At noon, Noelle headed toward the cafeteria and spotted a tall figure walking in her direction.Quentin was on the phone, his deep, cold voice carrying across the hallway. "Terminate the contract? Mr. Ford, and the reason?"Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a slender figure in a white coat approaching.His voice trailed off as his gaze locked onto her.Noelle met his stare.They held eye contact for a few seconds, but she said nothing and turned away, continuing down the hall.But Quentin's dark, taunting voice followed her. "Not bothered anymore? It's still pretty fun to look at when I can't sleep. Maybe later, when I'm with someone else, I'll pull it out for some extra excitement."His lips moved so casually, spitting out those cruel words. Noelle wanted nothing more than to rip them apart.She spun around, her tall frame trembling, her face pale, and her eyes bloodshot with anger. "Quentin, you couldn't be more disgusting!"Quentin raised an eyebrow. "Whether I'm disgust
At a time like this, having a close family member nearby would undoubtedly be the best way to ease Yvette's fears and give her the support she needed."No, I'm too scared to tell them," Yvette confessed.She had managed to get through the last six months mostly on her own.More recently, she had moved into one of Quentin's houses, where at least she had the presence of servants.But deep down, she still felt lonely, terrified of the impending pain of childbirth and the potential dangers it could bring."Noelle, can you stay with me?" Yvette pleaded.At barely twenty, Yvette's fear was understandable.Noelle hesitated.It wasn't the best time to request leave, but her worry for Yvette outweighed everything else. "I'll go talk to my supervisor and see if I can get some time off. I'll come see you as soon as I can."Yvette cried softly. "Okay."As Noelle turned to leave, she collided with someone coming down the hallway.John caught her before she could stumble. "Elle, where ar
John nodded. "Alright, if anything comes up, just let me know."Noelle smiled. "Okay."She watched him gracefully get into his car before hailing a taxi herself.However, what she forgot was that Yvette's caretakers would call Quentin.When Noelle arrived at the hospital, the doctors were performing a cervical check on Yvette.Her dilation was progressing slowly, and her contractions weren't keeping pace.The doctors explained that if the baby didn't come by the afternoon, they would have to perform a C-section.Otherwise, the baby could suffer from a lack of oxygen.Yvette burst into tears, terrified.Noelle was equally worried.Even though a C-section was a routine procedure, it was still surgery, and surgery always carried risks.Noelle gently dabbed at Yvette's tears with a handkerchief, trying to comfort her. "Don't be scared, Yvette. I'll be right here with you."Yvette gripped her arm tightly and nodded. "Noelle, you're a doctor. As long as you're here, I feel safe."
Noelle looked down at the tiny baby, wondering what it must feel like to be a mother.Just then, her phone rang again—it was John.She glanced at Yvette and asked softly, "Do you want to talk to Johnnie?"Yvette's eyes suddenly widened, a brief glimmer of emotion cutting through the exhaustion from childbirth.But just as quickly, her expression darkened, and she shook her head. "No, there's nothing to say. Just tell him I'm fine."If John ever found out she was the woman from that night, would he hate her? And if knew she had secretly given birth to his child, he'd probably be furious.It was better for her to disappear from his life completely.Noelle stepped into the hallway to take a call.John's voice was filled with concern. "If Yvette's sick, you should tell me. I can visit her. We're friends—it doesn't have to be this distant."Noelle sighed inwardly but stuck to what Yvette had asked her to say. "Johhnie, she's fine. Just a small cold. The doctor says she needs rest.
"Quentin, you shouldn't be doing this. Have you forgotten how Noelle left you? You broke her heart. What you're doing now isn't winning her back—it's pushing her further away. If you keep this up, she'll never belong to you again!"Yvette stood in the doorway of the hospital room, her body weak from childbirth, but her expression filled with worry for Quentin.Quentin crushed his cigarette against the trash can and tossed the butt inside, then turned and walked in the direction Noelle had gone.Noelle was in the bathroom, washing her face, when a shadow appeared in the doorway."There are no photos. I lied. You don't need to be afraid. Even if I had them, I'd never show them to anyone. Whether you believe me or not, I truly love you. There will never be another Xyla. All my love belongs to you. If you want the stars, I won't offer you the moon. Just come back to me!"Quentin took a deep breath, his emotions swirling, barely able to hold himself together. His eyes began to glisten.
A flurry of footsteps echoed outside the hospital room, and the door suddenly burst open. A middle-aged couple rushed in. "Yvette?"Yvette's eyes widened in shock at the sight of them."Dad, Mom..." she stammered, disbelief clear in her voice.Olivia's gaze darted to the baby in the crib, then back to Yvette. Tears immediately welled up in her eyes. "Look at you..."The words caught in her throat, and she pressed a hand to her chest, overwhelmed with emotion. "This is such a disaster!"She sank into the nearby chair, covering her face with her hands.Ryan's face was just as grim."Shame on the family…" he muttered, before letting out a deep sigh and walking out of the room.Noelle looked over at Yvette, whose face had gone pale—she looked as lifeless as a wilting flower, drained of all color and vitality."Aunt Olivia, please don't cry. What's done is done, and nothing can change that now. The most important thing is to take care of Yvette," Noelle said, trying to calm her dow
Noelle felt a tightness in her chest, and her emotions swirling. Nothing about Quentin's behavior made her feel any betterSuddenly, she stopped in her tracks and turned to face him.Quentin hadn't expected her to stop so abruptly, and he paused, the umbrella slipping away from its protective place over her head. He quickly adjusted, bringing it back to shield her again.He looked at her, confused and unsure.Noelle's eyes were cold, a bitter smile tugging at her lips.The mockery in her expression was unmistakable. "Why bother, Mr. Lowe? Is it because Ms. Cadwell no longer matters to you that you're acting this way with me?"If Ms. Cadwell were still as sweet and understanding as before, and she and I were both standing in the rain, whose head would your umbrella be over then?"Quentin froze.She always had a way of cutting straight to the heart of things, silencing him with her sharp word.His face shifted, torn between conflicting emotions. "Elle…""Enough, stop followin
Julian had been standing at a distance the entire time, but now he stepped forward, lowering his voice. "Mr. Blackwood was here just a few days ago. This time, he came specifically for Ms. Xanthos."Noelle froze, glancing toward the tall figure now making his way back to her.Julian quickly stepped back to his previous spot.Christian approached, holding a hairpin studded with small diamonds. "I couldn't find one exactly like yours, but this one's pretty close."Noelle's body stiffened as she gathered her long hair back up, but her mind echoed with Julian's words—Mr. Blackwood cam specifically for Ms. Xanthos.Behind her, Christian's pleasant voice broke through her thoughts. "Is this how it goes in?"He was trying to pin her hair, but each attempt failed. And with every movement, his firm body brushed against her hips, while the warmth of his breath occasionally touched the back of her neck.Noelle felt like she was standing in front of a furnace, the heat making her want 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