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
Although Maxwell could be unreasonable at times, Noelle was completely safe around him, at least while she was pregnant. Maxwell would never say anything hurtful to Noelle then.It was clear as day that Charles had Maxwell all figured out. No sooner had they walked through the door than Maxwell started his verbal lashing. However, the target was Charles, not Noelle."Seriously, how old are you now? Do you even realize your wife's pregnant with your kids? You might like eating out, but who knows if it's clean? We've got all the tasty and healthy food you could ever want right here. What's your problem?"Mid-rant, Maxwell went for his cane, aiming to give Charles a piece of his mind the old-fashioned way, but Noelle darted in front of him. The cane froze in mid-swing. Maxwell's hand shook at nearly giving Noelle an unintended whack. He shot her a look that could curdle milk. "Step aside!"Noelle stood her ground. "I'm the one who wanted to eat out today. Don’t blame Charlie!”Maxwel
Maxwell knew his grandson like the back of his hand. Charles was not the type to say sorry just like that. Thus, Maxwell had not held his breath for an apology. However, he was intrigued to see Charles willing to bend a little for Noelle's sake."I'm sorry!"The words came out of Charles with a hint of reluctance, but they were out. That left everyone in the room, except for Noelle, totally taken aback. Charles had actually apologized. It was a moment no one saw coming.Maxwell watched Noelle with a thoughtful gaze while Charles, albeit a bit awkwardly, took her hand and led her upstairs. Only when the young couple had vanished from view did Maxwell blink twice, a grin spreading across his face with a dash of excitement and curiosity. He turned to his daughter-in-law. "Nancy, did you catch that? Our Charles, that little scamp, actually said sorry to me. You watched him grow up, Nancy. Take a look at him now...""Dad, I can’t believe your ears aren't playing tricks on you!" Nancy
A heart-to-heart with Nancy? Henry was not about to let Clarisse corner Nancy for a chat. However, Nancy seemed to have other ideas. Catching Henry's fierce look at Clarisse, Nancy gently touched his hand and shook her head. "Let me talk to her, please!"Henry's frown deepened. He did not like the idea of Nancy and Clarisse alone together. However, Nancy shot him a look that said 'trust me' and patted his hand. "We're at the Hoffman Residence. Everyone's around!" Clarisse would not dare make a scene with everyone watching, especially with Charles being so close to Nancy. Nancy was sure of it.Henry mulled it over and then gave a reluctant nod. "Fine." However, his eyes still shot Clarisse a warning glare.Clarisse felt a wave of nausea but refused to show it. She straightened her back, mustering all her courage to face Henry. "Do you still doubt me?"Henry narrowed his eyes. "You two can catch up here. I'm heading upstairs. When you're done, come find me, and I'll show you the way
Clarisse had always felt like a total failure in Nancy's presence.Clarisse, the Baker family's golden girl, had never known such disgrace before. Her resentment was not just aimed at Mateo—she despised Nancy too. Nancy had snatched Henry away from her, and then it seemed she was also after her son.Nancy watched Clarisse's turmoil and gently looked down. "Charles is your son, and nothing's going to change that. I never wanted to fight with you over him. Charles is our brother's kid. When you weren't here, Henry and I just stepped in to help our brother with his busy life by looking after Charles. That's totally normal, isn't it?""How is that normal? He has his own parents!""Sure, he does. But where were you guys then? You just up and left without a word to anyone, leaving little Chloe and Charles behind. Did you ever stop to think about how they felt?""You...""Seems like you're only worried about your own feelings. You think everyone's let you down, right? That's why you're
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