The Cherished Wife



"Mr. Hoffman, here are your clothes," said the manager from Saint Di, a brand under the Collosus Group, as he delivered the attire. He tried to sneak a peek at the passenger seat, but the glass thwarted his curiosity, hiding Noelle from view.

Charles stepped out and accepted the clothes with a piercing look that sent the manager scurrying away. "I'll be on my way, Mr. Hoffman. You carry on with your day!" The manager nodded frantically, feeling an invisible blade at his back as he wiped the sweat from his brow, thoroughly intimidated. Charles gave a slight squint, settled back into the driver's seat, and handed the clothes to Noelle with a casual, "Check them out. See if they're to your liking!"

Noelle accepted the bag, peeked inside, and found a modest yet stylish outfit. "Meeting someone important today?" she asked.

Charles gave a quick nod. "Go ahead and change."

"Right here?" Noelle glanced around the car interior, raising an eyebrow. "I mean, no one can see in, but..." She trailed off, the thought of changing in the car making her squirm.

Charles flashed a sly grin, about to reassure her, when his expression suddenly hardened. Noelle followed his intense stare, shocked to see that the car tailing them was back.

"Lock the doors tight and change fast," Charles instructed, patting her shoulder. "I'll go have a look."NôvelDrama.Org owns © this.

"Charles!" Noelle clutched at his sleeve. "We don't even know who they are. Don't go out there! What if they're after you? That would be..."

"It's fine. It's just my mom!" Charles squeezed her hand reassuringly. "Stay in the car. Don't get out."

"Oh!" Noelle nodded, a bit relieved. "Okay, be careful!" As Charles stepped out, she quickly locked the doors and scrambled into the back seat, ducking down to slip into the new clothes.

Charles, meanwhile, strode out of the car, straightening his cufflinks swiftly. His gaze locked onto the approaching vehicle with an

intensity that could be felt even

through the glass. Inside, Clarisse and J tensed up, overwhelmed by the force of Charles's presence. His piercing look sent a shiver even through Clarisse's spine.

Charles narrowed his eyes as he watched Clarisse's car roll to a halt. He strode to the front of the car and stood his ground.

J clutched Clarisse's hands, her voice tinged with anxiety. "Aunt Clary, it's Charles, he..."

"I'll check on him!"

Clarisse shook off J's grip, swung the door open, and stepped out. "Charles!"

"I thought I made it crystal clear to you that there are certain lines you shouldn't cross with me!" Charles's voice was icy as he locked eyes with Clarisse.

"Charles, you've got it all wrong, I didn't mean anything by it. I was just worried when you left Collosus Group so abruptly," Clarisse explained. "Worried about me? So worried you needed to tail me for blocks? And with someone who has nothing to do with this?" Charles's pointed glance made it clear he was talking about J.

J, sitting in the car, twisted her hands together until her knuckles turned white. Charles's words had turned her already pale face a shade paler.

J flung the car door open and stepped out. Charles, I didn't have any ulterior motives. I figured you

had some work to handle, and amet

your secretary, isn't it my job to be by your side when you're out on business?"

"Secretary? Wow, you actually remember your place," Charles said, his long fingers casually adjusting his cufflinks as he gave J a frosty look. "Sneaking out during work hours, shadowing your boss without permission-what's up with that, J? Where's that poise and Smarts you're supposed to have? Even with my mom, the paragon of virtue, trying to teach you, you just can't shake off that innate pettiness, can you?"