Ronald shook his head quickly. "Nope. I'm all done with my report!"Charles gave Ronald a look, and Ronald clamped his mouth shut, then blurted out, "Oh, I just remembered. I've got something else to do, Mr. Hoffman, Madam. I'll be on my way!""Um..." Noelle, noticing Ronald's rush, felt a bit puzzled. "I've cooked some food, Ronald. You can eat before you leave!"Ronald stopped for a second, feeling sharp eyes on him. He straightened up and let out a goofy laugh. "Madam, you're too kind, but I really have to run. I've got some urgent things to handle. Enjoy your dinner. I won't keep you!"Watching Ronald zoom off, Noelle paused, then turned to Charles and bit her lip. "Why did he rush off like that? Did you give him something urgent to do?"Charles narrowed his eyes in thought, then stood up and waved Noelle over. "What's up?" Noelle asked as she came closer. She glanced at the papers on the desk and raised her eyebrows. "Is this Winter's contract?"He nodded and handed her the
Samuel had been in the hospital for a week. Noelle visited him whenever she had the chance. Ever since Samuel learned about Noelle's marriage, he could not wait to meet her husband. The anticipation seemed to speed up his recovery.Noelle had not been back to Frotconn since. She spent her days either at Phoenix Tree Residence or by Samuel's side in the hospital. One day, she ran into Jade in the hospital. Jade was already fuming at the sight of Noelle, especially angry that she had not been able to find Noelle at her home recently. It made her itch with frustration.Jade stood in front of the ward’s door, her arms crossed. She did not let Noelle inside.Noelle tried to step around her, but Jade caught her arm. "Hey! Don't you know how to greet your own mother?"Noelle's eyebrows pinched together as she looked at her arm in Jade's grip. It hurt a little, and she pulled away. "Mom!" she said, her voice strong and clear. Anyone listening could tell Noelle was not happy with Jade.Jad
Noelle's face grimaced as she touched her slapped cheek, but she went to help Samuel. "Grandpa, you should be resting. Let me help you back to bed."Samuel waved his hand and gently patted Noelle's hand. "Don't worry, I'm fine. I've been feeling better for quite some time!" he assured her. Then, he turned to Jade with a stern look. "I gave those shares to Noelle. They're hers now, and she can do what she wants with them. If you want to talk about outsiders, you should consider how you’re disgracing the family now, not Noelle.""Dad, how can you say that?" Jade gasped in shock. "You know we would never give away City Ring Corp.'s shares to strangers!""Is that so?" Samuel scoffed. "It seems to me like that's exactly what you're planning to do. Don't think I don't know what's going on just because I'm old. You're not fooling me." His sharp gaze made Jade uneasy, but she quickly replied, "Julian, Winter, and I are all Shaw family members. Our shares would never go to outsiders. Noelle
"He does!" Noelle blushed a little as she saw Samuel finish his bowl and quickly got him another. "Drink up, Grandpa!"Samuel was touched by how thoughtful Noelle was. Suddenly, something crossed his mind, and he looked at her curiously. "You've been coming around a lot lately. Aren't you still working?"Noelle's gaze darted away, and she told Samuel all about what had happened at Frotconn. His eyes, which were usually calm, suddenly sparkled with anger. "That Joseph treats my Noelle so badly!""It's okay," Noelle reassured him. "Even before all this happened, I was thinking about quitting. Things with Xavier are so awkward now, and Winter can't stand me. I didn't want to stay at Frotconn, but I never thought they'd let me go first."Noelle sounded a bit sad. She had been at Frotconn since she graduated, and she and Xavier had been so happy together once. back then, they even planned out their future. Joseph had liked her then and had given the relationship his blessing.Noelle ne
Samuel paused, then broke into a smile. "You mentioned that last time!" He remembered Noelle telling him about the Royal Star Entertainment shares. "What I meant was...""Grandpa, don't worry. Charles is really good to me," Noelle told Samuel, signaling that she was okay. "He's not like Xavier. He's got everything he needs, and he definitely doesn't need any shares in City Ring Corp.!"Samuel's eyes twinkled, and he nodded. "I get it," he said. City Ring Corp. was tiny compared to the giant Collosus Group, and Samuel knew that well. "All I want is for you to be happy, Noelle. Sure, money and shares are just material items, but sometimes, they're pretty important!"Noelle nodded back. "I know what you mean—you want me to be safe and sound in the future! Charles told me that even though he has the shares, he won't use them. They're basically still mine." She grinned. "Actually, I got a better deal. I traded shares with him for Royal Star Entertainment, and he even gave me his shares.
