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Chapter 28
Bab terkait
The Sway and Slide of Love Chapter 29
"Did you hear what I said, Hendrix?"Ophelia's next words made Noelle purse her lips.So Hendrix was there, too.Hendrix's voice was calm as he said, "Grandma, I thought we agreed not to talk about this.""I agreed not to talk about this as long as she did what she was supposed to do! Look at this…" Midway through her rant, Ophelia began coughing violently."Grandma Ophelia!" Sandra cried."I'm fine," Ophelia said. "Hendrix, you're my only grandson. I only wish the best for you."Back then, your mother forced you to relent by holding the share of Amity Group over you, but now, she has no hold on you. You should think about ending your marriage with Noelle."Hendrix did not answer her.Noelle did not wait for an answer, either. As soon as Ophelia finished speaking, she pushed open the door and entered. Her sudden entrance made everyone in the room look toward her.Sandra was looking at Hendrix with affection in her eyes. When she saw Noelle, her expression changed. She quickly
The Sway and Slide of Love Chapter 30
As soon as Noelle finished speaking, Hendrix let go of her arm.He could assume that she was just being sulky the first time she suggested divorce, but this was the second time.It didn't seem like a joke anymore."Noelle, what are you talking about?" Sandra could barely hold in her smile, but she still did her best to act surprised. "How can you talk about divorce so easily? You and Hendrix…"Noelle ignored her. She just stared at Ophelia.Ophelia came back to her senses quickly. "Are you threatening me, Noelle?" She had reacted the exact same way Hendrix had a few days ago.Noelle just laughed and shook her head. "No, I'm not. I'm serious."Then, she turned to Hendrix. "We don't love each other. There's nothing tying us together. There's no point in tormenting ourselves with this marriage, so we should just part ways."Before Ophelia could say anything, Beatrice spoke up, "No! I do not agree with this!"She had intended for Noelle to show some goodwill to Ophelia. She hadn't
The Sway and Slide of Love Chapter 31
Once Noelle entered the cab, Matilda's call came. "Get home right now."Matilda then ended the call without waiting for a response.Noelle had no objections to that. Her original plan was to return to the Swanson residence anyway.Evidently, Matilda was one of sheer exasperation. Noelle had barely set foot inside the house when the former delivered a vicious slap.The impact was so forceful that it sent Noelle's hair—once neatly tucked behind her ear—flying, followed by a ringing buzz in her ears."Do you know what you've done?" Matilda thought the slap wasn't enough and was ready to deliver another one.Right then, a deep voice sounded and interrupted her movement, "Stop it."Matilda frowned, and her hand eventually dropped. When she looked up, she saw the person descending the stairs.The man was dressed in a neatly pressed shirt and a gray waistcoat, his hair showing strands of white. Yet, his posture remained straight, and his face showed no sign of age.Noelle watched as
The Sway and Slide of Love Chapter 32
Matilda asked why, huh? Teenage Noelle used to ponder about this when she first reunited with her family.Back then, she had tried to mimic every flattering gesture Sandra had used to win over her family. But what did that get her? Indifference.Things became crystal clear one day when she prepared a cup of coffee for Matilda. She had thanked her for the effort, only to discard it into the flowerpot behind her back.That night, she overheard the conversation between her parents.Matilda contemplated whether to take Noelle for an HIV test. At that time, she was too young to know what that was. It wasn't until later in life that she realized it was a test for AIDS.All because she was almost sexually assaulted by her adoptive father. To her parents, that incident remained an indelible stain on her name.Even if the truth revealed that nothing had happened, she was no longer pure to them, and she had lost the right to be their daughter.At that thought, Noelle shut her eyes tightly
The Sway and Slide of Love Chapter 33
Mabel was about to stop Noelle when she heard the sound of a car engine outside.She immediately darted downstairs. "Mr. Freeman, you need to see what's going on. I don't know what Mrs. Freeman is thinking again. She packed all her stuff and seemed ready to leave!"Hendrix didn't seem surprised by her words. Instead, he looked up and saw Noelle carrying her stuff down the stairs.His gaze shifted from her suitcase and slowly to her cheek, where a handprint was visible. She didn't dodge his gaze and asked, "When are we proceeding with the procedure?""I've informed the lawyer to come over." Hendrix finally withdrew his gaze and continued forward.Noelle quickly replied, "That won't be necessary. I'm leaving with nothing."He froze while ascending the stairs when he heard her statement. He cocked his head at her and said, "Even if you're walking away with nothing, you still need to sign the agreement."Noelle understood his meaning and no longer refuted him. Meanwhile, Mabel fin
