"Is that a yes or a no?" Leah narrowed her eyes."He was here a couple of days ago, but he left last night.""Is that so?" Leah responded indifferently, as if it didn't matter. "Just as well, because I have something to say to you."Noelle didn't refuse. She simply stepped aside to let her in.Dressed in a custom-tailored dress and leather shoes, Leah took one step inside and immediately frowned. She swept her gaze across the room, her dissatisfaction evident."Would you like something to drink?" Noelle asked.Leah didn't answer. Instead, her gaze slowly settled on Rosie.Despite her young age, Rosie had the sharp intuition that all children possessed. Thus, she could tell at a glance who was kind and who was not.As Leah scrutinized her, Rosie instinctively shrank behind Noelle, peeking out with wary eyes.Seeing this, the disdain in Leah's gaze deepened.Noelle gently patted Rosie on the shoulder. "Rosie, be a good girl and wait for me in your room, okay?"Rosie didn't res
After Leah finished speaking, Noelle fell silent."So, you do know that you're the one who's dragging him down, don't you?" Leah looked at her, the sarcasm in her smile deepening."What do you want me to do?" Noelle asked."Isn't it obvious? I want you to leave him, of course!"Noelle pursed her lips. "But Mrs. Pritchett, Dylan is an adult. He knows what he's doing. Besides, we've made a promise to each other. How could I abandon him now when he has stuck with me through it all?""Abandon?" Leah let out a sharp laugh. "Don't act like you don't know what's going on. His company was doing just fine before, so why is it suddenly being targeted? It's all because of you! Think about it—has anything good ever happened to him since he met you?"Every single time something bad happened to him, you were the reason behind it! Even back then! Do you really not know that his grandfather was accused of money laundering because of Hendrix? If not for that, Dylan wouldn't have gotten engaged to
"And yet, Dylan still chose to be with you. So, Ms. Swanson, the only reason you lasted this long with him is because he was willing to put up and make compromises with you. But what have you ever done for him?"With those final words, Leah left.Her last sentence wasn't spoken loudly, but it still felt like a heavy blow to Noelle's chest, reverberating in her mind.It wasn't until some time later that Rosie came out of her room. She looked up at Noelle with concern and confusion. "Mommy?"Hearing her voice, Noelle finally snapped out of her daze and turned to her."Was that Mr. Pritchett's mom just now?" Rosie asked. "Why was she being so mean to you?"Noelle forced a smile. "She wasn't being mean. It's just a mother's instinct. Just like how I would chase away all the bad guys who try to hurt you, she's just trying to protect her own child.""But Mommy, you're not a bad guy." Rosie looked even more confused."Wasn't she?" Noelle asked herself.Over the past two days, she had
The passionate lovemaking in the bedroom finally came to an end two hours later. Soon, there was the sound of water splashing on tiles coming from the shower. After resting for a few minutes, Noelle Swanson got out of bed with trembling legs as she picked up her clothes from the floor.Hendrix Freeman had been rougher than usual today, so she felt a little bewildered. She fumbled with the buttons of her pajamas several times but couldn't get them done up. Soon, Hendrix came out of the shower. He was tall, with strong, handsome features. He'd just showered, so he only had a towel wrapped around his waist at the moment. Droplets of water trickled down his abs. When he noticed that Noelle was still there, he frowned a little. Noelle didn't look at him. She kept her head down and continued to struggle with the buttons. "Sandra will be discharged from the hospital tomorrow," Hendrix suddenly said as he walked past her. "Go pick her up. I've already promised your mother that she c
The person speaking was Sandra's good friend, Ruth Upton. She was a heiress of a wealthy family. Ruth and Sandra had grown up together. She had always been the biggest supporter of Hendrix and Sandra's relationship. Now that Noelle had become Hendrix's wife instead, it came as no surprise that Ruth was unfriendly toward her.Even when she noticed Noelle standing at the door, she didn't feel the least bit embarrassed or uneasy about what she'd said.It was Sandra who greeted her first. "You're here, Noelle."Noelle nodded. "I'm here to take you home. Have you packed your things?""Yes. I'm all set. Let's go," Sandra replied good-naturedly. Ruth couldn't help but ask, "Where's Mr. Freeman? Sandy is being discharged today. Isn't he coming to pick her up?""He's gone to the office," Noelle replied."Oh, he seems really busy. I wonder if he's too busy to come or if you didn't let him come," Ruth conjectured with disdain.Before Noelle could respond, Sandra interrupted softly, "Ru
At 7:00 pm, Hendrix returned to the villa right on time. Sandra happened to be in the living room when he returned. The moment she saw him, she walked over excitedly to greet him. "You're back, Hendrix!"Hendrix gave her a slight smile as he looked up at her. Noelle pursed her lips and stepped forward to take his coat. She said to him, "Dinner is ready."…"I'm sorry, Hendrix. Am I encroaching on you and Noelle by staying here?" Sandra asked quietly at the dinner table. She snuck a glance at Noelle before continuing, "I told Mom I could stay home on my own, but she insists that she doesn't feel at ease if I'm alone at home…""It's fine. Stay as long as you like. If you need anything, just ask," Hendrix replied."Really? I don't want to be too much trouble.""It's no trouble at all.""Ms. Sandra, it's better that you're staying here," Mabel chimed in as she served the dishes. "It's been a long time since this house has felt so lively."Upon hearing that, Noelle's hand that w
