Shirley left, fleeing in utter disarray. She admitted to herself that she completely fell apart in facing Noelle.Compared to Kelly, Noelle was undoubtedly the colder and more ruthless one. Shirley could not fathom how someone could separate emotions from reason so efficiently.After stumbling out of the hospital, Shirley wandered aimlessly along the streets. She did not know where she wanted to go or where she could even go. Despite the vastness of the world, there was not a single place for her.Suddenly, a car stopped in front of Shirley. A man fixed his gaze on her wandering figure inside of it."Sir?"Grant stared at Shirley with a faint smirk playing on his lips. "Stop the car."The car stopped about 300 feet ahead of Shirley. The door opened, and the man stepped out, his long legs moving forward with precision.Grant adjusted the buttons on his suit jacket and glanced down toward Shirley, who was still staggering forward. Kresten followed behind him, saying, "Sir, the CEO
"Ms. Shrill, just came from the hospital, I see?" Grant's words caused Shirley to immediately straighten as her sharp gaze landed on him. "You've been following me?""Do I need to follow you, Ms. Shrill?" Grant replied with a faint smile. His demeanor was infuriatingly calm. Shirley's frustration surged at his composed appearance. "What exactly do you want?""Nothing much, just pleased to see you doing so well these days.""You… Grant, you're trying to get revenge on me, aren't you?" Shirley trembled with anger. "I've told you before, I didn't destroy your family. Those rumors out there are nothing but lies.""Did I say you destroyed my family?" Grant's gaze lifted, his eyes so cold that Shirley could not suppress the chill running down her spine."I…""My father's flight lands here today. Care to guess why he's coming?""How would I know?" Shirley's lips trembled as she spoke, her eyes still avoiding his.Grant let out a derisive laugh. "You'll understand when you see him soon
Grant massaged his temples, looking visibly annoyed. He grabbed Juliet's wrist firmly and cast a cold glance back at Shirley and Kresten. "Kresten, take Ms. Jones to my father's room and make sure she stays there. She's not to leave without my permission.""Understood, sir!" Kresten responded promptly.Grant did not let go of Juliet's hand as he pulled her along. She raised an eyebrow as a sly smile tugged at her lips. She said theatrically, "Oh, so that old woman isn't your new flame! You should've said so earlier! I got jealous for no reason. I was so sour it nearly killed me!""Shut up!" Grant barked, his patience visibly waning."But I missed you so much! It's been forever since I last saw you, and you know what they say—absence makes the heart grow fonder. Didn't you miss me, Mr. Grant?""Juliet!" His voice was sharper now."Why are you so mad, Mr. Grant? I admit that I stayed away these past few days to test you. I never expected you to be so—""If you call me 'Mr. Grant'
When Juliet said those words, her eyes sparkled with mischief, and she looked as vibrant as a rose about to bloom.With a bold smile, she winked at Grant. "I was just on my way to see Mr. Kolsby. If you hadn't stopped me earlier, I might already be with him by now.""Weren't you supposed to wait for me?" Grant's voice carried a trace of disdain. Juliet froze momentarily before flashing a seductive smile. "Mr. Grant, are you jealous?"Grant frowned. "I don't indulge in such things."Juliet shrugged nonchalantly. "You're here having so much fun with me. Aren't you afraid that dear old woman might get impatient waiting?"Grant narrowed his eyes and reached out to grab her, but Juliet deftly dodged. "Mr. Grant, don't be in such a rush. The night is long. Wait for me to come back, okay?"Blowing him a playful kiss, Juliet quickly ran off before Grant could react.Grant stood there, frowning at the direction she disappeared as his mood sunk deeper."Sir!" Kresten approached him, look
Kelly reluctantly stepped out of the room, her expression filled with resentment as she cast one last glare at Shirley.Grant noticed her attitude and, after ensuring the door was securely closed, turned to Kresten. "Stand guard here. Without my permission, no one is allowed to enter or leave."Grant then led Kelly to her room. When they entered, they saw Seth already asleep. He turned his cold gaze to Kelly. He then sat down with an imposing presence that made the air feel heavy.Kelly fidgeted under his scrutiny, her anxiety growing."Go on. Didn't you have plenty to say earlier?""Why did you bring that woman back here?" Kelly's voice trembled with confusion and frustration.Grant met her eyes calmly. "Dad is coming to see her today. Does that answer satisfy you?"Kelly's face turned pale at his words. Grant stood, looking down at her. "Until he arrives, you are not to see her. Afterward, whatever you decide to do is your business. I won't interfere."With that, Grant left w
"I don't know what you're talking about!" Shirley snapped and tried to leave, but Flynn stopped her. "I've looked after Kelly for so many years. That should repay the debt for you saving my wife's life back then."Shirley's hand froze on the doorknob, gripping it tightly."Back then, you saved my wife. In return, I raised Kelly and settled that debt. But..." Flynn paused, his tone hardening. "The grievances between you and Harrison shouldn't involve the children.""I didn't want to hurt them. That's why I did what I did. You don't understand—Harrison is a madman! He wouldn't believe the child I carried was his. He doubted Kelly was his all along. I... He treated me so horribly. I was afraid he'd harm Kelly, so I...""And what about Noelle?""How do you know about that?" Shirley asked in shock. Her lips were trembling. "How do you know about Noelle?""When you left Capiton for Carvonia, my wife visited the Shaws to see that child. Later, I sent my son to the Shaws as well," Flynn
