Share

Chapter 144

Author: Jean Song
Hendrix was in no hurry to go back to dinner after finishing his call. Instead, he hung back in the yard to have a smoke. As the minty taste of the cigarette slowly filled his mouth, so did his emotions gradually subside.

Suddenly, his phone rang just when he was about to finish smoking. He immediately declined the call after taking a glance at the caller ID. But the other party called again not even one second later. Hendrix frowned, and after hesitating for two seconds, he finally gave in and accepted the call.

"Hendrix, did you purposely let Brandon win the bidding for the Extensa Project?" asked Maxwell, his voice tight.

"Yeah," answered Hendrix softly.

Maxwell suddenly laughed. "My! You really are quite generous, aren't you? It's not every day I hear about someone handing over such a big project to their business competitor. Are you really that eager to help Brandon climb the ranks?"

"Are you done?" asked Hendrix impatiently. "Because if you are, I'm going to hang up now."

"
Continue to read this book for free
Scan code to download App
Locked Chapter

Related chapters

  • The Sway and Slide of Love   Chapter 145

    "And since she doesn't exist, you might as well marry a woman who can help you with your career," argued Beatrice, all logic.Hendrix was familiar with this side of her. After all, he wouldn't be where he was now if she hadn't brought him up that way.After staring intently at her for a while, he finally asked, "Why must I get married?"His question stumped Beatrice.Hendrix chuckled softly. "It's true I don't have anyone I like right now, but that doesn't mean I'll be willing to use my marriage as a barter. So, no. I'm not going to marry Yvonne, nor will I have any other relationship with her once the collaboration between our companies ends."He was about to walk away when Beatrice asked, "But haven't you done it once already? What does it matter if you do it again? Or could it be the reason you were willing to do it the first time was because the woman you were marrying was Noelle?"Her last question made Hendrix stop in his tracks. He looked over his shoulder and questioned,

  • The Sway and Slide of Love   Chapter 146

    For some reason, Hendrix found himself at Serene Street. Gripping his steering wheel, he glanced at the winding alleys ahead a few times but ultimately didn't get out of the car. Instead, he turned the car around.Soon, he saw Noelle. She was walking out of a pharmacy with her hands in her pockets, eyes lowered, and head bowed. The temperature in the city was very low today, so she was dressed in a black down jacket. She looked very soft and serene with her hair falling over her shoulders and the tip of her nose slightly red.As Hendrix watched her, he suddenly recalled what Beatrice had said to him earlier tonight. Indeed, he had no intention of using his marriage to gain anything, but back when the two families met to discuss his and Noelle's marriage, Hendrix didn't feel much resistance to the idea.He had always thought it was Beatrice's words that had stirred something in him. So he figured, why not fulfill Gerald's dying wish if marrying anyone was the same to him? But now,

  • The Sway and Slide of Love   Chapter 147

    As soon as Maxwell spoke, Noelle noticed the smell of alcohol on him. His eyes were slightly red, and he certainly didn't look sober."If you have something to say, just say it," Noelle said.Maxwell stood by the door, staring at her for a while before finally asking, "Why didn't you come to my engagement party?"The two of them hadn't had any contact with each other since the last incident, so Maxwell's question actually caught Noelle off guard.But she quickly regained her composure. "There was no need for me to attend.""What do you mean, 'No need for you to attend'? Aren't we friends?"The word "friends" sounded incredibly awkward when Maxwell said it.Noelle looked at him for a moment, then smiled. "No. We haven't been friends since you and Sandra teamed up to hurt me.""So you chose Brandon as your way of getting back at me?" All the expressions on Maxwell's face suddenly vanished as he locked his eyes on her. "Is getting married to him another way of getting back at me?"

