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
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
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
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.
Clark's jacket was draped over Noelle's shoulders, and she sat with her head lowered.She held the steaming cup of coffee the officer had given her, yet her body trembled uncontrollably.Clark had suffered a severe beating, outnumbered by the group. At first, he had held his own, but once they surrounded him, the fight quickly turned in their favor.Noelle had tried to step in, but Clark had blocked her way. No one could've imagined what might have happened if the arcade staff hadn't intervened so quickly."I'm fine. Don't worry," Clark said, still giving his statement to the police. When he noticed how pale Noelle looked, he gently took her hand.Noelle finally lifted her gaze, intending to say something. Yet, she froze as if she'd seen something too terrifying to process. Her already pale face drained further, and her fingers turned icy cold.Clark noticed and started to turn around, but a hand landed on Noelle's shoulder before he could check."I'm here to bail her out," Hend
Dan felt like he was uncovering something significant with Noelle standing beside Hendrix.His mind raced, but he forced himself to step forward. "Mr. Freeman."Hendrix barely glanced inside, and Dan understood immediately. "Don't worry. I'll handle it."Hendrix didn't say anything more. He practically threw Noelle into the car first, then tossed the teddy into a nearby trash can.Noelle watched his every move from the car. She opened her mouth to speak but ended up saying nothing.Hendrix quickly got in, and the car sped off. Noelle's heart raced as she turned to fasten her seatbelt. He didn't so much as glance at her.The scenery blurred as they drove, becoming more and more unfamiliar. Noelle frowned and was about to ask where they were going when Hendrix suddenly slammed on the brakes. The jolt threw her forward. Her seatbelt yanked her back, but her head slammed into the seat, sending a sharp pain through her head.She winced and turned toward Hendrix. His hand gripped th
"Hendrix, Clark is my friend. I just don't want you talking about him like that," Noelle said. She bit her lip and added, "He got hurt because of me tonight. I—"Hendrix laughed suddenly, his smile sending a shiver through Noelle."Noelle, have you forgotten the agreement we made?""I've told you. Clark and I are just friends. I—""If you're just friends, why lie?" Hendrix's voice grew colder, his gaze fixed on her.Noelle was about to deny it, but Hendrix cut her off, "Last week, the night you were late, you were with him, right?"Her words were caught in her throat, and Hendrix didn't give her a chance to answer. "If I'm not mistaken, you showered before going to Percy Gardens. What was it that made you need to shower?""We were just walking around the food festival!" she said quickly."So, you were with him," he said, his smile returning.Noelle's throat tightened, and she was speechless.Hendrix's smile grew wider as he watched her reaction. He reached for the cigaret
"But did you manage to keep your end of the bargain? Did you have fun at the ball? At the food festival? At the arcade? What other social rights do you have?" Hendrix questioned.He chuckled while adding, "Noelle, do you really think you're irreplaceable?" Having known him for so long, this seemed to be the most Noelle ever heard Hendrix say to her. However, each word seemed like a sharp knife, piercing directly into her heart. Noelle had known from the beginning that Hendrix was haughty and aloof, but he usually concealed that side of him. But at that moment, he was no longer hiding it. His disdainful gaze kept reminding her that they weren't in an equal relationship from the beginning until now. That was why she didn't have the so-called right to make friends. Noelle was just an accessory to Hendrix. Naturally, he didn't want her anymore since she was already considered filthy. "Get out. Don't make me say it for the fourth time," Hendrix said again.Noelle met his gaze fo
Noelle's slap was purely reflexive, as Hendrix was far too close to her. In truth, she knew that with his reflexes, he could have easily caught her hand and stopped her if he wanted to. But he didn't.The handprint from last night still lingered on his face, and now, it had been joined by a fresh one. A darkly ironic thought crossed Noelle's mind—at least his face was symmetrical now."Did you have a nightmare?" Hendrix asked, seemingly unfazed by the pain.Noelle didn't answer."Everything's okay. It's just a dream," Hendrix said, as if to himself. He continued getting dressed. "I'll be very busy today, so I won't join you for breakfast. You can go visit Craig at the hospital later. Oh, and while you're there, let him know the wedding with Dylan has been called off. As for the company, once I've taken care of things, I'll explain it to him myself."His words were succinct, leaving no room for discussion."What are you planning to do?" Noelle asked.Hendrix's hand paused sligh
Now that Noelle had withered and faded away, any belated attention and care were meaningless.She was about to close her eyes again, but in the next moment, something on the dressing table caught her attention. If she wasn't mistaken, the set of skincare products sitting there was from her usual brand.Then, her gaze shifted to the curtain ties on the bay window, followed by the glass doors of the walk-in closet across the room. Through the transparent panels, she spotted clothes that looked all too familiar.It was at that moment Noelle realized—he had brought over all the things she had once left behind here. But the truth was, those items weren't really hers.The clothes had been the ones Beatrice insisted she buy, so she could live up to the title of "Mrs. Freeman" whenever she stepped out. They weren't bought with her own money, which was why Noelle hadn't taken them when she left.As for the skincare products, they were probably expired by now.Just as Noelle's thoughts wan
