Chapter 1 Chapter 1

Autumn had painted Brookville in shades of gold and crimson when Noelle Shaw stepped off the plane. She grabbed her suitcase and walked out into the crisp air, a familiar sense of home wrapping around her. A whole year had passed since she left to pursue a corporate training program overseas, and now, she was back just in time. Her third anniversary with her boyfriend Xavier Harris was just days away, and she had been working nonstop to make it back early enough to surprise him. She hailed a cab and headed straight for Xavier's office. The moment she walked through the front doors, Alice, the receptionist, gave her a look of total shock. "Ms. Shaw? You’re back? Are you here for the CEO's engagement party?" Noelle's brow creased in confusion. "The CEO's engagement party? What are you talking about, Alice?""It's Mr. Harris's engagement party with your sister!""What?" Noelle's heart skipped a beat, and the happiness drained from her face. "Whose engagement party?" Alice seemed to realize she had dropped a bombshell and nervously swallowed. "The CEO... and your sister...""Where is it happening?""The... Golden Oasis Hotel." It felt like a punch to the gut. Noelle spun on her heel and rushed out. "Driver, take me to the Golden Oasis Hotel, please." She had not even made it inside the hotel when she saw a huge photo by the entrance. There Xavier was with his arm around Winter Shaw, who looked stunning in her elegant dress. They were gazing into each other's eyes, lost in a world of love. On her way over, Noelle was psyching herself up. Xavier was her boyfriend. He was hers! The idea of him getting engaged to her sister was just too bizarre. As she arrived, however, reality hit her like a ton of bricks. She walked in just in time to catch Xavier whispering sweet nothings into Winter's ear, making her cheeks turn a rosy pink. Noelle felt a surge of anger, her eyes blazing with fury. How ludicrous it was. Her boyfriend of three years, the one she had been with through thick and thin, was now cozying up to her elder sister while she had been miles away. Winter Shaw was mingling and toasting with the guests arm in arm with Xavier when she spotted Noelle. Her face drained of color, and her grip on Xavier's hand tightened without her even realizing it. Xavier's eyes met Noelle's. He paused for a split second, then flashed Winter a comforting smile before walking over to Noelle. "Hey Noelle, did you come to celebrate me and your sister's big day?" His voice, which was usually so warm and gentle, felt like a knife twisting in her heart. Noelle clenched her jaw. "Celebrate? Celebrate you stabbing me in the back? And Winter, really? Are you that desperate for a man? You knew he was mine, and you... you both..." Before she could finish, a slap snapped her head to the side, leaving her cheek throbbing. Holding her face, tears brimming in her eyes, she looked up in disbelief. "Mom!""Don't you dare call me 'mom' right now! What kind of daughter or sister acts the way you're acting? It's your sister's engagement, and you can't even be happy for her? Instead, you show up here to make a scene. You're doing this on purpose, aren't you?" Jade Jones was fuming, her eyes shooting daggers at Noelle. Noelle's heart clenched. "Mom, what are you even saying? Xavier's my boyfriend.""Your boyfriend? Xavier is your sister's husband. Why do you have to challenge your sister for everything? I’m so disappointed in you." Noelle could not help but laugh. She stared at her mother, Jade, who had the nerve to twist the truth so blatantly. She turned to Xavier. "Xavier, come on. Tell us who you're really dating." His brow creased, his gaze on Noelle filled with uncertainty. The firm grip he felt, however, brought him back to the moment. "Noelle, I'm sorry, but there's only ever been one person for me, and that's your sister." Noelle's heart felt like it was being sliced open as she listened to Xavier's emotionless confession. What a joke! What bitter irony! "Xavier, you’d better get this straight: it's me who's dumping you, not the other way round." It took all her willpower not to lash out at the cheating couple. "I hope you two have a long, 'happy' life together," she spat.

