Quentin snapped, "We don't need it!" Then, he slammed the door shut.The family physician was startled. How could John's friend be so rude? At a loss, he called John. "Mr. Xenos, it appears that Ms. Xanthos doesn't need my services." Even if he didn't treat Noelle, he had to let John know. The latter fell silent for a moment before he realized what was going on. Quentin would never allow his doctor to treat Noelle. "You can head back now."Suppressing his anger, he called Noelle. She picked up the phone from her nightstand and answered it. John's voice was gentle yet laced with concern. "How're you feeling now? Are you feeling better?"Noelle responded apologetically, "I feel much better now, Jo." She felt embarrassed for making him worry so much about her."That's good to know," John responded. He hesitated for a moment, as if he wanted to say something, but ultimately didn't. "Get some rest.""I will." After hanging up the phone, Noelle looked up and noticed Quentin standi
Noelle's stomach didn't hurt anymore, so she took a short nap. When she woke up, Quentin was still asleep, and his features seemed softer. Noelle picked up her phone and noticed a message from Yvette: "Did Quentin give you a hard time, Noelle?"Noelle: "Nope."Yvette: "Even though I'm rooting for Mr. Xenos, I still hope things work out with you and Quentin. After all, both of you are closer in age. Mr. Xenos is a little older… F-Forget what I said. Don't listen to me…" she sent a bunch of gibberish.Noelle tugged at the corner of her lips. Yvette was probably scared of her cousin and was ready to give in, which was why she sent all these messages.Noelle: "I know what to do, so you should focus on your studies!"Then, Janet called, and she answered it. "Elle, come over to Lane Mansion in a bit. By the way, is Quentin with you? Come together. I want to celebrate your birthday."Noelle glanced at the man, who was still asleep beside her. She was tempted to turn Janet down, as she w
After she punched him, the whole world fell silent. Quentin clutched his throbbing face, momentarily stunned. His dark eyes widened in disbelief as he stared at Noelle.Noelle felt much better. She huffed, averted her gaze, and refused to meet his gaze. He tugged at the corner of his lips and shot her a menacing glare. Perhaps he was aware that he was in the wrong, because he didn't say a word.Martin had witnessed the whole scene through the rearview mirror. The corners of his lips twitched as he struggled to keep his laughter at bay. This was probably the biggest loss Quentin had ever suffered in his life.And just like that, the couple arrived at Lane Mansion. When they got out of the car, Quentin's expression was as dark as coal. Janet had the housekeepers prepare a lavish dinner and a birthday cake. With a loving smile, she told Noelle, "Make a wish, Elle!"Noelle froze for a moment, recalling how she and Yvette had waited for Quentin with a cake and dinner on the night of h
Quentin cleared his throat again. This time, he felt awkward as well. Noelle's face was as red as a beet. "Get intimate? More like get a divorce," she thought to herself. He couldn't help but steal a glance at the woman beside him. The way she blushed with embarrassment was just way too cute."The F-Fifth of the month," Noelle answered reluctantly with her head lowered. Janet counted on her fingers. "It just so happens to be your ovulation period today! Perfect; you two stay here tonight and work hard. Hurry up and give me a grandchild!"Janet had no idea that Quentin had bailed on Noelle's birthday to be with Xyla. She thought the couple was still head over heels for each other. She gave Noelle an encouraging pat on the back before heading downstairs.Noelle turned around, embarrassed. "Mom—" she gasped as she bumped into Quentin's firm chest. He held her by the waist and chuckled softly above her head. "You're so clumsy. How're you going to be a mom?"Her face turned bright
Looking at Noelle, who was dead drunk and sprawled on the table, Lorraine couldn't help but ask, "How pathetic. you can't live without a man?"She grasped her arm, hoisted her up, and helped her into her own room. Lorraine helped her take off her shoes, tucked her in, and then got ready to head downstairs to the bar. When she opened the door, she was stunned as a tall figure walked in. The man was dressed in a dark, bespoke suit and looked really mature. Even though he'd aged, he still looked handsome.His breath was laced with the rich aroma of red wine. While undoing his collar, he demanded, "Pour me a glass of water!"Lorraine eyed the man's tall, straight figure, crossed her arms, and arched her brow flirtatiously. But she smiled wryly. "Is there no one in that huge mansion who would pour you a glass of water?"The man turned his head and glanced at her, his eyes sparkling with mischief. "What? I can't let go of you!" He then walked toward her, cupped the back of her head wit
When she noticed that his gaze was locked on Noelle and his expression was grim, her brows drew together. Xyla smiled and said gently, "You should try this, Quint. The pancakes here are really good!" Her doe eyes crinkled in a smile as she used the communal cutlery to place a pancake on his plate. A faint smile graced Quentin's lips as he picked up the pancake and took a bite. Then, he said, "It's quite good."Xyla chuckled. "Of course! The chefs here come from a long line of chefs who served the king!""I see…"As she withdrew her hand, she accidentally knocked over the glass of milk beside her, spilling hot milk onto her tender wrist. Quentin hurriedly grabbed a napkin, stood up, and reached across the table to hold her arm and wipe it off. "Be careful!"When Noelle noticed the concern and affection in his eyes, her heart twisted in agony. All of a sudden, the delectable breakfast spread before her tasted like cardboard.Just then, a tall figure appeared across the room. Gab