Noelle had never imagined that returning to Nivis Villa would look like this. Or perhaps it would be more accurate to say, on the day she left, she hadn't thought she would ever come back at all.It seemed Hendrix had dismissed all the maids, as the villa was completely dark when they entered.Hendrix led Noelle directly upstairs to the master bedroom. The furnishings inside seemed to have changed, but before Noelle could take in what was different, Hendrix had already pushed her onto the bed.He hadn't spoken a single word the entire way, though his face remained clouded with anger. Now, his actions were devoid of any gentleness. But Noelle had expected this, so she wasn't surprised in the slightest.She didn't resist either and simply lay there expressionlessly.Her unresponsive demeanor must have provoked Hendrix's dissatisfaction, because the next instant, he lowered his head and sank his teeth into her neck.He bit hard—so hard that Noelle could feel his teeth breaking her s
"Noe—" Dylan started, but Noelle didn't even glance at him.Instead, she strode directly toward Hendrix, stopping in front of him. "Let's go," she said hoarsely.Hendrix narrowed his eyes.Noelle, however, wasn't in the mood to think about anything else. She reached out and grabbed his arm without hesitation.Hendrix didn't put up any resistance, but just as they were about to leave, Dylan seemed to snap out of his daze and grabbed Noelle's other hand.The movement made Hendrix's expression darken, and he was about to say something when Noelle turned to Dylan first."There's no need to feel bad about this. I didn't choose you, either. With Elm Group in its current state, I can only take the path that benefits the company the most. I'd been thinking about how to tell you, but now, it doesn't matter. Neither of us has to feel guilty anymore. "As for the wedding… let's cancel it."With that, she pried Dylan's hand off her wrist and firmly pulled Hendrix forward.The club was sti
Hendrix didn't reply. Instead, he simply tossed the folder in his hand to Dylan.Dylan glanced down at the folder. Something flickered across his eyes, but in the end, he reached out and took it.The moment he skimmed the first few pages, his face turned as pale as a sheet, and his grip on the documents tightened instinctively.After a moment, Dylan finally looked at Hendrix. "What's the meaning of this?"Hendrix let out a soft laugh. "What do you think it means?"Dylan quickly regained his composure and asked, "Where did you get these?""That's not something you need to concern yourself with.""So? What do you want?"Sitting on the couch, Hendrix leisurely poured him a glass of wine and took a sip. Throughout the entire process, he maintained his usual elegance and composure, whereas Dylan's expression grew darker and darker.Finally, Hendrix said, "What do I want? I thought I'd already made it very clear.""Mr. Freeman, we're both men. Don't you think using tactics like thi
Hendrix grew exasperated. When he heard the sound of the door lock turning, he lifted his head and barked, "Get lost!"The single, decisive shout silenced everything outside instantly. Even the woman in his arms went completely still.Noelle seemed to realize that her resistance was futile. The hands she had been pressing against his chest slowly dropped away, and even the tears in her eyes vanished in that moment.She slowly sank back and tilted her head upward. Then, she simply stared at the glaring incandescent light with eyes filled with emptiness.Hendrix stared at her for a while before suddenly laughing. "Are you really that upset? Or do you feel wronged? Does it really hurt you so much to leave him?"He was smiling, even forcing a mocking tone into his words, but his hands were trembling uncontrollably. It was a pain that started deep in his chest, spreading through his bloodstream until it reached his fingertips.Noelle didn't answer him, but her expression was as good a
Hendrix reached out and gripped Noelle's chin. In a deep voice laced with a clear trace of anger, he asked, "You've fallen for Dylan, haven't you?"Noelle didn't answer, but she pressed her lips tighter and tighter. Her eyes still brimmed with tears, but the moisture only made them shine more brightly, more vividly. In their reflection, Hendrix could see himself clearly, and he could also see the unmistakable hatred within them.She hated him. Hendrix knew that, of course. From the moment he decided to take this path, he had already anticipated how she would react.But so what? Was he supposed to stand by and watch as they became nothing more than strangers who had nothing to do with each other?If that were the case, Hendrix would rather she hated him.He could live with that outcome—it wasn't something he couldn't accept. But the one thing he absolutely couldn't tolerate was her heart belonging to someone else.She could hate him because of the incident with Elm Group, beca
As soon as Hendrix finished speaking, Noelle suddenly stepped forward and raised her hand. But her slap never landed. Hendrix had caught her wrist, his face completely expressionless."You're crazy!" Noelle said.Hendrix smiled faintly. "Yeah, I know."Noelle didn't say another word, but she trembled even more violently as tears began to fall. Still, it seemed she refused to show any weakness in front of Hendrix. So, she quickly wiped away her tears."Dylan's grandfather is sick," she finally told Hendrix. "Alzheimer's. His condition is deteriorating quickly, and he might not remember anything soon. That's why Dylan proposed to me."But when she finished speaking, the answer she wanted never came.Hendrix's gaze remained cold as he looked at her. When he noticed Noelle was still staring at him, he even asked, "So? What does that have to do with me?"Noelle took a deep breath. "So, could the wedding—""No," Hendrix cut her off without hesitation, and Noelle's question was left u
Noelle's expression changed as she heard Hendrix's words, and she turned to look at him.Her expression made Hendrix feel like something was stabbing into his heart. It seemed like he was right.That contractual relationship seemed more than that now. Noelle had fallen for Dylan. If not, what could explain the look in her eyes now?Noelle didn't even react this way when he brought up her and Elm Group.The dull pain quickly spread across Hendrix's chest, accompanied by a familiar metallic taste. His Adam's apple bobbed a few times, and after taking several deep breaths, he finally managed to suppress the feeling and said, "It seems like you really care about him.""Hendrix, this is between us. Can you stop being so despicable and dragging innocent people into this mess?""Innocent?" Hendrix chuckled. "It seems like you really don't know much about your fiancé. Do you know what he's been doing behind your back?"Before Noelle could respond, Hendrix handed her a file. "Take a look