Hendrix wasn't sure if such a law really existed in the world—a law that claimed the more one worried about something happening, the more inevitable its occurrence. Similarly, the more one tried to avoid seeing someone, the more certain it became that they would cross paths.At that moment, Hendrix was staring expressionlessly at the woman not far away. Noelle's outfit today was simple yet elegant—a light blue shirt paired with a black skirt. Her hair was tied in a low ponytail, and her makeup was much more understated than the night before.But the smile on her face was genuine. She was laughing as she spoke to the man in front of her, and the entire atmosphere was one of warmth and happiness."Mr. Freeman?" Clayton Hayes asked hesitantly, standing beside Hendrix and still waiting for his instructions, when he noticed Hendrix had suddenly stopped walking.Hendrix tried to take a step forward, but for some reason, his feet felt unbearably heavy. And no matter how hard he tried, he
But it was as if Hendrix could read Noelle's mind, because before she could say anything, he spoke up, "Mr. Russo, Ms. Swanson—are you two close?"His question left everyone momentarily stunned, and it clicked—they all remembered the history between Hendrix and Noelle. In that instant, cold sweat began to trickle down Dominic's back.Noelle, however, remained composed. She smiled faintly and answered, "We're just friends.""Oh. In that case, we're all friends here. There's no need for formalities," replied Hendrix as he raised his glass.Everyone at the table immediately raised their glasses as well. After all, who would dare to refuse Hendrix?Noelle didn't understand just what the heck Hendrix was thinking, but she had no choice but to lift her glass and drink along.But after just one round, Hendrix suddenly turned to Dominic and asked, "If I'm not mistaken, the South Garden project belongs to your company, right?""Yes," Dominic quickly answered, a big smile on his face. "We
In truth, Noelle didn't want to be the one to stand out. In fact, the dinner had been going smoothly until Hendrix suddenly made his move, clearly aiming to put Dominic in a difficult position.She wasn't sure what personal grudges existed between them, but she knew one thing for certain—Dominic valued his pride deeply. And he would eventually take it out on Noelle for the way Hendrix had put him on the spot today. So, she had no choice but to step up.Hendrix fell silent, his fingers idly tracing the rim of his wine glass. His deep and unpredictable eyes, however, never left her.Noelle swiftly refilled her glass before continuing, "Coincidentally, it will soon be the tenth anniversary of Hayes Group's founding. Allow me to extend my congratulations to you, Mr. Hayes, in advance."Clayton's expressions remained slightly sour, yet he still lifted his glass. "You're too kind, Ms. Swanson."Hendrix watched the scene before him, a sudden chuckle escaping his lips. He then turned to N
Hendrix fell silent. His eyes narrowed as he observed her, as though waiting to see how she would handle downing the entire bottle of wine.Noticing his unspoken approval, Noelle immediately grabbed the bottle and raised it to her lips. She then poured the entire content straight down her throat.What no one noticed was that, under the table, Hendrix was clenching his fists tightly.…As soon as Noelle came out of the restroom, it was immediately clear to herself that there was no way she was okay.The waitress, noticing her unsteady gait, went up to help her. But before she could, Noelle shoved her away and leaned over the nearest trash bin. The next second she found herself retching violently.A sharp, fiery sensation surged from her stomach, bringing with it bitter bile, all of which she vomited out completely. She hadn't fully recovered from her cough, and now, tears and snot were streaming down her face. Her delicate makeup was ruined beyond repair, leaving her looking utter
Hendrix gazed at her in silence.Noelle could barely stand at this point. She was relying entirely on the last thread of willpower left in her mind to hold herself up. But the moment the elevator doors opened and she saw Oliver standing outside, that last thread of willpower instantly snapped.Noelle knew precisely what Dominic's intentions were. Although she had come alone tonight, she had sent Oliver a message earlier, informing him that he would need to pick her up when the time came.Oliver, knowing exactly where to find her, had been anxiously scanning the restaurant lobby. So when he finally spotted her in the elevator, he let out a sigh of relief.Ignoring Hendrix standing nearby, Noelle staggered a few steps toward Oliver before collapsing entirely. Without a second thought, Oliver rushed to catch her."Take me to the hospital," Noelle managed to whisper through the pain before everything went black and she passed out.Oliver didn't have the chance to ask what had happene
"Didn't you meet with Hendrix last night?" Craig mercilessly exposed her lie.Noelle fell silent.Craig, as if he knew what she was thinking, said, "Amity Group is planning something big over in Vinton City. By now, you should have a clear understanding of the current market trends there. If you can secure this partnership, you should know what it means for Elm Group."You wouldn't want to stay stuck in that subsidiary company forever, would you? If this partnership is finalized, it will prove your capabilities to everyone. When that time comes, I will officially transfer you back, and no one will question your position as a successor."Craig's words were unhurried.Noelle was tempted to take him up on his offer, but she was also well aware that he absolutely wouldn't really agree to let her go back and become the successor.The death of Matilda had always stayed with him, and the only reason he let Noelle stay in the company was merely because she was his only biological daughte
