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Chapter 13
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The Cherished Wife Chapter 14
"Ms. Shaw, don’t fight it. If you can't avoid something, then just try to enjoy it. Makes sense, right?" Charles's gaze held a hint of mystery as he spoke. Noelle bit her lip, her fight fading away.When Charles felt Noelle's resistance ease up, he let go of her hand. "Hop in, Ms. Shaw."Noelle shot Charles a reluctant look but followed him into the car anyway. Charles flashed a grin. "Buckle up!"Noelle had barely settled into the car seat when she rattled off her address to Charles, then clammed up, only piping up to correct his driving once or twice. Charles was not clueless and picked up on Noelle's cold shoulder. Pulling up to her place, he shot her a look. "Remember what I said before? The offer is still valid, Ms. Shaw. Call me if you’re thinking about it again."Noelle bit her lip, "Look at you, Mr. Hoffman. You’re successful, loaded, and the town's most eligible bachelor. You could snap your fingers and have the ladies of Brookville lining up from here to kingdom come. Why
The Cherished Wife Chapter 15
"Throwing myself at some random guy? Xavier, do you hear yourself?" Noelle could not help but laugh at the absurdity of it all."I get that you're not over what happened with me and Winter, but you're young. You'll find someone who's just for you. I'm your brother-in-law now, right? I wouldn't do anything to hurt you," Xavier said, stumbling a bit over the words 'brother-in-law.' He glanced at Noelle, noticing she looked even prettier than she had just a day ago."Oh, I should be so grateful for your concern!" Noelle's voice dripped with sarcasm. "Do me a favor, will you? Just stay out of my life from now on." She was not the type to cling to what was gone. Sure, she could not just switch off her feelings for Xavier, but she would not let him see her crumble."Noelle, why do you have to be this way? If things had worked out, it would have been great, but otherwise, we should go our separate ways. We’re not a thing anymore, and I'm really into Winter.""Okay, I get it. You're head o
The Cherished Wife Chapter 16
"How can you even suggest something like that about me and Winter? It's not because...""Stop! Just stop. I can't listen to another word, Xavier. You're making me sick. Get out now before there's nothing left of you in my heart." Noelle shoved Xavier back, shooting him a look that could freeze lava. "And don't you dare come back."With that, she fished her keys out of her bag, strode to the apartment door, flung it open, and disappeared inside. She felt like she would totally lose it if she spent one more second with Xavier.Xavier watched Noelle's back as she left, completely lost. How had things between them gone so horribly wrong?Even if they could not be a couple, the bond they had once shared still lingered. He believed that if Noelle had even the slightest affection left for him, she would be mindful of his feelings. She should be cool about him and Winter being together, especially since Winter had once saved her life.He planned to make things right with her, hoping they
The Cherished Wife Chapter 17
The Frotconn weekly Monday meeting was the time to wrap up the previous week's work. This was Noelle's first time back at the familiar table since she had left a year ago. The board members did a double-take when they saw herSome were clueless about her return, while others had their opinions of her colored by the recent scandal.Noelle pretended she did not see a thing, grabbed the papers, and plopped down in her chair. Her gaze was steady as she ignored the buzz around her. The bigwigs, the chairman and the general manager, had not shown up yet, so the room was buzzing with chatter. Some of the older, more seasoned directors were acting like uncles at a family reunion, rehashing the drama from the engagement party with flair.One of the directors, who had butted heads with Noelle before over work matters, could not resist stirring the pot. "Some people embarrass themselves and still strut into the office like nothing happened."Noelle's brow creased ever so slightly. She meant to
The Cherished Wife Chapter 18
On the twenty-seventh floor of the Collosus Group, Ronald shot Becky a quick 'hey' and snagged the stack of papers she was buried in before rapping on the president's door."Come in!"The voice that cut through the silence was all business. Ronald stood tall and swung the door open, finding the man buried in paperwork. He did not even bother to look up."Mr. Hoffman, I’ve got the monthly numbers here. Director Lore from the Finance Department mentioned that the Public Relations Department's over budget. It’s your call," Ronald rattled off his report and passed the papers to Charles.Charles's brow creased ever so slightly, his fingers drumming a steady beat on the desk. "Don't sweat the small stuff. If they can handle it, no need to bring it to me," he said, barely glancing at the report before flicking it back to Ronald. "I didn’t bring them on board to stir up trouble.""Got it." Ronald let out a quiet sigh, then dropped another update, "Ms. Shaw's back at the office today.""M
The Cherished Wife Chapter 19
Peter Lennon squinted, picking up on the nervous tone in Ronald's voice, and asked, "What's up? Did Charles throw another curveball your way?"Ronald let out a forced chuckle. "Isn't your assistant some kind of computer whiz?""Just call him yourself." Peter's voice was curt, and the line went dead. Ronald stewed in silence, thinking about how Mr. Hoffman and Mr. Lennon must be cut from the same cloth. Both of them were cold businessmen with no patience or sympathy. Shaking it off, Ronald dialed up Lareal, Peter's assistant. "You've got thirty minutes to dig up info on a lady, someone Mr. Hoffman's looking for."Exactly thirty minutes later, Ronald had the scoop on Winter. He was practically gushing with gratitude. "Man, you're a lifesaver!"On the other end, Lareal gave a cool snort. "Does Mr. Hoffman have his eye on this chick?" Winter did not seem like much, but she played a tough game. Lareal could not see how she would be Charles’ type, so he pried a little."No way! I’ve got
