"Hey, come over here and see me," Noelle said, waving them over to sit down. Peter had taken Sean and Charles outside, leaving Tania feeling relieved and at ease. She sat down with Bran next to Noelle and asked, "So, Kelly knows what's going on with you too?"Noelle nodded. "Yes, she does. That's why she didn't just come to visit."Tania nodded, understanding. She glanced at Noelle's belly, her eyes filled with concern and a bit of worry.Noelle caught the look and reassured her with a smile. "I'm not too worried, you know. You've been okay for three years now."Tania's smile faded a little. She kept to herself that she had not had any problems because she had not faced any triggers. However, Noelle had faced something that set off her condition last time, which was why she got sick so quickly."Right, then it should all be fine. I think my brother just wants to make sure you're okay by having you in the hospital. So, you might as well make the most of it and get him to spoil you
Peter left the next morning, bright and early. Tania knew where he was headed, but she could not shake off a feeling of unease.Before he left, Peter had a serious talk with Charles. Tania knew things were serious, even though Peter and Charles had not told her everything.Charles had a lot on his plate, looking after both Noelle and Collosus Group. Lately, Collosus Group had been rocked by chaos, from outside attacks to internal strife. Charles realized that was not like the minor troubles of the past. The enemy had come prepared, secretly placing many of their own inside Collosus Group. If Steven had not led a team to breach the enemy's firewall and uncover some clues, Charles might have been clueless about the infiltration.Worried that Tania might be in danger, Charles decided to place her and Bran under the protection of the Hoffman family.The Hoffman estate might not look like much from the outside, but Maxwell had been busy over the years, gathering a strong team of guards.
"No need. Where was the secret Lifebringer seen two days ago? Email me all the details, and get a high-performance car ready." Peter got into the car after speaking. Jeremy was shocked for a second, then hurried to follow, taking the seat next to the driver. "Mr. Lennon, I'm on it right now!"Half an hour had passed, and Jeremy had emailed all the details about the secret Lifebringer to Peter. Meanwhile, Peter's team had quickly arranged for a rugged Hummer to be at his disposal. "Mr. Lennon, is this to your liking?" they asked.Without even a sideways glance at Jeremy, Peter hopped into the vehicle and clicked his seatbelt into place. "Get everyone on it right away. Search every nook and cranny, and keep in touch with me non-stop by phone," he instructed.Just as Peter was about to zoom off, Jeremy called out, "Mr. Lennon, shouldn't you bring some backup? It's been pretty dangerous in Francoria lately."Peter shook his head. "No need. More people just means more problems." He was
Noelle could not shake the feeling that something was wrong. Lately, when Kelly visited, she seemed troubled. Thinking back on their recent conversations, Noelle grew increasingly worried. As she burst through the door, her heart raced. She wanted to stop what was happening, but it was too late.The moment Noelle entered, Kelly had already grabbed the syringe from Sean and jabbed it into her arm, pushing the medicine in with a quick thrust.Kelly's face was pale, and when she saw Noelle, she tried to smile. "Noelle, what are you doing here?""What are you doing?"Noelle grabbed the syringe from Kelly, but it was too late. The medicine was already in.With tears in her eyes, Noelle bit her lip hard. "Why did you have to do this?""What did I do wrong?" Kelly noticed Noelle's teary eyes and chuckled softly. "I just felt a little sick, so Sean gave me a shot. Why the tears?""You're still trying to trick me. It can't just be a shot, you..." Noelle felt like they were all treating h
"Aren't you just being careless?" Kelly helped Noelle into her room, her voice full of concern. "You're young and look healthy now, but when you get older, you'll see that your body can't handle the way you've been treating it!"Noelle laughed. "You talk like you're so experienced, but you're only a year older than me, right?"Kelly blushed a little, feeling awkward. "I'm still your older sister.""Yes." Noelle did not want to bicker with Kelly. "Anyway, where's Seth?"Kelly was at the Hoffmans', where Seth was having a blast playing with Bran. Her face lit up as she talked about Seth. It was clear Kelly adored him. "Seth hardly ever finds friends his own age, but he and Bran get along great!"Kelly always had more to say about Seth. "Tania's done an amazing job raising Bran on her own.""Yeah!" Noelle agreed, giving a nod. "Tania really went through a lot at first." She reached out and held Kelly's hand. "It's been tough for you too, raising Seth by yourself, hasn't it?"Kelly
