"That little troublemaker could..." Jade started to say before she caught a stern look from Julian and quickly backpedaled, "Where could she have gone? She's probably off messing around somewhere!"Jade grumbled, though she could not shake off her concern as she glanced around. "Did you guys check the whole room? Since it's Noelle's room, maybe she's hiding in here. Keep looking!"Jade, determined, flung open the wardrobe. However, it was empty.In the bathroom, the pair were as silent as graves, barely breathing. Noelle, in particular, was like a coiled spring, her hands gripping Charles tightly. She bit down hard, fighting to keep the turmoil inside her at bay.The drug's grip proved too strong, and soon Noelle was struggling, her body burning up with heat.Charles knew exactly what was happening to Noelle. After all, he was a guy who understood the powerful effects of the drug coursing through her. He gripped her shoulders firmly, trying to snap her back to reality. Noelle, str
Noelle clung to Charles, her lips finding the curve of his neck, an oasis in the desert she felt lost in. His coolness was the perfect contrast to her fiery need. She was drawn to him, time and time again, desperate for a taste of his refreshing calm.Charles's gaze grew more intense as he gently caressed Noelle's cheek with his cool hand. "Wake up!" he urged.Noelle could not hear him. She just wanted to be close to him. "Don't push me away, it aches so much!" she pleaded.Charles caught his breath, his self-control nearly shattering at the sound of Noelle's soft, seductive voice.He was no saint, especially not when it came to Noelle. With her, he had always been a little more patient. Now, with this beautiful woman in his arms, willingly embracing him, he could not just stand there unaffected."Charles, it aches," Noelle's faint voice echoed in his ear. Her fiery lips brushed against his earlobe, nibbling with impatience. Charles's eyes darkened, his hand cradling the back of h
A chill flickered in Charles's gaze as he glanced at Ronald, who promptly stood up straighter and let out a nervous laugh. "Where to now, Mr. Hoffman?""To the Phoenix Tree Residence!" Charles gently settled Noelle into the car as if she were a delicate treasure. Ronald could not help but stare until a piercing look from Charles snapped him back to reality, and he hurriedly got the car going. The sleek black Maybach vanished into the cloak of the night.The drug coursing through Noelle seemed too potent. She feverishly tugged at her clothes and whimpered softly, even though Charles had covered her with his suit jacket.Even Ronald, who was usually oblivious, could tell something was off with Noelle. However, he resolutely focused on the road ahead and did not dare sneak a peek at her. Angering Mr. Hoffman was the last thing he wanted.Noelle was in agony, her body burning up. She clutched at Charles's hand, pressing herself against him, and her lips found his in a clumsy, desperate
Noelle's head smacked into the back of the front seat, the pain almost bringing tears to her eyes. She let out a soft cry, propping herself up, only to frown in confusion, "What's this? It's so hard!" she said, giving it an accidental squeeze.Charles gasped, pulling her close, his voice tense. "Stay still."Noelle heard the edge in Charles's voice and pouted, giving him a woeful look, "Are you mad at me?"Although Charles did not know whether to laugh or cry, he managed to keep his composure, gently patting Noelle's head. "Calm down. Let go.""You still haven't told me what this thing is!" Noelle gave it another curious squeeze. "Why is it on you?" Her wide-eyed innocence was making it tough for Charles to keep his cool, let alone make a move.He took a deep breath, gently pulled Noelle's hand away, and wrapped her in a comforting embrace. "Try to stay still, okay?"As Charles rolled down the window, the chilly breeze rushed in, a welcome distraction to help him settle his racin
Sean sauntered over and gave the woman a once-over. "She's been drugged with something strong. How long has she been holding out? If she's your girl, why didn't you just deal with it? Why drag me into this?" He chuckled, taking in her good looks. As he stared longer, something clicked. A shadow of recognition flickered in his eyes. "Wait, isn't she from the Shaw family?" Charles quirked an eyebrow. "You know her?""Don't get it twisted. I don't know her!" Sean was quick to catch the hint in Charles's tone and shot back, "I've only had the pleasure of seeing her once, nothing more. I’m curious. How did you get tangled up with the Shaws? I heard that Joseph's kid has some ties with them too.""Mhm," Charles nodded, confirming the connection.Sean rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "So, what's the plan?""You're the doctor, so you tell me," Charles retorted sharply. "What else would I call you for?""No way, Charles. A knockout like her, and you're just standing there? That's not your
Sean was not like Charles. Charles grabbed life by the horns with no hesitation or mercy. Sean? He was the guy with the killer smile, all warmth and laughs on the outside. What was he up to behind closed doors? That was anyone's guess. Right now, that smile of Sean's? It was the kind that spelled trouble. Sean squinted, a cold huff escaping him. His hands, always so pristine, were slender to the point of envy, even prettier than a lady's. With a flick of his elegant fingers, he tossed his white coat at Ronald and sprawled out on the couch, a smile playing on his lips that could turn heads. "You don't know? All that time shadowing Charles and you're telling me you're in the dark?" Ronald's whole body jolted, and he was on the brink of tears. "I swear I didn't know, Mr. Smith. Mr. Hoffman wouldn't share anything with a lowly servant like me." "Really?" Sean's eyes, narrow and alluring like petals of a peach blossom, narrowed further as he smiled in a way that sent shivers down
