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Chapter 196

Author: Jean Song
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
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    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

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    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

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    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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    Noelle didn't respond to his words. Instead, she simply glanced at this retreating figure before slowly turning her gaze back to the portrait of the deceased. The woman in the photo was Matilda in her younger years. Ironically, she looked almost exactly like Noelle.On the day of the funeral, rain suddenly began to fall in Coppersville, and the temperature seemed even lower than it had been during last year's winter.Noelle had already put on her coat, but as she stood in the cemetery, she could still feel the cold wind seeping deep into her bones.The urn containing Matilda's ashes had already been laid to rest. It was only when the sound of the pastor's voice echoed through the cemetery that Noelle, almost as if waking from a daze, fully realized that Matilda was truly gone.Whether it was love or hate, it all seemed to vanish with Matilda's death. Noelle suddenly recalled the day Matilda closed her eyes for the last time. She wasn't sure whether it was guilt or something else, b

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    "Ms. Swanson, are you sure it's a good idea to have dinner alone with Mr. Carter? I mean, he—" Her assistant, Oliver Shaw, hesitated, leaving the rest unsaid.Noelle, of course, understood their concern. Ethan's reputation in Vinton City was far from stellar. His insistence on having dinner alone with her tonight naturally set off Oliver's alarm bells—and rightly so."It's fine. It's just dinner," Noelle replied calmly.After that, she opened the car door and stepped out onto the pavement. She had chosen the restaurant herself and, to avoid any potential "surprises", arrived half an hour early to order the food in advance.Ethan arrived just as Noelle finished filling up her glass with water."My apologies for keeping you waiting, Ms. Swanson.""No worries. I just got here myself," Noelle replied with a smile.Their first interaction was smooth, and everything seemed normal so far.After a few glasses of red wine, the conversation began to shift."Ms. Swanson, you've been here

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  • The Sway and Slide of Love   Chapter 812

    When Hendrix returned, Noelle was still engrossed in the files on her computer—so much so she didn't even notice he had come back."What are you looking at?" Hendrix whispered into her ear.Startled, she instinctively moved to block the screen before turning to ask, "How do you walk without making any sound?"Hendrix glanced at her computer screen. There was nothing scandalous—just some of her past work, things he had already seen.He had even bought all of her published works. For a while, anyone entering his office would spot, amid stacks of documents, a few brightly colored comic books on his desk.The covers featured intimate poses between a man and a woman. Normally, this wouldn't be noteworthy, but paired with Hendrix's image, the contrast was jarring.He knew what people whispered behind his back, but he simply ignored them.Now, with just one look at her screen, he could pinpoint exactly where the story had progressed. Oh, the male lead was about to kneel in the rain to

  • The Sway and Slide of Love   Chapter 811

    "At the time, Hendrix actually had no reason to target you and Mr. Swift," Noelle said.Marla froze for a moment. "W-what?""Isn't that true?" Noelle looked at her with genuine confusion in her eyes. "The only reason Hendrix dragged you and Mr. Swift into this was because you helped Dylan.""If you truly wanted me to live well, as you claim, you would never have let him take me away like that. That's why Hendrix came after you. And when you realized I was still alive, this was the outcome."Marla had no rebuttal."I already found out about what happened to Seline, and I'm grateful she saved Rosie. If possible, I'd gladly take her place in caring for you both. But ultimately, Rosie and I owe Seline, not you or Mr. Swift. In fact, the connection is faint at best."The moment you became Dylan's accomplice, whatever shred of obligation I owed toward you and Mr. Swift was paid in full. As for your current situation, I'm sorry, but there's nothing I can do."Marla had arrived brimming

  • The Sway and Slide of Love   Chapter 810

    Marla hadn't held back, and Noelle's cheek immediately flushed red.The household staff standing nearby paled at the sight and rushed forward to block Marla."Get out of my way!" Marla snarled through clenched teeth. "Noelle, you're nothing but an ungrateful bitch! After everything Seline did for you—if it weren't for her, you'd be long dead!"Back then, you lived worse than a stray dog left out in the cold. Seline helped you so much—she even died saving Rosie! And this is how you repay us, her parents?"Marla was hysterical.The household staff tried to shield Noelle while calling Hendrix. But Noelle stopped them. Then, she stepped forward to face Marla directly."Mrs. Freeman." The household staff looked worried, but Noelle ignored them.She stood before Marla and asked, "I have a question for you.""What is it? You—"Noelle cut her off, "Did you have anything to do with my disappearance and injury?"The softly spoken question instantly silenced Marla. The fury that had bee

  • The Sway and Slide of Love   Chapter 809

    "But didn't Noelle lose her memories?" Marla asked."Who knows if she's truly forgotten or just pretending? But that doesn't matter because even if she has, the fact remains that Seline died saving Rosie, no?""That's true.""Yet, she's now working with Hendrix to take you and Mr. Swift down. Don't you think it's wrong of her to do that?"Marla didn't respond."So, will you talk to her?" Dylan pressed.Marla frowned at him."It's chaotic outside now. The shareholders are screaming for Mr. Swift to take responsibility, but how could you bear to drag him into this mess when he's still lying unconscious?"His words snapped Marla out of her daze. "You're right.""Don't worry. I'll take care of Mr. Swift. Right now, the priority is stopping Hendrix as soon as possible."Marla glanced at Dylan, then at the man lying in bed—Marshall still hadn't woken up.The doctor said Marshall was out of danger, but no one could say when he would regain consciousness. Honestly speaking, Marla di