Sean nodded. "Alright, please have a seat first."Charles helped Noelle settle into a chair before turning his attention to Sean, who began, "My Uncle Harrison seems to have had some misunderstanding with Shirley. I don't know the full story of what happened earlier at the house. What I do know is that my uncle was injured in his younger days—stabbed near the heart."Although the blade didn't hit any vital organs, the heart is a delicate area." Sean pinched the bridge of his nose, his voice heavy."You heard what the doctor said earlier. He underwent a heart transplant years ago. He probably doesn't have much time left."Sean glanced at Noelle with a somber expression. "I think that's why Uncle Harrison is so adamant about reconnecting with you."Noelle's lips trembled as she processed his words. She had thought herself indifferent toward this man, but hearing Sean's explanation struck a deep, unexpected chord. After a moment of struggle, she managed to ask, "What do you mean? He…
"Don't worry, everything will be fine."When they got home, Charles noticed Noelle was still unable to sleep. He pulled her into his arms, gently patting her back. "Don't stress about it, alright?""But…" Noelle's eyes reddened as she spoke. "Am I useless? I thought I wouldn't feel anything. After all, I'm an adult now, and those feelings seemed so distant, almost irrelevant. But when Sean said he might not have much time left, I felt a pang of sadness.""Feeling sad is normal. Blood ties are impossible to sever, aren't they?" Charles sighed softly. "You've done well. Get some sleep. Tomorrow, when you wake up, visit him at the hospital and share what's on your mind. Alright?"Noelle hesitated. Her lips trembled slightly, but she eventually nodded. "Alright.""Good girl." Charles kissed her forehead gently. "Now, try to sleep."Noelle did not have the most peaceful sleep that night, but perhaps due to Charles' presence, she managed to rest until 7:00 or 8:00 am. When Charles ca
This wedding was nothing short of spectacular. Every moment was meticulously recorded by a dedicated team, with cameras set up throughout the venue to capture every detail of the ceremony from all angles.Charles and Noelle barely had a moment to rest as they moved from table to table, toasting guests with endless glasses of wine. The atmosphere remained lively and joyous deep into the night. It was not until the early hours of the morning that Noelle finally helped Charles to a private lounge on the second floor of the hotel.Though many had stepped in to shield them from excessive drinking, there was no avoiding the celebratory nature of the occasion. The alcohol had inevitably taken its toll. After settling Charles onto the couch, Noelle fetched some honey water and a warm towel before returning to his side.Charles lay slightly on his side, propping his chin up with one hand. Noelle sat beside him and handed him the towel, but he did not reach for it.Sighing, she called soft
Sean clicked his tongue, shaking his head in amusement. "Charles, your body is here, but your heart is clearly somewhere else."Then, as if making an even bigger discovery, he gestured toward a spot not far away. "Oh, I say, Charles, this is a real crisis. See that?"With the enthusiasm of someone who thrived on drama, Sean pointed at Noelle and Grant. "I don't know, man. That guy doesn't look like he's here with good intentions."Charles raised an eyebrow, his gaze darkening as it settled on Noelle and Grant. He gripped his glass a little tighter, but his eyes refused to move away from them. Still, his words were dismissive. "He's just another big brother-in-law. That's all.""Yeah, right. Just admit it—he's a strong rival."The second Sean finished speaking, he felt an icy stare pierce through him. Charles' glare was sharp enough to cut. "Hmm? What did you just say?""Nothing!" Sean swallowed hard, instantly backtracking. Dear god, a jealous man was terrifying!"You think he's
Grant's eyes carried too many emotions—too many things unspoken. Noelle could not fully understand, but she could sense that there was something significant behind his words.The diary in her hands had to hold something important that was possibly related to the past she had forgotten. Perhaps they were the lost pieces of her memory that she had always assumed were not crucial.She had assumed so because otherwise, she would have recalled them after all these years. Besides, they had not seemed to affect her life in any meaningful way.Over time, she had gradually let go of the idea of remembering.Yet now, with Grant handing her this diary, an unsettling feeling crept over her as if she had forgotten something incredibly important—something she could not afford to lose.Holding the diary tightly, Noelle felt a strange mix of emotions that she could not quite describe.She hesitated before murmuring, "Thank you."In the end, she did not ask Grant where he had gotten the diary. I
