"Wow, even when you insult me, you're adorable!" Linda exclaimed.Tania, Peter, and even Brandon were utterly speechless.The collective thought of the three was, 'This girl must have a few screws loose!'Tania was the first to recover, coughing lightly to break the awkwardness. "Um, the food is ready. Everyone must be hungry. Let's eat!"She asked Zara to clear the chessboard. At that moment, Jeremy came downstairs, saying, "Mr. Lennon, if there's nothing else, I'll take my leave now.""Wait!" Tania called out, stopping him. "Sit down and eat with us!"Jeremy looked startled, glancing between Tania and Peter. "That doesn't seem appropriate, Mrs. Lennon.""If she said sit, just sit," Peter interjected.With Peter's approval, Jeremy stopped hesitating. Zara quickly added another set of cutlery, and Jeremy joined them at the table."This is so delicious!" Linda exclaimed loudly. She had a habit of reacting in an exaggerated manner, something the family initially struggled to get
Peter glanced behind Brandon's ears and confirmed the faint patches were there as well. "Ms. Holt, your observational skills are impressive."Linda scratched her head sheepishly. "Hehe! Honestly, I was just guessing. I wasn't entirely sure. So, Master, are you saying the patients aren't your wife and child?"Peter nodded. "They are. But there's another patient I'd like you to examine as well. Her condition is more serious."Peter brought Tania and Linda along to the hospital, where Charles and Sean were already waiting. They had been informed of their arrival.After they got out of the car, Peter casually hoisted Brandon over his shoulder while Tania stepped down beside him. Linda trailed behind, her mouth agape and her expression brimming with excitement. "Wow, master, you're so cool!"Tania smiled wryly at Linda's enthusiasm. "Ms. Holt, are you always this... straightforward?"Linda beamed. "My goddess, you're so beautiful too!"Tania could not help but shake her head. "You ca
Noelle looked slightly taken aback and turned her gaze to Charles, then to the group that had entered the ward."Peter's here, and so is Tania!"She smiled and put down her book.Tania quickly walked over. "Noelle, this is Linda Holt, the miracle doctor Pete brought!"Tania had already witnessed Linda's skills before arriving. Linda had only given Tania a couple of acupuncture treatments, and the dark patches behind her ears had lightened significantly. Tania even felt her body improving noticeably.Though Linda was young, her reputation as a prodigy from a prestigious medical family was not unwarranted.A miracle doctor?Charles' eyes narrowed as he glanced at Peter, who gave a small nod. "She's Saxon's sister."Linda directed her gaze toward Noelle, her expression serious as she circled around her twice. Her eyes never left Noelle, but she suddenly pouted."Strange. You've been infected with the virus, but your condition is so much better than the others!""Better?" Noelle
Linda administered acupuncture to Noelle and prepared a prescription for a herbal remedy meant for pregnant women.However, Charles remained cautious and called for Margaret to evaluate it as well. Since Margaret practiced normal medicine and Linda's prescription was based on alternative medicine, Margaret hesitated.She looked at Charles apologetically. "Mr. Hoffman, I'm sorry, but alternative medicine isn't my area of expertise."Linda pouted at them. "Relax, I wouldn't harm her. Since you're friends of my benefactor, I'd never do anything to hurt her."Linda understood that her young age naturally made others question her medical abilities.However, if anyone else dared doubt her skills, Linda would not hesitate to poke them with needles. However, seeing the attractive people in the ward, she held back. After all, everyone here was so good-looking.Unaware of Linda's inner thoughts, Charles squinted and glanced at Peter, who nodded subtly. Only then did Charles hand the prescr
Although Charles did not know exactly who Yves was, being associated with the Hoffmans suggested they shared some similarities in behavior and methods.Since Charles had the confidence to use Kelly as a move against Yves, he had already considered numerous possibilities."My people are monitoring the area around Caspian Villas. Kelly's signal was last located there," Charles said as he stood by the window, gazing at the flickering city lights.For once, his demeanor seemed subdued. "This might be the final confrontation, but bringing Tania into this..."He rubbed his temples in frustration."They came prepared, so it's something we couldn't have predicted," Peter said as he stood, placing a reassuring hand on Charles' shoulder. "He won't stay in the shadows for long."…Meanwhile, in the car heading back to the Lennon residence, Jeremy drove while Tania sat in the back seat, cradling Brandon.Beside her was Linda, the young girl who, despite looking tired, was bubbling with ene
Peter immediately left with Sean."Sean, you're driving!" Peter tossed the car keys to Sean, climbed into the passenger seat, and quickly opened his laptop to track Tania's phone.He made a call to both Lareal and Steven. "Steven, I'm sending you Tania's location—she's in danger!"Steven, who was about to go to bed at the villa, froze when he received Peter's message. He squinted, grabbed a jacket, and headed out. A capable-looking woman followed closely behind him."Mr. Fischer!"Steven paused and glanced at her. "Didn't I tell you to stay in Cascade City and keep an eye on Eloise?""Sir, Eloise—" the woman started, but before she could finish, Eloise herself appeared from the side."Sir," Eloise greeted calmly.The instant Steven saw her, his expression darkened, becoming almost menacing. "What are you doing here?"Eloise's demeanor remained steady. "I came to see if there's anything I can help with."She said this as she looked directly at Steven and then at the woman behi
Although Tania was terrified, she did not let it show. She merely shook her head and said firmly, "Jeremy, focus on driving. Don't worry about me and Linda. We'll take care of ourselves." Despite her calm words, her eyes stayed glued to her phone.She knew she could not afford to panic or add to Peter's stress. Holding Brandon tightly in her arms, she whispered reassuringly, "Brandon, don't be scared. I'm here!"Peter, who was listening to Tania through the phone, clenched his jaw with bloodshot eyes. "Sean, drive faster!"Sean stepped harder on the gas pedal. Something occurred to him, and he quickly called Charles. "Charles, I haven't had time to keep an eye on Liliana. If this attack is really targeting the Hoffmans, Liliana might—""I'll take care of it," Charles interrupted. He had already assigned people to protect Liliana, but Sean's call made him tighten security.He immediately dialed Ronald's number. "Who's currently assigned to Liliana?""It's… Raymond, Mr. Hoffman,"
The car was hit hard, producing two loud bangs. "Mrs. Lennon, are you alright?" Jeremy asked."I'm fine!" Tania gritted her teeth as she felt the pain from the heavy impact. "Brandon, I'm here. Don't worry."Brandon remained calm throughout the ordeal. He was not unafraid, but he stayed quiet to avoid worrying Tania.Jeremy reversed the car slightly and tried to accelerate forward again. However, the vehicles behind them were relentless, pursuing them closely until Jeremy's car was eventually surrounded.Jeremy's face turned pale. "Mrs. Lennon, stay in the car. Don't get out. I'll—"Before he could finish, a gunshot echoed. Jeremy quickly shielded Tania and Brandon, urging them to duck.Meanwhile, Peter and Steven's car had arrived. Seeing Jeremy's car surrounded, Peter immediately raised his gun and fired.His movements were swift and precise, shooting at the enemy vehicles and killing several attackers instantly. The remaining men exited their vehicles and advanced toward Ta
"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