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Chapter 667
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The Sway and Slide of Love Chapter 668
Ruth had actually blurred Noelle's face in the photo, but the antique lamp behind them was too eye-catching. Though the auction house had never disclosed the buyer, word had circulated in their social circles.Moreover, Noelle had attended some events before. Many people carefully compared the blurred figure in the picture to past photos of her and confirmed the woman in the photo was indeed Noelle.And just like that, rumors about her relationship with Hendrix started spreading.Meanwhile, Noelle had no idea what was happening outside since she wasn't feeling well today. At first, she thought it was just a mild cold. But by noon, she suddenly developed a low-grade fever.When the household staff informed Hendrix, he immediately rushed home with a doctor in tow.After checking Noelle's temperature, the doctor hesitated before suggesting she go to the hospital for a blood test."A blood test? Is it that serious?" Hendrix asked with a frown."Not necessarily. Based on Mrs. Freeman
The Sway and Slide of Love Chapter 669
"Even back when Rosie was sick—"At this point, Hendrix paused on his own. He knew that because of this incident, Noelle had permanently condemned him.The fact that they were here now, living together like this, was nothing short of a miracle. There were nights when he'd wake up in the middle of the dream, needing to hold Noelle tightly just to reassure himself she was really still by his side.And as for that period of their lives, neither of them had spoken about it for a long time.That was until now, when Hendrix brought it up on his own.Noelle clearly didn't want to revisit that memory, either. The moment he mentioned it, she frowned and instinctively pulled her hand away from him.But Hendrix immediately tightened his hold, as if he knew exactly what she was going to do."I know what I did was wrong back then," Hendrix said. "I was just so angry and wanted to hurt you as badly as you hurt me. I wanted you to give in to me. That first time at the hotel—I just wanted you t
The Sway and Slide of Love Chapter 670
After taking her medication, Noelle spent the entire afternoon drifting in and out of sleep. So, it wasn't until evening that she saw the messages on her phone.Some people asked if the woman in the photo with Ruth was her, while others asked when she had returned to Coppersville and if she'd like to meet up for dinner sometime.In truth, many in her social circle probably already knew Noelle had returned to Coppersville. After all, many of them had been present at Seline's funeral. It was just that the Swifts had kicked Noelle out then.At the time, Noelle had even heard people calling her a jinx behind her back. But now? Their attitudes had done a complete 180. Not that it was surprising. After all, it was human nature to look out for one's own interests.Besides, Noelle barely remembered most of their names, so whatever they had to say—however they saw her—made no difference to her.If it were the Noelle of the past, even if she loathed it, she would have forced herself to exch
The Sway and Slide of Love Chapter 671
"Don't worry. I'm fine," Noelle said.Rosie stood there, locking eyes with Noelle for a moment before saying, "But what if you get infected again?"Noelle couldn't help but chuckle at her. "It's fine. I'm wearing a mask."Rosie still seemed conflicted but eventually let out a soft "oh".Noelle immediately took a step back. "It's getting late. You should go to sleep. Will you be okay alone tonight?""Uh-huh." Rosie nodded without hesitation. "I'm all grown up now.""Mm-hmm. Go ahead, then."Rosie looked at Noelle, her eyes filled with a hint of reluctance. But in the end, she didn't say anything else and simply turned to leave.Noelle watched her retreating figure, the smile on her lips gradually fading. Only after Rosie returned to her room did Noelle turn around and climb back into bed.Perhaps because she had slept too much during the day, Noelle found herself wide awake. She lay in bed, staring out the window for a while before turning over and closing her eyes.Just as sh
The Sway and Slide of Love Chapter 672
"Alright. Go ahead. I'll leave once you're asleep," Hendrix said, but Noelle didn't believe a word of it.Still, she was too tired to argue with him at that point. So, she simply pulled the blanket over herself and turned her back to him.She hadn't felt sleepy earlier. But after the commotion with Hendrix, exhaustion gradually crept in, and her thoughts began to scatter.Noelle was right not to believe Hendrix's words. He had said he would leave once she fell asleep, yet when she woke up the next morning, she found him lying right beside her. Not only that, but his arm was tightly around her, too.Furious, Noelle was about to push him off when Hendrix suddenly turned his head and coughed twice. Then, he opened his eyes and looked at her. "I think I caught your cold."Noelle froze for a moment.Hendrix grabbed her hand and placed it on his forehead. "Here. Feel it. Do I have a fever?"Noelle took his temperature with a thermometer, and it was perfectly normal.But Hendrix stubb
The Sway and Slide of Love Chapter 673
Hendrix's smile slowly faded. Then, he got out of bed and poured himself a glass of water.Noelle assumed it was for himself. But when he turned around, he held the glass out to her instead. "I was joking. Not funny, huh?"She still didn't say anything, but she took the glass from him. That alone was enough of a response for Hendrix. His lips curled slightly."Get some rest." Noelle took a single sip before setting the glass aside. "I'm going out for a walk."But before she could step outside, Hendrix grabbed her hand. "Where are you going?""The yard. To get some sun.""I'll go with you.""Weren't you feeling awful just a moment ago? You should rest more if you're really sick."As she spoke, she swept her gaze over him with obvious skepticism. It was clear she didn't believe a word about him being sick.Hendrix, however, remained completely unfazed under her scrutiny. "I could use some sun, too. Besides, didn't the doctor say my immune system is strong? So, my cold isn't that
The Sway and Slide of Love Chapter 674
