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Chapter 96
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The Sway and Slide of Love Chapter 97
Noelle's tears started to fall uncontrollably."Jerk," she muttered through clenched teeth, her voice trembling.Hendrix, who had been ready to bite her neck just moments ago, froze when he heard her words. Then, he lifted his gaze.Noelle's lipstick was smudged, her eyeliner smeared from the tears that rolled down her cheeks, and her hair was a mess. She looked utterly disheveled.Yet, Hendrix's heart skipped a beat when he saw the tears glistening on her lashes.His movements slowed. Instead of continuing, he cupped the back of her head gently and kissed her.This kiss was much softer and tender. Noelle didn't resist the way she had earlier.In reality, Hendrix couldn't bear to see her in pain, either. But now, as her resistance eased, Hendrix found himself regaining his composure.Just as he was about to speak, hoping to reason with her, Noelle suddenly bit down hard on his lip.…"Mr. Freeman."It had been a day, yet Dan still couldn't stop glancing at Hendrix's lips whe
The Sway and Slide of Love Chapter 98
Night had fallen. The city outside was aglow, a kaleidoscope of neon lights merging with the red sea of taillights from rush-hour traffic. Together, they formed the quintessential scene of a bustling city.Amity Tower was located in the heart of the city. Its massive floor-to-ceiling windows made the view outside look like a framed picture.Hendrix stood before the window, staring outside blankly. He fiddled with a lighter in his hands, flicking it on and off.His memories of his father, Gerald Freeman, were fragmented, almost nonexistent. When he thought back now, all he could recall was the stern face of a man who held him to high standards. And later, the image of a frail, bedridden man who could no longer care for himself.Hendrix had been just 12 years old when Gerald passed.There hadn't been much of a bond between them, but at least, he seemed like an ordinary father in his memories. Hendrix felt that his parents had a loving relationship. Otherwise, why would she have re
The Sway and Slide of Love Chapter 99
As a powerful man, Hendrix was no stranger to temptation.However, the woman standing in front of him was the crudest kind.He didn't even spare her a glance. Instead, he pulled out his phone and called Noelle.The line connected, but no one answered. His expression darkened.The woman, still lingering behind him, felt the sting of being ignored. But her gaze kept flicking to his car parked outside and the clearly expensive clothes he wore. Summoning her courage, she stepped closer."What's your relationship with Noelle? Are you friends?" she asked with a coy smile."She's probably too busy to answer, you know. At this hour, she's probably on a date with some guy," she added, her voice laced with faux concern. "Let me tell you. She's not as innocent as she seems. Behind closed doors, she's pretty wild. Just this morning, I saw—"Before she could finish, Hendrix's cold, piercing gaze snapped to her. His look was sharp enough to feel like a physical chokehold, cutting off her word
The Sway and Slide of Love Chapter 100
Hendrix glanced at the screen of her phone before asking, "Where were you?"Noelle pressed her lips together. "Who gave you the right to change my lock?""Answer my question!" Hendrix demanded with a stormy expression. Noelle had every intention of arguing with him, but after locking eyes with him for a few tense moments, she finally relented. "The hospital."Hendrix's expression shifted slightly as his eyes swept over her.Noelle didn't notice his gaze. She continued, "They told me this afternoon that my mom woke up, but by the time I got there, she'd fallen asleep again. I stayed, hoping she might wake up again."Her voice was soft, laced with quiet sadness.The icy edge in Hendrix's face melted slightly, but his frown returned just as quickly. "Then, why didn't you answer your phone?""It was on silent. I didn't see it," Noelle replied, her tone flat. "Can I go inside now?"Hendrix stepped aside without a word, giving her space to pass.Noelle bent down to change her shoe
The Sway and Slide of Love Chapter 101
When Hendrix set his fork down, Noelle followed suit."You can leave now," she said bluntly, not bothering to hide her irritation.Hendrix glanced around the small apartment before asking, "Why don't you stay at Percy Gardens?""Because it's not my place," Noelle replied curtly.Hendrix studied her for a moment, then said, "I could sign the property over to you.""No need. I like it here just fine."Her answer left Hendrix momentarily speechless, though his brows furrowed in obvious displeasure."Is there something else you want?" Noelle pressed. Instead of answering, Hendrix stood and said, "Get me a clean towel."Before she could react, he headed toward the bathroom."What are you doing? This is my house!" Noelle exclaimed, rushing to block his way."Percy Gardens is mine, and you've showered and stayed there before," Hendrix shot back.Noelle didn't know what else to say. By then, Hendrix had already opened the bathroom door. His expression tightened at the sight.H
The Sway and Slide of Love Chapter 102
Noelle felt uncomfortable with Hendrix's current actions. She was about to grab the towel from his hands when Hendrix suddenly spoke, "I heard some news today." Noelle froze, her eyes locking onto his. "I might have a brother I don't know about," he said calmly.Noelle's eyes widened."What do you mean?""I mean my father might have an illegitimate child," Hendrix replied, his tone still eerily calm, as though he were discussing something entirely unrelated to himself.Noelle had no idea why he was suddenly sharing this with her.When they were married, they'd never had heart-to-heart conversations like this. She rarely asked him anything personal, and Hendrix had been even more tight-lipped.Sometimes, they'd go days without seeing or speaking to each other, even under the same roof. It was absurd for a married couple to live that way.And yet, Hendrix was now opening up about a deeply private family matter.Was it because she was no longer his wife, so he didn't feel t
