The Cherished Wife

Wife 49

s was the harsh truth about her parents–they had never really put her first.

Marriage?

If marriage was the real goal, why had they rushed to toss her into Simon’s bed?

“Awake?”

The man’s voice, crisp and icy, had sliced through the silence, jolting Noelle back to the present. She stumbled backward in a panic, crashing into the bed and collapsing onto it, her face drained of color.

Charles arched an eyebrow, taking in Noelle’s panicked dance. Had he scared her that much?

Realizing she might have overreacted, Noelle managed a sheepish grin. “Mr. Hoffman!

“Mm,” Charles had hummed, nodding. “Good to see you’re up. Feeling alright? There’s some medicine for fever on the table if you need it.”

“A fever?” Noelle was shocked. “I wasn’t running a fever.” Then she added quickly, “Did you rescue me last night?”

Charles squinted and flashed a knowing grin. “Pretty obvious, isn’t it?”

Noelle inhaled deeply. She really did not like the idea of being in debt to Charles, yet he had saved her life. “Thanks! But, um…” She glanced down at her clothes, her cheeks warming with embarrassment, “About these clothes.”

“I changed you,” Charles said matter–of–factly. “No staff or ladies at my place, so…

Noelle’s face turned a deeper shade of red, and she bit her lip.

Feeling totally exposed in front of Charles, she stammered, “I… wasn’t talking about that. Where are my clothes?”

“Hmm?” Charles raised an eyebrow, clearly amused by her shyness. “They’re probably still drying. There’s no washer here, so I send my laundry out.”

He added casually, “Hungry?”

Noelle had not realized her hunger until he mentioned it. She had not eaten much at the Shaw’s last night and merely nibbled something at home before heading over.

She nodded, and Charles gestured toward the master bathroom. “There’s a new toothbrush and towel for you. Freshen up. and we’ll grab some food downstairs soon.”

oh

Noelle watched Charles walk away, her hand flying to her face as she felt her cheeks flare up with a blush

she could not control.

She dashed into the bathroom and was struck by how everything screamed top–notch, from the room’s design to the bathroom’s layout. The new items on the washstand had obviously been set out by Charles, and it sent a little ripple of warmth through her,

Stepping out of the bedroom, Noelle was hit with the realization that she was in Charles’s master NôvelDrama.Org owns this text.

bedroom. A weird flutter tickled her chest at the thought.

Downstairs, Charles leaned casually against the stair railing. He caught her lingering on the steps and gave a playful knock on the wood. “Ms. Shaw, not hungry?”

Snapping out of her daze, Noelle replied, “Thanks, Mr. Hoffman.”

She followed him into the dining room, which was surprisingly spacious. The place was huge. Was Charles the only one living here? “Don’t you live with your family, Mr. Hoffman?”

Charles’s expression tightened. He shot her a look so cool it sent a shiver down her spine. She had not expected him to be so distant. Feeling awkward, she pulled out a chair and just stood there, unsure whether to sit.