Noelle was visibly taken aback by Jade's request. Winter had just left, and now, Jade had arrived. If Noelle still did not understand their intentions after all these years, then she would have lived her twenty-some years in vain.Noelle gazed at Jade with eyes that seemed to say a lot without speaking a word. Jade felt a weird twinge of guilt when Noelle looked at her like that, but she shook it off quickly. She glanced around at everyone and said, "Noelle, it's been ages since mom last saw you. What's the matter? Don't you want to talk to me even a little bit?"Inside, Noelle just laughed calmly. She thought Jade was pretty good at pretending—she wondered if Jade had learned that from Winter, or if it was the other way around. Noelle did not let anything show on her face, though. She just sat there, silent.Jade was annoyed on the inside, but with Samuel, Sebastian, and Charles there, she did not think it was a good idea to get mad at Noelle. So, she smiled and said, "Noelle, Mom'
Jade would not pass up such a chance and quickly agreed. She had been trying to figure out how to send Noelle away, but Noelle had agreed all on her own. Jade's face broke into a relieved smile. "Alright, come with me!"She held Noelle's hand tightly, as if worried she might back out. Noelle felt a chill and tried to pull away, but Jade's grip was firm. "Dad, Grandpa, I'll take Noelle now!"Noelle added, "Granddad, Grandpa, I'll go with Mom for a bit and come back later!" She gave Charles another look. "Mr. Hoffman, see you later!""Goodbye, Ms. Shaw!" Charles's voice was clear and cheerful.Jade was determined to take Noelle away and did not even notice Charles's gaze turn icy when she grabbed Noelle's hand. If Noelle had not called out to him, he would probably still look as scary as before.Jade pulled Noelle out of the banquet hall and into the hallway. Suddenly, she let go of Noelle's hand, and her face grew stern. "When I called you over, you brushed me off, didn't you? I'm
Noelle's lips were pressed tightly together, her determination clear. "If those people want to marry him, they can go ahead. But I won't marry him, not in a million years!""Could you repeat that?""Madam Shaw?"Out of nowhere, a voice that sounded a bit familiar cut through Jade and Noelle's argument. Jade paused, shooting Noelle a sharp look. "You’d better watch how you talk to me!" Then, with a smile, she asked, "Is that Yitty's kid, Bob?"Noelle blinked, confused. She saw Jade smiling warmly at someone behind her. With a slight frown, she turned around. When she saw the man standing there, her mouth twitched.He was dressed in a light brown suit that fit him perfectly, making him look very handsome. The man wore a polite smile, looking relaxed but also giving off a vibe of someone important.If Noelle did not know him, she might have been fooled by his looks.With a mix of feelings playing across her face, Noelle looked at the man and started to say, "You...""Hello, I'm Bo
Noelle had an ‘aha!’ moment. Sean and Bob were related. That was why Charles had figured it out earlier."But if Bob is your cousin, how come..." Noelle was still a bit confused. She had not heard the name Bob around Brookville. If he was someone important, she thought she would have known about him.Sean smiled and gestured for her to sit. "Noelle, have a seat!" He seemed totally at ease as he made her a cup of coffee. "He's my aunt's son, and he’s actually named Andy. You've probably heard of him. My aunt married into the Jones family in Cascade City a long time ago, and my cousin is the heir to the Jones family."Noelle understood a little bit. "Andy? So why does everyone call him Bob?" She was still puzzled.Sean continued, "That's an old story. My aunt cut ties with the Jones family a long time ago. My cousin visits every year, and everyone calls him Andy there. But you know how it is with us Smiths—if I don't take charge, then it falls to my cousin. Grandpa was so set on him
Sean smirked, raising an eyebrow. "Noelle, if I'm not mistaken, didn't your sister book this entire floor?"Noelle's cheeks turned pink as she caught the playful glint in Sean's eyes. She had heard the sounds too, and she was not a clueless kid. She knew exactly what those noises meant, and it made her feel second-hand embarrassment.She wanted to get out of there fast, but the sounds only got louder, making her ears feel like they were on fire. "Um...""Shh!" Sean whispered, putting his finger to his lips. "Don't you want to check out the show?""No way!" Noelle shook her head. "Let's get out of here!" They could not just stand around and listen to that. However, a loud cry pierced the air, "Xavier, harder!"Noelle's heart skipped a beat. She had no feelings for Xavier anymore, but hearing that voice during such an intimate moment was just too much. It was awkward, and there was a weird feeling she could not quite name inside her chest.Sean heard it too and looked at Noelle wit
Rowena and Teresa looked at Noelle again and gave her a little wink. Noelle caught their eyes and gave them a quick smile. Sean even gave Rowena a cheeky grin.Rowena felt a shiver and rubbed her arms. "Ugh, I can't stand him. He's such a pain!"Teresa laughed and said, "He didn't even do anything to you. Why are you always so bothered by him?"Rowena pouted and huffed, "I just don't like him. Why is Noelle hanging out with him?"Noelle came over with Sean. "Grandpa, Granddad, this is Sean, Mr. Smith. Mr. Smith, this is my Grandpa, and this is my Granddad!" She introduced them one by one. When she got to Charles, she paused. "And this is Charles, my husband!"Charles's fingers trembled ever so slightly as he held his coffee cup. Noelle's voice was a quiet murmur, barely audible to just their little group, but it filled Charles's heart with a rush of happiness.He looked up, his dark eyes sparkling with a light so bright it seemed to dim everything else around.With a soft smile,
