The Cherished Wife by Chweety

Chapter 840

When Charles returned, he had already tamped down the anger and frustration he carried from earlier, but Noelle could still sense the lingering heaviness in his demeanor. She was chatting with Nancy, sharing amusing stories and anecdotes from her school days about friends she had known.

Nancy seemed to grow even fonder of Noelle with every conversation and asked more about her life. She clearly appreciated Noelle's personality.

Noticing Charles quietly entering the room, Nancy smiled. "You're back already?"

Noelle looked up, her eyes curving into crescents with a bright smile. "Charlie, you're home?"

"Yeah," Charles answered. At the sight of Noelle's cheerful expression, the weight on his shoulders seemed to lift entirely. The harshness he carried melted away.

He returned her smile. "What were you two talking about? You seem to be having a good time."

"We were talking about you!" Noelle grinned, standing to take his coat and fetch him a pair of slippers. "Did everything get sorted out?"

"Yeah." Charles nodded, gently ruffling Noelle's hair. "What were you saying about me?"

Aunt Nancy didn't say a single bad word about you. She was just singing

her on the shoulder. "Have you figured out what we're having

said proudly, tugging Charles toward the couch. "Come sit

We picked up some essentials. And of course, I bought everything we needed for dinner. I was just waiting for you to get home so I could start cooking." "Really? You've been so good," Charles said with a warm smile. He reached out

yourself! Stay here with Aunt Nancy for a bit. I'll go put your things away and get

scamper up the stairs. As her footsteps faded, his smile dimmed, and he turned his

knows, doesn't he?"

nod. "Of

head slowly.

already predict Maxwell's reaction. Maxwell had always placed the Hoffmans

strictness extended not only to Mateo and Henry

of her life within the Hoffman residence, understood Maxwell's temperament

ét

reject her. The fact that Noelle looked so much ike Kelly only made things worse. Initially, even Nancy had suspected Charles

That's all there is to it. Whether the