Christian had never been more serious.After speaking, he released Noelle, turned on his heel, and walked away.Noelle felt as if her whole body was burning.It wasn't until he opened the door to leave that she noticed he had left his original scarf on her couch.She picked it up and rushed to the door. “Christian, your scarf!”Her face was flushed pink, her lips bright red, still glistening with the remnants of his kiss.Christian felt a wave of tenderness wash over him.He walked back to her, gently cupped her face, and this time, placed a soft, lingering kiss on her lips. "Throw it away. I like the one you made for me more."He flashed a smile and turned to leave.As Quentin stepped out of the elevator, he saw the scene unfold.At that moment, his handsome face turned icy, and a chill settled in the air around him.When Christian walked past him, he casually adjusted the scarf as if making it more comfortable.Whether deliberate or not, the gesture stung Quentin deeply,
Christian felt a weight lift off his chest as he hung up the phone.He stepped forward, heading toward the car parked not far ahead.Two days later, Zara handed Noelle the keys."Elle, thank you for letting me stay at your place," Zara said, sounding sincerely grateful."No problem." Noelle kept a calm exterior as she took the keys back.As Noelle began to walk away, Zara hesitated as if she had been debating whether to say something. Finally, she spoke up, "Elle, I'm not sure if I should say this, but I heard from Zach that Christian has a lot of women. Don't let him fool you."Noelle paused briefly.Christian was indeed known for being a bit of a playboy, but she wasn't about to jump to conclusions based on hearsay.So, she didn't say anything and just walked away.Zara felt frustrated.What does she think she is, just because she snagged Christian? Hmph!After work, Noelle started packing up her things.Just as she finished, Christian called, "Babe, I'm on a business t
Now that Noelle was living closer to the hospital, she could sleep in a bit longer before work.As she was busy with her tasks, a message popped up from BoomBoomPow. "I'll be in Collinview City soon. Take me out to lunch, Babe!""I'm at work, Mr. Blackwood. How about dinner instead? I'll treat you then!"Lunch breaks were too short, and going out might cause her to fall behind at work.Christian replied, "Alright, dinner it is."Noon came quickly.Christian was having lunch with a few of his buddies at a restaurant. During the meal, he excused himself to use the restroom.Zara and Zachary happened to be dining there as well.From a distance, Zara spotted the elegant figure and bit her lip before approaching."Mr. Blackwood!"Christian turned around, surprised to see Zara.Zara hesitated, then said, "Mr. Blackwood, there's something I think you should know. You're Zach's friend, and I don't want to see you get played. Noelle isn't just seeing you. For a while, someone's been
Noelle was silent for a moment before shaking her head."No," she replied honestly.Christian felt a pang in his heart but kept his tone casual. "So, how are you planning to welcome me back?"Noelle considered his question. "Do you want meat fondue, seafood, or something simpler?""I'll eat whatever you cook," Christian said.Noelle found herself at a loss for words.Christian always had a way of making things difficult."Alright, what do you want, then?" she asked, her beautiful eyes meeting his, clear as a spring—inviting anyone to dive right in.Christian paused, then grinned. "Empanadas!"Didn't she make pasta for Quentin? Well, he wanted empanadas—for her to make them just for him.And maybe to forget all about the pasta.Noelle smiled back. "I haven't made empanadas much before, Mr. Blackwood. You should be prepared—they might not turn out great!"Christian smirked. "Even better if you don't know how."The idea that she might learn to make empanadas just for him, pra
Christian didn't say another word during the drive, simply following the GPS to the location.When they arrived and stepped out of the car, two bodyguards immediately blocked his path. "Mr. Lowe only allows Ms. Xanthos to go in alone."Noelle paused, glancing at Christian. "Wait here for me. I'll be back soon."With that, she followed one of the bodyguards towards the factory.Christian frowned as he watched her figure grow smaller and smaller in the distance.As soon as Noelle stepped into the empty room, she saw Quentin crouched on the ground.In front of him knelt a trembling woman—Xyla.Seeing that all-too-familiar face, Noelle's breath caught in her throat.Quentin stood up and handed Noelle a small bottle. "She's all yours. Do whatever you want for revenge, even if it means taking her life."If she was too scared, he'd take care of it himself."Quint, you can't do this. If my brother knew, he wouldn't let you..." Xyla's face turned even paler at his words.She cried an
Noelle stopped and glanced back briefly. "With all these bodyguards here, they'll take you to the hospital. I don't have any medicine, equipment, or a way to examine you, right? And I'm just a student—I can't treat you."Her expression was incredulous as if asking Quentin what good it would do for her to forgive him or stay.The look on her face made Quentin's heart grow cold."Maybe Ms. Cadwell can stay with you," Noelle added mockingly before turning and walking away.Every time Xyla had a headache or a fever, real or not, Quentin would rush to her side without hesitation.Once, when Fred locked them in a room at the Lowe Mansion, Quentin even jumped from the second floor to get to her.He had always been so devoted to Xyla—now it was only fitting that Xyla should take care of him.Noelle thought bitterly as she walked away into the night.Behind her, Quentin closed his eyes, thinking, "Yes, he deserved this."When Christian saw her slim figure reappear in his view, his hear
So, where were the promised empanadas?Christian stood outside Noelle's door for a while, frustrated, but eventually, he had no choice but to leave.The next morning, Noelle was on rounds with Viola in the gastroenterology department.As she was taking notes, she heard Viola say, "Mr. Lowe, your stomach issues are caused by irregular habits. You need to eat properly and cut back on the alcohol."Noelle paused and looked up, only to see a familiar face on the hospital bed—Quentin.He had actually checked into Collinview University-Hospital.An inexplicable irritation rose within her.Quentin's face was pale, his once-handsome features now gaunt.He smiled weakly, one hand resting on his stomach. "Thank you for your concern, Ms. Warner. I'll be more careful in the future."As he spoke, his gaze shifted to Noelle.Their eyes met, and Noelle frowned at the look in his dark eyes, which seemed to carry some hidden meaning.Quentin held up a small bottle. "This label is in a foreig
Since the supervising teacher wasn't around during the night shift, Noelle followed Martin to Quentin's room.Quentin was standing by the window in his hospital gown, his tall frame slightly hunched. He looked pale and kept coughing."Did you take your cold medicine?" Noelle asked.Martin replied, "Mr. Lowe refused to take it!""Get out!" Quentin suddenly snapped, shooting a sharp, icy glare at Martin.Martin quickly left the room, thoughtfully closing the door behind him.Noelle frowned, exasperated by Quentin's behavior. "Just take your medicine! If you ruin your health, you're the one who's going to suffer."Quentin's cold gaze softened as he looked at her. "Feed it to me."Noelle fell silent."Fine, don't take it if you don't want to."If she were still the woman who loved him, she probably would have fed him the medicine, worried sick about his condition.But now, Noelle only found his behavior ridiculous.They were divorced—why should she cater to him?She turned to
"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