"Over here!" Charles waved her over. The scent had Noelle forgetting all about her staunch vow not to forgive a certain someone. She dashed to the table and burst into laughter at the sight of the soup. "How on earth did you know I was craving creamy mushroom soup?"She had been dreaming of soup the night before, but whipping up creamy mushroom soup was not exactly easy for them with their hectic schedules. Noelle would've rather spent her time working or sleeping. She never expected Charles to surprise her with the very dish first thing in the morning.Charles flashed a grin. "Take a seat. Becky brought over some homemade kimchi a while back, and today, it's the star of the show.""Becky?" Noelle's eyes sparkled. "Ronald mentioned she's from Lacindra, right? They're famous for their killer pickled radishes!" Chatting away, Noelle ladled out two bowls of soup and popped open the box. The rich scent of radishes hit her, and she could not resist exclaiming, "Wow, that smells amazing!"
Charles frowned slightly. How could he not be aware of everything Noelle was saying?He was not mad, just a bit frazzled by how Noelle was handling things. Or maybe it was not about Noelle at all, but the way things out of their control had barged in, shattering the calm between them."Do Janet's hangouts with us bug you?" Charles asked, locking eyes with Noelle.Surprise flickered in her eyes before she masked it with a grin, resting her chin on her hand as she mulled over his question for real.Pretending she was not upset would be a total lie. Legally, she was Charles's wife, which should mean something. However, hardly anyone knew they were together, and Charles's mom was all about Janet, practically trying to snatch him away. Nobody would be cool with that, acting like it was all fine and dandy.However, she was the one who had wanted to keep her thing with Charles on the down low. She could not exactly complain about people being in the dark, especially since the person in q
Charles and Noelle had a bit of a routine when it came to getting to the office—they would take turns to come in. Charles could not sway Noelle, so they ended up coming to work separately, much to his annoyance. However, Noelle was tough as nails, and Charles, eager for a peaceful night's sleep in the master bedroom, caved in.While Charles zipped up to the twenty-seventh floor through a less-traveled route, Noelle strode through the main entrance and bumped into Ronald. Ronald gave her a curious once-over, and as they stepped into the elevator, he shot her a couple of extra glances. Noelle just flashed a small, knowing smile and gave a nod. "Mr. Wells, got something on your mind?""Ms. Shaw, you're alone today?" Ronald's voice was low, mindful of the audience they had. Noelle chuckled. "What, I can't come to work on her own? Do I need an escort or something?"Ronald caught on quickly and nodded with a smirk. "Point taken.""This is me." Noelle gestured to her floor. "Catch up soon
"Is that really okay?""Absolutely! Let's go!"Mr. Hoffman was met with an update as soon as he stepped into the foyer. Ronald, who had just witnessed Clarisse and Janet's departure, approached him. "Your mom took Janet out," he informed Mr. Hoffman, a questioning look in his eyes. "What's your take on this?""Let her be. When Janet finally shows up for work, just mark her down as a no-show," Charles said as he hung up the phone, then dove back into the stack of papers on his desk. However, the phone was relentless, ringing again—this time it was Clarisse on the line. "Charles, I'm out grabbing a bite with Janet. Look, I'm not trying to nag, but you've got to balance work with a little self-care. Janet's been looking thinner since she started at Collosus Group. You're not working her to the bone, are you?""Mother, unless my watch is playing tricks on me, it's only eleven-thirty. Lunchtime hasn't even started," Charles replied, his voice cutting through the phone like ice. "Janet's
"Then you’d better hurry!" Arya gestured a quick goodbye to Noelle. It was only after Noelle had left that Arya's head popped up again. "Mr. Hoffman asked Noelle to join him?" Something felt off to her, but she could not quite figure out what it was.With the documents in hand, Noelle made a beeline for Charles's reserved parking spot and found Charles casually leaning against his car, apparently caught up in a phone conversation.Charles caught sight of Noelle as she jogged up to him, slightly breathless. He glanced at his watch and quirked an eyebrow. "Right on time—nine minutes and fifty seconds!"Rolling her eyes, Noelle grumbled. "Where are you heading off to?" She handed over the documents to Charles. "Here are the papers. You know what? I think I'll pass on going."With one hand, Charles accepted the documents and with the other, he gently grabbed Noelle's arm. He quickly wrapped up his phone call with a "Catch you later," and ended it.He took a brief look at the documents
The car had barely come to a stop when Clarisse turned to the visibly agitated Janet. "Janet, what's up?""Turn around, now! Follow that car!" Janet shouted at the driver, pointing ahead. "Do you see it? That's Charles's car!""Charles?" Clarisse squinted at the traffic, but all she saw were cars zipping by, none with a recognizable plate. "Are you sure you didn't get it mixed up?""I'm positive, Aunt Clary. I’d know Charles's car anywhere, and I've got the license plate memorized. We've got to catch up!" Janet's heart was pounding for reasons she could not explain. "What's Charles up to, heading out at this hour? And I'm pretty sure there was someone with him in the front seat!""You're probably mistaken. If he's got company, it's likely just his secretary," Clarisse reasoned, though she had to admit she did not know her son as well as she might. Charles leaving the office at this time had to be business-related."Janet, look at the time. You've got work, remember?""No, I need
