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Chapter 194
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The Sway and Slide of Love Chapter 195
At that moment, amid the vast city, Hendrix suddenly really wanted to see Noelle. As he gripped the steering wheel and slowly pulled the car over to the side of the road, his phone suddenly rang.It was the hospital calling to inform him that William had woken up.…At the hospital, Craig stood over Matilda's bed, gazing at her ever-paler, frailer face. And with each passing moment, his own expression grew darker.To make matters worse, things were still far from settled with William. He'd heard that Hendrix had already gotten involved, and he couldn't understand why Hendrix would choose to meddle now. But there was nothing he could do to intervene.After all, his dealings with William were far from clean, and if he interfered, it would only expose his own involvement. Fortunately, he hadn't left any evidence behind. With only William's and Noelle's accusations, there was no way to prove anything.As Craig was thinking about this, Noelle's lawyer suddenly contacted him, saying th
The Sway and Slide of Love Chapter 196
The first official day back to work was eight days after Christmas. Hendrix clearly remembered that this day was supposed to be the first trial for Noelle's case. However, not long after, he received word that the trial had been canceled.Moreover, Noelle and William had already signed a memorandum of understanding. Hendrix couldn't believe it. The harm William had caused to Noelle wasn't just the recent knife attack but also the countless trauma in her childhood.Hendrix even thought that if he had been there at the time, he might have truly killed William—no matter how rational he usually was. So, he didn't think Noelle's retaliation was excessive in the slightest. A person like William deserved to go to hell.Yet, Hendrix was told that Noelle had made peace with William? He simply refused to believe it. In fact, his first thought was that Craig must have threatened her with something. But what weakness could she have left?He couldn't figure it out. After all, Cynthia was still
The Sway and Slide of Love Chapter 197
Noelle noticed her reaction. Following her gaze, she was momentarily stunned when she saw Hendrix. She then turned to the caregiver beside her and said, "Could you give us a moment?""Oh, sure." The caregiver remained dazed for a moment. Even though she felt intimidated by Hendrix's presence, she couldn't help but steal a few more glances at his handsome face before finally turning to leave and quietly closing the door behind her.Hendrix stood there, unmoving. From the moment he appeared, he had only coldly watched Noelle, not uttering a single word or making a single move.After a few moments of their silently staring at each other, Noelle finally said, "Mr. Freeman, I suggest you leave if you're just going to stand there and stare at me. I need all the rest I can get.""Are you out of your mind?" Hendrix finally asked, his voice colder than ever. "Do you even know what you're doing?""Yes." Noelle's response was crisp and calm."All this for a little bit of share in Elm Group?
The Sway and Slide of Love Chapter 198
The night after Hendrix visited Noelle, she suddenly heard a commotion from the room next door. When she got out of bed, she learned that something had happened to Matilda. Her condition had been unstable since the evening, and now, it had taken a sharp turn for the worse.Craig had already arrived, whereas Sandra was nowhere to be seen. When he saw Noelle sitting outside the emergency room, he immediately rushed over and grabbed her shoulders."How is she?"Noelle shook her head. "The doctors are still trying to save her.""How could this happen? She was fine when I left! Did you say something to her that caused her to be upset?"Craig's emotions were boiling over, and his first reaction was to find someone to take his frustration out on.Noelle simply looked at him calmly. "Aren't there cameras in the room? Why don't you check for yourself?"Her calm response left Craig at a loss for words.Soon, the door to the emergency room opened, and Craig immediately rushed forward."T
The Sway and Slide of Love Chapter 199
Sandra's voice was shrill, her eyes burning with anger and hatred as she glared at Noelle. But Noelle simply looked back at her calmly.In contrast to Noelle's composure, Sandra's outburst made her seem like a frenzied fool. Her expression darkened even more, and just as she was about to say something, Noelle beat her to it."If I were you, I'd start thinking about what to do next.""What do you mean by that? What are you talking about?""The person who's been protecting you all along is on the verge of death," Noelle said slowly. "Have you given any thought to what you'll do after that?"Sandra instinctively wanted to argue, but just as the words reached her lips, she swallowed them back. It was obvious Noelle was referring to Matilda.Over the years, it might have seemed like Craig was the one calling the shots in the Swanson family, but when it came to his attitude toward Noelle and Sandra, the real decision-maker was Matilda. Craig had always treated the two of them according
The Sway and Slide of Love Chapter 200
Despite the rushed nature of the wedding, all the important guests were still invited. Noelle, as the bride's family, stood at the entrance with Craig.She wore a champagne-colored gown, and her long hair was neatly styled up, exposing her slender neck. Her makeup was subtle, enhancing her natural beauty and giving her an exquisitely refined appearance.Although her outfit was modest enough, it was inevitable that people would still gossip about her due to the recent events. They naturally didn't say anything in front of Noelle, but the odd glances directed toward her still cut her like a knife.However, Noelle had anticipated this would happen before arriving, so she didn't react at all. Instead, she continued to greet everyone with a smile. It was at this moment that Ruth appeared.She was dressed quite extravagantly, wearing a pale, moon-white gown, seemingly unconcerned about clashing with the bride's wedding dress. Her makeup was strikingly bold, so much so that before anyone
The Sway and Slide of Love Chapter 201
Noelle simply smiled. She waited until Ruth had entered before lifting her gaze to welcome the next guest."Welcome."As she got to the last syllable, her voice noticeably softened, and her smile faltered for a brief moment. But she quickly regained her composure, her smile blossoming once more."Hello, Mr. Freeman."She wasn't sure when Hendrix had arrived, but judging by the presence of others behind him, it seemed he must have overheard her exchange with Ruth.Hendrix quickly swept past Noelle with his gaze before walking up to Craig."Congratulations.""Thank you."It wasn't even a second that they shook each other's hands before releasing them again.Noelle, however, was no longer looking at him. Instead, she turned her attention to the other guests, her smile still as bright as ever.…There were over a thousand guests today. Just the greeting portion alone made Noelle feel like her smile was about to freeze on her face. The next part of the event no longer required he
The Sway and Slide of Love Chapter 202
The ballroom was filled with a lively buzz in the air. Despite the rush, everything had gone smoothly, and the wedding was turning out just fine.Now, they had reached the moment of the evening—the exchange of rings, an event that would mark the climax of the night.Sandra looked at the man standing before her and asked suddenly, "Do you know whose idea it was to have the wedding today?"Maxwell didn't answer.Sandra smirked. "It was actually Noelle's idea. Don't you still have feelings for her? And look what happened. She didn't hesitate to drag you down just to spite me."Maxwell remained silent, as if he hadn't heard a word. He simply continued with the ceremony, slipping the ring onto her finger.Sandra clenched her teeth in frustration. "Does she think that just because I'm getting married, I'm no longer part of the Swanson family? Well, she's wrong. I agreed to this only because I wanted my dad to see how much I've been wronged. "Just wait. I'm going to take back what's m
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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.
The Sway and Slide of Love Chapter 822
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