The Sway and Slide of Love Chapter 103
Noelle and Hendrix had never shared a bed before. No matter how exhausted he left her, she would always remember to return to her own room. In truth, Noelle had always felt that they weren't really husband and wife. They were more like partners, both in bed and in life.To Noelle, lying together in the same bed without doing anything was far more intimate than sex. Only people who were truly in love could do that. And she and Hendrix clearly weren't.Now, she crouched beside the bed, watching him as he slept. She was very familiar with his face. She could clearly picture the sharp lines of his features even with her eyes closed. When she was younger, she had drawn his face more times than she could remember.Back then, Hendrix, in a crisp white school uniform, had been the center of attention at their school.Then, he grew up. His face became more striking and refined with age. His elegant demeanor only intensified. Noelle always felt worlds apart from him even when he was stan
The Sway and Slide of Love Chapter 104
Hendrix eventually went on the date.He was slightly surprised to see who his date was."Hello, Mr. Freeman," the woman said with a bright, dazzling smile. "I think you might remember me?""Yvonne Wright." Before Hendrix could respond, she extended her hand and supplied the answer. "We danced at the masquerade ball.""Ms. Wright, a pleasure," Hendrix replied, shaking her hand briefly. He made no mention of what happened at the ball, keeping his response curt."Why did you leave so suddenly that night?" Yvonne asked."An urgent matter came up," he said smoothly."Is that so?" Yvonne's smile deepened, carrying a subtle undertone that Hendrix didn't care for.It wasn't that her knowing look rattled him—he wasn't concerned about being caught in a lie. It was the energy she exuded—a kind of calculated playfulness—that made him uneasy. Hendrix didn't mind dealing with intelligent people, but he had no patience for those who fancied themselves too clever.Sensing the shift, Yvonn
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The Sway and Slide of Love Chapter 800
"Why?" Noelle asked."What do you mean why?" Hendrix's voice carried an edge of irritation. "How would I know he's not a good person?"Noelle shook his head. "What I mean is, if he's not a good person, why was I going to marry him in the first place? And he mentioned I lived in Stormridge before. Were we divorced then?"Now that the questions had started, she might as well get everything out in the open.The moment she finished speaking, Hendrix's expression darkened further.Noelle wasn't in a rush. She simply waited, watching him expectantly."Yes," Hendrix finally answered her. "You almost did marry him. But then he betrayed you, so you broke it off.""Betrayed?""Yes. To secure an investment, he slept with his ex-wife. And that ex-wife ended up dead overseas because of him. You even suspected he was involved. Because the moment she died, Dylan inherited her money. His company was saved overnight. And you don't remember this, but his ex-wife—""Hold up." Hendrix had said to
The Sway and Slide of Love Chapter 799
Dylan went on, "Later, we got together. We were going to get married. But then Hendrix used underhanded tactics to target my company, and you chose to go back to him because you didn't want to drag me down."And I don't think he even loves you. The only reason he's so obsessed with keeping you is because he can't stand losing. It's just possessiveness. He—"Dylan never got to finish. Someone slammed into him from behind, shoving him hard enough that he staggered back several steps before crashing to the floor.But he barely registered the pain. Slowly, he lifted his head.Hendrix stood shielding Noelle, his expression thunderous.Instead of responding with anger, Dylan laughed softly. "There's no need to get so worked up, Mr. Freeman. I was just so happy to see Noelle that I might have let something slip out of excitement. Or are you feeling guilty about something?"Hendrix didn't dignify that with a response. He didn't even spare Dylan another glance. Instead, he just grabbed No
The Sway and Slide of Love Chapter 798
Dylan had imagined a thousand ways Noelle might respond to him, but he had never expected her to ask, "Who are you?"He stood frozen in place, momentarily questioning whether he had misheard her. Or had he mistaken someone else for her?"I should know you, right?" Before he could react, Noelle spoke again, "But I'm sorry, I can't remember who you are."She couldn't remember? Dylan almost laughed. And then he did.What was this? Was she trying to tell him that she no longer had any feelings for him? That now, she had even forgotten who he was?His jaw clenched, his gaze locking onto her.Noelle sensed his anger. Realizing she might have misspoken, she quickly explained, "I'm sorry. I was injured before, so I forgot some things. If I said something wrong, please forgive me."At that, Dylan loosened his fists. Then, he looked at her in disbelief. "What did you just say?""I said I forgot some things, so—"Noelle wasn't even sure if she should know him. But the way Dylan was looki
The Sway and Slide of Love Chapter 797