As soon as Noelle's body touched the car's seat, she jumped up, as if struck by lightning. "I'm not getting in your car! Get out of my way!" Noelle couldn't bear the thought of sitting in a car that Xyla had been in.Quentin wanted to push her back into the seat, but he eventually released his hold on her shoulders. "Fine, let's use your car!" he snapped. After she rose to her feet, he slammed the car door shut.Then, he bent down, scooped her up in his arms, and walked toward Noelle's Volkswagen Sagitar. Xyla's face contorted in rage as she watched the scene from the restaurant. Her eyes were filled with malice and murderous intent.When Gabriel walked past her, he deliberately stopped in his tracks to glance at her, so he noticed the sinister expression on her face as well. He smirked and thought Xyla was interesting. Xyla noticed his gaze out of the corner of her eye. She looked over and noticed him arch his brow. There was a glint in his eyes, but his expression was unreadab
Noelle hobbled into the clinic. Through the window, Dennis' eyes widened in surprise as he watched the couple walk. "What happened to you, Noelle?"Quentin responded, "She bumped into something. I'm here to get Dr. Jackman to check on her." He then headed inside to find Joseph.Noelle sat on a chair in the consultation room, wincing from the pain in her knee. Dennis leaned over to have a look. "Woah, that's quite a bruise! What did you run into?"She touched her injured knee. "The dining table."He clicked his tongue. "If it were Xyla, Quentin would definitely be worried sick."Her breath hitched in her throat. Noelle recalled the day of the landslide, when Xyla had scraped her forehead and Quentin had taken her on a full-body checkup. An indescribable feeling welled up inside her. Just then, Quentin and Joseph emerged from the inner room. After hearing what Dennis had said, Quentin glared at him. Dennis pretended not to notice and turned to Noelle. "By the way, Noelle, you sh
"Sorry, but if I ever get married, it definitely won't be to either of you."Noelle had originally come to visit Christian, but now she didn't feel like staying anymore. She was beyond frustrated.Christian's sharp, dangerous eyes narrowed in an instant, brimming with hostility as he locked his gaze on Noelle. Quentin's handsome face darkened as well, his mood turning stormy.Noelle spun around and walked out."We'll see about that," Quentin muttered, getting up to leave as well.As he passed by the clinic where Noelle worked, he cast a glance in that direction before heading out.Near the end of the workday, Russ called. "Ms. Xanthos, Mr. Xanthos has arranged for you to meet a boxing champion. Are you free now? I can take you to meet him."Noelle couldn't help but feel a mix of amusement and bitterness. She had lived 24 years, and only now did he care about whether she had any self-defense skills. Isn't it a little late for that?Still, she went.After one session, she was dr
Noelle quietly closed the door behind her. Leonard glanced over, saw it was her, and put away his phone. "He just fell asleep. Ms. Xanthos, you should head home and rest. I'll keep watch tonight," he said softly.Noelle shook her head. "He took the knife for me. How could I go home? I wouldn't be able to sleep anyway. I'd rather stay here and keep an eye on him."She sat down on the couch, her gaze heavy with concern as she looked at Christian sleeping.Leonard nodded. "Alright, you stay here. I'll step out for a bit," he said before leaving the room.Noelle nodded.Christian's phone, sitting on the nightstand, pinged with a WhatsApp notification.Noelle walked over, picked up the phone, and saw a message from someone with the nickname "The Blomming Fifties.""What a flashy name," she thought with a faint smirk.But for some reason, curiosity tugged at her—she suddenly felt a strong urge to peek into Christian's private world as if she might uncover something hidden beneath t
Noelle remained silent.In Dragfort, ever since Quentin had learned early that morning about Christian taking a knife for Noelle, he had locked himself in his office. It had been three hours now.The morning executive meeting was canceled, and his client appointments were rescheduled. Senior staff members who needed his signature on documents stood hesitating at the door, feeling the oppressive atmosphere even from outside the office.Department heads waiting to give their reports also lingered at the door, too intimidated to enter.In the end, they all turned their pleading eyes toward Martin.But even Martin was hesitant to go in.After all, he had witnessed the weight of Quentin's emotions—shock, frustration, and a deep sense of defeat—that had cast a heavy, oppressive mood over the office.Martin made a call to Dennis, knowing only he could possibly get through to Quentin now."Mr. Jackman, you need to come over," Martin said quietly, making sure to step into a quieter co