The Cherished Wife Chapter 20
Noelle managed to get rid of Larisse and rubbed her temples, feeling a headache coming on. She had been putting on a brave face all week, but seeing Xavier and Joseph in the meeting room today hit her hard.Joseph had shared a meal with her in secret just a year ago, hinting that he hoped she would end up marrying Xavier. Noelle could never have guessed that things would spiral into the mess they were in now."Ms. Shaw, Mr. Harris would like to see you," Joseph's secretary said through the phone, catching Noelle off guard. She quickly recovered. "Sure, I'll head over now."After tidying up her papers, Noelle made her way to the president's office.She rapped lightly on the door and heard Joseph's voice from inside. "Come in." Pushing the door open, Noelle found Joseph lounging on the couch, flipping through a financial magazine. He looked up and gestured for her to come closer. "Ah, Noelle, you've arrived!""Mr. Harris!" Noelle's tone was polite but distant, a clear sign she was n
The Cherished Wife Chapter 21
An odd look appeared on Joseph’s face upon hearing what Noelle said. He directed his stern gaze onto her. It only made her sit up straighter, seemingly not at all afraid of his gaze. No matter how angry he felt, he could not berate her directly. He merely gave an awkward chuckle as he said, “It’s been so long since you’ve last seen your grandfather, child. Don’t you miss him?” Noelle raised an eyebrow. If there was anyone left in the Shaw family she still cared for, that person would definitely be her grandfather. Joseph was urgently trying to make her go home because he wanted her to sing praises about him before the old man so he would relent and give his blessings to Xavier and Winter’s marriage. What an intricate plan they had laid out. They were the ones in the wrong, but they had somehow managed to back her into a corner. He noticed she had not said anything, so he added, “It’ll be his birthday in a couple of days, Noelle. No matter what Xavier and Winter have done, you’r
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The Cherished Wife Chapter 1736
"Sean, Bob, you're back?" Savannah was the first to stand up.Seeing her son return naturally made her happy.A moment ago, it had been all about Harrison's two daughters and their husbands. Savannah could not help but feel a little jealous.The Smith family was gathered so neatly, while her side had been somewhat neglected. Especially when she met Charles' cold gaze—she truly could not stay any longer.Sean noticed the entire family gathered together and saw Savannah walking toward him.However, he subtly stepped aside, letting Savannah lunge at nothing but air. Savannah immediately froze in embarrassment.It was Bob who stepped in to ease the tension."Aunt Savannah," he greeted."Bob, when did you get here?""Not long ago." Bob glanced at Sean before stepping inside."It's quite lively here," he remarked with a smile.His clear, observant gaze landed on Noelle first. He gave her a slight nod before shifting his attention to Kelly.Kelly had been a little nervous at first
The Cherished Wife Chapter 1735
Harrison smiled as he looked at Kelly and Noelle, clearly pleased."Sean is still busy right now, so we'll wait for him. Kelly, let me introduce you to the family. This is your second uncle, Hayes, and your Aunt Savannah."Over there is your Aunt Yitty, and you also have a third aunt, but she's not in Brookville at the moment. Your grandfather had some business to attend to today—he went to see an old comrade but will be back later. And, of course, you already know Noelle and Charlie.""Hello, Uncle Hayes, Aunt Savannah, Aunt Yitty," Kelly greeted politely.Yitty smiled warmly and nodded. "How wonderful!"She then pulled out an envelope with some allowance and handed it to Kelly. "When Noelle first came home, I gave her one, so I can't treat you any differently.""Thank you, Aunt Yitty!"Following her lead, Hayes and Savannah also handed Kelly envelopes. Then, seeing how delighted Seth looked, they gave him several as well.Seth had always been a reserved child, shy and withdra
The Cherished Wife Chapter 1734
Kelly froze as she stared at Seth in shock—especially at the moment he ran toward Yves and wrapped his little arms around Yves' leg. A strange wave of loss surged through her.She did not even know where this emotion came from, but it hurt. She never expected that in just a short time, Seth would already be calling Yves 'Daddy'.Kelly was not the only one stunned as everyone in the room seemed momentarily speechless.Even Yves himself had not anticipated Seth's sudden display of affection.Although he had spent the past few days bonding with Seth and knew the child liked him, Seth had always been a bit shy.He had never once called him 'Daddy' before. Yves felt a mix of emotions at that moment. Surprise, confusion—but mostly joy.He glanced at Seth before instinctively turning to Kelly, and just as he expected, her expression was tangled with conflicting emotions.Squatting down, Yves reached out and gently ruffled Seth's hair. "Be good. Mommy is coming home today, hmm?"Seth's
The Cherished Wife Chapter 1733