Sean squinted and silently praised Charles. Lately, Charles had really been turning on the charm. He was even flirting with Noelle right in front of everyone. He faked a couple of coughs and tapped on the table. "Hey, you two, keep it classy!"Charles smirked. "Oh? Got a problem with it?"Sean made a face. "Nah, that's not it. But I've got something cool to show you!" Sean tried to sit next to Charles and casually put his arm around him, but Charles brushed him off and gave him an icy look. Sean awkwardly dropped his arm and laughed it off. "Oops, my bad. I forgot!"At the table sat some pretty impressive people, and everyone was eager to meet someone as important as Charles. However, Charles had a way of making it clear he was not too keen on meeting new people. After seeing how Charles reacted to Sean, nobody felt brave enough to go up to him. They just watched from afar.Noelle was chatting with Samuel and Sebastian. The two older men did not seem to care much for the party. The
"You mentioned earlier that you had something to show me?" Charles interrupted Sean. "Give it to me."Sean flashed a harmless smile, but it gave off a strange vibe, one that made Noelle and Rowena feel like it was insidious and sly.Sean handed Charles the video he had just recorded in the lounge. "When I went to see Noelle earlier, I stumbled upon quite the show. Take a look for yourself—it's quite entertaining!"Charles glanced at the video and then looked at Sean, asking, "Did she see it?"Sensing a gaze on her, Noelle looked up and found herself staring into Charles' deep, stormy eyes. She gave him a puzzled look, silently mouthing, "What's wrong?"Charles withdrew his gaze and focused on Sean's face, pressing him, "Well?""Of course not! Do you think I'm that kind of person? Rest assured, Noelle definitely didn't see it. I made sure she left the room first," Sean assured Charles. "I swear, there's no way I'd let Noelle see something like this! I just filmed it on a whim, thi
Charles remained silent, and his unreadable gaze was fixed on Simon.After a long pause, Simon was the first to break the silence with a chuckle. "No wonder he's so cautious, carefully planning for years just to counter you. Charles, you truly are a formidable opponent."He stroked his chin thoughtfully. "Should I be grateful that we're not on opposing sides? Otherwise, you'd probably scheme against me as well, wouldn't you?"Charles stood up, slipping his hands into his pockets. "I'll be waiting for your good news.""Charles!" Simon stood up as well. "How can you be so sure I'll cooperate? What if I refuse?""You won't."Their gazes locked in mid-air, and Charles' eyes were filled with unwavering certainty.Simon shrugged. "Alright then.""So, you knew about his identity all along?" Simon asked, genuinely curious about Charles' endgame.Charles' dark eyes glimmered faintly. "I found out not long ago."Had he not been cautious, he might still be unaware of the true motives be
Simon raised an eyebrow and nodded, but his gaze remained on Noelle. She noticed him as well and gave him a slight nod. "Mr. York, it's been a while."Simon's sharp eyes narrowed slightly, carrying a hint of mischief. "Indeed, it has."Sensing a sudden shift in the atmosphere, Simon arched an eyebrow and shot Charles a sidelong glance before chuckling."Come on, Charles. I'm your invited guest, aren't I? The way you're looking at me is making me nervous."Charles merely let out a cold snort. "Mr. York, let's talk privately."With that, the two of them moved to the hospital room next door. Simon quickly realized that the room had been converted into a personal office—or rather, a surveillance hub.He had noticed something off about the hospital's atmosphere the moment he arrived. There were very few patients, and while the place seemed quiet, the entire area was heavily guarded. Charles had his men stationed everywhere, making it nearly impossible for anyone without serious skil
Simon could not help but chuckle at Linda's words.It was only then that Linda seemed to notice his presence. She frowned at this uninvited guest and snapped. "What are you laughing at? Careful, or I'll gouge your eyeballs out!""Tsk, tsk, for someone so young, why are you already so vicious?" Simon shook his head in feigned helplessness, his tone filled with mockery. He even gave Linda a look of exaggerated disdain.Linda had always appreciated good-looking people and admired all things aesthetically pleasing. However, when she saw Simon's overly charming face, something strange happened. She did not swoon like she usually would. Instead, she found him rather annoying.She rested her chin on her hand, scrutinizing Simon with an expression far too mature for her age.Simon also found this young lady amusing. Judging by her actions, she was likely skilled in medicine—probably quite skilled.Otherwise, with how cautious Charles was, he would never have entrusted Noelle's life to a
