"You still haven't given me a straight answer," Noelle pressed, her determination bordering on stubbornness.Charles paused, then offered a smile. "It’s no big mystery, really. You just happened to show up at the right time and place. That was all there was to it."Noelle searched Charles's eyes for something more, but their locked gazes offered no further clues. Feeling a bit let down, she averted her eyes. "Got it.""So, what’s your verdict, Ms. Shaw?"Noelle chewed on her lip for a moment. "You were well aware of where I stood with the Shaws. I was never going to see a dime of their fortune, nor was I going to get a foot in the door of their company. You knew that from the beginning, didn't you?"He nodded. "A guy's got nothing if he's waiting for a woman to bring him wealth."Noelle let out a small laugh. "You’re one of few who think that way.""Any other questions?" Charles was the picture of patience. Whether it was business or anything else, he could outwait anyone. With

Charles had just seen Ronald and the others out. Coming back, he caught Noelle's incredulous question and chuckled. "Yep, we're married now."Noelle's hands flew to her cheeks, surprised to find Charles right behind her. Flustered, she got to her feet quickly. "It's late. I should head back.""Noelle!" Charles's voice stopped her in her tracks, and she halted, her steps halting just as quickly. She turned around stiffly, a puzzled "Huh?" escaping her lips.Charles was barely holding back a laugh at Noelle's adorably confused look. "It's actually morning," he said.Noelle's cheeks flamed even hotter. "Morning?" It was probably the most embarrassed she had ever been around Charles.Ever since meeting Charles, Noelle felt like her life had become a series of increasingly embarrassing moments. Every encounter with him seemed to leave her more flustered than the last.Charles watched her, the teasing mood fading. He stepped closer and gently pushed a stray lock of hair behind her ear.

"Deal!" Noelle felt a weight lift off her shoulders; she was not keen on visiting the Shaw family anyway. "If I want to catch up with you, Grandpa, we’ll just meet up somewhere!"After hanging up, Noelle looked up to see Charles returning after a long absence, a gift box in hand as he strolled up to her.Her phone was still in her hand, her heartbeat erratic with anticipation.Charles offered the gift box to Noelle, "Your clothes haven't dried yet. I picked this up for you to wear in the meantime. I hope it works for now!""Thanks!" Noelle snatched the package and eagerly tore it open to find a long, flowy dress that seemed to shimmer with magic. She inspected it, noticing the tag was missing. However, the faint outline of a logo and the feel of the fabric gave it away. It was a Saint Di creation, a brand famed for their exclusive designs."You don't like it?" Charles inquired, catching Noelle off guard. She shook her head. "No, it's gorgeous. But how did you guess my size?"Th

Noelle's hands relaxed, and she settled back into her seat. Her fidgety movements gave away her inner turmoil.Feeling anxious, her palms started to sweat. She gripped her hands tightly, then let go a little, "I... I'm sorry. I'm just not ready yet!"Even though they were married, Charles was practically a stranger to her.She knew he was the big boss of Collosus Group, one of the infamous Four Young Masters of Brookville, Mr. Hoffman, and that he was not someone people in Brookville crossed lightly. However, that was the extent of her knowledge. She was clueless about his likes, his family, or who he hung out with.It was only now that Noelle was facing these facts, realizing she had been pretty bold to marry a guy she barely knew. Rubbing her forehead to ease the headache, she gently tapped it and asked, "Mr. Hoffman, is it too late to back out of this marriage?"Charles arched an eyebrow and turned to give Noelle a look.In just a couple of minutes, he had seen every emotion p

Xavier's face turned red with fury as the car sped off into the distance. "Some hero you are, hiding behind tinted windows! Come out and face me if you dare!" he yelled, though his challenge fell on deaf ears.Charles was long gone, the car a mere speck in the sprawling suburb. Xavier was left with nothing but the smoke of the car's trail and a firestorm of anger in his chest that he could not quell.It was maddening. Noelle had been with him for ages, yet she had never stayed the night. Now, some random guy showed up, and she did not come home? Unbelievable.Xavier clenched his fists. If only that guy had stepped out of the car, he would have shown him what a real man looked like.Little did Xavier know that his outburst might spell disaster for his family’s company.It was only after the car had vanished that Xavier calmed his anger. He could not believe Noelle would run around with some guy, not coming home all night. He had not even stopped to think about what he had done the