Chapter 2 Chapter 2

Noelle bolted from the hotel, her previously defiant face now streaked with tears. Out of nowhere, a black Cayenne screeched to a halt, its tires screaming against the pavement. Caught off guard, she tumbled to the ground. The driver gulped, his eyes darting to the man in the back seat, "Sir... Sir?" The man in the back, unfazed by the nearby accident, merely glanced at the passenger seat beside him. "Ronald, go see what happened.""Right away, sir." Ronald was out of the car in a flash, checking the front for any damage. About six feet ahead of the car, a woman sat on the ground with her eyes wide open, looking totally freaked out. Her cheeks were streaked with tears, and she had obviously been crying. "Miss? Are you okay? Do you need a ride to the hospital?" Noelle was scared out of her wits. She just gazed at Ronald, lost in shock, until she finally managed to pull herself together and stand up. Without a word, she tried to sidestep him, eager to get away. Ronald was puzzled by her reaction. "Are you sure you're alright? Do you need any...""I... I'm fine, really, I'm okay." Noelle's eyes darted to the black Cayenne. She could not shake off the feeling that someone was watching her, and it sent shivers down her spine. She scowled, hating the feeling, and hobbled away as fast as she could. Ronald watched her go, confused. He wanted to stop her, but she was dodging him like he was bad news, leaving him speechless. Back in the car, Ronald noticed the man in the backseat craning his neck to watch the woman through the window. "Sir, we're at the hotel. Do you want to head straight in, or would you like to get out here?" The man, Charles Hoffman, did not say a word, and Ronald did not dare to make a move. Watching the petite figure disappear into the distance, Charles let out a slight smirk and tapped his finger against his knee in a steady beat. "Let's head back!" Ronald was taken aback. "But sir, isn't today..." Before he could finish, Charles cut him off with a piercing look. "The show's over. There's nothing left to see," Charles said, his words heavy with implication. "Ronald, you seem to be losing your touch." The Majestic Lounge was Brookville's hotspot, its lights blazing and music pumping every night. Noelle's friend, Rowena Smith, always said it was the prime spot for a wild time after dark. Noelle was not one for these scenes, but tonight, she was hunched over the bar, downing drinks as if there was no tomorrow. She peered at the sea of unfamiliar faces swirling around her through half-closed eyes. "Hey there. Did you come here alone?" A hand clamped onto Noelle's shoulder, the stranger's touch lingering a bit too long. Noelle jerked away, revulsion coursing through her. "Back off." The guy shot a knowing look at his buddy and smirked at Noelle. "Feisty, aren't you? Back off? Ladies like you just play hard to get, secretly hoping for some attention." He moved in as if to plant a kiss on her, but Noelle shoved him back and stood up, her stance unsteady and her heart racing. She shook her head, trying to clear the fog. "I said back off! Is that so hard to understand?" She stumbled, nearly toppling over, but the man caught her, his arm snaking around her waist. "See, you’re saying no, but your body's telling a different story."

Chapter 3 Chapter 3

Trapped in the man's grip, Noelle struggled to break free, her body refusing to cooperate. Her vision was blurry as she glared at him. "What are you trying to do?""Just having a bit of fun..." He chuckled, his voice dripping with sleaze as he steadied her. "Let's go somewhere more entertaining, shall we?" Noelle might have been out of it, but she could still sense the danger in the man's tone. However, her whole body ached, and she knew she was no match for them. She scanned the area for anyone who could help her, but she was invisible to the passersby. She spotted a figure approaching through her haze. Acting instinctively, she shoved the two men aside and bolted, slamming right into the newcomer. "Save me!" she gasped. Her fingers dug into the fabric of the man's shirt, and she inhaled a sharp, clean scent. "Please, save me," she pleaded. Charles squinted, taking in the woman who had just collided with him. There was a flicker of something sharp in his gaze. Noelle did not let go, pressing herself against him. Her lips, tainted with the strong smell of booze, were inches from his face, and her cheeks were unnaturally rosy. "Sir..." Ronald, who was standing a few steps back, watched in disbelief. She had the nerve to approach Charles, yet he was not pushing her away? Charles shot a cold look at the two men harassing Noelle. "Time to leave, don't you think?""You… Who do you think you are? Do you even know who I am? I had my eye on that girl," one of the men blurted out. Charles smirked and let out a soft laugh. "You laid a hand on her? Which hand was it? Show me!" The courage of the other man drained away when he met Charles's icy stare. "Uh... Mr. Hoffman, we didn't realize who you were. We... we haven't touched her, not at all," he stammered, realizing they were in deep trouble. "Ronald," Charles shot him a look before scooping Noelle into his arms like she was the heroine in some epic romance, “give these guys a lesson they won't forget. Make it clear that The Majestic Lounge isn't for scum like them." With Noelle in his arms, Charles spun on his heel and left. Ronald gave a curt nod. "Understood." A sly grin spread across his face as he faced the two troublemakers. "So, which one of you was it that touched the lady?" The two guys exchanged panicked glances, too scared to utter a word. Ronald let out a mocking scoff. "What, did both of you touch her? Mr. Hoffman wants to let you keep a little bit of your offending hand as a souvenir." They dropped to their knees with a thud, as pale as ghosts, begging, "Please, have mercy! You can't do this. My dad is a big shot at Evergreen Group..." Meanwhile, Charles, with Noelle in his arms, was like a walking iceberg. Noelle felt she was being drained of blood and eaten alive by a swarm of ants. She whimpered, overcome by a wave of dizziness, "It's so hot..." Charles glanced down at his shirt, which was now a mess thanks to Noelle, and his gaze frosted over. He held her tighter and picked up the pace to the elevator. Though she was barely conscious, she caught a glimpse of the man's strong profile. The chill from his body was oddly soothing, and she snuggled closer without thinking. Charles's eyes darkened just as the elevator doors slid open, and he stepped out into the unknown.