  • The Sway and Slide of Love   Chapter 808

    Hendrix's prediction was correct.That very night, Marshall was indeed rushed to the hospital. In all honesty, he should have anticipated their plan's failure. But what truly shattered him was Dylan's betrayal.Everyone close to him knew just how much trust he had placed in Dylan. He had even secretly discussed with Marla that it might not be a bad idea to leave their fortune to Dylan after their passing.After all, if not for Dylan, the two of them might not have survived the grief that followed Seline's death. In their eyes, he was no different from a son.Yet, Marshall never imagined that the person he trusted so deeply would ultimately stab him in the back.As he lay unconscious in the hospital bed, Marla unleashed all her fury and resentment toward Dylan."How could you do this? After all the trust we placed in you! Do you even have any humanity left?" She was practically screaming at the top of her lungs.At this point, there was nothing she could do. The situation of the

  • The Sway and Slide of Love   Chapter 807

    "You barely ate anything back there, so I'm taking you for buffalo wings," Hendrix said."Buffalo wings?" Noelle turned to him in surprise.Hendrix caught her hand. "Yeah. You used to love it. Do you want to go?"A soft smile played on his lips now—a stark contrast to the cold expression he had worn earlier when discussing Dylan and the Swifts.Yet, this version of him felt strangely familiar to Noelle. Just as she studied him, Hendrix turned to look at her. "Well?"Only then did she realize he had asked her a question. After a brief hesitation, she finally nodded. "Okay."The car smoothly changed lanes, eventually pulling up in front of a shopping mall.It was a weekend, so the place was crowded. When Hendrix led her to the buffalo wings restaurant, they were even told that there was a waitlist.Hendrix instantly frowned. He turned to ask if Noelle wanted to go somewhere else, only to find her staring fixed ahead at a warmly lit bakery, its entrance adorned with a row of cotto

  • The Sway and Slide of Love   Chapter 806

    A sharp pain shot through Dylan, forcing him to his knees. Gritting his teeth, he looked up, only to see Hendrix already standing and shielding Noelle behind him.Hendrix locked his gaze onto Dylan. His eyes were full of disdain, like Dylan was beneath him."You should be explaining yourself to Mr. Swift right now. Why don't you tell me what really happened?"As he spoke, his eyes flicked toward Marshall.By then, Marshall's expression had already turned ashen, and his chest was rising and falling violently. He looked as if he might pass out any second.But Hendrix didn't care. He just grabbed Noelle's hand and walked out.Noelle glanced back at Dylan one last time.He was staring straight at her.That look felt strangely familiar to Noelle, like she'd seen it somewhere before. She tried to catch a glimpse of Marla and Marshall, but before she could, Hendrix yanked her out of the private room.Noelle couldn't help but ask, "Will they be okay in there?""Relax. I told the staf

  • The Sway and Slide of Love   Chapter 805

    After taking another sip of wine, Hendrix turned to Marshall. "Mr. Swift, you didn't invite us here today just to exchange pleasantries, did you?"His words made Marshall pause. He then slowly pressed his lips together."I'm well aware of Amity Group's current situation," Hendrix continued. "We all know survival of the fittest is the law in the world of business. But have you ever considered whether your business partners are truly reliable?"Dylan's expression darkened instantly. But then, he quickly scoffed and said, "Mr. Freeman, are you trying to drive a wedge between me and Mr. Swift?""Drive a wedge?" Hendrix's smile deepened. "You flatter yourself too much. After everything you've done, do I really need to do that?"Dylan clenched his fists.Just as he was about to retort, Hendrix shifted his attention back to Marshall. "Mr. Swift, you must be confused at what I'm talking about right now, but tomorrow's headlines will make it clear. The Amity Group shares you've acquired a

  • The Sway and Slide of Love   Chapter 804

    Hendrix's attitude was uncharacteristically deferential—enough to arouse suspicion and anxiety.But Marshall remained far calmer than Marla. He raised his glass without hesitation and said, "No need for apologies. What matters is that Noelle's been found.""Thank you for your concern, Mr. Swift," Hendrix replied.The two men conversed pleasantly, and after downing his drink in one gulp, Hendrix turned to look at Noelle.Noelle was frowning at the Swift couple, as if something had just occurred to her—or perhaps she was simply trying to recall a memory.But even that small action was enough to make Marla visibly uneasy.Clutching her wine glass, Marla hesitated for a moment before asking Noelle, "But why was there no news from you during that time? You have no idea how frantic Mr. Freeman was searching for you here. Were you unreachable, or was there another reason?"Marla probed carefully, her eyes fixed on Noelle, searching for something in her expression.Though she had alrea

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