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
"I...""Exactly!" Noelle squinted again, thoroughly enjoying Maxwell's chagrin. She said cheerfully, "I asked you earlier, remember? You just told me you didn't want any, but you didn’t say I couldn’t eat. Isn’t that the same as giving me permission?”"You’re twisting my words!" Maxwell was irked by Noelle's logic. "I can't believe an employee of Collosus Group dares to break the office rules like this. With a company as big as Collosus Group, it would be chaos if everyone started eating in the office!""So, I've made it a habit to only snack in Charles's office!" Noelle chuckled, glancing over as the water for the coffee started to bubble. She flipped the lid off the kettle and rinsed the coffee gear with water. "Sir Hoffman, try to calm down. It’s not good for a man your age to get so worked up. You might hurt yourself.”"You..."Maxwell was at a loss for words by Noelle's cheeky comments. His face turned steely as he glared at her. However, Noelle was not intimidated and kept o
Liliana's arm throbbed where Sean had grabbed it, but she bit her lip, refusing to give in. "I didn't do it on purpose. I had no idea she invited you.""Oh, you didn't know? Isn't she supposed to be your best friend?" Sean's voice was edged with sarcasm. "Or maybe this was your plan all along?""I didn't!" Liliana felt a tightness in her chest at his accusation.She pulled her arm free from his grasp, her face twisted with both anger and shame. "I truly didn't know.""Who knows what the truth is?" Sean said with a light laugh, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Tania doesn't know about us, and you think you're in the dark too? What if Tania found out who you really are? Would she...""Don't."Liliana's voice was loud and full of panic. "Please don't tell Tania." Deep down, she was being selfish. She did not want Tania to find out about her secrets.When she first became friends with Tania, all she wanted was a simple friendship. She did not want Tania to know about her embarrassi
The next few moments dragged on painfully for Liliana. She would have bolted if Tania, her best friend, had not been there.She felt that neither Sean nor Peter wanted to see her around.She did not want to be near them either.Peter was a mystery she did not dare to unravel, and as for Sean...Liliana snuck a peek at Sean when no one was looking. It had been over a month since she had last seen him, and despite herself, she was thrilled.She tried to bury her feelings in work every day, but she knew how hard it was to forget Sean completely.They had promised not to meet again, yet there they were. He could not possibly think she planned this encounter, could he?As Liliana watched Sean and lost herself in thought, she noticed him suddenly glance her way. She quickly turned away, dodging his gaze.Liliana felt like she was a thief caught red-handed when she unexpectedly ran into Sean.Upon laying eyes on Liliana, Sean could not quite figure out what he was feeling.They had
Tania's lips quivered, as if she wanted to say more, but seeing Liliana so determined, she held back.However, as Tania paid, she leaned in and whispered something to the cashier, then scribbled down an address. "Make sure it gets here, okay?"Tania settled the bill, grabbed the shopping bags, and linked arms with Liliana as they headed out. "Liliana, you're joining me for dinner tonight!"No backing out this time. You've canceled on me too many times already.""Okay, fine!"Liliana had no idea that Tania's dinner invitation also included Peter. If she had known, she would have stayed far away. When Liliana returned from the restroom, she found not just Tania and Peter, but also Sean sitting there. Her first instinct was to turn around and leave.She was about to do just that, her foot already inching backward, when Tania caught sight of her. "Liliana, where are you off to? We're right here!"Frozen in place, Liliana could not seem to move a muscle.Standing with her back to th
Seeing Joanna in a new light, her friend still tried to be supportive. "Joanna, don't listen to that lady's wild stories. You and Mr. Smith are the perfect pair. You’re both so smart and good-looking. Everyone at the hospital is jealous of you guys! I bet she doesn't even know Mr. Smith, and she probably doesn't have a rich boyfriend either!"As she spoke, Joanna's friend watched her closely. She saw Joanna's worry fade away after her words. Joanna replied with a hint of frustration, "I don't know why she said that. I wasn’t even in the same faculty as her, but we were involved in a school event together once. We were in a competition together back then. I never thought she cared about it that much!"Joanna mentioned the school beauty contest she and Tania were in, suggesting there might be some old rivalry between them.Joanna's friend knew exactly what was happening. She was getting to see all the drama for free but did not want to call Joanna out. After all, they were coworkers a
