"Him? Dating someone?" Henry shook his head. "You know Charlie's temperament well. Even Janet couldn't catch his eye; he's probably still thinking about that person." Henry sighed and shook his head.Nancy had a different perspective from Henry. "Henry, you know Charlie's temperament. What does he despise the most? Those two women both did exactly that, so Charlie won't have anything to do with them."Since Charles had grown up by Nancy's side, she understood his personality well. "I trust Charlie on this. If he's asking me to go over, it's probably because he doesn't want to come here, and that he certainly doesn't want the family to know. I'll go over and have a look.""That boy always preferred you, ever since he was little. Even though I'm his uncle, we ended up being distant." Henry spoke with a hint of jealousy, though it was not clear whether it was directed at Charles or Nancy.Nancy chuckled. "If Charlie knew his Uncle Henry felt this way, he'd be hurt.""That boy? Hurt?
"That's true. Ms. Nancy's condition has been quite severe lately, and although Mr. Clarrise hasn't done anything specific, her attitude toward Ms. Nancy hasn't been very good," James agreed that Henry and Nancy leaving for a while was for the best. "But is it okay for Mr. Henry to take care of Ms. Nancy on his own?""You don't need to worry about that. Henry can take care of his own wife just fine," Maxwell replied with a slight smile.In truth, Henry had been his favored choice for a successor back in the day, but Henry's heart was not in it, and Maxwell had not pushed further. Later on, with Charles's emergence, Maxwell felt reassured.The car sent by Charles was parked a little distance from the Hoffman residence—close enough for Henry and Nancy not to have to walk too far, but out of sight of the Hoffmans' household.Ronald and Andrew got out of the car. "Mr. Henry, Ms. Nancy."They quickly took the luggage. After helping Henry and Nancy get in, they started the car.Henry's
"She does look a bit like her, but it's not her." Henry sighed softly. "This girl seems quite nice." He turned to Ronald behind him and asked, "When did Charlie get married? Why didn't we know anything about it?""Well… Mr. Hoffman got married about five months ago. It's not just you, many people don't know about it," Ronald explained.Since Charles had invited Henry and Nancy over today, and Noelle had openly acknowledged the marriage, Ronald assumed Charles was not planning on hiding it from Henry and Nancy, so he decided to be upfront.Henry and Nancy were both shocked. They had not expected that Charles not only got married but had done so quite early and had kept it hidden for so long. Five months ago meant that Charles got married around the time when Robert had his incident.This kid really kept things under wraps, fooling everyone. If he had not invited them over today, they would probably still be in the dark."This girl…""Rest assured, she's very nice. You can see sh
"Your parents?" Nancy asked, looking up at Charles.However, Charles appeared calm and indifferent, as if he truly never considered telling them. Nancy understood and decided not to press further. "You brat, you didn't mention your marriage on the phone earlier. Your Uncle Henry and I came empty-handed, and this is our first time meeting...""Aunt Nancy, my name is Noelle Shaw. You can just call me Noelle," she smiled."Oh, Noelle." Nancy noted how Noelle behaved with grace and poise. Most importantly, Nancy could tell Noelle was genuinely pleasant and had treated them with respect, neither too humble nor arrogant.Plus, she seemed attentive to Charles as well, her eyes often following him. "Charlie, your Uncle Henry and I are meeting Noelle for the first time, and we didn't bring anything—that's just not right!""It's not a problem, Aunt Nancy," Noelle reassured her without any concern. "Actually, Charlie has wanted to introduce me to you for a while, but I felt the timing wasn
"Oh?" Henry raised an eyebrow and glanced at Charles, who nodded. He was clearly satisfied with Noelle's words. "It's true, Uncle Henry.""In that case, I have nothing more to say," Henry agreed. "I know you're prudent in your actions. Since you chose not to inform us earlier, I assume you had your reasons. I won't press further. But as for your parents and your grandfather…""I will tell them when the time is right. For now, I'd ask to keep this confidential, uncle," Charles responded, his expression turning serious.It was rare for Henry to see Charles take something so seriously. After a moment of silence, he nodded. "This is ultimately your decision, but I still think you should inform your father."Dealing with your parents will be rather tricky, especially with Janet in the picture. How do you plan to handle that?"Henry glanced at Noelle, noting that she did not seem fazed, which suggested she was already aware of Janet."You're both grown-ups with your own thoughts and th
Nancy smiled and shook her head. "Charlie is like my own child. I know his thoughts well. Since you both went through the trouble of inviting me, there's no harm in meeting whoever it is."With that, Nancy took out her phone and called Henry. "Henry, I've been craving fruit cake. Could you get some for me?""Right now?" Henry furrowed his brows together. "Alright, I'll go in a bit."After ending the call, Henry turned his gaze to Charles. "Since you've chosen to get married, live honestly and properly from now on. I think this girl is good—treat her well.""I will," Charles replied with a smile. "I married her, so I'll take responsibility for her for life."Henry chuckled. "You remind me of myself when I was young." Then he added, "But the girl's appearance…"Charles frowned. "She is who she is, and she's not anyone else. Uncle Henry, I know perfectly well whom I love.""That sets my mind at ease." Henry patted Charles on the shoulder. "You and Noelle take care of your Aunt Nanc
