"Don't worry about it, Noelle. I don't need these things!" Grant said as he softly tapped Noelle on the head. "Dad gave them to you for a reason, so you should hold on to them.""A reason?" Jade laughed icily, cutting off Grant. "Joshua, remember how you promised Jule you'd never come back or take anything from the Shaw family?""I kept my promise. Have you seen me around the Shaw house in the past few years? I wouldn't be here if it weren't for Dad. I never wanted the shares he left me. I've already given them to Noelle. Is that a problem for you?""It sure is," Jade said, glaring at Noelle. "Didn't you hear? She's not a Shaw. Her last name is Smith, and she’s Harrison's daughter. Why should a Smith take anything from us?"Noelle's brow creased. "What are you getting at, Mrs. Shaw?""Give back what belongs to the Shaw family!""You want the shares I have?" Noelle asked, one eyebrow arched."That's right. I want all of it back, everything the old man gave you!" Jade's eyes blaze
"Mrs. Shaw, do you really think I'm scared?" Noelle said indifferently, looking at Jade and Julian."Mr. Shaw, Mrs. Shaw might be confused right now, but you wouldn't be, right?"Julian frowned at Noelle, but Jade pulled his hand hard. "Jule, are you still going to be wishy-washy? Noelle is here to make us pay. She won't be happy until she's destroyed our family!"Julian scowled. "Noelle, just give us the shares. Your mom and I will remember we were family once and let you go. If you won't...""What if I won't?" Noelle's eyes turned icy as she stared back at Julian and Jade. "Grandpa gave this to me, and I'm not giving it to you!""Then don't blame us for not being nice."Jade gave a look to the thugs, and they started to rush over.However, they had barely taken a few steps when another group of skilled people at the door stopped them in their tracks.The mess was quickly sorted out, and Andrew gave a cool look to the guy on the ground before coming over. "Ma'am, are you okay?
Thinking back on those times, Noelle felt like it was all a dream. "So, you really are Joshua. Why didn't you admit it right away?""Admit what?"Grant looked at Noelle with a calm smile. "There was no need to!""Why not? You're my Uncle Joshua!" Noelle blurted out, but then she hesitated and gave him a wry smile. "No, you're Grant, not Joshua. I'm just a little confused. If you're part of the Anderson family, why did you come to the Shaw family?"Grant squinted, his steady and deep gaze resting on Noelle. "Do you really want to know?"Noelle shook her head, then nodded. "Yes."She did not believe it was just by chance. Grant definitely had secrets she did not know about.Grant gave Noelle a long look. "To repay a big favor!""A big favor?" Noelle was puzzled. "What favor? How did it make you travel all the way from Capiton to Brookville, after leaving home for so many years?"Grant gave Noelle a helpless smile. "A favor that saved a life. It involves your real mom!"Noelle's
"But this was Grandpa's life's work." Noelle knew it was like throwing money into a pit. The shares looked nice, but they were actually in red. If Charles stepped in now, he would be taking a loss.Julian and the others did not see it that way. They still thought the shares could be worth a fortune!Grant gave a small smile. "Noelle, you're just too nice!"However, Noelle just gave a wry smile in return. "It's not about being nice. It's about doing the right thing. Grandpa has always been there for me, and I can't just sit back and do nothing when City Ring Corp. is in trouble!"Grant's brow creased with worry. "Do you realize how shaky the stock market in Zyphonia has been lately? It's not just Capiton and Cascade City that are affected. Brookville is buzzing too. It could cause a huge stir, you know?"Noelle looked at Grant, surprised, and then her forehead wrinkled in concern. "Why are you telling me all this?""The things happening lately aren't just random. You need to be ca
Charles gave a nod, silently agreeing. However, Noelle could tell Charles was not too thrilled about it. She quirked an eyebrow and asked, "The York family? Which York family are we talking about?"Charles looked at Noelle, his gaze intense. With just a quick lift of his eyebrow, Noelle had her answer. "Simon’s family?""Exactly," Charles replied. "In all of Brookville, there's only one York family worth mentioning."Noelle pursed her lips in surprise. "I thought the Hoffmans and the Yorks didn't really know each other!" She had been with Charles for quite a while, and he had never brought up the Yorks. If Jade had not been so keen on setting her up with Simon, Noelle would not have given the York family a second thought.Nancy chuckled at that. "No wonder you're out of the loop, Noelle. We're not exactly close with the Yorks ourselves. It's just some old family stuff and a distant relation, but it's nothing for you to worry about."Noelle nodded, figuring the connection was not a
It did not take long for people to spot Charles in the crowd. Everyone there was a businessperson, and Jeanette's birthday was just an excuse for a get-together. The real action was in the business deals being made. When Charles walked in, people naturally wanted to chat with him. However, they all paused when they saw the woman at his side.Not many had seen Charles in person before. If they had, it was a lucky chance. A face-to-face meeting like that was super rare, and now, Charles had a woman with him.Everyone was trying to figure out who she was. Some noticed Noelle's flat shoes and simple outfit. She had on just a touch of makeup. She looked fine, but next to the fancy-dressed rich ladies there, she did not quite fit in.People could not guess who the plain woman with Charles was. Charles was like a standout guy in a crowd, but there he was with someone so... ordinary. Everyone was scratching their heads.Noelle saw the looks she was getting. She just smiled a little, hold
