The house in Stormridge hadn't been lived in for quite some time. After returning, Noelle spent several days cleaning before it was finally somewhat livable.Throughout the process, Rosie followed her around with a rag, buzzing about like a busy little bee. Just when Noelle thought their days would continue peacefully, an unexpected apology statement surfaced online.It was about the scandal involving her and Ebony from a few months ago. The person who had spread the rumors admitted that they had never actually seen Noelle harassing Ebony. They had simply been unhappy about Ebony working with Noelle and had chosen to fabricate the story to ruin her reputation.By now, most people online had already forgotten about the whole thing. But the entertainment industry was what it was—especially when it involved a celebrity with a massive following like Ebony.The moment the news broke, it immediately sparked widespread attention.Ebony also took to Twitter, stating that he and Noelle h
"It's me," Noelle said."I know," Hendrix replied."Did you handle the situation with Ebony?"Though she phrased it as a question, her tone said otherwise.Hendrix paused on the other end before responding with a quiet, "Yes.""Thank you for your help, but let's end it right here. There's no need to blacklist him.""What's the matter? Are you feeling sorry for him?" Hendrix asked, a hint of mockery in his voice. "Why would you feel sorry for a man who threw you under the bus the moment things went wrong?"Noelle naturally understood his implication but simply replied calmly, "If he had spoken up for me back then, it would've only made things worse. Besides, we were just colleagues, so he had no obligation to defend me. And it's not like he was the only one who stood by and did nothing, right?"Hendrix was left momentarily speechless by her words.Noelle didn't wait for his response and continued, "Regardless, I still appreciate what you've done. As for the rest, let's just for
Dylan had brought another gift for Rosie—a fluffy, white bunny plushie.This time, Rosie didn't refuse it. After getting Noelle's permission, she thanked Dylan and hugged the bunny tightly to her chest.Dylan smiled at her before turning his attention to Noelle. "How have you two been lately?""We've been doing well.""That's good. I saw the news today. It's great that everything's been cleared up. Does that mean your work can move forward smoothly now?"Noelle nodded. "More or less.""Awesome!" Dylan said with a nod.But soon, the conversation between them lulled into silence. Before coming here, Dylan had planned to say a lot to Noelle. Yet now, he suddenly didn't know how to begin. In the end, it was Noelle who broke the silence first. Is work not keeping you busy?""Oh, it's been manageable lately," Dylan replied. "The last quarter's projects wrapped up nicely, so I've got a bit of a break these days. Otherwise, I wouldn't have had time to come see you. Actually, I was ab
In the end, Noelle agreed to go on the trip with Dylan.Rosie was thrilled. She even packed her toy shovel into her suitcase, declaring that she was going to build a sandcastle for Noelle at the beach.Noelle smiled and agreed, helping her fit everything into the suitcase.Seline only found out about the trip later, and she was fully supportive. She even sent a package to the hotel for Noelle to pick up upon arrival.She had been mysterious about it, and Noelle had a bad feeling. When she finally received the package at the hotel, she had the urge to just throw it away.At the time, Dylan had gone ahead to check in while Noelle and Rosie waited in the lobby. Noelle was holding Rosie's hand as the two of them admired the fishes in the large fish tank there.When Dylan returned with the room keys and a pink bag, Noelle was puzzled."This… This is from Ms. Swift," he said.Noelle was taken aback. When she opened the bag and saw its contents, her face flushed red.Dylan quickly av
"Ms. Swanson!" a man called out excitedly from behind just as Noelle and Rosie reached the beach.He was wearing only swim trunks and a pair of sunglasses. His tall frame and striking features drew plenty of attention from those around him, but he seemed completely used to it.He walked up to Noelle with a grin. "What a coincidence to run into you here! By the way, where's your boyfriend?"Noelle pursed her lips before replying, "Hello, Mr. Lawson. It's been a while.""It has," Erwin said, removing his sunglasses and giving her a once-over.He seemed unimpressed by her modest swimsuit. He clicked his tongue before asking, "Why aren't you wearing the outfit from earlier? Or is that just something special for your boyfriend?"His words bordered on disrespectful, but Noelle knew he wasn't trying to flirt with her. Simply put, he didn't see her that way. From the woman who was just by his side, it was clear that he liked tall women with perfect figures.Hendrix had mentioned before
"We're fine with anything," Noelle said as she moved to sit beside Rosie. "You can just focus on work if you're busy. We can make our own plans.""It's a vacation. How can I just focus on work?" Dylan replied.Just then, Erwin suddenly walked over to them. "Ms. Swanson, may I interrupt for a moment?"Hearing his voice, Dylan immediately turned around. But Erwin didn't even spare him a glance. Instead, he handed his phone to Noelle."I'm not familiar with the apps here. Could you help me send my location?"Noelle looked at the screen. It was a chat log between Erwin and Hendrix. They had just finished a call, and Erwin was asking her to send his current location to Hendrix.Though Erwin lived abroad and might not be familiar with local apps, Noelle knew his intelligence far exceeded such a simple task. He was purely toying with her."You can ask your companion for help," Noelle told him."But she's not here right now, is she? Besides, it's just sending a location. You wouldn't r