Noelle's body stiffened. Her eyes flew open, and she tried to push Hendrix away with all her strength. However, Hendrix acted as if he hadn't heard anything. He gripped her wrists effortlessly and pressed her against the wall. His movements were as forceful as ever.Noelle wanted to cry out, but she quickly remembered that Sandra was right outside. She bit her tongue and swallowed the helpless whimper that was about to escape her lips just in time. The sound of the water from the shower continued. With the door between them, Sandra seemed to be unaware of what was happening inside. She called out again, "Hendrix?"Noelle turned her head to look at Hendrix. Her face was flushed, possibly due to anger or some other intense emotion. Her eyes were opened wide as she glared at Hendrix. In contrast to her usual quiet and withdrawn demeanor, she looked far more animated at that moment. Her expression caused Hendrix's movements to become bolder. It was almost as if he were venting. The
Sandra had grown up with Hendrix, so she was even more familiar with Freeman Manor than Noelle. As soon as she entered the house, she walked over to the elderly lady while exclaiming, "Grandma Ophelia!""Oh, it's Sandy!" Hendrix's grandmother, Ophelia Jones, was overjoyed. "Let me take a look at you. Have you lost weight again?""Not really. Look! I made some crab cakes for you," Sandra replied."You sweet girl! How thoughtful of you," Ophelia praised. The two of them chatted affectionately, and Ophelia was all smiles. However, the moment Noelle approached, her smile faded significantly.Noelle acted as if she hadn't noticed anything and respectfully greeted, "Grandma."Ophelia glanced at her and was about to say something, but Noelle shifted her attention to the top of the stairs and called out, "Mom.""Madam Freeman," Sandra greeted, straightening up. She had been leaning on Ophelia's shoulder just a moment ago. She became timid the moment she saw the person at the top of the
"And yet, Dylan still chose to be with you. So, Ms. Swanson, the only reason you lasted this long with him is because he was willing to put up and make compromises with you. But what have you ever done for him?"With those final words, Leah left.Her last sentence wasn't spoken loudly, but it still felt like a heavy blow to Noelle's chest, reverberating in her mind.It wasn't until some time later that Rosie came out of her room. She looked up at Noelle with concern and confusion. "Mommy?"Hearing her voice, Noelle finally snapped out of her daze and turned to her."Was that Mr. Pritchett's mom just now?" Rosie asked. "Why was she being so mean to you?"Noelle forced a smile. "She wasn't being mean. It's just a mother's instinct. Just like how I would chase away all the bad guys who try to hurt you, she's just trying to protect her own child.""But Mommy, you're not a bad guy." Rosie looked even more confused."Wasn't she?" Noelle asked herself.Over the past two days, she had
After Leah finished speaking, Noelle fell silent."So, you do know that you're the one who's dragging him down, don't you?" Leah looked at her, the sarcasm in her smile deepening."What do you want me to do?" Noelle asked."Isn't it obvious? I want you to leave him, of course!"Noelle pursed her lips. "But Mrs. Pritchett, Dylan is an adult. He knows what he's doing. Besides, we've made a promise to each other. How could I abandon him now when he has stuck with me through it all?""Abandon?" Leah let out a sharp laugh. "Don't act like you don't know what's going on. His company was doing just fine before, so why is it suddenly being targeted? It's all because of you! Think about it—has anything good ever happened to him since he met you?"Every single time something bad happened to him, you were the reason behind it! Even back then! Do you really not know that his grandfather was accused of money laundering because of Hendrix? If not for that, Dylan wouldn't have gotten engaged to
"Is that a yes or a no?" Leah narrowed her eyes."He was here a couple of days ago, but he left last night.""Is that so?" Leah responded indifferently, as if it didn't matter. "Just as well, because I have something to say to you."Noelle didn't refuse. She simply stepped aside to let her in.Dressed in a custom-tailored dress and leather shoes, Leah took one step inside and immediately frowned. She swept her gaze across the room, her dissatisfaction evident."Would you like something to drink?" Noelle asked.Leah didn't answer. Instead, her gaze slowly settled on Rosie.Despite her young age, Rosie had the sharp intuition that all children possessed. Thus, she could tell at a glance who was kind and who was not.As Leah scrutinized her, Rosie instinctively shrank behind Noelle, peeking out with wary eyes.Seeing this, the disdain in Leah's gaze deepened.Noelle gently patted Rosie on the shoulder. "Rosie, be a good girl and wait for me in your room, okay?"Rosie didn't res
