After brunch, Noelle and Quentin went downstairs. Outside, a young father was already busy building a snowman with his five or six-year-old daughter. He scooped snow with a shovel to shape the snowman, while his daughter used grapes for its eyes and a carrot for the nose. Then, she patted the snowman and giggled, while her father smiled warmly beside her.Noelle stared at the heartwarming scene, lost in thought. "If we had a daughter, would he be as tender and caring as that father?" she wondered. Quentin's eyes were also locked on the little girl. "If she were my child, I would spoil her rotten," he mused. "Let's go." He took her hand. There was already a snowman here, so he planned to lead her somewhere further away. Noelle trailed behind him, but her legs grew heavy. "My legs are sore."Quentin looked over and noticed that her brows were drawn together and her lips were jutting out; she looked rather resentful. However, to him, she looked more like she was pouting."Let m
Noelle didn't help because she was tired. Even though Quentin looked respectable on the outside, he was an animal in bed. She was completely drained at the moment, and she wanted to curse him out.Quentin built a large snowman and then added a smaller one next to it. The larger snowman stood slightly behind the smaller one, resembling a loving couple. He placed two grapes on the large snowman's face and started looking for more materials. Noelle reached into the pocket of her down jacket and took out two candies. "Here, we can use these!" She unwrapped the chocolates and placed them on the smaller snowman's face as eyes. Then, she picked up a twig and drew mouths on both snowmen. Quentin took off his scarf and wrapped it around the neck of the large snowman. Not wanting to be left out, Noelle took off her own scarf and wrapped it around the neck of the smaller snowman. Now, the two snowmen looked even more like a couple. Noelle giggled as she looked at the two snowmen. Quentin l
Noelle's lashes fluttered as she looked downward. She truly hadn't planned to tell Quentin, but she had fallen for him again, and she couldn't help herself.Quentin's chest tightened. His expression hardened as he turned over and lifted her chin. "Were you going to just run away and leave me behind?"Noelle pressed her lips together. Feeling guilty, she didn't make a sound. Quentin lunged forward, pinned her down onto the couch, and kissed her fervently. His kiss was rough and domineering. Noelle was helpless against him, trembling beneath him. In the end, he let go of her and gazed at her cherry lips. "Don't you dare do this again!"It wasn't her fault. She had no choice but to hide it from him after all the pain he caused her."I'll go with you tomorrow. Have you booked the flight?" Noelle nodded."Book another ticket!" Quentin rose to his feet and picked up his phone. "When's your flight?"Noelle gave him all the details. Quentin looked it up and noticed that there were st
Rattled by the cold winter wind, Xyla's teeth chattered. Her voice was barely above a whisper as she pleaded, "Save me, Quint…"Quentin frowned. "I've brought the money, so let her go!"The leader of the masked men cackled and struck Xyla on the back, causing her to lose balance and plunge into the frigid waters.Startled, Quentin's temper flared in an instant. Without a moment's hesitation, he hastily took off his coat and dove into the icy waters, propelling himself toward the drowning figure. He wrapped his arms around Xyla's waist and breathed a sigh of relief. He was about to take her back to the speedboat when a sinister laugh rang out from the other boat. "Quentin Lowe, take a good look at who I have here!"The leader of the masked men pushed a young woman to the edge of the boat. Her dark hair was a mess, and her face was ashen. Quentin inhaled sharply when he saw Noelle. "Elle!"Noelle's eyes were wide with fear as she looked at him. "Quentin!" she screamed as she was a
Noelle couldn't forget how Quentin had turned around and swam resolutely toward Xyla. At the time, she realized that Xyla would always come before her in his heart. It was about time for her to face reality and get back on track.Quentin's decision had successfully demolished the emotional bridge that Noelle had worked so hard to build in her heart. Every piece of that bridge fell apart and was mercilessly swallowed by the sea. She and Quentin were over—completely over. The icy seawater was bone-chillingly cold, and the heavy coat she was wearing to keep warm had become a burdensome shackle. Every movement she made felt like it was draining the last of her strength as she swam toward the distant cruise ship.She didn't need him to save her anymore. From then on, she no longer needed him in her life. Fortunately, before she exhausted herself, the cruise ship arrived. …The next morning, Noelle got out of the car at the entrance to the courthouse and walked into the lobby. There
Quentin didn't say a word. He would never marry Xyla, as he'd never had feelings for her. But he was determined to get to the bottom of the kidnapping incident. …Several days later, in a rundown apartment building, the driver who had been behind the wheel that day fell to his knees before Quentin. He was the one who had held a knife to Noelle's throat that day, forcing the bodyguards to disarm. He was also the one who'd handed her over to Mark's men."I had no choice, Mr. Lowe! Those people had taken my wife and two kids hostage! If I hadn't done as they said, they would've killed them!" The driver slapped himself repeatedly on both cheeks.Quentin's face was pale, his tall figure imposing and intimidating. "Leave Dragfort with your family. I don't know if I'll be able to control myself if I see you again!"If it hadn't been for this driver, Noelle wouldn't have been abducted by Mark's men. Then, she wouldn't have been dumped at sea, and their marriage wouldn't have ended in div
Yvette sent her a blushing emoji. After chatting a bit more, Noelle went to school. Now, she was officially a graduate student at Collinview University School of Medicine. The three years in Dragfort felt like a dream, and when it ended, all that was left was emptiness. Noelle rarely thought about her time in Dragfort.Noelle arrived at the lab slightly ahead of schedule. Planning to get a head start, she noticed a figure in a white coat outside the lab, hand over their mouth, attempting to stifle their sobs. "What's wrong, Zara?"Zara Patel was a close friend of hers, and the two of them were students under the same professor. "He said he didn't want to be with me anymore. He promised we'd get married after I graduated, but now he's breaking up with me…" Zara sobbed uncontrollably.Noelle had never met Zara's boyfriend, but she'd heard so much about him from her. He sounded like a dreamboat; he was handsome, came from a good family, and treated Zara incredibly well. Zara's eyes
Christian Blackwood's face was etched with disdain as he asked lowly, "You're that eager to get into bed with me, huh?" However, his perfectly shaped lips twitched when his eyes landed on Noelle's face. Noelle had no idea the man had mistaken her for someone else. She was completely caught off guard by the man's aggressive behavior. "Zachary doesn't seem like a nice guy at all," she thought.Noelle stammered, "I-I'm Zara's best friend, Mr. Zachary. I came to ask if you could please not break up with her. She really loves you!"His amber eyes narrowed into slits as he looked at her delicate, round face. Her eyes sparkled like gemstones, her long lashes fluttered, and her cherry-red lips were parted in surprise. He reached out and patted her face. "Who's Zachary? How dare you call me by such a common name?" His hand was large and pale. When he dropped his harsh demeanor, his laid-back tone and nonchalant gaze gave him the air of a spoiled scion.After saying that, he walked away.
"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