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
Christian's porcelain-like fingers gently pinched Noelle's cool cheek, the gesture brimming with affection.Noelle rolled her eyes at him. "You're so full of it!"Christian laughed, his eyes sparkling with amusement as he watched her feigned annoyance. "Well, you've definitely got me wrapped around your finger!"Noelle's lips twitched as she tried to suppress a smile. Playing along, she asked, "How old are you, anyway?"Christian smirked. "Not much, just three years older than you."She was 24, and he was 27.Noelle narrowed her beautiful eyes playfully. "And you've never been wrapped around someone else's finger before?"Her gaze was teasing, almost mischievous, but there was a hint of curiosity in her tone as if she were probing for something deeper.Christian's captivating eyes met her, their gazes locking in a silent exchange.He could sense the subtext in her question—was she trying to get a read on him?A smile tugged at the corner of his lips as he let out a soft chuck
A wave of fear surged through Noelle's heart, and she abruptly pushed Christian away, turning to run back the way she had come.The confusion arising in Christian's eyes gradually faded.He began walking in the direction she had fled.When Christian returned to the building, Noelle was nowhere to be seen.He stood in the light near the entrance, his hands tucked into the pockets of his coat, thick brows furrowed in frustration.He sighed, exasperated with himself. He had been too eager, and it had scared her off.Meanwhile, Emmie left the restaurant and stepped into an elevator.A tall figure dressed in a sleek black suit followed her inside.Emmie turned around, and her eyes widened in shock when she saw the familiar, handsome face.As the elevator doors closed behind Michael, he arched a dark eyebrow, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "What's the matter, can't handle it? Professor Fox is into Elijah. What I do with other women has nothing to do with you, does it?"His slende
"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