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Chapter 101
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The Sway and Slide of Love Chapter 102
Noelle felt uncomfortable with Hendrix's current actions. She was about to grab the towel from his hands when Hendrix suddenly spoke, "I heard some news today." Noelle froze, her eyes locking onto his. "I might have a brother I don't know about," he said calmly.Noelle's eyes widened."What do you mean?""I mean my father might have an illegitimate child," Hendrix replied, his tone still eerily calm, as though he were discussing something entirely unrelated to himself.Noelle had no idea why he was suddenly sharing this with her.When they were married, they'd never had heart-to-heart conversations like this. She rarely asked him anything personal, and Hendrix had been even more tight-lipped.Sometimes, they'd go days without seeing or speaking to each other, even under the same roof. It was absurd for a married couple to live that way.And yet, Hendrix was now opening up about a deeply private family matter.Was it because she was no longer his wife, so he didn't feel t
The Sway and Slide of Love Chapter 103
Noelle and Hendrix had never shared a bed before. No matter how exhausted he left her, she would always remember to return to her own room. In truth, Noelle had always felt that they weren't really husband and wife. They were more like partners, both in bed and in life.To Noelle, lying together in the same bed without doing anything was far more intimate than sex. Only people who were truly in love could do that. And she and Hendrix clearly weren't.Now, she crouched beside the bed, watching him as he slept. She was very familiar with his face. She could clearly picture the sharp lines of his features even with her eyes closed. When she was younger, she had drawn his face more times than she could remember.Back then, Hendrix, in a crisp white school uniform, had been the center of attention at their school.Then, he grew up. His face became more striking and refined with age. His elegant demeanor only intensified. Noelle always felt worlds apart from him even when he was stan
The Sway and Slide of Love Chapter 104
Hendrix eventually went on the date.He was slightly surprised to see who his date was."Hello, Mr. Freeman," the woman said with a bright, dazzling smile. "I think you might remember me?""Yvonne Wright." Before Hendrix could respond, she extended her hand and supplied the answer. "We danced at the masquerade ball.""Ms. Wright, a pleasure," Hendrix replied, shaking her hand briefly. He made no mention of what happened at the ball, keeping his response curt."Why did you leave so suddenly that night?" Yvonne asked."An urgent matter came up," he said smoothly."Is that so?" Yvonne's smile deepened, carrying a subtle undertone that Hendrix didn't care for.It wasn't that her knowing look rattled him—he wasn't concerned about being caught in a lie. It was the energy she exuded—a kind of calculated playfulness—that made him uneasy. Hendrix didn't mind dealing with intelligent people, but he had no patience for those who fancied themselves too clever.Sensing the shift, Yvonn
The Sway and Slide of Love Chapter 105
Sandra's hands clenched into fists. "Why haven't I heard that you two are together?" "Maybe your sources aren't very reliable," Yvonne replied with a cheerful smile.Sandra couldn't come up with a response. She could only turn her gaze to Hendrix.But Hendrix wasn't paying attention. He was staring off into the distance, lost in thought. He finally snapped out of it, turning to look at her."Hendrix?" Sandra called his name softly."Didn't you say you had something to do? You should head out," Yvonne interjected before Hendrix could respond.Sandra glared at Yvonne for interrupting her, but Yvonne only smiled sweetly, meeting her gaze without a care."Fine. I'll be going, then," Hendrix said bluntly before turning and walking away.Sandra instinctively moved to follow him, but Yvonne stepped in her way. "Ms. Swanson, is there something else you need?""I want to talk to Hendrix. Why are you getting in the way?""Oh, that reminds me. I haven't had the chance to congratulate
The Sway and Slide of Love Chapter 106
Noelle studied Carl in front of her for a long moment before finally speaking, "Mr. Townsend, you should know who I am.""I do. I think we've even crossed paths at a few parties before, haven't we?" Carl asked."I just got divorced," Noelle added, her tone matter-of-fact."Yes, I heard. I have to say, I admire how decisively you ended things with Hendrix."Clark responded to everything Noelle said with an easy smile, which left her uncomfortable. She finally sighed and said, "I'm not interested in dating anyone right now.""That's fine," Clark replied with a grin. "We don't have to date. We can start as friends."Noelle found herself at a loss for words."Does that mean you agree? Great! Let's go!" Clark said as he reached for her hand.Startled, Noelle instinctively took two steps back.Clark looked at her in confusion. "What's wrong? Do you think my hand's poisonous?""No, I suddenly remembered I have something to take care of. I can't go.""Oh? What is it?""Work," Noell
The Sway and Slide of Love Chapter 107
Inside Percy Gardens, Hendrix sat in his study, scanning emails on the screen as his fingers drummed lightly on the phone beside him.Notifications kept popping up on his feed, but he only glanced at them, uninterested.It was past 11:00 pm when the front door creaked open.Hendrix stopped tapping on his phone but didn't get up. Instead, he turned off his screen with an unreadable expression.Noelle moved quietly, her steps barely making a sound. She checked his bedroom first, but when she found it empty, she headed to the study. The door was closed, and she stood outside for a while, not making a move. Hendrix ignored her, his face blank as he looked at the computer screen.Two minutes passed before she finally knocked. However, Hendrix didn't respond. After a brief hesitation, Noelle turned the handle and opened the door."You're... still working?" she asked softly, standing in the doorway.Hendrix finally looked up. Noelle had just showered, her damp hair clinging to
The Sway and Slide of Love Chapter 108