Chapter 4 Chapter 4

At the top of The Majestic Lounge was a room that belonged to Charles alone. He swung the door open and carried Noelle in. She was feeling so awful that she hung onto Charles like she was trying to meld into him, her limbs all over the place with nary a hint of elegance. He managed to detach Noelle from himself with a bit of a struggle and gently placed her in the bathroom. Taking a deep breath, he dialed Ronald’s number. "I need ice, and make it quick." Once he ended the call, he saw Noelle trying to get out of the tub. He gently but firmly pushed her back down and turned on the cold tap. "Stay still!" His voice was firm and grew even more intense as he noticed how the water in the tub accentuated her figure. His gaze sharpened. Ronald was fast, arriving shortly with two buckets of ice. "Here's the ice, sir.""Hold on," Charles instructed Ronald. "Just set them down and leave, thanks." His tone was cool and detached. Ronald raised an eyebrow at Charles's unusual sternness. However, he kept his thoughts to himself and left as told. Once alone, Charles brought the ice buckets into the bathroom. Noelle was submerged in the icy water, her body shaking uncontrollably. Her mind was still foggy, and Charles's expression was grim. Noelle was burning up inside, feeling like she was on the brink of collapse. The icy water was a harsh contrast to that, enveloping her in a torturous chill. She squirmed in agony, but Charles's hands kept her steady, and his voice cut through the haze. "Hang in there. It'll pass soon." ... Noelle's eyes fluttered open, her body feeling sore and like it had forgotten how to function. She lay still, gazing up at the stark white ceiling. As the fog in her brain slowly lifted, the memories of last night started to play like a movie in her head. Her face drained of color as panic flickered across her features. She flung off the covers and was relieved to find herself in pajamas, untouched. Still, that aching... where did it come from? "You're awake?" A chilly voice cut through the silence, and Noelle's head whipped toward the door. There she saw a man clad in cool elegance and fancy threads who was obviously not your average Joe. His face was so drop-dead gorgeous that even a beauty queen would swoon at him. Noelle's brow creased in confusion. She did not know this man. As the reality of her situation hit her, she blurted out, "Who are you?" Her voice sounded so harsh and grating that it scared her. The words came out as a dry, quacking mess. Charles arched an eyebrow, not bothering with an answer. He strolled over, poured her a glass of water, and handed it to her with smooth and elegant hands. Noelle was taken aback for a second but then grabbed the glass, downing the water with an eagerness that bordered on uncouth. Once the glass was empty, she eyed Charles suspiciously. "Are you the one who rescued me?" He did not say yes or no, but Noelle let out a relieved breath. "Okay. Thanks for whatever you did last night." She glanced down at her clothes, a silent question hanging in the air, and her expression turned to one of confusion. However, her gratitude remained evident despite the puzzlement. Charles's gaze landed softly on Noelle's face, his mind replaying her stunning presence from the night before and stirring something within him. "It’s all good, Ms. Shaw. Don’t worry about it," he said, sidestepping the potential embarrassment with a smooth deflection. Noelle bit her lip, fighting the urge to say more. She would have to deal with the fallout and act like this whole mess never happened. Then, it hit her. "How did you find out my last name is Shaw?""Surprised? There's been a lot of buzz about a Ms. Shaw today. Have you not heard?" Charles said, casually fiddling with his cufflinks, looking the picture of cool. Noelle's face drained of color. "What... What are you talking about?""There are many versions of your story. Which one do you want to hear?""Who are you, really? And what do you want from me?"