  • The Sway and Slide of Love   Chapter 148

    As Maxwell spoke, his breath brushed against Noelle's cheek. That sensation suddenly reminded her of the times she had faced William, causing the same nauseating feeling to surge up within her in an instant.Clenching her teeth, she fixed her eyes on Maxwell in front of her. "Maxwell, if you so much as lay a finger on me, I'll call the police immediately.""Go ahead. Call them," Maxwell replied with a chuckle, then added, "Do you really think that with your current reputation, anyone will believe a word you say? Believe me when I say that everyone will just assume it was you who seduced me."Maxwell's face was lit with a subtle smile. It was the same smile Noelle was so familiar with. But now, that familiar face felt more like the devil's. She suddenly found herself at a loss for words. She parted her lips to speak, but in the end, no words came out.Maxwell's smile deepened further when he saw her like that. He tightened his grip on her shoulder while his other hand slid around

  • The Sway and Slide of Love   Chapter 149

    It was precisely because of Hendrix's calm demeanor that Noelle felt an even deeper sense of fear. This was the first time she had ever seen him like this.Normally, someone fought when they were driven by anger. But it was the complete opposite with Hendrix just now. Noelle could sense that he was unnervingly calm.In that brief moment, she couldn't shake the feeling that Maxwell was nothing more than an insignificant object in Hendrix's eyes—something he could control at will. Whether Maxwell lived or died seemed of no concern to him.When Hendrix spoke again, Noelle was still frozen in shock. Without sparing her another word, he glanced at her once more before pulling out his phone. Just as he was about to call the police, Noelle rushed forward and grabbed his hand to stop him."Don't…"Hendrix lowered his gaze to her, his eyes still devoid of any emotion."Let's get him to the hospital first." At last, Noelle found her voice.Hendrix didn't respond, nor did he move.After w

  • The Sway and Slide of Love   Chapter 150

    Hendrix's voice remained cold, but his grip on Noelle's wrist tightened. His actions gave Noelle an unsettling feeling, as if one wrong answer from her was enough reason for him to crush her bones."It's not that I don't want to see you," replied Noelle.Hendrix didn't respond immediately. Instead, he lifted his gaze to meet hers."It's just… I don't see the need to." Noelle pressed her lips together. "We—""Why did you marry me in the first place?" interrupted Hendrix.Noelle hadn't expected the question. The suddenness of it caused her expression to change, but she quickly regained her composure. "It was something our families decided.""Was that really the only reason?""What other reason could there be?"Hendrix fell silent, but his grip on her wrist loosened every so slightly.Noelle initially thought the conversation had come to an end, but the next moment, Hendrix spoke again, his voice calm but deliberate, "Noelle, based on your ability to sever ties with the Swanson f

  • The Sway and Slide of Love   Chapter 151

    Noelle swallowed back her words and glared at Hendrix with gritted teeth.Hendrix smiled out of the blue. "I just realized something. I can't seem to marry anyone else. But the strange thing was, when I was about to marry you, I didn't feel much resistance. Can you tell me why that is?"Noelle felt as though everything before her was unreal. It was as if she were standing on the edge of a cliff, one foot already slipping, her whole body about to plummet. But instead of the expected shattering impact, nothing came.On the contrary, it felt like she had fallen onto a vast, soft cloud. A cloud that was warm and sweet, a sensation she had never even dared to imagine before. Slowly, Noelle opened her eyes. The warmth of the sunlight greeted her. There was no cliff, no cloud, but the familiar bedroom in Percy Gardens.So that meant everything that had happened last night was not just a dream. As Noelle sat there, lost in thoughts, the phone next to her suddenly dinged. It was a messa

  • The Sway and Slide of Love   Chapter 152

    "I—" Noelle had just uttered the first word when Hendrix interrupted her, "You're still inside the apartment, right? I'm downstairs."Noelle's expression instantly changed when she heard that. She instinctively wanted to sneak a glance at the couple behind her, but as soon as she lifted her gaze, she saw their reflections in the mirror across from her.Coincidentally, Beatrice happened to lift her gaze as well. When their eyes met in the mirror, Noelle immediately calmed down."What are you doing here?" she finally asked Hendrix."To bring you out to eat," answered Hendrix matter-of-factly."I'm already in the elevator. Wait for me in the parking lot," Noelle replied quickly, pressing the button for the first floor.Beatrice stood silently behind her. She was the first to step out when the elevator arrived at the first floor. Her companion, seeming a bit slow to react, didn't say anything but gave Noelle a brief glance before following Beatrice out.Noelle quickly pressed the