Charles narrowed his eyes slightly, feeling a restless energy rising within him that was barely held in check. He leaned down, bringing his lips close to Noelle's ear, and whispered, "You enchantress."It would have been fine if he had not spoken. But the moment he did, Noelle's competitive streak flared.She hooked her arms around Charles' neck and smirked. "If I'm an enchantress, what does that make you?"Charles' eyes flickered as he looked down at her belly that was round as a ball, and let out a deep sigh."A wandering monk.""You're so improper!" Noelle gave him a playful glare and huffed. "Can't you see where we are? Do you always act this shamelessly?""You're my wife," Charles stated matter-of-factly. "If I say things like this, it only proves how irresistible you are."There was no denying it now that Charles had truly mastered the art of seduction.He had a knack for teasing her, making her heart race, but then leaving her hanging, unable to do anything about it.It
The Cherished Wife Chapter 1732
Kelly quickly noticed that Harrison was just as nervous as she was."There's no need," she reassured him. "I'm sure you've already prepared everything thoroughly.""No, no, there are still many things I don't quite understand," Harrison admitted. "You know, I never had the chance to raise you and Noelle, so… this is my first time. Mistakes are bound to happen."Since Harrison had already expressed his concerns so openly, Kelly did not want to make things harder for him by refusing. If she insisted on brushing it off, he might overthink it. So she nodded instead."That makes sense. Maybe some of the things Seth and I are used to aren't things you'd think of. How about I take a look around first? If I see anything missing, I'll make a list for you?"Harrison immediately nodded. "Yes, that's a good idea!"Kelly smiled. "Um… is Seth already at the Smiths'?""Yes," Harrison answered. "Not just Seth, Noelle and Charlie are here too. Everyone's gathered together, making the place livel
The Cherished Wife Chapter 1731
On the day Kelly was discharged from the hospital, Noelle had originally planned to pick her up. However, as her belly grew larger, it became impossible for her to move around freely.Not only did Charles refuse to let her exert herself, but even Kelly would not allow Noelle to go through the trouble of making the trip.In the end, Kelly was taken to the Smith residence. Given that she was now recognized as Harrison's daughter, it was only natural for her to live there. Plus, Harrison was adamant about it.The moment he learned Kelly wanted to see him, he had ordered the household staff to prepare a room for her. He had even arranged a room next to hers for Seth, carefully decorating it with all sorts of toys suited for a young boy.Harrison welcomed Kelly home, making it clear that she was free to do whatever she wanted. As for changing her last name, he had consulted her opinion.Kelly, however, felt it did not matter much either way. Seeing that, Harrison chose not to push the
The Cherished Wife Chapter 1730
The internal issues that had previously emerged within Collosus Group had gradually been resolved by Steven. The remaining risks had also been dealt with, thanks to Ronald, Raymond, and Lareal, who had sacrificed their rest time to finally clean everything up.Meanwhile, Charles was now leisurely sitting at home, drinking tea and keeping his wife company.The weather was nice today—warm, but not overly sunny. Charles had moved the chairs outside into the courtyard and carried Noelle over as well.She had objected, insisting that she could walk on her own. After all, she was heavily pregnant with twins, so her belly was round like a ball.Noelle was well aware of her own weight, but Charles, with his considerable strength, had effortlessly carried her over without so much as a breath of exertion.Once Noelle was placed in the chair, she rocked slightly. The man beside her sat down with a book held between his long fingers—a parenting guide.The small tea table next to him was stac
The Cherished Wife Chapter 1729
Back then, Kelly had desperately wished for Charles to give her a promise and publicly acknowledge their relationship.Yet thinking about it now, if that person was Noelle, then everything suddenly made sense.Kelly chuckled. "I never thought Charles would actually be rejected by someone. I've never heard of that happening before!"There was amusement in her voice.Noelle scratched her head. "Actually, it was because things were complicated at the time. The Shaws were watching closely, and I didn't want Charlie to get dragged into it."When I married him, it wasn't because of those external factors. I didn't want our marriage to be tainted by all of that. So…""I understand. You wanted to make sure that Charles and the Hoffmans knew that you married him for who he is, not because of his background. You wanted it to be purely about love."Noelle nodded. "As time went on, things kept piling up, and Charlie and I grew even closer. After that, I didn't think about it anymore. Then I
The Cherished Wife Chapter 1728
Noelle only turned around to seriously study Kelly once Charles and Yves had walked away. "Kelly, you really scared us this time!"That day, when Kelly had said her godfather had invited her out, Noelle had felt that something was off. The timing had been too much of a coincidence. Fortunately, she had been extra cautious and stayed alert, or else she would have regretted it for the rest of her life.Seeing how genuinely worried Noelle was, Kelly reached out and held her hand. "Noelle, I'm fine now. There's no need to worry!"She met Noelle's eyes and reassured her, "I'm doing great!"However, Noelle's eyes turned red. "You're fine now, but what about before?""Noelle! Some things are just beyond our control." Kelly sighed and tried to comfort her. "I didn't let your husband tell you because I didn't want you to worry. And look at you now…"Crying too much isn't good for your health, and it's definitely not good for the baby!"In the past, Kelly could never have imagined having