Chapter 5 Chapter 5

"It doesn't matter who I am. What matters is that I’m here to help." Charles tapped his cufflink, his gaze steady and serene as he watched Noelle. A wave of alarm washed over her. Something about this guy screamed that he was more complicated than he was making himself out to be. "I don't need your help.""Really? Then why were you here last night, trying to drink away your troubles? Your boyfriend is now your brother-in-law, your parents don't trust you, and now, you're the town's favorite punching bag. Did you miss the front page of the news?""That’s none of your business." Noelle's jaw tightened. "You helped me out yesterday, and yes, I'm thankful for that." She swung her legs out of bed and started searching for her clothes, but they were nowhere in sight. "Hey, mister!""Charles." He leaned against the wall with an easy grace, watching Noelle's panicked search. "That's my name." Hearing the name 'Charles' made her eyebrows twitch. It rang a bell. "Are you related to Xavier?""I'm going to say no, but it's up to you to choose to believe me or not." Charles shot back without waiting for a reply. "Do you really think I would fall for that? What’s your real game here, getting to save the damsel in distress?" Noelle eyed Charles warily, convinced he was up to no good. "Are you trying to use me to get back at Xavier?""Get back at him?" Charles chuckled with a sneer, looking at Noelle as if she had made a joke. "Please. He's not worth the effort!" Noelle gasped, taken aback by Charles's bold arrogance. "If it's not about Xavier, then we've got nothing to talk about.""Don't you feel any bitterness, Ms. Shaw?" Charles locked eyes with her, probing. "Doesn't it burn you up, being betrayed by someone you trusted?""What do you really want from me?""Marry me," he said with a sly grin. "I can offer you a kind of happiness that's out of reach for everyone else in this world!" He moved closer, each step deliberate, as Noelle backed away. Her heart raced, and as she looked up, she found herself lost in Charles's intense gaze. She was caught off guard by the intensity in his eyes. He squinted slightly and leaned in close, his breath warm against her neck and stirring a mix of feelings, yet it was anything but romantic. "Like what you see?" Jolted back to reality by the warmth on her neck, Noelle felt a shock run through her, pushing Charles away with all her might and stumbling back. "You're despicable!" Charles's gaze intensified as he strode over and pulled Noelle to him, trapping her against the wall in a classic wall-pinning maneuver. He tilted his head down, his fingers deftly lifting her chin. His breath was faint, a playful twinkle in his attractive eyes as he leaned in and whispered with a laugh, "I’d say that was pretty despicable.""Back off!" Noelle was not a fan of Charles invading her personal space. Her heart raced uncontrollably. "I don’t owe you a walk down the aisle just because you saved me. What year do you think it is? You're acting like we’re still in the dark ages.""Looks like you're not keen on the idea of our marriage," Charles teased, his fingertip tracing the line of Noelle's cheek. Her skin was soft and inviting to the touch. He spoke with a playful edge, "What's a guy to do, then? I can't seem to shake you off. The less you want to marry me, the more I’m convinced you should.""Why? We're practically strangers, and besides, you know my story. You would have to be out of your mind to tie the knot with someone as notorious as me." Charles's brow creased, clearly not fond of Noelle's self-deprecation. "I'm Charles.""I know that," Noelle snapped, convinced the man was utterly clueless. "So, I know you’re Noelle, and you know I’m Charles. How can you say we don’t know each other?" Charles retorted, his eyes locking onto hers. "Don't sell yourself short. You're wrong if you think you've got nothing left. From now on, you've got me."