The Sway and Slide of Love Chapter 34
Noelle vividly remembered when she first married Hendrix. Although she didn't win the favor of her own family, she was still the oldest daughter of the Swansons. Thus, her wedding was fairly grand.Six months before the wedding, they got engaged, chose a wedding gown, took photos, picked a registration date for their marriage, and eventually prepared for the wedding.During that period, Noelle halted all the matters in her life and focused solely on the wedding preparation. Yet, today, they ended their marriage in a few words within less than 30 minutes of legal procedure.Hendrix's lawyer worked efficiently, and there was no waiting period before the divorce was finalized. Soon enough, the couple received their divorce decrees.Hendrix appeared swamped with work. Incoming calls kept him occupied since he entered the courthouse, and after receiving the decree, he left while speaking on the phone.Noelle planned to bid farewell to him but realized he had left once she exited the co
The Sway and Slide of Love Chapter 35
"Be serious." Evelyn rolled her eyes. "You're supposed to be depicting a feel-good romance—all sweet and healing! If we publish this version, you and I are going to feel our readers' wrath."You know what? Take a break and clear your mind. I'll give you a two-week leave. Once you get yourself together, redraw it."Noelle could sense how adamant Evelyn was and no longer refuted her. Evelyn cast a few glances at her and asked, "So, why did you divorce your husband?"Wasn't your life just fine? Your meals were all taken care of, you had an unlimited credit card, and your husband gave you freedom—that's the dream, babe!"Noelle left her questions unanswered. She placed her books on the shelf and turned to Evelyn. "You haven't eaten, have you? Let me treat you to a meal."…Lavender Grove was the famous money pit of Coppersville, where only the most prominent figures in the circle were received. All customers required a membership card to enter.Sandra rarely came to places like th
The Sway and Slide of Love Chapter 36
Nobody answered Sandra's question. Meanwhile, the person who mentioned Maxwell quickly diverted the topic. "Who knows? They're just a bunch of insignificant people. Anyway, a toast to you, Hendrix!"In reality, he was apologizing for his blunder earlier. After all, regardless of how much Hendrix disliked Noelle, the divorce's entire nature changed if Maxwell was in the mix. Thankfully, Hendrix didn't hold it against him. He raised his wine glass and clinked it with him.After downing the glass, the person was ready to say more when Hendrix suddenly stood up. "I have somewhere else to be, so I'll see you guys around. Have fun, and put it on my account.""Huh? Wait…"Hendrix left the room before anyone could react. Sandra, on the other hand, quickly went after him. "Rix!""What do you need?" He turned his head, his voice calm but with a hint of coldness.She bit her lips. "I… I took a cab to come here. Could you send me home?""Sure," he replied unhesitatingly, his attitude
Bab terbaru
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
The Sway and Slide of Love Chapter 759
The moment Noelle saw her reflection in Hendrix's eyes, and when he stood under the streetlight and smiled at her, those feelings of resistance and fear vanished instantly.At the time, Noelle felt as if she had known him for a long time. Even under the dim light, she could vividly trace the contours of his face in her mind. It was as if she had done this countless times before.Even though her memories of the past remained a blank, just seeing him made her heart race. The feeling was unfamiliar, yet she knew exactly what it was and what it meant.She liked him, and it felt like she had liked him for a long time.…That night, Hendrix had to stay in the hospital. His whereabouts were supposed to be confidential, but the local authorities were already aware of his presence. After receiving Jerry's report, Austin Warren immediately came to visit with his team.Of course, Hendrix didn't tell them the truth about how he got injured. Instead, he simply claimed he had tripped and falle
The Sway and Slide of Love Chapter 758
Noelle wasn't quick enough to stop Irene this time.When Irene swung down her hoe, Hendrix instinctively raised his arm to block it. As a result, the wound he had just had re-bandaged at the hospital that day split open again. There was even a faint cracking sound, as if a bone had been fractured.Even for someone as tough as Hendrix, the intense pain was enough to make him frown, and cold sweat quickly beaded on his forehead."Mom!" Noelle rushed forward and grabbed Irene's arm.But was still in the heat of anger. She pushed Noelle aside and was about to strike again when Jerry, who had received an emergency call, arrived on the scene.Jerry felt his vision darken for a moment when he saw Hendrix's injury. Then, without hesitation, he and his team restrained Irene."What are you doing? You bunch of ass-kissers! Let me go!" Irene struggled fiercely, her curses never stopping.Jerry was at a loss. He was about to have her taken to the police station when Hendrix grabbed his arm.