Charles had always been the master of his own fate, unshakable and untroubled by others, but as he watched Noelle sleep, he wondered if she might be the one to break his composure.He had not planned on getting her involved, but now that she was here, he was not about to let her slip away. Time was not on their side, but Charles never sweated the small stuff.As he glanced down at himself, he was surprised by the effect she still had on him. He fought to keep his cool, though sometimes the body told truths the mind tried to hide. He had been so close to giving in to his desires, but the thought of her waking up scared or full of regret stopped him cold.Charles was out on the balcony, lost in the night air, until Ronald came back. Only then did he retreat to his study."Mr. Hoffman, here's the surveillance footage from the Shaw place tonight." Ronald knew Charles like the back of his hand, having been by his side for years. He had already started digging into the Shaw family's dram
Charles burned the midnight oil, wrapping up his workload before stashing it away. He sparked up a cigarette and stepped out onto the balcony, gazing into the inky void that shrouded Phoenix Tree Residence. As the last wisp of smoke from his cigarette faded, he released it, his intense eyes cutting through the night like beacons.He swung by the master bedroom, where Noelle was out like a light. He kept watch like a silent sentinel to keep her from tossing and turning.He peered down at Noelle from his vantage point. The flush that had painted her cheeks was gone, leaving her looking serene and exquisite. Charles had clocked her as a knockout from the get-go, but her natural beauty caught him off guard.A chuckle escaped him as he gently flicked the quilt. There she was, all askew in her slumber, a far cry from her usual buttoned-up facade. Maybe the night was too warm, or maybe it was just her habit, but she had kicked off her covers, baring her silky shoulders to the cool air.Ch
"Hm?" Charles raised an eyebrow, his gaze landing on the file in Noelle's hand.With a swift motion, he took the file and saw it was a project proposal. His eyes shifted back to Noelle's face. "What's this?""Ah, I…" Noelle had been so focused on calming Charles down that she had not expected to get caught so quickly. Laughing nervously, she wrapped her arms around Charles' neck. "Hehe, I hadn't visited the project department in a while, so I went to take a look, and, uh…""And then you assigned yourself a major project?" Charles lifted the proposal, his gaze steady and fixed on her.Noelle bit her lip, her eyebrows knitting together. "Are you mad?""Do you even care if I'm mad or not?" Charles retorted, making Noelle feel even more conflicted. "Of course, I care!""Then why didn't you stay in the office like I told you to?""Charlie, I'm sorry!" Noelle stuck out her tongue, realizing Charles might actually be upset. She pressed her forehead against his, trying to appease him.
"Yeah!" Arya sighed in frustration. "I have no idea when Mr. Parker will be back!""Let me take this one!" Noelle said, pulling one of the files from Arya's desk. "If you trust me, that is.""Of course, of course. How could I not trust you? I know how good you are at this. But will Mr. Hoffman let you work on it?""It's fine. I'm just killing time anyway. Whether I do this or something else in his office, it's all the same!"Noelle glanced at her watch and realized it was getting late. She patted Arya on the shoulder. "I need to go now, or Charlie won't bring me along next time."Noelle took the proposal into the elevator, and just as the doors closed, her phone rang. It was Charles. "Where are you?""Oh, I got bored, so I wandered around downstairs. I'm heading back up now!" Noelle replied, watching the floor numbers tick upward. "A few more floors. Charlie, are you done with the meeting?""Mhmm," Charles responded, raising an eyebrow. He glanced around before settling back int
"Without a word?" Noelle blinked in surprise. "Didn't I tell Mr. Parker? Where is he?""Don't even mention him right now," Arya grumbled. "Mr. Parker is on a business trip, and guess what? He left me to clean up this mess!"She glanced around at Noelle with mock exasperation. "You don't seem like anything's wrong, yet the rumors about you at the company have been absolutely wild. Where have you been?""Don't worry about me. What's keeping you so busy?"Arya pointed at the pile of documents on the desk. "Look at all this!" She scratched her head in frustration. "Honestly, I feel like I'm drowning. Sure, Mr. Parker reassigned some people to help before he left, but it's still overwhelming. Now, I truly understand just how helpful you were."Noelle walked over, casually flipping through the files and noticing numerous project proposals. "Are these all for this year?""Yeah!" Arya sighed, visibly stressed. "I think our department is seriously understaffed, and then you just vanished
Noelle knew her question was a bit rude, especially since Grant was Kelly's brother. Asking something like that seemed strange, but she could not stop herself—it just naturally came out. Deep down, Noelle always felt that Grant and Kelly were too different to be siblings.…Meanwhile, Grant stared at the message Noelle had sent, his expression softening with a faint smile. His slender fingers brushed against the screen, lightly tracing over the words. The smile in his eyes deepened.Kresten, standing across from him, could not help but shiver at Grant's smile but dared not comment.[She's going back.] Grant then pocketed his phone and looked up at Kresten. "Is everything ready?""It's all prepared, sir, but Ms. Kelly still refuses to leave," Kresten replied cautiously, glancing at Grant. As expected, Grant's expression darkened."She refuses? In that case, take Seth and leave without her!""But…" Kresten hesitated. Seth was still so young, and it seemed heartless to do this.
