Back then, Noelle had given her heart entirely to Xavier, only to be rewarded with betrayal on two fronts. Hearing this news now, Noelle felt she should be happy, but she could not bring herself to smile.It took Noelle some time to process everything. After calming herself, she opened the door and was startled to find herself face-to-face with Suzy. For a moment, she froze. "You…""Noelle?" Suzy seemed equally surprised to see her emerge from the lounge. The realization quickly dawned on her. "You… heard everything?"Noelle nodded.Was that not obvious? She had been in the lounge the entire time. How could she not hear?Suzy's face paled slightly. "Noelle, you… I…""Don't worry, I'm not that kind of person," Noelle reassured her with a faint smile, noticing Suzy's anxious demeanor. "Aside from Dr. Ellison and you, no one else knows about this. If it ever gets out, Winter will immediately suspect the two of you. Are you afraid I'll pin the blame on you?"Suzy nodded hesitantly.
Noelle did not believe the excuse, and frankly, she did not care enough to dig further."Alright, I won't tell anyone about this," she said. After all, despite being at odds with Winter for years, they were sisters of a sort. While Winter had always been antagonistic, Noelle did not want to stoop to her level. "Go take care of her. She should stay in the hospital for a few days.""Yes, I will," Suzy replied.For some reason, whenever Suzy faced Noelle now, she felt an imposing and commanding aura from her—likely a result of her time spent with Charles."Oh, by the way, what are you doing here?" Suzy finally realized where they were—at a hospital, specifically the obstetrics and gynecology department.Noelle smiled and was about to reply when her phone rang. The screen showed Sean's number."Hello, Sean?""Noelle, you might need to wait a bit longer. I'm stuck with a patient right now," Sean said hurriedly from the other end."Operating Room 1, stat!" he barked, before returning
While Noelle waited at the hospital, her social media post caused quite a stir.The post had drawn comments from more than just one or two people. Rowena and Teresa were the first to comment, immediately asking, "You're pregnant? Why didn't we know about this?"Even Steven and others, who had politely added Noelle on social media later, were drawn out by her post. Everyone flooded the comment section, buzzing with curiosity and excitement. The only ones who did not react were Charles and Sean, as one was tied up in meetings and the other was busy in surgery. They were oblivious to the chaos online.Among the responders was Grant. He had followed Noelle earlier, although she still did not know who he was. He had toggled his settings so that he would receive a notification whenever Noelle made a post. He saw her post the moment it went live.Grant's lips curled into a smile as he read the post, but on closer inspection, it was a strained smile.The man sitting across from Grant was
Kresten had no response, and Grant's entire demeanor radiated hostility. His sharp eyes swept over Kresten's face, his clenched jaw making his frustration all too apparent. It was clear that Grant was furious."Find out immediately. I want the details of Shirley's flight schedule, every place she plans to visit, and who she intends to meet. You have one day. If you fail, don't bother coming back to Capiton with me.""Y-Yes, sir. I'll take care of it right away!" Kresten stammered before rushing off.As Grant watched Kresten's retreating figure, his expression remained tense. His brows did not relax even for a moment.'Shirley! So, you've come back, have you? If you have the audacity to return, don't blame me for being ruthless,' Grant thought to himself.Grant adjusted the cufflink on his sleeve, his face gradually regaining its calm, composed facade.He gathered his things and turned, only to find Kelly standing at the doorway. She was carrying Seth in her arms. Kelly's cold, di
"You don't want to return to Capiton? So, you plan to stay in Brookville, hoping Charles will look your way?" Grant's lips curved into a mocking smile. "Do you know Noelle is pregnant?"Kelly froze, staring at Grant in shock. "That's impossible!""What's impossible about it? Noelle is Charles' wife. They're married, so it's perfectly normal for her to be pregnant," Grant replied, his expression remaining unchanged as Kelly's face grew increasingly pale. "I've told you before—let it go.""How can I let it go? He's my everything—my entire youth. If not Noelle…" Kelly faltered. No, even without Noelle, Charles would not have married her. Her pupils dimmed, losing focus. "I can follow your orders in everything else but not this. I won't go back. If I return to Capiton, I won't have a single chance left. There'll be no connection at all between me and Charles."Grant frowned, his gaze turning icy as he took in Kelly's stubborn expression. "Whether you're willing or not, you're leaving
Noelle helped Harrison sit down. "Sir, are you here to visit a friend or…""Yes, I came to see someone I haven't met in a long time," Harrison replied, his gaze sweeping over Noelle. "Young lady, are you here for a check-up or visiting someone?""I'm fine, just here for a routine check-up," Noelle answered with a smile. For some reason, she found this middle-aged man rather likable.The two chatted briefly until Noelle received a call from Ronald. On the other end of the line, Ronald was panting as he asked, "Mrs. Hoffman, where are you?"Glancing around, Noelle replied, "Oh, I'm in the garden behind the hospital, Mr. Wells!""Please wait there. I'll come over immediately!"Noelle ended the call and turned back to Harrison with a grin. "Sir, my friend is on the way, so I'll leave you here to enjoy the garden."Harrison narrowed his eyes slightly and asked, "Your boyfriend?""No, he's not…"Before she could say more, Ronald had already jogged over. Seeing Noelle about to stand
