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Chapter 197
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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
The Sway and Slide of Love Chapter 203
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
The Sway and Slide of Love Chapter 204
"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
The Sway and Slide of Love Chapter 205
The woman continued her conversation, her eyes lighting up as she spotted something. She waved excitedly in that direction.Then, Noelle saw it, too—a sleek black car in the rain-soaked night. The license plate was unfamiliar, but the car's model was one Noelle recognized all too well. After all, it was Hendrix's favorite.She paused for a moment before turning her gaze away. Instead of calling for a ride, she decisively turned around and walked off into the rainy night.…"You're here!" Lana Ray didn't seem to notice anything else.As the driver stepped out to open the door, she eagerly got into the car.Hendrix was already seated inside, dressed in a black shirt with dark gold cufflinks featuring an intricate, elegant pattern. His slender hand rested on his knee, and his strikingly handsome face was devoid of any expression. His deep, piercing eyes stared ahead, shadowed by a hint of somberness."Mr. Freeman?" Lana called him again and followed his gaze for a moment, but she d
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Hendrix knew what Noelle was thinking, of course.From the moment she heard about his fate, her eyes had turned red. And though she had tried to pull away, she had ultimately held back.She probably thought she was hiding it well, but to Hendrix, every little thing she did was as clear as glass. But that was fine. If not for that, how else would he have had the chance or excuse to bring her to this hotel?Originally, he had wanted to take things slow with her and date her properly. But now, she already knew and acknowledged their marriage.Thus, it would just be stupid of him if he still took it slow. Besides, there was no law saying that he couldn't date someone after sleeping with them. If anything, this was the most crucial step.Noelle had clearly forgotten some things, including the fact that at his core, Hendrix was anything but kind.Even if she really had been pitying him just now, it didn't matter. Only the weak would resent someone's pity, seeing it as condescension or
The Sway and Slide of Love Chapter 779
And even if Noelle said no, would Hendrix really stop?However, she couldn't bring herself to say yes, either. In the end, she could only frown at Hendrix, frustration simmering in her chest.But in Hendrix's eyes, that look carried a different kind of vulnerability. He cupped her cheek as he asked again, "Should I keep going?"Noelle stayed silent and turned her face away.But Hendrix, ever the tease, refused to let her off so easily. He caught her chin between his fingers, forcing her to look back at him. "Why aren't you saying anything? So, you don't want me to keep going?""Ugh, you're so annoying!" Noelle finally snapped. "If you don't want to continue, just get off me!"There was anger in her words. But after everything that had just happened, her tone carried an unintended, breathy softness. In this moment, it almost sounded like she was flirting with him.Hendrix's smile deepened. "Ah, so that means we can keep going," he murmured, as if talking to himself.Noelle didn'
The Sway and Slide of Love Chapter 778
When vision was stripped away, the other senses became acutely heightened. At this moment, Noelle's hearing was especially sharp.As the approaching footsteps grew closer, her grip tightened instinctively. Her nails dug into her palm, but the sting was insignificant compared to everything else she was feeling.She had no idea how much time had passed. Maybe it was a few minutes, or maybe mere seconds. But to her, every moment felt endlessly stretched. Each breath she took felt as if it spanned a century.Like fleeting memories flashing by in a film, she barely had time to process how to face him before Hendrix had already laid down beside her.The queen-sized bed suddenly felt suffocatingly small. She could feel the heat of his body and smell the crisp scent of his shower gel.Then, his hand settled lightly on her waist. That single touch was enough to make Noelle go entirely rigid. Her already clenched fists tightened even more.And at that moment, Hendrix pulled back her blanke
The Sway and Slide of Love Chapter 777
Especially since Hendrix was already caught up in trouble because of Noelle—and now, he might even be facing prison time.At that thought, Noelle lowered her gaze again."Are you scared?" Hendrix suddenly asked.Noelle froze. Only then did she realize her fingers were trembling faintly.She tried to steady them, but it was no use. So, she could only answer him truthfully, "No.""Do you know what I'm going to do?" Hendrix asked again.By now, they were standing outside the hotel room door.Hendrix held the keycard in his hand. With only one arm usable, he had let go of Noelle's hand earlier. Meaning—if she wanted to, she could turn and run right now.But she didn't move. On the contrary, her eyes remained fixed on his every action.Hendrix looked at her and suddenly laughed. Then, he swiped the card and pulled her inside.The door clicked shut behind them.Hendrix didn't even bother inserting the keycard into the slot. He simply tossed it aside before lowering his head to kis