Hendrix never brought up that night again, and Noelle didn't, either.Two days later, Clark asked her out again, saying he wanted to grab some sliders.It was the first time Noelle realized asking someone out could be that simple.Clark was fun to be around. He loved a good time and always knew how to make it happen. He grew up in Coppersville, where nearly everyone in his circle knew him. Yet he wasn't drawn to flashy, extravagant clubs or bars. Instead, he preferred taking Noelle down old alleyways. Sometimes, they'd try a local delicacy, and other times, they'd pick up quirky trinkets.Hendrix, who also grew up in Coppersville, never took Noelle to places like that. They went out alone only a few times, and when they did, it was always to high-end restaurants.The only exception was when Noelle took him to a barbecue joint, though they didn't even manage to finish their meal that time.Clark was the complete opposite of Hendrix. He didn't carry the aloof, superior attitude t
The Sway and Slide of Love Chapter 109
Noelle didn't answer. She slowly took the stuffed animal from Clark's hands.Clark immediately noticed something was off. "What's wrong?"Noelle didn't respond. She lowered her eyes and murmured, "It's nothing. Let's go.""What happened?" he asked, his voice tinged with concern.She took a deep breath. "Someone bumped into me just now."Clark froze for a second. Then, as realization sank in, his expression shifted. "Which one?""What?""I said, which one?" His voice was sharp, and without waiting for her answer, he turned, scanning the crowd.At that moment, the man who'd bumped into Noelle walked up to another girl, still wearing that same sleazy grin."Is that him?" Clark asked, eyes narrowing.Before Noelle could respond, he had already rushed forward and punched the man in the nose."How dare you?" he yelled...."Mr. Freeman, the painting's been delivered. Here's the acceptance form," Dan said, handing Hendrix the paper.Hendrix nodded without a word.Dan hesitated.
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The Sway and Slide of Love Chapter 827
It took a while for Noelle to realize this was the Swift residence. Logically speaking, she shouldn't have had any memories of this place. After all, she had never come here since her return.But the body remembered things the mind could not lie about.Seated behind the wheel, Noelle could almost see glimpses of her past self walking through the gates. Back then, the Swift household must have been filled with laughter. Yet, how much time had passed since then?The desolation before her was jarring. She didn't know how long she had been staring when her phone rang. It was Hendrix."Where are you?" His voice was tight, filled with worry.Noelle paused before answering, "The Swift residence."A heavy silence followed on the other end. Then, as if he couldn't believe what he had just heard, he asked again, "What did you say?""The Swift residence," Noelle repeated. "But the villa has been sealed by the court, so I can't go in."This time, Hendrix heard her clearly, and he believed
The Sway and Slide of Love Chapter 826
"Marla hasn't done anything out of the ordinary. She just sits there all day in a daze, silent and motionless," the doctor said as he led Noelle forward.Even though it was the best psychiatric hospital available, its core nature remained the same. As they walked, Noelle couldn't help but feel a heavy sense of oppression in the air.The corridor was lined with locked doors—not regular hospital doors, but ones reinforced with metal bars. It looked less like a medical facility and more like a prison.The deeper they went, the more tightly Noelle's brows knit together.Marla was in the room at the very end. She was sitting with her back to the door, staring blankly at the small window above, lost in thought.Just the sight of her silhouette made Noelle feel as if she had been dealt a heavy blow to the chest."Marla," the doctor called her name.But she didn't offer any response.So, he tried again, "Marshall Swift."This was the only name that had elicited any reaction from her r
The Sway and Slide of Love Chapter 825
"I'll go with you," Hendrix said as he tried to get out of bed, but Noelle quickly pressed him back down."The bathroom is just inside the room. Why are you getting up?" she said with a frown, her tone tinged with displeasure."Oh, right," Hendrid replied. Only then did Noelle release her grip on him and get up.By the time she came back from the bathroom, Hendrix was fast asleep again.Noelle, however, still didn't feel sleepy. After taking a look out of the window at the pitch-black sea, she decided to go to the deck for some fresh air.Hendrix had only shown her the way once, but Noelle remembered it instantly. However, her timing was unfortunate, as someone was already on the deck.A man stood there smoking. The smoke rings left his lips, dissipating in the sea breeze before they could fully form.Noelle stood behind him, and the scent drifted over—pungent and sharp. She couldn't help but sneeze.The man immediately turned around. His body had been tense, his eyes sharp
The Sway and Slide of Love Chapter 824
"Perfect timing. You can explain things to Noelle," Hendrix said, standing in front of Erwin.Erwin stared at him in disbelief. "What did you say?"He came to settle a score with Hendrix, not to patch up their relationship."You're the one who caused this mess, so don't you think you should help me out here? Or is it that you're happy to see me struggling?" Hendrix asked.Of course, Erwin was happy. After all, he had always been on his own. Moreover, he believed that people like them didn't need a partner. They could have female companions or go on dates, but nothing deeper than that.There wouldn't even be any real emotions involved. What existed between them was merely a transaction. Their inner worlds were something no one could understand, nor did they need anyone to understand.But now, Hendrix was clearly going down a completely different path. Not only was he now bound by those things, but he even expected Erwin to help him out? It was pure insult!"Do you still want your
The Sway and Slide of Love Chapter 823
"Why are you with these people?" Noelle finally asked.It was the first thing she had said since they entered the room.Hendrix knew his answer was crucial, as it would decide whether she could accept what she had seen and heard. More importantly, it might decide the fate of their future together.So, he didn't hold back. He told her everything about Erwin, those people outside, and his connection to them.As Noelle listened, her brows drew closer and closer together.At the end, Hendrix emphasized, "I really don't hang out with them anymore. Back then, it was because everything in the country felt meaningless. I couldn't really find any real challenges. But now, I have something better to pursue. So, I barely touch those things anymore. And besides…"He looked at her then. "You already knew about all of this.""I did?""Yeah. You and Erwin know each other, too.""So, I knew you were messing around at their parties?""I never messed around," Hendrix denied without hesitation.
