The Cherished Wife



"So, I was right with my guess?" Noelle had felt it in her gut, but hearing it from Charles hit differently. She felt a twinge of sadness and glanced at him. "Your mom doesn't like me, does she?"

Charles's brow creased ever so slightly when he heard Noelle's words, a wave of annoyance washing over him for no clear reason. "I like you, and that's all that matters," he declared firmly.

Noelle gave a half-smile, her unease showing. "It's not that I'm trying to imply anything else. I'm just worried your mom might not take to me because of the whole J situation." They had been married for quite a while now, and even though it was Noelle who had initially been hesitant about meeting the Hoffmans, she could not shake the fear that they might not think highly of her.

Charles could easily read the concern in Noelle's eyes. With a sigh, he reassured her, "Forget about all that. I'm the one who married you, and I'm the one who's going to be with you for the rest of our lives, not them. You don't have to worry about a thing."

Noelle felt the reassuring grip of Charles's hand. She looked up into his deep, soulful eyes and managed a small smile. "Alright. I've got it." She did not want her worries to come between them. "I'll do my best to win them over and make sure your family likes me!"

Charles chuckled and affectionately tapped Noelle's forehead. "Just do what you can. Some things in life just can't be forced." He did not need her to be anything more than herself. Even if the Hoffmans did not approve, it would not change a thing for him. However, if it mattered to Noelle, he was more than happy to play along.

"My mom's got this weird history with the Hoffmans, so if she's not on board, it's probably not about you, okay? Don't sweat it. Everyone else loves you, I promise."

"Mm-hmm!" Noelle nodded, feeling a bit more at ease. "But how long is J planning to hang around? If she's not keen on leaving, that could get kinda awkward, right?"

"You sure you're not just a tiny bit jealous? Cause it sure looks like it!" Charles teased, giving Noelle's hand a gentle squeeze. "When are you gonna drop the act and just say what you really feel?"

"I'm not putting on any act, and I'm definitely not jealous!" She admitted to a tiny twinge of discomfort, but it was nowhere near jealousy. "I'm just... concerned, especially after seeing how she was with you earlier."

"Don't worry, she won't be here for long," Charles reassured her, patting her hand softly. "So, what's on the menu for tonight?"

"What do you feel like? Tell me, and I'll whip it up for you!"

Charles grinned. "For real? You've been avoiding the kitchen for so long. I was starting to think you couldn't stand the smell of cooking anymore!"

"No way. I'm just bored of your cooking," Noelle shot back playfully. "I think it's about time you experienced what a real chef can do!"

"Is that so? Well, consider me excited!" Charles laughed, affectionately pinching Noelle's chin and then her cheek, his eyes twinkling with adoration.

"Ouch! Hey, cut it out with the face-pinching. You're gonna squish it out of shape," Noelle protested, batting his hand away with a laugh.

J bounded up the stairs, her

heart racing with anticipation, only to come to a screeching halt in front of a locked door on the

twenty-seventh floor. She pounded on the door, her knocks echoing down the empty hallway, before the sinking realization hit her: Charles had played her. There was no document to retrieve; he had made up the whole story just to ditch her. Copyright Nôv/el/Dra/ma.Org.