Charles glanced at Sean before turning back to Ronald. “Tell Lareal to find out whose instructions they were acting on. Feel free to use any unique interrogation methods he has should the need arise.” “Yes, sir.” Ronald nodded, realizing that Charles was truly angered this time.Sean raised an eyebrow. “Where’s Lareal? I’ll go hang out with him!” Charles looked at Ronald, who felt a feeling of helplessness wash over him. However, since it was Sean, there was nothing else Ronald could do other than say, “The usual spot.” The usual spot Ronald was referring to was the underground arena that functioned as Brookville’s largest meeting spot. There were plenty of legends surrounding that place. Not only was it a place where people went to entertain themselves, but it was also a living hell for those who did not know what was best for them. Sean’s gaze instinctively landed on Charles once again. He had not expected Charles to be taking things so seriously this time. He gave Charles a
Noelle felt like she was floating mid-air in a dream-like world. In her dreams, a man held her hand as they took a walk together. When they grew tired, they lay on the grass to take a break. As she closed her eyes, the man leaned over and pressed a gentle kiss onto her lips. Noelle smiled. Things felt so sweet in the dream that she could not help but want more. She reached her arms over and wrapped them around Charles’ neck just as he was about to let go of her, burrowing herself onto Charles.The look in Charles’ eyes darkened. He used one arm to stabilize himself on the bed and lowered his gaze to look at Noelle, who seemed extremely happy. The corners of her lips curved upward as she tugged at him and called out, “Charles!” Although her voice was soft, he heard her. A glimmer appeared in his eyes as he lowered himself and kissed Noelle again. This time, though, the kiss was not a gentle one. He had always been someone who would do whatever it took to get what he wanted, eve
Noelle felt like she had dreamed a long, long dream. In her dream, Charles held her hand in his as he led her forward. Although she did not know where the destination was, she still walked joyfully alongside him.Charles never let go of her hand and always stayed by her side no matter what happened. Noelle’s dream went on for extremely long. When she finally woke up, she gazed dazedly at the ceiling, seemingly still half-dreaming. The warmth in her palm surprised her slightly, and she turned her head in alarm when a thought struck her. She was met by the sight of a man fast asleep. The familiar-looking face was several times larger than what she usually saw. The man had such good skin that even a woman would be jealous of him, and there were shadows beneath his eyes, framed by a set of long eyelashes. Noelle was stunned as she recalled what had happened in the washroom. She remembered getting knocked out by a man but did not know what had happened after that. Her lips felt sligh
Noelle ruffled her hair, feeling bashful after hearing Charles praise her. “Rowena taught me that. I think I’ve told you this before, but Rowena works as a reporter!” “Indeed. You’ve got a wonderful friend!” Charles said as he nodded. “Alright, since you’re awake, why don’t you go wash up and give your friend a call? She was extremely worried about you last night!” “Oh, right, I nearly forgot. Rowena must be worried sick!” Noelle said as she hurriedly tried to locate her phone. “Charles, have you seen my phone?” “It’s on the bedside cabinet!” Charles rarely saw Noelle this flustered and could not help but shake his head as he said, “Don’t panic. Who knows? She might not even be awake yet!” Despite saying that, he did not stop Noelle. After taking a quick shower, he changed into some loungewear before heading downstairs. It was only then that Noelle realized she must have spent the night in the same bed with Charles. Noelle instinctively bit down on her lip, and she turned t
Noelle shook her head, unsure what she should say in response. When she looked up at Charles, she felt that he looked even better than he usually did. She also noticed that he had a perpetual grin on his face. “Are you in a great mood?” Charles raised an eyebrow. “Should I be unhappy instead?” That stumped her, and she did not have an answer for him. She pursed her lips as she pointed at his lips and then at hers. “Did something happen last night that I’m unaware of?” A smile that reached Charles’ dark brown eyes tugged at the corner of his lips. His smile was as warm and beautiful as springtime. Noelle gave an involuntary shudder. Charles’ smile was too beautiful for his own good. “Why are you smiling?”“Did you forget what you did last night, Noelle?” Charles asked, a look of interest settling across his features as he balanced one hand on the dining table and drummed his elegant-looking fingers against the tabletop. The way he looked at her made her feel like there was nowh
The look on Charles’ face darkened slightly, and a foul aura began emanating from him. Noelle paused in the middle of eating her oatmeal, and she instinctively turned to Charles. “Is something wrong?” Charles immediately switched up the aura emanating from him and smiled at Noelle as he shook his head. “Everything’s alright!” His voice sounded calm, and no one could decipher any particular sort of emotion he was feeling. Then, he said to Ronald, “It’s alright if he’s chucked. As long as we got the stuff!” “He hasn’t been chucked yet, Mr. Hoffman. We’re just… getting ready for that,” Ronald said, unsure if he should laugh or cry. Why did both these men just do as they please? Charles frowned slightly. “Tell him to hold on. I’ll drop by and have a look later, but he can take care of everything else.” Ronald shuddered. He could just about imagine how bloody the scene would get later. Compared to Sean, Charles' methods were truly scary. “Alright, I’ll get Lareal to continue traci
