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Chapter 130
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The Sway and Slide of Love Chapter 131
The rooftop grew increasingly crowded, with the sound of fireworks blooming above adding to the chaos. But for some reason, Noelle suddenly felt as if everything around her had gone quiet. It was as if the entire world had faded away, leaving just the two of them.The people, the noise, even the fireworks overhead, all seemed to vanish.Then, the words Jennifer had told her some time ago began to echo in her mind. At the time, she hadn't reacted to Jennifer's words. On the surface, she had even dismissed them as nonsense.After all, Hendrix didn't seem like someone who would ever do such a thing. Even if he did, it wouldn't be toward her. However, those words had been like a stone dropped into the calm surface of her heart. It hadn't caused a storm, but it had left ripples that lingered. Those ripples hadn't faded, even until tonight.And now, Noelle saw Hendrix's steps shifting forward one step closer. That single step felt like a jolt of adrenaline, shooting straight into her
The Sway and Slide of Love Chapter 132
The snow outside the window continued to fall. Inside, the heating was on full blast, and Noelle didn't feel cold at all.In fact, she thought the room's temperature might be too high, leaving her emotions feeling overly saturated.It wasn't just her. Hendrix felt the same. Only a month ago, they had been arguing. She had even resolved never to see him again in this lifetime. Yet, she always found it so easy to forgive him. He was like a persistent illness lodged in her heart. She had tried countless times to heal it. Yet, it kept flaring up again and again.The step he took toward her on the rooftop earlier had been enough to give her boundless courage. After all, he was someone she had loved for so many years.No one could resist imagining being with the person they loved. What one couldn't have would always leave regret. No one would want to live with regret.Noelle turned her head to look at the snowflakes falling softly outside, paired with the glittering night view of Sint
The Sway and Slide of Love Chapter 133
Seeing how Noelle wouldn't believe her, Jennifer paused for a moment before saying, "Why not think about it from a different perspective?""What do you mean?""For example, what if all of this was actually arranged by Mr. Freeman, and I was just the one carrying it out?"Jennifer's words made Noelle pause in surprise, but she quickly dismissed the idea. "Impossible," said Noelle.Jennifer replied, "Why is it impossible? Do you still doubt Mr. Freeman's efforts for you? And think about it. What kind of man is he? "If he were just looking for a woman, why would he go to all this trouble with you? To be honest, I even thought about throwing myself at him back then."She had said it with such frankness that Noelle couldn't tell if she was joking or serious."But I do have some self-awareness," Jennifer added, candidly recounting what had happened that evening. She continued, "From the moment he looked at me, I knew he wasn't interested. A man like him, someone who rejects so de
The Sway and Slide of Love Chapter 134
When this question surfaced in Noelle's mind, she suddenly thought of the couple from the Swanson family. Facing them, she had asked herself this same question countless times.But deep down, she had always known the answer. No matter how many disappointments she had endured, she couldn't help but cling to hope again once those wounds healed, until they smashed her heart to the ground and crushed it completely.Yes, what was she hoping for? Was she hoping they would love her or that Hendrix would treat her differently? For the past two years, she hadn't been able to warm his heart—how could he possibly draw closer to her suddenly?She had overestimated herself, or maybe she was just delusional. It was just like the time when she was a child. She stood outside the school gate and stared at the old man running a cotton candy stall. On his stand were cotton candies in various colors and flavors.At the time, she wanted so badly to have just one bite, but she had no money. So, all sh
The Sway and Slide of Love Chapter 135
Yvonne didn't give Noelle a chance to refuse. There was nothing Noelle could do now. Before long, the two of them were seated in the café."When did you arrive in Sintrun?" Yvonne asked directly.Noelle held her cup and calmly answered, "A few days ago.""Oh? By yourself?"Noelle didn't reply. She simply lifted her gaze to look at Yvonne.After holding her gaze for a moment, Yvonne suddenly smiled and placed a few photos in front of Noelle. "The person in these photos is you, isn't it?"In the photo, two people were kissing on a lively rooftop while fireworks lit up the night sky. Hendrix's face was unmistakable. He was holding Noelle in his arms, with one hand gently cradling her cheek. Her face, however, was mostly obscured.At this point, denying it clearly held no meaning. After clenching her hands briefly, Noelle finally nodded and said, "Yes.""Ms. Swanson, then, you must also know that Hendrix is no longer your husband but my fiancé, right?" Yvonne continued slowly, "I
The Sway and Slide of Love Chapter 136
"Mr. Freeman?" asked the person on the other end of the call, puzzled while waiting for Hendrix's response."I understand," Hendrix replied curtly before hanging up.He then turned his gaze back to Noelle and asked, "What are you doing?"His voice seemed calm but carried an unmistakable tension."Packing up. I'm heading to Coppersville," Noelle replied, as if she noticed nothing unusual. She continued fastening the lock on her suitcase without looking up.His expression remained unreadable. "What do you mean?"She finally raised her head, offering a faint smile. "Since Ms. Wright is already here, it wouldn't be appropriate for me to stay, would it?"Hendrix narrowed his eyes slightly at her words."Isn't she your fiancée?" Noelle asked.Her question prompted him to let out a soft chuckle. "So, are you jealous?""No," she said, lowering her gaze. How could she be? She didn't have that right.He said nothing more. He casually tossed his jacket aside and lit the cigarette betwe
