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
This was the harsh truth about her parents—they had never really put her first. Marriage? If marriage was the real goal, why had they rushed to toss her into Simon's bed? "Awake?"The man's voice, crisp and icy, had sliced through the silence, jolting Noelle back to the present. She stumbled backward in a panic, crashing into the bed and collapsing onto it, her face drained of color.Charles arched an eyebrow, taking in Noelle's panicked dance. Had he scared her that much?Realizing she might have overreacted, Noelle managed a sheepish grin. "Mr. Hoffman!""Mm," Charles had hummed, nodding. "Good to see you're up. Feeling alright? There's some medicine for fever on the table if you need it.""A fever?" Noelle was shocked. "I wasn't running a fever." Then she added quickly, "Did you rescue me last night?"Charles squinted and flashed a knowing grin. "Pretty obvious, isn't it?"Noelle inhaled deeply. She really did not like the idea of being in debt to Charles, yet he had sa
Charles looked away, a slight smile playing on his lips. "Family? I guess I'm still looking for one."Noelle's heart started to dance a wild rhythm, thumping all over the place. She felt totally out of her element.Charles flashed a warm smile as he brought out a steaming pot of porridge from the kitchen. "Last night, we had to cool you down the old-fashioned way. The doctor warned you might have a fever today, but you're fine. That's awesome. Let's keep it light with the food today, okay?"Noelle stared at Charles, her eyes wide with surprise. He was a different person from the buttoned-up guy she had met before. Dressed down in light gray casual wear instead of his usual sharp suit, he still managed to look drop-dead gorgeous. Who knew Charles had this homey side to him? He could cook!"That smells amazing," Noelle commented, taking in the comforting scent of the porridge.Charles's smile grew as he served her a bowl. "Give it a taste. I've been at it since the crack of dawn,
Time froze, and Noelle's heart raced out of control. She instantly wished she could take back her words, wondering why she had ever blurted them out.Her cheeks warmed with a blush, and she could not bring herself to look at Charles, feeling totally mortified. Girls were not supposed to ask guys questions like that, were they?Charles watched her, a playful smile creeping into his eyes as he saw her squirm. His fingers drummed lightly on the table, each tap echoing in Noelle's chest.Noelle chewed on her lip, her embarrassment growing. She felt like she had lost all control of the conversation. "I mean... just forget I asked, okay? Don't take it seriously!""What if I do take it seriously?" Charles's voice was cool but teasing.Noelle was ready to just shrug off the whole awkward moment, but Charles's response stopped her cold. She looked up at him, her eyes wide with surprise. "What?"She had figured Charles was just messing with her, especially after his earlier gesture, and sh
The woman with Joanna gushed, "You're so lucky! Your boyfriend Sean is so handsome and rich, and your future mother-in-law adores you too!""Please, you're making me blush. Sean and I aren't even official yet." Joanna laughed off the compliment."It's only a matter of time. Everyone at the hospital knows you two are an item. And your future mother-in-law is so generous, showering you with gifts. You wouldn't believe how many people are green with envy!""You're making it sound too good to be true!"As Liliana overheard Joanna and the woman's conversation about Sean, she felt like a creep for eavesdropping.Yes, Sean had been with Joanna for a while. Where did that leave Liliana?She had been with Sean, which explained why he was so cold that day. He must have really disliked her, or else it would not have made sense.Liliana squeezed her hands together, trying hard not to eavesdrop on Joanna and the other woman's chat. However, their words floated to her ears, every single one c
Adalee had braced herself for tough negotiations, but to her surprise, they were ready to shake hands on the deal he moment she stepped into the other company's office. The previous unreasonable demands were gone. They were going to work together just like they had before.Even though Adalee thought it was odd, she was just glad there were no hiccups in the partnership. She signed the contract and decided to give Liliana some time off, hoping it would help her shake off the blues from that unhappy evening.Ever since Liliana came back from Cascade City, she had been quiet. Her life was work, work, and nothing but work. She did not go out, not even when Tania tried to coax her into hanging out.Tania could tell something was off with Liliana, but Liliana clammed up whenever she asked, saying she was swamped with work and had no spare time.Liliana had even forgotten about the date with Keith she had planned to arrange after her business trip.Her routine was simple: she would work
Adalee had just stepped out of her room when she ran into Sean. Sean's face was stormy as he walked past, not even noticing Adalee."Mister..." Adalee called, but Sean did not even look back.Adalee's brows knitted together in worry. She rushed to Liliana's door and called, "Liliana? Liliana?"Adalee did not hear Liliana answer, so she knocked again. "Liliana, are you in there?"After Sean left, Liliana could not stop the tears from coming. However, she did not let herself cry loudly. It was just a quiet, steady sob.When she heard the knock at the door, Liliana quickly stopped crying.She bit her lip, hurried to put on her clothes, and dried her eyes.Adalee waited outside, not leaving before she heard from Liliana. Liliana had no choice but to open the door.As soon as Adalee saw her, she noticed her red, puffy eyes and the marks on her face and neck. "Liliana, what's wrong?"Remembering the drink Liliana had taken for her sake the previous night, Adalee gasped and grabbed h