"Alright!" Charles took the glass from Bob's hand and downed it in one go.Standing beside him, Noelle opened her mouth slightly and reached out to tug at Charles' arm. "Charlie… Take it easy!"With so many guests around, Charles had already had quite a bit to drink. If they kept pushing more onto him, how would he handle it?Noelle looked at him with concern, but Charles simply smiled and gently patted the back of her hand. "I'm fine.""Oh, wow, are you showing off your love for each other right in front of us? Are you trying to make us single folks suffer?"Simon chimed in, fueling the lively atmosphere. He had always been the laid-back type, and now, paired with Sean, the two seemed to hit it off instantly. They were like long-lost partners in crime. They exchanged a knowing glance, clearly set on making Charles drink more.Noelle wanted to say something, but seeing the calm look Charles gave her, she hesitated and eventually let them have their fun.With that, Charles was dr
Charles opened the gift box, revealing a pair of crystal flats. Noelle was surprised, but before she could react, Charles had already removed her heels and was carefully helping her into the new shoes.Gasps of astonishment rippled through the crowd, and Noelle could not help but feel a little embarrassed. However, Charles remained completely focused, his movements gentle and precise as he secured the flats on her feet before helping her stand again.The moment Noelle stood up, she immediately felt much more comfortable. However, a new problem arose.Her wedding gown had been tailored for the height of her heels, and now, with the flats, she had suddenly lost nearly three inches. It caused the hem of her dress to drag awkwardly on the floor. It looked far from elegant.Noelle shot a troubled look at Charles. Without hesitation, he crouched down once more. With a few effortless movements, he gathered the outer layers of her gown, tying them into a casual knot at the side.Noelle's
"Grandpa, Granddad!" Noelle called out, holding Charles's hand as they approached. Sebastian waved them over, "Noelle, come to my side!" Holding Charles's hand, Noelle walked up to Sebastian and let go to hug his arm, "Granddad!""There's my sweet girl!" Sebastian's eyes twinkled with joy as he looked at Noelle and Charles.Charles's lips were always tipped with a gentle smile, and he joined Noelle, saying, "Granddad!""Yes, wonderful!"Finally, the big day came—a wedding with a beautiful ceremony.Sebastian was really proud of Charles, his star student. Then, Noelle married Charles, and Sebastian felt a huge relief, as if a weight had been lifted from his heart.Sebastian felt a little sad thinking about Noelle getting married for real. He pulled a small box from his pocket and said, "Your grandma got this from her family when she was alive. Now, I want you to have it!""No, I can't take this!" Noelle said quickly when she heard it was from her grandma.However, Sebastian sh
"Wow, I can't believe that just happened!""Look at that! Charles is actually so considerate and gentle—it’s hard to believe!”Charles slipped the crystal shoes onto Noelle's feet and then scooped her up in his arms. With that, the noisy crowd made their way out of the place.Outside the place, a line of fancy cars waited. People climbed in, and they all set off for the hotel.As the luxury cars rolled away from the Smith residence, reporters followed, eager to capture every moment of the spectacle.Even though the Hoffmans and the Smiths had told the press to stay out of certain areas, they could not stop them from snapping pictures on the public streets. So, the day's big moments ended up all over the internet.In front of the hotel run by the Nexus Group, car after car pulled up and parked. The whole street had been cleared out just for today's wedding party.Charles, looking sharp in his white suit, stepped out of the car and turned his back to the door. A pretty figure in w
The church was alive with love and happiness, the air buzzing with laughter, congratulations, and heartfelt connections. For a moment, Charles stood still, holding Noelle’s hand, soaking in the overwhelming joy that surrounded them. It wasn’t just the ceremony that made the day special—it was the people they loved, the memories they’d shared, and the future they were about to build together.As the crowd slowly began to disperse, the newlyweds, still smiling and basking in the glow of their love, made their way out of the church, ready to begin the rest of their lives together.Just then, the bridesmaids—Kelly, Liliana and Linda—and the groomsmen—Sean, Peter, and the others—emerged from the church. They were all smiling, but especially Sean, who had his usual carefree, playful attitude. He walked up behind Charles as if he were about to give him a friendly shove.However, before Sean could do anything else, it was obvious that Charles was not pleased with him at all. With a quick mo
Meanwhile, Charles caught sight of his mother, Clarisse and father, Mateo, both of them beaming with pride. Clarisse's eyes were bright with tears as she dabbed at them with a tissue, while Mateo's face was etched with a quiet, proud smile."Charles!" Clarisse called out, her voice thick with emotion. She was barely holding it together, and her hands trembled as she waved him over for a hug. Charles went to her, his heart swelling, and pulled her into his arms. "I'm so proud of you," she whispered, and the emotion in her voice made his chest tighten. He pulled back, giving her a soft smile, and then hugged Mateo, who patted him on the back."Don't you go breaking her heart, Charles," Mateo said with a wink, making everyone nearby laugh. It was a comment Charles had heard many times before, but today, it carried a deeper, more heartfelt meaning.He turned to Noelle, and she smiled at him, her eyes crinkling at the corners in that way he loved. Her parents were waiting for her, and