John wished he could have been born a few years later or that Noelle could have been born a few years earlier. Noelle stepped out of the car at the entrance and walked over. John approached to greet her, looking dashing in his white attire. Indeed, John was a charming man. "Hey, Jo!" Noelle greeted him warmly. John secretly wished she had called him by his name. "Hey! Did the divorce proceedings go smoothly?" John's words always carried a comforting warmth. Noelle smiled awkwardly and sighed, "They're on hold for now. Quentin had a car accident and is hospitalized." John remained silent, not pressing for further details. Together, they walked to the gazebo in the yard.John's house was a rustic elegance-style villa built ten years ago during the initial development of Dragfort City. The structure's facade and the courtyard's layout exuded a classical appeal with a serene ambiance.In the gazebo, two couples, both John's former classmates from Collinview University, were a
As Noelle reached out for a skewer, John stopped her gently."Careful, it's hot!" he cautioned, wrapping the iron skewer in a few napkins before handing it to her. Outside, Xyla and her close friend Layla drove past. She happened to glance over and watch the scene. Xyla was taken aback when she realized the woman being cared for by the man was none other than Noelle.Rumors had it John had taken Noelle to the hospital when she was unwell the last time. Furthermore, he had turned over his mansion to Noelle for her studio.Why was he being so nice to her? Could it be that they're having an affair?"Isn't that Noelle?" Xyla asked.Layla instantly pulled over and peered into the yard. "It looks like her!" she said, rolling down the window and taking a picture of the pair in the yard to show Xyla."Xy, what if we post this photo online? Quentin would divorce her on the spot!" Layla suggested. Xyla looked at the photo and casually commented, "But with all those people in the pictur
Knowing John's gentle nature, he would undoubtedly handle the matter seriously."Stop here. I'll go in and have a look," Xyla instructed Layla as they passed the Stille Industries building.Layla complied and parked the car by the roadside. Xyla, in her four-inch heels, elegantly made her way inside.She approached the reception with an air of authority and inquired, "Is Mr. Lowe available?"The receptionist instantly recognized Xyla, accustomed to her usual gentle and harmless demeanor. However, today, Xyla appeared unusually authoritative.The receptionist couldn't help but wonder if it was because of her impending marriage to Quentin or if she had always been this way. Recently, rumors circulated throughout the company that Quentin was divorcing Noelle in order to marry Xyla."I'm sorry, Ms. Cadwell, but Mr. Lowe hasn't been in the office these past few days," the receptionist politely informed her.Xyla asked urgently, "Do you know where he is?"The receptionist shook her h
"Okay." Xyla bit her lip and nodded obediently before leaving the ward.Quentin patiently explained, "Xyla suffered a severe asthma attack the other day, and her condition was critical. In the heat of the moment, I blurted out that I would marry her. But the truth is, I didn't mean what I said."Janet scoffed. "You know what? Whether you meant it or not, it doesn't matter! The fact remains that your words hit hard out there."What about Elle? It's no wonder she's seeking solace with someone like John. If I were her, I'd pick him too—a gentleman over this mess any day—and live like royalty away from all this chaos!"Quentin felt a pang in his heart, wondering if he was Janet's actual son."I don't know how the news got out. I haven't even broached the topic of divorce with Noelle. If anything, it was her idea to relocate the company to Southern City and settle there!" Quentin exclaimed."What? Settle in Southern City?"Janet's shock turned quickly into anger. She rose abruptly fr
As Quentin swiftly closed WhatsApp on his phone, the car pulled outside Noelle's apartment building. Ignoring Martin's attempt to help him, Quentin stepped out of the car and strode toward the entrance.He stepped into the elevator, reached Noelle's door, and knocked firmly. Noelle answered the door and saw the pale-faced man standing outside. She hesitated."Mr. Lowe, is something wrong?" Noelle asked.Quentin furrowed his brows. He pushed the door with his hand, attempting to step inside. Noelle blocked him with her arm."Let's talk here," she said, knowing Quentin was likely here to confront her.After all, the scandal inflicted harm not only on her and John but also tarnished Quentin's reputation as her husband."Let's go inside. I'm injured and can't stand for long." Quentin's voice was weak, and he appeared visibly drained. Noelle knew Quentin wasn't lying about his injuries. She reluctantly loosened her grip on the door and allowed him to come in.Once he stepped inside
In other words, Xyla hadn't ridden in the car before. Noelle hesitated for a second and then slid into the backseat.It didn't take long for them to arrive at John's villa. As the car pulled up onto the driveway, the butler hurried over to greet them. "Mr. and Mrs. Lowe, welcome!"Quentin got out of the car and straightened his suit, his face somber as he headed into the house. Noelle fell in step behind him and soon found herself standing in an ornate living room.John was the portrait of elegance as he sat on the couch. Layla and her father, Aloysius Lewis, stood in the middle of the living room with several imposing bodyguards behind them.Tears glistened in Layla's eyes as Aloysius delivered another slap on her red and swollen cheek. "You stupid bitch! How could you go around dragging Mr. and Mrs. Lowe's names through the dirt? I'll beat you to death if it's the last thing I do!" he snarled.Noelle couldn't help drawing in a sharp breath. She didn't expect Layla to be the on
Crossing Xyla was equivalent to giving Quentin the license to destroy Aloysius' small company.Layla's pained screams and howls filled the living room.Xyla, on the other hand, had paled. She wore a wounded expression and swayed like she might faint any second.Worried that the events today might trigger her asthma, Quentin walked up to her and snapped at the others in the living room, "That's enough! That recording doesn't prove anything!"He carried Xyla in his arms and turned to address Noelle. "I found the person who murdered your mother."After that, he left with Xyla in his arms.Noelle's breath hitched at Quentin's words. The next second, she went after him.John frowned as he watched Noelle trail Quentin out of the living room. A long pause later, John drew back his gaze from where Noelle's beautiful silhouette disappeared at the entryway and said to Layla and Aloysius, "I'm sure you know what to do."…Noelle followed Quentin out to the front yard. He carefully se
That was why Noelle could be brought down by Quentin's gentle gaze and soothing tone.Quentin's hand clasped around hers as he gave her a serious look. "Elle, promise me you won't be with John."This was his only request. In the three years they had been married, Quentin hadn't realized how much Noelle meant to him. He had taken her for granted, believing she would always be with him whether he needed her or not.He couldn't care less about her until he realized someone else had set their eyes on her. That was when he started fearing he might lose her.At that moment, he knew without a doubt that he did not want to lose her.Noelle's heart skipped a beat. Quentin seemed to mean every word he said, and he sounded like he was pleading with her. She was admittedly shocked to the core.Quentin could be fooling her right now with such sentimental talk. Not wanting to let herself hope, Noelle pulled away from his grip and walked to the window. "John and I aren't like that. I don't th
"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