After Erwin left, Dylan finally asked Noelle, "That man earlier is Hendrix's friend, right?""Yeah," Noelle said softly while keeping her focus on building the sandcastle."So, the person he mentioned who will be arriving soon is also Hendrix?""Probably."Dylan fell silent.Only then did Noelle realize something. She looked up and explained, "I have no idea why he's here, either."Her explanation sounded weak, but after a moment of studying her, Dylan smiled and nodded. "I believe you."Noelle thought his smile seemed a little off but didn't press further. She slowly lowered her gaze instead."How about seafood for dinner? I found a good place nearby," Dylan said.Noelle nodded. "Sure."Erwin's lingering presence that afternoon had left Noelle on edge. During dinner, she kept glancing toward the entrance, half-expecting Hendrix and Erwin to walk in at any moment.But to her surprise, they didn't.Her constant looks toward the door didn't go unnoticed, prompting Dylan to as
Dylan thought that as long as Noelle was by his side, that was enough. So, he quickly smiled and said, "It's okay. Honestly, just being with you two makes me happy. Really."Noelle raised an eyebrow but didn't respond."You don't have to force yourself," Dylan added. "We can take things slowly. It's fine to just get along like friends."Noelle met his gaze for a moment before finally nodding.Dylan couldn't help but reach out and gently stroked her hair. "I'll head back to my room now.""Okay. Get some rest," Noelle said with a smile before closing the door.Dylan walked a few steps down the hallway but suddenly felt something was off. He paused, then slowly turned around.At the other end of the hallway, another door was open. A man stood there, watching him expressionlessly. A cigarette dangled from his fingers, and it was unclear how long he had been standing there.Dylan raised an eyebrow in surprise but still offered the man a polite smile. Then, he opened the door to his
In the end, Hendrix made the call. It was the first time in over two years that he had contacted Nathan. But to his surprise, the person who answered wasn't Nathan."Who are you? Are you a family member of Nathan's?"The way the person spoke on the other end made Hendrix frown. He immediately sensed something was wrong. "What happened to Nathan?""He was in a car accident, and the wound got infected," the person replied. "If you're a family member of his, you'd better come quickly and have him transferred to another hospital."The country Nathan had gone to had extremely poor sanitation and healthcare. Countless people died from malaria every year. Even the locals struggled to get access to quality medical care. What was more to say for someone like Nathan, who was alone with no support?Hendrix had originally planned to let Nathan fend for himself there. After all, from the very beginning, he had never intended for him to return alive.But what Grant had said earlier had deeply
Noelle pursed her lips and finally took the document. "Thank you."After speaking, she glanced at Rosie. Rosie immediately caught on and said, "Thank you, Great-Grandma."Ophelia didn't say anything more. She just leaned back on her bed and looked at Rosie.Noelle didn't have much to say to her, and Rosie was still a little afraid of Ophelia, so they didn't stay long.Once Ophelia drifted off to sleep involuntarily, Noelle quietly led Rosie out of the room. She had expected Beatrice to still be waiting outside, but when she stepped out, she found Hendrix standing there instead.A frown immediately appeared on her face when she saw him.Hendrix, however, looked calm. When his gaze fell on Noelle, it first swept over the folder in her hand.After hesitating for a moment, Noelle handed the folder to him. "Mrs. Freeman Senior gave me these shares, but they're of no use to me. You can have them back."Hendrix smirked and said, "She didn't give them to me. Are you sure you don't wa
This was Noelle's first time visiting the nursing home where Ophelia lived. And barring any unexpected circumstances, it would likely be her last.Rosie was also visiting such a place for the first time, her eyes wide with curiosity as she looked around. She turned to Noelle and asked, "Mommy, why are all the people sunbathing over there so old?""Because this is a nursing home. It's where elderly people live.""Where are their children?""Probably working outside," Noelle answered."They don't stay with them? That must be so lonely for the old people."After Rosie said that, Grant, who was leading the way, glanced back at them.Noelle didn't respond, only tightening her grip on Rosie's hand.Beatrice had come with them today, but she had no intention of seeing Ophelia. She knew she wasn't the person Ophelia wanted to see in her final moments, so she waited outside the room."Ms. Swanson, this way, please," Grant said, as respectful as ever.Only then did Noelle lead Rosie in
