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Chapter 85
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The Cherished Wife Chapter 86
"Really?" Charles stood abruptly, yanking a paper from the pile behind him. "I didn't come here to listen to your excuses. You seem to be in the dark on how I operate. Since I've brought you in, it's clear—you're out of the Collosus Group.""Mr. Hoffman!" Jenson's legs turned to jelly, and he nearly dropped to his knees, "Mr. Hoffman, I admit it, I messed up! I was backed into a corner, you know? I've got my aging parents and my kids to look after, and sure, being the finance chief sounds like a sweet gig, but... it takes guts to do this job! I was desperate. My mom's sick in the hospital with heart disease, she needs a transplant, and I was out of options."Charles gave Mr. Lowry an icy stare. "I gave you a chance to come clean, and you wasted it!" With that, Charles hit the intercom button, and Ronald was in the room in a flash. "Mr. Hoffman, Joey's spilled the beans. A bunch of those phony accounts never reached you, so things were smooth sailing until now."A smirk played on Cha
The Cherished Wife Chapter 87
Ronald had just come back when he spotted Charles gazing out the towering window, lost in thought. Clearing his throat to announce his presence, Ronald caught Charles's attention.Charles shot a brief look at Ronald, who snapped to attention. "The guy's been taken care of, but Mr. Hoffman, are we good to go with this?""Why wouldn't we be?" Charles strolled over to his desk, picked up a cigarette, and rolled it between his fingers without lighting it. "It's high time we dealt with this. Letting it drag on isn't doing us any favors."Charles was the kind of guy who liked to get things done in one fell swoop since it was less hassle that way. "He's so fond of making moves, so let's give him a grand one to think about."Ronald sensed that Charles was dead set on taking Robert down this time. Things seemed to be moving faster than expected, and he could not quite catch Charles's drift. "You said before that you'd let him keep hopping around for a bit. I thought you weren't going to tou
The Cherished Wife Chapter 88
"Why should you tell me? It's work time, Noelle. Check that attitude," Xavier snapped, his voice taking on an edge. "Do you even care about this place?""I don't have to prove anything to you about my commitment here. If you don't need anything, Mr. Harris, I've got work to do," Noelle shot back, her voice icy.Her impatience was the last straw for Xavier. He grabbed her hand hard, forcing her to face him. "Noelle, we're at the office, and I'm the boss here!""Okay, Mr. Harris, what's the big deal? Tell me!" Noelle said with a frosty laugh. "Hey, we can talk without you grabbing my hand, right?" She clenched her teeth and said, "Let go!"After a struggle, she finally wrenched her hand free. Staring at the red marks Xavier's grip left, Noelle felt a surge of annoyance. "You were saying, Mr. Harris?""Do we really have to be like this, Noelle?""Not talking? Then I'm going back to work!" Noelle obviously did not want to keep bickering with Xavier, not here in the office with everyo
The Cherished Wife Chapter 89
"Yeah, I'm on the road. How about you?" Noelle asked. "I'll be there in half an hour or so.""Yeah, I'm out too. Let's meet up!"Half an hour later, Noelle spotted Charles chilling by the mall entrance, with no car in sight. She stepped out of the car. "Where's your car?""Ronald drove it off." Charles said with an easy grin, one hand chilling in his pocket. His smile was like a warm spring day, totally disarming.Noelle paused, a hand to her forehead, "Oh!" She could not help but think Charles was playing dirty with a smile like that. She never knew a guy could look so good just by smiling.Charles narrowed his eyes, catching Noelle's vibe, a spark of mischief in his gaze. "You don't seem too thrilled.""No way!" Noelle laughed awkwardly, "You're totally seeing things!""I guess I must be," Charles said with a playful smile, "Looks like I'll have to ask you for a lift home then, Mrs. Hoffman!"Noelle was speechless for a moment... Was he for real? "You can just call me Noelle.
