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Chapter 44
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The Cherished Wife Chapter 45
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
The Cherished Wife Chapter 46
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
The Cherished Wife Chapter 47
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
The Cherished Wife Chapter 48
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
The Cherished Wife Chapter 49
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
The Cherished Wife Chapter 50
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,
The Cherished Wife Chapter 51
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 Cherished Wife Chapter 52
"You still haven't given me a straight answer," Noelle pressed, her determination bordering on stubbornness.Charles paused, then offered a smile. "It’s no big mystery, really. You just happened to show up at the right time and place. That was all there was to it."Noelle searched Charles's eyes for something more, but their locked gazes offered no further clues. Feeling a bit let down, she averted her eyes. "Got it.""So, what’s your verdict, Ms. Shaw?"Noelle chewed on her lip for a moment. "You were well aware of where I stood with the Shaws. I was never going to see a dime of their fortune, nor was I going to get a foot in the door of their company. You knew that from the beginning, didn't you?"He nodded. "A guy's got nothing if he's waiting for a woman to bring him wealth."Noelle let out a small laugh. "You’re one of few who think that way.""Any other questions?" Charles was the picture of patience. Whether it was business or anything else, he could outwait anyone. With
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The Cherished Wife Chapter 2018
Liliana's arm throbbed where Sean had grabbed it, but she bit her lip, refusing to give in. "I didn't do it on purpose. I had no idea she invited you.""Oh, you didn't know? Isn't she supposed to be your best friend?" Sean's voice was edged with sarcasm. "Or maybe this was your plan all along?""I didn't!" Liliana felt a tightness in her chest at his accusation.She pulled her arm free from his grasp, her face twisted with both anger and shame. "I truly didn't know.""Who knows what the truth is?" Sean said with a light laugh, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Tania doesn't know about us, and you think you're in the dark too? What if Tania found out who you really are? Would she...""Don't."Liliana's voice was loud and full of panic. "Please don't tell Tania." Deep down, she was being selfish. She did not want Tania to find out about her secrets.When she first became friends with Tania, all she wanted was a simple friendship. She did not want Tania to know about her embarrassi
The Cherished Wife Chapter 2017
The next few moments dragged on painfully for Liliana. She would have bolted if Tania, her best friend, had not been there.She felt that neither Sean nor Peter wanted to see her around.She did not want to be near them either.Peter was a mystery she did not dare to unravel, and as for Sean...Liliana snuck a peek at Sean when no one was looking. It had been over a month since she had last seen him, and despite herself, she was thrilled.She tried to bury her feelings in work every day, but she knew how hard it was to forget Sean completely.They had promised not to meet again, yet there they were. He could not possibly think she planned this encounter, could he?As Liliana watched Sean and lost herself in thought, she noticed him suddenly glance her way. She quickly turned away, dodging his gaze.Liliana felt like she was a thief caught red-handed when she unexpectedly ran into Sean.Upon laying eyes on Liliana, Sean could not quite figure out what he was feeling.They had
The Cherished Wife Chapter 2016
Tania's lips quivered, as if she wanted to say more, but seeing Liliana so determined, she held back.However, as Tania paid, she leaned in and whispered something to the cashier, then scribbled down an address. "Make sure it gets here, okay?"Tania settled the bill, grabbed the shopping bags, and linked arms with Liliana as they headed out. "Liliana, you're joining me for dinner tonight!"No backing out this time. You've canceled on me too many times already.""Okay, fine!"Liliana had no idea that Tania's dinner invitation also included Peter. If she had known, she would have stayed far away. When Liliana returned from the restroom, she found not just Tania and Peter, but also Sean sitting there. Her first instinct was to turn around and leave.She was about to do just that, her foot already inching backward, when Tania caught sight of her. "Liliana, where are you off to? We're right here!"Frozen in place, Liliana could not seem to move a muscle.Standing with her back to th
The Cherished Wife Chapter 2015
Seeing Joanna in a new light, her friend still tried to be supportive. "Joanna, don't listen to that lady's wild stories. You and Mr. Smith are the perfect pair. You’re both so smart and good-looking. Everyone at the hospital is jealous of you guys! I bet she doesn't even know Mr. Smith, and she probably doesn't have a rich boyfriend either!"As she spoke, Joanna's friend watched her closely. She saw Joanna's worry fade away after her words. Joanna replied with a hint of frustration, "I don't know why she said that. I wasn’t even in the same faculty as her, but we were involved in a school event together once. We were in a competition together back then. I never thought she cared about it that much!"Joanna mentioned the school beauty contest she and Tania were in, suggesting there might be some old rivalry between them.Joanna's friend knew exactly what was happening. She was getting to see all the drama for free but did not want to call Joanna out. After all, they were coworkers a
The Cherished Wife Chapter 2014
"Look, you’re my junior.” Joanna had not expected Tania to say something like that in front of her friend. It was impossible for her to maintain her dignity at this point.What would her friend think if she owned up to it? If she denied it, what was Tania going to do?Tania watched Joanna's face turn beet red, a smile playing on her lips the whole time.Truth be told, Tania did not have beef with Joanna. However, she was Peter's girlfriend, and she knew Sean, so she could not stand watching Joanna strut around, lying and using Sean's good name."Look, Joanna, I'm not trying to be mean or anything. I just think your friend isn’t really thinking about how you feel, you know? You say you're single, yet she's out here telling everyone you're taken. How's that going to help you find a real boyfriend, right?"Joanna's nails were digging into her skin, but she did not even notice. She was drowning in embarrassment, and it was all Tania's fault."I don't know what I did to make you mad,
The Cherished Wife Chapter 2013
Joanna looked a bit upset. She was used to being the star everywhere she went, with everyone always fussing over her.However, Tania and Liliana did not seem to notice her at all.Tania slipped out of her dress and had it neatly packaged. She strolled over to a quiet corner and began flipping through a magazine.Meanwhile, Joanna and her friend were browsing through racks of clothes, chatting about which ones were the prettiest. Joanna's friend could not stop mentioning Sean, insisting that Joanna would look stunning in certain outfits and that Sean would surely be impressed.Tania watched Joanna with a smirk and called out, "Hey, Joanna!"Joanna and her friend paused and turned to Tania. "What's going on?" Joanna asked."Oh, nothing, really. I’m just curious—Joanna, are you and Mr. Smith together now?" Tania asked with feigned innocence. "I thought Sean turned you down before!""You...""Turned her down? Don't make things up. Our Joanna and Mr. Smith are very much an item!" Jo
The Cherished Wife Chapter 2012
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
The Cherished Wife Chapter 2011
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
The Cherished Wife Chapter 2010
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