Elon clenched his fists tightly at Yves' command.This woman was nothing but trouble—Yves' greatest weakness. Elon regretted not killing her years ago when he had the chance.If she had been eliminated back then, none of this would be happening now. Her presence was creating cracks in what had once been a flawless plan.Due to this woman, Yves was now willingly stepping into danger, even engaging with Charles and Steven ahead of schedule. She could not be allowed to stay."Yes, I'll ensure Ms. Anderson's safety," Elon replied.Yves cast him a cold glance before finally leaving the villa.…Meanwhile, after leaving the villa, Simon had the distinct feeling that someone was following him. However, Simon was not just anyone. He might seem carefree on the surface, but in reality, he was the most discreet and unpredictable of the York family's three sons.To outsiders, he appeared to be the least accomplished among the York siblings, but it was precisely this harmless facade that ma
Yves' cold, piercing gaze fell on Kelly. Seeing her aggressive stance, he tightened his grip slightly around her neck.Kelly's eyes widened in disbelief at the pressure, but the next moment, as if something had clicked in her mind, she stopped resisting altogether.She refused to look at him, yet her demeanor made it clear that she was fully prepared for whatever came next.Yves barely increased the pressure, and Kelly's face gradually flushed red. His bloodshot eyes were fixated on her, but she never once looked at him.The grip around her throat grew stronger, and her breathing became more labored. Yet she made no effort to struggle and just lay there as though she had accepted death.Looking at her like this, Yves suddenly felt an overwhelming surge of rage. He let go abruptly, shoving Kelly onto the bed with force."You want to die? I won't let you get your wish. If you're going to die, it'll be with me!" He loomed over her, his voice laced with a chilling finality. "I won't
Yves scrunched his brow. "Go ahead. Ask it.""Who are you, really? Are you Yves or Jacob?"Yves' gaze was sharp as it fell on Kelly. "Everyone who once knew me is gone.""Then tell me. I'm going to be gone soon, too!" Kelly said with a faint smile. "It doesn't really matter if I go now or later. I'd rather you be the one to do it than some nasty virus."Yves' frown deepened. "Kelly, please don't make me do this."His hand was a fist, and anyone who knew Yves could tell he was trying really hard to keep calm.However, Kelly kept smiling at him, not even pausing. There was laughter in her eyes but also a hint of sadness. She stared right at Yves and took a step closer.Her hands lifted, shaky, but she did not stop.Yves watched her closely, and when Kelly reached out, he quickly grabbed her hand. "Once we're done here, I'll let you know."Kelly shook her head. "After I find out, you'll end it, and your secret will be safe with me. But if you don't let me see, you know I'll try t
He stood up and gave Kelly a chilly look. "You think you can just walk out of here? That's not going to happen. Instead of dreaming about escape, you should be thinking about where you'd like to go with me once I've taken care of everything here."Yves reached for the door to leave, but Kelly's voice stopped him.She got up from the bed and stepped down, her bare feet touching the cold floor. She stood a few steps behind Yves, her eyes intensely focused on him. "If I agreed to go with you, would you leave all this behind and take me and Seth away?"Kelly's hands were balled into fists as she spoke. She did not even understand why she was asking that. She stared at Yves's back. He did not turn around and just stood there with his back to her.Kelly could not see his face, but she could read the real reaction in the way he held himself.His hand was still on the doorknob, not letting go. When he heard what Kelly said, he froze, as if her question caught him off guard.Kelly kept he
"Enough! I know that! You don't have to remind me!" Kelly shouted, her voice filled with frustration. "Yves, you don't need to keep bringing up my painful past. Yes, I once loved Charles, but that's all behind me. I have nothing to do with Charles now, and he's my sister's husband. Please stop making such guesses about other people."Kelly's eyes filled with tears as she stared at Yves. "I don't want to see you. Leave now!"She had thought her words were too mean and would make Yves mad. She expected him to storm out, but he did not move. Confused, Kelly noticed his dark eyes were then bright.Yves smiled. Kelly's yelling had somehow made him feel calm. His eyes were warm and kind, so different from the distant look he usually had.Kelly did not get it, but she was glad he was not mad.Yves let go of her and brought over a plate and spoon. "You must be hungry! You haven't eaten since you woke up. Let me feed you!"Kelly turned her head away, but Yves' eyes grew hard. "Eat," he sa
Kelly bit her lip, wondering about Simon's place in the York family. It looked like he and Jacob were not on good terms. If Simon could help her...She suddenly remembered Simon saying something about seeing her again before he knocked her out, didn't he?The door creaked open again, and Yves stepped in, this time holding a tray with utensils. As he set the table, a delicious smell wafted through the room, making Kelly's stomach growl at just the right moment.Feeling her cheeks warm, Kelly quickly turned away.Yves's face was as stern as ever, but if she looked really close, she could catch a tiny smile in his eyes. It was faint, but it was definitely there.He helped Kelly sit up and untied the ropes from her wrists. As soon as she was free, Kelly scooted away from Yves and perched on the edge of the bed.Yves's eyes flickered for a moment, but then he scoffed, "Kelly, you're a smart girl. You know that if I set my mind to something, I can make it happen, right?"Kelly scowled