Noelle paused."And how do you feel about it?" she asked.Madison gave a smile, taking her time with her meal. "How could that happen? He doesn't love me."As they talked, the gentle notes of a piano filled the air.A young man was seated at the piano not far away, playing "Melody for Elise" with elegance.Madison's gaze drifted toward him, her expression becoming almost trance-like.Madison, being a piano teacher, often paid extra attention when she heard someone playing well.Noelle didn't think much of it and excused herself to the restroom.At a nearby table, Chance had just sat down with a friend when he noticed that familiar profile.Madison was quietly watching the pianist, her gaze deep and distant as if she were drawn to the young man at the piano—or perhaps looking through him, seeing something or someone invisible to everyone else.There was a sadness in her eyes.Chance frowned.What was she looking at?When the song ended and the pianist stood up to leave, Mad
Quentin's pale lips curved into a faint smile. "If I said I'd willingly give my life for you, would you believe me?"His dark eyes gazed at Noelle, filled with emotions too complex to put into words.Noelle didn't respond.What would she do with his life?Meanwhile, after leaving the dinner, Christian received an update from Julian about the incident at Skyline Dine.Christian's long, defined fingers tightened around his glass, and a dark, menacing look crossed his handsome face."Bring me the manager, the installer, and the supplier!"Julian immediately followed his instructions.Before long, the men were brought in, already trembling with fear once they realized who had been nearly injured by that chandelier.They hadn't expected to face such a powerful and terrifying figure.Christian kicked each of them once.Julian was convinced that if Franconia wasn't so far away, Christian would've dragged the manufacturer over to kick him too.After all, their chandelier had nearly
"Where did you get burned? Let me see!"Noelle's expression was full of concern as she grabbed Christian's hand, wanting to check his injuries.Christian waved it off. "It's nothing, Babe. It'll be fine in a bit."Noelle noticed a few small red spots on his pale hand, likely from the burn.But if she'd looked a moment later, she probably wouldn’t have even seen those.Noelle felt a twinge of irritation—she had worked hard on that handmade pasta!Christian looked genuinely apologetic. "What should we do, Babe? You spent all that time making it."Noelle frowned. "As long as you're okay. It's just a bowl of homemade pasta."Well, maybe Quentin wasn't meant to eat it.Quentin, lying in bed, nearly jumped up in anger when the pasta spilled on the floor, but he held himself back.He sneered, "I've heard of women being two-faced, but I didn't know men could be just as bad! Noelle, can't you see he did that on purpose?"Noelle just raised an eyebrow and shot back at Quentin. "Mr. Lo
Noelle wasn't naive—she could easily see through Christian's little tricks.Christian felt guilty, truly guilty, but the idea of Quentin eating her homemade pasta didn't sit right with him. That would have been too much of a reward."Then how about you slap me?" he suggested, grabbing her hand and trying to guide it towards his face.Noelle pulled her hand back, feeling exasperated. "Just go home, Mr. Blackwood! Don't you have work in the morning?"It was nearly midnight.Christian replied, "I do, but work isn't as important as chasing my girlfriend!"He stepped closer, pulling her toward him by the arm, his glassy eyes locking onto hers. "Tell me when you're leaving. I won't go until you do."At that moment, Christian's usual laid-back demeanor gave way to something sharper, a subtle but undeniable aura of authority and determination.Noelle's breath hitched slightly. "I'll leave after I get him something to eat."Christian released her.Back outside the restaurant, Christia
From a distance, Christian watched as that familiar figure emerged from the hospital building. A quiet sense of relief settled in his chest.He stubbed out his cigarette, and the car window rolled up.Luckily, he had been smoking with the window and door open, so the car was cold but not filled with smoke.Noelle climbed into the back seat, immediately hugging her arms to herself—the car was even colder than outside.Julian turned on the heat, and as the temperature gradually rose, Noelle slowly drifted off to sleep.When the car reached Noelle's place, Christian didn't wake her.Instead, he sat in the darkness, watching her peaceful but tired face, illuminated only by the moonlight streaming through the window.After a moment, he asked Julian for the last cigarette and smoked it outside the car.Then he returned, unbuttoning his coat and wrapping it around Noelle, covering her completely. Gently, he lifted her out of the car.The late October night was biting cold, and Christ
"Nothing, it's comfortable here."The thought of returning to the hotel and facing Madison, who clearly had feelings for another man, made Chance feel suffocated.He had thought that perhaps he was the one who had wronged her, and he'd been trying to make amends—maybe by giving her a child or living a normal married life.But now he realized that she had never really cared for him.Every night, they slept in the same room—she on the bed, he on the floor—and she was probably thinking about another man the whole time.The idea that for the past two years of their marriage, she might have been thinking about someone else made Chance feel utterly miserable.He was overwhelmed with bitterness.Quentin pushed open the door to his hospital room and slipped back into his hospital gown, resuming the role of the injured patient."Your mother's counting on this trip to Collinview City to get a grandchild out of you two, but how's that supposed to happen if you're hanging around here?"Ch
When it was all over, Chance went to take a shower.Madison curled up on the bed, clutching the blanket, crying uncontrollably.By the time Chance returned, freshly showered, he seemed like the same refined, gentlemanly figure he always was.Perhaps the sight of that single drop of red on the bedsheet had eased the suffocating feeling in his chest because he felt much more at peace now.He lay down beside Madison and tried to pull her into his arms, but she flinched and moved away.She was terrified of him now.She had been too naive, thinking he wouldn't be interested in her.After all, they had slept in the same room for a year, and he had never shown any inclination toward that kind of intimacy.Even when Monica had pressured him, he had simply asked Madison if she wanted a child, saying he could give her one if she wanted.She had bluntly replied that she had never considered having his children, and after that, he never brought it up again.She had assumed he wouldn't go
Just as Quentin was about to pour himself some water—Martin having stepped out a few minutes earlier—Zara quickly walked over."Mr. Lowe, let me help you with that!" she offered.Quentin looked at the unfamiliar doctor in the white coat and replied coolly, "Thank you."Zara smiled warmly. "No need to thank me, Mr. Lowe. I'm Zara Patel, currently rotating in this department. If you need anything, you can always ask me."She handed the water to Quentin.Quentin, having encountered many women like this before, took the glass with a detached expression. "I don't need anything. You can leave now."Zara's face stiffened slightly, but she wasn't ready to give up. "Have you had your ointment applied? I can help with that."She reached for the ointment on the bedside table, taking the initiative to apply it for him.Quentin's patience reached its limit. "I told you to leave. Are you deaf?"His gaze was sharp, his mood already sour, and he didn't appreciate this intrusion.Zara's face