"Ease up, Mr. Wells," Noelle said with a chuckle as the elevator dinged and the doors slid open. She stepped out with a confident stride, Ronald quick on her heels."Madam, Mr. Hoffman is still tied up in a meeting. Maybe you'd like to hang out in his office while you wait?""Sounds good!"Noelle made herself comfortable in the office while Ronald hovered nearby, ever the attentive aide. She caught him sneaking peeks at his watch. "Mr. Wells, you don't have to stick around. I know the way around Colossus Group like the back of my hand!""Are you sure?""Seriously, go on. I'll be fine!""Alright!" Ronald said, relieved to be excused. Thanks to Charles's last-minute call to fetch someone from the hospital, he had a mountain of work waiting for him. With his tasks stacking up like skyscrapers, Ronald was swamped.Once Ronald had dashed off, Noelle took a moment to take in Charles's office. She had been there many times, but it was always for business. She had never paid much attent
Noelle did not wait for Maxwell to give her the go-ahead. She headed straight for Charles's break room, grabbed a carton of cream and a bag of coffee grounds from the fridge, and got to work using Charles's fancy coffee maker intended for guests.She had planned on brewing a quick cup of joe, but with time to kill and an extra person in the mix, she figured it was better to stay busy than awkwardly hang around Maxwell. Making the coffee gave her something else to focus on.Maxwell watched Noelle. She was unflappable and detached, as if his chilly vibe could not reach her. Her lack of reaction left him feeling unexpectedly flat.Who would not be at least a little intimidated by him? However, Noelle did not seem scared in the slightest.Maxwell had to concede that if he had to pick someone amongst Kelly, Janet, and Noelle, Noelle was the best choice, without doubt.However, no matter what Noelle did, Maxwell could not bring himself to like her. Even from the start, he just could not
"Sean, stop messing around. Let go of me first," Liliana tugged at Sean's arm, realizing how tightly he was holding her. "You're choking me."Only then did Sean loosen his grip slightly, though he still did not let her go. His forehead rested against hers, and he panted softly. "Liliana, do you remember what you said to me in the fire?"Liliana's face turned red, and she awkwardly turned her head away. "N-No, I don't remember. What did I say? I don't think I—mmph..."Before she could finish, Sean kissed her, swallowing the rest of her words with that one stubborn kiss.Liliana raised her hands and smacked Sean on the shoulder, trying to push him away. "Sea—mmph, what are you doing? Let me go..."She shoved him hard, and Sean stumbled back, clutching his chest. Liliana's face went pale, and she rushed over. "Sean, what's wrong? Are you okay? Did I hurt you somewhere?"Nonetheless, Sean took the opportunity to wrap his arms around her again. That feeling of holding her tightly
Noelle raised an eyebrow. "I didn't say that."Then, she added, "That knot in Liliana's heart can only be undone by Sean."What happened back then had always been a shadow between the two of them. Noelle had noticed it these past few days. Though Liliana stubbornly claimed she no longer cared, she clutched her phone every single day, obviously waiting for a call.Liliana's social circle was small. Noelle and the others knew everyone she knew. Who else could she be waiting for but Sean?Charles furrowed his brows. "If Liliana can't have the best, then she's better off with nothing."Noelle could not help but laugh. "Alright, alright. I know you're still holding a grudge against Hayes and Savannah."Honestly, Noelle shared the sentiment. "Savannah really crossed a line with how she handled everything."Charles reached out and gently pinched Noelle's knuckles. "That's not what I meant."Noelle chuckled, exasperated. "I know."Outside, the sound of a car engine drew their attentio
Sean shoved Hayes away. "Dad, if you're just like Mom and trying to stop me from being with Liliana, then don't even bother. If I can't marry Liliana in this lifetime, I won't marry anyone else."With that, Sean lay down decisively. Hayes frowned. "Sean, this isn't about what we want anymore. It's about Liliana and Charles now."Truthfully, Hayes did not have many opinions about Sean and Liliana's relationship. He was always too busy with the company to pay attention to such things. Even the events from four years ago were only now becoming clearer to him."If you insist on marrying her, I won't stop you. But from what I can see, the problem lies with Liliana and Charles."Sean's gaze sharpened as he clenched his fists. "That's impossible. Liliana already forgave me back when the fire happened. She promised that if we both made it out, she'd marry me."Hayes sighed. "Your mother… She misunderstood Liliana and said some harsh things. Just rest for now. Once you're better, we'll go
