Lahat ng Kabanata ng The Cherished Wife: Kabanata 651 - Kabanata 660

"Silly girl," Charles said with a gentle tease, flicking Noelle's nose affectionately. "Look at me. I'm totally fine. There’s not a scratch on me."He gently stroked her cheek, trying to ease her worries. "Don't worry. I knew I'd be okay. That's why I had to draw them away by myself.""But…”Noelle still felt uneasy. She still hated the thought of losing him. She would rather face any danger by his side, even if it meant their end could come at any moment. "I can't bear the thought of facing danger without you again."Charles let out a heavy sigh and pulled Noelle into a tight hug. They flopped down onto the bed, gazing into each other's eyes. "I messed up this time. I promise I won't leave you behind again, okay?""Okay!" Noelle spun around and clung to Charles, pressing her face into the warmth of his chest.With one arm wrapped around her, Charles used his other hand to gently soothe Noelle's back. "You got a bit scared today, huh?"The memory of the blood-soaked scene flashe

After hashing things out, the group split up and headed home. Charles patted his pocket before turning to Steven with a grateful look. "I owe you big time!"Steven chuckled. "Here I was, thinking you'd be mad at me for giving her a scare." He remembered how Noelle's eyes widened when she witnessed him in action. "Luckily for us, it was me she saw, not you." He paused, then added, "She's got guts, though. She didn't budge an inch!"Most people would have lost it in that kind of situation, but not Noelle. She looked a little out of it, but she kept it together otherwise. Steven squinted, his mind drifting to the first time he saw Eloise's face.Charles's brow creased, but he managed to say, "Anyway, I really appreciate what you did today.""It's late. You’d better sleep," Steven said.Once Charles was upstairs, Steven fished a pack of cigarettes from his pants pocket. He deftly plucked one out and held it between his fingers, his gaze drifting aimlessly out the window.That night,

Charles was a statue of contemplation, his usual chatter replaced by a heavy silence. "But that just paints a target on their backs. If the Hoffman family catches wind of my personal security boost, it'll send my father and the rest into a frenzy of overthinking." The last thing Charles wanted was for his family's rivals to sniff out his vulnerabilities.Peter, who usually kept his thoughts to himself, could not stay quiet. "Without protection, you're just asking for trouble. Yesterday's close call could’ve actually killed you!" He glanced toward Noelle, concern etched on his face. "She's out of her depth and clueless about the danger. You really think those thugs will back off if they can't get to you? They might just target her instead."Charles let out a resigned sigh. "Fine. Have them shadow me, but they’d better blend into the background. I don't need a crowd. It’d be better to beef up Noelle's security." The memory of yesterday's scare was still fresh, and he would do anything

"Aunt Nancy, this is your home too. You've been so happy here, so why leave in such a hurry?" Noelle clung to the idea of Nancy staying. Nancy had given her the motherly love and attention she had been missing all her life.Noelle's parents were still around, but they never showered her with the affection she craved. Nancy's short stay at the Phoenix Tree Residence had filled a void in Noelle's heart and given her a motherly love she had never known. Noelle had come to see Nancy as true kin, and the thought of her leaving was just too much to bear."Sweetie, why the tears all of a sudden?" Nancy's heart went out to Noelle. "I'm just heading back, not disappearing forever. If you miss me, just call, and I'll be right over to see you!"Leaving Noelle was hard for Nancy too. She had had kids of her own, but her biological daughter had been taken from her early on, and the child she had raised was the child of an enemy. Even after reconnecting with her daughter Tania, things were compli

The Hoffman family's old house came alive as Janet sprinted toward Charles, only to be stopped in her tracks by his warning glare. "Didn't you notice I'm helping Aunt?"Janet's lips tightened as she shot a glance at Nancy. Seeing Nancy's weary expression, Janet's eyes betrayed a flicker of annoyance. However, with Charles there, she held back her frustration and forced a smile. "Aunt Nancy, it's been ages! How are you holding up?""Weren't we just together yesterday?" Nancy could see right through Janet's fake concern. She knew Janet was not her biggest fan."Oh, Aunt Nancy, silly me and my forgetful brain! I must miss you so much that it feels like forever when you’re not around," Janet said, her face not even blushing with the lie. "Let me give you a hand, Aunt Nancy!""No need. Charles is all the help I need," Nancy declined gently. "Charles, I can walk on my own. Maybe you should head back. Weren't you saying you had things to do?""Sure. So, you'll go inside on your own?""Y