The Sway and Slide of Love by Jean Song

Chapter 784

Irene had never been well-liked in the village. The other women claimed she'd brought misfortune to her husband, and in her younger days, they accused her of seducing their husbands.

After earning her reputation as a shrew, no one would even speak to her.

Truthfully, she held no attachment to this village. She had stayed at first to wait for her husband and later to wait for Nelly.

But after that, none of it mattered anymore.

Yet tonight, for the first time, she found someone to tell these things to.

Hendrix sat quietly and listened. He'd never been good at comforting people, so after a long silence, he finally said, "When I thanked you earlier, it wasn't just for saving Noelle. It was also because you gave her things she's always wanted."

Irene looked at him, puzzled.

tell Hendrix was wealthy. Which meant that everything he gave Noelle must have been the best. And what could she

Irene. "She was trafficked to a remote mountain village. Her adoptive father treated her terribly. The only one who protected

injured defending her, and

daughter. And because her adoptive father had touched her inappropriately, her parents always held that against her.

well.

But at the time, I was far from being a good husband neglected her feelings and failed to give her enough care and love, which ultimately led to the loss of our first child. She went through a

adoptive father's mistreatment and their financial struggles, she might have been willing to endure it. In her eyes, if all of that could have been exchanged for her

wasn't just Noelle's past-it was his, too. And he

his role in it

back now, he didn't even understand how Noelle had survived

when she'd said some

forgiven, she'd meant it. Her choice to be with him again wasn't about forgetting or forgiving the past. She'd simply decided

time, Irene's protection clearly reminded her of