"Ms. Shaw, are you familiar with the Smiths?" Harrison's eyebrows shot up in surprise as he turned to Noelle. She quickly nodded. "Yeah, Mr. Smith and I go way back. And who might you be?""I'm Sean's uncle!" Harrison chuckled, a twinkle in his eye. "Looks like we're practically family!""Come on in, Mr. Harrison Smith. You too, Ms. Shrill!" Noelle did not pry into the specifics of Harrison and Shirley's connection, nor did she ask Harrison to leave. Instead, she made sure he was treated like a VIP."Yoana, could you get Mr. Harrison Smith a coffee?" Noelle paused briefly before adding, "Is there any particular way you like it, Mr. Smith?""I'm easy to please!" Harrison replied with a warm, appreciative smile.Noelle gave him a small nod. "Alright then, a Honeyed Lavender Latte it is. And for Ms. Shrill?""No thanks," Shirley cut in sharply, her patience wearing thin. "Don't trouble yourself over me, Ms. Shaw. I won't have anything."Noelle's lips quirked into a sly smile. "Yoan
"Ms. Shrill, I'm all set. Just start whenever you're ready," Ronald said, taking a seat beside Noelle, his eyes serious as he faced Shirley.Shirley paused, her words caught in her throat as she tried to make sense of the situation. With Noelle watching her expectantly, Shirley finally let out her frustrations. "I'm just not happy with this. Royal Star is supposed to be a big shot in the entertainment industry, right? Why can't they get a simple contract right? Do I really have to spell it out for them? Is this what passes for professionalism at Royal Star?"Ronald glanced up, an eyebrow arching in surprise at Shirley's outburst.He had never dealt with an artist this difficult before. Winter had been a handful, but Shirley was on a whole other level. If Charles had not specifically asked him to help Noelle out today, he would not bother pandering to someone so full of themselves—and who was being so rude to Noelle, no less. It was a good thing Noelle was the patient type, or else i
After Shirley stormed out, Noelle lingered in the meeting room. Ronald and Yoana hovered behind her, uncertain. "Madam, why did you..."Noelle cut Ronald off with a gesture. "Her refusal to sign was no surprise. It's not the contract that's the problem—it's me." Her smile did not quite reach her eyes, which were clear and sharp.Once upon a time, a younger Noelle might have been hurt by Shirley's rejection, but she was no longer that inexperienced girl. She had grown up, seen the world for what it was, and understood things better now. Shirley could not faze her anymore.Ronald's brow creased with concern. He knew a lot about Noelle's past because Charles had asked him to quietly investigate it. As an employee, it was not his place to question the boss's business. However, after working closely with Charles all this time, Ronald could not help but feel a personal attachment to Noelle.He was upset for Noelle, but when he saw that she did not seem bothered, he realized he was the na
Noelle's expression softened as she listened to Yoana. "There's no real evidence for that.""So, do you want a boy or a girl?""I'd be happy with either, but one of each would be perfect. They'd have each other's backs like two peas in a pod!"As Noelle spoke, she browsed through the baby clothes, her face lighting up with joy. "Yoana, do you have someone special in your life?"While picking out a tiny onesie, Noelle glanced at Yoana. "I would guess you’re about twenty-four, right?""I just turned twenty-five, actually!"Noelle raised her eyebrows in surprise. "You're older than me!" she said. At only twenty-four, she sometimes wondered if she had jumped the gun on getting hitched.She chuckled. "So, any lucky guy in your life?""I'm dating someone, but we've decided to hold off on the wedding for now. We want to focus on our careers first, save up for a house, and then tie the knot."Noelle nodded in agreement. "It's important to have your own goals, but it's also smart to th
Harrison's hand slid across Shirley's cheek with a sharp smack. His gaze was dark and wild. "I dare you to say that one more time!""I'll say it a hundred times over! It wouldn't change a thing. It's not that I treat her poorly. It's that it’s her misfortune to be your offspring, Harrison. She's tainted with your blood, and she deserves every bit of scorn she gets. All her misery is your doing, Harrison! You destroyed me, and now, you’ve destroyed Noelle!""You..." Harrison lunged, his hand closing around Shirley's throat. "You're asking for it!"Harrison's hands tightened around Shirley's neck, and it seemed like something terrible could happen with just a little more pressure. Shirley's face turned a scary shade of red, but she did not try to push him away. Instead, she just smiled through her tears at him. Suddenly, Harrison felt a sharp pain in his chest that made him gasp and go pale. He let go of Shirley and doubled over, clutching his heart. Shirley could finally breath