Teresa was a quiet girl, which was why she and Noelle had opened a garden house together. Apart from managing the garden house, she spent her days reading.Rowena, on the other hand, was different. She was energetic and lively, the most active of the three. That was why Rowena chose a career as a reporter, and she was constantly traveling across the country.The three good friends finally got together, so they made sure to have a great time. They visited several shops and bought a bunch of clothes. Then again, most of them were picked out by Rowena, though they were not for herself but for Noelle.Rowena's reasoning was simple. Since Noelle was now married to Charles, she needed to dress up and could not continue dressing in her old style.Noelle did not see anything wrong with her previous wardrobe, but she went along with it.Teresa was quite surprised. "Noelle, you're married?"Teresa was indeed taken aback. She knew a bit about Noelle and Xavier's situation. Noelle had been o
Teresa finally calmed down and gave Noelle an exasperated look. "My calmness depends on the situation. I mean, this is Charles Hoffman we're talking about! How can that not be shocking? Just ask Rowena.""Exactly. Teresa is absolutely right," Rowena agreed, nodding earnestly. "When I first heard that she married Charles, I had the same reaction as you, Teresa." Rowena hooked her arm around Noelle's shoulder. "But seriously, there's no time like the present. Since you're going to introduce us to Charles, let's do it today. We're free, and it's the weekend. Who knows when your busy husband will have time otherwise?""Now?" Noelle thought for a moment. "Alright. Let me call him and see if he's available."The three of them found a comfortable place to sit, and Noelle dialed Charles' number. Rowena glanced at the screen and burst into laughter. "Teresa, guess what name Noelle has saved for Charles in her phone?""Hubby?""That's too cliche. Try again.""Sweetheart?""She's labeled
"Wow, I can't believe that just happened!""Look at that! Charles is actually so considerate and gentle—it’s hard to believe!”Charles slipped the crystal shoes onto Noelle's feet and then scooped her up in his arms. With that, the noisy crowd made their way out of the place.Outside the place, a line of fancy cars waited. People climbed in, and they all set off for the hotel.As the luxury cars rolled away from the Smith residence, reporters followed, eager to capture every moment of the spectacle.Even though the Hoffmans and the Smiths had told the press to stay out of certain areas, they could not stop them from snapping pictures on the public streets. So, the day's big moments ended up all over the internet.In front of the hotel run by the Nexus Group, car after car pulled up and parked. The whole street had been cleared out just for today's wedding party.Charles, looking sharp in his white suit, stepped out of the car and turned his back to the door. A pretty figure in w
The church was alive with love and happiness, the air buzzing with laughter, congratulations, and heartfelt connections. For a moment, Charles stood still, holding Noelle’s hand, soaking in the overwhelming joy that surrounded them. It wasn’t just the ceremony that made the day special—it was the people they loved, the memories they’d shared, and the future they were about to build together.As the crowd slowly began to disperse, the newlyweds, still smiling and basking in the glow of their love, made their way out of the church, ready to begin the rest of their lives together.Just then, the bridesmaids—Kelly, Liliana and Linda—and the groomsmen—Sean, Peter, and the others—emerged from the church. They were all smiling, but especially Sean, who had his usual carefree, playful attitude. He walked up behind Charles as if he were about to give him a friendly shove.However, before Sean could do anything else, it was obvious that Charles was not pleased with him at all. With a quick mo
Meanwhile, Charles caught sight of his mother, Clarisse and father, Mateo, both of them beaming with pride. Clarisse's eyes were bright with tears as she dabbed at them with a tissue, while Mateo's face was etched with a quiet, proud smile."Charles!" Clarisse called out, her voice thick with emotion. She was barely holding it together, and her hands trembled as she waved him over for a hug. Charles went to her, his heart swelling, and pulled her into his arms. "I'm so proud of you," she whispered, and the emotion in her voice made his chest tighten. He pulled back, giving her a soft smile, and then hugged Mateo, who patted him on the back."Don't you go breaking her heart, Charles," Mateo said with a wink, making everyone nearby laugh. It was a comment Charles had heard many times before, but today, it carried a deeper, more heartfelt meaning.He turned to Noelle, and she smiled at him, her eyes crinkling at the corners in that way he loved. Her parents were waiting for her, and
