"Grant… Grant was the one who sent her away, but he used my name," Charles explained as he gently stroked Noelle's hair. "Grant probably knows more about that man than I do.""So, Grant sent Kelly away to protect her?""That, I can't say for certain," Charles replied, his gaze softening as he looked at Noelle. "Have you slept enough?"Noelle's cheeks flushed as she nodded. "I'm not a pig, you know.""You're sure about that?" Charles teased, reaching out to tap her nose. "I wonder who it was who nodded off after barely reading a few lines, hmm?""I did not!" Noelle protested, her face reddening further as she struggled to come up with a better retort."It's your fault!" she huffed, covering his mouth with her hand. "If I weren't pregnant with these two little ones, there's no way I'd be this lazy.""Oh, so you admit you're lazy now?" Charles' smile deepened, the warmth in his eyes filled with indulgent affection.She found herself captivated by his gaze. She stared for a moment
Noelle did not know what to feel at Charles’ bossy words, but her heart was racing like crazy.She had to admit that since her disaster with Xavier, Charles was the only guy who really mattered to her. When he got all commanding with that undertone of kindness, Noelle was a bit out of her depth.She looked down, fiddling with the hem of Charles's shirt and feeling awkward.Charles caught the look and quirked an eyebrow. "What's up?""Nothing, really!" Noelle forced a laugh. She was not about to confess that his words had her all fluttery inside. She turned her head, pretending to be annoyed. "Come on, we're married. You don't have to get all worked up!""It's not about being worked up. You're my wife, so you're supposed to only have eyes for me. It doesn't matter how great the other guy is, or what history you have. That's just not okay with me!" Charles said, his arm firm around Noelle's waist. "Got it?""Yeah, I’ve got it!" Noelle could not help but find it funny. Charles was s
"I can tell this is tough for you!" Noelle curled up against Charles like a little cat, her fingers lightly dancing over his chest. "The doctor said we can't do anything for the first three months. You'll just have to hang in there!""You're too much, you know that?" Charles let out a sigh. "Don’t talk anymore, okay?""But won't it be harder for you if I'm quiet?" Noelle countered, lifting her head to look him in the eye firmly as if she had made her mind up about something. With a gentle push, she got up from Charles's embrace.Charles's brows knitted together in confusion, clueless about what Noelle was up to. However, Noelle did not need words to show Charles her intentions.She gently placed her hands on his shoulders. "Charles, close your eyes," she whispered.Charles's frown deepened. "Noelle, what's going on?""Just close them!" Noelle urged, her voice playful and her cheeks tinged with pink. Charles's gaze grew intense, a spark of desire lighting up his eyes.Noelle’s te
"Sounds great!" Noelle's heart was racing. The sensation was so surreal and indescribable."Ugh, Noelle! Snap out of it." She smacked her cheeks, hoping to quell the heat rising in her face, but it only seemed to burn brighter.Charles was quick, emerging from the bathroom in no time with crisp clothes and his usual commanding presence.Noelle's cheeks were still ablaze. Seeing Charles so composed and collected, she could not help but mumble, "Why do I feel like I'm getting the short end of the stick here?""Hmm?" Charles, clearly pleased with himself, beamed happily. He leaned in for another kiss. "Let me sweep you off your feet and help you freshen up!""No way!" Noelle pushed him back. "I've got it under control!"Charles caught on to her bashfulness and nodded. "Alright, go freshen up then. Your clothes are in the wardrobe, okay?""Huh?" Noelle blinked in surprise. "Since when do you keep my clothes in your office wardrobe?""Becky set it up!" Charles gently patted Noelle's
Noelle stepped out just after Ronald had taken off. She adjusted her clothes and noticed Charles with an unlit cigarette in hand. When he saw Noelle, he tossed it aside. "Hungry? What do you want to eat?""Did I just hear Mr. Wells a minute ago?""Yeah, he dropped by for a signature," Charles replied, his eyes lingering on Noelle.He had always known there was something special about her beauty. More than just her good looks, she had a kind of allure that stuck with him over the years. That was why he could not shake her from his thoughts and why someone like Kelly could never tempt him.Noelle strutted over, twirling a bit. "What do you think? Do I look okay?" she asked, cocking her head and flashing a playful grin. "Good thing I'm not showing yet. Otherwise, I doubt I'd fit into any of these outfits Becky picked out!""You look amazing!" Charles called out, pulling Noelle close. "You're not fat. In fact, you're too skinny.""You’re bringing this up again?" Noelle sighed, half-j
Anyone watching from afar would have caught the sweet scene unfolding between the couple.Grant, who had time to kill, wandered over and spotted Charles and Noelle. His eyes briefly sparkled with something unreadable, but he chose not to join them. Instead, he lingered outside for a while before leaving with a sense of resignation.Charles's piercing gaze followed Grant's departing silhouette, his eyes darkening in deep thought.Noelle, ever the food enthusiast, was too engrossed in her meal to notice Grant's presence. Her plate was heaped with treats, and she was blissfully unaware of anything else.Eventually, Noelle's stomach reached its limit, and she pushed Charles's hand away, exclaiming, "No more, I just can't! I'm absolutely stuffed!"Charles looked down, his eyes twinkling with mirth at the sight of Noelle's rounded belly. It was as if their baby was already making its presence known. "Okay, no more food for now!" he said, gently patting her belly. "Does it hurt?"Noelle