The Sway and Slide of Love Chapter 137
"Thank you for your care the past few days, but to avoid any misunderstandings with Ms. Wright, we shouldn't be staying in contact anymore," Noelle continued.Hendrix didn't respond immediately. He sat there, expressionless, and watched her. After a long silence, he finally let out a faint chuckle."So, Noelle, you want to draw a clear line between us?"She didn't answer. She simply pulled her suitcase closer in silence. That attitude said everything.He laughed aloud and said, "You're right about one thing. If I want someone, there are plenty of options out there. Don't think you're anything special, Noelle.""I know that," she replied with a forced smile. "I've always known that, in your heart, I was never the special one. So, let's not waste each other's time anymore."Hendrix said nothing further.Without hesitation, Noelle bid him farewell. "Then, I'll leave now. I wish you and Ms. Wright all the best and a happy ever after."With those words, she turned away, pulling her
The Sway and Slide of Love Chapter 138
Noelle saw Hendrix again two months later. It was at an auction Brandon had brought her to.At the time, she was in the backyard, and standing before her was Clark, whom she hadn't seen in months, either. Compared to their last meeting, he seemed much more dejected. His face had clearly grown thinner, but when he faced her, he still managed to force a smile."It's been a while, Noelle."Inwardly, she cursed Brandon several times for bringing her there, but on the surface, she maintained her polite smile. "Yes, it has," she said. "How have you been these days?" Clark asked."Pretty good.""Haven't you and Mr. Freeman reconciled?"The moment he said that, memories of that humiliating night in the car came flooding back to Noelle's mind. Her hands at her sides clenched slightly before she finally replied, "No."Clark fell silent.Noelle, however, couldn't bear the quiet tension hanging in the air. So, she said directly, "Please excuse me."As soon as she spoke, she started to
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The Sway and Slide of Love Chapter 865
Noelle had no choice but to say, "I forgot. I just remember having a few meals with him.""So, it was a man?" Hendrix asked.Noelle nodded.Hendrix stared at her for a moment, then let out a cold laugh. "Then, he wasn't really paying attention to you. He didn't even remember you played an ordinary housemaid in that performance. You didn't even have a single line."After he said that, Noelle suddenly laughed.That small, sudden laugh made Hendrix frown deeply. Then, he realized something."See? You do remember!" Noelle said.Hendrix had no response. He probably hadn't expected that she would manage to trick him like that."So, you loved me back then, didn't you?" Noelle asked."No," Hendrix answered just as quickly.Noelle didn't press further. She just gave a soft "oh", then lowered her eyes. "I'm already like this—I even almost died. Even if it's a lie, you still can't bring yourself to say you love me?"As she spoke, her voice dropped a little, and she looked as if she wer
The Sway and Slide of Love Chapter 864
"No, not him," Noelle replied, but then, she seemed to think of something. "How is he now?""He's dead," Hendrix answered irritably, then asked, "So, who was it?"But Noelle was stunned by his previous answer."Noelle," Hendrix's voice came again, darker now. "I'm asking you—who was it? How many exes do you have exactly?""What do you mean, how many exes?" Noelle frowned as well. "He's just someone I know. Besides, how are you so sure it was a man?""Wasn't it?"Noelle paused, then said, "Tell me what happened to Dylan first.""Why are you still worried about that psycho? Tell me first—who else was watching you back then?""Are you out of your mind? I was on stage. There were tons of people watching me. Are you going to track them all down?"After she said that, Hendrix suddenly fell silent. Maybe he realized she had a point, or maybe he was too angry to speak.Noelle didn't speak again, either. She figured that if Hendrix had been able to say so casually that Dylan was dead,
The Sway and Slide of Love Chapter 863
The moment Hendrix fixed his eyes on Noelle, she suddenly found herself at a loss for words. As their eyes met, even the tips of her ears began to flush red without her realizing it."Why are you looking at me like that?" Noelle couldn't help but ask."So, have you remembered everything?" Hendrix asked instead. "Everything about us?""No," Noelle replied, turning her head away. "My head hurts. Didn't you say you were going to get the doctor? You can go—"But before she could finish, Hendrix suddenly grabbed her hand. His grip wasn't strong, but the way his fingers gently moved across hers felt like an intimate caress.Noelle couldn't help but tremble, and she instinctively tried to pull her hand back.But then Hendrix suddenly said, "Actually, even before we got married, I'd seen you many times."Noelle hadn't expected him to bring this up. She froze for a second. Then, she quickly said, "I know. Back then at college—""Not just at college. After I graduated, I went to see you,
The Sway and Slide of Love Chapter 862
