"Huh?" Clarisse was clueless."You're with the Hoffmans now, so they're your priority, not the Bakers. You get that, right?"Clarisse bit her lip. "But I'm part of the Baker family too.""I get that. I'm not saying you should turn your back on them. Just don't push Charles into marrying Janet or any other girl, okay?""I get it," Clarisse said with a wry smile. "Charles is off the market. Anyway, Noelle's got a bun in the oven. I'd have to be the worst to even think about splitting them up." She was dying for Charles's forgiveness, after all!"Good to hear you understand. You don't have to do much. Just be civil with Noelle from now on. Once she has the baby, maybe help out with the kiddo. Give it some time, and Charles and Noelle will notice the new you. And Liliana..." Mateo took a beat. "Forget about her. She's living her best life. The Hoffman name doesn't really matter to her anymore."Mateo could not bring himself to look Liliana in the eye, haunted by the thought of findin
Noelle instantly sensed a shift in Charles’ behavior and quickly pushed him away, her cheeks flushed with a mix of embarrassment and urgency. "You should shower. It's getting late. Time to call it a night!"Charles's eyes dimmed as he fought to quell the turmoil within. He tousled Noelle's hair affectionately. "Alright. If you're tired, go ahead and get some sleep!" He chided himself internally. How could he be so undisciplined, especially with Noelle carrying their children? The memory of their intimate moment in the office earlier that day made him feel a twinge of self-reproach. Ever since Noelle entered his life, he felt like he was losing control.Once Charles disappeared into the bathroom, Noelle's face grew even hotter. She slapped her cheeks lightly, trying to shake off the day's memories and her thoughts of Charles..."Noelle, get a grip! You're acting like such a harlot!" she scolded herself. If Charles had caught her in that state, he would have never let her live it down
"Got it."Kresten floored it after seeing the panic on Kelly's face. He zoomed past several red lights, and when they screeched to a halt at the hospital's entrance, Grant scooped Seth into his arms and marched inside.Still in shock from the whirlwind, Kelly was quickly ushered by Kresten to keep up."Where's the doctor on-call? We've got a kid here with a high fever."The pediatrician responded quickly, applying a cooling treatment to Seth and prescribing some medicine. "If his fever doesn't go down in the next thirty minutes, we might need to give him a shot to ward off a lung infection. Is there any medicine he's allergic to?"The doctor looked up from his notes to Grant and Kelly, assuming, "You're the boy's parents, right?"Grant's eyes widened in surprise, and Kelly hesitated. "No allergies here. Thanks, Doctor!" she blurted out, sneaking a worried glance at Grant. By then, Grant had already relaxed a little. His face was a blank slate, but he was clearly relieved."Krest
"Really? Mr. Hoffman sure is thoughtful. But it looks like I won't be able to make it tomorrow after all!""What? Why?" Noelle sounded taken aback. "Is there some emergency, Mr. Anderson?""Yeah, I'm at the hospital right now!""Hospital?" Noelle's brow furrowed in confusion. "Mr. Anderson, are you ill?" That did not make any sense. Just half an hour ago, Grant asked if she could make it to Eagle Summit. How could he have gotten sick so quickly?Charles paused mid-hair rub, catching Noelle's concerned tone. He gave her a questioning look, silently asking what was up."It's not me, it's Seth. He's come down with a fever, and it's not letting up. We can't just hop on a plane with him like this!" Grant's voice was calm and collected over the phone.The image of Seth's shy, timid face flashed through Noelle's mind. "A fever in a little one is serious business. Mr. and Ms. Anderson should focus on taking care of Seth. We can always reschedule the meal...""Ms. Shaw, if you don't mind
"Kelly, you think you've got me all figured out?" Grant's hand shot out, clamping around Kelly's neck with a fierce glint in his eyes that sent shivers racing down her spine. "I… Cough! Let go of me!"However, Grant just stared down at her like he was watching someone fight for their last breath.Kelly's face turned a deeper shade of red, her brain screaming for air. Just when she thought Grant was going to choke the life out of her, he let go.He pulled out a handkerchief, wiped his hands, and gave her a frosty look. "What's it like staring death in the face?""Grant, you're a complete psycho!"Grant just laughed softly. "Oh? That scared you, huh?"Kelly's face was ghostly pale from the lack of air, her thoughts foggy. She lunged at Grant, trying to claw at him, but he sidestepped her effortlessly.Grant brushed off his clothes, and his eyes lost their earlier intensity. "It's getting late. You keep an eye on Seth!"It was not until Grant had left that Kelly gasped for breath,
Both Charles and Grant were sharp cookies. They knew the score: whoever set up this lunch had an angle to play. However, it was Charles who broke the ice.Grant's eyes took on a steely edge, but he gave a nod of concession. Charles had played his cards right. "It's pretty straightforward—I can't take Kelly with me for now."Charles acted like he had seen it coming when Grant spoke up, not even batting an eye. He was busy giving a coffee cup a thorough scrub before he filled a cup with warm water for Noelle. Only then did he look up at Grant. "Look, whatever's going on with you, and wherever Ms. Anderson decides to go, that's her business, right? As for me and Ms. Anderson, we're just connected by an old debt— It was just a life saved years ago!"A spark lit up in Grant's narrow eyes. He frowned a bit but then nodded in agreement. "Sounds good to me!"Grant had planned to bring Kelly back to Capiton, but judging by how she acted, she did not seem too keen on the idea. The memory o