Noelle was stunned for a moment but quickly composed herself. "Hey, Steven!"Steven gave a slight nod, acknowledging Noelle. "Hi, Noelle. Where's Charlie?""Charlie is inside, and Aunt Nancy is here too," Noelle smiled. She then glanced at the young girl, nodding politely. "Steven, who's this?""Elly, aren't you going to greet her?""Ms. Noelle." Eloise's voice was sweet. It was the kind that made her instantly likable, completely different from the cold, hard tone she had used the previous night.Noelle smiled and nodded. "Hello, I'm Noelle Shaw." She then added, "Please come in!"Noelle led Steven and Eloise inside and handed them slippers to change into. "Steven, please go inside. Elly, you too."Noelle guided them to the living room before heading to the kitchen to make tea. Steven approached and squinted slightly as he noticed Nancy sitting on the couch. The woman before him overlapped yet diverged from the person in his memory. "Nancy."His voice was edged with respect. H
"I understand that it might be hard for you to believe me, Nancy. Even when I first saw her, I couldn't believe it either. It's incredible how two people can look so alike," Steven said as he motioned for Eloise to show her arm."I haven't brought Elly back to the Naylor family yet; I wanted you to see her first. You used to hold Elly when she was little, and she had a birthmark on her arm. Do you remember that?""I remember, I do," Nancy nodded, recalling the distinct birthmark that was hard to ignore.Steven gently lifted Eloise's sleeve, revealing her slightly thin arm, which was marred with multiple scars. They were seemingly accumulated over a long time, now healed into marks. Nancy was visibly shaken by the sight of the scars. However, when she saw the heart-shaped birthmark on Eloise's arm, she was finally convinced. "Yes, Elly did have a birthmark like this on her arm when she was little, though it was smaller back then. Are you really Elly?""I don't know," Eloise shook
"Wow, I can't believe that just happened!""Look at that! Charles is actually so considerate and gentle—it’s hard to believe!”Charles slipped the crystal shoes onto Noelle's feet and then scooped her up in his arms. With that, the noisy crowd made their way out of the place.Outside the place, a line of fancy cars waited. People climbed in, and they all set off for the hotel.As the luxury cars rolled away from the Smith residence, reporters followed, eager to capture every moment of the spectacle.Even though the Hoffmans and the Smiths had told the press to stay out of certain areas, they could not stop them from snapping pictures on the public streets. So, the day's big moments ended up all over the internet.In front of the hotel run by the Nexus Group, car after car pulled up and parked. The whole street had been cleared out just for today's wedding party.Charles, looking sharp in his white suit, stepped out of the car and turned his back to the door. A pretty figure in w
The church was alive with love and happiness, the air buzzing with laughter, congratulations, and heartfelt connections. For a moment, Charles stood still, holding Noelle’s hand, soaking in the overwhelming joy that surrounded them. It wasn’t just the ceremony that made the day special—it was the people they loved, the memories they’d shared, and the future they were about to build together.As the crowd slowly began to disperse, the newlyweds, still smiling and basking in the glow of their love, made their way out of the church, ready to begin the rest of their lives together.Just then, the bridesmaids—Kelly, Liliana and Linda—and the groomsmen—Sean, Peter, and the others—emerged from the church. They were all smiling, but especially Sean, who had his usual carefree, playful attitude. He walked up behind Charles as if he were about to give him a friendly shove.However, before Sean could do anything else, it was obvious that Charles was not pleased with him at all. With a quick mo
Meanwhile, Charles caught sight of his mother, Clarisse and father, Mateo, both of them beaming with pride. Clarisse's eyes were bright with tears as she dabbed at them with a tissue, while Mateo's face was etched with a quiet, proud smile."Charles!" Clarisse called out, her voice thick with emotion. She was barely holding it together, and her hands trembled as she waved him over for a hug. Charles went to her, his heart swelling, and pulled her into his arms. "I'm so proud of you," she whispered, and the emotion in her voice made his chest tighten. He pulled back, giving her a soft smile, and then hugged Mateo, who patted him on the back."Don't you go breaking her heart, Charles," Mateo said with a wink, making everyone nearby laugh. It was a comment Charles had heard many times before, but today, it carried a deeper, more heartfelt meaning.He turned to Noelle, and she smiled at him, her eyes crinkling at the corners in that way he loved. Her parents were waiting for her, and