Chapter 6 Chapter 6

He must have completely lost it! This guy must be out of his mind! "Charles..." Noelle was on the verge of exploding. "Are you even listening? I don't want to marry you. I don't know you, and I definitely don't love you.""Who loves you, then? Xavier? He's your sister's husband now," Charles said, slicing through the truth with a cruel edge. "You're not still pining for Xavier, are you?" He teased her chin with a taunting finger. "Hmm?" Noelle swatted Charles's hand away. "What is it to you? Why are you so set on marrying me? Can't you find someone else?""You're the first woman who doesn't make my skin crawl.""What?" Noelle was taken aback. Charles's lips tightened, and he let go of Noelle. She quickly stepped back, putting a safe distance between them. Charles watched her with a light chuckle. "It's quite simple. You ran into my arms last night, and I didn't mind it one bit." He squinted thoughtfully. "How about we strike a deal?" Noelle stayed silent, and Charles settled himself on the couch. "I'm in need of a wife, and you fit the bill." 'Insane!' she thought. Who did he think he was? "Mr. Hoffman, maybe you're the one who needs a doctor.""Ms. Shaw, don't rush to give me an answer. Take your time," Charles said, dialing a number on his phone. Shortly after, Ronald came in with a bag in hand. "Sir, as you requested, this is Ms. Shaw's clothing." With a slight nod of his chin, Charles directed Ronald to hand the bag to Noelle. She hesitated for only a second before taking the bag and heading to the restroom. The clothes were a surprisingly perfect fit down to the exact size of the underwear, as if they had been made just for her. Gazing at her reflection, Noelle saw a scowl flicker across her face before she slumped in defeat. She never imagined that her boyfriend would end up with her sister during her year away. She was the real victim here, but somehow, she had been cast as the homewrecker. Her mom was completely on her sister’s side. With a twist of the faucet, Noelle splashed water on her face, clenching her teeth to hold back the tears. She pulled herself together before stepping out of the bathroom. Her eyes, red and puffy, gave her away, however. Charles caught a glimpse of her state and quickly averted his gaze. "Ms. Shaw, you can reach out to me whenever you're ready," he said, offering her a business card. Noelle eyed him warily as she took the card. "Don't turn away help when it's offered," Charles said as he pressed the card into her hand. ‘Help?’ she thought, skeptical of his so-called kindness. Her eyes locked onto the title on the card, and she paused. "You..." Before she could snap out of it, Charles brushed a stray hair from her forehead and walked away, leaving his parting words. "I'll be waiting for your good news!" Noelle stood frozen, watching him go. His name rang a bell, of course. Charles was a big deal in Brookville. He was the top dog among the town's elite, one of the Four Young Masters of Brookville. While the eldest was a mystery, Mr. Hoffman and Mr. Lennon were household names, their fame echoing through the streets of Brookville. It was clear why Charles could not care less about Xavier. Xavier and his whole Harris family were probably not even a blip on his radar. Noelle's gaze dropped to the business card she was gripping a little too tightly. The name 'Charles' seemed to be etched into her brain, playing on a loop she could not shut off. Why on earth would someone like Charles, who seemed to live in a stratosphere all his own, bother to lend a hand to someone smeared by scandal? Noelle did not have the answers, and frankly, she did not want them. She shoved the card into her purse, took a deep, steadying breath, and walked away. Once she was gone, Ronald stepped out from his hiding spot, eyes tracking Noelle until she was out of sight. He dialed Charles to say, "Sir, Ms. Shaw has left."