Noelle did not want to cause a fuss. After all, they were guests there, and making a scene would not do any good. She quietly pulled on Charles's sleeve. Charles caught her hint, gave her a knowing look, and smiled. "Mrs. Camidge, you're quite observant. Mr. Camidge is lucky to have you!""Yes, yes!" Jayme quickly agreed, looking quite sheepish.He realized he had misspoken, but this woman had managed to calm Charles down with just a few words. Jayme could not help but think she was quite clever.It was just a small hiccup in the evening. Noelle was not interested in dwelling on it, so she took Charles by the hand, and they wandered off to find some little treats.When Noelle got there, she had already snacked a bit to keep her stomach happy. Ever since she got pregnant, her appetite just kept growing. She used to have some morning sickness, but now she was happy to eat anything and everything without being picky.She talked to Margaret about it, and Margaret told her it was norma
"Why?" Noelle asked, confused. To her, Simon was nothing more than a spoiled rich kid.Charles just smiled slightly. "You'll see in time.""Hmm…" Noelle was not particularly interested in Simon. She did not care what kind of person he was, as long as he stayed out of her way. Why should she trouble herself over him?Simon could not help but feel a mix of irritation and amusement as he watched Noelle's indifferent attitude. She had better remember who saved her once upon a time, that little ingrate!"What are you staring at?"Beside Simon, a man with a striking look and a noble air walked up. Upon closer inspection, it was clear he bore a resemblance to Simon, except Simon had a mischievous twinkle in his eye, while this man appeared entirely serious and virtuous.Simon smirked. "She's just a stray cat." Then he asked, "Bro, what brings you out here?"Simon's big brother, Jacob, was his half-brother. They shared the same dad. They got along decently on the outside.However, Jaco
In the past, Liliana would have scampered after Sean the moment he spoke, but the Liliana of today was different. She gave Sean a small smile. "My legs aren't long, so I don't walk fast. Also, I'm expecting now, so my husband wants me to slow down.""Husband?" Sean's teeth were practically grinding, his brows were so furrowed they could have been tied in a knot, and his face was clouded over. "When did you get married? Why didn't I know?"Liliana kept her smile. "It's Keith. He popped the question, and we're going to get our marriage license soon.""Oh, so you're not actually married yet?" Sean's laugh was distant. "You're already calling him 'husband' so eagerly. Liliana, you really haven't changed at all."Liliana's face fell, a shadow passing over it.She could easily pick up on the jab in Sean's words—it was just a way to put her down.Liliana took a deep breath, reminding herself not to lose her temper and stay calm for her baby's sake."It won't be long now, and I'll be su
The apartment was not big, and both the interior and exterior were pretty old. How could it even compare to the Hoffman family's grand home?She was a Hoffman too, but the difference between her and her sisters, Chloe and Layla, was like night and day.Liliana glanced at Sean, her brow furrowing. "Mr. Smith?"Sean's gaze softened. "Liliana, we're friends, right? Won't you invite me in to sit for a while?" He put extra emphasis on the word ‘friends’.Liliana's frown deepened. "I don't see why that's necessary, Mr. Smith. You're used to fancy high-rises and grand mansions. Our old apartment probably isn't to your taste." Holding Keith's hand, she led him to the living room. "I'll be back soon. I'm just stepping out for a moment.""But Liliana..." Keith hesitated, wanting to suggest they could talk at home instead of going out. He also wanted to offer to handle the matter himself if she preferred to avoid Sean.Seeing Liliana's resolute look, he nodded. "Alright, go ahead."Liliana
"You think you can go to work feeling like this?" Keith did not think it was a good idea, but Liliana did not see the problem. "You really don't have to worry. I had some trouble before because I didn't know what I was doing and wasn't ready to be a mom, but I've learned a lot since then. Anyway, you can't even tell I'm pregnant yet. You don't expect me to stop working now, do you?"Liliana joked, "If I don't work, how will I make money? How will I take care of our baby?""I'm here for you, Liliana," Keith sighed. "Haven't I told you? I'll look after you from now on.""But I can't just do nothing," Liliana reassured him. "Don't worry, Keith. If it ever gets to the point where I can't do anything, I promise I'll stop and just stay at home, waiting for you to take care of us."Liliana was in a very good mood and started teasing Keith. Keith gave her a look and said, "Okay, but if you're not feeling well or anything, just take it easy. We're not rich, but I've got enough to take care