Disgust—that was it.She remembered a similar desperate moment from years ago. However, Sean had not given her a chance to explain back then.He was disappointed and disgusted with her."Sean, only you and I know about today. If we keep it to ourselves, no one else will find out. I know I was wrong… but I was set up. I'm truly sorry."I promise I won't bother you again. I'm not the same as I was before. I used to have feelings for you, but now I really just see you as a brother. I wouldn't fall for my own brother."And I have a boyfriend whom I really love… I wouldn't ever ruin your happiness, Sean. I promise you that."Liliana was trying to explain, but her words were all jumbled up. She did not even understand what she was saying herself. All she knew was that she did not want to see that look of disgust in Sean's eyes, so she kept explaining, hoping Sean would not hate her.Liliana was so busy trying to clarify things that she did not notice the icy look in Sean's eyes when s
Liliana woke up feeling utterly spent, as if she had been run over.For a moment, her mind was totally blank. She could not remember a thing. She opened her eyes and stared at the ceiling for what felt like forever. Slowly, her senses started to come back.The warm breath and steady breathing from beside her made her eyes pop open wide.The moment she saw Sean lying next to her and shirtless, she could not stay calm any longer. "Ahh!"Her scream woke Sean up.He cracked his eyes open, still groggy, but then suddenly, his eyes snapped wide open, and his piercing gaze landed on Liliana.Her mind was a whirlwind, the memories of last night rushing back. She remembered being drugged, Sean bringing her home, and then, despite trying so hard to hold back, she ended up crossing a line with Sean.The thought made her heart ache, almost drowning her as she met Sean's icy stare.She wrapped her arms around herself, clutching the blanket tightly. She was shaking all over, and her eyes wer
Liliana was crying so hard that she could not think of anything else. All she knew was that she felt awful, and Sean was the man she loved more than anyone else in her life. She hugged Sean tightly, tears streaming down her face. "Liliana, please stop," Sean said gently. He tried to move her hands away, but she held on even tighter. "Sean, I feel so sad… I really like you, Sean," she said through her tears. Sean pried Liliana's hands off him, but she clung to him again. "Sean, I feel awful… I… I like you, Sean."She bit his lips, her hands desperately roaming over his body.Sean was a man, after all. The moment Liliana started touching him so recklessly, his body responded.However, he had always been a man of strong self-control. He pushed her away countless times, but Liliana crawled back each time, whimpering as she restlessly clung to him.Sean's expression darkened. It was not because of Liliana—it was because of himself.He could not believe it. He was actually having
Liliana's mind was a whirlwind. She found her key card fast, but just as she was about to shut the door, a big hand stopped it.She was not strong enough to close the door against Sean, who pushed it open.Liliana took a shaky step back, looking at Sean with a bit of fear. "Sean, it's late. I need to sleep."Sean just kept looking at her. "Liliana, what... what's wrong with your mouth?" he asked as he reached out, his fingers lightly touching the corner of Liliana's mouth. Liliana felt a rush of heat through her body, making her shake all over.In a swift motion, she knocked Sean's hand away. "Leave me alone."With his inscrutable eyes, Sean noticed the blood on his thumb and Liliana's unusual red cheeks. A flicker of surprise showed in his eyes. "Liliana, did..."However, Liliana was already clenching her fists, all pretense gone. She was shaking and crouching on the ground, her tears filling her eyes. "Sean, please. I'm begging you, just go, okay?"Sean's brow furrowed. His
Liliana could not make out what Sean was saying anymore. She felt awful and shut her eyes tight, not wanting Sean to notice.Sean thought Liliana had dozed off from drinking too much and had a headache, so he stopped talking.The car pulled up to Liliana's hotel, and Sean gently shook her. "Liliana, time to wake up. We're here."Liliana slowly opened her eyes and saw Sean's face close to hers. Her heart, which was already fluttering, started racing.She turned her head away, swallowing hard. "Are we here already?"Once she saw they were outside the hotel, Liliana quickly got out of the car and opened the back door to help Adalee. "Ms. Cobb, can you walk?"Adalee nodded. "Yes, I can."With a sigh of relief, Liliana told Sean, "Sean, we've made it. Ms. Cobb and I will head up now."Liliana rushed off, scared that any delay might make her lose her composure. She could not let herself fall apart in front of Sean again—not after what happened years ago.Sean noticed Liliana rushing
The moment everyone in the private room saw Bob, they were scared out of their wits.It was Andy, the favorite son of the Jones family in Cascade City! Even though he was the second child, he was the one everyone knew would run the company one day.Everyone felt a wave of relief, glad they had not messed with Liliana earlier. They knew that if they had, they would not just be outcasts in Cascade City, but probably everywhere else too.Sean gently put Adalee in the back seat of the car and then helped Liliana into the front seat. Noticing Liliana's pale face, he asked, "Did you have too much to drink?"When Sean touched her forehead, Liliana felt a wave of heat rush through her, like she was on fire. Sean's hand was cool, and the moment it touched her, she could not help but sigh in relief."Maybe," she said.Sean shook his head. "Where's your hangover pill? Take it now. Where do you live?"After Liliana told him the address, she saw that Adalee was already fast asleep.Sean tur