When Charles gave the nod, Noelle's face lit up with excitement. "Hey, old geezer! Get down here!""Huh?"Charles quirked an eyebrow, totally baffled by Noelle's request. She was already yanking on his sleeve, urging him into a squat. With a patient sigh, Charles crouched down, curious to see what Noelle was up to. However, before he could ask, she had hopped onto his back. "Old geezer, this old gal can't walk another step. Give me a lift, will you?"A grin spread across Charles's face, and he playfully pinched Noelle's nose. "You're something else, you know that?""What's the matter? Not up for it?" Noelle challenged, jutting out her chin and refusing to budge from Charles's back. "Let's go!"Shaking his head with a soft laugh, Charles said, "You're a handful, you know? You've got a baby on board. If I carry you on piggyback, I might squish your tummy. That won't be comfy at all, will it?""So what do we do?" Noelle whined.Without missing a beat, Charles reached back and scoop
The 'waterwheel' Charles mentioned was actually a cute little paddle boat in the river. Once inside, each person would pedal on one side, taking a leisurely boat ride as if on a lake.However, they had chosen the wrong time to go. The sky was darkening, and the evening boat rides were done for the day, probably to prevent mishaps like someone falling into the water at night.Noelle clung to Charles's neck with a look of such sweet sorrow that Charles could not help but notice. He gently stroked her hair. "It's okay. We can’t do it today, but how about we come back first thing tomorrow? I'll pedal with you all day, okay?""Maybe not. I'm not a kid, you know. It's just a bummer we missed out on the fun today!" Noelle was not one to make a fuss. "Let me down, and we can take a stroll by the river and enjoy the breeze!""Sure! Feeling up for a walk now, my little granny?" Charles said with a chuckle.Noelle could not help it. Her cheeks flushed with color once more. She gave Charles
Kelly's fists clenched and loosened repeatedly, the process repeating several times. The silence in the hospital room was so oppressive it seemed to echo in her ears.After a long pause, she finally took a deep breath and said, "It's too late today, but I'll come to the hospital tomorrow morning for the blood tests.""Alright."Charles' expression softened slightly."But you need to promise me one condition."Kelly seemed to have thought deeply about it. After a long pause, she finally said, "Seth is my life.""Alright."Kelly laughed. In the quiet hospital room, her laughter was not loud, but it was enough to make Charles turn and look at her.Kelly looked back at Charles, her lips trembling slightly. "Sometimes, I really envy Noelle. She has a man who loves her so deeply. But Charles, does she know the side of you with blood on your hands?"Charles narrowed his eyes. "She doesn't, and she doesn't need to."Kelly laughed again, lowering her head to hide the loneliness in her
"What about Jethro? Do you know him?"Kelly's hand instinctively tightened around the strap of her handbag, her face turning a shade paler."Charles, speak plainly. What exactly do you want from me?"Charles laughed softly. "I'm a businessman. I think you know that about me. I prefer making deals with smart people."As he spoke, he noticed Kelly's confusion. Rising to his feet, he slid his hands into his pockets.Standing with his back to Kelly, Charles looked out of the window, his voice calm but edged with steel. "Yves is a member of the Hoffman family. I don't know why he's targeting Nelly, but whether it's what's happening now or your abduction years ago, his goal is the same—to pressure me.""And so what? Charles, you should also understand—if it weren't for you, I wouldn't have been taken by him in the first place!"Kelly was not naïve. She could not fully grasp Charles' intentions, but the fact that he had approached her meant he already had a plan.In the past, she migh
Kelly felt heavy-hearted as she left Noelle's room. A shadow fell in front of her, and when she looked up, she was surprised to see a man standing there.Ronald gave a slight nod. "Ms. Anderson, Mr. Hoffman would like to see you.""Alright," Kelly replied, then glanced back at the room."Um… Earlier, it seemed like Noelle had a reaction?"Ronald nodded again. "Mr. Hoffman is aware. Please don't worry, Ms. Anderson. There's no immediate danger."Kelly let out a small sigh of relief. "Thank you. Please take me to see Charles."Charles was actually in the room adjacent to Noelle's. Worried about her safety, he had stationed people all around her room and was sitting in the nearby room to monitor the situation himself.Ronald opened the door and gestured for Kelly to enter.Kelly saw Charles seated on a couch, his eyes fixed intently on a monitor. She stepped closer and noticed that the screen displayed a live feed of Noelle's room.Noelle had struggled to lie back down after Kell
