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
"Here, of course!" Juliet laughed. "You've got a spot here. Why would I go anywhere else?""You really think I won't throw you out?"...Noelle and Charles emerged, feeling uneasy. "Charles, Mr. Anderson seemed really worked up, didn't he?"Charles's frown gave way to a sly grin. "Oh? What gave you that idea?"Noelle shook her head, a puzzled frown on her face. "I'm not sure, but he seemed really tense. I haven't known Grant for that long, but he's always been chill. I could've sworn he was ticked off just now, which I’ve never seen before!”Charles gave a knowing nod and playfully tweaked Noelle's nose. "You're awfully concerned about another guy. Aren't you worried I'll get jealous?""No way!" Noelle giggled, brushing off the suggestion. "Grant and I are just friends, nothing more! You've got to stop teasing me about it, okay?""Okay, okay!" Charles dropped the subject with a smile and then added thoughtfully, "You'll probably meet that girl one day.""You know her?""Not e
Charles cracked a smile. "Better late than never, right? Besides, I'm not the one calling the shots on this—it's the team's call, and sometimes even I'm out of the loop!" He only knew because Ronald had dropped by Royal Star recently, caught wind of Shirley's deal, and filled him in.Noelle gave a resigned nod. "Fine. You're the busy CEO juggling a million things!""You cheeky thing!" Charles playfully tousled Noelle's hair. "What's with the sass?""I'm praising you!" Noelle looped her arm around Charles's neck and pecked him on the cheek. "So, it's a date—I'll be at Shirley's press conference, and I'm getting her autograph!"Charles agreed with a smile, "Done!" His eyes were full of fondness, but there was a trace of concern beneath the surface.Shirley, Kelly, Noelle, and Grant would all be together.Others might be in the dark, but Charles's mind raced with scenes and potential connections.Somehow, all those pieces had to fit together—they just had to.Charles made an unexp
Sebastian was utterly taken aback, his gaze deepening as he looked at Charles."It looks like you've figured out something you weren't supposed to know," Sebastian said, his smile tinged with a sadness that did not quite reach his eyes. "It's our fault, or more specifically my fault, for what happened back then..." He shook his head. "You guessed it, Noelle isn't really a Shaw. She's my youngest daughter's kid.""Your youngest daughter?" Charles squinted slightly. "How come you’ve never mentioned her?""Why bring her up? She's gone.""Gone?" Charles was taken aback, the intensity in his gaze still sharp. "Grandpa, is she really gone?"Sebastian hesitated, looking a bit guilty under Charles's steady gaze. He pressed his lips together, a flicker of anxiety crossing his face. "In my mind, she's been gone a long time."Charles's eyes softened. "So, Noelle's mom isn't dead. Where is she then?""Why all the questions? Noelle's fine, isn't she? What's the point in digging all this up?"
Charles raised an eyebrow as the corners of his lips lifted into a faint smile. "May, what do you mean by that?""Don't you want to know about Ms. Noelle's background?"Hearing this, Charles' eyes sharpened, and a glint flashed across. "May, do you know something?"May nodded. "I've been working for the Jones family for many years. This has always been a closely guarded secret of the Joneses and a matter of deep regret for Sir Jones.""Oh?""Sir Jones lost his wife in his middle age and had two daughters—Jade, the elder one, and Madison, the younger one. Jade was adopted by Sir Jones when Madison was a baby as Madison was considered too frail to survive."This was news to Charles.Up until now, Charles had not even known Sebastian had two daughters. He had always assumed Sebastian only had Jade. The news about Madison came as a surprise."And what happened after that?""Well, Ms. Madison grew up to be a real beauty, adored by all the young men in her social circle. She had no
Missing with no news of her whereabouts?Charles caught onto the key detail and nodded. "Alright, for now, let's not tell Nelly. Once I've investigated everything thoroughly, we'll figure out how to explain it to her. I'm worried that learning this now might upset her mood and affect her health.""Yes, yes, that's exactly what I think too. Ms. Noelle is pregnant now, so it's best not to let her find out about these things. I'm worried that if she gets too emotional, it could cause trouble." May then sighed. "Mr. Hoffman, please don't tell Ms. Noelle about this for the time being." She hesitated and added, "By the way, Mr. Hoffman, there's something else that I'm not sure if I should say.""Please go ahead!" Charles showed May the utmost respect.May smiled lightly. "Ms. Madison… is back."Charles nodded knowingly. He had already guessed as much, though it had not been confirmed until now.Seeing Charles' calm reaction, May understood he must have already suspected it. "Sir Jone
In an instant, everyone's eyes focused on Noelle's stomach, especially Anna. After hearing what Chloe said, Anna turned her big, curious eyes to Noelle's belly.Carefully and full of wonder, she pointed at Noelle's stomach and asked, "Aunt Noelle, do you really have a baby in your tummy now?"Noelle was startled for a moment but then smiled as Anna continued, "Is it a baby as cute as me?"Noelle could not help but laugh. She reached out to hold Anna's little hand and gently patted her own stomach. "Yes, I have babies in my tummy, and the children are going to be just as cute as you, Anna!"She lightly pinched Anna's chubby hand. "Anna, will you like my little babies?"Anna tilted her head in thought, her adorable expression melting Noelle's heart. "Will they be as well-behaved as me?""They'll be just as well-behaved as you," Noelle replied warmly."But how can I see your babies in your tummy?" Anna asked, pouting as she stared at Noelle's belly with some frustration. "I can't s
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