Latest chapter

  • The Sway and Slide of Love   Chapter 768

    Hendrix hadn't planned on telling Noelle all of this. As the doctor had said, once the blood clot dissipated, she might remember everything on her own. So, he didn't want to push her.And if she never remembered, that was fine, too. He had come to think that staying here for a while longer might not be a bad idea because Noelle could get the maternal love she had always longed for from Irene.As for their relationship… Well, it had been an arranged marriage from the start. The moment she was of age, they had wed without hesitation. Even their first kiss had happened during their wedding photoshoot.So Hendrix thought, if she had forgotten all of that, he could just court her again. It would be a chance to make up for the romance they had missed out on before.But now, he had no choice but to tell her. He had finally found her, and it would be the biggest joke of all if she ended up marrying someone else because of what others said. There was no way he would ever allow that to happe

  • The Sway and Slide of Love   Chapter 767

    Noelle couldn't help but frown.But before she could say anything, Hendrix suddenly asked, "Why didn't you come?""What?""I'm asking why you didn't come to the hospital. Was it because you were too busy getting married?"As Hendrix spoke, he took a step closer to her. His intense gaze felt as if he were trying to pull something out of Noelle.Noelle froze for a moment but quickly replied, "I never said I would definitely go.""You said you'd take care of me.""I didn't say that. That was your own assumption," Noelle quickly retorted. Then, she looked up at him. "Besides, I'm pretty sure you have plenty of people taking care of you.""What do you mean?""You've definitely had a lot of women before, right?" Noelle forced a smile. "I don't know why you're staying here, but I'm not like those women. So, if you're just looking for some fun, don't waste your time on me."Noelle's voice was laced with sarcasm. But her eyes were slightly red, and her throat moved as if she was tryin

  • The Sway and Slide of Love   Chapter 766

    The woman who had shouted was about to continue making a scene, clearly intent on drawing the entire neighborhood's attention. But Hendrix quickly turned around.To her, a thief should have looked guilty. Yet, when he looked at her, his eyes were sharp and piercing. That gaze made the woman swallow her words before they could leave her mouth.Just then, Irene came out, holding something in her hand. When she saw Hendrix, her expression darkened. "How dare you show your face here again, you scoundrel? Do you have a death wish or something? Fine. I'll send you straight to hell right now!"As she spoke, she raised the object in her hand, ready to strike Hendrix—just like she had done several times before.But this time, Hendrix didn't dodge. Instead, he expressionlessly grabbed her hand. One of his arms was still in a splint. But even so, it was enough to stop Irene completely. Her eyes widened in shock.Noelle also came out from inside. When she saw Hendrix, she was momentarily stun

  • The Sway and Slide of Love   Chapter 765

    "Yes, Daddy promises you," Hendrix replied.He had initially felt unfamiliar and uncomfortable with this identity. But at this moment, he spoke that work with complete naturalness. His voice even carried a tenderness he hadn't even realized was there.After receiving his confirmation, Rosie finally hung up the phone.Hendrix put down his phone but remained in a daze for a long time. When he finally came back to his senses, a slow smile spread across his lips. Then, he turned to look out the window.Although it was already late summer, he felt the weather today was unusually perfect.…However, Hendrix's happiness didn't last long. Because the next day, Noelle didn't come to see him. Not just the next day, but also the third and fourth days.Hendrix couldn't sit still any longer. Ignoring the doctor's objections, he went ahead and arranged for his discharge. He didn't inform anyone else, simply hiring an unlicensed car in town to take him back to the village.He didn't even both

  • The Sway and Slide of Love   Chapter 764

    Hendrix's request for discharge was denied. This wasn't entirely unexpected.After all, with Austin personally instructing the hospital to take good care of Hendrix, they wouldn't dare make the slightest mistake.However, Hendrix soon realized that staying in the hospital wasn't without its benefits. After all, the signal here was significantly better than in the village.Although he had handed over matters in Coppersville to Erwin, he still had to keep a close watch. After all, Erwin had no sense of restraint, and Hendrix didn't want things to escalate into an ugly mess.More importantly, he didn't want Noelle to find out he had taken actions against the Swift family. He still wasn't sure what exactly happened to her that night. But he knew the Swift family was definitely involved.The Swift family's attitude toward Dylan had reached a point that was almost incomprehensible. Hendrix even wondered if Dylan had cast some kind of spell on them.Otherwise, how could someone who had

