Charles squinted, but he kept looking at Noelle as if he did not even notice Xavier standing there. Xavier felt awkward but did not know what to say.Noelle felt the tension in the air. "Mr. Hoffman, what brings you here?"Charles gave her a small smile. "I was just talking to Sir Shaw, and he mentioned you." He did not exactly answer her question, but Noelle got the hint. "You're friends with my Grandpa? He just called me to come over.""Really? Shall we go together?" Charles asked. Noelle nodded eagerly. "Yes, let's go!"As Noelle was about to leave, Xavier could not hide his disappointment. "Noelle!" he called out. "You said you'd talk to me!"Noelle's brow furrowed. She could not believe that even with Charles there, Xavier still would not back down.Charles's eyebrows pinched together a bit. He had a way of commanding the room without even changing his expression. When he heard what was going on, he looked straight at Xavier and said in an icy voice, "If I'm not mistaken, is
Noelle glanced at where Charles was holding her, then up at his slightly smiling face. "Feeling good?" Charles raised an eyebrow and looked down at her hand. Noelle thought to herself that Charles could be so weird sometimes. He had more mood swings than a girl!"Come on, Grandpa and Granddad must be waiting!" Charles said, taking Noelle by the hand and leading her to Samuel's room. He held her hand the whole way there. Noelle tried to pull away a few times, but he would not let go. "Nobody's going to see us here!"He gently touched Noelle's forehead. "What's there to worry about?"Noelle sighed, realizing she could not get away, and let Charles lead on.When they got to Samuel's room, Sebastian and Samuel were in the middle of a playful argument, neither backing down.Noelle laughed, and Sebastian and Samuel paused, looking a bit sheepish at the doorway where she and Charles stood.Seeing Grandpa and Granddad being so silly made Noelle secretly happy, though she tried not to s
Charles was Sebastian's student, and Sebastian trusted him completely. However, when it came to Noelle's happiness, he had to think about everything. "Sir Shaw is right," he said. "Until you two have your wedding, us old folks won't be able to relax!"Noelle shook her head, looking at Charles for help. However, Charles just looked back at her, his eyes asking for an answer. Noelle bit her lip, feeling overwhelmed."Grandpa, Granddad," Noelle had tried to explain this before. "Charles and I don't really need a big wedding. We...""Grandpa, Granddad!" Charles finally spoke up, not wanting to see Noelle struggle. He gently placed his hands over hers and said, "Noelle and I will have our wedding soon, and we'll make sure everyone knows she's my wife. However, before that, Noelle has some things to sort out. I'll help her with what I can, but there are some things she has to do on her own."Charles spoke with confidence, not too humble or too proud, even though he was talking to his eld
Winter had just gone to the restroom, and as it turned out, so had Xavier. She ended up seeing everything that happened there. The sight of Xavier still hung up on Noelle made Winter's heart ache, and she was about to confront him when someone grabbed her hand. Winter spun around, surprised to see Annie. "What are you doing, grabbing me like that?"Annie pulled Winter into a corner. Even though she had touched up her makeup, the scars on her face were still peeking through. Winter could not help but feel a shiver run down his spine.Annie saw the look on Winter's face and thought to herself that Winter was being silly, but she said, "What good will it do if you go up there now?" She glanced over again and saw Charles heading over. She took Winter's hand and led her away. "Today's your wedding to Xavier. If you cause a fuss now, you might end up becoming a laughingstock. You've just married Xavier. If you make a scene, it won't look good for the Harris family, will it?"Winter listen
"Why are you in such a hurry? Has Mom ever broken a promise to you?" Jade asked. "Is something bothering you?""I..." Winter angrily told her about what had just happened outside the bathroom, but she left out the part about Charles showing up. Jade's eyes sparkled with anger, and she clenched her fists. "That mean girl Noelle! She's too daring. We really need to show her who’s boss!""Yes, Mom, I agree. If we don't, Xavier will keep thinking about her now that she's single. Can you believe what Xavier said? He told me he'd cancel our wedding and marry Noelle if she agreed. Mom, they're not taking me seriously, nor you or the entire Shaw family.""Don't worry. I'll handle this quickly. For now, just focus on getting ready. No one can ruin your wedding." She was determined not to let that mean girl Noelle spoil her daughter's happiness.Jade had just stepped out of Winter's lounge when she grabbed her phone and made a call. "Hey, Yitty, has he arrived?"He's here, and that's wonder
"Stop the nonsense. I'm thinking of our Shaw family's future. Marrying into Charles's family is like joining one of Brookville's top four families. It's something many can only wish for!""It's still a no-go!" Jade said firmly, leaning in to whisper to Julian, "I've got someone else in mind for Noelle, and he's on his way.""Who's that?""The Smiths. They're also one of the top families. Remember the woman I saved back in my younger days?" Jade smiled. "That was Miss Yitty of the Smith family. I've heard she has a son. He’s a real enigma, and hardly anyone's seen him. Yitty owed me a favor for saving her.""You want to set Noelle up with Yitty's son?" Julian asked, his eyes lighting up with greed.It did not have to be Charles. Anyone who could lend a hand to the Shaw family was just as good. Julian nodded to himself, thinking. "Just make sure to keep an eye out later, and as for him...""Don't worry, I just spoke with Yitty on the phone," Jade assured him. "She said her son is d