"Get in!" Harrison's eyes were frosty as he looked at Shirley. She bit her lip, hesitating outside before finally climbing into the car. This time, she kept her words with Harrison shorter and far less fiery.Harrison ignored her, simply closing his eyes and feigning sleep.Beside him, Shirley felt a cold draft swirl up from the floor, but it was fleeting and disappeared as quickly as it came.Harrison...It was only when he seemed peacefully asleep that Shirley could convince herself he was not as intimidating as when he was wide awake.When had he changed into the person he was now? Shirley could not pinpoint the moment. All she knew was that their mutual resentment had stretched on for too long, dwarfing the love they once had.Her eyes grew tired and sore from looking at him, so she turned away, refusing to let her gaze linger any longer.What she did not realize was that Harrison had not been sleeping at all. He opened his eyes the instant she looked away, revealing a fleet
It had been over two decades, but time seemed to have barely touched Harrison. He looked a bit older and a little more weathered, but the years had not changed him much."I can’t believe it's really you. You've got some nerve showing up at the Jones Residence. Aren't you scared I might just finish you off?" Sebastian's voice was a mix of disbelief and old resentment. If Harrison had not run off with his little girl Madison all those years ago, none of the mess that followed would have happened.Harrison's engagement to Jade had been called off, and Jade became the town's laughingstock. Her resentment toward Madison was at an all-time high. Sebastian might have let it slide if Harrison and Madison had been happy together, but what on earth happened to mess things up so badly?Sebastian could not care less about the details, but he knew he hated Harrison. "You two should get out of here! The Jones family doesn't welcome your kind!""Dad."Sebastian shoved Shirley aside. She staggere
"Sir Jones!" Harrison stood his ground, defiant. "Noelle is my daughter, so she belongs with the Smiths. I won't have her associating with the Shaws, especially when they've never treated her right. How can I just stand by and let her be mistreated when my family could take her in?"Sebastian scoffed. "You’re such a smooth talker now, but why didn’t you want her back then?” He was sure Harrison had been the one to reject Noelle and force Shirley to bring her back."It's not that I didn't want her back then." Harrison shot a glance at Shirley and inhaled sharply. "There was a big mix-up with Maddy back then. I thought our kid was gone!"Sebastian caught the subtext and turned to Shirley. "He's telling the truth, isn't he?"Shirley bit her lip, refusing to answer, and Sebastian got the picture. "I can’t believe I raised someone as selfish and deceitful as you. What did I do to deserve this living hell? Did I break a mirror or cross a black cat in a past life?""Dad..." Shirley's voi
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
Kelly's feelings toward Grant were complicated. Growing up, her impression of him was not strong, and they certainly could not be described as having a close sibling bond.Later, Grant left the Andersons, disappearing to places unknown. When he finally returned, Kelly did not stay in Capiton for long before coming to Brookville.After that came the incident that changed everything, ultimately sending her abroad."Aren't you going to invite me in?" Grant glanced inside.Kelly frowned slightly. Although she seemed reluctant, she did not refuse and stepped aside to make way. "Come in. But I don't have much here, so I'm afraid I might not be the best host.""No problem."Grant noticed how much colder Kelly's demeanor had become. As he stepped into the modest apartment, he casually observed its simple layout.It was hard to reconcile this Kelly, living in such a sparse place, with the pampered young woman who once never lifted a finger.Feeling somewhat uneasy, Kelly closed the door
