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Chapter 624
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The Sway and Slide of Love Chapter 625
Hendrix pulled Noelle closer to him. "Mrs. Swift, I think you might be losing your mind."Hendrix remained expressionless, but the sharp, icy air radiating from him sent an involuntary shiver through everyone present.Marshall also whispered to Marla, "Stop talking.""Why should I stop? What, are you scared of him, too, now? Hendrix Freeman, others might fear you, but I don't! What else do I have to be afraid of when Seline is already in this state?"Hendrix didn't even glance at her again. He just gave Marshall a cold look before pulling Noelle away.Noelle's mind was completely blank. She didn't know what to do or say, only letting herself be dragged along by Hendrix like a puppet.Then, she saw Rosie inside the room. There was a time when she had also watched her like this in a hospital room. It was right after Rosie had her surgery.Back then, seeing the numbers on the monitors had filled her with joy and hope for a new life. But now, all that echoed in Noelle's mind were th
The Sway and Slide of Love Chapter 626
Noelle still remembered the first time she met Seline in Dynalis.At the time, she was traveling alone, and Seline was studying abroad there. The two had met online. Seline acted as her local guide, taking her to many places.During that period, Noelle had been trapped in a cycle of self-doubt and sadness. And Seline threw herself into being the best guide she could be, never prying or offering empty comfort.At first, Noelle thought Seline was just a hardworking international student trying to make ends meet. Later, she found out that Seline was actually the scioness of the Swift family.Despite being raised in privilege, Seline never had the spoiled attitude of a rich girl. On the contrary, she was loyal, passionate, and kind.When Rosie was born, Seline once asked Noelle what kind of person she hoped Rosie would become. Noelle looked at her and said she hoped Rosie could grow up to be like her.Seline had been humbled and surprised by the response at the time, but it was truly
The Sway and Slide of Love Chapter 627
"Was that what happened to Seline, too? But she was still so young!" Rosie exclaimed."Yes, she was very young." Noelle's voice choked with sobs as she spoke.Rosie looked at her for a long time, then asked, "So, does that mean I'll never get to see Seline again?""Yes.""Then, where are you going today, Mommy?""I'm going to see her off one last time.""I want to go, too," Rosie said.Noelle had initially wanted to refuse. She knew Marla and Marshall might not welcome them at the funeral.Even though she understood their resentment all too well, she didn't want Rosie to have to face it. Even more than that, she didn't want Rosie to bear the blame of being the one who "caused Seline's death".But Seline was Rosie's godmother. She had watched Rosie grow up. In many ways, she was even closer to Rosie than Noelle was.In her final moments, she had still been protecting Rosie. If the dead could really hear the voices of the living, Seline would probably want to hear Rosie call he
The Sway and Slide of Love Chapter 628
Noelle didn't know when Hendrix had appeared. She also couldn't remember how he had taken her away. But Marla's devastated expression kept replaying in her mind, over and over again.It was said that no one could truly understand another's pain. But in that moment, as a mother who also saw her daughter as her entire world, Noelle could feel Marla's despair. She could understand why when Marla saw Rosie, she wished it had been Rosie who died instead.And in that moment, Noelle even felt a twisted sense of relief that Rosie had survived. But that feeling vanished after just two seconds. Then, she wanted to slap herself. After all, Seline was her best friend. When Noelle was at her lowest, it was Seline who had helped her time and time again.How could Noelle be so selfish? How could she even think that? Even she herself felt like she was being too cruel.If Seline knew, she would probably rush over and slap her twice. Then, she'd say that she must have been blind not to see Noelle's
The Sway and Slide of Love Chapter 629
As he spoke, Hendrix walked to the other side. He first poured her a glass of water, then handed her a thermometer.Noelle didn't take it. "Where's Rosie?""I sent her to my mother's place."Noelle frowned slightly in dissatisfaction but said nothing. Instead, she simply got up to leave.Hendrix stopped her. "You're sick and in no condition to take care of Rosie right now. Besides, don't you trust my mother?""I'm fine now," Noelle insisted. "My fever's gone, and I can take care of Rosie.""Why don't you take a look in the mirror to see what state you're in right now?""That's none of your business!" Noelle shouted impatiently as she tried to push Hendrix away.But then, he asked out of the blue, "Did you dream about Seline just now?"Noelle immediately froze the moment Seline's name came out of Hendrix's mouth. Then, she slowly turned to look at him.Hendrix was staring straight at her. "Do you remember what happened on the day of her funeral?""What… What funeral?" Noelle
The Sway and Slide of Love Chapter 630
Noelle knew she was sick. She knew Seline was no longer in this world, yet she kept hearing her voice lately.Sometimes, Seline would talk to her as usual, chattering about the latest gossip. Other times, she would cry and ask Noelle why she didn't save her. At times, she would say she had willingly sacrificed herself and that Noelle shouldn't feel guilty.But then there were times she would angrily call Noelle ungrateful, asking why she had to die, why it had to be her of all people?These voices and images of Seline kept appearing in front of Noelle. They didn't even feel like hallucinations, because when Noelle reached out, she could almost feel Seline's presence.But Seline was already gone.Hendrix took Noelle to see a psychologist. But Noelle refused to talk to the psychologist. She wouldn't let anyone bring up Seline's name, yet she kept telling Hendrix that she wanted to see Marla and Marshall. She knew they resented her, but she still wanted to see them. She even felt t