"Noelle!" Xavier reached out suddenly, grabbing her arm. "Can't we just talk? Why are you always so mad at me? Don't you remember? Before this, we...""Before? I've forgotten the past," Noelle said, pulling away with a sarcastic tone. "Remember who you are, Mr. Harris. We're just brother-in-law and sister-in-law now. I'll handle Frotconn on my own. You don't need to worry about it.""Noelle," Xavier said through clenched teeth. "I told you about Winter. I don't love her. I...""It doesn't matter to me who you love, Xavier. You chose her, so just be good to her. Stop talking to me about it." Noelle was furious. She could not believe Xavier would be so shameless, telling her over and over that he did not love Winter.However, back then, she came back home to see him secretly promising himself to Winter at the Golden Oasis Hotel. What had he told her then? He had said that Winter was the one he had always loved and he had never had feelings for Noelle.Was he really claiming did not
Xavier saw them too, and his face turned pale.Noelle squinted her eyes. While Xavier was not looking, she dashed away and hopped into her car, leaving him coughing in a cloud of exhaust.Xavier tried to follow, but the sight of the flashing cameras made him clench his teeth in frustration, and he walked away quickly. The photographers, realizing they had been spotted, scrambled off.Meanwhile, Winter was studying a script when a package arrived for her. The downstairs servant brought it up, and she opened it, puzzled. However, her confusion turned to fury when she saw the photos inside.She grabbed the photos and tore them to shreds. "Noelle... You snake!"Winter shook with anger. "Xavier is mine, all mine!"Noelle felt she was still being followed, so she called Charles. She was still feeling sick from her encounter with Xavier, and her voice was sharp with irritation.Charles was in a meeting when he heard Noelle's special ringtone. His eyes narrowed for a moment.The other
Noelle was not really worried, but she thought it was important to let Charles know what was going on. Charles's words made her feel better. "I wasn't worried. I just wanted to keep you in the loop. I have no idea why they're following me!""Hmm," Charles murmured as he got back to his office and opened up his documents. Sure enough, there was an email with photos of Noelle and Xavier. The pictures were taken from such an angle that anyone who did not know better might think there was something going on between them.Charles tapped his fingers on the desk, a sharp look in his eyes. "I'll sort this out. Are you on your way back now?"Noelle was feeling down, so she was just wandering around. "No, there's nothing for me to do back home. Are you busy?" It hit her then that she might be interrupting Charles's work. He was always so busy, yet she was calling him at the office. "You know what? You should go back to work. We can talk after you're off."“No need for that." Charles chuckled
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
"Make sure to cooperate well with Dr. Ellison, alright?"Charles leaned down, planting a soft kiss on Noelle's forehead before stepping out with Sean. "What's going on?"Outside, Peter, Tania, and Brandon were waiting. Brandon kept peeking into the room, and his curious eyes were wide with concern. "Uncle Charles, what's wrong with Aunt Noelle?"Charles' expression softened immediately. He reached out to tousle Brandon's hair gently. "Aunt Noelle is fine. She's just feeling a little sick.""Oh, then Bran will give Aunt Noelle some candy. If Auntie eats candy, she won't hurt anymore," Brandon said with childlike earnestness, pulling a few candies from his small bag and handing them to Charles."Uncle Charles, give these to Aunt Noelle!""Alright."Charles accepted the candies, his gaze drifting back to the room. He watched through the window as Noelle cooperated with Margaret's examination. His chest felt unbearably tight with worry."Have you figured out what to do yet?""Wh
"Mm, you didn't cry," Noelle said with a faint smile.Her face was still pale, but it was clear she had passed the peak of her pain.She placed her hands gently on Charles' face, slowly pulling herself up. After finding a comfortable position, she leaned into him, her head nuzzling against his chest like a mother soothing her child.Her delicate fingers traced the contours of his face. "You didn't cry."Charles could not help but tremble slightly. Lowering his gaze, he found Noelle looking up at him. She cupped his face with both hands, her body leaning closer, and her forehead was lightly pressing against his.She rubbed against him gently. "You were just worried about me," she said softly. Then, she placed a gentle kiss at the corner of his mouth."Our Charlie is the best, the strongest. How could he cry? Crying is my job."Noelle's smile was so tender and warm that it seemed to melt the storm brewing in Charles' heart.He carefully wrapped her in his arms, brushing his face