Eli breathed a sigh of relief at Charles' words. "As expected, Mr. Charles. You've thought of everything."Charles nodded and helped Noelle sit down to rest. Meanwhile, Jade's sharp eyes remained fixed on Noelle, filled with undisguised malice.After receiving Charles' call, Sean immediately summoned a team of doctors who promptly entered the operating room. Sean's arrival acted as a calming presence for Noelle, easing some of her tension."Charles, come over for a moment," Sean said, beckoning Charles aside. Noelle was left to sit alone. She remained motionless, and her eyes were glued to the door of the operating room.Deep down, Noelle was scared. The love she had received growing up had largely come from Sebastian and Samuel. To her, they were the closest family she had ever known.Noelle had never seriously contemplated the inevitability of aging or death before. However, today's events forced her to confront these realities.She was growing older, and so was Samuel—a truth
Noelle froze, her gaze settling on Winter, who sat in a daze. Her eyes darkened with thought."Why are you staring at Winter? What are you plotting now? Trying to scheme against us again?" Jade accused. Her prejudice against Noelle was clear in her sharp words.Noelle's expression remained cold as she replied, "Madam Shaw, your words are truly amusing. What schemes could I possibly have against you? However, this does remind me of something. "Earlier today, Winter approached me in private, also asking for the shares. I told her I had sold them. Winter got furious and stormed off, isn't that right?"Hearing her name, Winter abruptly lifted her head and shot to her feet. Her bloodshot eyes locked onto Noelle's with a furious glare."Noelle, you wretch! Why are you here? It was you, wasn't it? You did this on purpose! You deliberately told me that Grandpa knew you sold the shares to provoke me into confronting him. You made me argue with him! You pushed me to upset him! What's your
Jade and Winter were completely terrified, and even Julian realized the gravity of the situation. "Uh… Mr. Hoffman, um… Charlie…"Charles cast a sharp glare in Julian's direction, and Julian immediately fell silent."Heh," Sean interjected as he arrived, glancing at the Shaws before shifting his gaze to Noelle and Charles. "I wasn't even gone for long, Charles, and yet your wife has already been bullied!"Sean's tone carried a hint of mockery, making his comment sting even more. His words were like pouring gasoline on a fire.Jade could practically feel the flames of fury emanating from Charles. She scrambled to her feet, clutching Julian's shirt. "Jule, please explain it to Mr. Hoffman! I didn't… I didn't mean to!""It was clear as day that you did it intentionally!" Sean raised an eyebrow, clearly enjoying the chaos."Forget that she's Charles' wife now. Let's talk about the fact that she's now Noelle Smith, the Smith family's treasured daughter. Ms. Winter, do you think the Sm
"You…" Jade and Winter were completely caught off guard by the mention of surveillance footage.Their faces turned pale instantly. "I…"Just then, the doors to the operating room opened, and the lead surgeon stepped out, addressing Sean, "Dr. Smith!"Sean nodded. "How's Sir Shaw?""We've managed to save him for now, but Sir Shaw previously suffered a stroke. This time, the surge in blood pressure caused him to have a heart attack. The situation was triggered by extreme emotional stress. Given his age and declining health, the outlook is not optimistic even though we've saved his life.""What do you mean by that, doctor?" Noelle asked, picking up on the doctor's grave tone. Her brows furrowed tightly. "What exactly do you mean?"The doctor glanced at Noelle, then at Sean. Only after Sean gave a slight nod did the doctor continue, "The patient's heart is severely weakened. Although he was resuscitated, the combination of the heart attack and a second stroke means he'll likely be be
Winter and Jade were trembling with rage, but there was absolutely nothing they could do against Noelle.They knew very well that Noelle's boldness came from the Hoffmans and the Smiths backing her. Unfortunately for them, they were no match for either family."Jule, what do we do now?" Jade asked, her voice filled with panic."Do what?" Julian was on the verge of losing his temper with Jade and Winter. These two foolish women! They were so shortsighted.Julian could see clearly that while Charles and Sean were formidable, they did not act recklessly. The key lay with Noelle. As long as it did not involve Noelle, they could turn a blind eye or even offer small benefits. However, they would never let anyone who hurt her go unpunished if it involved Noelle.Originally, the Shaws had the advantage of having raised Noelle. If they had played that card well, they could have ensured the Shaws thrived under the Hoffmans' and the Smiths' protection. Now, however, everything was ruined.C