After hopping into the car, Kelly noticed that Ronald was unusually silent, not uttering a single word.Kelly did not know Ronald super well, but she knew enough to sense that something was off. "Mr. Wells, where's the toy Charles told you to pick up for me? Seth's been waiting for his Transformers set!"The man in front jerked in surprise, then said, "Oh, I'm terribly sorry. I was so focused on picking you up that I forgot. How about I get it tomorrow?"The man who was supposed to be Ronald eyed Kelly cautiously, and she did the same to him. When he finally answered her question, Kelly's forehead creased with worry. "Mr. Wells, could you pull over at..." She scanned the surroundings. "There's a mall right across the street. Let's stop there so I can grab a present for Seth. I haven't seen him all day, and I bet he'll be upset if I come back empty-handed!"Kelly's request made sense, but the man hesitated for quite a while. "You know things aren't safe right now. We still don't hav
"Ha!" Kelly gave a dismissive laugh and brushed off the man's words. "You think I'd believe you?" She would not believe it for a second. "If he really cared about me, would he have let me wander alone for years? Stop the car. I don't want to see him.""Sorry, but my job is to take you back home, Ms. Anderson!" The man would not listen to Kelly. "Ms. Anderson, just hold on. We'll be there soon."Kelly stopped struggling because she knew that this man would not let her go no matter what she said.Kelly did not know what was happening, but after a bit, she felt weak, and her head spun. Before she knew it, she was fast asleep. The man in the front seat peeked back, took the cloth from her face, and saw Kelly sleeping peacefully. He started the car and drove off.Ronald was hiding outside the hospital. He saw Kelly get into the car and quickly called Charles. "Mr. Hoffman, it happened just like you said. That guy couldn't wait and pretended to be me to take Ms. Anderson."Charles was b
Jethro saw Kelly wake up, her eyes sharply staring at him, showing no sign of recognition, as if she had never met him. If it were not for the icy hate in her eyes, he might have thought Kelly did not know him at all."Kelly!""Be quiet!" Kelly yelled, cutting him off, "You can't call me by my name."Jethro's brow creased, his gaze from behind the mask still fixed on Kelly.He had to admit Noelle and Kelly could almost be twins. The last time he saw Noelle, he thought she was Kelly. If Noelle had not acted so differently from Kelly, he might have mixed them up for real.Noelle was super relaxed, just like someone else he knew. Kelly was not like that. Although she was older than Noelle, she did not stay composed like her. Even when Noelle was scared, she kept her composure around him.That's how he knew Noelle was not Kelly. Kelly acted shy sometimes, which did not really fit who she was.He watched Kelly and could not help but reach out, but she smacked my hand away. She gave h
"Your mom is a homewrecker, a vixen who destroys other people's families.""You're the daughter of a mistress. My mom says you're an illegitimate child!""We don't want to play with you! My mom says no one wants you because you're just a bastard!""Go away! We don't want to play with someone as dirty as you!"…"Mommy, Mommy, why don't you want me?"Liliana felt so cold.It was her first winter in Brookville after coming from the misty waters of Jacksonville, and the chill seeped deep into her bones.The Hoffman residence was enormous, yet Liliana still felt cold—not just from the weather but from the people. Their gazes were cold and indifferent. Even at school, the way those elite students looked at her was filled with mockery.She was only five when her mother brought her to this bustling metropolis, leading her straight to this grand yet icy mansion.The people here were dressed elegantly, so dazzling that it was impossible to look away. However, when they looked at her a
