The Cherished Wife (Noelle and Charles)
Wife 37

Wife 37

Chapter 37

“Shhi”

Charles’s eyes narrowed. In a swift motion, he grabbed Noelle’s hand. Before she could evenprocess what was happening, he yanked her arm, spun around, and whisked her behind a pillar.

His strong arms encircled her waist, pulling her close into his protective hold.

Noelle was puzzled and tried to push Charles away. Despite her efforts, his arms held her tight, hisfinger pressed gently against her lips, signaling her to keep quiet.

“You promised that you’d make Grandpa and Noelle see that Xavier and I are meant to be today. Itstill hasn’t happened yet. Winter, fuming after her clash with Noelle, pulled Jade to the back garden.“Mom, did you see Noelle earlier? She was so full of herself, making me look bad on purpose. Sheknows Xavier and I are the real deal. Why is she being so difficult?”

“Don’t worry, honey,” Jade reassured her, scanning the area before speaking. “When have I ever letyou down? I’ve got this.” She continued, “Just stick with Xavier, okay? I’ll handle the rest.”

As Jade and Winter’s voices trailed off, Noelle blinked back tears and glanced at Charles. Charlescaught the fleeting look of confusion on Noelle’s face before she hid it away. He let go of her.“Feeling down?”

Noelle’s smile was tinged with sadness. “What’s there to be sad about? I’ve known the score for awhile. now.” She looked down, the lingering touch and scent of him already fading. “Do you think I’mpathetic?

Charles studied her, his eyes searching. “We all have our own journeys, but have you given anythought to what I suggested earlier?”

“What?” Noelle’s eyes widened in surprise as she looked up. “You came here today… So you’reactually related to Xavier?”

Charles’s lips had quirked into a sly smile. “Does it really matter?” His eyes were like dark pools,impossible to read, and Noelle’s gut told her he was trouble. Her curiosity, however, was like a mothdrawn to a flame. Charles reached out, his fingers lightly grazing her cheek before playfully tappingher head. “I live by a simple rule: never be the first one to start the fire. But if anyone wrongs me, Iwon’t hold back. My ties with Xavier aren’t the issue. It’s what I can do with my status that counts.I’m looking forward to your good news, my good girl!”

Noelle was momentarily lost in thought, staring at Charles’s departing figure until she was snappedback to reality.

“Miss Noelle, what are you doing here? Sir Julian has been asking for you.”

Her dad wanted to see her?

With a puzzled frown, Noelle had followed the servant.

Julian was waiting upstairs in the study. He beckoned when he saw her. “Noelle, over here. Dad’sgot something to discuss with you!” He shot a look at Jade, who reluctantly nodded. “Noelle, makesure your talk things out with your dad. I’ll step out.”

Noelle bit her lip, watching Jade exit before turning to Julian. “Yes?”

Julian glanced at Noelle and gestured to a nearby chair. “Take a seat. That’s the fresh tea Mommade, the first pick of the season. You’ve been away for a year, and Dad’s aware of the tough timesyou’ve faced.

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Charles just grinned, closed the distance between ther

Taken aback, Noelle stumbled a couple of steps backw towered over her, and even in her heels,she felt dwarfe strained. “You…”

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+15 BONUS

Charles just grinned, closed the distance between them, and came to a halt right in front of her.

Taken aback, Noelle stumbled a couple of steps backward and craned her neck to look up at him.He towered over her, and even in her heels, she felt dwarfed by his height. She gazed up at him, abit strained. “You…”

D

Chapter 37

“Shhl”

+15 BONUS

process

Charles’s eyes narrowed. In a swift motion, he grabbed Noelle’s hand. Before she could even procwhat was happening, he yanked her arm, spun around, and whisked her behind a pillar.

His strong arms encircled her waist, pulling her close into his protective hold.

Noelle was puzzled and tried to push Charles away. Despite her efforts, his arms held her tight, hisfinger pressed gently against her lips, signaling her to keep quiet.

“You promised that you’d make Grandpa and Noelle see that Xavier and I are meant to be today. Itstill hasn’t happened yet.” Winter, fuming after her clash with Noelle, pulled Jade to the backgarden. “Mom, did you see Noelle earlier? She was so full of herself, making me look bad onpurpose. She knows Xavier and I are the real deal. Why is she being so difficult?‘

“Don’t worry, honey,” Jade reassured her, scanning the area before speaking. “When have I ever letyou down? I’ve got this.” She continued, “Just stick with Xavier, okay? I’ll handle the rest.”

As Jade and Winter’s voices trailed off, Noelle blinked back tears and glanced at Charles. Charlescaught the fleeting look of confusion on Noelle’s face before she hid it away. He let go of her.“Feeling down?”

Noelle’s smile was tinged with sadness. “What’s there to be sad about? I’ve known the score for awhile. now.” She looked down, the lingering touch and scent of him already fading. “Do you think I’mpathetic?”

Charles studied her, his eyes searching. “We all have our own journeys, but have you given anythought to what I suggested earlier?”

“What?” Noelle’s eyes widened in surprise as she looked up. “You came here today… So you’reactually

related to Xavier?”

Charles’s lips had quirked into a sly smile. “Does it really matter?” His eyes were like dark pools,impossible to read, and Noelle’s gut told her he was trouble. Her curiosity, however, was like a mothdrawn to a flame. Charles reached out, his fingers lightly grazing her cheek before playfully tappingher head. “I live by a simple rule: never be the first one to start the fire. But if anyone wrongs me, Iwon’t hold back. My ties with Xavier aren’t the issue. It’s what I can do with my status that counts.I’m looking forward to your good news, my good girl!”

Noelle was momentarily lost in thought, staring at Charles’s departing figure until she was snappedback

to reality.

“Miss Noelle, what are you doing here? Sir Julian has been asking for you.”

Her dad wanted to see her?

With a puzzled frown, Noelle had followed the servant,

Julian was waiting upstairs in the study. He beckoned when he saw her. “Noelle, over here. Dad’sgot something to discuss with you!” He shot a look at Jade, who reluctantly nodded. “Noelle, makesure you talk things out with your dad. I’ll step out.”

Noelle bit her lip, watching Jade exit before turning to Julian. “Yes?”

Julian glanced at Noelle and gestured to a nearby chair. “Take a seat. That’s the fresh tea Mommade, the first pick of the season. You’ve been away for a year, and Dad’s aware of the tough timesyou’ve faced.

+15 BONUS

About your sister…”

“Look, Dad, if you’re going to bring up my sister again, Just don’t. You know Xavier and I go wayback, and we were practically engaged. I never saw it coming… my sister, she…” Noelle’s smilewas tinged with sadness. “Did you ever stop to think about me? If you had, even for a second, noneof this would’ve happened,”

“Noelle,” Julian cut her off, “your sister didn’t mean for things to go this way, but love can becomplicated…”

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