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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
The truth was, Noelle hadn't planned to go with Dylan today. Even if she no longer had any feelings for Hendrix, she knew this was Ophelia's memorial service.Showing up as the ex-wife was already awkward enough, but arriving with Dylan would have been like a slap to the face to the Freeman family.But Dylan had somehow found out she would be attending, so the moment she stepped out of the car, she ran into him. He told her he was also there to pay his respects to Ophelia as well. Given the circumstances, leaving him behind would've felt too deliberate.At first, Dylan had tried to play it off as a coincidence, but that excuse was laughable at best. Now, as he brought it up again, Noelle didn't bother responding. She simply lowered her gaze, staring at her hands.Dylan tightened his grip on the steering wheel before saying, "I wasn't trying to pull anything. I just thought, if you go alone, someone might make things difficult for you. That's why I wanted to accompany you."It was
Deep down, Hendrix knew that it was meaningless to ask that question. After all, he had already gotten the answer from Noelle herself. Yet, he couldn't help himself. He stubbornly kept asking for an answer, seeking proof again and again that he was loved.Nathan was momentarily stunned by his question. Then, he laughed and asked, "Is this why you reached out to me?"Hendrix didn't respond, but his silence was as good as confirmation.Sensing this, Nathan laughed even louder. It was as if he had just heard the most absurd joke.After some time, he finally calmed down and said, "What do you think? You don't actually believe I forced Noelle to leave, do you? Well, I'll be straight with you, Hendrix. My conversation with Noelle back then was actually very simple."I merely had to mention the baby for her to immediately understand what I was getting at. After that, she agreed to leave without hesitation. To be honest, I had planned to use something else to threaten her, but she was so
"Is there anything else you want to ask?" Noelle asked Hendrix after checking the time.Hendrix didn't respond, and Noelle took that to mean that he didn't. So, she turned and walked away with another word. There was not the slightest hesitation in her movements.Hendrix watched her retreating figure and suddenly let out a bitter laugh.Just then, his phone rang. It was someone from Nathan's side."Mr. Freeman, Nathan's awake. Do you have anything you want to say to him?"Hendrix took a deep breath before replying with a curt "yes"."Got it," the person on the other end responded immediately.After a few seconds, Hendrix heard Nathan's voice."Well, well, if it isn't Hendrix, my dearest brother!"Though Nathan was still as sarcastic as ever, Hendrix could still detect the weakness in his voice."It's shocking that you actually still remember you have a little brother," Nathan added.Hendrix ignored the sarcasm and got straight to the point. "Grandma has passed away."There
As soon as Hendrix reached a secluded spot, he got straight to the point and asked Noelle, "Did Nathan come to see you before? What did he say to you?"There was an urgency in his voice, and his gaze was fixed intently on Noelle.Noelle was slightly taken aback. She then frowned and said, "What are you talking about?""I'm asking you—during the time when I was in trouble, Nathan came to see you, didn't he? What did he threaten you with? It was because of what he told you, wasn't it? You were afraid it would affect me, and that's why you chose to divorce me, right?"Hendrix had tried his best to keep his voice and emotions steady, but even now, he couldn't completely suppress the slight tremor in his tone. His gaze remained locked on Noelle.He had arrived at that conclusion after thinking about it for days. It seemed like the only explanation that made sense. Yes, Nathan must have threatened Noelle back then.Otherwise, if she had truly left him for wealth and status, if she had
During this period, rumors about Dylan and Noelle had been circulating within their social circle. Dylan was the rising star in the business world, while Noelle was Hendrix's ex-wife. The fact that these two were together naturally attracted a lot of attention, even without any deliberate embellishment.However, both of them had kept a low profile. In fact, it was rare for anyone in their social circle to spot them together, leading many to wonder if the rumors were even true.That was, until now.What made it even more noteworthy was that today was the day of Ophelia's memorial service, and yet, Dylan and Noelle actually showed up together. What were they trying to signal?The atmosphere, which had never been particularly quiet to begin with, suddenly became lively.All eyes turned to Hendrix, as if everyone was eager to rush up to him and scrutinize his expression closely.Noelle, however, seemed oblivious to the gazes fixed on her. She simply lowered her head to pay her respec
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