"Alright, alright. I won't wander off!" Noelle felt Charles was being overly clingy. "Now, go already!"Charles finally turned to Ronald and said, "Let's go."Ronald, who had been covering his face after witnessing Charles kiss Noelle, felt Charles' gaze sweep over him. It sent an inexplicable chill down his spine. Straightening up immediately, he responded, "Yes, sir!"As they exited, Charles could not help but give another instruction, "Have Becky assign someone to stay nearby. If Nelly needs anything, it should be handled immediately.""Yes, sir!"After Charles left, Noelle began aimlessly wandering around his office. She roamed back and forth a few times before realizing how bored she was. With nothing better to do, she picked up her phone and started browsing the internet.Since it was a weekday, Rowena was too busy to chat with her. Apparently, Rowena was tracking some big celebrity, with her editor pushing her to land a major headline this month. After cheering Rowena on
Previously, Charles did not live at the Hoffman residence for extended periods, so Maxwell could ignore most of his behavior. Now, however, with everyone under the same roof, Charles' actions clearly showed he had little regard for Maxwell's authority, leaving the old man feeling stifled.Maxwell wanted to blow up and scold Charles, that cheeky brat. However, considering Noelle's pregnancy and the need to ensure her safety, he swallowed his anger and held it in.He grumbled to himself before turning to head upstairs, muttering under his breath about how infuriating it all was.James followed behind Maxwell, glancing at him before looking back at Charles and Noelle, his lips curving into a helpless smile.Perhaps Maxwell had not even realized it himself, but he was no longer as resistant to Noelle as he used to be. His current actions practically screamed acceptance, even if he would not admit it.After finishing breakfast, Charles and Noelle headed to the company. Since Noelle was
Noelle opened her eyes. She took a sip of water to rinse her mouth before spitting it out.Just as she reached for the toothbrush, Charles instructed, "Open your mouth!" Without waiting, he began brushing her teeth himself.The cool sensation in her mouth jolted Noelle awake. She blinked a few times and then took the toothbrush from Charles' hand. "I can do it myself. You should brush your teeth too!""Alright."Noelle then brushed her teeth, her legs swinging slightly as she sat on the bathroom counter. She even turned her head to watch Charles.The window by the bathroom was slightly ajar, allowing the crisp morning air to seep in, carrying with it a refreshing coolness. Although spring had passed and summer had arrived, the early mornings were still a bit chilly.Noelle squinted her eyes against the sunlight. When Charles handed her the rinsing cup, she quickly rinsed her mouth and placed the cup down.She hopped off the sink, but Charles immediately caught her hand. "Be care
Charles' deep, jet-black eyes sparkled, especially when they caught the mischievous glint in Noelle's gaze.He stepped closer to her, closing the gap with every step. That was until he grabbed her hands and raised them high above her head. Arching a brow, he asked, "You think I'm good to you now just because of the babies?"Noelle shook her head but then nodded hesitantly.Charles glared at her before lightly bumping his forehead against hers.Noelle cried out in pain and instinctively tried to rub her forehead, only to realize her hands were still pinned by Charles. Pouting, she made her best pitiful face. "I was wrong, Charlie!""You silly girl." Charles' heart softened completely. He sighed, finally releasing her hands and lightly tapping her nose. "I care about the babies because they're yours. You're their mom, and they're our children. Got it?""Got it!" Noelle nodded earnestly.Though her earlier words had been meant as a playful tease, hearing Charles say this still made
Apparently, Maxwell had also instructed the housekeeper to transform a room into a nursery. Now, Noelle…"Did Ronald tell you?"Noelle shook her head. "No! Mr. Wells wouldn't dare.""Hmm?"Charles raised an eyebrow, his long legs striding over. Before Noelle could react, he took her phone. His gaze fell on the WhatsApp interface displayed on the screen.He frowned slightly, a vague sense of foreboding creeping in. Sure enough, as Charles scrolled through the conversation, his sharp eyes started scanning the messages and landed on a video. Clicking it open, his expression deepened instantly, his eyes growing darker.Noelle's heart raced with alarm, but by the time she realized what had happened, it was already too late.Charles arched an eyebrow, his slender fingers lightly gripping the phone, making it seem weightless in his hands. His index finger tapped the screen as he flashed Noelle a smile that didn't reach his eyes. "Funny, huh?"Noelle pursed her lips and shook her hea