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Chapter 405
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The Cherished Wife Chapter 406
Ronald sighed internally.Noelle made it to Collosus Group in the nick of time. She had barely taken her seat when Brian emerged from his office. Noelle shot up. "Mr. Parker!"Brian nodded, giving Noelle a quick once-over. "You're late."Noelle blinked in surprise. "I'm not late, Mr. Parker!" She rushed to explain, but Brian cut her off with a dismissive wave. "The project team should be here ten minutes early. You're new, so you didn't know, but don't let it happen again.""Understood, Mr. Parker!" Noelle nodded, making a mental note."Look, it doesn't matter who you are or what you've been through today. The company's rules are set in stone, and there are no excuses. Got it?""Got it." Noelle promised she would be on time from now on, which seemed to satisfy Brian. "Alright. Come with me to my office."Noelle straightened her clothes and followed Brian.Once they were in the office, Brian motioned for her to take a seat. "Yesterday, I showed you around West City, so you've go
The Cherished Wife Chapter 407
Noelle glanced up, a bit taken aback. "Sure. Just a minute!"She hung up and stepped outside, spotting Ronald with a breakfast bag in hand. She raised an eyebrow. "Mr. Wells, did you need something?""Madam, this is the breakfast Mr. Hoffman sent me to deliver to you!" Ronald tried to hand it over, but Noelle did not take it. "Mr. Wells, you've been told to call me Noelle at work. And don’t you know most places have a policy that you can’t eat during work hours? Please take it back. I'm not interested.""Madam—sorry, Ms. Shaw!—you're putting me in a tough spot here!" Ronald's face was the picture of despair. "Mr. Hoffman made it crystal clear this morning that I had to get you breakfast. But when I got here, I found him pacing the sidewalk, and you were nowhere. He was livid and threatened to cut my bonus. If I don't make sure you get this breakfast, he's going to slash my year-end bonus too. Ms. Shaw, I'm begging you! Have a heart. I've got my folks and kids counting on me..."Noe
The Cherished Wife Chapter 408
The day flew by in a blur of busyness and satisfaction. Noelle liked the atmosphere at Collosus Group. It was no wonder they were a top dog in Brookville. Frotconn could not hold a candle to them.After tidying up the paperwork Brian had handed off, Noelle was ready to head home when her phone buzzed. It was Charles. "Done for the day?"She was just slipping her stuff into her bag and nodded at the phone. "Yep.""Meet you in the parking lot!" Charles sounded like he was also wrapping up. "How about dinner out and maybe a movie?""Sure thing!" Noelle grinned. "I'll head down and wait for you!" She ended the call just as Arya strolled by, catching the tail end of Noelle's cheerful chat. Curiosity piqued, Arya sidled up. "Was that your boyfriend?"The smile slipped from Noelle's face as she squinted slightly. "Just a friend."Arya's lips quirked in a half-smile. "You're no fun, Noelle. We're all on the same team here. It’s just a little friendly curiosity. No need to be so secretive
The Cherished Wife Chapter 409
Arya was petrified, too scared to utter a word. Brian just scoffed and breezed right past her.Noelle made her way down to the underground garage and spotted Charles waiting. She hurried over, breathless. "Sorry. Did I keep you waiting?""Not a bit!" Charles smiled, taking her bag with a smooth gesture. "Weren't you supposed to be down here before me?""I got a little sidetracked, but we're all set now!""How about barbecue? Ronald told me about this new place downtown. Does that sound good?" Charles suggested, just as Ronald's voice came through on the phone. "Mr. Hoffman, all set for tonight." He paused, then added, "I ran into a bit of trouble at the project department earlier. Someone was hassling Noelle."Charles's eyes took on a sharp glint. "Got it."He ended the call and turned to Noelle, who was grinning at him. "What's with the stare?""Barbecue, huh?" Charles noticed Noelle had not buckled up properly, so he leaned in to click the seatbelt into place. Noelle's cheeks
The Cherished Wife Chapter 410