"How is it that Hendrix could find Noelle, but you idiots still couldn't dig up a single clue after months? Useless! Every last one of you!" Dylan's voice burned with fury. He barely held back from erupting completely.He knew it. He freaking knew it!The way Hendrix had looked at him last night—that gaze had been telling him everything. Not only was he back, but he had brought Noelle with him.So what now? What the hell was all Dylan's effort for? After everything he had done, was he still supposed to slink away in defeat? Meanwhile, they got to live happily ever after? Why the hell should things turn out like that?"Where is she now?" Dylan asked.The question stunned the person on the other end. "W-What did you say?""I asked you—where is Noelle right now?""S-She's on her way to the hospital?""The hospital?""Yeah, we're tailing their car. It looks like she's going to see her adoptive mother at the hospital."Dylan stopped listening. He hung up and stormed forward. He fo
The Sway and Slide of Love Chapter 796
Meanwhile, on the other side of the city, Dylan hadn't slept a wink.He didn't even step foot into his bedroom. Instead, he'd spent the entire night in his study, staring at streams of data on his computer.He had expected Hendrix to make a move. After all, how could he possibly do nothing now that he was back?And yet, there was nothing. Or was it that Dylan couldn't see it yet?No. That wasn't right. A sudden thought struck Dylan—Hendrix had told everyone that he had been on a vacation.And earlier today, Dylan had seen for himself that aside from the injury on Hendrix's arm, there wasn't a single mark on him. Which meant Hendrix had been conscious this entire time. But if he had been conscious, why had he taken no precautions against Dylan's moves?Unless this was all a trap. A hole was dug in advance, just waiting for Dylan to step right in.A cold sweat broke across his back at the thought of that. He immediately began tearing through the files, cross-referencing data with
The Sway and Slide of Love Chapter 795
"You go ahead and sleep. I'll take a shower first," Hendrix said."Okay," Noelle replied, turning away immediately.Though she had accepted her identity, she was still clearly uncomfortable being close to Hendrix. The tips of her ears burned red as she faced the other direction.Hendrix was about to tease her when his phone rang. The name on the screen wiped the smile from his face.After glancing at Noelle, he stepped out to answer."We just got word—the Swift family has pulled their funds together," the person on the other end reported. "Seems they've heard you're back and decided to pause their plans."Amity Group was too massive to target. It would take months to fully dismantle it.Dylan had gotten this far as he did not because Hendrix's absence left the company in chaos but also because of the Swift family's backing. Now that Hendrix had returned, they knew things wouldn't be so simple.And without a swift victory, prolonged financial strain would become a problem—even f
The Sway and Slide of Love Chapter 794
"Rosie's fine. I already calmed her down," Hendrix replied.But Noelle didn't relax at his words. She continued to peek worriedly into Rosie's room."Don't worry. She's already asleep," Hendrix assured her, putting his arm around her shoulders. "You've had a long day too. Go get some sleep."Noelle didn't say anything, but the disappointment in her downcast eyes was unmistakable. "There's an event at her kindergarten this Friday," Hendrix suddenly said. "You should go."Her head snapped up in surprise."You were the one who always attended before. And if you go, Rosie will definitely be happy."After a brief hesitation, Noelle nodded."Come on. Let's get some sleep."As Hendrix led her to bed, Noelle suddenly asked him, "Can you tell me about my past?"The question caught Hendrix off guard. "What?""Anything that happened in the past," Noelle said. "About Rosie or anything from before her."Hendrix went quiet. His mind raced through their shared history. Then, he realized
The Sway and Slide of Love Chapter 793
Hendrix had rushed back because Rosie was crying—loudly and heartbreakingly so. Since the day he first met her, this was the first time he had ever seen her cry like this.Earlier, Rosie had been overjoyed to see Noelle, clinging to her and refusing to let go.But now, Noelle stood beside her, completely at a loss.Hendrix took one look and immediately knew what was going on. He crouched in front of Rosie. "Don't cry."Rosie glanced at him, only to wail even harder.Hendrix frowned and turned to Noelle. "Did you say something to her?""Not much." Noelle twisted the hem of her shirt. "She mentioned her birthday is coming up, and I said I forgot."Of course. Hendrix wasn't surprised. He grabbed a tissue, wiped Rosie's tears, and picked her up.Noelle moved to follow, but Hendrix quickly turned his head around and said, "Go back to your room first. I'll come find you later."Noelle stopped in her tracks, her eyes lingering on them until Hendrix shut Rosie's bedroom door behind hi
The Sway and Slide of Love Chapter 792
The banquet continued.Once the crowd confirmed the man before them was indeed Hendrix, they swarmed him with questions and concern."Where have you been all this time?""Why was there no news of you at all?""I knew those reporters were unreliable! But it's such a relief you're safe.""What are your plans now, Mr. Freeman?"In reality, Amity Group's current situation wasn't optimistic. But some people were simply born with a presence—no matter what circumstances they were in or what challenges they faced, they remained composed. And in doing so, they inspired confidence in everyone around them.Dylan stood there, watching him coldly. Then, something occurred to him. He turned away and dialed a number."When did Hendrix return? And did he come back alone?"If Hendrix was back, what about Noelle? Something about Hendrix's demeanor felt off to Dylan. Before his disappearance, Hendrix had been outright hostile toward him. Yet tonight, he'd greeted him willingly, and he hadn't men