With those thoughts, Liliana felt more determined than ever.She held onto Keith's hand tightly, her lips trembling a little. "Does it really not matter to you that I don't like you right now?""It does matter," Keith replied earnestly. "Liliana, I want you to give me your whole heart in the future." He confessed, "I'm actually quite selfish. I like you a lot, and I want you to like me back.""Alright!" Liliana nodded firmly. "I'll work hard to like you more."Keith smiled at her promise, gently squeezing her cheek. "You've been eating too little these days. You need to eat more and get a bit healthier for our baby's sake. It's better for the little one." He opened the lunch box, but the smell made Liliana's throat uneasy, and her stomach turned.Keith noticed her discomfort right away and came closer, full of concern. "Liliana, what's wrong? Are you feeling sick?"After a moment of queasiness, Liliana grabbed Keith's hand to steady herself. "I'm okay. I just felt a little sick
"Sean has always seen me as a sister. My last name is Hoffman, but I'm not really part of the family. I'm just a Hoffman by name, and the Hoffmans... Well, they're not really my family."When I was little, kids made fun of me because of where I came from. They bullied me at school. But Sean was my hero and stood up for me. It's kind of funny, isn't it? He was just trying to help, and I went and fell head over heels for him. I knew he thought of me as a sister, but I couldn't help wishing for more."Sean's mom never liked me. I figured that out pretty quick. I kept telling myself to stop liking Sean, but you can't always choose how you feel."When I was sixteen, a big mix-up led to Sean and me... Well, we got really close. After that, things got awkward between us. We only started to patch things up recently, but then..." Liliana's mind flashed back to that day in Cascade City, and she balled her hands into fists. "Keith, am I a bad person?""Don't talk like that, Liliana!"Keith
Savannah's face was twisted with displeasure. She stared at the young man who had appeared out of nowhere and saw how gently he cared for Liliana. His words had just metaphorically slapped her in the face.Savannah came from a respected family of scholars and was always admired. She could not believe someone would talk to her like that, especially not with the Smith family's reputation in Brookville.However, this young man was standing up to her for Liliana's sake. Savannah's chest rose and fell with her breath, a clear sign of her anger.Watching Savannah's reaction, Liliana knew Keith had made her mad. However, Savannah was too proud to lose her cool in public.Being stuck in bed was not helping anyone, so Liliana decided to get up. However, as soon as she threw off her blankets, Keith gently pushed her back down. "You're still not well. Stay put," he said with concern.Liliana gave Keith a grateful look. She knew he was just worried about her. Turning to Savannah, she said, "I
"How dare you!"Savannah was caught off guard. She never expected Liliana, who always seemed so sweet and frail, to speak up so boldly. It left her not knowing what to do next.She was not sure if the baby Liliana was carrying was Sean's. However, after hearing rumors about Liliana and Sean, Savannah had rushed to the hospital to dig up Liliana's medical records, and there it was—Liliana's report.Sean was so worried when Liliana had her accident. That was why Savannah was convinced there was something between them.She was determined to stop whatever was going on between Liliana and Sean. If Liliana would just listen, Savannah was willing to let bygones be bygones and have her end the pregnancy. However, if Liliana would not play along, Savannah knew she would have to find another way to keep her away from Sean.Savannah had run through every possible scenario in her mind on her way over, but she had not expected Liliana to stand her ground so fiercely, especially not when it cam
"Ma'am, what brings you here?"Liliana had a hunch that Savannah's visit was not coincidental. Central City Hospital was not the kind of place Savannah frequented.If she was ill, she could have visited Sean's hospital or asked Sean to come and see her. There was no reason for her to come to this hospital that was out of her way.Savannah had come straight to her ward, which made Liliana suspect something. Still, she kept her cool.After a few days in the hospital, Liliana was feeling much better. She could not take medicine, so she had been healing by eating healthy foods, and it showed.Keith was working all day and looking after her at night, which was wearing him out. Liliana had just told him to take a break when, by chance, Savannah showed up.Savannah kept a watchful eye on Liliana. It had been ages since she last saw her, and back then, Liliana was just a kid. She had grown up, but her face still held onto that kid-like innocence. Today, though, something about her seemed
"Ms. Savannah, do you know Liliana?" Joanna could tell from Savannah's reaction that she must know Liliana. Her eyes grew more intense. "It looks like Sean really is Liliana's boyfriend."Savannah always frowned when she talked about Liliana. "She's not right for Sean," she would say with a huff. It was not that Liliana was mean or anything. Actually, it was the opposite—she was too nice. However, Savannah had never liked her, right from the start.When Sean was just a little kid, Savannah met Liliana. She was quiet and kept to herself, not really liking to be around people much. However, she always listened to Sean and stuck close to him.Savannah did not have a big problem with Liliana. She just did not like her and thought she was not the right girl for Sean.Liliana was part of the Hoffman family, but even after all these years, they never really accepted her. Even though Charles from the family was kind to her, she was still seen as someone who should not be talked about, like