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Chapter 697
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The Sway and Slide of Love Chapter 698
Dylan had considered all kinds of responses Noelle might give him, but this was the last thing he expected. And she wasn't just brushing him off—her gaze was serious, like she was genuinely asking.Before Dylan could respond, Noelle continued, "If I remember correctly, we had already broken up by then. And while we were together, I never had any contact with Hendrix. In that regard, I never did you dirty or wrong."After Noelle finished speaking, Dylan's smile slowly faded. "So are you implying that I did you dirty?" he asked hoarsely.Noelle was caught off guard by his question. She was about to explain when Dylan said, "I know I hadn't been entirely honest with you during our relationship. But Noelle, do you think I really had a choice back then?"Noelle frowned and stared at him for a long moment before asking, "So, you were lying to me back then, weren't you?""What?""Didn't you tell me before that you could handle having nothing, that it didn't matter if everything was take
The Sway and Slide of Love Chapter 699
Noelle's words might have been tactful, but Dylan understood her meaning all too clearly. She found him repulsive—so much so that she couldn't bear to look at him.And why didn't she hate him? How could she not hate him? If she truly felt he had wronged her, then she should hate him! But why didn't she even feel hatred? Was it because he wasn't even worthy of her hatred?Dylan's expression slowly faded, his face turning grim. But Noelle didn't seem to notice.She simply nodded at him and stopped walking. "I'll leave you here."Only then did Dylan realize they had reached the hospital entrance.Without waiting for Dylan to respond, Noelle turned and walked away.Dylan watched her leave and suddenly laughed, his lips curled into a twisted smile.After a long moment, once Noelle had disappeared from his sight, he slowly wiped the smile from his face. Then, as if nothing had happened, he turned and walked away.Noelle quickly returned to the hospital room. It was quiet now.Marla
The Sway and Slide of Love Chapter 700
"Where are you?" Hendrix asked in a tense voice the moment Noelle answered his call."The hospital," Noelle answered truthfully.Hendrix fell silent for a brief moment.But Noelle didn't wait for his response. Instead, she said, "I have things to do, so I'm hanging up now."With that, she ended the call.When she entered the hospital room, Marshall and Marla had indeed fallen silent.Noelle paused, then took the initiative to break the silence. "I just saw Dylan off.""Oh, okay." Marla nodded. "Thank you."Noelle pressed her lips together and added, "I didn't mean to eavesdrop earlier. I'm really sorry.""It's fine. It's not like we were talking about anything that you shouldn't be hearing," Marshall quickly said with a smile. Then, he even added, "We weren't, were we?""No, of course not," Noelle immediately replied, waving her hands.Marla couldn't help but laugh at her reaction. She then offered the apple in her hand to Noelle. "Want some?"Noelle was completely at a los
The Sway and Slide of Love Chapter 701
Hendrix didn't care about any of that. As soon as he entered the room, the first thing he did was pull Noelle behind him."No matter how great you think Dylan is, Noelle is now my wife. And that's something you can't change," he said firmly.Marla fell silent.Seeing this, Noelle quickly stepped in to smooth things over. "I'm sorry, Mrs. Swift. He didn't mean it that way."She then turned to Hendrix and said, "Can't you tell Mrs. Swift was just joking? Apologize to her now.""No, that won't be necessary," Marla interjected before Noelle could pull Hendrix's hand. "In fact, I think what you said earlier was correct. This matter truly has nothing to do with me—I've overstepped."The doctor said Marshall needs plenty of rest. I appreciate you both coming to visit him, but I think it's best if you leave now."Compared to earlier, Marla's expression had noticeably darkened.Noelle wanted to explain further, but Hendrix seemed almost eager to leave. He simply nodded without waiting f
The Sway and Slide of Love Chapter 702
After Hendrix finished speaking, Noelle suddenly fell silent.The silence only made Hendrix feel more suffocated. Just as he was about to say something, Noelle asked, "What are you thinking about?"Caught off guard by her question, Hendrix blurted out, "What?"Noelle looked at him calmly. "Is that how you really see me? How irrational do you think I am to do something like that?"Even though she looked calm, her voice carried a clear undercurrent of anger.Surprisingly, Hendrix felt relieved."Do you know what Dylan said to me earlier?" Noelle asked."What?""He said you deliberately hid the news about Mr. Swift's illness from me," Noelle replied. "But I told him then and there that I trust you. Hendrix, is this how you repay the trust I've given you?""No, that's not—"Hendrix finally realized the gravity of the situation. He stepped forward, ready to explain. But Noelle stopped him in his tracks. "Stay right there."Her tone was firm, leaving Hendrix no choice but to h
The Sway and Slide of Love Chapter 703
Rosie even sounded a little gleeful, to be honest. Wasn't it said that daughters were supposed to be their parents' little angels? So, what did that make her?Hendrix remained standing where he was, his brows slowly furrowing.Noelle stayed locked in her room until dinnertime. She didn't say much, remaining silent throughout the meal. In fact, she didn't even spare him a glance.After dinner, Hendrix finally found a chance to ask her, "Will you come back with me later?""No," Noelle replied without even needing to think about it.Hendrix couldn't help but frown. He reached out to take her hand, but Noelle brushed him off before he could.Just as he was about to grab Noelle's shoulder, Beatrice said, "Hendrix, why don't you go back first?"Hendrix turned around and said in a low voice, "Mom."But Beatrice acted as if she hadn't heard him. Instead, she said to Noelle, "Since tomorrow's the weekend and Rosie doesn't have school, why don't the two of you stay here for a couple of d