Noelle made a face. "I'm still full from dinner, and the movie hasn't even started. Why snack now?" She set the snacks aside and then turned to Charles with a curious tilt of her head. "They're saying you're a big star. But anyway, what movie are we watching today?"Noelle was in the dark about the evening's film since she had not caught a glimpse of the ticket. Charles pulled it out and handed it to her with a grin. "Ronald's pick. He said it's the kind of movie you girls love. Was he right?"Noelle glanced down at the movie poster and could not help but smile. It was exactly the kind of flick that would draw a crowd of giggling girls. It was no surprise that the theater was packed with them. "Well, it's not every girl's cup of tea, but it should be fun!" she chuckled.She was way past her teen drama phase, so the whole idea of watching this to relive her high school years seemed a bit of a stretch.The film was all about high school shenanigans, and it was very loud and lively. I
The Cherished Wife Chapter 411
By the time they got home, it was late. Noelle, having already snoozed at the cinema, was wide awake and decided to use Charles's study to get some work done.She was new to the company, and Brian had not given her much to do yet, but Noelle knew she had to be on the ball now. Brian wanted her to get involved with the West City project, which was a golden opportunity. She was determined to get up to speed fast and make a smooth transition into her new role.Charles strolled back into the house and decided to let Noelle have the study to herself. He plopped down in the living room to catch up on the latest stock market drama, while Arnold snuggled close to his feet. Every so often, Arnold would shoot him the most heart-wrenching puppy dog eyes. With a quick side-eye, Charles reminded him. "Mom's busy working, buddy. No going upstairs to bug her, okay?"Arnold let out a soft "Woof!" and gave Charles a nod that seemed to say he got the message.Technically, Arnold was Charles's dog, b
The Cherished Wife Chapter 412
"No way!" Noelle grinned, waving the documents at Charles but not actually handing them over. She flipped through them with a flourish. "Mr. Parker gave these to me. He said to give them a look when I can. The West City project is kicking off, and he’s letting me shadow him. It's an awesome chance, and I'm not about to mess it up!""You won't mess up," Charles said with an easy laugh, glancing at the papers in Noelle's grasp. He was pleasantly surprised by Brian's generosity. "Brian's got skills. Stick with him, and you'll pick up a lot in no time!""I know, right?" Noelle chuckled, snapping the file shut. She had just woken up from a power nap and felt rejuvenated, though she knew better than to rush her work. "I've hijacked your study. I hope I'm not taking up your space.""Not at all!" Charles said, his laugh light as he playfully tousled Noelle's hair. "Done with the paperwork?"Noelle nodded, massaging her stiff neck. "Done for now."Charles was not having it, though. He gent
The Cherished Wife Chapter 413
Charles's eyes narrowed in a quick flash. "Go on.""You were the one controlling that order, weren't you? I thought you'd just cut it off, but now it's back to business as usual." Noelle was trying to figure out Charles's game plan, but she figured he must have his reasons for doing things this way.Now Noelle understood why Joseph was so keen on pushing Xavier away from her and toward Winter. Being with Winter meant getting a hold of Winter's shares, and by extension, a piece of the Shaw family's company, City Ring Corp.. If Winter ever had a brain lapse and handed those shares over to Xavier, then Xavier would carve out his own place in City Ring Corp.. And then, it would be anyone's guess whether the Shaw or the Harris family would lead City Ring Corp..Joseph was a man of big ambitions, never shy about reaching for what he wanted."He once saved my second uncle's daughter's life," Charles revealed. Noelle's head shot up, not expecting this twist. "Your second uncle?""Yeah!" C
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The Cherished Wife Chapter 1848
