The Cherished Wife



Noelle was not having it. She shook her head again. "I can't spend my days scared stiff because of them. I bet they won't come after me again anytime soon after this mess."Copyright Nôv/el/Dra/ma.Org.

"Don't sweat it, Noelle," Sean reassured her, casually juggling an apple. "Charles put Ronald on the case. They can't touch you or your job, I promise. Chill out!"

Meanwhile, Charles had gotten a call from the Hoffman family estate that he could not ignore, especially since his mom, Clarisse, was on the line. Reluctant or not, he knew he had to make the trip back home.

The moment the car pulled up to the grand gates of the Hoffman family estate, the butler was already there, waiting to greet him. He waved someone over to swing the gates open. "Young Master Charles, welcome home!"

Charles squinted against the sunlight as he stepped out of the car. "When did my mom come back?"

"The butler replied, taking my coat. "She flew in this morning." He hesitated before adding, "Ms. J is here, too."

At the mention of J, Charles paused, a flicker of irritation crossing his eyes. The butler quickly looked down. "Ms. J came with your mother. She was worried about her traveling alone."

Charles forced a smile, though the chill in his gaze was hard to miss. "Right."

Charles had barely crossed the threshold when a blur came hurtling towards him. It was J. His eyes narrowed, and he pressed my lips together, stepping aside just in time to dodge her embrace. She stumbled, pouting. "Charles, you're so mean! Don't you miss me at all? What if I fell?"

Charles fixed her with a cold look. "I've told you before, J. Don't touch me."

Her eyes clouded over with hurt, and she looked like she might try to reach for him again. However, she glanced at the ice in his eyes and stopped herself.

"Charles!" The voice belonged to none other than Charles's mother, Clarisse. She stood up from the couch, her figure draped in a long

dress, the picture of grace and get

poise. She had been a woman of elegance for as long as Charles

could remember.

Charles's brow creased ever so slightly as he subtly stepped away, putting some space between himself and J before he coolly met Clarisse's gaze. "Mother."

Clarisse could not hide her

displeasure at Charles's aloofness.

He was her son, after all, and a headstrong one at that. Ever since he was little, he had had his own way of doing things, and hardly

was!

anyone in the Hoffman family could sway his mood.

"Ah, you've returned." Clarisse's eyes flicked to J. "You know J well. There's no need for such distance between you two." With a wave of her hand, she called out, "J, come here to your aunt!"

"Yes!" J ran over, her face alight

with joy as she linked arms with Clarisse. "Please have a seat. Maybe Charles, just shy because it's been so long since he's seen me!" She was quick to reassure herself, and with a playful wink at Charles, she teased, "Right, Charles?"

Charles did not give J the satisfaction of a response. Instead, he turned to the butler. "Where are my father and grandfather?"

"Sir Hoffman is upstairs," the butler replied, "while Mr. Mateo Hoffman and Mr. Henry Hoffman are in the study discussing business. Shall I let them know you're here?"