Hendrix had few memories of his childhood. Looking back now, it was mostly filled with endless lessons and tasks. He had to learn so many things. He had to achieve the best grades in school, learn to play musical instruments and master golf, horseback riding, and multiple languages.From a young age, everyone envied his status. The last name "Freeman" seemed to carry an innate sense of honor. But along with that honor came an overwhelming weight of expectations.If Hendrix were to choose now, he wasn't sure which life would be better. After all, while he had missed out on the carefree happiness of a normal childhood, what he had gained was indeed substantial.But one thing was certain—he would never impose the same burdens on Rosie. So, when Beatrice recently suggested enrolling Rosie in various lessons, he turned her down without hesitation.Beatrice had argued that as his daughter, Rosie was bound to be a prominent figure in Coopersville. Thus, if she didn't learn anything, it wo
The Sway and Slide of Love Chapter 675
So, whenever someone brought it up, Ruth would simply smile and say that Noelle didn't enjoy such social gatherings—that she had already asked her many times, but Noelle always refused to come out.And today, she stuck to the same excuse."It's alright. It'd be nice if she could at least make an appearance. After all, the auction is coming up soon, and I'd love to know what Mrs. Freeman thinks about it.""Exactly! I'd like to know what she's interested in so I can give up early. There's no way I could compete with her anyway."Ruth chuckled along. "She probably won't go. I asked her before, and she said she doesn't have anything she particularly likes in the auction."That was what Ruth said, but she was quickly proven wrong. Because on the day of the auction, Hendrix brought Noelle along with him.It was Coppersville's first major auction of the year, and with a stunning set of jewelry up for bid, everyone who mattered had turned up.Noelle hadn't actually wanted to come. But t
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The Sway and Slide of Love Chapter 827
It took a while for Noelle to realize this was the Swift residence. Logically speaking, she shouldn't have had any memories of this place. After all, she had never come here since her return.But the body remembered things the mind could not lie about.Seated behind the wheel, Noelle could almost see glimpses of her past self walking through the gates. Back then, the Swift household must have been filled with laughter. Yet, how much time had passed since then?The desolation before her was jarring. She didn't know how long she had been staring when her phone rang. It was Hendrix."Where are you?" His voice was tight, filled with worry.Noelle paused before answering, "The Swift residence."A heavy silence followed on the other end. Then, as if he couldn't believe what he had just heard, he asked again, "What did you say?""The Swift residence," Noelle repeated. "But the villa has been sealed by the court, so I can't go in."This time, Hendrix heard her clearly, and he believed
The Sway and Slide of Love Chapter 826
"Marla hasn't done anything out of the ordinary. She just sits there all day in a daze, silent and motionless," the doctor said as he led Noelle forward.Even though it was the best psychiatric hospital available, its core nature remained the same. As they walked, Noelle couldn't help but feel a heavy sense of oppression in the air.The corridor was lined with locked doors—not regular hospital doors, but ones reinforced with metal bars. It looked less like a medical facility and more like a prison.The deeper they went, the more tightly Noelle's brows knit together.Marla was in the room at the very end. She was sitting with her back to the door, staring blankly at the small window above, lost in thought.Just the sight of her silhouette made Noelle feel as if she had been dealt a heavy blow to the chest."Marla," the doctor called her name.But she didn't offer any response.So, he tried again, "Marshall Swift."This was the only name that had elicited any reaction from her r
The Sway and Slide of Love Chapter 825
"I'll go with you," Hendrix said as he tried to get out of bed, but Noelle quickly pressed him back down."The bathroom is just inside the room. Why are you getting up?" she said with a frown, her tone tinged with displeasure."Oh, right," Hendrid replied. Only then did Noelle release her grip on him and get up.By the time she came back from the bathroom, Hendrix was fast asleep again.Noelle, however, still didn't feel sleepy. After taking a look out of the window at the pitch-black sea, she decided to go to the deck for some fresh air.Hendrix had only shown her the way once, but Noelle remembered it instantly. However, her timing was unfortunate, as someone was already on the deck.A man stood there smoking. The smoke rings left his lips, dissipating in the sea breeze before they could fully form.Noelle stood behind him, and the scent drifted over—pungent and sharp. She couldn't help but sneeze.The man immediately turned around. His body had been tense, his eyes sharp
The Sway and Slide of Love Chapter 824
"Perfect timing. You can explain things to Noelle," Hendrix said, standing in front of Erwin.Erwin stared at him in disbelief. "What did you say?"He came to settle a score with Hendrix, not to patch up their relationship."You're the one who caused this mess, so don't you think you should help me out here? Or is it that you're happy to see me struggling?" Hendrix asked.Of course, Erwin was happy. After all, he had always been on his own. Moreover, he believed that people like them didn't need a partner. They could have female companions or go on dates, but nothing deeper than that.There wouldn't even be any real emotions involved. What existed between them was merely a transaction. Their inner worlds were something no one could understand, nor did they need anyone to understand.But now, Hendrix was clearly going down a completely different path. Not only was he now bound by those things, but he even expected Erwin to help him out? It was pure insult!"Do you still want your
The Sway and Slide of Love Chapter 823
"Why are you with these people?" Noelle finally asked.It was the first thing she had said since they entered the room.Hendrix knew his answer was crucial, as it would decide whether she could accept what she had seen and heard. More importantly, it might decide the fate of their future together.So, he didn't hold back. He told her everything about Erwin, those people outside, and his connection to them.As Noelle listened, her brows drew closer and closer together.At the end, Hendrix emphasized, "I really don't hang out with them anymore. Back then, it was because everything in the country felt meaningless. I couldn't really find any real challenges. But now, I have something better to pursue. So, I barely touch those things anymore. And besides…"He looked at her then. "You already knew about all of this.""I did?""Yeah. You and Erwin know each other, too.""So, I knew you were messing around at their parties?""I never messed around," Hendrix denied without hesitation.
