"Besides, are you sure you didn't catch a cold because you overdid it when you donated your blood to Xyla?" Dennis asked.Quentin glared at him. "I'm not that weak!" He just had no idea how to face Noelle. He didn't want a divorce and was filled with pent-up frustration, so he fell ill. Dennis said, "Let me call Xyla over to keep you company then." He started dialing Xyla's number.Quentin shot him a menacing glare. "Don't you even think about it!"Dennis immediately stopped. "Alright, I'll keep you company then."He plopped down in a nearby chair but soon found himself extremely bored. He found a profile picture of a bird of paradise on WhatsApp, clicked on it, and sent a message. "It's time to pay this month's installment, Ms. Pitts."Half an hour later, she replied. "Could you please give me a few more days, Mr. Jackman? The dessert shop hasn't paid me yet."Dennis: "I can give you a little more time, but the others won't do the same for me! Why don't you come over to Dragfo
Noelle greeted them. "Hello, Johnnie. Hello, Mr. Mane." She set the bouquet she was holding on the windowsill by the bed and turned to ask John with concern, "Was there something wrong with the alcohol? Did you end up drinking something bad?"John responded, "Yeah, a little. Four out of five of us passed out. The fifth person didn't drink."He looked a little embarrassed as he continued, "It's the first time this has happened in all these years."Leslie chimed in, "Don't let his casual tone fool you, Ms. Xanthos. Mr. Xenos doesn't want you to know how terrifying the situation was last night!""Leslie!" John frowned, clearly displeased. Leslie bit his tongue and swallowed whatever she was about to say back.John turned to Noelle, his gaze softening once again. "Don't listen to him, Elle. He's just exaggerating."Noelle asked worriedly, "Do you have your blood test results? I'd like to see them."He cleared his throat. "No, it's with the doctor. Seriously, Elle, don't worry. It'
Throughout the day, Quentin's temperature didn't rise, but it hovered around 99.5 degrees Fahrenheit. So, he was pretty miserable all day. Yet, Noelle didn't call or even text him. It was as if he didn't exist in her life at all. After taking a hot shower, he lay down on the bed and couldn't help but pull her close. "You heartless woman!" he muttered bitterly.When she woke up and found him sleeping next to her, Noelle froze, as she had no idea when he had returned. But she only stared at him for a while before she got out of bed and went to freshen up.Quentin was already awake, but he just hadn't opened his eyes. He was waiting for her to say something or at least touch his forehead, but she didn't. He felt a cold, unsettling emptiness in his chest.Noelle called John from the study to ask him how he was doing and said she'd visit him later. John was overjoyed, but he still said, "Elle, you don't have to come over if you're busy. There's nothing much going on here anyway."He h
When Noelle arrived at the hospital, Leslie was just walking out of the ward with John. Noelle walked over and called out, "Johnnie!"John's expression softened when he saw the woman who held his heart. "Elle."Noelle asked, "Are you heading to your checkup? Why don't you take a break, Mr. Mane? I'll go with Johnnie!"Leslie happened to have some work to do. "I'd appreciate that! Thank you!"Noelle responded, "It's no problem at all." The cardiac ultrasound room wasn't far from the ward; it was only a short elevator ride away. While John was undergoing his checkup, Noelle waited outside. She looked up and noticed Gabriel. "Mr. Kingston?" she called out.Gabriel looked like he was feeling unwell. Clutching his chest, he responded, "Oh, it's you, Noelle!"Noelle felt a pang of guilt when she thought of what had happened the other day. "Are you okay?" she asked with concern.With a frown, he responded, "I've been feeling off since that day, so I came in for a check-up."Noelle's
John stared at Noelle for a moment, as he hadn't expected her to think that way. Even though he felt disappointed, he smiled. "It is."He didn't want to pressure her in any way about this. He didn't want her to think that he was only good to her because he wanted her. Though, he did like her.Not long after she accompanied him back to the ward, his test results came out. Aside from one minor indicator showing a slight downward trend, the effects of alcohol were no longer visible.Relieved, Noelle left John's ward and went to visit Lorraine. Lorraine was doing well and seemed more energetic. Noelle stayed with her for a while before leaving the hospital.While she was on the road, she called Gabriel. "Are your test results back yet, Mr. Kingston?" Even though John had advised her to stay away from Gabriel, she couldn't help but feel uneasy because Gabriel's discomfort was caused by Quentin.Gabriel responded, "It's nothing serious. The doctor couldn't find a cause for the pain; it'
Noelle froze.Quentin continued, "I've come to understand how you felt when I looked after Xyla, and you've gotten back at me too. So, let's put that all behind us and make up!"Without saying a word, she gazed at him. "Quentin Lowe, do you even realize how many days I had to endure what you were putting me through?" Ever since Xyla returned from the Utopia States half a year ago, Quentin's over-the-top affection for her had become the talk of the town. Noelle had witnessed it on numerous occasions herself. So, she couldn't believe how he had the gall to say that he'd had enough after just two days.He sighed. "Elle, I can't change the past, but I can make it up to you in the future. After all, we still have a long way ahead of us, don't we?"Noelle fell silent, but the way her brows drew together indicated that she didn't agree with him. "To be honest, you don't have to go through all this trouble, Quentin. We can just get a divorce," she said calmly.Quentin's heart immediatel
Quentin was taken aback. Raising his hand, he exclaimed, "I swear on my life that Xyla has never been in my study! I would never let her into our house!" He paused before continuing, "Xyla did come over once, but she never made it to the second floor! Our home is our private space; I would never let just anyone in!"Noelle's breath caught in her throat.Quentin added, "Why don't you take a break? I'll clear out all my books right now!" He left to fetch an empty box and started taking the books down one by one. "Forget it. There are plenty of rooms in the villa—I'll just use another one," she said. There was no need to go through all this trouble. It was his study, after all.He insisted, "No, I'll use another room!" He couldn't give her any more reasons to say something like that again. The way she said if Xyla was the one using his study, he'd have already redecorated it to her liking really stung.Quentin took all of his books off the bookshelf, placed them in the empty box
Quentin looked at Noelle, who was sitting calmly at the desk, and asked lowly, "Are you really that heartless, Elle?" Noelle's pen hovered in mid-air. He felt a sharp, searing pain in his chest. Everything went black, and he collapsed to the ground with a loud thud. Her breath hitched in her throat. Noelle instantly dropped her pen, sprang to her feet, and ran over. "Quentin?"Dennis was dragged out of his house again. He and Noelle worked together to rush Quentin to the hospital.When Quentin regained consciousness and noticed the worried look on the woman beside him, he felt relieved. Grasping her hand, he apologized, "I'm sorry for worrying you, Elle."Even while he was out cold, he could hear her desperate cries. It became clear to him that she still cared about him, but his persistent disregard for her feelings had gradually hardened her heart."Do you get it now? Quentin, I don't care if you put yourself at risk to save Xyla, but leaving yourself in such bad shape for you