Outside the private room on the prestigious Golden Floor of The Majestic Lounge, Andrew stood guard. Inside, a woman sat nervously while clutching an item in her hands.Every so often, she glanced toward the door, but as soon as her eyes landed on Andrew's stern face, she recoiled again.Andrew's gaze fixed on Suzy, and he let out a cold snort upon seeing her cautious demeanor.Charles had just stepped out of the car when Ronald approached him immediately. "Mr. Hoffman!"Charles nodded, holding his suit jacket casually in one hand as he strode forward. "Where is she?""She's in the private room. She said she has something to hand to you personally."Charles' eyes narrowed slightly. "Hmm."Ronald led the way until they reached the elevator. He then stepped aside, allowing Charles to take the lead."Mr. Hoffman!" Having spotted Charles, Andrew quickly opened the door.The moment Charles stepped inside, Suzy sprang up from the couch. "Mr. Hoffman!"Suzy was deeply intimidated by
Charles' long fingers lifted the edge of the folder as he casually skimmed through the records inside.The contents detailed Winter's past activities, including underhanded dealings in the entertainment industry—tactics used to sabotage others, evidence of her schemes against competitors, and a thorough log of places she had frequented in the past year.It documented every detail, down to what Winter had done in those places.Charles closed the thick stack of documents and shifted his gaze to the DVD resting beside them.Ronald quickly inserted the DVD into the player, and the screen flickered to life. The footage contained extensive material about Winter—videos of her visits to Elysian Swallow Garden, scenes from her personal life, and even a heated confrontation at the Shaw residence.The last segment showed Winter arguing fiercely with Samuel before he collapsed. The video captured Winter's panicked reaction, with Julian and Jade also appearing in the frame.Charles narrowed h
The next day, Winter had an audition during the day, and Suzy informed her that evening she had arranged a meeting with some investors.Initially, Winter did not want to attend, but she realized she had likely already offended Charles. With Royal Star likely cutting her off from resources, Winter could not afford to lose any potential support. Hence, she reluctantly agreed to the evening event.However, once Winter changed into her outfit and got into the car, she realized something was wrong when they arrived at Elysian Swallow Garden. "Suzy, didn't you say this was just a simple dinner? Why are we here?"Elysian Swallow Garden was nothing short of a nightmare for Winter.Suzy glanced at Winter with a troubled expression. "I didn't have a choice. The investors tonight include Mr. Lambert and Mr. Wallace. You know how they are—they love places like this. I also heard they have some… unusual entertainment here, so…""I'm not going in!" Winter's face turned pale. "Do you even reme
The door was suddenly pushed open, and Kelly hurried into the room. "Are you alright?"A clear and crisp voice echoed above her. Noelle was initially startled, and she looked up to see that it was Kelly.The sight of Kelly replaced her pain with surprise. "You…" Why was she here?Before Noelle could finish her sentence, she bent over again, clearly in discomfort."What's wrong? Are you having an episode?""An episode?" Noelle looked up at Kelly, confused. "What episode?""I'm just experiencing fetal movement. The babies have been very active lately," Noelle explained, studying Kelly's face. The concern on Kelly's face quickly turned to surprise."Why are you here?"Noelle could not fathom why Kelly would visit. To her, there was not any connection between them—at least not one Kelly was aware of. Kelly's presence was baffling.However, she could not ignore the strange way Kelly looked at her. "I'm having twins, so my belly looks bigger than usual. These past few days, the babi
Grant's gaze flickered briefly, almost imperceptibly, before he avoided Kelly's question altogether. "It's getting late. I'll have Kresten drive you there."His words made it clear that he was not willing to answer. Knowing Grant's temperament, Kelly understood that pushing further would yield no results. She did not press the issue. "Then please watch over Seth for me. I'll be back soon."When Kelly went downstairs, she saw Kresten already waiting for her. Kresten quickly stepped forward and opened the car door. "Ms. Anderson, please get in."Kelly nodded and got into the car. As soon as she settled, she began to feel a twinge of regret. But deep down, she knew she could not turn back now.She wanted to see Noelle—the sister she had unknowingly been separated from for more than 20 years, someone who shared the same fate as her.The thought of having a sister was entirely new to Kelly. It was an odd and unfamiliar feeling. Memories of their past interactions flooded her mind. No
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