The Sway and Slide of Love Chapter 704
"Do you think Hendrix is the type to argue with me?" Noelle countered.Beatrice was momentarily caught off guard by her question. Then, she chuckled and said, "You're right. Now that you mention it, he's not.""But knowing him, it's totally possible he said something infuriating," Beatrice added slowly. "Though, given how things are between you two now… I doubt he would, right?"Noelle didn't respond to that. She simply averted her gaze and took another sip of wine before saying, "I'm not actually angry with him.""Oh?""I just don't want to see him right now. That's all," Noelle said with a frown. "It's not so much anger as it is exasperation. I'm exasperated at his lack of trust in me."I'm even starting to wonder if I've done something to make him misunderstand me. Does he really think I'd choose someone else just because of a few words from others?"Beatrice had already heard the full story from Hendrix. Now, as she listened to Noelle's version, she couldn't help but let out
The Sway and Slide of Love Chapter 705
Beatrice shared a lot with Noelle that night.When she first invited Noelle to have a drink, Noelle had assumed she was going to persuade her on Hendrix's behalf. But instead, Beatrice ended up telling her countless stories about Hendrix's childhood.At one point, she even went to pick up an album of Hendrix's photos to show Noelle. It was clear that while part of Hendrix's personality had been shaped by the Freeman family's upbringing, another part was simply innate.While other children's first birthday and kindergarten photos were full of lively, mischievous expressions, Hendrix's was always the same—serious and composed. The man he was now seemed like an exact, grown-up version of the boy in those pictures.By the end of the night, Noelle had almost forgotten the original purpose of her conversation with Beatrice. The two of them spent hours flipping through the photo album and chatting about Hendrix. They even managed to finish two bottles of wine.Although Noelle didn't expe
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The Sway and Slide of Love Chapter 780
Hendrix knew what Noelle was thinking, of course.From the moment she heard about his fate, her eyes had turned red. And though she had tried to pull away, she had ultimately held back.She probably thought she was hiding it well, but to Hendrix, every little thing she did was as clear as glass. But that was fine. If not for that, how else would he have had the chance or excuse to bring her to this hotel?Originally, he had wanted to take things slow with her and date her properly. But now, she already knew and acknowledged their marriage.Thus, it would just be stupid of him if he still took it slow. Besides, there was no law saying that he couldn't date someone after sleeping with them. If anything, this was the most crucial step.Noelle had clearly forgotten some things, including the fact that at his core, Hendrix was anything but kind.Even if she really had been pitying him just now, it didn't matter. Only the weak would resent someone's pity, seeing it as condescension or
The Sway and Slide of Love Chapter 779
And even if Noelle said no, would Hendrix really stop?However, she couldn't bring herself to say yes, either. In the end, she could only frown at Hendrix, frustration simmering in her chest.But in Hendrix's eyes, that look carried a different kind of vulnerability. He cupped her cheek as he asked again, "Should I keep going?"Noelle stayed silent and turned her face away.But Hendrix, ever the tease, refused to let her off so easily. He caught her chin between his fingers, forcing her to look back at him. "Why aren't you saying anything? So, you don't want me to keep going?""Ugh, you're so annoying!" Noelle finally snapped. "If you don't want to continue, just get off me!"There was anger in her words. But after everything that had just happened, her tone carried an unintended, breathy softness. In this moment, it almost sounded like she was flirting with him.Hendrix's smile deepened. "Ah, so that means we can keep going," he murmured, as if talking to himself.Noelle didn'
The Sway and Slide of Love Chapter 778
When vision was stripped away, the other senses became acutely heightened. At this moment, Noelle's hearing was especially sharp.As the approaching footsteps grew closer, her grip tightened instinctively. Her nails dug into her palm, but the sting was insignificant compared to everything else she was feeling.She had no idea how much time had passed. Maybe it was a few minutes, or maybe mere seconds. But to her, every moment felt endlessly stretched. Each breath she took felt as if it spanned a century.Like fleeting memories flashing by in a film, she barely had time to process how to face him before Hendrix had already laid down beside her.The queen-sized bed suddenly felt suffocatingly small. She could feel the heat of his body and smell the crisp scent of his shower gel.Then, his hand settled lightly on her waist. That single touch was enough to make Noelle go entirely rigid. Her already clenched fists tightened even more.And at that moment, Hendrix pulled back her blanke
The Sway and Slide of Love Chapter 777