Chapter 7 Chapter 7

After leaving The Majestic Lounge, Noelle hailed a cab to get home. She had moved out of her childhood home a long time ago because of her messy relationship with her family and because it made it easier for her to go to and come back from work. When Noelle got out of the cab, she stood and stared dazedly at the neighborhood she lived in. Xavier had helped her move out back then, and they even had plans to get engaged and then married when the time was right. She never imagined the entire thing to be nothing more than a joke and to be later reduced to nothing more than the ‘instigator’. She felt like everything that happened yesterday was just a bad nightmare. “Are you home, Noelle?” When Noelle walked out of the elevator, she saw Winter standing by her front door with a worried look on her face. Her brows knitted themselves together instinctively, and she was about to turn and walk away when someone grabbed her arm. “Noelle.” Noelle froze and tried shaking her arm free of Xavier’s grasp. However, he kept a tight grip on her arm as he said, “Where have you been? Winter and I spent the entire night waiting for you. Do you have any idea how worried we were?”“Worried?” Noelle scoffed as she looked up and gazed directly into Xavier’s eyes. “Would you ever be worried about me?”“Don’t do this, Noelle,” Winter said, her high heels clicking against the floor as she brushed Xavier’s arm away without batting an eyelid and held Noelle instead. “Noelle, I know this is our fault, but Xavier and I truly are in love. You were gone the entire year and have no idea what he went through. I was the one who stayed with him and took care of him, so…”“Hah… You stayed with him and took care of him? Gosh. Thanks so much for taking care of Xavier when you already knew he was my boyfriend. Do you have a conscience, Winter Shaw?” Noelle roared. When she felt a sharp pain traveling up her arm, she frowned and instinctively shoved Winter away. Winter let out a scream as she stumbled backward. Xavier hurried over and grabbed Winter by the waist. A disappointed look appeared on his face as he swept his sharp gaze over Noelle. “This is too much, Noelle. Winter and I might have wronged you, but what’s done is done, and we’ve already gotten engaged. Why can’t you accept the truth for what it is?!”“I’m not accepting the truth for what it is? Come on, you two are the ones who appeared on my doorstep.” Noelle never imagined Xavier would ever point fingers at her because of Winter. “Get a grip on yourself. Didn’t I give you my blessings during your engagement party? Go ahead and get engaged if that’s what you want to do, and get married too for all I care. Just stay out of my sight. You disgust me!” Noelle screamed at Xavier and Winter, “Get the f*ck out of here right now!”“Noelle, how could you do this?!” Winter cried, an aggrieved look on her face as she gazed at Noelle as if Noelle was in the wrong instead of her. “Xavier and I just wanted to set things straight with you. We had no intention of hurting you. We… We’re just… truly in love with each other.”“Truly in love? That’s disgusting,” Noelle said as she gazed at Winter coldly. In the past, she merely thought her sister had a weak personality, and she had always let Winter have her way because she had saved her life once. However, that did not mean she would allow Winter to bully her relentlessly. She recalled how Winter would always eye whatever Noelle wanted over the years. “Winter, if you’re so committed to stealing someone else’s man, you can have him. I’m not interested in trash.”“You…” Xavier gave Noelle an exasperated look. He raised his hand and was about to swing it toward Noelle’s face when someone else grabbed his hand. Winter shook her head, her eyes teary as she wrapped both her hands around Xavier’s arm. “Don’t do this, Xavier. Noelle is still young and doesn’t know what she’s talking about. I don’t blame her.”

Chapter 8 Chapter 8

“Look at how kind Winter is to you, Noelle. How could you…”“F*ck off. I don’t want to see you two.” It was only then that Noelle finally knew what Xavier thought of her. “Don’t do this, Noelle. No matter what happens, we’re still family. Do you know how angry Grandpa was when he learned about what happened? He… He wouldn’t want bad blood between us sisters over something as minor as this.” Winter grabbed Noelle’s arm, tears streaming down her face as she said passionately, “You know just how much Grandpa loves you, Noelle. What happened is all my fault. Please come home with me! Grandpa would be so upset if you didn’t!” Noelle's sadness only intensified when she heard those words leaving Winter’s mouth. “Grandpa? So, you know how disappointed Grandpa would be as well. If you knew that, you should never have done what you did in the first place. Why didn’t you think about how sad Grandpa would be when you did all this despite knowing Xavier was my boyfriend?”“Noelle, don’t you think you’re being too selfish? “Please, Noelle, I’m begging you! You said yourself that Xavier was just your boyfriend. You two weren’t engaged, nor were you married. It’s perfectly fine that I got together with him.”“What did you say?” Noelle could not believe her ears. “So that gave you all the grounds you needed to steal my boyfriend from me?”“It’s not like that, Noelle. We just couldn’t stop ourselves,” Winter said as she took Noelle’s hand in hers, speaking as if they were still children. “You know how Grandpa is, Noelle. He said he wouldn’t approve of our marriage if you didn’t return home with me. Come on, Noelle. Come home with me, and tell Grandpa you don’t like Xavier, alright?”“That’s enough. You two disgust me.” Noelle never imagined Winter would still not let her live her life despite everything she had already done. “I won’t go home, and I couldn’t care less about what will happen to you and Xavier. Please leave immediately.” Noelle shoved Winter aside and hurriedly retrieved her keys from her bag so she could unlock her front door. However, Xavier hurried forth and grabbed the handle, a confused look in his eyes as he gazed at Noelle. “Can’t we part on good terms, Noelle? Do you really have to destroy my good impression of you?” Xavier had a pained expression on his face as if Noelle had done something terribly wrong to him. “Don’t feel so aggrieved. We were never engaged, and Winter and I weren’t doing anything wrong by getting together. She’s your sister. Why can’t you be considerate of her feelings?” Noelle felt a stabbing pain in her chest, which slowly spread to the rest of her body. Tears welled in her eyes, but she gritted her teeth and forced herself not to cry as she stuck her neck out to stare into Xavier’s eyes. She never imagined that one day, he would end up questioning her in this manner when she could still recall how he had made all sorts of promises to her. “Listen to yourself, Xavier Harris. What did I not do well enough that warranted the two of you treating me this way? "You were the one who asked me to date you in the first place, and you promised you would never betray me. That wasn’t even that long ago, yet you’re asking me to be considerate of her feelings now? "What about me? Have you ever been considerate of my feelings?”