When it was Noelle's turn, she spoke her vows in a voice that trembled ever so slightly, but her words were strong. "Charles, you are my home," she said. "From the moment we met, I knew I'd found someone who would be my partner for the rest of my life. I promise to love you, to support you, and to share my life with you in all its highs and lows."It was beautiful, simple, and perfect. Charles could feel his heart swelling again, but then it was full of certainty. That was it. That was the moment he had been waiting for.The officiant smiled and nodded, glancing at Charles. "By the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife. Charles, you may kiss your bride."The church erupted in applause as Charles leaned in to kiss Noelle, his heart beating faster than ever. The kiss was soft but full of meaning, a promise of everything to come. When they pulled away, he could not help but laugh with happiness, and Noelle joined in, her face flushed with joy.They turned to face
She appeared at the doorway, standing tall in her flowing white gown, the lace sparkling in the light. Her veil covered most of her face, but her eyes, the ones he had fallen in love with all those years ago, gleamed at him from beneath it. For a brief moment, it felt like time had stopped. She looked like an angel, and as she started her slow walk down the aisle, Charles could not help but feel his heart swell with love and pride.At her side, Kelly smiled at her, holding Noelle's bouquet carefully. Kelly, always the organized one, was keeping it together despite the emotion of the moment. However, just as they reached the halfway point, Kelly's heel caught on the edge of a pew, and she stumbled slightly. There was a collective gasp, followed by a nervous giggle from the crowd. Kelly straightened herself quickly, her face turning a little pink, but she winked at Noelle and whispered, "Just making sure everyone is paying attention." Noelle stifled a laugh, her cheeks flushing wi
The wedding began on a day filled with laughter and joy. Outside the church, Noelle and her bridesmaids stood together, while inside, Charles eagerly awaited her, clutching a bouquet of roses.Tania stood with Rowena and Teresa, their laughter and chatter creating a joyful buzz. Meanwhile, Noelle's heart was racing, but she stayed cool as a cucumber, took a deep breath, and braced herself for the biggest moment of her life."Hey, have you guys heard that funny wedding joke that's going around?" Tania piped up suddenly. Everyone turned to look at her, eager to hear the joke. "So, there was this bride who asked her bridesmaid, 'Can I go without shoes today?' The bridesmaid was surprised and asked, 'Why would you go without shoes?' The bride giggled and said, 'Because I don't want my own steps to be too loud!'" Tania chuckled, and everyone laughed along.The church doors swung open, and Noelle's dad held her hand, guiding her slowly down the long aisle toward Charles, who stood waiti
On the wedding day, Noelle's heart raced with excitement. She slipped into her beautiful wedding dress and stood looking at herself in the mirror. She was wearing a white gown and could hardly believe that moment was real. She looked so beautiful and full of hope that she almost forgot how nervous and thrilled she felt."You look so beautiful, Noelle! Like a princess," Linda said from behind her. Noelle turned and saw her bridesmaids smiling at her. She smiled back, feeling thankful and a little nervous."Thanks, everyone. I can't believe how perfect today is," Noelle said, her voice full of emotion. She looked at the ring in her hand, feeling so happy and excited.She walked over to the bed, picked up her phone, and called Charles. When he answered, she heard his deep voice say, "Honey, I can't wait to see you." Noelle felt a warm glow inside and smiled. "I feel the same, Charles. I love you."After she ended the call, she stood in front of the mirror once more, gazing at her wedd
Kelly and Noelle were sisters and looked almost the same, both incredibly beautiful. Liliana was like a finely carved statue of beauty, and then there were Linda and Eloise. One was sweet and charming, while the other was cool and aloof, like a regal ice queen.Tania blinked her eyes, "Aren't they lovely? I chose the bridesmaids' dresses." She let out a sigh, "I had hoped to be a bridesmaid too, such a shame!"Their happy chatter filled the house, and Noelle felt like the luckiest girl in the world. She turned to Kelly, her best bridesmaid, her eyes shining with thanks. "Kelly, I'm so grateful you're always here for me," Noelle said softly. Kelly grinned and gave her a gentle shoulder pat, "You don't have to thank me, Noelle. You're my sister and seeing you so happy with the right guy is all I could wish for."Linda, touched by their words, had teary eyes like she was the bride too. She dashed from the kitchen, lifted a cup, and laughed, "I feel like I've turned into your wedding pl
"Yeah." Charles chuckled, planting a kiss on the corner of Noelle's eye. "All of this is yours, feel free to touch all you want!"Noelle's cheeks flushed bright red, and she tried to pull her hands back, but Charles gently held onto them. "What's wrong? I don't let anyone else touch me!""You're such a tease!" Noelle's face turned even redder, "Ever since we got married, you've just gotten cheekier and cheekier.""Yeah, I'm all yours," Charles said as he cradled Noelle's face in his hands, their eyes locked in a gaze.Just like that, time stood still. They looked at each other as if they could never look away. "Charlie!""Noelle!" Charles gently cradled Noelle's face in his hands, showering her with soft kisses....The whole town of Brookville buzzed with excitement for Charles and Noelle's wedding. It was not just the big shots in the business world who were thrilled; people online and just about everyone else were talking about it, too. The media and social networks were all