Grant's unexpected move caught Charles and Noelle off guard. Noelle tried to spot what had caught Grant's attention, but no one was in sight.With a puzzled gasp, Noelle turned to find Grant sitting calmly, looking as if nothing had happened.Charles watched Grant closely with his sharp eyes that seemed to see right through people. A knowing smile played on his lips. Had he not been mistaken, it looked like Grant had been watching a woman, and there was definitely a man with her.Ever the pro at keeping his composure in the spotlight, Grant quickly got a grip on his emotions. He looked as relaxed as ever."Did you see something, Mr. Anderson?" Noelle asked, scanning the area but finding no one. The brief flash of anger on Grant's face was unmistakable, though.Noelle had never seen anyone get under Grant's skin before, but that look of his was then etched in her memory. Grant reminded her so much more of Joshua than she had ever realized.Was it just her, or did Grant always seem
With a clenched jaw, Grant shoved Juliet away. Noticing she was still in her outfit from their encounter at Eagle Summit, his eyes deepened with intensity. Pushing her back, he demanded, "Who told you to come to Brookville?""You didn’t consider that I've been missing you?""Get a grip, Juliet!" Grant pushed her away again, his eyes flashing with an edge.Juliet made a face, her eyes wide and pleading as she looked at Grant. "Geez, Uncle. No need to be so harsh!""Call me Uncle again, I dare you." Grant pinched the bridge of his nose, swatting away Juliet's hand as she tried to reach for him again. "Seriously, who sent you to Brookville?""Oh, I’m just here for a company project. I thought I'd drop by!" Juliet chuckled awkwardly, eyeing her hand that Grant had turned red, then stepped back to lean casually against the wall, her gaze sharpening. "Mr. Anderson, you don't actually think I came all this way just for you, do you?"Grant's tense expression eased slightly, though he sti
Although Charles and Noelle were not in a rush to plan their wedding, the Hoffman and Smith families certainly were. Everyone was eager to make sure every detail was perfect as no one wanted anything to go wrong.Clarisse, who had initially been preoccupied with the Bakers' situation, found herself too busy with the wedding preparations to think about anything else. Once she got caught up in the planning, there was simply no time to spare.Meanwhile, Nancy's health had improved significantly. Given how significant this wedding was for the Hoffman family, she naturally wanted to be involved.However, Henry remained concerned about her physical condition, only allowing her to oversee the decorations and review the guest list rather than taking on anything too strenuous.Charles and Noelle's wedding had become one of the grandest social events in Brookville's elite circles. Ever since the news of their marriage broke, countless socialites had secretly mourned the loss of another eligi
Sean felt a deep irritation rising within him. Savannah always assumed that Liliana was still clinging to him, unaware that she had long stopped loving him.Now, she probably wished he would disappear from her sight altogether. How could she possibly still be chasing after him?Yet every time Savannah spoke like this, it felt like a knife twisting in his heart, making it even harder to bear.He desperately wanted to find an escape, some way to let go, but he could not do it no matter what he did. He simply could not bring himself to let go.To Savannah, his impatience only added to her displeasure toward Liliana. "I'm talking to you! Are you even listening?" she snapped. I don't care what that woman does. I'll never approve of your relationship with her, so you'd better give up!"Sean's eyes remained fixed on his phone. On the screen was a private message from Charles. It was a video taken just moments ago in the Hoffman family's living room, where they had been discussing Liliana
Liliana flinched slightly. "Grandpa, I'm really not in a hurry right now.""How can you not be?" Maxwell sighed. "Look at the rest—they're all married. You're the only one still single in the Hoffman family. How can I not be worried?"He let out another heavy sigh, shaking his head. "I'm getting old. I've spent so much of my energy worrying about you all."Liliana could not help but smile wryly. "Grandpa, don't say that. I really have been thinking about it. Once Bobby recovers, I'll take my future more seriously.""Really?" Maxwell's eyes lit up. "Well then, don't you worry about Bobby's illness. If you don't want to go to the Smith family's hospital, that's fine. I'll find an even better hospital for him."I'll make sure someone takes care of it. You just focus on yourself, and leave the rest to me."Liliana chuckled. "Alright." She gently patted Bobby's back, soothing him as he drifted off to sleep.Once he was completely asleep, she stood up. "Grandpa, Bobby is asleep now. I
