The Cherished Wife

Wife 14

“Ms. Shaw, don’t fight it. If you can’t avoid something, then just try to enjoy it. Makes sense, right?” Charles’s gaze held a hint of mystery as he spoke. Noe bit her lip, her fight fading. away. Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

When Charles felt Noelle’s resistance ease up, he let go of her hand. “Hop in, Ms. Shaw.”

Noelle shot Charles a reluctant look but followed him into the car anyway. Charles flashed a grin. “Buckle up!”

Noelle had barely settled into the car seat when she rattled off her address to Charles, then. clammed up, only piping up to correct his driving once or twice. Charles was not clueless and picked up on Noelle’s cold shoulder. Pulling up to her place, he shot her a look. “Remember what I said before? The offer is still valid, Ms. Shaw. Call me if you’re thinking about it again.”

Noelle bit her lip, “Look at you, Mr. Hoffman. You’re successful, loaded, and the town’s most eligible bachelor. You could snap your fingers and have the ladies of Brookville lining up from here to kingdom come. Why bother with plain old me?”

“You’ve got it all wrong, Charles tapped a steady beat on the steering wheel, then clicked the doors open. “We’ve arrived, so I’ll get out of your hair, Ms. Shaw.”

As smooth as ever. He always knew when to push and when to back off, as patient as a cat with a mouse, calculating the perfect moment to pounce or let it scamper away.

Noelle swung the door open, stepping out. “Thanks for the lift, Mr. Hoffman, but it’s a hard no from me. I just clawed my way out of a mess, and I’m not about to dive into another.”

“Who can say it’ll be a mess when you haven’t even given it a shot?” Charles’s smile was easy. “But it’s late now, Ms. Shaw. Take care.”

Noelle slammed the car door shut and watched Charles’s sleek Cayenne fade into the distance. She held her breath, her face a mask of calm, until she could not see the car anymore. However, as she turned to leave, she froze.

There he was, not too far off: Xavier, looking sharp in his suit and like a perfect gentleman. A sharp pang squeezed Noelle’s chest, her face draining of color. The act she had kept up all day threatened to crumble right there and then.

Her hands balled into fists, nails biting into her palms, though she hardly noticed. She stared straight ahead, her lower lip caught between her teeth.

Xavier had spotted Noelle the moment she stepped out of that black Cayenne, and he had not taken his eyes off her since.

He had imagined all sorts of awkwardness between them after what had happened and even thought she might resent him. He had not expected her to move on to another guy already.

T

☐ +15 BONUS

Xavier could not figure out why, but after seeing Noelle, something inside him twisted, and his breathing became uneven.

His gaze fixed on her, his face clouded with annoyance. “Who was that guy who just dropped you off?”

Noelle could not help but laugh. How dare he question her after all he had done! “Whoever it was, it’s none of your business!”

“How can you say it doesn’t matter?” Xavier exploded. “Noelle, do you have any clue what you’re doing? Winter and I messed up, but what’s done is done. You’ve got to deal with it. That doesn’t mean you should just throw yourself at some random guy!”