated…”

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