Lahat ng Kabanata ng The Sway and Slide of Love: Kabanata 261 - Kabanata 270

By the time dinner ended, it was nearing 10:00 pm.Javier seemed quite satisfied with the evening's discussions. Before leaving, he told Noelle that he would review her proposal first. His tone had noticeably softened, and Noelle responded with a bright, enthusiastic smile.As for Sandra, who had unexpectedly shown up tonight, she had been practically invisible throughout the evening—except for the moment she glanced at Hendrix as she boarded the car.It was a look filled with a mix of grievance, resentment, and a hint of hope. Whatever response Hendrix gave, Noelle didn't witness it, because in the next instant, Sandra had already entered Javier's black Bentley, which swiftly drove into the night.The smile Noelle had been forcing onto her face disappeared instantly. Without sparing a glance at the man beside her, she turned on her heel and headed straight for her own car. But Hendrix was quick to grab her arm."What are you doing?" Noelle immediately brushed his hand off. "Have

Noelle rested on Hendrix's back, but as soon as the elevator doors closed, she said, "Put me down."Her tone was composed, completely devoid of the playful coyness she'd shown earlier when complaining about her foot.Hendrix had already figured out she was faking it. Still, he hadn't called her out on it. Instead, he had gone along with her act, playing his part in the script she had set up.Even though Noelle had asked him to put her down, Hendrix showed no intention of letting go.After waiting for a moment, Noelle repeated impatiently, "Hendrix, put me down!""Didn't you say your foot hurt?" Hendrix countered casually. "We're almost there.""You saw it earlier, didn't you?" Noelle wasn't about to let him feign ignorance. "Sandra was hiding in the parking lot.""Yeah, I saw her.""That's why I suddenly asked you to carry me.""Yeah, I know."Noelle laid out her intentions plainly, but even so, Hendrix showed no sign of letting her down. She bit her lip. "So, do you get it n

Noelle lay back on the couch with her head tilted upward.The living room lights were on, their stark white glow almost blinding. Tears unknowingly welled up at the corners of Noelle's eyes. Her hands tightened, clenching reflexively as if searching for something to hold onto. In the end, they slid downward until they grasped at Hendrix's hair.The loss of control was sudden and overwhelming. But Noelle didn't forget the important matter at hand. As Hendrix straightened and lifted her into his arm, she regained her composure and asked, "How do you plan to help me?"Hendrix didn't respond but simply kept walking.Noelle grew impatient, and clutching his collar tightly, she asked, "Hendrix, are you playing me?"Hendrix tossed her onto the bed in the bedroom and leaned over her. "Noelle, aren't you being a bit too impatient? I told you to earn my help by pleasing me, yet here you are, asking for favors without having done a thing."His voice carried a subtle warning, but Noelle show

Just as Oliver had implied, the "review" Javier mentioned turned out to be nothing more than a formality. In less than five business days, the funds Noelle had requested were approved without issue.However, securing the funds was only the first step. To ensure everything proceeded smoothly, Noelle made a point of visiting the construction site for an inspection today.By now, Vinton City had officially entered summer. Noelle wore a hard hat during her site visit, and as it was a formal inspection, carrying a sun umbrella was out of the question. By the end of the day, her arms and the back of her neck were noticeably red from the sun.On her way home, she stopped to buy some ointment. Just as she was about to apply it after getting home, Hendrix walked in.Hendrix had been out for a dinner engagement tonight, but it was clear he had slipped away early. In his hand, he carried the takeout he brought back for Noelle, with the most eye-catching item being a small cake nestled beside

Naturally, Hendrix didn't believe Noelle. After all, just half an hour ago, they had been wrapped in each other's warmth, and now, Noelle was calmly telling him to leave.He stared at her for a long moment before letting out a short laugh. "You're joking, right? Noelle, you—"Hendrix had just removed his gloves, intending to pull her into his arms, but Noelle quickly dodged him and asked, "What deal did you make with Javier?"Her serious expression made his hand freeze midair. In the end, he had no choice but to slowly withdraw it.Although he couldn't quite understand how this related to her sudden request, Hendrix still answered, "He had some trouble with assets abroad, and I helped him resolve it."Noelle nodded. "Oh, that explains it."Hendrix frowned. "What's wrong? Did something happen?""No, on the contrary, thanks to your help, our project has been progressing smoothly, and the funds were disbursed today. Otherwise, it might have taken a month to get results."Hendrix l