Seline was the one who sent Hendrix the screenshot. She didn't add any commentary—just a simple screenshot. But the message she was conveying couldn't be any clearer. She wanted to tell him that he was out of the game.Hendrix stared at the screenshot expressionlessly for a moment before deleting it and promptly blocking Seline. Then, he turned his attention back to the computer screen. The data was still there, but he couldn't focus on a single number.Even though he had deleted the screenshot from his phone, he still felt as if it had been burned into his mind. He pressed his lips into a thin line as he slowly balled his hands into fists.After a while, he finally couldn't take it anymore. He shot up from his seat and grabbed his car keys before walking out. He drove fast, though he didn't really know where he was going.Eventually, he stopped in front of a new construction site. He had bought this plot of land a year ago. Construction had only started a few months ago because it
After all, the amount of effort Dylan had put in over the years was something no one else could fully comprehend. At least from what Noelle had seen, she knew how difficult his journey had been.But now, it was all being easily destroyed because of her.So, she would have completely understood if Dylan had chosen to sacrifice her. In fact, she might have even expected it, and that was precisely why she found his response so surprising—this was the first time she had been so firmly chosen.She unconsciously clenched her teeth as she looked at the man in front of her."You don't want to?" Dylan asked her.Noelle actually laughed out loud at the question. Then, she quickly lowered her eyes, forcing back the tears in them before looking up at Dylan again."I do. This kind of life isn't hard at all. You don't know this, but ever since I was a child, I've dreamed of having a home of my own. It doesn't need to be big or luxurious, and it certainly didn't need hired help or a nanny."As
"To be honest, I'm not entirely sure," Dylan replied. "But there have been a lot of issues at my company lately. It's not anything fatal, but the series of incidents makes it hard to believe it's all just a coincidence. And—"He paused, his brow furrowing slightly.Noelle looked at him. "And what?""What's more concerning is that several banks we've been working with have recently expressed their intention to terminate their partnerships with us. They've even refused to continue negotiations. I don't believe for a second that there isn't someone pressuring them to do this."What he didn't say was—in Coppersville, there were only a handful of people who could actually pull something like that off. That was because he believed Noelle could figure it out on her own.Noelle stood there, unmoving. She clenched her hands, seemingly trying to calm herself, but her teeth couldn't stop chattering.It was at this moment that Dylan asked her, "If I lose, will you be disappointed?"His ques
Rosie hesitated for a moment before finally nodding.Dylan took over the task from Noelle. It was clear that this was his first time doing something like this, as his movements were a little clumsy. But Rosie didn't seem to mind. She stayed quiet throughout the entire process.Noelle stood to the side, watching. Suddenly, she found the scene oddly heartwarming.She had always known Dylan was the best choice, and that was why she had been trying so hard to convince herself to accept him. And now, it seemed that maybe she hadn't made the wrong choice, after all.After watching for a moment, she couldn't help but take a photo of them with her phone.Under the soft light, Dylan was gently combing Rosie's hair while she held a doll in her arms. The two of them looked like a pair of real father and daughter.Noelle didn't linger any longer. She turned and went to prepare breakfast for the next day. She had already prepared the pie dough earlier. Now, all she needed to do was put in the
After Dylan finished speaking, he simply stood there, quietly watching Noelle.Noelle didn't respond, but her hands noticeably clenched.Noticing this, Dylan stared at her balled fists for a while before reaching out and gently taking them in his hand.Noelle glanced down at their joined hands but didn't pull away. For Dylan, this was already a huge encouragement. Without hesitation, he leaned in closer, his lips slowly moving toward hers until…"Mommy!" Rosie's voice suddenly rang out, causing the two of them to jump up in fright. Noelle, as if caught doing something wrong, immediately pushed Dylan away.Her movement was so sudden and forceful that Dylan didn't have time to react. Thus, he ended up slamming his head into the nearby cabinet with a loud thud.Noelle froze for a moment, then quickly stepped forward to check on him. "Are you okay? I'm sorry.""I'm fine." Dylan waved it off with a smile. "Don't worry. It doesn't hurt."Noelle frowned, studying him with concern.
Dylan stood there, stunned.It took him a while to snap out of it. Then, with a smile, he patted Noelle on the shoulder and asked, "What's this? Did you miss me?"His tone was teasing, but it couldn't hide the hoarseness in his voice.Noelle pursed her lips and slowly stepped back, her eyes fixed on him. Dylan raised an eyebrow, meeting her gaze.After taking a deep breath, Noelle asked, "Have you been feeling tired lately?""Not really. I was just busy.""Did something happen?"Even though Noelle phrased it as a question, there was a hint of certainty in her tone.Dylan's expression froze for a split second, but he quickly regained his composure and smiled. "Don't worry. It's nothing serious. I've already handled it."He ruffled Noelle's hair as he spoke. Then, he turned to Rosie and asked, "And what about you? How have you been lately?"Rosie nodded. "Good.""That's great. I brought you a gift. Want to see it?"Rosie immediately nodded again.When Dylan first started g