No matter how much she usually questioned Michael's character or even confronted him, Noelle didn't dare to say a word at that moment, because he was a respected figure in the medical world, and she knew she really shouldn't have drunk last night. With her gaze lowered, she looked remorseful. "It won't happen again." Without sparing her another glance, Michael left. When Noelle returned to the office, she found another bouquet of flowers on her desk, just like the one from yesterday—roses and lisianthus. She picked them up, and searched for a card, but found none, so she handed them to Zara. "You can have them."Zara held her tongue in front of Noelle but secretly curled her lips in disdain. At the end of the day, she threw the bouquet straight into the hospital trash can.When Noelle returned home and walked out of the elevator, she noticed the neighbors across the hall bringing in new furniture. Curious, she peeked inside, recalling that an older couple lived there. And she w
Yvette could tell Noelle was embarrassed, so she sent her a face-palm laughing emoji. Just then, she felt a gentle kick from inside. Yvette placed her hand on her belly, and a warm smile spread across her face. "Jo, I'll take good care of the baby and raise them on my own," she thought. …Meanwhile, Quentin also came across Noelle's video. He was green with envy as he watched her cry and insist she had three arms, all while another man comforted her. He spent the entire night tossing and turning, unable to sleep. He feared that she might become someone else's woman before he could win her over. Unable to sleep, Quentin called Dennis. "Help me come up with a way to drive that scion away from Elle!"Dennis was the one who had sent him that video. Quentin had dug up Christian's identity; he was the eldest son of the Blackwood family and the most influential man in Collinview.Dennis was reluctant to help, especially since Quentin was the one who had messed up. However, he feare
Quentin pressed "1" and said, "Grandpa's sick; he has late-stage stomach cancer."The elevator descended rapidly. The man beside Noelle gripped the handle of his suitcase with one hand and tucked the other into his pocket, his expression growing solemn.Her heart lurched, and she tilted her head. "When was this?" She believed that no matter how awful Quentin was, he would never joke about his grandfather. Quentin looked down at the ground. "His stomach's been hurting for a while, so he got it checked out. The results came in yesterday."Her breathing quickened, and her heart sank. "I'll go see him when I get a day off in a few days."Then, the elevator reached the first floor, and Noelle stepped out. He breathed a sigh of relief as he watched her leave. After a moment, he followed suit.As soon as she got into her car, she received a call from an unknown number. "My grandmother wants to see you, little widow!"Noelle wrinkled her nose in disgust when she heard the familiar, twi
Noelle was about to swipe her room key when a middle-aged man in a suit emerged from the elevator. He walked over to her and said politely, "Ms. Xanthos, we've taken the liberty of upgrading your room to the presidential suite. Please allow me to show you the way." Noelle turned around and tugged at the corner of her lips. "I think there's been a mistake. I only paid for a standard room."The man explained, "There's no mistake, Ms. Xanthos. Please let me show you to your new room." With that, he took her suitcase. Noelle followed the man to the exclusive VIP floor and felt as if she had stepped into a whole new world. Everything around her was overwhelmingly luxurious. The man led her to a room and personally opened the door for her. "After you, Ms. Xanthos."Noelle hesitantly walked in, taking in the opulent surroundings. The man rolled her suitcase and said, "I'm your personal butler, Ms. Xanthos. Please let me know if you need anything."Puzzled, she was about to question the
Noelle immediately shut the door. Outside, Christian chuckled a few times before walking away. …It was already 11:00 pm, and Noelle was exhausted. After a quick shower, she turned in. Before she knew it, morning had arrived. Noelle texted Quentin to ask about Fred's hospital. Then, she headed downstairs for breakfast.While she was eating, a figure took a seat beside her. The refreshing scent of grapefruit and lemon, with undertones of jasmine and sandalwood, filled the air. Noelle looked over and frowned at Christian. Christian met her hostile gaze with a hint of nonchalance. He inched toward her and asked, "Am I that irresistible to you?"Noelle was at a loss for words. When she looked away, her attention was immediately drawn to the man's hand, which was resting on the table. Christian wore a tailored brown shirt. His wrist was well-defined, and his fingers were long and slender.A smile played on her lips as she reached out and gently lifted his hand. There was a g
Quentin's heart sank when he noticed the anger and disappointment in Janet's eyes."Alright, alright, dry those tears. Let's sit down and catch up!" Janet pulled Noelle over to the couch and started asking her about her life, from her studies to her job at the hospital, and how she was doing in general.After Noelle answered all her questions, she smiled. "I'm so glad to hear everything is going well for you!"Meanwhile, Xyla peered through the window and clenched her fists when she noticed it was really Noelle sitting on the couch. So, it was true; she was back, and to think she was now a graduate student, studying medicine. "Why the hell does that bitch get to live such a good life while I have to keep going to the hospital for follow-up treatments?" she brooded. Also, she had to earn every penny for those treatments by selling her body. Why was life so unfair? These thoughts sparked a burning hatred in Xyla. Why didn't that bitch just drown in the ocean that day?…At noon,
"Has it almost been 5 months since Yvette went to the Utopia States? I wonder if she'll come back to see me. Well, so much for all the love I gave her," Fred grumbled as he lay down.Noelle's heart skipped a beat as she wondered, "Does Yvette know that Fred is terminally ill?" After Fred fell asleep, she called Yvette, as she figured she shouldn't be in class at this hour. Soon, Yvette answered. "Noelle?"Noelle stood in the dark corridor. "Grandpa's not doing so well, Yvette. He's been diagnosed with late-stage stomach cancer. Could you come back to see him? He misses you a lot."Yvette fell silent for a while, staring down at her baby bump. She was aware of her grandfather's illness, but there was no way she could go back in this condition. "Noelle, I have a rather busy schedule at the moment, so I won’t be able to make it back. I’ll FaceTime Grandpa soon."Noelle frowned. "Is everything alright, Yvette?" Usually, she'd definitely come back once she found out about Fred's condi
After a while, Fred woke up. Noelle helped him freshen up, while Quentin helped from the side. Fred asked, "Why don't you take Elle home to get some rest, Quentin? I'll be fine with a caregiver here, so you should head back to work as well."Quentin nodded in response. Fred then turned to Noelle and said, "Elle, be a good girl and go home! I'll call you when I miss you." He cared deeply for Noelle. Even though he knew how much she treasured the time she spent with him, he didn’t want her to overwork herself.Her thick lashes fluttered. "Okay." Deep down, she decided she would visit Fred again that evening and go straight to the airport from the hospital the next day.Quentin offered, "Let me give you a ride."Noelle remained silent in front of Fred, but as soon as she and Quentin were outside, she stopped in her tracks and said, "I can hail a cab, so please go back, Mr. Lowe." Her expression was as cold as a frozen lake in winter, and when she looked at him, her eyes were compl
"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