The Cherished Wife

Wife 119

“Oh, Noelle,” Grandpa Samuel said, his voice full of concern. “You’re so stubborn. That’s why things turned out the way they did last time. You need to take these shares, whether you like it or not. Now sign it! Aren’t you going to listen to me?”

He pretended to be upset. “Your sister got her shares when she turned eighteen. It’s only right that you get yours too. If your parents won’t give them to you, then I will.”

Noelle looked at her grandpa, feeling torn. She had never really wanted anything from him.

He was right. On her eighteenth birthday, the whole Shaw family was against giving her shares in City Ring Corp. She had felt so sad, but not because she did not get the shares. She was hurt by the way her parents, Julian and Jade, had treated her.

“I never wanted to fight over the family fortune. If I take these shares now, won’t Julian and Jade think I’m

trying to compete with Winter?” Noelle was worried. She had a hard enough time getting along with them already, and claiming her part of the inheritance might make things worse.

“Why worry about what they think? I want you to have this. Just sign it already!” urged a voice.

“Exactly, Miss Noelle. Sir Shaw has always intended for these shares to be yours. If you don’t accept them, they might end up with your sister…” Mr. Thompson added, unable to keep quiet. “Please, just sign.”

“But Grandpa…”

“Noelle, are you going to ignore my wishes?” Samuel’s face was stern. “Do you want to see the Shaw family legacy go to strangers?”

“What do you mean?” Noelle was confused. “Why are you saying this?”

“The Harris have big plans, and Xavier’s marriage to your sister is part of that. You’re young and might not see it, but your sister has never been interested in business, only showbiz. City Ring Corp. should be yours. “Samuel explained with concern. “The Harris aren’t Shaws. You get that, right?”

Noelle felt a twinge in her heart. She might not know much about business, but she understood Samuel’s

point.

“Holding these shares means no one can keep you out of City Ring Corp. Understand?” Samuel said.

Noelle stepped out of the Homestyle Garden House with a heavy heart. She had waited until Samuel and Mr. Thompson were gone before leaving the coffee house, her mood dark and heavy.

Samuel’s words weighed on her, leaving her feeling trapped and unprepared. She felt like she was sinking in quicksand.

“Get in the car!”

A car pulled up next to her, jolting Noelle out of her daze.

She looked at the face peering out from the car window, surprised. “What are you doing here?” Content protected by Nôv/el(D)rama.Org.

Charles’s lips tightened. “Get in, and we’ll talk.”

He had been there for a while. Ever since Noelle mentioned she was going to see Samuel, he had waited outside her company and followed her here.

He had watched Noelle walk into the coffee house, then come out looking lost and forlorn.

Noelle climbed into the car, and Charles frowned slightly, leaning toward her. Noelle tensed, her eyes wide as she tried to figure out what he was doing.

Then she heard a click–he was just buckling her seatbelt.

“What’s wrong?”

Noelle relaxed, her gaze fixed on Charles’s side profile. She bit her lip slightly and said, “Grandpa gave me twenty percent of the shares in City Ring Corp.”

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