The Cherished Wife

J's voice was dripping with sweetness, the kind that could melt a guy's resolve. Even Noelle, tucked away in her hiding spot, shuddered, feeling her skin crawl under her thick clothes.

Noelle's throat felt dry as she debated: should she slip away now to find Arya, or should she boldly step out and claim her ground?

As she mulled it over, Noelle's ears caught the icy edge in Charles's voice. "Call my mom yourself and ask her to send a car for you!"

A wave of relief washed over Noelle. She had been secretly dreading Charles might offer to escort J. For some reason, Noelle just could not warm up to J-maybe it was that lunchtime drama in the dining area that soured her mood.

Noelle admitted to herself that she was not one to hold grudges or blur the lines between right and wrong, but she could not shake off the unease sitting heavy in her chest-and she was not about to lie to herself about it.

"Charles, how could you? I'm your sister, for crying out loud, and the Hoffmans' honored guest right now. You can't just brush me off like that!" "J, let me lay it out for you one more time. You joining Collosus Group is fine by me, but if you're looking to get something from me, you're going to end up disappointed. You'd better keep your distance, or else, don't get mad when I don't show you any kindness."

With those final words, Charles hopped into his car, leaving J on the outside looking in.

Noelle, tucked away in a hidden spot, could not help but feel a bit of satisfaction seeing Charles put J in her place. Whatever J was hoping for with Charles, it was clear he was not giving her a second thought.

As Noelle thought this over, her phone buzzed with a new text message.

"Who's there? Who is it?" J's voice cut through the air, her impatience clear as she called out, "Show yourself!"

Noelle quickly silenced her phone and peeked at the screen. It was a message from Charles: "Where are you?"

Biting her lip, Noelle texted back, "I'm in the parking lot, but how do I get to you now?"

Charles narrowed his eyes, clearly annoyed. He rolled down the window, his frosty gaze locking with J's. J, mistaking this for a sign of him coming around, dashed over, forgetting about anyone else who might be watching.

She reached for the car door, only to find it locked. "Charles, open up!" she called out.

"J," Charles's voice came through, softer this time.Belongs to NôvelDrama.Org - All rights reserved.

A smile of joy spread across J's face. "Charles, I'm right here."

"Oh, I just realized I left a document in the office. Could you run up and grab it for me?" Charles asked J with a grin.

J was so thrown off by

Charles's smile that she lost all sense of direction. She nodded eagerly. "Sure thing, Charles. Just wait for me, I'll be right back with it. You have to wait, okay?"

"Okay, I'll be here!" Charles's lips twitched into a smirk. "Be quick!"

After J scurried away, Charles waited a moment before murmuring, "Not coming out yet?"

Noelle poked her tongue out,

figuring J was probably in the

elevator by now. She stepped out from where she was hiding, opened the car's passenger door, and

hopped in. "Charles, lets V

"Scared?" Charles teased, casually stroking his chin before turning to Noelle. "Seatbelt!"