The Cherished Wife Chapter 90
It took Noelle a while to catch the hidden meaning in Charles's words. By the time she pieced it together, the moment had slipped away, and she could not find a decent excuse to circle back to that conversation.They walked into the mall and made a beeline for the fresh produce. Noelle usually cooked at home. She rarely went to the mall for groceries, usually sticking to the local market. However, with her job eating up her time, her pots and pans were gathering dust.Charles was in his element, unlike Noelle. Following him through the aisles, Noelle felt that familiar tug of something more than admiration for this guy.She could not put her finger on it, but Charles was not like any rich kid she had ever met. He had this air of elegance and a cool charm but with a sly twist. He had the polish of the well-off without the usual arrogance.Noelle was at a loss for words. However, if anything, Charles was one of a kind.Charles, leading the way with the shopping cart, noticed Noelle
The Cherished Wife Chapter 91
"Oops!" Noelle carefully put back the extra items she had grabbed, "So now we... Ouch!"Before Noelle could finish her sentence, she was jolted by a shopping cart that a customer had accidentally let go of. The cart had come out of nowhere, and even Charles, with his ninja-like reflexes, could not catch it in time.Charles, with a swift move, pulled Noelle out of harm's way, but the cart clipped him, causing his ankle to twist.Noelle inhaled sharply, the throbbing pain in her calf forcing her to clench her teeth.Charles caught the pained look on Noelle's face and quickly shoved the cart aside, crouching down to massage the spot where she had been struck. "How are you? Does it hurt much?"The spot where Charles's hands were was tender, but Noelle shook her head. "I'm fine, really!""Are you sure you're okay? I'm so sorry!" A woman, clutching her child, hurried over, her face awash with remorse. "I was watching my little one and didn't see the cart get away from me. I'm terribly
The Cherished Wife Chapter 92
A warmth spread through Noelle's chest, though she tried to sound annoyed. "Really, what will people think, seeing me in here like this?""It’s either the cart or the hospital. Take your pick!" Charles challenged her with a choice.Noelle's mouth opened, but no words came out. She chose to remain silent.Sometimes Charles could be so overbearing, Noelle thought. However, in a strange way, his assertiveness was kind of endearing.Noelle knew Charles was only fussing over her because of her sprained ankle, and she realized that not every guy would be so thoughtful. She bit her lip and sat still in the shopping cart, twiddling her fingers. She was grateful, indeed, but she was also an adult, and being carted around by Charles was just plain weird.Out of Noelle's sight, Charles let a smile creep into his eyes, a fond grin that made everyone else around wish they had someone to look at them like that.Pushing the cart with one hand and juggling some groceries with the other, Charles
The Cherished Wife Chapter 93
Noelle, believing it was better to avoid making a scene, tugged at Charles's hand to keep him quiet. "We're really, really sorry!""Look, ma'am, you seem like a sensible person. There's been no harm done today, so we'll let it slide this time. However, you and your husband need to watch it from now on. What you do at home is your business, but in public, you’ve got to mind yourselves. Think about it. The mall is huge, with tons of people around. Something could go wrong, you know?""Yes, sir. That makes total sense. We've got it," Noelle said, flashing another smile and quickly adding, "We’re really sorry about this, won't happen again, promise."After her apology, Noelle shot Charles a look that could freeze lava. Noticing Charles's growing impatience, she took his hand and gave his palm a secret pinch. "Hey, it's no biggie, right? We messed up, that's all. Your turn to say sorry.""Me, apologize?" Charles scowled. Noelle's warning glance, however, told him this was not the time f
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The Cherished Wife Chapter 2000
After speaking, Liliana supported herself against the wall and headed to the restroom. Bob, still holding the bottle of hangover remedy, stood in place with a glimmer in his deep-set eyes.He smirked faintly, then chuckled and shook his head. Casually, he stuffed the remedy into his pants pocket and lingered there a while longer, lighting a cigarette before finally returning to the private room.Sean was inside drinking with a few others. They were all people brought in by Bob and were prominent figures in the pharmaceutical and medical industries.Truth be told, the entire dinner was simply Bob paving the way for Sean. Although these individuals were leaders in their fields, they still had to curry favor. The man they aimed to please was Bob—better known as Andy Jones, the second son of Jones Group.Though Bob was technically the second son, everyone in Cascade City knew he was the legitimate heir to the Jones family and, eventually, the Smiths as well. That made him a powerful fi
The Cherished Wife Chapter 1999
Liliana had not wanted to drink, but the other party insisted on making a toast. Under such circumstances, she could not exactly refuse. It was clear they would not even continue discussing the partnership unless she played along.She glanced at Adalee, whose expression was far from pleasant. However, given that they still had to maintain a working relationship with the client, Adalee subtly signaled Liliana to go along with it. Liliana understood—she could not say no.Hence, round after round, Liliana did her best to hold her own. She even tried to fake it occasionally, but she still ended up drinking quite a bit."Excuse me, I need to use the restroom," she said eventually, unable to take any more. Her head felt light, and her steps wobbled slightly as she walked.Though her alcohol tolerance was not exactly terrible, the combination of red and white wine tonight was rough. Even someone with a decent tolerance would struggle.She had not even reached the restroom when she stum
The Cherished Wife Chapter 1998