The Sway and Slide of Love Chapter 757
"I haven't eaten yet. Will you grab a bite with me?" Hendrix asked Noelle.Noelle was stunned. But before she could react, Hendrix had already taken her hand and started leading her forward.Jerry had wanted to say something to Hendrix, but all he got was a distant wave as Hendrix took Noelle straight to the car.This was the car Hendrix had someone bring over yesterday. The once gleaming paint was now covered in splatters of mud after driving through the village's dirt roads. But he didn't mind.It wasn't until they had driven for a while that Noelle finally snapped out of her daze. "My mom will find out!""Don't worry. If she gets mad at you, I'll explain it to her.""She'll definitely hit you."Hendrix, holding the steering wheel, glanced at her. "What? Are you worried about me?""Of course not!" Noelle replied immediately. Then, she turned to look out the window.Hendrix watched her for a moment before reaching over and taking her hand."What are—" Noelle's eyes widened.
The Sway and Slide of Love Chapter 756
Irene owned a plot of land in the village. She used to grow corn on it, but in the past two years, a contractor from the neighboring village had come by, so she switched to growing strawberries instead.It was now the season for planting seedlings. After the morning's commotion, Noelle had convinced Irene to rest at home and took over the planting work herself.The task wasn't particularly strenuous, but bending over for long periods was exhausting. Noelle squatted down, but after a while, she started feeling dizzy. She closed her eyes, preparing to take a short break, when somebody suddenly yanked her up.Hendrix frowned at her and asked, "What are you doing?"Noelle was startled for a moment, then clumsily pushed his hand away. Only after taking several steps back to put a safe distance between them did she finally ask, "What are you doing here?"Hendrix's frown deepened at her reaction. "Are you afraid of me?""No," Noelle quickly denied it. Her flustered expression made it se
The Sway and Slide of Love Chapter 755
Hendrix wasn't a particularly delicate person, but even he found the environment hard to endure. Not long after, he was woken up by a commotion outside. He opened his eyes and pushed himself up, just in time to see what was happening outside the window.Irene was chasing someone off with a broom. Despite her age, she still had the energy to scold while giving chase, her voice so loud and full of vigor that it startled everyone inside and out. And then, she turned around and scolded the onlookers as well.Noelle followed closely behind her, sheltered under her protection. Her eyes were curious as she glanced around, but she didn't dare stray more than half a step from Irene.Just as Hendrix was watching, Noelle noticed him, too. She seemed to freeze for a moment, then quickly looked away and tugged at Irene's hand.After a bit more commotion, Irene finally pulled her inside and shut the door with a loud bang.Once inside, Irene turned to Noelle and said, "Don't worry, Nelly. Sid's
The Sway and Slide of Love Chapter 754
Noelle immediately turned around with panic written all over her face.Irene narrowed her eyes. "What were you doing outside so late in the night?""I-I thought I heard a cat meowing, so I went to check.""A cat?" Irene frowned. "What's so strange about a few cats in the village?"Noelle fell silent.Irene didn't press further, simply telling her to go to bed early before turning and heading back to her own room.Noelle followed behind her. The window in her room faced the house across the street—the one with the lit window, where Hendrix was staying.The broken glass in the window had been repaired earlier that day. The warm yellow light shining through matched the glow in her room. Noelle stared at it for a while before finally lying down to sleep.The night passed quickly.Irene didn't need much sleep. Before dawn even broke, she had already taken her hoe and headed out to work in the field.After making her bed, Noelle started preparing breakfast. Just as she was beating
