The Cherished Wife



Sean could feel that Noelle was ice-cold. She seemed utterly hopeless and as lifeless as a doll. "Noelle?"

Her eyes were glazed over, her expression vacant. It was not until Sean gave her a gentle pinch that she snapped out of it, grabbing his hand desperately. "Sean, I need to see Charles. I have to!"

"But... we're at the Shaws' right now. Charles went back to the Hoffmans' today, and you know the Hoffmans. They have this rule about family dinners saying everyone's got to be there, so Charles is probably stuck!" Sean said, his voice full of sympathy as he looked at Noelle's troubled face. "Noelle, what's going on with you?"

"No way! I'm not accepting that! I have to see Charles, and if that means heading to the Hoffmans' place right now, then so be it!"

Noelle was like a broken record, clinging to that one demand like a lifeline. Her eyes were desperate. "I need to see Charles!"

"Okay, okay, we'll go see Charles," Sean relented, unable to say no to her determined face. He gently lifted her, whispering, "But first, we've got to swing by the Shaws' and give your grandpa a heads-up. We can't just leave without a word or he'll worry." He soothed her as they made their way out.

"Hey, there you are, Noelle! And Mr. Smith, you're here too!"

Winter's voice cut through the air, surprising both Sean and Noelle as they looked up to find Winter and Xavier standing there.

Surprise flickered in Noelle's eyes, and even as she fought to keep her emotions in check, the cold truth washed over her, leaving her reeling.

All those years of unanswered

questions boiled down to one

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painful truth-she was not Julian and Jade's real daughter. That was why they had always played favorites. She was not a real Shaw, so she had always felt like an outsider.

Noelle felt an icy numbness spreading through her. She knew she could not stick around any longer.

Sean caught the flicker of distress in Noelle's eyes and gave her a quick, covert pinch on the arm-a silent signal to snap out of it. Flashing a grin, he said, "Oh, look, it's Ms. Shaw and MD. Harris. Noelle and I have something to do, so we've gotta run. Could you tell them we're sorry we have to leave early, Ms. Shaw?"

Sean steered Noelle away from the Shaw residence without waiting for a response, leaving Winter and Xavier behind.

Winter watched them go, a smirk playing on her lips. "Look at them, all cozy. You've been mooning over her, and she's already cozying up to someone new. What do you think of that, Xavier?"

"That's it!" Xavier snapped, his patience worn thin. "I'm sick of your games!" He was seething, but Winter did not have to know that.

Sean, oblivious to the drama he had left behind, helped Noelle out of the Shaw płace. However, as soon as they were clear, she crumpled to the ground. "Noelle! What's going on?" Sean asked, alarmed.

Through her tears, Noelle's voice was desperate. "Sean, I have to see Charles. Please, I need to see him!"