LOGINShare
Chapter 78
Related chapters
The Sway and Slide of Love Chapter 79
"Noelle, let me remind you," Hendrix said, his tone cold and resolute. "The power to decide whether our relationship continues or ends has always been in my hands. Even back then, if I hadn't agreed, do you really think you could've divorced me so easily?"Noelle's hand, which had been braced to push him away, slowly dropped to her side.Her eyes, which had flickered with traces of anger and sadness, went completely blank as she stared at him.He wasn't wrong. What power did she ever have? In his eyes, she was nothing more than an object.Once, she had been his wife and was expected to bear his children. Now, she was just a tool for his gratification.Her quiet, detached demeanor was something Hendrix knew all too well. His brows furrowed again as he watched her. After a pause, he gripped her chin and abruptly leaned down, capturing her lips in a forceful kiss.The moment their lips met, tears slipped down Noelle's cheek.The cold touch of her tears sent a shiver through Hendrix
The Sway and Slide of Love Chapter 80
In the quiet, empty room, the sound of Noelle's stomach growling was impossibly loud.Even Hendrix froze in place.For the first time, Noelle caught a flicker of something unexpected in his gaze—surprise. Her jaw clenched tightly, and she turned her face away, refusing to look at him.Hendrix didn't continue walking. Instead, he released her and stood up."What do you want to eat?" he asked.Noelle didn't answer him.Hendrix waited for a while, then shrugged and left the room.Noelle stayed motionless on the bed. It wasn't until his footsteps faded away that she reached up and covered her eyes with her hand. She wasn't sure how much time passed, but Hendrix eventually returned."Come and eat," he said.Noelle had no intention of entertaining him. However, she hadn't eaten in nearly an entire day. The dizziness behind her eyes was growing unbearable, and her empty stomach churned uncomfortably.Eventually, she gave in to her body's demands.Hendrix had brought back a spread o
The Sway and Slide of Love Chapter 81
For the next few days, Hendrix didn't reach out to her, but Noelle kept receiving cakes from different dessert shops every day. And not just one cake at a time.At first, Noelle tried to refuse them, but the delivery people wouldn't even give her the chance. They would simply tell her their task was to deliver the cake, and whatever she chose to do with it was up to her.With no other choice, Noelle reluctantly accepted the cakes.After days of eating them, she finally couldn't take it anymore. She called Hendrix. "Stop sending me cakes.""Why? I thought you liked them." Hendrix sounded unusually cheerful, with a laugh barely contained in his voice.Noelle felt like he was doing it on purpose.She liked them, right? So, he would just keep sending them until she threw up.Noelle didn't respond and just hung up the phone.Hendrix had intended to say more, but he was taken aback for a moment when he heard the click of the call ending. He checked the phone, confirming she had act
The Sway and Slide of Love Chapter 82
In the end, Noelle picked a buffalo wings bar. The fiery, finger-staining spicy wings were clearly an odd match for Hendrix in his sharp suit.However, Noelle didn't care.Truthfully, she wasn't sure what Hendrix was trying to do. Was he just treating her like a tool? But the way he was acting now didn't really seem to fit that.Even when they were still married, they rarely ate out alone. He would give her jewelry and accessories, but never did he send over cakes like this.Now, his behavior made Noelle feel like he was... trying to please her.The thought flashed in her mind, but she immediately pushed it aside."Do you like this?" Hendrix asked, clearly unfazed as he sat down across from her after they reached their seats."Yeah." Noelle nodded. "I grew up in Creston City. I can't live without spicy food."But after she moved back to the Swanson family, they wouldn't let her eat anything like this.In their eyes, food also seemed to be ranked—spicy food was out of the quest
The Sway and Slide of Love Chapter 83