Yves had no objections. If anything, he was eager to marry Kelly as soon as possible. With a smile, he nodded and instinctively glanced at Kelly.Kelly, however, was caught off guard as she looked around at everyone in confusion. She had not expected the conversation, which had been about Noelle and Charles, to suddenly shift to her and Yves.She had been trying to minimize her presence, but somehow, Maxwell had turned his attention to their relationship.For a moment, Kelly felt flustered. "I…""Kelly, what are you still thinking about?" Maxwell said persuasively. "Yves is such a good man. Besides, you two already have a child, and Seth is growing up fast. Do you really want him to grow up without a complete family?"No one knew where Maxwell had picked up his knack for emotional persuasion, but his words left Kelly speechless.Seeing her hesitation, Maxwell turned his gaze to Seth, who stood between Yves and Kelly. "Seth, tell Great-Grandpa—do you like Daddy?""I do!" Seth nod
"What are you talking about, Grandpa?" Noelle protested, clearly displeased. "You have to stick around and watch the little ones grow up!"Maxwell chuckled, delighted by her response. "This girl always knows what to say! But you and Charlie have been married for so long without a wedding or a banquet. Now, you don't even plan on hosting a proper celebration for the babies. What's the point of me staying around if I can't see these things happen?"Noelle was momentarily stunned. She had not expected him to steer the conversation in this direction, leaving her at a loss for words.Maxwell's statement quickly gained support from the others. Mateo and Henry both agreed that a wedding should be held."Exactly! You two have been married for ages, and there are still plenty of people out there who don't even know Noelle is part of the Hoffman family! Now that you've had kids, isn't it time to make things official?"Mateo turned to Charles. "And you, kid—say something! Your wife gave birt
Charles had done everything he could to help, but the emotional knot between them was something he could not untangle. If Liliana ultimately chose to walk away, he would step in to put a stop to Sean's silent pursuit.Yet every time he looked at Liliana's face, he was reminded of that gentle woman he had once sought out in the misty waterways.The Hoffman family had wronged her, yet she never harbored any resentment. Instead, she had only one request, which was for him to take care of Liliana, to watch over her, and to ensure she lived a safe and peaceful life.That woman had never asked for anything in her lifetime. In her final moments, her only wish was for Liliana to grow up in good health, without longing for wealth or status.Liliana seemed to sense someone watching her. She lifted her gaze but saw no one, so she quickly looked away, shifting her attention back to Bobby.She reached out and pinched his chubby little cheeks. "Do you like Uncle Charles' Phoenix Tree Residence
Noelle was speechless.Could someone please tell her why there was such blatant favoritism between two children born to the same parents?The people nearby had also noticed the situation, and soon, muffled laughter spread through the crowd.Even Yves and Kelly could not help but chuckle. Charles was clearly a devoted husband and a doting father—but only to his daughter.As for his son… It seemed Connor now had the lowest rank in the family.Yves shook his head and glanced down at Connor, who had stopped crying. The little boy simply stared at Glitter as if watching her intently.Noelle sighed, feeling both exasperated and amused. Was Charles being biased? Connor was just as adorable!Meanwhile, on the other side of the hall, Clarisse had previously reached out to Liliana in private, hoping she would return to the family.At first, Liliana had remained noncommittal. Later, even Maxwell had personally approached her, expressing his desire for her to come back, admitting that the
"What else could it be?"Noelle did not even need to look to know exactly what Charles was up to. She sighed as she glanced at her sister, who was still oblivious.Meanwhile, Yves and Charles seemed to have reached an agreement on stage. The two men shook hands before stepping down together.Charles walked straight to Noelle's side and, without hesitation, took Nora from her arms. The moment Nora saw him, her bright eyes sparkled with excitement.She let out a series of delighted coos, clearly overjoyed to be in his arms. She was barely a month old, yet somehow, she was already showing favoritism.Noelle could not help but feel a little jealous. She had been holding Nora just moments ago, yet the little one had not shown this level of enthusiasm.Pouting, she reached out and gently pinched Nora's cheek. In response, Nora turned her head away, ignoring Noelle entirely. Instead, she snuggled into Charles' chest, continuing her happy babbling.Noelle scowled. "Hmph, ungrateful litt
Charles chuckled. "Are you sure?"Yves narrowed his eyes and leaned in close, lowering his voice so only the two of them could hear. "Charles, what the hell are you up to?"Charles smirked. "Nothing much. I just want to make sure you're certain about this."His gaze suddenly shifted toward Kelly. "Tell me, do you think my dear sister-in-law might find someone better?"A sharp glint flashed through Yves' narrowed eyes. "Charles, aren't you afraid I'll take over Collosus Group entirely?" His teeth clenched as frustration flickered across his face.Charles simply shrugged, utterly unbothered. "I'm just afraid you won't.""You—" Yves could feel the vein in his temple pulsing.He never expected Charles—renowned for his ruthless decisiveness—to be such a schemer! He was utterly devoid of a moral compass. "Where is your conscience?"Charles arched a brow. "Can't help it. I have a wife and kids to take care of. I don't have time to waste.""And I do?" Yves shot back, clearly irritated