Even though she loved him deeply now, Noelle still felt as if a part of her memory was missing. It seemed unfair to Charles.Charles simply smiled, lowering his head to place a gentle kiss on the corner of her lips."Alright. Whatever you want to know, I'll tell you." He agreed, his tone warm and unwavering. "But before that, I think we have something more important to do.""What is it?" Noelle looked up at him, her eyes shimmering with a misty glow that made Charles' heart ripple."Our wedding night, of course, Mrs. Hoffman."Noelle's face turned bright red in an instant. "But… we're in a hotel, not Phoenix Tree Residence!""It doesn't matter where we are. As long as I have you, that's all that matters."Tonight, every word Charles spoke was as if dipped in honey, making Noelle's heart race. She stole a shy glance at him. "But… my brother and the others are still outside—""Forget about them."Without another word, Charles scooped her up and carried her straight to the bed, b
"Charlie, I forgot about you. Tell me the truth—are you angry?"Charles sighed. "No, how could I ever be angry with you?"He reached out and gently tucked a strand of Noelle's hair behind her ear. Seeing the seriousness in her eyes, he let out a soft chuckle. "Even if you never remember me for the rest of your life, I still wouldn't be angry.""Really?"Charles nodded.Noelle hesitated for a moment, then mustered the courage to look straight at him. "Charlie… if—just hypothetically—if things between me and Xavier had never gone wrong… If Winter never came between us and I was still with Xavier… What would you have done? Would you have just watched me get engaged to him? Marry him? And then—"Before she could finish, Charles pressed a finger against her lips, silencing her.Noelle blinked and saw that his gaze had deepened. He wrapped his arms tightly around her waist."No. That would never happen," he said firmly. The very thought of her with someone else, marrying someone else
The moment Noelle finished speaking, the world seemed to fall silent.Charles' lips curved into a faint smile, his eyes glinting with amusement. Yet if one looked closely, there was a serious intensity in his gaze as he fixed it on Noelle. "Hmm? What did my wife just say?"Noelle shot him a sharp glare. "I don't care. Whatever it is, you're not allowed to read it. Give it back!"She pouted, her expression just as serious and determined.Charles raised an eyebrow, surprised by how adamant she was.Though curiosity tugged at him, he would not force her if she felt so strongly about it. "Alright, I won't read it."Hearing this, Noelle exhaled in relief and reached out her hand. "Then give it back."Charles' eyes glimmered with amusement. "I promise I won't read it now, but I'll wait for the day you show it to me yourself."After saying that, he placed the diary into Noelle's hand. Instead of letting her go, however, he pulled her into an embrace as if he wanted to merge her into h
So, that was why the name felt so familiar—because Noelle had known Charles since she was a child.No wonder, the first time she met him, his gaze had seemed to pierce right through her as if he were looking for someone else. Had he been looking at her all along?Noelle reached up and touched her own face, realization washing over her. The memories she had lost all this time… They were about Charles?Her emotions swelled uncontrollably. Moving carefully, she knelt before him, her gaze fixed intently on his face. She compared his features to the descriptions she had recorded in her diary.With a trembling hand, she reached out, stopping just shy of touching his cheek.She simply watched him, quietly, taking in his features. They were so similar to the ones she had once described in her diary. A sudden chuckle escaped her lips.Even though she still could not recall the details of how they had met, she could tell from her own words just how much she must have liked him back then. O
Noelle smiled softly. "It's nothing. He probably just drank too much."Tania handed her a cup. "Here's some honey water. Let my brother drink some later."She paused for a moment before adding, "Don't worry about Ice and Glitter. Peter and I will take care of them.""Thank you, Tania." Noelle had indeed been worrying about the babies.The adults could stay up celebrating, but Connor and Nora were only two months old. They needed rest."It's nothing," Tania reassured her. "This is such a big day for you two. Don't worry, we'll take good care of the kids. Most of the guests have already left, and Grandpa and the others have gone home too."Noelle nodded. "What about you?""Peter and I will take Bran home soon, but we'll stop by Phoenix Tree Residence first to check on the babies.""Alright.""Just stay here and rest for now. Sean and the others are still partying pretty hard. I doubt they'll be leaving anytime soon."After Tania left, Noelle tested the temperature of the honey
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