The Sway and Slide of Love Chapter 776
Hendrix had been scanning Noelle from head to toe. But when he heard her words, he paused slightly and looked at her again. "You were worried about me?""Yeah. They didn't make things difficult for you, did they?" Noelle frowned. "I can testify for you. It was Sid who attacked first, and you were just protecting me."Hendrix studied her for a moment before suddenly laughing. "Of course they made it difficult for me. That bastard is still lying in the hospital, and he might even end up disabled. I've been bailed out for now, but I might still have to stand trial later. Who knows? I might even end up in prison."Noelle slowly turned pale in the face as his words slowly sank in. She stared at him in disbelief, her voice trembling. "A-Are you serious?""Yeah."Noelle fell silent, her head bowing slowly. "I'm sorry. I'm really sorry."The choked sound of her voice sent an unexpected pang through Hendrix's chest. But he quickly suppressed it and asked, "Noelle, what will you do?""Wha
The Sway and Slide of Love Chapter 775
There was no answer.Irene immediately sensed something was wrong. She quickly removed the shovel propped against the door and swung it open, only to find no one inside the room.…"Mr. Freeman, rest assured, we will take care of this matter for you."Jerry's head was pounding. Ever since Hendrix had arrived in their jurisdiction, trouble had followed relentlessly. Yet, despite all this, he maintained a polite smile as he addressed Hendrix."What are you going to do with him?" Hendrix asked in return.Jerry hesitated for a moment before responding, "We've already looked into the matter. Rest assured, we will deal with him severely.""And what exactly do you mean by 'severely'?" Hendrix pressed, his gaze sharp enough to make sweat prickle at Jerry's temples."Well, given his attempted assault, under criminal law—""Assault?" Hendrix let out a low chuckle. "You seem to be mistaken. He was attempting rape and possibly even murder.""Murder?""Yes. Murder."Hendrix lifted his e
The Sway and Slide of Love Chapter 774
"Look at what they did to my son! My son was perfectly fine, and now he's lying in a hospital bed! I'll make sure that bastard rots in jail forever!"Joanne's shrill voice pierced through the door.Noelle sat on a chair, clutching a cup of hot water. Beside her sat Irene, her face dark with fury.The yelling outside continued, "Nelly is nothing but a slut! I knew from the start she was no good! Just look at that face. Who wouldn't she try to seduce? Sid isn't that kind of person! She must've failed to seduce him and then conspired with her lover to frame my son!"Irene couldn't take it anymore. She flung the door open, and the shouting stopped instantly.It was no surprise that Joanne would be scared of Irene since the old woman was holding a hoe in her hand."Get lost," Irene said simply.Joanne paled but stood her ground.Seeing this, Irene was just about to charge forward with her hoe when Joanne panicked and quickly turned to leave.But the onlookers lingered nearby, watch
The Sway and Slide of Love Chapter 773
But that was only if Sid had been willing to accept it. The way Hendrix had looked at him back then—cold and disdainful.And when he'd spoken, his voice had been so certain, as if he'd known Sid would take the money. And in the end, he had. But that didn't give Hendrix the right to look down on him.The more he thought about it—the way he'd been overjoyed when he first met Noelle during their matchmaking, the time and emotion he'd wasted on her—the more resentment burned in his chest."What do you want?"Noelle could feel the danger radiating off him. She kept stepping back, but Sid only advanced, step by step."What do I want?" Sid let out a cold laugh. "Simple. You just need to sleep with me once.""What did you say?" Noelle stared at him in disbelief.For a moment, she thought she must have misheard."Stop playing dumb!" Sid snarled impatiently. "Cut the act! I know you're no longer pure. I saw that bastard sneaking out of your house this morning. You've got some nerve. You
The Sway and Slide of Love Chapter 772
Noelle ended up leaving the room first. The moment she stepped out, she shut the door firmly behind her.Irene thought that was weird. "Why did you close the door?""No reason. Just a habit."Noelle's cheeks were still faintly flushed, and she avoided Irene's gaze, brushing off the question with a vague reply.Irene found it odd but didn't press further.After breakfast, Irene announced she was heading to the back mountain to gather herbs to sell at the market in a few days.Noelle had been thinking about how to divert her, and this played right into her plans."Come with me," Irene said. "And bring two more bottles of water."Noelle hesitated for a moment. She usually accompanied Irene on these trips, so refusing now would seem suspicious. In the end, she nodded.But before leaving, she suddenly called out, "I'm closing the door!"Her voice was loud, ensuring the person inside her room could hear.Irene gave her a strange look. "Who are you talking to?""You.""I'm standi
