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
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