  • The Sway and Slide of Love   Chapter 763

    Hendrix slipped his hand effortlessly under her clothes, tracing up along Noelle's waist, inch by inch. He was more than familiar with this motion by now. After all, he had done this countless times in the past.He knew Noelle's body better than she did herself. But in the heat of the moment, he forgot one crucial thing—Noelle had lost her memories.She hadn't shown any resistance toward him, but that was only because she still had some lingering feelings for him. Some habits of hers—almost like subconscious reactions—remained. But those habits clearly didn't include being intimate with him right now.When Hendrix touched a certain spot, Noelle reacted like a startled cat—her eyes flew wide open. The next second, she shoved him away. And as a bonus, she slapped him across the face. Now that was her true instinctive reaction.Her slap wasn't particularly strong, but the crisp sound rang out loud and clear—especially in the silence of the hospital room.Hendrix, however, didn't reac

  • The Sway and Slide of Love   Chapter 762

    "Mr. Freeman, it's time to change your dressi—" The doctor's voice suddenly broke the silence.The unexpected interruption sent a jolt through Noelle. It was as if she had suddenly snapped back to reality. In a flurry, she pushed Hendrix away.She looked as though she had been caught doing something wrong. She stumbled backward several steps, her hands rising and falling repeatedly. Her lips quivered as if she wanted to speak but couldn't find the words. Panic filled her eyes, unmistakable and clear.The doctor, however, was tactful. "My apologies. I didn't mean to interrupt," he said quickly before excusing himself and leaving.Noelle's face turned an even deeper shade of red at this. She wanted to chase after the doctor, but Hendrix grabbed her hand again."Let go of me," Noelle said when she finally managed to find her voice.She had intended to reprimand him. But after the kiss and the nervous tension, her voice came out slightly hoarse, sounding almost alluring. Even Noelle

  • The Sway and Slide of Love   Chapter 761

    Noelle hadn't expected Hendrix to bring this up, so she was stunned for a moment. Then, she looked at him with confusion."I wanted to use the bathroom," he answered with a cheeky grin."Oh." Even though Noelle felt flustered, she still quickly stepped aside.Hendrix, however, remained seated. Noelle looked at him, puzzled.He chuckled and said, "My arm is injured. I can't even feed myself—do you think I can go to the bathroom on my own?"Noelle's expression changed instantly. "W-What do you mean?"Hendrix reached out and took her hand. "Help me," he said in a low and raspy voice.Noelle immediately shook her head. "No way!"As she spoke, she tried to pull her hand away.But even with only one good hand, Hendrix's grip was still strong.Not only did he not let go, but he slid his fingers through Noelle's and pressed his palm firmly against hers. The dry, burning warmth of his hand made Noelle's cheeks flush instantly. It was as if, at this moment, she wasn't holding his hand

  • The Sway and Slide of Love   Chapter 760

    Inside the bag was a thermos of soup she had made that morning. It was made with chicken and mushrooms she had bought early at the market. She had simmered them for half an hour, and as soon as she opened the lid, the rich aroma of the soup spread throughout the hospital room.Hendrix suddenly remembered the bowl of soup Noelle had given him late that night two days ago. Good food was never something he lacked. In fact, to him, food was just a necessity for survival. But that night, something about that simple bowl of soup had brought him to the brink of tears.He had found her. There had been a time when he truly believed she had vanished from this world. He thought he would never see her again. It was also in that moment that he fully understood what Noelle meant to him.After all, he had seen the light, so how could he ever return to the darkness? His life had been set on a certain path. Even Beatrice had never cooked him a bowl of soup before, and he had accepted that kind of li

Explore and read good novels for free
Free access to a vast number of good novels on GoodNovel app. Download the books you like and read anywhere & anytime.
Read books for free on the app
SCAN CODE TO READ ON APP
DMCA.com Protection Status