Chapter 9 Chapter 9

Noelle could not stop herself from raising her voice, and tears streamed down her face without warning. She reached out and pried Xavier’s fingers off the handle one by one before shoving him away forcefully. “If both you and Winter aren’t to blame, does that mean that I’m the one to be blamed? If you had been even the slightest bit considerate of my feelings, you wouldn’t need to be doing all this today. Xavier Harris, you could have told me you didn’t like me, and we could have broken up. I’m not the type of girl who’d give you trouble over it. As for you, Winter Shaw, you say time and time again that we’re sisters, but what have you ever done for me? You could have told me you had feelings for Xavier, and I would have given you two my blessings when I realized he liked you too. After all, I would not have survived till today if it wasn’t for what you did all those years ago. But does that mean I’ll forever be indebted to you? Huh?” Tears were flowing freely down Noelle’s face when she finished speaking. She could not wrap her head around it. One was her older sister, and the other was a man she had spent the past three years loving. How could they have hurt her this way? “You’re asking me to settle for less after doing such things to me? Are you asking me to tell Grandpa that it was all my fault? Even a dog has more loyalty than you!” Noelle had never been one to cry much, but she felt overcome with aggravation right then. “Noelle!” Winter clapped a hand to her mouth, tears flowing down her face as she gazed at her with a heartbroken expression. However, she collapsed into Xavier’s arms as she said, “Why would you say that? You’ve always been my beloved younger sister. Trust me, you’re the last person in the world I would ever hurt. Have you forgotten that I was the one who saved you when you were kidnapped as a child? If it wasn’t for me, how would you still be standing here healthy and in one piece?”“Yes, you saved me, but does that mean I have to be under your thumb for the rest of my life?” Noelle asked as she gazed at Winter disappointedly. “You should leave. Like I said, you can do whatever you want to do. I’ve repaid everything I’ve ever owed you.” Noelle slammed the door in their faces. However, after the door shut completely, she slumped against it and slowly slid onto the floor. Winter continued rapping on her door, and her weak voice made it seem like Noelle was the evil one. Then, Xavier’s cruel words rang out. “I was wrong about you, Noelle. You’ve disappointed me greatly.” Finally, everything went quiet. Noelle sat on the ground and curled into a ball, wrapping her arms around herself as she did so. Her tears soon formed a puddle on her knees. A long time passed before she finally raised her head again, a dazed look in her eyes as she slowly got to her feet. After all, no matter what happened, life had to go on. She would not be that easily defeated. Her phone began ringing, and a gloomy look appeared in her eyes when she saw the caller ID. “Hello? Grandpa! Yes, I just got home,” Noelle said as she sniffled, doing her best to sound like everything was perfectly fine. “Are you missing me, Grandpa?”“Oh, you silly, silly girl!” Sebastian Jenkins said as he sighed ruefully. “Come visit me at home tomorrow!” After getting the door slammed in their faces, both Xavier and Winter had ugly expressions on their faces. Winter gave Xavier a careful look before tugging on his jacket sleeve and asking aggrievedly, “What should we do, Xavier? If Noelle doesn’t come home with us, Grandpa will never agree to our marriage. I should have informed Noelle about this beforehand. I bet she hates us to our very core now. She’s always been a stubborn girl who doesn’t give a damn about how anyone else feels. I want to be with you, Xavier. I don’t want us to be separated.” Winter fell into Xavier’s arms as she spoke and began sobbing. Xavier frowned and patted Winter on the back as he spoke to her in a soft and comforting voice, any trace of guilt he felt toward Noelle vanishing. “Don’t worry. No matter what Noelle does, I won’t let her get what she wants. Our families are supportive of our marriage, and I don’t care if your grandfather refuses to give us his blessing. The Harris family is more than happy to welcome you into the family.” Upon hearing Xavier’s promises, the corners of Winter’s lips curled upward as she held Xavier’s hands and stood on her tiptoes to kiss him. “I love you, Xavier.”“I love you too!” Xavier said as he wrapped his arms around Winter’s waist and kissed her passionately. When the two finally parted begrudgingly, Winter lay her head on Xavier’s chest, an evil glint appearing in her eyes. Look at your beloved man, Noelle Shaw. He’s nothing more than a fish caught in my net now!