Sean had never hit a woman before, but at this moment, as he looked at McKenzie, he did not mind making an exception.McKenzie was already shocked that Sean was actually taking action for Liliana, an illegitimate daughter. "Sean, just because your family is rich, you think you can do whatever you want—"Sean let out a chuckle, his tone laced with amusement. "That's exactly what I think. What? You don't like it?"McKenzie was momentarily stunned."It's the survival of the fittest," Sean continued nonchalantly. "If you think it's fine to bully someone weaker like Liliana, then why shouldn't I do the same to you?"His words were so brazen, so outright arrogant, making it crystal clear that he was here to seek justice for Liliana.His overbearing attitude was enough to make people dislike him, but so what?Sean had a point. This world operated on the law of the jungle.Everyone bullied Liliana simply because she was an illegitimate daughter. Even though she carried the Hoffman name
The Cherished Wife Chapter 1847
The crowd stiffened, completely unprepared for Sean to actually stand up for the so-called illegitimate daughter."Mr. Smith, that girl is a vixen. She—""Oh? A vixen?" Sean's narrow eyes held a faint smile. "And how exactly do you know that?""I... I...""Did she seduce you? Hmm?" Sean's gaze darkened.There was utter silence."So, it seems like while I wasn't at school, you all just assumed I was dead, huh?" Sean's voice carried a lazy drawl, yet there was an unmistakable sharpness to it. "I hear the school has a new leader?""No, no! That's not true! You're still the boss. You'll always be the boss!"Sean let out a low chuckle and turned to Liliana. "See that? These are the same people who bullied you so fearlessly. It turns out they can be put in their place too. Understand?"Liliana did not fully grasp why Sean was doing this, but she knew that after today, these people would hesitate before hurting her again.Her feelings were complicated. She knew she should be gratefu
The Cherished Wife Chapter 1846
Sean twitched the corner of his mouth. "Do I not have a name?"Liliana hesitated, her lips trembling slightly. "M-Mr. Smith."Sean frowned.Liliana immediately sensed his displeasure but had no idea why he was upset, so she dared not speak.Seeing her looking like a frightened little wife as if he had bullied her, Sean sighed impatiently. "What's with all this 'Mr. Smith' nonsense? You're not my staff.""Then...""Just call me by my name. It doesn't matter even if I'm older than you. Think of me as an older brother." Sean did not seem to care much, but his words stirred something deep inside Liliana."I..."Did she say to think of him like an older brother?She did have an older brother—Charles. He was the golden child of the Hoffman family and the future master of the household. He was raised to be exceptional in every way.Even so, she had never dared to look him in the eye, let alone address him as her brother.In her memory, Charles was a cold and distant figure, unappro
The Cherished Wife Chapter 1845
The doctor gave Sean a surprised glance, taken aback that the boy could actually read his handwriting and even recognize the names of the medications.However, he quickly changed the prescription.Hearing this, Liliana panicked. "No, there's no need! Just prescribe the regular ones, the normal ones!"She did not have that much money. She had already borrowed the money for her medical expenses from Sean, so she could not afford to let him pay for expensive medication too. "Doctor, my skin is tough. I don't need anything that pricey!"The doctor turned to Sean, who pressed his lips together impatiently."Sit down." His tone carried unmistakable irritation. "Do you even care about your face?""But..." Liliana fidgeted anxiously. "I... don't have that much money.""Did I ask you for money?" Sean was thoroughly exasperated now and stopped looking at her altogether. "Just prescribe it. In fact, give her extra. She looks like she gets hurt often, so give her a dozen boxes while you're
The Cherished Wife Chapter 1844
Sean's voice was cold, carrying a maturity that did not match his age. However, his words made Liliana tremble slightly. She pressed her lips together and looked at him.What he said had shaken her. She had never known that she could walk among people with her head held high.Ever since she arrived in Brookville, since she became part of the Hoffmans, she had lived like an invisible person—afraid, self-conscious, and timid. She had spent every day trying to make herself as small and unnoticed as possible.Yet now, Sean was telling her she should hold her head up, that she had done nothing wrong.For as long as she could remember, everyone had pointed at her, calling her mother a homewrecker, a disgrace, a whore, a mistress. And if her mother was that kind of person, then she must be too. However, Sean… Sean had just told her to stand tall.Liliana's eyes welled up with tears.Sean frowned at her, irritated. "What are you crying for?"He pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and
