Christian's face turned cold as ice. "Who called the cops?"The officer snapped back, "We're the ones asking the questions here, not you."Christian muttered, "It was Lowe, wasn't it?"…When Noelle arrived home, the entrance was quiet, not a soul in sight. Was it Christian or someone else?The building management hadn't called her back.Once inside, she gave them another call. They told her it was just a kid who accidentally triggered the door lock.Noelle frowned slightly. This lock was starting to feel too sensitive.While preparing dinner, she called Sarah, "How about a trip to Ocean City for New Year's?"Sarah, tempted by the thought of the beautiful lakes and hot springs, sighed. "Elle, my soul will definitely go with you. Mwah!"Noelle fell silent.Suddenly, the door lock's alarm went off again.Her heart jumped as she told Sarah, "I'll call you back."She went to check the door and saw a cleaning lady nearby, wiping things down.The cleaner, looking flustered, qui
However, the issue with the camera hadn't been resolved. Noelle called the building management, insisting they get to the bottom of it or she would contact the police.The lock had been recommended and installed by them, so it was hard to believe they weren't involved.The management's response was surprisingly cooperative. They explained that the camera was installed by the technician on his own and that they had already reported him to the police. He would face legal consequences, and they promised to tighten their personnel oversight. Only then did Noelle end the call.Just as her car passed the management office, Noelle looked up and saw the manager escorting a familiar figure out of the building.She froze.Martin turned around and said, "Keep your mouths shut. Don't say anything you're not supposed to. Mr. Lowe will make sure you're taken care of."The manager responded, "Don't worry, Mr. Powell. This is on us at the property office—Mr. Lowe has nothing to do with it!"
"Grandma," Christian replied, proving he could roll with anything.Noelle rolled her eyes and pulled her hand back. "Good grandson, you can leave now."The room fell silent.After a moment, Quentin let out a low chuckle, clearly amused. "Not bad. With such a big grandson, you won't have to work so hard anymore."Christian shot him a dark look. "Grandma was talking to me. Who asked for your opinion?"Quentin paused, taken aback, giving Christian a look filled with unspoken thoughts.Just then, Quentin's phone rang—a client was calling. He stepped outside to take the call.As soon as Quentin left, Christian's playful expression shifted into something much darker.He leaned in closer, one arm resting beside Noelle, the other pinning her arm down. "Grandma, you've had your fun. Now it's my turn."His hot breath brushed against her face, sending a shiver down Noelle's spine. She opened her eyes and found herself staring straight into his striking, glassy eyes.Her body tensed, and
Quentin turned and walked away.But the cold, oppressive atmosphere he left behind lingered in the hospital room.Noelle pulled her legs up, hugging her knees as she sat on the bed. Without realizing it, tears welled up in her eyes. She wiped them away, got out of bed, and left.When Christian returned with lunch, the room had already been occupied by someone else. He paused, staring at the unfamiliar woman lying in the bed.He turned to leave and called Noelle, but she didn't pick up.He went to her office to look for her but they told him she was in the ward. Unable to find her, Christian spotted a familiar face—a doctor he recognized. "Hey, give this to Noelle when you see her."Sarah took the items from him, and Christian left.Later, Sarah called Noelle. who came out of the break room. Sarah handed her what Christian had left behind."Your boyfriend left this for you."Noelle took it. "Thanks."Sarah smiled with a teasing look in her eyes. "Are you guys getting serious?"
Christian glanced briefly in Gillian's direction, his brow furrowing. "I'm not with them. What, are you jealous?"His glassy eyes glinted with amusement as he cast a sidelong look at Noelle.Noelle remained cool. "What would I be jealous of? Mr. Blackwood is nothing to me."Just then, a sweet voice cut through the air."Chris, there you are!"Gillian stood and walked over. "I was going to ask you to join us for breakfast, but I thought you might still be asleep after staying up so late last night. Didn't expect you to already be up."She sat herself down in the chair across from Christian, giving Noelle a polite smile. "Ms. Xanthos, you're here too! What a coincidence!"Christian's demeanor shifted slightly, a chill creeping into the air. Gillian noticed but tried to keep her composure, though she felt a flicker of unease.Noelle's good mood vanished. She stood up abruptly. "You two take your time with breakfast. Sarah, let's go!"Sarah, confused by the situation, quickly foll
"Sarah!" Noelle quickly walked over to her.The two embraced."Elle, are you okay? You scared me to death! I was so worried!" Sarah said, tears in her voice."I'm fine. Did you get hurt anywhere?" Noelle asked.Sarah shook her head. "No, I'm not hurt.""Good, as long as you're not injured," Noelle reassured her.Christian watched Noelle's slender figure. Moments ago, she had been trembling with fear, but now she was comforting her scared friend like a protective elder.He couldn't figure her out."What do we do now?" Sarah asked, fear evident in her voice.Noelle comforted her. "It's okay. Worst case, we can just head back.""Don't move!" A deep, magnetic voice came from behind her, and a dark figure knelt in front of Noelle.Christian grabbed the laces of her sneakers, tying them carefully.Noelle's whole leg stiffened. Her neck felt rigid as she glanced down at Christian tying her shoe, her heart tightening.Sarah, full of admiration, said, "Mr. Blackwood is so good to y
The earthquake had caused minimal damage, with only a few injuries and no reported deaths.Sarah said, "I'm coming with you!"Noelle and Sarah went upstairs and, without saying much, packed all their belongings into their suitcases. They didn't want to risk staying any longer, unsure if there would be more aftershocks.It was unfortunate, but their trip had come to an abrupt end.As they walked out with their suitcases, they ran into Gillian and Melinda.Gillian had a bandage wrapped around one of her feet, and Melinda was helping her. Two suitcases sat beside them. When they saw each other, Gillian bit her lip.Her face was even paler than the night before.Christian walked over from the other direction, pulling his suitcase. He glanced at Gillian without much reaction, then reached out and took the suitcase from Noelle's hand."What are you standing around for? Don't you know there could be more aftershocks?" Christian said as he began to descend the stairs.Noelle followed,
That evening, they arrived at Collinview Airport.The weather in Collinview City was colder than in Ocean City, and snowflakes were swirling in the air.Noelle felt a creeping restlessness rising inside her again, an emotion she couldn't quite control.Christian's car first dropped off Sarah, and then it was Noelle's turn.As the car stopped outside her building, Noelle reached for the door handle, but a pair of strong hands gently cupped her face, and Christian kissed her.Noelle's breath caught, but Christian didn't linger. He pulled back after a brief kiss."Get some rest," he said softly.Noelle said nothing. She opened the door and took the suitcase Philbert handed her, heading upstairs.Christian watched her until she disappeared into the building, only then signaling for the car to drive away.As soon as Noelle stepped out of the elevator, she froze.Standing by her apartment door was a tall figure as if waiting for her to return at that exact moment.Quentin, hearing
"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