Kelly had been spending the past few days with Seth, whose health had improved significantly. After the recent incident, Kelly stayed in Brookville for a while, using the time to reflect deeply. One of the reasons she had not left Brookville was because of Seth's biological father.It had been almost four years. Not too long, yet not short either.Kelly thought she had let it go, but the DNA report comparing Seth with Maxwell made her hesitate once again.She always knew Seth was not Charles' child. She was fully aware of who the father was, yet his true identity remained a mystery.During those months four years ago, that man had stayed by her side, sharing a deeply unforgettable time with her. It was so unforgettable that she had pushed aside questions about his identity or purpose, choosing instead to immerse herself in the moment with him.Yet she was nothing more than a pawn for him to use against the Hoffmans in the end.Strangely, Charles had been absent from Brookville du
Grant's expression turned ice-cold in an instant. "What are you planning to do?""Kelly is Noelle's biological sister. Sean said only enzymes extracted from close relatives' blood might save Noelle. Whether it works or not, I have to try," Charles replied. His gaze was intense in a way Grant had never seen before.Grant had not expected to ever witness such an expression on Charles' face. He frowned deeply but eventually nodded. "I'll try, but she still doesn't know she's part of the Smith family.""You didn't tell her?" Charles was visibly surprised. He had assumed Grant would have already told Kelly the truth.Now, hearing that Kelly had no idea about her connection to Noelle or the Smith family, Charles was taken aback."I'll bring her over as soon as I can. Give me some time.""Fine, but don't take too long. Nelly can't wait," Charles said firmly. He understood that revealing the truth to Kelly and convincing her to help Noelle would not be easy. However, since Grant had ag
Sean emerged with a somber expression. "Margaret has confirmed that there's a fresh needle mark on Noelle's arm. That shadow from earlier must have injected something into her, which likely triggered her immediate symptoms."Charles clenched his fists, the sound of his knuckles cracking filling the tense air. "What's the plan?""Before the virus spreads too deeply, we could try using blood from Noelle's close relatives to extract certain components that might counteract it," Sean explained.Charles narrowed his eyes. "Be clearer. What are you suggesting?""This idea isn't fully tested. I only came across it in medical literature, and there's no guarantee it will work. If the virus hasn't invaded her bone marrow, we might still have a chance."Charles' expression eased slightly, but a hint of apprehension lingered. He glanced at Sean, who hesitated before continuing. "We need to call in Uncle Harrison and Shirley. Ideally, we should also bring Kelly here.""Fine!"Harrison arrive
"Make sure to cooperate well with Dr. Ellison, alright?"Charles leaned down, planting a soft kiss on Noelle's forehead before stepping out with Sean. "What's going on?"Outside, Peter, Tania, and Brandon were waiting. Brandon kept peeking into the room, and his curious eyes were wide with concern. "Uncle Charles, what's wrong with Aunt Noelle?"Charles' expression softened immediately. He reached out to tousle Brandon's hair gently. "Aunt Noelle is fine. She's just feeling a little sick.""Oh, then Bran will give Aunt Noelle some candy. If Auntie eats candy, she won't hurt anymore," Brandon said with childlike earnestness, pulling a few candies from his small bag and handing them to Charles."Uncle Charles, give these to Aunt Noelle!""Alright."Charles accepted the candies, his gaze drifting back to the room. He watched through the window as Noelle cooperated with Margaret's examination. His chest felt unbearably tight with worry."Have you figured out what to do yet?""Wh
"Mm, you didn't cry," Noelle said with a faint smile.Her face was still pale, but it was clear she had passed the peak of her pain.She placed her hands gently on Charles' face, slowly pulling herself up. After finding a comfortable position, she leaned into him, her head nuzzling against his chest like a mother soothing her child.Her delicate fingers traced the contours of his face. "You didn't cry."Charles could not help but tremble slightly. Lowering his gaze, he found Noelle looking up at him. She cupped his face with both hands, her body leaning closer, and her forehead was lightly pressing against his.She rubbed against him gently. "You were just worried about me," she said softly. Then, she placed a gentle kiss at the corner of his mouth."Our Charlie is the best, the strongest. How could he cry? Crying is my job."Noelle's smile was so tender and warm that it seemed to melt the storm brewing in Charles' heart.He carefully wrapped her in his arms, brushing his face