Noelle bit her lip."Doesn’t Royal Star provide her insurance?"Charles let out a soft laugh."I'll look into it!"Noelle nodded."I didn't mean anything by it." Winter had not been the kindest sister, but they had years of history. Jade and Julian might not have been great to her, but Samuel was truly good to her. Despite what Winter had done, she was still her sister, at least in name. It was time to find out what kind of trouble Winter had gotten into.Charles knew exactly what Noelle was thinking. Unlike Winter, who never spared a thought for Noelle when she was plotting against her, Noelle actually cared about family. That was what set them apart.Charles gently brushed Noelle's hair and tapped her forehead reassuringly."I get it. I'll have Ronald look into it. Don't worry. We'll handle it carefully!""Okay!"Maxwell must have been worried that Charles and Noelle would not return to the Hoffman Residence, because he actually had someone waiting for them at the company's entranc
Noelle could not help but smile when she saw Charles looking so unfazed. She let out a little sigh. Charles caught her eye. "Not feeling it?" Noelle quickly shook her head. "No, it's not that!"She was seriously starting to admire him more and more. She had barely made a move, yet he immediately picked up on it.Charles nodded. "Hey, if you're not feeling it, just let me know. We don’t have to stay here. Peter's got a bunch of places in my name, so we can mix it up!""No way!" Noelle laughed, shaking her head. "Why would we move from one place to another? I like the old mansion. It's got staff and everything. It's perfect!"Charles gave her a look that was loaded with meaning.Up front, James caught bits of their exchange and was left wondering if this was the same Charles he knew. Ever since Noelle came into the picture, he had changed so much. He seemed warmer and more down-to-earth now.They pulled up to the Hoffman family estate, and the staff was already out front waiting.
This was way too over the top!Noelle used to think Charles and her grandfathers were pretty eccentric, but they were amateurs compared to Maxwell. "I thought your grandpa wasn't a fan of me."Why all this fuss for a granddaughter-in-law he did not like?Noelle glanced at her belly, feeling a sudden pang of jealousy toward the twins she had not even met yet.However, she thought about it and realized that they were the reason why Sir Hoffman was treating her so well, so why should she be jealous?Charles had no clue about the whirlwind of thoughts Noelle had just had. He affectionately patted her head and said, "It's the final result that counts! I never fuss over how we get there!"Noelle looked up and beamed at Charles."Mr. Charles, Mrs. Hoffman, time to change shoes!" The servant came over with shoes for both of them. "These are brand new and were just prepared today. Sir Hoffman made sure they were all sanitized, so you can wear them without worry!"Charles gave Noelle a k
Noelle gave Maxwell a curious look when she heard him. Maxwell caught her eye and felt his cheeks heat up with embarrassment. He quickly averted his eyes and coughed to cover it up. "You’d better watch it," he warned playfully. "If you upset my great-grandson, I'll have to show you the door!" He pointed at Noelle, trying to sound stern.Noelle raised an eyebrow, a smile tugging at her lips at Maxwell's antics.Maxwell was a real piece of work, an old man who still threw tantrums like a toddler. He was the definition of a ‘man-child’!"Sir, dinner's all set!" James announced, popping up beside Maxwell. "When should we dig in?""Now!" Maxwell eyed Noelle's tummy. "We wouldn't want rumors flying about us neglecting an expectant mom!"Noelle's eye twitched in annoyance as she exchanged a knowing glance with Charles, who chuckled and gently took her hand.Maxwell looked around. "Where's Mateo and that lady?""Mr. Mateo is still out, and as for Madam Baker..." James was cut off as C
"Stop! That's too much!" Noelle quickly put her hand up to stop Charles. "I can't eat all that!""You need to eat more. It's one thing to be a picky eater now and then, but you can't keep this up.""When have I ever been picky?" Noelle's cheeks ballooned, her mouth full of food, as she gave Charles a look of protest. "I'm not picky at all!""Hmm?" Charles quirked an eyebrow. "Then who is it that won't touch green pepper? Or cucumber? And won't even eat...""Okay, okay, I'll eat! Happy now?!" Noelle threw her hands up in defeat, took another mouthful of rice, chewed with a smack, and made a face at Charles. "There. Satisfied?"A soft smile played on Charles's lips, lighting up the room.The Hoffmans watched the back-and-forth between Charles and Noelle, noticing the rare smile on Charles's face.Henry and Nancy simply enjoyed the heartwarming moment. However, the rest of the Hoffmans stared at Charles in shock, hardly believing their eyes.They had seldom seen him smile since he
The Hoffman family was watching Charles and Noelle's chat closely. Nancy shot Henry a knowing glance, and he nodded back, fully aware of the situation.Henry was no fool. He knew exactly what Charles was scheming. Charles had been reluctant to bring Noelle to the Hoffman estate before because she had no leverage. However, now that Noelle was expecting, both she and Maxwell had a graceful truce, and Charles likely had his next moves planned out.Still, Henry was taken aback by how readily Maxwell had conceded, and so swiftly at that.Post-dinner, Noelle joined Nancy upstairs. Nancy showed her around, acquainting her with the Hoffman family's residence, while Charles and Henry took a leisurely walk outside.Mateo was not the true powerhouse in the Hoffman household—it was Henry. Charles and Henry just clicked, probably because they had a very similar way of handling life and other people. Whenever Charles had a problem, he made a beeline straight for Henry and would not bother with
"Got any more questions?""Did Shirley only have one daughter, Kelly?" "I'm not sure about that." Henry shook his head. "You'll have to check with your dad if you want the full scoop." "Got it," Charles said, momentarily lost in thought. "Uncle Henry, do you know anything about Shirley's past?" "What's there to know?" Henry replied, then suddenly looked up, a realization dawning on him. "Wait, do you think Shirley and Noelle are connected?" Henry could not figure out why Noelle popped into his head, but as the images of Shirley, Kelly, and Noelle flashed through his mind, he instinctively sensed a connection. "Noelle and the Shaw family?" "Noelle isn't Julian and Jade's real daughter!" Charles's fingers played with his cufflink, a slight crease forming between his brows. "I've been digging into Shirley's past, and it's weird, but there's nothing out there. It's like she's a ghost or something. I couldn’t find any starting points for a search." "So, you're asking me for h
Noelle was wide-eyed as she looked around the room. "I never pictured your room looking like this!""What do you mean?" Charles glanced around. It was pretty much how he remembered it. Ever since he came home and started at Colossus Group, he had not spent many nights at the Hoffmans', so he had not realized they had kept the room's old charm.Noelle let go of Charles's hand and dashed to the bookshelf, taking a quick look. "Whoa, you've got the whole Game of Thrones series here! Were you into it? ‘The Tales of Robin Hood', ' Anglo-Saxon Chronicle', some random essays, 'A Brief History of Time'... Charles, you've got a ton of books!"Charles gave the shelf a quick glance and narrowed his eyes a bit. "It’s just for show," he said nonchalantly."For show?" Noelle's eyes popped in disbelief."Yep!" Charles chuckled and waved Noelle over. "Come here!"Noelle made a face. "I'm not buying it! Grandpa said you’re a genius and were way ahead of other kids even when you were in school.
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