The Sway and Slide of Love Chapter 822
Noelle had already sensed it earlier. That whole excuse about not letting Hendrix go home—he wasn't a child, and Erwin wasn't his father, so why would he stop him from leaving? Unless there was something else going on.So, Hendrix definitely hadn't been alone in that room earlier.Noelle's expression dimmed little by little, and she moved to pull her hand away. But Hendrix had already sensed the shift in her mood, and instead of letting go, he tightened his grip and pulled her straight into his arms.Then, he looked at the man across from them and said, "She's my wife."The man, clearly drunk, was still letting his gaze roam all over Noelle. He completely ignored what Hendrix said. In fact, he even looked upset when he saw Hendrix hold Noelle like that."Hendrix, why are you being so possessive? Aren't we supposed to share everything?""Shut up!" Hendrix cut him off without a second thought, then turned back to Noelle. "Let's go back to the room first."Noelle didn't respond, bu
The Sway and Slide of Love Chapter 821
Noelle frowned, finally piecing it together. "He's your friend?""No," Hendrix denied it without hesitation. "I don't have friends this stupid."As he spoke, he signaled a crew member to fetch a gangplank to help Noelle step up onto the yacht.Meanwhile, the safety team had already fished Erwin out of the water. Drenched from head to toe, he had been cursing nonstop until the frigid temperatures sent him into a sneezing fit, forcing him to retreat inside with assistance.Hendrix paid him no mind. Instead, he tossed a stack of cash to the fisherman before leading Noelle away."So, you two know each other?" Noelle asked again."Yes," Hendrix admitted. Then, he quickly added, "But I had no idea he called you. At the time, I was locked in a room by him, I swear.""Why did he lock you up?""I wanted to go home to you, but he wouldn't let me."His answer came naturally, yet Noelle's expression turned oddly pensive.She wasn't sure if it was just her imagination, but she felt someth
The Sway and Slide of Love Chapter 820
It was the dead of winter. The howling sea winds tangled Noelle's hair, her slender figure appearing even more fragile against the night's desolation. Frowning, she studied the figure before her with wariness and unfamiliarity. Erwin had originally planned to have someone put on an act for Noelle—just as he had told Hendrix earlier—to test her. But Hendrix had outright rejected the idea."I know she would risk everything for me, but I don't want her to. And I especially don't want her to later find out it was just a farce. What we have doesn't need to be proven like this."Hendrix had spoken with absolute certainty, yet that only made Erwin want to punch him more. He knew that the real reason Hendrix said that was to show off. Because the crux of his words lay in that first line—he knew Noelle would risk everything for him.So, where did this unshakeable confidence and boldness come from?Only seeing Noelle in front of him now did Erwin realize Hendrix's confidence wasn't due to
The Sway and Slide of Love Chapter 819
If it had been any other time, Erwin might have thought that Hendrix was simply being stubborn. But at that moment, Hendrix's gaze was deadly serious. There wasn't even a hint of evasion.Erwin stared at him for a while before chuckling coldly. "You're that confident, huh? But she's just a delicate woman.""It has nothing to do with whether she's delicate or not. All I know is she will come.""And what if she doesn't?""I will transfer all my shares to you."Hendrix's response stunned Erwin once again.His lips parted slightly, but it took him a moment to find his voice. "Are you serious?""Of course."Erwin studied him for a beat before suddenly laughing. "You're not just using this as an excuse to leave, are you?""Didn't you say it was a bet?" Hendrix countered. "If I win, what will you give me?"Erwin hadn't expected him to ask that. But honestly, this bet seemed like a guaranteed win for him.He knew why Hendrix liked Noelle. After all, men tend to like demure and beaut
