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Chapter 29
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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
The Sway and Slide of Love Chapter 37
Hendrix's gaze didn't linger on Noelle, as if he had no interest in knowing why she was there. Instead, he stood rooted to his spot, waiting for… Sandra.After a glance, Noelle withdrew her gaze and asked Sandra, "What do you want?"Sandra begged. "Come home with me, Noelle. Don't fight with Mom and Dad anymore, alright?""Sorry, but I'm not going back." Noelle was adamant.Not giving up just yet, Sandra turned to Evelyn. "Are you Noelle's friend? Would you please tell her to come—""She's an adult. She doesn't need you worrying about her decisions, okay?" Evelyn said after a chuckle.Stumped, Sandra quickly responded, "But Mom and Dad are sad! Noelle, can you really watch them lose appetite and sleep over worrying you? How can you be this heartless?"Then, tears began rolling down her face. That sight impressed Evelyn. "You've got quite an acting talent. Have you ever considered joining the entertainment industry?"Her sarcastic question baffled Sandra.Before she could say a
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The Sway and Slide of Love Chapter 768
Hendrix hadn't planned on telling Noelle all of this. As the doctor had said, once the blood clot dissipated, she might remember everything on her own. So, he didn't want to push her.And if she never remembered, that was fine, too. He had come to think that staying here for a while longer might not be a bad idea because Noelle could get the maternal love she had always longed for from Irene.As for their relationship… Well, it had been an arranged marriage from the start. The moment she was of age, they had wed without hesitation. Even their first kiss had happened during their wedding photoshoot.So Hendrix thought, if she had forgotten all of that, he could just court her again. It would be a chance to make up for the romance they had missed out on before.But now, he had no choice but to tell her. He had finally found her, and it would be the biggest joke of all if she ended up marrying someone else because of what others said. There was no way he would ever allow that to happe
The Sway and Slide of Love Chapter 767
Noelle couldn't help but frown.But before she could say anything, Hendrix suddenly asked, "Why didn't you come?""What?""I'm asking why you didn't come to the hospital. Was it because you were too busy getting married?"As Hendrix spoke, he took a step closer to her. His intense gaze felt as if he were trying to pull something out of Noelle.Noelle froze for a moment but quickly replied, "I never said I would definitely go.""You said you'd take care of me.""I didn't say that. That was your own assumption," Noelle quickly retorted. Then, she looked up at him. "Besides, I'm pretty sure you have plenty of people taking care of you.""What do you mean?""You've definitely had a lot of women before, right?" Noelle forced a smile. "I don't know why you're staying here, but I'm not like those women. So, if you're just looking for some fun, don't waste your time on me."Noelle's voice was laced with sarcasm. But her eyes were slightly red, and her throat moved as if she was tryin
The Sway and Slide of Love Chapter 766
The woman who had shouted was about to continue making a scene, clearly intent on drawing the entire neighborhood's attention. But Hendrix quickly turned around.To her, a thief should have looked guilty. Yet, when he looked at her, his eyes were sharp and piercing. That gaze made the woman swallow her words before they could leave her mouth.Just then, Irene came out, holding something in her hand. When she saw Hendrix, her expression darkened. "How dare you show your face here again, you scoundrel? Do you have a death wish or something? Fine. I'll send you straight to hell right now!"As she spoke, she raised the object in her hand, ready to strike Hendrix—just like she had done several times before.But this time, Hendrix didn't dodge. Instead, he expressionlessly grabbed her hand. One of his arms was still in a splint. But even so, it was enough to stop Irene completely. Her eyes widened in shock.Noelle also came out from inside. When she saw Hendrix, she was momentarily stun
The Sway and Slide of Love Chapter 765
"Yes, Daddy promises you," Hendrix replied.He had initially felt unfamiliar and uncomfortable with this identity. But at this moment, he spoke that work with complete naturalness. His voice even carried a tenderness he hadn't even realized was there.After receiving his confirmation, Rosie finally hung up the phone.Hendrix put down his phone but remained in a daze for a long time. When he finally came back to his senses, a slow smile spread across his lips. Then, he turned to look out the window.Although it was already late summer, he felt the weather today was unusually perfect.…However, Hendrix's happiness didn't last long. Because the next day, Noelle didn't come to see him. Not just the next day, but also the third and fourth days.Hendrix couldn't sit still any longer. Ignoring the doctor's objections, he went ahead and arranged for his discharge. He didn't inform anyone else, simply hiring an unlicensed car in town to take him back to the village.He didn't even both
The Sway and Slide of Love Chapter 764
Hendrix's request for discharge was denied. This wasn't entirely unexpected.After all, with Austin personally instructing the hospital to take good care of Hendrix, they wouldn't dare make the slightest mistake.However, Hendrix soon realized that staying in the hospital wasn't without its benefits. After all, the signal here was significantly better than in the village.Although he had handed over matters in Coppersville to Erwin, he still had to keep a close watch. After all, Erwin had no sense of restraint, and Hendrix didn't want things to escalate into an ugly mess.More importantly, he didn't want Noelle to find out he had taken actions against the Swift family. He still wasn't sure what exactly happened to her that night. But he knew the Swift family was definitely involved.The Swift family's attitude toward Dylan had reached a point that was almost incomprehensible. Hendrix even wondered if Dylan had cast some kind of spell on them.Otherwise, how could someone who had
The Sway and Slide of Love Chapter 763
Hendrix slipped his hand effortlessly under her clothes, tracing up along Noelle's waist, inch by inch. He was more than familiar with this motion by now. After all, he had done this countless times in the past.He knew Noelle's body better than she did herself. But in the heat of the moment, he forgot one crucial thing—Noelle had lost her memories.She hadn't shown any resistance toward him, but that was only because she still had some lingering feelings for him. Some habits of hers—almost like subconscious reactions—remained. But those habits clearly didn't include being intimate with him right now.When Hendrix touched a certain spot, Noelle reacted like a startled cat—her eyes flew wide open. The next second, she shoved him away. And as a bonus, she slapped him across the face. Now that was her true instinctive reaction.Her slap wasn't particularly strong, but the crisp sound rang out loud and clear—especially in the silence of the hospital room.Hendrix, however, didn't reac
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