Especially since Hendrix was already caught up in trouble because of Noelle—and now, he might even be facing prison time.At that thought, Noelle lowered her gaze again."Are you scared?" Hendrix suddenly asked.Noelle froze. Only then did she realize her fingers were trembling faintly.She tried to steady them, but it was no use. So, she could only answer him truthfully, "No.""Do you know what I'm going to do?" Hendrix asked again.By now, they were standing outside the hotel room door.Hendrix held the keycard in his hand. With only one arm usable, he had let go of Noelle's hand earlier. Meaning—if she wanted to, she could turn and run right now.But she didn't move. On the contrary, her eyes remained fixed on his every action.Hendrix looked at her and suddenly laughed. Then, he swiped the card and pulled her inside.The door clicked shut behind them.Hendrix didn't even bother inserting the keycard into the slot. He simply tossed it aside before lowering his head to kis
The Sway and Slide of Love Chapter 776
Hendrix had been scanning Noelle from head to toe. But when he heard her words, he paused slightly and looked at her again. "You were worried about me?""Yeah. They didn't make things difficult for you, did they?" Noelle frowned. "I can testify for you. It was Sid who attacked first, and you were just protecting me."Hendrix studied her for a moment before suddenly laughing. "Of course they made it difficult for me. That bastard is still lying in the hospital, and he might even end up disabled. I've been bailed out for now, but I might still have to stand trial later. Who knows? I might even end up in prison."Noelle slowly turned pale in the face as his words slowly sank in. She stared at him in disbelief, her voice trembling. "A-Are you serious?""Yeah."Noelle fell silent, her head bowing slowly. "I'm sorry. I'm really sorry."The choked sound of her voice sent an unexpected pang through Hendrix's chest. But he quickly suppressed it and asked, "Noelle, what will you do?""Wha
The Sway and Slide of Love Chapter 775
There was no answer.Irene immediately sensed something was wrong. She quickly removed the shovel propped against the door and swung it open, only to find no one inside the room.…"Mr. Freeman, rest assured, we will take care of this matter for you."Jerry's head was pounding. Ever since Hendrix had arrived in their jurisdiction, trouble had followed relentlessly. Yet, despite all this, he maintained a polite smile as he addressed Hendrix."What are you going to do with him?" Hendrix asked in return.Jerry hesitated for a moment before responding, "We've already looked into the matter. Rest assured, we will deal with him severely.""And what exactly do you mean by 'severely'?" Hendrix pressed, his gaze sharp enough to make sweat prickle at Jerry's temples."Well, given his attempted assault, under criminal law—""Assault?" Hendrix let out a low chuckle. "You seem to be mistaken. He was attempting rape and possibly even murder.""Murder?""Yes. Murder."Hendrix lifted his e
The Sway and Slide of Love Chapter 774
"Look at what they did to my son! My son was perfectly fine, and now he's lying in a hospital bed! I'll make sure that bastard rots in jail forever!"Joanne's shrill voice pierced through the door.Noelle sat on a chair, clutching a cup of hot water. Beside her sat Irene, her face dark with fury.The yelling outside continued, "Nelly is nothing but a slut! I knew from the start she was no good! Just look at that face. Who wouldn't she try to seduce? Sid isn't that kind of person! She must've failed to seduce him and then conspired with her lover to frame my son!"Irene couldn't take it anymore. She flung the door open, and the shouting stopped instantly.It was no surprise that Joanne would be scared of Irene since the old woman was holding a hoe in her hand."Get lost," Irene said simply.Joanne paled but stood her ground.Seeing this, Irene was just about to charge forward with her hoe when Joanne panicked and quickly turned to leave.But the onlookers lingered nearby, watch
The Sway and Slide of Love Chapter 773
But that was only if Sid had been willing to accept it. The way Hendrix had looked at him back then—cold and disdainful.And when he'd spoken, his voice had been so certain, as if he'd known Sid would take the money. And in the end, he had. But that didn't give Hendrix the right to look down on him.The more he thought about it—the way he'd been overjoyed when he first met Noelle during their matchmaking, the time and emotion he'd wasted on her—the more resentment burned in his chest."What do you want?"Noelle could feel the danger radiating off him. She kept stepping back, but Sid only advanced, step by step."What do I want?" Sid let out a cold laugh. "Simple. You just need to sleep with me once.""What did you say?" Noelle stared at him in disbelief.For a moment, she thought she must have misheard."Stop playing dumb!" Sid snarled impatiently. "Cut the act! I know you're no longer pure. I saw that bastard sneaking out of your house this morning. You've got some nerve. You
The Sway and Slide of Love Chapter 772
Noelle ended up leaving the room first. The moment she stepped out, she shut the door firmly behind her.Irene thought that was weird. "Why did you close the door?""No reason. Just a habit."Noelle's cheeks were still faintly flushed, and she avoided Irene's gaze, brushing off the question with a vague reply.Irene found it odd but didn't press further.After breakfast, Irene announced she was heading to the back mountain to gather herbs to sell at the market in a few days.Noelle had been thinking about how to divert her, and this played right into her plans."Come with me," Irene said. "And bring two more bottles of water."Noelle hesitated for a moment. She usually accompanied Irene on these trips, so refusing now would seem suspicious. In the end, she nodded.But before leaving, she suddenly called out, "I'm closing the door!"Her voice was loud, ensuring the person inside her room could hear.Irene gave her a strange look. "Who are you talking to?""You.""I'm standi