Sean spat out a mouthful of blood. One hand gripped the bedsheet tightly, his gaze turning darker than ever."What do you mean by that? What do you mean she doesn't want to marry me? She promised me. She said that as long as I was willing to walk out of that fire with her, she'd be with me. You're lying to me, aren't you? Tell me you're lying to me."Sean's bloodshot eyes locked on Savannah's. "Tell me."Savannah was momentarily stunned by the sheer force of Sean's gaze. This was the first time she ever felt fear in front of her own son. "Sean, I…""Where's Liliana?" Sean demanded."Sean," Hayes called out as he pushed open the door and stepped in. "That's no way to speak to your mother.""Then how should I speak to her?" Sean's voice turned icy."Did you know it was Joanna who drugged me nine years ago? And while I was under the influence, I forced myself on Liliana? I misunderstood her, and as a result, she had to hide in the countryside for years."Four years ago, it was me
The operating room door swung open, and Liliana spun around. She saw Saxon step out. Not caring about anyone else’s opinions, she grabbed his hand. "Mr. Holt, how's Sean?"Saxon looked down at their hands, noting how soft and warm hers was. He met her eyes and nodded. "The patient is out of danger now. He should wake up by tomorrow."Hearing that, Liliana let out a sigh of relief and then suddenly fainted."Liliana!"Charles rushed over and wrapped Liliana in a tight hug, but his eyes quickly darted to Hayes and Savannah. "Now that Sean is safe, Sean's fate is no longer Liliana's concern, nor ours," he declared, speaking for the Hoffman family.With those words, Charles carried Liliana away. Saxon was tugged along by Linda. "Saxon, you should check on her. The young lady seemed off to me. She's been hiding her pain. Besides the wound on her shoulder, I think she breathed in a lot of smoke."Saxon's eyes shimmered for a moment. "Yeah, I'm aware."Liliana had been pushing through
"Charles, you…""Stop it!" Hayes was taken aback by Savannah suddenly slapping Liliana. He did not particularly like or dislike Liliana, but she was part of the Hoffman family, and their family commanded much respect. Besides, Noelle was still Charles's wife, and they had to be careful about their actions.Hayes turned to Charles. "I'm sorry, my wife acted without thinking. But what in the world happened today?"Hayes had been told that his son was hurt, but he did not know the details. When he arrived and saw Liliana was there and injured too, Hayes and Savannah could not help but think that Liliana must be connected to Sean's injury.Charles gave a sharp look. "It was Joanna's doing.""Joanna? No, that can't be!" Savannah was shocked to hear the name Joanna, and she quickly objected, "Joanna is such a sweet girl, she couldn't possibly...""Oh, sweet indeed!"Liliana, who had been silent until then, finally spoke. She narrowed her eyes and stood up, ignoring the pain from her w
"Liliana!""Get up quickly!" Liliana used all her strength to pull Sean up from the ground. "Can you walk?""Uh-huh!" Sean had been hit by a falling piece of wood on his leg when he tried to push Liliana out earlier. That was why he could not get out in time and could only hear Liliana's loud calls from outside.He had wished so badly for Liliana to leave quickly, but she had come back for him.Sean bit down hard and pushed himself up.Even if it was hard to walk, he had to try because Liliana wanted him to stand.Liliana slung Sean's arm over her shoulder, noticing his injury. Her eyes were red with tears. "Sean, hang in there. If we both make it out today, I'll forgive you. You can ask me to do anything.""Really?" Sean's eyes sparkled, and he smiled. "Liliana, I don't want you to do anything." In his heart, he added, ‘I just want you to marry me.’"The fire is licking at our heels, and you two are still dawdling," came Charles's icy voice from up ahead. In a flash, he was be
"Sean, where are you? Didn't you just say you love me?" she cried out. "How can you leave me like this, saying you love me and then j-j-just giving up? What am I supposed to do now?"Sean, you took our child from me. How could you think I'd just forgive you? If you don't make this right, I swear I'll never forgive you," Liliana yelled outside, her voice filled with madness. Inside, the plant was engulfed in flames. Shaking from head to toe, Liliana's screams slowly turned into a whisper. She clenched her hands tight, staring blankly at the fire. "If you're gone, what's left for me here?""Liliana!"Charles rushed over and saw Liliana moving toward the flames. He grabbed her and pulled her back. "What are you doing?"Liliana looked up, dazed, and saw Charles. She quickly stood up and grabbed his hand. "Charles, please. I'm begging you. Help me save Sean, please!"Charles's brow creased as he looked at the fiery red inferno, his fingers tensing. "Liliana, the fire's too big. Sean mi
Liliana shoved Sean aside and covered him with her body, taking a knife stab from Joanna. "Ugh..."Pain whitened Liliana's face, and blood dripped onto Sean's face. Reacting quickly, Sean rolled over, picked Liliana up in his arms, and seized Joanna's neck, twisting it hard until it cracked. Joanna's eyes bulged in disbelief as she stared at Sean."You..."She had not thought Sean would actually snap her neck. Her eyes were wide open, one hand clutching a knife, and the other holding a lighter.With her last breath, she tossed the lighter.A loud bang followed, and flames started to spread from that spot.Sean's eyes darkened as he carried Liliana and dashed for the exit. However, how could he outrun the swift spread of the fire while burdened with Liliana's weight?Liliana's eyes widened as she saw the flames creeping up behind them. She pushed Sean, urging him, "Go now, or it'll be too late!"However, Sean's eyes turned a deep red with emotion. "Liliana, I won't let go of you