After the incident involving Nathan back then, Hendrix had used the excuse of Ophelia's advanced age to move her into a nursing home.Although it was touted as the best nursing home in Coppersville, its management was extremely strict. Outsiders couldn't visit freely, and those inside naturally couldn't leave, either.As for whether Ophelia was truly enjoying her retirement there or not, who could say for sure?If it weren't for the sudden appearance of Grant, Noelle might have almost forgotten that Ophelia even existed."Mrs. Freeman, the doctor has already examined Mrs. Freeman Senior today," Grant said respectfully. "She doesn't have much time left. Mrs. Freeman Senior no longer cares about worldly matters. Her only wish now is to see her grandson.""By grandson, do you mean Nathan?" Beatrice's tone was indifferent. "But he's abroad now, and I doubt he can make it back in time.""If Mr. Hendrix is willing to give his permission, there's still time. That's why I'm asking for yo
Two months had passed since their last visit, and the mangoes in Sienna Villa had indeed ripened.Rosie had been craving them for a while. She loved standing under the tree, tilting her head back to count the fruits one by one.Today, as soon as they arrived, she insisted on picking the mangoes herself. Beatrice, who always indulged her, immediately had someone bring over a ladder and made sure there were people to support her as she climbed."Be careful," Beatrice said, standing nearby with a furrowed brow. "Don't go too fast. Yes, just pick the one at the bottom."It was true Beatrice doted on Rosie, but so was her concern for her at that moment. Only when Rosie successfully picked a mango and climbed down did Beatrice finally let out a sigh of relief.As soon as Rosie climbed down the ladder, she didn't even wait to steady herself before running over, clutching her hard-earned prize."Mommy, this is for you!" Her face was glistening with sweat, but her smile was radiant. She f
Noelle seemed quite busy.Dylan didn't say much, only nodding in response. Only then did Noelle turn and push open the bedroom door.Rosie was still asleep on the bed. She looked so peaceful and soft, clearly undisturbed by the commotion outside.Noelle crouched by her bedside, carefully tucking her in before leaving the room.The front desk had already delivered the first aid kit. Dylan was sitting on the couch nearby, the kit open but unused.Noelle quickly walked over. She took out an ice pack and handed it to Dylan."Thank you," he said with a smile.Noelle, however, pursed her lips. "I'm sorry for dragging you into my mess.""Drag me into your mess?" Dylan was taken aback. Then, he smiled again and said, "What are you talking about? How is this your fault?""But—""Besides, didn't you also get hurt because of me before?" he asked. "And the pain you went through was much worse than this, so my little scratch is nothing."This was the first time Dylan had brought up what
Then, Hendrix walked toward Dylan with his fist already raised. But the next moment, his hand froze midair. It wasn't because he no longer wanted to throw the punch. It was because Noelle had stepped in front of Dylan.She simply stood there with her eyes fixed on him. Her cold, piercing gaze made Hendrix calm down. He looked at her with confusion and disbelief."Get out!" Noelle said. "You listen to me, Hendrix. Whether I cut my hair or do anything else, all that has nothing to do with you, got it? If you don't leave right now, I'll call the police. This is a hotel, so go ahead and try me if you don't mind making a scene."Hendrix didn't speak. He only stared at her quietly and slowly lowered his raised fist. Then, he turned to look at Dylan.Frowning, Dylan stared straight back at Hendrix.Hendrix smirked. "Are you even a man? How can you hide behind a woman and let her protect you?""I'm fine with it," Noelle cut in before Dylan could respond. "Dylan's my boyfriend, so what's
The faint smirk on Hendrix's lips slowly faded away. He turned his gaze back to Noelle.She was glaring at him, her impatience and disgust unmistakable in her eyes.Yes, it was definitely Noelle.She had cut her hair short. She and Dylan had checked into a hotel room together.These two realities hit Hendrix hard in the chest. He clenched his hands, his teeth biting down on his lips so hard that he drew blood.Yet, he still refused to give up. He asked her, "And you? What are you doing here?"As he spoke, Hendrix began walking toward her.The answer was already painfully clear. What else could a man and a woman do in the middle of the night? Surely, they were just chatting in the room.To make it worse, Noelle had already taken a shower! So, while Hendrix was outside smoking, what had she and Dylan been doing inside?Hendrix had thought he had already come to terms with it—that he had accepted Noelle was now Dylan's girlfriend. Or that they held hands, ate together, and talked
Hendrix trailed behind Dylan the entire time. He knew how despicable his actions were—this wasn't something he should be doing, but he couldn't help himself.He even wished he could live-stream the scene to Noelle, letting her see the true colors of the man she had chosen. But he didn't.Doing something like that wouldn't carry much weight. Besides, he didn't want to stoop to that level. All he needed to do was tear off Dylan's mask and make sure he stayed away from Noelle.Dylan didn't deserve her—not even a little!Dylan soon led the woman into a room. Hendrix didn't approach immediately. Instead, he stood outside, finishing a cigarette before slowly making his way forward. He moved in a calm and deliberate manner, and when he reached the door, he gave it several light knocks.There was no response from inside. Hendrix narrowed his eyes, the mockery in his gaze growing more pronounced.He knocked again.This time, Dylan answered. "Who is it?"Hendrix remained silent.Dylan