The Sway and Slide of Love Chapter 631
Rosie paused at Hendrix's words. Then, she turned to look at him."Where did you take Mommy?" Rosie asked."You want to see her, don't you?" Hendrix countered.Rosie didn't respond."Or are you angry at her?" Hendrix continued. "Because of what she did that day?""No!" Rosie quickly replied. Then, in a softer voice, she said, "I'll never be angry at Mommy. But she hates me."As she spoke, her voice choked up.Hendrix chuckled softly. "What nonsense are you talking about? How could your mommy ever hate you?"Rosie didn't say anything else.She was clearly traumatized by what happened at Seline's funeral. After all, Noelle was the one who had always protected her and who never raised her voice at her, no matter what she did wrong. Yet, that day, she had seemed so different.Rosie couldn't understand why Noelle had changed. Even more so, she couldn't understand why those people kept saying she should have been the one who died or why Noelle thought so, too."Your mommy is just
The Sway and Slide of Love Chapter 632
The weather was beautiful the next day.Hendrix had someone take Noelle to the yard to enjoy the sun. She didn't object to the arrangement, but she was still in a listless state.But then, a jolt went through her body when she heard Rosie's voice coming from behind. "Mommy!"Noelle turned her head sharply to see Rosie running excitedly toward her. Rosie wore a beautiful dress, her hair neatly tied into little braids.Noelle, however, suddenly sprang to her feet and took a sharp step back. Her movements were frantic, as if she had seen something terrifying.Noticing Noelle's reaction, Rosie's steps gradually slowed until she came to a stop. Then, she looked at Noelle in disbelief.Noelle opened her mouth to say something, but no words came out.Hendrix quickly walked over to Rosie and whispered something into her ear.Rosie's eyes were still red, but she quickly pulled herself together. After wiping her eyes forcefully, she continued to walk toward Noelle.Noelle still wanted
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The Sway and Slide of Love Chapter 640
When Noelle woke up, it was already bright outside. She had assumed Hendrix had already gone to work, but when she turned over, she found him still beside her.He was propped up against the headboard, working on his laptop. The screen brightness was turned to its lowest, and the sound of his typing was barely audible.Hendrix quickly noticed she was awake."You're awake." He closed his laptop and smiled at her. "Are you tired? Do you feel uncomfortable anywhere?"It was only after he asked that Noelle became aware of the soreness in her body. But pain was nothing new to her now, so she simply shook her head lightly. "I'm fine.""Are you hungry? I'll have someone bring you something to eat," Hendrix said, getting out of bed.Noelle suddenly asked him, "Don't you have to go to work today?""Nope.""Actually… you don't have to stay here with me all the time. I'm already better. Besides, is it really okay for a boss to skip work so often?"Hendrix chuckled at her words. Then, he r
The Sway and Slide of Love Chapter 639
Hendrix thought that everything would get better. From now on, they would live happily ever after. No one and nothing could disturb them anymore.…Noelle woke up in the early hours of the morning. Even though she had been staying in this room for a while now, every time she woke up, it still felt unfamiliar and disorienting.This place was a constant reminder that she wasn't in Stormridge anymore. Which meant that everything that happened in Halbort wasn't just a terrible dream—it was real.But this time, she wasn't waking up alone. As soon as she turned her head, she saw Hendrix lying beside her. His arm was draped over her waist, and his face was buried in the crook of her neck. His warm breath brushed against her skin, sending a faint shiver through her.Noelle didn't move away. She simply lay there, quietly watching him. But even in sleep, he remained utterly vigilant. She had barely looked at him for more than a moment before his eyes suddenly snapped open.Their gazes lock
The Sway and Slide of Love Chapter 638
Noelle quickly wrapped her arms around Hendrix's neck. She had done this countless times before. But perhaps it had been too long since she had done this because the moment itself, along with what was about to happen, suddenly made her a little nervous. Her fingers instinctively tightened.Hendrix laid her down on the bed. Noelle's eyes were already closed, but after a long while, what she had anticipated still hadn't happened. Confused, she opened her eyes.Hendrix was pulling the blanket over her. This action stunned her. She looked at him with eyes filled with confusion.He smiled faintly before kissing her lightly on the forehead."Go to sleep," he said. "I'll stay here with you."Noelle pressed her lips together. This wasn't what she meant. She could tell he wanted to do it, too—that much was obvious. Even the way he looked at her made that clear.And yet, he did nothing. He simply gazed at her in silence.She couldn't help but ask, "Don't you want to do it?"Hendrix pause
The Sway and Slide of Love Chapter 637