Ophelia seemed to be in high spirits. When Hendrix walked in, he overheard her excitedly chatting with someone, her hearty laughter filling the room.Grant was the first to notice him. He smiled and said, "Mr. Freeman is back."Hendrix gave a brief nod in acknowledgment, then turned his attention to Ophelia.Ophelia waved enthusiastically at him. "Come and take a look at this.""What is it?"Hendrix's smile remained for a moment, but it faded slightly when his eyes landed on the tablet screen."What do you think of this one? She's the Johnson family's daughter. Last time, she was at…""Why are you looking at these things?" Hendrix asked as he straightened up, clearly uninterested."What are you saying? Naturally, I'm looking for a potential granddaughter-in-law. Look. I was saying—""I'm not thinking about that for now," Hendrix cut her off."I didn't say you had to get married now! I'm just asking you to take a look. And if there's someone suitable, you can get to know them
The Sway and Slide of Love Chapter 84
Two days later, it was Hendrix's birthday.He had never really cared much about birthdays, but when his family insisted on throwing him a party this year, he didn't refuse. Noelle, of course, wasn't going to attend the event. Instead, Hendrix sent her a message in the evening, asking her to wait for him at Percy Gardens.The party was a success. Nearly everyone who mattered in the social circles had shown up. While the event wasn't open to the public, a few minor celebrities had managed to sneak in.Since Hendrix's divorce had become public knowledge, more people seemed eager to get close to him. Their motives were more obvious now—straightforward, even.Over the course of the night, Hendrix had his clothes ruined three times. By the time the last person spilled a drink on him, he didn't even bother to change. He simply pushed away the hand that tried to touch him."Mr. Freeman, why don't you let me clean that up for you?" The woman, wearing a strapless gown, looked at him with
The Sway and Slide of Love Chapter 85
But eventually, Noelle couldn't hold out any longer. Since she couldn't go to the room directly, she just collapsed onto the couch to catch a brief nap.When she woke up, the first thing she felt was the weight of a figure pressing down on her.Noelle gasped in shock and instinctively opened her mouth to scream, but Hendrix quickly covered her mouth with his hand.It was only when his palm pressed down on her that Noelle realized who it was. Her body, which had been rigid with tension, relaxed at once.Hendrix noticed the change and pressed his weight into her even more without hesitation, lowering his head to kiss her lips.Noelle could smell the alcohol on him. Just as she was about to pull away, he gripped her chin firmly and bit her lip.The taste of champagne mingled with the kiss.Combined with the overzealous energy Hendrix was showing, Noelle couldn't help but make a soft protest. She instinctively pushed against his chest, trying to create some distance.But Hendrix qu
The Sway and Slide of Love Chapter 86
By the time Hendrix walked out of the bathroom, Noelle was no longer in the bedroom. He was stunned a little before he exited the room.Noelle was slipping into her shoes at the door. Hendrix looked at her, and his expression darkened. "Where are you going?""Home." Noelle didn't even turn around to look at him. Hendrix immediately pursed his lips, and the coldness in his eyes intensified. However, Noelle ignored him and opened the door. Afterward, the door was closed again, and Hendrix was left all alone in the spacious house. When he turned around, he swung his foot and kicked the trash can, toppling it. Noelle didn't notice what Hendrix had just done. She kept the cufflinks in her bag, and she thought about tossing them into the trash can when she walked past one. However, her hand was suspended in midair for a long time, and she still couldn't let it go. That was when Noelle's phone rang. "You're not asleep yet, are you, Elle?" Evelyn sounded very exhilarated over the
Latest chapter
The Sway and Slide of Love Chapter 590
Dylan had originally promised Noelle that he would wrap up the situation with Dyno Corporation within a month. He had even booked tickets to a seaside amusement park in advance, saying he wanted to bring Rosie there.Rosie had been looking forward to it for a long time and even asked Noelle to take her to the mall to buy a new swimsuit. But two days before the planned trip, Dylan suddenly called Noelle to say he wouldn't be able to keep his promise."There's an investor from abroad I need to meet. If the deal goes through, there might still be a chance to turn things around, so…"Dylan's voice carried a hint of guilt.But Noelle quickly smiled and said, "It's fine. You go ahead and do what you have to do. I can take Rosie by myself.""I can arrange for someone to go with you. It'll be too tiring for you to handle it alone.""It's okay. I've managed on my own before, haven't I?" Noelle said, her tone light. "So, is there a chance to save the company?"Dylan could hear the joy in