"Mr. Hoffman, here are your clothes," said the manager from Saint Di, a brand under the Collosus Group, as he delivered the attire. He tried to sneak a peek at the passenger seat, but the glass thwarted his curiosity, hiding Noelle from view.Charles stepped out and accepted the clothes with a piercing look that sent the manager scurrying away. "I’ll be on my way, Mr. Hoffman. You carry on with your day!" The manager nodded frantically, feeling an invisible blade at his back as he wiped the sweat from his brow, thoroughly intimidated.Charles gave a slight squint, settled back into the driver's seat, and handed the clothes to Noelle with a casual, "Check them out. See if they're to your liking!"Noelle accepted the bag, peeked inside, and found a modest yet stylish outfit. "Meeting someone important today?" she asked.Charles gave a quick nod. "Go ahead and change.""Right here?" Noelle glanced around the car interior, raising an eyebrow. "I mean, no one can see in, but..." She tr
"Charles!" Janet's voice quivered with panic as she tried to approach him, but one fierce look from Charles made her recoil. She wrapped her arms around herself, her face drained of color. To Janet, nothing stung more than her own past, a weapon Charles had wielded against her time and again, leaving her feeling utterly humiliated. "Charles, how can you be so cruel? I didn't choose where I came from. If I could, I'd want to be a Baker through and through!""Well, isn't that practically the case? My uncle took you in as his own, didn't he? You've got a golden ticket, Janet. Not everyone gets that, so you ought to be thanking your lucky stars for a mom who had a rich ex to pave your way!" Charles never held back his biting remarks. "I handed you a chance on a silver platter, and you just tossed it aside.""Charles, Janet’s just got a crush on you.""A crush on me? Mom, I'm starting to think you've forgotten all the class and decency you should know at your age. Don’t you know right an
Although Charles and Noelle were not in a rush to plan their wedding, the Hoffman and Smith families certainly were. Everyone was eager to make sure every detail was perfect as no one wanted anything to go wrong.Clarisse, who had initially been preoccupied with the Bakers' situation, found herself too busy with the wedding preparations to think about anything else. Once she got caught up in the planning, there was simply no time to spare.Meanwhile, Nancy's health had improved significantly. Given how significant this wedding was for the Hoffman family, she naturally wanted to be involved.However, Henry remained concerned about her physical condition, only allowing her to oversee the decorations and review the guest list rather than taking on anything too strenuous.Charles and Noelle's wedding had become one of the grandest social events in Brookville's elite circles. Ever since the news of their marriage broke, countless socialites had secretly mourned the loss of another eligi
Sean felt a deep irritation rising within him. Savannah always assumed that Liliana was still clinging to him, unaware that she had long stopped loving him.Now, she probably wished he would disappear from her sight altogether. How could she possibly still be chasing after him?Yet every time Savannah spoke like this, it felt like a knife twisting in his heart, making it even harder to bear.He desperately wanted to find an escape, some way to let go, but he could not do it no matter what he did. He simply could not bring himself to let go.To Savannah, his impatience only added to her displeasure toward Liliana. "I'm talking to you! Are you even listening?" she snapped. I don't care what that woman does. I'll never approve of your relationship with her, so you'd better give up!"Sean's eyes remained fixed on his phone. On the screen was a private message from Charles. It was a video taken just moments ago in the Hoffman family's living room, where they had been discussing Liliana
Liliana flinched slightly. "Grandpa, I'm really not in a hurry right now.""How can you not be?" Maxwell sighed. "Look at the rest—they're all married. You're the only one still single in the Hoffman family. How can I not be worried?"He let out another heavy sigh, shaking his head. "I'm getting old. I've spent so much of my energy worrying about you all."Liliana could not help but smile wryly. "Grandpa, don't say that. I really have been thinking about it. Once Bobby recovers, I'll take my future more seriously.""Really?" Maxwell's eyes lit up. "Well then, don't you worry about Bobby's illness. If you don't want to go to the Smith family's hospital, that's fine. I'll find an even better hospital for him."I'll make sure someone takes care of it. You just focus on yourself, and leave the rest to me."Liliana chuckled. "Alright." She gently patted Bobby's back, soothing him as he drifted off to sleep.Once he was completely asleep, she stood up. "Grandpa, Bobby is asleep now. I
