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.

could tell Hendrix was wealthy. Which meant that everything he gave Noelle

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

her adoptive mother was badly injured defending her, and she's still

finally found her when she was 15 years old, but by then they'd already had another daughter. And because her adoptive father had touched

well.

care and love, which ultimately led to the loss of

mistreatment and their financial struggles, she might have been willing to endure it. In her eyes, if all of that could

slowly. This wasn't just Noelle's past-it was his, too.

his role

didn't even understand how Noelle

when she'd said

meant it. Her choice to be with him again wasn't about forgetting or forgiving the

this time, Irene's protection clearly reminded her