"Look, you’re my junior.” Joanna had not expected Tania to say something like that in front of her friend. It was impossible for her to maintain her dignity at this point.What would her friend think if she owned up to it? If she denied it, what was Tania going to do?Tania watched Joanna's face turn beet red, a smile playing on her lips the whole time.Truth be told, Tania did not have beef with Joanna. However, she was Peter's girlfriend, and she knew Sean, so she could not stand watching Joanna strut around, lying and using Sean's good name."Look, Joanna, I'm not trying to be mean or anything. I just think your friend isn’t really thinking about how you feel, you know? You say you're single, yet she's out here telling everyone you're taken. How's that going to help you find a real boyfriend, right?"Joanna's nails were digging into her skin, but she did not even notice. She was drowning in embarrassment, and it was all Tania's fault."I don't know what I did to make you mad,
Joanna looked a bit upset. She was used to being the star everywhere she went, with everyone always fussing over her.However, Tania and Liliana did not seem to notice her at all.Tania slipped out of her dress and had it neatly packaged. She strolled over to a quiet corner and began flipping through a magazine.Meanwhile, Joanna and her friend were browsing through racks of clothes, chatting about which ones were the prettiest. Joanna's friend could not stop mentioning Sean, insisting that Joanna would look stunning in certain outfits and that Sean would surely be impressed.Tania watched Joanna with a smirk and called out, "Hey, Joanna!"Joanna and her friend paused and turned to Tania. "What's going on?" Joanna asked."Oh, nothing, really. I’m just curious—Joanna, are you and Mr. Smith together now?" Tania asked with feigned innocence. "I thought Sean turned you down before!""You...""Turned her down? Don't make things up. Our Joanna and Mr. Smith are very much an item!" Jo
The woman with Joanna gushed, "You're so lucky! Your boyfriend Sean is so handsome and rich, and your future mother-in-law adores you too!""Please, you're making me blush. Sean and I aren't even official yet." Joanna laughed off the compliment."It's only a matter of time. Everyone at the hospital knows you two are an item. And your future mother-in-law is so generous, showering you with gifts. You wouldn't believe how many people are green with envy!""You're making it sound too good to be true!"As Liliana overheard Joanna and the woman's conversation about Sean, she felt like a creep for eavesdropping.Yes, Sean had been with Joanna for a while. Where did that leave Liliana?She had been with Sean, which explained why he was so cold that day. He must have really disliked her, or else it would not have made sense.Liliana squeezed her hands together, trying hard not to eavesdrop on Joanna and the other woman's chat. However, their words floated to her ears, every single one c
Adalee had braced herself for tough negotiations, but to her surprise, they were ready to shake hands on the deal he moment she stepped into the other company's office. The previous unreasonable demands were gone. They were going to work together just like they had before.Even though Adalee thought it was odd, she was just glad there were no hiccups in the partnership. She signed the contract and decided to give Liliana some time off, hoping it would help her shake off the blues from that unhappy evening.Ever since Liliana came back from Cascade City, she had been quiet. Her life was work, work, and nothing but work. She did not go out, not even when Tania tried to coax her into hanging out.Tania could tell something was off with Liliana, but Liliana clammed up whenever she asked, saying she was swamped with work and had no spare time.Liliana had even forgotten about the date with Keith she had planned to arrange after her business trip.Her routine was simple: she would work
Adalee had just stepped out of her room when she ran into Sean. Sean's face was stormy as he walked past, not even noticing Adalee."Mister..." Adalee called, but Sean did not even look back.Adalee's brows knitted together in worry. She rushed to Liliana's door and called, "Liliana? Liliana?"Adalee did not hear Liliana answer, so she knocked again. "Liliana, are you in there?"After Sean left, Liliana could not stop the tears from coming. However, she did not let herself cry loudly. It was just a quiet, steady sob.When she heard the knock at the door, Liliana quickly stopped crying.She bit her lip, hurried to put on her clothes, and dried her eyes.Adalee waited outside, not leaving before she heard from Liliana. Liliana had no choice but to open the door.As soon as Adalee saw her, she noticed her red, puffy eyes and the marks on her face and neck. "Liliana, what's wrong?"Remembering the drink Liliana had taken for her sake the previous night, Adalee gasped and grabbed h