Yves had no objections. If anything, he was eager to marry Kelly as soon as possible. With a smile, he nodded and instinctively glanced at Kelly.Kelly, however, was caught off guard as she looked around at everyone in confusion. She had not expected the conversation, which had been about Noelle and Charles, to suddenly shift to her and Yves.She had been trying to minimize her presence, but somehow, Maxwell had turned his attention to their relationship.For a moment, Kelly felt flustered. "I…""Kelly, what are you still thinking about?" Maxwell said persuasively. "Yves is such a good man. Besides, you two already have a child, and Seth is growing up fast. Do you really want him to grow up without a complete family?"No one knew where Maxwell had picked up his knack for emotional persuasion, but his words left Kelly speechless.Seeing her hesitation, Maxwell turned his gaze to Seth, who stood between Yves and Kelly. "Seth, tell Great-Grandpa—do you like Daddy?""I do!" Seth nod
"What are you talking about, Grandpa?" Noelle protested, clearly displeased. "You have to stick around and watch the little ones grow up!"Maxwell chuckled, delighted by her response. "This girl always knows what to say! But you and Charlie have been married for so long without a wedding or a banquet. Now, you don't even plan on hosting a proper celebration for the babies. What's the point of me staying around if I can't see these things happen?"Noelle was momentarily stunned. She had not expected him to steer the conversation in this direction, leaving her at a loss for words.Maxwell's statement quickly gained support from the others. Mateo and Henry both agreed that a wedding should be held."Exactly! You two have been married for ages, and there are still plenty of people out there who don't even know Noelle is part of the Hoffman family! Now that you've had kids, isn't it time to make things official?"Mateo turned to Charles. "And you, kid—say something! Your wife gave birt
Charles had done everything he could to help, but the emotional knot between them was something he could not untangle. If Liliana ultimately chose to walk away, he would step in to put a stop to Sean's silent pursuit.Yet every time he looked at Liliana's face, he was reminded of that gentle woman he had once sought out in the misty waterways.The Hoffman family had wronged her, yet she never harbored any resentment. Instead, she had only one request, which was for him to take care of Liliana, to watch over her, and to ensure she lived a safe and peaceful life.That woman had never asked for anything in her lifetime. In her final moments, her only wish was for Liliana to grow up in good health, without longing for wealth or status.Liliana seemed to sense someone watching her. She lifted her gaze but saw no one, so she quickly looked away, shifting her attention back to Bobby.She reached out and pinched his chubby little cheeks. "Do you like Uncle Charles' Phoenix Tree Residence
Noelle was speechless.Could someone please tell her why there was such blatant favoritism between two children born to the same parents?The people nearby had also noticed the situation, and soon, muffled laughter spread through the crowd.Even Yves and Kelly could not help but chuckle. Charles was clearly a devoted husband and a doting father—but only to his daughter.As for his son… It seemed Connor now had the lowest rank in the family.Yves shook his head and glanced down at Connor, who had stopped crying. The little boy simply stared at Glitter as if watching her intently.Noelle sighed, feeling both exasperated and amused. Was Charles being biased? Connor was just as adorable!Meanwhile, on the other side of the hall, Clarisse had previously reached out to Liliana in private, hoping she would return to the family.At first, Liliana had remained noncommittal. Later, even Maxwell had personally approached her, expressing his desire for her to come back, admitting that the
"What else could it be?"Noelle did not even need to look to know exactly what Charles was up to. She sighed as she glanced at her sister, who was still oblivious.Meanwhile, Yves and Charles seemed to have reached an agreement on stage. The two men shook hands before stepping down together.Charles walked straight to Noelle's side and, without hesitation, took Nora from her arms. The moment Nora saw him, her bright eyes sparkled with excitement.She let out a series of delighted coos, clearly overjoyed to be in his arms. She was barely a month old, yet somehow, she was already showing favoritism.Noelle could not help but feel a little jealous. She had been holding Nora just moments ago, yet the little one had not shown this level of enthusiasm.Pouting, she reached out and gently pinched Nora's cheek. In response, Nora turned her head away, ignoring Noelle entirely. Instead, she snuggled into Charles' chest, continuing her happy babbling.Noelle scowled. "Hmph, ungrateful litt
Charles chuckled. "Are you sure?"Yves narrowed his eyes and leaned in close, lowering his voice so only the two of them could hear. "Charles, what the hell are you up to?"Charles smirked. "Nothing much. I just want to make sure you're certain about this."His gaze suddenly shifted toward Kelly. "Tell me, do you think my dear sister-in-law might find someone better?"A sharp glint flashed through Yves' narrowed eyes. "Charles, aren't you afraid I'll take over Collosus Group entirely?" His teeth clenched as frustration flickered across his face.Charles simply shrugged, utterly unbothered. "I'm just afraid you won't.""You—" Yves could feel the vein in his temple pulsing.He never expected Charles—renowned for his ruthless decisiveness—to be such a schemer! He was utterly devoid of a moral compass. "Where is your conscience?"Charles arched a brow. "Can't help it. I have a wife and kids to take care of. I don't have time to waste.""And I do?" Yves shot back, clearly irritated