When Noelle put it that way, Samuel could only let out a resigned sigh and gently pat her hand. "Don't you worry, kiddo. Your grandpa's got your back. And if you've got a thing for that Xavier, I'll see what I can do...""Grandpa!" Noelle cut him off, her head shaking just a bit. "Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me. I know that much. Besides, he's spoiled goods now. I'm done with him!""There, there! Our Noelle knows her worth!" Samuel was proud that Noelle was not letting it get to her. However, he was not letting Winter and Xavier get away with pulling a stunt like that."I'll get them to apologize to you and clear up the whole mess!"Hand in hand, Samuel led Noelle downstairs, where all the guests were buzzing with curiosity about the girl he was with.The recent scandal had not gone unnoticed. All this time, the Shaw family was known for Miss Winter, with no mention of a Miss Noelle. After the last bit of gossip hit the airwaves, people started whispering abo

"Mr. Hoffman sends his best to Sir Shaw. He wishes him all the happiness of the endless oceans and a life as enduring as the ancient mountains."Joseph could butter anybody up. Spotting Charles, he could not resist the chance to strut his stuff in front of the crowd. He shot Xavier a look and sidled over. "Mr. Hoffman! Xavier, aren't you gonna say hi? Your uncle's here because of you!""Uncle, you're here too!"Xavier might have been stewing on the inside; however, in front of Charles, he had to swallow his pride. After all, Charles was a big deal, and showing up here was a big honor...Once Joseph spilled the beans, the dots connected for everyone. Xavier was Charles' nephew, and it looked like Joseph had the mighty Hoffman family in his corner.Charles squinted, a sly grin playing on his lips. It was a grin that said more than words could. His gaze fixed on Xavier with such intensity that Xavier felt a shiver run through him. Standing there with Charles, he was hit with a wave o

Winter could not help smirking, though she put on a surprised face. "A fountain pen? Noelle's so thoughtful, knowing how much grandpa loves his pens. She's on the same wavelength as me. Luckily, our gifts didn't overlap."Winter was not wrong. The crowd started to piece together the sisters' gifts, weighing their significance. They looked at Noelle with new eyes. ‘Winter went for the obvious, thinking Grandpa would love some art, but she didn't see the pen coming.’Noelle watched Winter's dramatic display, her feelings a tangled mess. She just did not know how to react, being the center of attention like this.Charles squinted and shot Ronald a quick look.Ronald felt a wave of embarrassment wash over him. How had he never noticed his boss loved to stick his nose into everyone's business?Ronald might have been grumbling inside, but he knew better than to slack off. He cleared his throat and put on a look of mock surprise. "Hey, isn't that the pen we saw the other day at Curio Cor

"That's enough. You're my dad, and she's my sister, which means I can't really do anything. But it doesn't mean I have to forgive her or accept what happened." Noelle took a sip of her tea, grimacing at the bitterness. "New tea, huh? Mom probably never even thought about giving me the good stuff. It's always Winter this, Winter that. She never cares about how I feel. What about you, Dad?""Noelle..." Julian looked at her, his eyes filled with a hint of disappointment, and he shook his head, pained. "I've tried to get through to you, but you're still not getting it. How has your sister been to you all these years? Remember it was your sister who saved you when you were kidnapped. How can you be ungrateful enough to compete with her for your boyfriend?""Dad, what are you saying?" Noelle stood up abruptly, her body trembling, her face turning ghostly pale as she stared at Julian.She could not believe her father felt the same way about the situation. Sure, Winter had saved her back t

"Interesting... you..." As Simon turned his back, Noelle seized a vase and hurled it at his head with all her might. The vase crashed against his forehead, and as he slumped to the ground, his eyes locked on Noelle's. "How dare..."Noelle had given it her all, and now she was totally wiped out, slumping to the floor in a heap. Outside, Winter's voice mixed with the others, worried because they could not find Noelle. They were outside the only locked room in the house, talking about busting the door down. Noelle's heart sank. She thought she was a goner for sure. Then, like a shadow slipping through the night, Charles appeared out of nowhere. His face, all sharp angles and soft skin, came into view as she looked up. She bit her lip so hard it turned a deep, enchanting red. Desperate, she grabbed onto Charles's pants and pleaded, "Charles, save me!" Charles narrowed his eyes, a fierce look flickering across his face as he took in Noelle's flushed cheeks and the figure on the floor.