Chapter 10 Chapter 10

Noelle slept through the night, but she was not in very high spirits when she awoke. As she gazed at her pale face and puffy eyes reflected in the mirror, she vehemently splashed water at her eyes until some color returned to her cheeks. Then, she propped her hands against the sink dispiritedly and gazed at herself sadly. “Wake up, Noelle! There aren’t any hardships that you can’t get past!” After preparing herself mentally, she began putting on makeup. She heaved a sigh of relief when all signs of disheveledness could no longer be seen on her face. However, she frowned when she saw her grandfather, Sebastian, her maternal grandfather, calling her. She hurriedly answered, “Hello, Grandpa? What’s the matter?”“You haven’t forgotten that I asked you to come home today, have you?” Sebastian’s voice rang out. He might be getting on in age, but his voice was filled with as much vim and vigor as it had during his younger years. He had his many years of delivering lectures to students to thank for that. Noelle was stunned when she heard Sebastian say that. “Grandpa, I… Alright, alright. I’ll come home. I’ll drop by, alright?” Noelle gazed at her phone with a vexed expression for a long while before she heaved a sigh and grabbed her handbag to leave the house. Her initial plan had been to head to work, but after everything that had happened in the past two days, she decided to change her plans. She first went grocery shopping at a nearby supermarket before heading to her grandfather’s home. It had been an entire year since she had left Brookville, and she had spent all her time working without paying a single visit, only making the occasional phone call to her grandfather. She felt slightly sheepish when she arrived at the front door and waited for May, the family butler, to open the door for her. “Ms. Noelle, you’re home? Why didn’t you come in yourself? Quick, quick, come in!” May took Noelle’s hand in hers and smiled as she said, “Sir Jenkins has guests today.”“Guests?” Noelle asked curiously. “What guests? Didn’t Grandpa say…” Before Noelle managed to finish her sentence, she heard Sebastian’s voice ringing from the room, “Charles, it’s been so long since you’ve visited. Have you been busy?” Noelle was holding a gift in her arms, and May reached out to take it from her. When she looked up, she saw a man sitting with his back to her in the living room. He seemed familiar, and it confused her momentarily. “Noelle, you’ve arrived,” Sebastian said as he smiled and gazed at Noelle. However, the smile vanished from his face when he saw the gifts in her arms. “It’s enough that you dropped by. Why did you get a gift as well? I don’t need anything more.” Despite that, Sebastian still beckoned May to bring the gift over. “Come here, quick. Let me take a good look at you.” Noelle handed the gift to May and walked over to Sebastian after slipping on a pair of house slippers. “Long time no see, Grandpa. I’ve missed you so much!” Noelle said as she took Sebastian’s arm and rested her cheek against it, swinging to and fro as she asked, “Did you miss me, Grandpa?”“Not at all,” Sebastian said as he gently clapped Noelle’s forehead. “Watch yourself. Have you not noticed my guest?” Sebastian took Noelle’s hand in his and walked over. “Allow me to introduce you to my granddaughter, Charles. Noelle, this is a student of mine. His name is Charles Hoffman.” The look of surprise in Noelle’s eyes betrayed her, and she burst out, “What are you doing here?” Charles turned, and his good-looking face appeared in her vision. His gentle eyes settled their gaze on her before he said, “Greetings, Ms. Shaw.” Sebastian cocked an eyebrow, his shrewd gaze landing on both Charles and Noelle as he asked, “Do you guys know each other?” Noelle’s heart skipped a beat when she saw the look in Sebastian’s eyes, and she hurriedly said, “Haha, we’ve met once. Mr. Hoffman helped me out when I ran into some trouble. Isn’t that right, Mr. Hoffman?” Noelle waggled her eyebrows at Charles as she spoke, hinting that he should watch what he said. The corner of Charles’ lips curled upward slightly when he understood what Noelle was trying to tell him, and he added, “That’s right, Sir. Ms. Shaw and I have met previously. But given the high spirits you seem to be in, I gather you’ve gotten over your grief, Ms. Shaw?”“...” Noelle gritted her teeth and narrowed her eyes. This man!