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.

her limited understanding of the outside world, she could tell Hendrix was wealthy. Which meant that everything he gave Noelle must have been the best. And what could she possibly

she was little, she got separated from her family," Hendrix told Irene. "She was trafficked to a remote mountain village. Her

was badly injured defending her, and she's still in a coma

they'd already had another daughter. And because her adoptive father had touched her inappropriately,

well.

love, which ultimately led

her 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 adoptive mother's health

Noelle's past-it was his, too.

role in it had

even understand

she'd

be with him again wasn't about forgetting or forgiving the past.

protection clearly reminded her of the past—of what