The hall was bustling with guests. It seemed like everyone had made it.All eyes were on Noelle as she helped Samuel settle into a quiet corner, with Charles and Sebastian taking seats nearby. The unflappable Charles naturally became the center of attention, and by association, so did Noelle.Everyone was whispering about the girl who was helping Samuel. Some knew her and started whispering among themselves that Charles was sitting with Samuel and Sebastian. It looked like the two old men wanted to introduce her to Charles.Winter and Xavier walked up to them just in time to catch the whispers. They both gripped their glasses tighter, looking upset."Grandpa, Granddad, you made it!" Winter said, beaming as she took Xavier's hand. "Noelle, you're here too!"Samuel and Sebastian just nodded and did not say much. Winter stood next to Noelle, smiling wide. "I'm so glad you could come, Noelle." Then she looked at Charles. "And Charles is here too!"Noelle gave a tiny shiver, almost lo
Noelle poured a cup of coffee and handed it to Winter. "I haven't been feeling great, so I'll skip the wine. Sisters are supposed to stick together through thick and thin too, right? Let's have coffee instead!" Noelle lifted her cup. "Here's to my sister and brother-in-law. I wish you two a joyful marriage and a lifetime of happiness together! May you be blessed with children soon!"Noelle's voice was calm and sincere. She really was happy for Winter and Xavier.However, Winter could not shake off her discomfort. No matter what Noelle said, it felt like a jab to her. Clutching her cup, Winter stared at Noelle, trying to read between the lines of her calm expression.Noelle quirked an eyebrow. "Aren't you going to drink, Sis?"Winter lifted her head and sipped her coffee. "Thanks for the blessing, Little Sis. You gave me something you love, so I promise to keep it safe and sound. No one's going to steal it away."Noelle's frown showed she was not quite happy with what Winter said.
Liliana turned and saw Yankel looking at her. She felt a bit shy and brushed her hair aside. "Mr. Canfield, let's talk outside," she suggested.Yankel looked at Bobby, who was fast asleep, and nodded. "Okay!"Liliana saw that Yankel needed help, so she gently pushed him out of the room.They did not go far, just out to the hallway outside the hospital room.Liliana paused for a moment before looking at Yankel with a serious expression. "Have you noticed that Bobby seems really scared of Xenia?"Yankel's brow creased as he thought about how Bobby had acted in the hospital room. He stayed quiet."I'm not implying anything bad. I raised Bobby, and he's definitely not scared of me. Mr. Canfield, you saw for yourself that Bobby doesn't push you away," Liliana said, her point clear. There were only the three of them in the hospital room earlier—Bobby could not be afraid of Yankel or Liliana, which left only Xenia.Yankel's frown deepened. "That can't be right. She was the one who su
Once Xenia had left, Bobby, who had been so tense and frightened, finally let himself relax. Liliana watched Bobby with a hint of doubt, then glanced at Xenia walking away. Her brow stayed knitted with concern.Yankel had no idea what Liliana was pondering. He was just thrilled to have some alone time with his son. This boy was his and Samara's, their only child together. Now, Bobby was his sole focus in life. Yankel could not quite put into words the swirl of emotions he felt.Samara was gone, and Bobby was the last link he had to her.Yankel's eyes, deep and filled with warmth, rested on Bobby. Bobby might not have known Yankel well or felt comfortable around him yet, but he was starting to understand a lot more these days.Liliana had explained to him that Yankel was his real dad. She had gently told him that his real mom was in Heaven, a place of beauty.Bobby was not sure what Heaven was, but he thought it must be a really nice place. Liliana had told him that everyone would
Bobby spoke those two sentences in a very soft voice, leaning in close to Liliana's ear. Neither Yankel nor Xenia could hear him.Liliana's heart skipped a beat, and she looked at Yankel and Xenia with a worried look in her eyes.Yankel looked puzzled and a bit mad. Xenia, on the other hand, looked away when Liliana tried to catch her eye, so Liliana could not read her face.Turning back to Bobby, Liliana gently wiped the tears from his chubby cheeks and whispered, "I'm right here. I won't leave you." Then, she turned to Yankel and said, "Mr. Canfield, I'll just stay over here, okay? I promise I won't get in the way of your time with Bobby."Yankel was not happy about it, but he knew he did not have much choice with Bobby being so upset.Bobby was his son, but he had always been with Liliana. She had raised him. Trying to separate them then would probably make things worse.Yankel nodded. "Okay, but it might hold you up a bit."Liliana smiled. "It's no problem at all. It’s my jo