The Sway and Slide of Love Chapter 589
But now, Dylan had taken the initiative to hold Jean's hand. Just as Jean looked down at his hand, he had already pulled her into the building.Then, he abruptly let go."What are you doing here?" he asked in a low voice.Jean looked down at her now-empty wrist. After a moment, she raised her head to look at him. "Why can't I be here? I've served my sentence and been released."Dylan pressed his lips together. "You know that's not what I meant.""Then, what did you mean?" Jean feigned confusion. "Shouldn't I come to see you? My parents are gone, and my old friends won't even meet me. In this city, I'm no better than a beggar on the street. Given the circumstances, who else can I turn to if not you?"As Jean spoke, she took a step closer to him. Her movement was small, even cautious. But Dylan reacted as if he'd seen something terrifying. His expression changed instantly, and he took several steps back. It was as if Jean were some kind of deadly virus, and just being near her woul
The Sway and Slide of Love Chapter 588
"What brings you here, Ms. Fisher?" Hendrix asked, cutting through the small talk.Jean knew she wasn't in a position to exchange pleasantries with him. Thus, she didn't beat around the bush. "Mr. Freeman, as you know, all of my family's assets have been confiscated, and my parents are no longer in this world."So, it makes no difference whether I'm in or out of prison. I have no one in this city and no place to turn to. I can't even support myself. But I heard you've been dealing with something troublesome lately—so I came to ask. If I can help you solve it, would you be willing to pay me?"Hendrix slowly narrowed his eyes and chuckled softly. "Continue.""I know why you've been putting so much pressure on Dylan. It's all because of Noelle, isn't it? But what you probably don't realize is that Dylan doesn't care as much about power and status as you think."Yet, ironically, that's the only leverage you have over him right now. But honestly, breaking him and Noelle apart doesn't h
The Sway and Slide of Love Chapter 587
"And I believe that even without the company, even if I have to start over from scratch, I can still live a good life. And even if I don't, I won't blame anyone, least of all you," Dylan said.After he finished speaking, Noelle finally felt herself relaxing. "So, that's what you've been doing all day? Worrying and overthinking about this whole thing?""Yeah," Noelle replied, then suddenly thought of something. "And you shouldn't pick a fight with your mother over this. She was just looking out for you.""Don't worry. I won't," Dylan responded without hesitation.But to Noelle, it almost sounded like he was brushing her off. This caused her to frown slightly.As if he could read her mind, Dylan quickly added, "I was upset earlier because I thought you were going to give up on me. But now I see it was just a misunderstanding. So, don't worry. I won't fight with my mother."Only then did Noelle feel reassured. "Okay. Where are you now?""I'm still at the office, but I'm about to
The Sway and Slide of Love Chapter 586
Dylan had told Noelle he would call her at 11:00 pm. But it wasn't until midnight that she finally received his call."Is Rosie asleep?" he asked.Noelle walked over to the balcony attached to the living room with her phone before answering, "Yup.""Sorry. I was going to call you around ten something, but something came up, and I've been busy until now.""It's okay. I was still awake anyway," Noelle replied quickly."Okay."Then, silence suddenly fell between them.The quiet stretched on just a little too long—long enough for both of them to sense that something felt off.Dylan was the first to break it. "Did something happen?""No," Noelle answered hastily, then asked, "Are you still really busy lately?""Yeah, more or less. It's mainly dealing with some shareholders pulling out. You know how it is—the company hasn't officially gone bankrupt yet, but if they all pull out at once, it'll have a more direct impact. So I—"Dylan's voice trailed off. Then, he chuckled and said,
The Sway and Slide of Love Chapter 585
"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 Sway and Slide of Love Chapter 584
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
The Sway and Slide of Love Chapter 583
"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
The Sway and Slide of Love Chapter 582
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