After seeing Clayton off, Noelle stood alone in front of the café. The heatwave rolling in from the street was a sharp contrast to the cool air from the air conditioning inside, and it made her throat itch uncomfortably.Fighting the urge to cough, Noelle pulled a throat lozenge from her bag and popped it into her mouth just as a call from the office came through, urging her to return for a meeting.The meeting's agenda was similar to what Craig had mentioned to her a few days ago. The past two years had seen a sluggish market, but Amity Group, as the industry leader, seemed untouched by the downturn.The incident with Beatrice had caused quite a stir at the time, and Hendrix was labeled as cold and unfilial by the media. He was also accused of pushing Beatrice to the brink, leaving her with no choice but to take that tragic path.Meanwhile, the couple who had lost their son, Lloyd, took every opportunity to find reporters to smear his reputation. Hendrix seemed completely unconcer
"We're at Neufit Sports Arena. Mr. Freeman mentioned he'd like to speak to you personally," said Julio.Noelle froze for a moment, then frowned. "With me?""Yes. Where are you right now? Should I have the driver come pick you up?""No need. I'll drive myself over."Noelle wasn't sure what Hendrix wanted, but since Julio was Craig's man and had already made it clear she should go, refusing would undoubtedly result in a report back to Craig. Reluctantly, she headed over.Hendrix and Julio were at the tennis court. Today, Hendrix was dressed casually in a white sweatshirt, his bangs falling over his forehead, giving him a slightly youthful, almost boyish look."Noelle's here." Julio quickly walked over and patted Noelle's shoulder in a mentor-like manner. "Even though she's only been with the company for a few months, her performance has been outstanding. "Take this recent project proposal for the Continental Reach—her ideas were so impressive that I—""Ms. Swanson, is it true th
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
"That's right." Hendrix nodded satisfactorily. "We already had bad blood, so why bother with fake pleasantries now?"He continued as he picked up the coffee cup in front of him. "You must really wish for my death right now, don't you?"Hendrix's voice was calm, with a faint smile on his lips, but the words he spoke were enough to leave Noelle speechless.She paused for a moment, but she quickly responded with a smile, "Yes, so you know.""Mm, but unfortunately, I'm still sitting here just fine," Hendrix said, showing no concern. He met her gaze with a cold stare. "And based on the current situation, I doubt I'm the one who's going to be ending things first."Noelle couldn't reply. Although Hendrix had treated her with this kind of attitude before, she still remembered clearly the taste of the drinks he forced upon her that night in Vinton City. At this moment, all she could see in his eyes was an endless coldness.Noelle's voice grew hoarser. "If that's the case, Mr. Freeman, w
Noelle subconsciously glanced at the person in the hospital room after hearing the secretary's words.Dylan was sitting quietly there.Looking at him, Noelle suddenly remembered the hug he gave her that morning. She knew that her relationship with him was purely contractual, including their marriage, but all she wanted at that moment was a hug.She knew this went beyond the scope of their agreement, but Dylan didn't bring it up, and neither did she.Perhaps Noelle had been looking at him for too long. Dylan sensed something unusual and immediately looked over at her.Noelle took a deep breath. "I need to go back to the company for a while. I'll arrange for a nurse to come over. As for here…""It's fine. Go ahead," Dylan quickly replied. "I don't have much to do today anyway.""But…""Have you forgotten? We're getting married soon, so your father is my father-in-law. Isn't it normal for me to take care of him?" Dylan's words rendered Noelle speechless.It was clearly not appr
"Noelle, I'm just an ordinary friend of his. I don't have that kind of influence." Sandra laughed, then added, "Actually, if you want to meet Mr. Mueller, maybe you should have Dylan…"Dylan, who had been sitting nearby, finally lifted his head when Sandra mentioned his name.But Noelle didn't pay him any attention. She grabbed Sandra's hand and pulled her out of the room."What's this about, Noelle? You're hurting me!" Sandra still spoke in a sweet tone, but as soon as Noelle dragged her to an isolated spot, she immediately yanked Noelle's hand away, her voice turning cold as she asked, "What do you want?""I should be asking you that," Noelle replied. "You should know very well what's going on with the family right now. If I could contact Javier myself, that'd be one thing, but the problem is now…""Now what? Noelle, I never thought I'd see the day when you'd be the one asking me for help." Sandra laughed, raising her chin and looking at her. "So, go ahead. Ask away. If it's a r
Noelle looked at Dylan for a long while, then smiled. "No need. Just stay with me like this." Dylan reached out and pulled her into his arms. His hug wasn't tight, and the faint fragrance on his body instantly filled Noelle's nose. Noelle made no effort to resist but slowly reached out and wrapped her arms around his waist. "How's your father?" Dylan asked her. "Acute stroke," she said softly. "But we got to the hospital on time, and the doctor said that as long as he wakes up, everything will be fine." "Mm, how about you go back and rest? I'll keep an eye on things here." "No. I won't be able to sleep even if I go back. Haven't you noticed my phone hasn't stopped ringing?" Dylan didn't reply. Noelle didn't know if he was feeling guilty for being unable to help her, so she said, "The wedding doesn't need to be postponed. Your grandfather has been looking forward to it for so long, so we can't disappoint him." "But…""Don't worry. I can still spare a day, and with Elm