Sean's head was pounding, and his eyebrows twitched with frustration. "Linda, just go away," he said through clenched teeth."I'm going to tell the pretty girl that you're picking on me. What will you do then?" Linda taunted, sticking her tongue out at Sean before dashing off.As Sean watched Linda run away, his headache distracted him from his sour mood over Liliana's rejection.Bobby's surgery had gone really well. Afterward, Bobby and Yankel were taken to a room to rest. Bobby was just a kid, and the surgery had been a lot for him to handle. Liliana stayed right by his side, making sure he was okay.Next door to Bobby's room was Yankel's. Yankel often visited Bobby, and so did Xenia. Liliana could not help but notice that Xenia was pretty crafty. She did not like Bobby at all, but she sure knew how to act like she cared for him. She looked after Bobby so well that anyone who did not know better would think she was the sweetest person ever. However, Liliana knew better. She h
Sean nodded.Liliana's expression turned even more sour. "Even though this is your hospital, Mr. Smith, isn't it wrong for you to listen in on other people's conversations?"Sean's brow furrowed. "I didn't mean any harm, and you know it.""How would I know that?"As Liliana tried to leave, Sean reached out and caught her hand. "Liliana, you must realize that neither Yankel nor Xenia will just let things slide."Liliana scrunched her eyebrows. "And what about it?" She was not without means to handle them, even if Yankel would not back down."Did you ever stop to think about why Xenia is so set on having Bobby return?"Sean looked at her, causing Liliana to pause. "Maybe she's trying to win over Yankel?" she guessed. A scorned woman could do anything, much like Joanna had four years ago.With that thought, Liliana pulled her hand away. "But what's any of this got to do with you, Mr. Smith?"Sean's brow was deeply furrowed. "Liliana, you know I can help you with whatever you wa
In the end, it was Xenia who broke the silence. She looked directly at Liliana and said, "Ms. Hoffman, let's not beat about the bush. How much do you want in order to give up Bobby's custody to Yankel?"Liliana raised her eyebrows, clearly surprised by what Xenia said.Xenia felt uneasy under Liliana's gaze and frowned. "Ms. Hoffman?"Liliana snapped out of her thoughts. "Ms. Bennett, did you not investigate my background before coming here?""What do you mean by that?" Xenia's expression turned unpleasant.Liliana gave a small smile. "I mean, do you really think I'm short on money? Or do you think the Hoffmans can't afford to raise a child?"Xenia's expression shifted slightly at Liliana's words, her teeth sinking into her lower lip. "The Hoffmans…"Brookville's Hoffman family… How could Xenia not know about them? Even her own father had to show Charles some respect.Her father had once told her that if you wanted to survive in Brookville, there were two families you could not
"Liliana, I know the damage I caused is already done, and there's no way to take it back. I just wanted to say this while we're still young and while we still have time. I—" Sean continued."Enough!" Liliana's body trembled slightly. "It's too late, Sean. All of this is already too late."She took a deep breath, and her hands clenched into fists. Maybe it was because Bobby was beside her, but Liliana did not lose control of her emotions. Still, there were tears at the corners of her eyes.Tears gathered in her eyes, and soon, they slid silently down her cheeks. She gave a faint smile."Sean, when something's in the past, it's just that—the past. Regres no longer matter, and time doesn't go backward."You say you've loved me all along, but you didn't tell me. You didn't show it. If you had told me that four years ago, I never would've let your mother take me away. I never would've given Joanna the chance to hurt me."You ask about what could've been? I used to wonder that too. If
When Bobby heard that, his already soft and fair little face became even more adorable. His eyes sparkled with genuine delight."Yes, yes! Mr. Smith, you're so good-looking, and Mommy is beautiful too, so the baby you have together will definitely be beautiful!"Bobby squeezed his own chubby cheeks with his pudgy little hands, then propped his chin up with one hand and added proudly,"The baby will definitely be as good-looking as I am!""Yes, just as good-looking as you are, Bobby," Sean echoed with a smile in his eyes.He glanced at Liliana with a subtle look, only to find that though she was smiling, there was no warmth in her gaze—just coldness.Liliana held Bobby in her arms, her eyes fixed on Sean."Sorry about that. Bobby is still a child. He doesn't understand the meaning behind what he says. If he said anything that bothered you, I apologize on his behalf."With that, she turned and carried Bobby back into the hospital room.There was a fleeting shadow in Sean's eyes,
"Then Mommy, you and Mr. Smith should make me a little sister!"Bobby suddenly seemed to remember something. His big round eyes blinked rapidly while his chubby cheeks turned red. He looked unbearably cute."Mr. Smith?""Yeah, the man who wears white clothes every day! He comes to see me every day, tells me stories, and even plays games with me," he said, counting all the good things about the man in white on his little fingers.Liliana gently held Bobby's small hand. "Bobby, I can't.""Why not? But I really like Mr. Smith," Bobby pouted. He was still too young to understand adult relationships—he simply knew that the man in white treated him well, so naturally, he wanted him to be with his mommy."You don't even know who he is, and you want me to have a baby with him?" Liliana could not help but laugh at how adorable her son was. "Bobby, listen—only a husband and wife can get married and have a baby. Got it?"Bobby nodded, kind of understanding. "Then Mommy, you should marry Mr