Chance stepped outside for a cigarette, and by the time he returned, Quentin was already getting dressed in his own clothes, looking like he was about to leave."If you don't care about her, then don't string her along. End things on good terms. Otherwise, you'll end up like me," Quentin said, offering Chance advice before leaving the room with Martin.Chance frowned, sensing something, yet not fully understanding it. He soon followed them out.After leaving the hospital, Madison called Noelle. "Noelle, I'm fine. Don't worry, it was just a routine checkup.""That's good," Noelle replied.There was a pause on the other end of the line before Madison asked softly, "Noelle, you're on your own now—are you doing okay?"Noelle hesitated, sensing that Madison's wasn't as simple as it sounded. "Is something going on?"Madison remained silent.The man she loved had died in an accident when they were in university, and with him, her heart had died too.So when her parents arranged for h
Quentin couldn't help but follow the girl with his gaze, watching as she stood outside the emergency room, tears streaming down her face.A voice echoed in his mind, questioning, "Have you ever considered that Xyla might not be that man's sister at all?"Quentin's ear twitched as the voice continued to replay in his head, "My feeling is that the two of them don't look alike at all. Like you and Yvette, Chance. Even though you're cousins, there's still a faint resemblance in your features. But Xyla and that man? Not even a little."Then, another voice chimed in, "Maybe one takes after their father, and the other after their mother!"A chill ran down Quentin's spine, a growing sense of unease gnawing at him.It was as if a fundamental belief he held was on the verge of being shattered.He turned to Martin and instructed, "Investigate that girl standing outside the emergency room."Martin glanced over at the girl.With her build and features, she could almost be mistaken for a man
Quentin felt like a fool.Noelle couldn't help but find the situation deeply ironic."You've been treating a devil like a treasure all these years. That must feel pretty great, right, Mr. Lowe?" she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm as she turned to look out the window.Quentin's heart clenched.Memories of Xyla flooded his mind—the years he'd spent protecting her, providing for her, giving her the best of everything, even neglecting his own wife for her sake time and again.His eyes grew moist. He realized just how utterly wrong and foolish he had been."If you're not feeling unwell, Mr. Lowe, I'll be on my way," Noelle said as she reached for the door handle.Quentin grabbed her arm, his eyes still wet. "Elle..."But Noelle calmly shook off his hand, opened the door, and left.Whether Xyla was that man's sister or not didn't matter to her anymore.She had left the past behind and started a new life, one where those old wounds no longer needed to be reopened.Quentin st
Noelle retorted, "Then you better watch out, or one day I might just swat you down!"Christian was momentarily speechless.Noelle turned and walked away.Christian had only come over because he saw that man hitting on Noelle.When he glanced up, he noticed his friend watching him with an amused expression from a distance. Feeling a bit embarrassed, he hurried over to join them.Meanwhile, Quentin felt deeply unsettled, he went to a secret underground location where Xyla and Ava were being held.Xyla's once beautiful face was completely ruined, and she hadn't received any medical treatment. Her appearance was beyond horrific.She sat on the cold, concrete floor, trembling in her tattered clothes, staring up at Quentin in fear.Just a few months ago, he had treated her like a precious gem.Back then, if she had even the slightest headache or fever, whether real or feigned, he would appear at her side immediately, rushing her to the hospital and tending to her with utmost care.
The soft, sweet voice wrapped around Quentin like a venomous snake, reminding him of Xyla. She had spoken to him like this for years.Suddenly feeling nauseous, Quentin shoved Zara away and stumbled towards his car.He grabbed the door handle, trying to steady himself enough to open it.Unwilling to give up, Zara spoke again, "Mr. Lowe, do you like Noelle? She's always cozying up to rich men. I heard she was married before, but the guy wasn't successful or wealthy, so she dumped him and hooked up with that Blackwood heir. Now she's after you, trying to have it both ways and play you both!"Earlier that evening, Zara had seen Noelle getting into a luxury car after work, and the man inside was none other than the one standing before her now.Zara's heart twisted with a mix of jealousy and bitterness.Quentin felt a sudden wave of sobriety wash over him.He turned to look at her, his handsome face flickering in and out of the streetlights as cars passed by, his expression dark."W
Noelle had been running herself ragged the past few days. The attending physician she was shadowing, Kara Poole, was notorious for her bad temper and habit of dumping work on the students. Just a moment ago, Kara had taken a call from her husband, and it sounded like they argued. Without a word, she left the clinic.Meanwhile, several patients were waiting outside for their follow-up appointments.After waiting for what felt like forever, and with no sign of Kara returning, Noelle decided to call her.Kara answered with a voice full of irritation, "You've been following me long enough—have you learned anything? Do you need to call me about every little thing?"With that, she hung up.Noelle felt a wave of frustration.Following Kara for five days didn't qualify as "long enough," and besides, she didn't even have the authority to see patients on her own.The patients outside were growing impatient, some of them coming in to ask about the delay.Noelle did her best to reass
Noelle nodded. "Yes."She lowered her eyes but couldn't hide the sadness in them.Why did she have to be born into a family like this? Why did Emmie have to end up with a man like Michael, someone she couldn't seem to shake off?Emmie noticed the look on her daughter's face but didn't mention it. Instead, she asked, "How's work been lately? Are you too tired?"Emmie's delicate features radiated concern and warmth as she reached out and lovingly stroked Noelle's head.Noelle felt a lump in her throat and had to take a deep breath to push back the emotion. "I'm fine. You need to take care of yourself."She picked up a glass of juice and took a small sip, using the motion to hide the moisture in her eyes.Not far away, a well-dressed couple entered the restaurant.Lia noticed Emmie and Noelle right away.She wasn't sure if Michael had seen them too, but she simply tightened her grip on his arms as they sat down at their table.With a coy smile, she said, "Michael, I've been feel
Christian must think Noelle's some sort of magnet—everyone seems to be drawn to her!"Unbelievable," she muttered under her breath.She looked up and froze when she saw someone standing in front of them.Quentin had just entered the building and immediately noticed the two emerging from the elevator, hand in hand.Christian glanced down at Noelle with a soft smile, a hint of indulgence in his gaze.Noelle's face showed a trace of annoyance, but it looked more like the playful kind of irritation a girlfriend might show in front of a doting boyfriend.Quentin stared at her, momentarily stunned.Zion, noticing them too, was slightly taken aback before he murmured, "I have to admit, they do look good together."His remark naturally earned him a dark, sharp look from Quentin."Elle, what a coincidence."Quentin's voice softened when he turned to Noelle, the harshness in his expression melting into a gentler demeanor. Though his heart felt like it was bleeding, he fought to keep hi