Semua Bab The Cherished Wife: Bab 571 - Bab 580

Noelle, a touch embarrassed by Jennifer's playful comment, made her way over to Charles. Jennifer rose too, finding a spot to sit between Peter and Yoel. "Bro, how much are you up?"Peter looked at her and gestured towards Yoel. Jennifer's eyes followed Yoel's dwindling stack of chips and then to the others', and it was clear Yoel was having a rough game.Jennifer could not help but snicker. "What's this, three against one?"Yoel gave her a sly look, his eyes narrowing with mischief. "So, who are you rooting for, me or Peter?""Uh, I'm good with either of you winning. It's not like I get the cash!" Jennifer said, touching her nose and then choosing to stay quiet.Noelle was seated diagonally from Jennifer, with Charles to her left and Bob to her right.It was Noelle's first time meeting the real Bob, who had that 'do not disturb' vibe that she knew all too well.She had felt the same way when she first met Charles, though he had not been as cold toward her as Bob, who seemed to

"Oh, come on, Sean, could you be any more cliché?" Jennifer was not thrilled with the idea, rolling her eyes. "That game's ancient, what's the big deal?""What's not to love? It's not about the game being old, it's about having a blast and getting a little wild! Am I right, Steven?" Sean said, giving Steven a conspiratorial wink.Steven, ever the cool one, casually touched his nose and tapped his temple, a sly smile playing on his lips. "Sean's got a point. If you're game, let's dive in!"At the sound of Steven's smooth voice, everyone let out a cheer of approval. Steven was the man of the hour, and they were all ready to indulge him, even if they had their reservations.Sean sprang into action, rallying everyone with a wave of his hands. "Alright, folks, gather around! We're going to lay down some ground rules: anything goes as long as it's not too wild, and no chickening out," he announced, clapping his hands for emphasis. Ronald and Lareal, who had been waiting just outside, c

Sean's eyes darted around, but honestly, he could not stomach the thought of kissing any of them. Steven was out of the question, and as for Peter, Sean was sure that if he even tried, Peter would lay him out flat. That left his cousin Bob, and then Yoel and Gerald.Sean propped his face in his hand, torn between a laugh and a sob. "Can I just opt for death instead?""No can do," came the reply. "You're the one who wanted to play this game. You can't bail now! How are you going to show your face around Brookville after this?"Sean could not even fake a smile. "Come on, Noelle, I get it, I messed up. Can't we just call it even? Please pick someone else, I just can't do it!" Kissing any of them felt like the ultimate no-no.He peeked at Bob, but Bob's glare was scary, so Sean quickly nixed that idea. Then there was Yoel, but that was just as unbearable. Peter and Steven were definite no-gos."What if I just stand up and belt out a tune for you, huh?""No way!" Noelle said with mock

"I'll head downstairs to rest now," said Eloise."Okay." Steven did not even bother to look up. Only after Eloise left did he slide his hands into his pockets, his dark eyes shining brightly in the night.He stood by the window, gazing out at the desolate view with his brows slightly furrowed. It had been so many years since he last returned, and it seemed that much had changed, including the people.After drinking too much alcohol that evening, Charles, though appearing to behave himself, ended up being quite a challenge for Noelle.Both of them disliked having outsiders in their homes, so even after getting married, they maintained their habit of not having any household staff around.Noelle usually did not mind, but tonight, taking care of a drunk Charles by herself was proving exhausting.She finally managed to get Charles out of his clothes, but then came the dilemma of how to drag him to the bathroom.After weighing her options, Noelle decided to fetch a basin and water to

"You… You…" Noelle's face flushed instantly, especially hearing Charles so shamelessly say such things. She was at a loss for words. "You're so shameless!"Charles just laughed, setting down the documents in his hand. His long fingers brushed against his chin thoughtfully before he said, "How is it shameless? I'm speaking the truth. Nelly, we're married; talking about these things is perfectly normal. Or are you feeling shy?"Noelle pursed her lips. "How did I not notice you were like this before?" She remembered when she first met him, with his serious face and seemingly upright demeanor. Who would have thought that he would show his true colors after marriage?Charles squinted his eyes and chuckled. There was a touch of helplessness in his expression.Since Noelle refused to come over, he walked up to her instead and gently took her hand. His broad palm enveloped Noelle's small, delicate hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. "Your hand is a bit cold. It's winter now; you should keep