When it was Noelle's turn, she spoke her vows in a voice that trembled ever so slightly, but her words were strong. "Charles, you are my home," she said. "From the moment we met, I knew I'd found someone who would be my partner for the rest of my life. I promise to love you, to support you, and to share my life with you in all its highs and lows."It was beautiful, simple, and perfect. Charles could feel his heart swelling again, but then it was full of certainty. That was it. That was the moment he had been waiting for.The officiant smiled and nodded, glancing at Charles. "By the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife. Charles, you may kiss your bride."The church erupted in applause as Charles leaned in to kiss Noelle, his heart beating faster than ever. The kiss was soft but full of meaning, a promise of everything to come. When they pulled away, he could not help but laugh with happiness, and Noelle joined in, her face flushed with joy.They turned to face
She appeared at the doorway, standing tall in her flowing white gown, the lace sparkling in the light. Her veil covered most of her face, but her eyes, the ones he had fallen in love with all those years ago, gleamed at him from beneath it. For a brief moment, it felt like time had stopped. She looked like an angel, and as she started her slow walk down the aisle, Charles could not help but feel his heart swell with love and pride.At her side, Kelly smiled at her, holding Noelle's bouquet carefully. Kelly, always the organized one, was keeping it together despite the emotion of the moment. However, just as they reached the halfway point, Kelly's heel caught on the edge of a pew, and she stumbled slightly. There was a collective gasp, followed by a nervous giggle from the crowd. Kelly straightened herself quickly, her face turning a little pink, but she winked at Noelle and whispered, "Just making sure everyone is paying attention." Noelle stifled a laugh, her cheeks flushing wi
The wedding began on a day filled with laughter and joy. Outside the church, Noelle and her bridesmaids stood together, while inside, Charles eagerly awaited her, clutching a bouquet of roses.Tania stood with Rowena and Teresa, their laughter and chatter creating a joyful buzz. Meanwhile, Noelle's heart was racing, but she stayed cool as a cucumber, took a deep breath, and braced herself for the biggest moment of her life."Hey, have you guys heard that funny wedding joke that's going around?" Tania piped up suddenly. Everyone turned to look at her, eager to hear the joke. "So, there was this bride who asked her bridesmaid, 'Can I go without shoes today?' The bridesmaid was surprised and asked, 'Why would you go without shoes?' The bride giggled and said, 'Because I don't want my own steps to be too loud!'" Tania chuckled, and everyone laughed along.The church doors swung open, and Noelle's dad held her hand, guiding her slowly down the long aisle toward Charles, who stood waiti
On the wedding day, Noelle's heart raced with excitement. She slipped into her beautiful wedding dress and stood looking at herself in the mirror. She was wearing a white gown and could hardly believe that moment was real. She looked so beautiful and full of hope that she almost forgot how nervous and thrilled she felt."You look so beautiful, Noelle! Like a princess," Linda said from behind her. Noelle turned and saw her bridesmaids smiling at her. She smiled back, feeling thankful and a little nervous."Thanks, everyone. I can't believe how perfect today is," Noelle said, her voice full of emotion. She looked at the ring in her hand, feeling so happy and excited.She walked over to the bed, picked up her phone, and called Charles. When he answered, she heard his deep voice say, "Honey, I can't wait to see you." Noelle felt a warm glow inside and smiled. "I feel the same, Charles. I love you."After she ended the call, she stood in front of the mirror once more, gazing at her wedd
Kelly and Noelle were sisters and looked almost the same, both incredibly beautiful. Liliana was like a finely carved statue of beauty, and then there were Linda and Eloise. One was sweet and charming, while the other was cool and aloof, like a regal ice queen.Tania blinked her eyes, "Aren't they lovely? I chose the bridesmaids' dresses." She let out a sigh, "I had hoped to be a bridesmaid too, such a shame!"Their happy chatter filled the house, and Noelle felt like the luckiest girl in the world. She turned to Kelly, her best bridesmaid, her eyes shining with thanks. "Kelly, I'm so grateful you're always here for me," Noelle said softly. Kelly grinned and gave her a gentle shoulder pat, "You don't have to thank me, Noelle. You're my sister and seeing you so happy with the right guy is all I could wish for."Linda, touched by their words, had teary eyes like she was the bride too. She dashed from the kitchen, lifted a cup, and laughed, "I feel like I've turned into your wedding pl
"Yeah." Charles chuckled, planting a kiss on the corner of Noelle's eye. "All of this is yours, feel free to touch all you want!"Noelle's cheeks flushed bright red, and she tried to pull her hands back, but Charles gently held onto them. "What's wrong? I don't let anyone else touch me!""You're such a tease!" Noelle's face turned even redder, "Ever since we got married, you've just gotten cheekier and cheekier.""Yeah, I'm all yours," Charles said as he cradled Noelle's face in his hands, their eyes locked in a gaze.Just like that, time stood still. They looked at each other as if they could never look away. "Charlie!""Noelle!" Charles gently cradled Noelle's face in his hands, showering her with soft kisses....The whole town of Brookville buzzed with excitement for Charles and Noelle's wedding. It was not just the big shots in the business world who were thrilled; people online and just about everyone else were talking about it, too. The media and social networks were all