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Chapter 44
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The Sway and Slide of Love Chapter 45
"Mr. Swanson, it's been a long time."The Hawthorne couple, Gregory Hawthorne and Wendy Spencer, exchanged polite handshakes with Craig. Then, their gazes converged on Noelle almost in unison.Craig glanced at Noelle. After she briefly clenched her hands together, she finally managed to force a smile."Let me introduce you to my daughter, Noelle," Craig said."She's very beautiful," Gregory responded first, then motioned to his son.The man across from Noelle then extended his hand. "Hello, I'm Liam Hawthorne."He was dressed in a crisp suit, with black-framed glasses perched on his nose. His features weren't striking, but they were well-balanced, and he wore a friendly smile. Noelle kept her strained smile in place and slowly reached out her hand. "Hello.""Let's all sit down!" Craig called out.Everyone settled into their seats, and Craig seamlessly started discussing business matters with Gregory.If Noelle hadn't been so clearly aware of their intentions, she might have
The Sway and Slide of Love Chapter 46
The dinner passed quietly in the end.Noelle didn't return with Craig. She asked the driver to take her back to her apartment instead. The driver glanced at Craig for confirmation. When Craig didn't object, he switched on his turn signal and took a different route.Noelle wasn't in the mood to talk to Craig. She turned her head, staring out the car window.But a moment later, her phone vibrated. She didn't look at it.However, Craig spoke up, "That's Liam, isn't it?"His words sounded like a reminder, but the underlying tone was clearly one of warning.Noelle finally unlocked her phone. Sure enough, the message was from Liam."It was a pleasure meeting you. I have two tickets to a concert tomorrow. I was wondering if you'd like to join me? Of course, I completely understand if you're busy."Liam's invitation wasn't exactly abrupt, but his intentions were clear.Noelle pursed her lips and replied, "Sure."After sending the message, she turned her phone toward Craig. "Satisfi
The Sway and Slide of Love Chapter 47
The dining table was left with just the two of them—mother and son."When are you moving back in?" Beatrice asked calmly, taking a sip of her soup.Hendrix furrowed his brows."I asked you to move out before because it was inconvenient for you to live here with Noelle. Now that you're divorced, you might as well move back," Beatrice continued."No need," Hendrix replied. "It's more convenient where I am now.""What's convenient about it? Bringing a new girlfriend back?" Beatrice's words sounded calm, but to Hendrix's ears, they were laced with subtle mockery.He set his cutlery down and looked at her with a neutral expression.However, Beatrice seemed unaffected and continued, "I'm serious. If you think your father's matchmaking was a mistake, then go ahead and make your own choices. I won't stop you."Beatrice paused, then added, "There's only one thing—Sandra. I will never allow her in this house.""Why?" Hendrix asked.Beatrice's face darkened. "Are you really thinking of
The Sway and Slide of Love Chapter 48
Noelle was wearing a long black dress. Her hair fell loosely over her shoulders, the ends slightly curled. There was a gentle smile at the corners of her lips, and she looked incredibly serene.Liam must have said something to her because her smile deepened, and then she lifted her eyes to look at him. Her gaze shimmered, like a glimmering lake under the sun.Hendrix realized he had never seen her smile like that before. In his memories, Noelle had always been quiet and dull.But as soon as the thought crossed his mind, another memory surfaced.It was from the last time in the car, when she had kissed him suddenly—an impulsive kiss that landed on his lips while they fought over the sketchbook.That had been Noelle's first kiss to him. And it seemed it would also be the last.As Hendrix lingered on that thought, ahead of him, Liam had taken a few steps forward. He turned and said something else to Noelle, who smiled and shook her head.Liam didn't say anything more. He just opene
The Sway and Slide of Love Chapter 49
Noelle knew it all, but she still found herself instinctively saying what she said out loud. Then, in his response, she heard the answer she had already known, and it felt almost like self-inflicted torture."I understand," Noelle said. "Have you said everything you wanted to say, Mr. Freeman? Can I get out now?"Hendrix didn't say another word, but the car slowed down slightly. Finally, he pulled over to the side of the road.Noelle didn't hesitate. She turned and reached for the door."Noelle," he called out suddenly from behind her.She paused while opening the door, but she didn't turn around.Hendrix gripped the steering wheel, carefully considering his words. "For the sake of our time as a married couple, you… can come to me if the Swansons are facing any difficulties."Don't try to disgust me like this."Noelle slowly tightened her grip on the door handle.After a long pause, she said, "Well, thank you, Mr. Freeman."With that, she opened the door. She didn't look at h
The Sway and Slide of Love Chapter 50
Noelle didn't sleep a wink that night. Every time she closed her eyes, the nightmares crept in.A damp, dark room, a door that never quite closed, clothes inexplicably soiled and drawers rifled through, and finally, the man's disgusting, lecherous face.Eight years had passed, yet Noelle still couldn't escape the haunting memories. And now, her adoptive father, William Kaplan, was out of prison.He was free!Noelle didn't know how William had gotten her number, but the feeling it brought—the suffocating sense that she could never outrun him—was all too familiar.Even this apartment, the one she had only recently rented, no longer felt safe. She couldn't shake the sensation of unseen eyes watching her, waiting to pounce.Noelle couldn't stay here anymore.But where could she go?In the end, she went to the hospital.Noelle knew there wasn't much Cynthia could do for her, nor could she tell the latter anything. But just being there and seeing her gave Noelle a small measure of c
The Sway and Slide of Love Chapter 51
Finally, Noelle sank onto the couch, wrapping her arms tightly around herself.Just then, the same unknown number flashed on her phone again.She hadn't saved the number, but after seeing it just once the previous night, it was already seared into her memory. Without hesitation, she grabbed the phone and hurled it to the floor.…At Nivis Villa, Mabel stood on the other side of the ornate iron gate, her sharp gaze fixed on the scruffy man in front of her. "And who are you supposed to be?""I'm William Kaplan. I'm Luna's… I mean, Noelle's father," William said, baring a grin that revealed yellowed teeth. "I know she's staying here. Tell her to come out and see me."It was common knowledge in Coppersville that Noelle had been missing as a child and had spent over a decade in the countryside. One glance at the man, and Mabel instantly recognized who he was. Her lips curled in disdain as her gaze swept over him."Ms. Noelle has moved out.""She moved out? How is that possible? Isn'
The Sway and Slide of Love Chapter 52
Thanks to Mabel's reminder, Hendrix remembered that his birthday was approaching.Once he got into the car, he instinctively pulled out the lighter he always carried. It was black and gold, unadorned except for his initials engraved in the lower corner.It was a simple, unremarkable gift.However, it was the only gift Noelle had ever given him.The second year…Because he hadn't bothered to show up at their anniversary party, Noelle hadn't even sent him a perfunctory gift for his birthday last year.And this year…Hendrix cut the thought short, slipping the lighter back into his pocket before opening the tablet in front of him.But before he could focus, the car lurched to a sudden stop. The jarring motion made his brows furrow sharply, and his eyes were stern. Levi hurriedly explained, "Apologies, Mr. Freeman, but up ahead…"Before the man could finish, someone who had been blocking the car moved to Hendrix's window and began banging on it. The man appeared to be in his 50s
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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