The Cherished Wife Chapter 1843
Sean looked at Liliana. "Before you leave, shouldn't you at least tell me your name? Otherwise, if you run off, who am I supposed to ask for my money?"Liliana clenched her fists. "I... I...""Sean Smith!""Huh?"Liliana looked up in surprise. Her swollen face made her expression even more pitiful, and the astonishment in her eyes only added to her fragile appearance.Sean's gaze deepened. "That's my name—Sean Smith."Liliana nodded. "I know."Of course, she knew.Ever since he had first saved her, she had memorized his name, his face, and everything about him.She even knew his family background, as well as his academic achievements.Sean's name was legendary at Jadebrook High School—just like her half-brother. He was an untouchable figure, almost mythical.Liliana's eyes dimmed slightly at that thought."What do you know? Now, tell me your name." Sean studied her, noticing how her mood had suddenly shifted again.Liliana hesitated before murmuring, "L-Liliana Hoffman."
The Cherished Wife Chapter 1842
Sean had originally planned to take Liliana to the school infirmary, but after seeing the severity of her injuries and considering her current state, he knew that going there would only draw unwanted attention.Instead, he called his driver to take them to the hospital, ensuring she could get a proper examination and treatment.The moment Liliana heard the word hospital, she panicked. "I'm not going!"She reached for the car door, intending to get out, but Sean grabbed her wrist. "You're not going to the hospital? Then where do you plan on going? Look at yourself—you're covered in injuries, and you still don't want to get checked out?"Sean genuinely wondered if this girl was an idiot.She had not fought back when she was being beaten, and now that she was injured, she refused medical care?Even so, Liliana could not afford to think about such things. Her circumstances did not allow her to get sick, let alone go to the hospital.During her years with the Hoffmans, the most impor
The Cherished Wife Chapter 1841
Liliana became acutely aware of her own disgrace. She hugged herself tightly, her eyes filled with wariness as she looked at the boy in front of her.Sean suddenly found the situation amusing. "Are you afraid of me?"Liliana did not respond, but the look in her eyes said it all.Raising an eyebrow, Sean noticed her tugging at the tattered remains of her clothing. Without another word, he shrugged off his jacket and draped it over her shoulders. "Do you know where the infirmary is?"She remained silent, and Sean's patience wore thin. "I just saved you. Are you mute?""Thank you," Liliana murmured, then carefully removed the jacket and tried to hand it back. "It'll get dirty."Her voice was small, and her gaze was downcast.She had not forgotten what Sean had said years ago—that she was filthy.Sean's frown deepened, his brows knitting together in irritation. He snatched the jacket back and threw it over her again. "Do you have any idea how terrible you look right now?"Liliana
The Cherished Wife Chapter 1840
The girl's face was swollen and bruised, nearly unrecognizable. Her clothes were torn, hanging in tatters, leaving her looking utterly wretched.Sean barely spared her a glance before shifting his gaze away. "A whole group of you bullying a single girl?""That girl is a filthy whore, a homewrecker! We were just—""Shut up!" Jasper shot McKenzie a sharp glare. "Sean is speaking. Who the hell do you think you are to interrupt?"In Jadebrook High School, Sean was like a god.Although he had already completed both middle and high school courses, he was still technically a senior. The school had granted him special privileges due to his exceptional performance, allowing him to attend only when he pleased.He rarely showed up, yet every student feared him.Sean was not someone who sought out trouble or bullied the weak, but if he caught someone doing so, there was no escaping his wrath.Jasper's family had some wealth, but compared to the Smiths, they were nothing. Just recently, his
