"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
Jacob flashed a quick smile, shook Noelle's hand, and then let go. "Sorry if I wasn't the best host. Hope you'll let it slide, Mr. Hoffman!""Mr. Jacob York, you're too kind," Charles said. He did not seem to be close friends with Jacob, and their chat quickly fizzled out.Jacob was the star of the show at Jeanette's birthday party. He was the one running the York family's business and taking care of family stuff nowadays. Even though Matthias and Simon were also York kids, Jacob, the oldest, was the golden boy.Jeanette wanted to show off Jacob as the next leader of the York family, so he was super busy the whole party.After a quick hello to Charles, Jacob took off. Noelle pulled on Charles's sleeve. "I don't like him.""Hmm?" Charles looked at her, amused. "So, which of the Yorks do you like?"Noelle made a face. "I'm serious!" Jacob might have looked like the perfect gentleman, but Noelle could not shake the feeling that he was hiding something dangerous.Charles was spot on
Charles's gaze shifted away from Jacob, and he wrapped his arm around Noelle, almost as if he was making a statement. Noelle, feeling a bit trapped, tugged at Charles's sleeve. "Let's go," she said."Okay!" Charles nodded, and Ronald brought over the gift. Charles said goodbye to Jeanette, and the old lady looked sad to see Charles and Noelle go. "You're leaving already?""Noelle isn't feeling well, so we’d better not stay any longer. We'll come by for another visit soon!"After Charles explained, Jeanette did not push them to stay. She took off a bracelet from her wrist and held Noelle's hand. "Charles's wife, I'm so happy to meet you for the first time. I don't have much to give, but I'd like you to have this jade bracelet!""Oh, I couldn't possibly take this!" Noelle was surprised and tried to decline. However, Jacob raised an eyebrow and gave a small smile. "Mrs. Hoffman, if my grandma wants you to have it, you should accept it. She doesn't just give things away, she must reall
After Noelle said this, Charles could not help but furrow his brows. Jacob's and Jeanette's behavior did seem strange.Initially, he thought Simon was peculiar enough, but it appeared the York family had more unusual characters besides him.Seeing Charles' contemplative expression, Noelle knew he was giving it serious thought. "Never mind. We don't have much to do with the Yorks anyway!"Charles nodded. "Let's get in the car."When they returned home, Nancy was surprised to see them back so early. "I thought you young folks would spend more time socializing!""There were too many people, and Charlie was worried I'd get tired, so we came back early," Noelle explained while holding Nancy's hand."Aunt Nancy, why haven't you gone to bed yet?""I was concerned about you two, so I stayed up," Nancy replied. Her gaze fell on the bracelet on Noelle's wrist. "What's this?"Noelle tugged at her lips and pointed at the bracelet. "Mrs. Elmore insisted on giving it to me, saying it was a w
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