The Cherished Wife by Chweety

Caught in an awkward spot, Noelle reached out and shook Charles's hand slightly. "Hey... Charles, weren't you going to show me how to ride a horse?"

Her words sliced through the weird silence like a sword, and Charles let out a light laugh, nodding. He playfully tousled Noelle's hair. "Sure thing. Let's get you into some riding gear, then we'll go find you a horse."

With that, Charles and Noelle headed off, leaving Sean staring after them, a storm brewing inside him. After a while, he finally let out a gruff, "Sorry!"

Peter narrowed his eyes thoughtfully, and his hand fished in his pocket before pulling out a pack of cigarettes. He offered one to Sean, who just shook his head. "I quit!" Peter might not have known that Sean had kicked the habit years ago, though sometimes he would still hold onto a cigarette for old times' sake.

Catching the cue, Peter pocketed the cigarettes again and twirled one between his fingers. His gaze drifted off into the distance. "I'm in the wrong, too. It's not just you."

With a shared look and a chuckle, they reached a silent truce. "Let's go give Charles a run for his money. It's just us single men here. No way we're letting him have all the fun."

Sean's eyebrow quirked up in agreement. "Now you're talking!"

Noelle cast a worried glance over her shoulder. "They're not going to throw punches, are they?" The tension had been thick just moments ago, and Noelle was seriously scared that the trio might come to blows. That was why she had piped up to shatter the uneasy quiet. Charles had just grabbed her hand and pulled her away, leaving Noelle fretting that Peter and Sean might still clash if things went south.

if those two did not gang up on him. He did not care about them fighting each other. Out loud, though, he played it cool. "We

not going

Sean."

could tell each of the men had

be concerned. It had happened before, but Charles

something?" She bit her lip. "Is Tania, Peter's

gave a

as a baby and ended up being raised by this guy named Christian. It

ve

out

up.

which made people look into it. She

tore them apart after they got married, and she has been missing

lip, words failing her. Even with just those few sentences from Charles, she sensed how much Steven meant to both Peter and Charles.