Noelle looked at Kelly with confusion, and Kelly smiled faintly. "Back then, I was completely devoted to Charles even though he didn't have me in his heart. Did you think I didn't know that? "But he still kept me by his side. I always thought I was different from the other women around him. No matter how many women came and went, I didn't care because I believed I could outlast them all."And he neither encouraged nor stopped me, as if silently approving of my actions. I foolishly thought that this was his way of showing I was special to him."Kelly paused, her voice softening. "I once believed that even if he didn't love me, staying by his side for the rest of my life would still make me happy. But later…""Later?" Noelle prompted, sensing there was more to the story. Suddenly, a thought struck her. "You met Seth's biological father?"Kelly looked at Noelle in surprise, then laughed bitterly. "Do you think I'm ridiculous? Proclaiming my love for Charles, only to end up having
The door was suddenly pushed open, and Kelly hurried into the room. "Are you alright?"A clear and crisp voice echoed above her. Noelle was initially startled, and she looked up to see that it was Kelly.The sight of Kelly replaced her pain with surprise. "You…" Why was she here?Before Noelle could finish her sentence, she bent over again, clearly in discomfort."What's wrong? Are you having an episode?""An episode?" Noelle looked up at Kelly, confused. "What episode?""I'm just experiencing fetal movement. The babies have been very active lately," Noelle explained, studying Kelly's face. The concern on Kelly's face quickly turned to surprise."Why are you here?"Noelle could not fathom why Kelly would visit. To her, there was not any connection between them—at least not one Kelly was aware of. Kelly's presence was baffling.However, she could not ignore the strange way Kelly looked at her. "I'm having twins, so my belly looks bigger than usual. These past few days, the babi
Grant's gaze flickered briefly, almost imperceptibly, before he avoided Kelly's question altogether. "It's getting late. I'll have Kresten drive you there."His words made it clear that he was not willing to answer. Knowing Grant's temperament, Kelly understood that pushing further would yield no results. She did not press the issue. "Then please watch over Seth for me. I'll be back soon."When Kelly went downstairs, she saw Kresten already waiting for her. Kresten quickly stepped forward and opened the car door. "Ms. Anderson, please get in."Kelly nodded and got into the car. As soon as she settled, she began to feel a twinge of regret. But deep down, she knew she could not turn back now.She wanted to see Noelle—the sister she had unknowingly been separated from for more than 20 years, someone who shared the same fate as her.The thought of having a sister was entirely new to Kelly. It was an odd and unfamiliar feeling. Memories of their past interactions flooded her mind. No
Seth nodded, tilting his head as he looked at Kelly. "Mommy, you cried."Though young, Seth was incredibly perceptive. Noticing Kelly's red eyes, his small, soft hand reached out to gently rub her cheek.He even leaned closer and blew softly on her face. "Don't cry, Mommy!""I didn't cry, not at all," Kelly said while patting Seth's back gently.There was an apologetic look on her face. "I just forgot to make dinner for you tonight.""Then, Mommy, let's eat out! Seth has money—lots and lots of money. Seth will treat Mommy to some meat!"Seth's sweet, innocent words made Kelly's eyes redden again, but she smiled and nodded. "Alright, Seth. Change your clothes. I'll take you out for dinner, okay?"Later that evening, Kelly sat holding Seth while watching TV, but her mind could not stop drifting back to Noelle's face.Grant's words replayed in her head: she and Noelle were full-blooded sisters, sharing both parents.Kelly looked down at Seth, her thoughts in turmoil. She could
"Are you sure it's a virus?" Kelly asked, her voice trembling slightly."Yes," Grant replied with a firm nod, his sharp eyes fixed on her.He could see the disbelief and shock in Kelly's gaze, along with traces of guilt and unease.However, Kelly suddenly laughed, and she turned her head to face Grant. "Noelle has a virus, so she should go see a doctor. Why are you coming to me? Ha! It's ridiculous that Charles still wants to get me involved when his wife is sick. Why?""Kelly, this virus is extremely rare," Grant explained, his tone steady. "Sean currently doesn't have a clear treatment, but he mentioned one potential solution."Kelly's eyes flickered slightly, betraying a crack in her facade. "If there's a solution, then try it.""Sean believes we need to extract active enzymes from the blood of her closest relatives. Harrison and Shirley should already be at the hospital."Kelly froze again, her lips pressing into a thin line."Oh," she replied, feigning calm, though her emo
Grant noticed Kelly's reluctance to look at the documents and frowned slightly before speaking in an indifferent tone. "You don't have to look at it if you don't want to. After all, it's your decision whether to accept it or not."He placed the file on the table, his tone calm and detached, as though this matter had nothing to do with him.However, Kelly was far from calm. She glared at him, her voice trembling with suppressed anger. "If that's the case, why did you bring it here? Why did you agree? Why…"Her voice grew louder as she yelled at Grant, her emotions spiraling out of control. The noise startled Seth, who was sleeping in the other room.Hearing Seth's cries, Kelly immediately pushed past Grant and rushed into the room to scoop him into her arms. "Seth, don't cry. Mommy's here!""Mommy!" Seth clung tightly to her, his little hands grasping at her clothes."Yes, Mommy's here," Kelly murmured, cradling him as she gently patted his back. She hummed a soothing tune into hi