"Who are you?"That was the first thing Noelle said when she opened her eyes.Hendrix had still been basking in the relief of her waking up, but the moment he heard those words, the expression on his face vanished completely."What did you say?" he asked, his voice slightly strained.Noelle didn't answer. She simply stared at him, confusion clear in her eyes.Hendrix clenched his fists tightly. Maybe it was because he had gone through something like this before that he was able to calm himself down quickly this time."I'm your husband. My name is Hendrix Freeman. Do you still remember your own name?" he asked."Husband?" Noelle frowned slightly. "As in—we're married?""Yes. And we have a daughter. Her name is Rosie. She's three years old. This is her picture."As he spoke, Hendrix started to pull up a photo on his phone.But Noelle quickly asked, "Then why don't I remember you?""You were injured. But don't worry. I'll get the doctor to take a look at you."As Hendrix moved
The Sway and Slide of Love Chapter 861
Dylan had been wrong all along.Money and power—none of that had ever been what he was truly meant to chase. Because no one could stay at the center of power forever, and no one could possess those things for all time. What he should have been chasing was just that one light. That one light that would stay on for him late into the night. But now, he knew it was all too late.As he closed his eyes, Dylan suddenly thought of his mother, Leah. He remembered how, as a child, he had longed for a new set of paintbrushes. He had asked his parents for them many times. He even wanted to use his own Christmas money to buy them. But they refused.They believed it was wasteful. It didn't align with the frugal and disciplined lifestyle they lived by. So in the end, Dylan stole the set of paintbrushes from the stationery store.Because he came from a prestigious scholarly family and always kept a refined, gentlemanly image in public, the store owner never suspected a thing.But his parents fo
The Sway and Slide of Love Chapter 860
"Are you crazy? Noelle, let go of the wheel!" Dylan struggled to regain control of the car, but Noelle held onto the steering wheel tightly, refusing to let go.The car didn't slow down. On the contrary, it raced forward at an even faster pace.How long did this go on? Maybe it lasted only dozens of seconds. But for Dylan, it felt like the blink of an eye. Because the next moment, he saw the oncoming car.That car was speeding as well.Dylan didn't even have time to grab his gun. Just as he was about to slam on the brakes, the two cars collided at high speed. There was a deafening crash as the cars were thrown into the air, then slammed back down.Dylan's eyes widened. But in that instant, his first instinct was to turn and look at Noelle. Her eyes were already closed. She looked as if she had been prepared to face death all along. She must have known what he intended to do, and she also knew he didn't actually want to die.The only reason he took her away was so he could use her
The Sway and Slide of Love Chapter 859
Erwin was just about to repeat his question when a voice came from behind."Excuse me, but I think I know where your wife is."Hendrix spun around immediately.Standing behind them was a woman with long hair and big eyes. "I saw her just now in the backyard. Someone was taking her away. If I'm not mistaken, I think it was Mr. Pritchett from Morphy Fund?"At the mention of Dylan, Hendrix's expression turned dark as thunder. He charged up to the woman. "Where did they go?""I'm not sure. But I did take down his license plate number. Do you need it?""Where is it?" Hendrix barked.The woman held out her hand. "I'll give it to you for 1,000 dollars."Hendrix didn't carry cash with him. But he shoved his bank card into her hand without hesitation. "The license plate number!"The woman looked at the card, a little dissatisfied. But considering Hendrix's status, she figured he likely wouldn't care about such a small amount of money. Thus, in the end, she still showed Hendrix the phot
The Sway and Slide of Love Chapter 858
"Erwin!"The voice came just as Erwin stood on the terrace, smoking a cigarette in frustration.Although they had technically won the battle and he had earned a great deal from it, he felt, strangely enough, not the slightest trace of satisfaction. Maybe it was because Hendrix had forced him into the game. Or maybe, by now, winning and losing simply didn't stir anything in him anymore.At the beginning, Erwin had been somewhat excited. He had thought Dylan would be a difficult opponent—someone who could cause serious trouble, maybe even defeat them entirely. That would have been interesting. But instead, everything had gone far too smoothly. There had been no twists and no turns. Just a clean finish. It was boring, to say the least.And the current victory party? Equally so.Hendrix had insisted Noelle attend the party, saying she had flawlessly completed her part of the plan and that this victory was also hers. So, the party had turned out very wholesome, or rather, dull.Erwi
The Sway and Slide of Love Chapter 857
Erwin still showed signs of dissatisfaction. It seemed he was saying something, but Noelle could no longer hear him. She didn't look back either, instead turning her gaze to the other people at the party.The loud music continued, and the excitement and energy of the crowd remained high. But Noelle knew that this wasn't the usual celebration. This, in fact, was just Hendrix's way of making her adapt and accept the situation.Though she had known this for some time, the realization still made Noelle uncomfortable. Then, she suddenly remembered something Dylan had told her a few days ago about her past with Hendrix.Even though she knew Dylan's words weren't necessarily true, that didn't mean everything he said was a lie. How much of the past he mentioned was real, and how much was false?Noelle actually thought her life was fine now. She was willing to accept her past choices and believed in Hendrix's feelings for her. At least, this was what she thought sometimes.But at other tim