Even though Christian was in obvious pain, he forced himself not to make a sound.Such a stubborn fool.The door knocked twice, and Leonard walked in. Seeing Noelle, he greeted her, "Ms. Xanthos."Noelle's eyes were red, but she didn't respond.Christian opened his eyes slightly and said, "Don't tell anyone I'm injured."Leonard nodded."Tell them I'm on a business trip," Christian added.Leonard raised an eyebrow, "Bro, with a wound like that, how long do you think this 'trip' will last before people catch on?"Christian shot him a cold glare, and Leonard quickly relented, "Okay, okay, I get it. I'll handle it."Christian closed his eyes again, waves of pain crashing over him like a relentless tide.Suddenly, he opened his eyes once more. "Silly girl."Noelle paused, her tear-filled eyes looking at him.A smile tugged at the corner of Christian's mouth. "Get out for a bit. You look terrible."Noelle's lips twitched as her damp lashes fluttered, and a surge of unexplainabl
Just as the man raised the knife for a second strike, the security team arrived and swiftly pinned him down.Noelle heard a low grunt behind her, followed by Christian's pained chuckle. "Good thing it wasn't him."Noelle's heart clenched as she turned to see Christian, clutching his shoulder, slumped against her legs.He was wearing a beige coat, now stained with a large patch of blood around his shoulder.Christian was rushed to emergency surgery, but Noelle remained frozen in her chair, her mind replaying his words, "Good thing it wasn't him."Who wasn't it? Quentin?Why did he say that? Why did he act this way?The image of Christian's blood-soaked coat lingered in her mind. The wound—how deep was it?Noelle sat there, numb and lost in thought for an unknown period, until Michael appeared.He glanced at her through the doorway, but without a word, he continued walking past.A little while later, Kara gently patted her shoulder. "They've moved him to a room. You should go s
Emmie smiled and placed a few more ravioli on Noelle's plate. "Then eat a little more. It's your mom's first time cooking, and once you're in the Utopia States, you won't have this."It wasn't like she had never cooked before—she had made instant noodles when she was alone.Noelle ate a small bowl of ravioli without pausing, her stomach now full and round. Her eyes welled up with tears, though whether it was from happiness or something else, no one could tell.After dinner, Noelle stayed for a bit before leaving.Emmie watched Noelle's car disappear down the driveway before finally going upstairs.Michael, leaning back on the bed, heard her soft footsteps approaching and lifted his eyelids.The bedroom was dark, and when Emmie stepped in, her gaze met Michael's dark, piercing eyes. She paused at the doorway, and he continued watching her."Lia must be blind. She couldn't tell if it was you or the driver," Emmie said coldly, walking straight to the other side of the bed and pulli
Emmie was at a loss for words.Michael said, "Your daughter's leaving for the Utopia States soon. You should take this time to spend with her."Emmie's breath hitched. "Elle agreed?"Michael nodded. "Yes."It was the best way for Noelle to get away from those two men and focus on her own growth.After a night's rest, Noelle felt much better the next morning. Emmie called her, inviting her to Gentle Glades after work.What Noelle didn't expect was to see Michael there as well.He was lounging on the couch in casual clothes, flipping through a medical journal. Emmie, wearing an apron, seemed to be busy in the kitchen. When Noelle walked in, Emmie immediately came out."Elle!" Emmie's gentle face was filled with warmth as she took Noelle's hand.Noelle felt a bit disoriented.In her memory, Emmie's life was filled with books and work, never with the kitchen. And Michael—she hadn't seen him so relaxed and calm, casually reading a magazine on the couch, in over a decade.It felt
Michael couldn't forget the look Elijah had given him that day—a mocking smile, full of meaning. Elijah slowly pulled back, revealing Emmie's curled-up body underneath him.Without a word, Michael opened his phone and pulled up a social media app. He tossed the phone to Emmie. "Take a look for yourself."Emmie looked down and saw a video posted by Elijah just minutes earlier. It was of her feeding him. She watched in disbelief, then replayed it. The account was undeniably Elijah's."Scroll down. There's more," Michael's voice drifted from the couch.Emmie's fingers moved down the screen, her peripheral vision catching a glimpse of Michael sitting with his legs crossed, taking a sip of coffee handed to him by the housekeeper.Further down, she found a photo posted by Elijah a month ago, showing her preparing his medicine. The footage seemed to be taken from security cameras.But none of these posts had appeared on her social media feed.She had never seen them on her phone.Mich
Quentin didn't deny it.Noelle's chest tightened as she remembered that day in Ocean City when Christian had said Gillian deserved to be slapped. Now, it all made sense.At the time, she had sarcastically asked him if he would treat her the same way once he got tired of her.His response had been, "Do you think I'm tired of her, and that's why I did it?"Now she understood. Christian had known all along that it was Quentin who had called Gillian to Ocean City.A wave of frustration swelled in Noelle's chest. Her fingers clenched tightly as the memory of Christian's sweet words clashed with the thought of him being with Gillian. Bitterness gnawed at her.Just then, the door opened again, and a strong, steady figure entered. His gaze swept silently over the two men in the room before he walked straight to the bed."Elle?""Clement!" At the sight of him, Noelle's eyes brimmed with tears."Let's go home," Clement said as he turned and carefully lifted her onto his back. Noelle res