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Noelle had already sensed it earlier. That whole excuse about not letting Hendrix go home—he wasn't a child, and Erwin wasn't his father, so why would he stop him from leaving? Unless there was something else going on.So, Hendrix definitely hadn't been alone in that room earlier.Noelle's expression dimmed little by little, and she moved to pull her hand away. But Hendrix had already sensed the shift in her mood, and instead of letting go, he tightened his grip and pulled her straight into his arms.Then, he looked at the man across from them and said, "She's my wife."The man, clearly drunk, was still letting his gaze roam all over Noelle. He completely ignored what Hendrix said. In fact, he even looked upset when he saw Hendrix hold Noelle like that."Hendrix, why are you being so possessive? Aren't we supposed to share everything?""Shut up!" Hendrix cut him off without a second thought, then turned back to Noelle. "Let's go back to the room first."Noelle didn't respond, bu
The Sway and Slide of Love Chapter 821
Noelle frowned, finally piecing it together. "He's your friend?""No," Hendrix denied it without hesitation. "I don't have friends this stupid."As he spoke, he signaled a crew member to fetch a gangplank to help Noelle step up onto the yacht.Meanwhile, the safety team had already fished Erwin out of the water. Drenched from head to toe, he had been cursing nonstop until the frigid temperatures sent him into a sneezing fit, forcing him to retreat inside with assistance.Hendrix paid him no mind. Instead, he tossed a stack of cash to the fisherman before leading Noelle away."So, you two know each other?" Noelle asked again."Yes," Hendrix admitted. Then, he quickly added, "But I had no idea he called you. At the time, I was locked in a room by him, I swear.""Why did he lock you up?""I wanted to go home to you, but he wouldn't let me."His answer came naturally, yet Noelle's expression turned oddly pensive.She wasn't sure if it was just her imagination, but she felt someth
The Sway and Slide of Love Chapter 820
It was the dead of winter. The howling sea winds tangled Noelle's hair, her slender figure appearing even more fragile against the night's desolation. Frowning, she studied the figure before her with wariness and unfamiliarity. Erwin had originally planned to have someone put on an act for Noelle—just as he had told Hendrix earlier—to test her. But Hendrix had outright rejected the idea."I know she would risk everything for me, but I don't want her to. And I especially don't want her to later find out it was just a farce. What we have doesn't need to be proven like this."Hendrix had spoken with absolute certainty, yet that only made Erwin want to punch him more. He knew that the real reason Hendrix said that was to show off. Because the crux of his words lay in that first line—he knew Noelle would risk everything for him.So, where did this unshakeable confidence and boldness come from?Only seeing Noelle in front of him now did Erwin realize Hendrix's confidence wasn't due to
The Sway and Slide of Love Chapter 819
If it had been any other time, Erwin might have thought that Hendrix was simply being stubborn. But at that moment, Hendrix's gaze was deadly serious. There wasn't even a hint of evasion.Erwin stared at him for a while before chuckling coldly. "You're that confident, huh? But she's just a delicate woman.""It has nothing to do with whether she's delicate or not. All I know is she will come.""And what if she doesn't?""I will transfer all my shares to you."Hendrix's response stunned Erwin once again.His lips parted slightly, but it took him a moment to find his voice. "Are you serious?""Of course."Erwin studied him for a beat before suddenly laughing. "You're not just using this as an excuse to leave, are you?""Didn't you say it was a bet?" Hendrix countered. "If I win, what will you give me?"Erwin hadn't expected him to ask that. But honestly, this bet seemed like a guaranteed win for him.He knew why Hendrix liked Noelle. After all, men tend to like demure and beaut