After finishing dinner, Liliana and Adalee went to pay the bill, only to be told it had already been paid for.Liliana instinctively suspected Sean, but Adalee, unaware, asked the cashier, "Who paid for it?""Are you Ms. Hoffman?" the cashier asked.Adalee shook her head and pointed at Liliana. "She is."The cashier smiled. "That's right. A Mr. Smith said to put the bill under his account."Liliana nodded. "Got it. Thank you."Adalee gave Liliana a curious glance. Judging by her reaction, she clearly knew the person. "Didn't you say you had never been to Cascade City before? How do you know someone here?"It was not until they got into the car that Liliana explained, "He's also from Brookville—a distant relative. I ran into him just now when I went to the restroom."Adalee nodded. Though she suspected things were not that simple, she did not press further.During their business trip in Cascade City, Adalee kept Liliana incredibly busy. Every day was packed to the brim, making
The Cherished Wife Chapter 1997
"I understand," Liliana said quietly, though deep down she wanted to retort, "You're not my real brother, so why do you care so much?"She truly did not want Sean meddling in her business. It would only make her overthink things. Especially when he reached out and ruffled her hair again, it only made her heart more chaotic.Sean looked at her expression and seemed to realize he might have overstepped. "Your brother isn't here, and you're out here alone. I'm his best friend. Of course, I should look after you."Liliana gave a faint, bitter smile. She knew it. Sean was only kind to her because she was a Hoffman and because she was Charles' sister."It's getting late. Have you finished eating?" Sean asked, rubbing his temples. His head throbbed a little—probably from the alcohol he'd had during the earlier dinner.He ran his long fingers through his thick hair, massaging his temples for a while before easing up. When he noticed Liliana staring at him, he looked up. "What is it?"Lil
The Cherished Wife Chapter 1996
By the time Liliana and Adalee left the factory, it was already evening. Adalee noticed that Liliana had been unusually quiet, so she tapped the notebook in her hand and asked, "Any thoughts?"Liliana blinked and replied, "Not really… Ms. Cobb, do you always handle everything personally like this?"Adalee found the question amusing. "Do you think getting to this position just means sitting comfortably behind a desk?""I didn't mean it like that!" Liliana's cheeks flushed slightly. "I actually admire you a lot."Adalee did not seem very old, yet she held a managerial position, which proved just how capable she was.Adalee waved a hand casually. "I was just lucky, and I worked hard for it. With time, you'll get there too.""I hope so."Liliana did not say more, and Adalee, thinking she might be hungry, brought her to a well-known seafood restaurant in Cascade City. "This place is pretty decent. I used to come here often when I traveled for work. Try it."Perhaps Adalee saw a bit
The Cherished Wife Chapter 1995
The first thing Liliana did after returning to the hotel was take a shower. When she came out, she noticed a missed call from Keith.She immediately called him back. "Keith? Sorry, I was in the shower when you called.""It's fine. I just wanted to check if you arrived safely."Keith sounded busy on the other end. He majored in computer science, and after graduating, he naturally found work in a related field. Liliana never asked much about his job, though Tania had mentioned that the company Keith worked for was quite decent."Have you finished work?""Almost. Just a bit more code to finish," Keith chuckled. "What about you? Tired?""Not really. I just had dinner with my supervisor. Now I'm back and planning to rest," Liliana said, rolling over on the bed.Remembering what Tania had told her the night before, she hesitated a moment and added, "Um, Keith… When I get back, let's go on a dinner date."There was a long silence on the other end of the phone. Then came the sound of s
The Cherished Wife Chapter 1994
"That's right!" Liliana nodded.Tania suddenly let out a squeal. "Didn't Keith come looking for you? Or at least ask you out for a farewell dinner or something?""What are you talking about? It's not like I'm never coming back," Liliana said as she reached out and tapped Tania on the forehead."I still need to pack and check on the flight. You think I'm just sitting around with nothing to do?""No, no, that's not what I meant. You're going away for a whole week! Are you telling me you two can stand being apart for that long?" Tania looked at her in disbelief. "Don't tell me you're in some fake relationship!"Liliana paused slightly while packing, clearly affected by Tania's comment.She had not thought much of it at first, but now that Tania mentioned it... Even though she and Keith were "trying things out", it felt like he was the only one putting in the effort. Had she done anything at all?"Normal couples would probably go out for a meal before a trip, right?" Liliana reflect
The Cherished Wife Chapter 1993
Joanna's expression turned utterly sour. She had not expected Liliana to react that way. There was no admiration or envy, just a sharp, sarcastic jab that left her embarrassed.It was obvious Liliana meant to mock her, implying she had no authority to make decisions because she was not actually Sean's girlfriend.Joanna was furious with Liliana's attitude. She had thought that even if Liliana did not say much, she would at least show a bit of jealousy. Maybe she would act like her classmates earlier at the restaurant, casting admiring and envious looks her way.Liliana had no idea what Joanna was thinking at the moment, but if she had, she would probably think Joanna was out of her mind."Joanna, I've got something to do. I'll head off first."Liliana spotted a cab pulling up, waved it down, and got in before Joanna could even react.Joanna stood where she was, watching the car drive off with her fists clenched tightly. "Liliana, what are you so smug about? Even if Sean treats yo
The Cherished Wife Chapter 1992
"Ms. Cobb?""Mhm, Adalee was my student. If I didn't know her well, I wouldn't have recommended you to her." Sofia looked at Liliana's serious and focused expression."You're capable, but some personal matters affected your work recently. You'll be graduating soon. It's important to plan things out. Figure out what you want and how to get there.""Thank you, Ms. Chapman!"Liliana genuinely felt Sofia's concern. "I'll definitely keep your advice in mind.""Good, very good." Sofia nodded in approval, clearly pleased with Liliana's mindset. "By the way, that young woman who's often with you… Her name is Tania, right? How's she doing?""Thanks to you, she's doing well."Dinner went smoothly. Perhaps it was because Liliana realized she would soon graduate and that she would not have many chances to see the professor who had taught her for four years.After walking Sofia out, Liliana lingered by the roadside for a bit.Suddenly, a shadow loomed in front of her. Liliana turned her he