The Christmas decorations on the street looked even more striking at night. But to Noelle, the festive and joyous red color looked more like blood.Hendrix went straight to his study once they had returned to Roselle Court. He had been sleeping there for a while now.Occasionally, when Noelle woke up, she would find him sitting by her bedside, never crossing any boundaries.And tonight was no different.After showering, Noelle should have gone straight to bed. But instead, she suddenly went downstairs to pour herself a glass of water.The light in Hendrix's study was still on. He was on the phone while typing on his keyboard, speaking quickly and decisively. When he heard footsteps, his head immediately snapped up.He hadn't fully switched out of work mode, so his gaze was still sharp and intense. But the moment he realized it was Noelle, his expression softened, and his eyes slowly drifted over to her. Even though the heater was turned on, he found her outfit to be a little too
The Sway and Slide of Love Chapter 636
Hendrix had been staring at her. It wasn't until Noelle's words reached him that he snapped out of it and looked at her."Hadn't you always wanted to get her something?" Noelle asked. "Well, now's your chance.""Would she want it?" Hendrix asked instead.Noelle hesitated, then nodded. "I think so. Rosie's a simple child. She can tell who treats her well and who doesn't. She's not the type who holds grudges easily, so as long as you treat her well from the bottom of your heart, she'll accept you in no time."Then, she looked at him and asked, "You do love her, don't you?"Hendrix was clearly not used to expressing himself in such a straightforward manner. So, when Noelle finished speaking, he paused for a moment before slowly, yet solemnly, nodding.Noelle smiled and said, "Then, she'll feel it.""So, what should I buy?" Hendrix asked.In the end, following Noelle's suggestion, Hendrix bought Rosie a brand-new set of paintbrushes and a collection of comic books.When they arriv
The Sway and Slide of Love Chapter 635
Clearly, Marshall was equally worried about Marla's condition. Thus, he quickly turned to Hendrix and asked, "What does Noelle want to say to my wife?"Hendrix shook his head. "I have no idea."None of them knew the answer, so they could only wait quietly outside.Hendrix had imagined countless possible mishaps. He had even prepared himself to rush in immediately if something happened without a second thought of where he was.But to his surprise, nothing happened. He couldn't hear any sound coming from inside the room, as if Noelle and Marla were having a calm, peaceful conversation. Yet, the calmer it was, the deeper his frown became.He assumed it was just the calm before the storm and that the real storm would quickly come. But it didn't.Noelle soon emerged from the room.Hendrix wasn't sure if it was his imagination, but Noelle's demeanor seemed lighter, as if she had shed a heavy burden.When she saw Marshall, she even smiled and said, "Thank you for letting me meet Mrs.
The Sway and Slide of Love Chapter 634
Noelle couldn't remember the last time she had been outside with the sun rays touching her skin. It wasn't until she saw the Christmas decorations and felt the festive atmosphere on the streets that she realized the end of the year was approaching.So, it had already been over a month since Seline passed away.Noelle stared out of the window for a while before slowly closing her eyes.The Swift residence was eerily quiet.Noelle had been here a few times before. Sometimes, when Seline brought Rosie over to play, she would come to pick her up. More often than not, as soon as she reached the door, she could already hear Rosie's cheerful chatter coming from the inside.Marla would watch Rosie with pure affection, then urge Seline to hurry up and get married. Seline would always push back defiantly, and Marla would scold her, but there was never any real anger in her tone.Noelle knew Marla loved Seline deeply, so when Seline later insisted she didn't want to get married, Marla simpl
The Sway and Slide of Love Chapter 633
Hendrix was happy about the development.During breakfast, Noelle even took the initiative to speak to him. "The weather is nice today. Is it okay if I drop by the Swifts' place later?"Hendrix had been pleased by her earlier comment, but his expression faded when he heard what she said next.Noelle sat there, looking at him seriously. "You promised me before. Or were you lying to me then?""I wasn't lying," Hendrix quickly replied, though his brows furrowed slightly. "But why do you want to go there?""I owe them a proper apology," Noelle answered.But what Marla and Marshall wanted wasn't necessarily an apology.Noelle had only just started to improve recently, so Hendrix didn't want anything unexpected to jeopardize her progress. Not to mention, he knew all too well how much Marla and Marshall hated Noelle right now."Don't worry," Noelle said, as if she knew what Hendrix was thinking. "I know they won't forgive me, but even so, I want to do something to ease my conscience.
The Sway and Slide of Love Chapter 632
The weather was beautiful the next day.Hendrix had someone take Noelle to the yard to enjoy the sun. She didn't object to the arrangement, but she was still in a listless state.But then, a jolt went through her body when she heard Rosie's voice coming from behind. "Mommy!"Noelle turned her head sharply to see Rosie running excitedly toward her. Rosie wore a beautiful dress, her hair neatly tied into little braids.Noelle, however, suddenly sprang to her feet and took a sharp step back. Her movements were frantic, as if she had seen something terrifying.Noticing Noelle's reaction, Rosie's steps gradually slowed until she came to a stop. Then, she looked at Noelle in disbelief.Noelle opened her mouth to say something, but no words came out.Hendrix quickly walked over to Rosie and whispered something into her ear.Rosie's eyes were still red, but she quickly pulled herself together. After wiping her eyes forcefully, she continued to walk toward Noelle.Noelle still wanted
