The Cherished Wife (Noelle and Charles)

This was the Hoffman residence, their territory. It was a place where even she had to show some restraint and caution.

To see Janet throwing tantrums here again and again was beyond Clarisse's patience. "Can you control your temper?" Clarisse approached, glancing at the shattered antique vase on the floor with frustration. "What did I tell you back in Capiton? You promised to behave, didn't you?"

"Aunt Clary, I..." Janet's fury vanished instantly. She now looked at Clarisse with teary eyes, appearing almost pitiful. "It's because of that woman, Winter. How dare she provoke me? Who does she think she is, treating me like this? Aunt Clary, Winter is shameless, but Charles is mine."

"Enough!" Clarisse massaged her temples, feeling a headache coming on. "What exactly did Winter say to you? Did she call you?

"How could she have even gotten your number? Are you telling me she just decided to call and confront you out of nowhere?"

"I..." Janet bit her lip. "It was me. I was the one who called her because I was angry. How could Charles prefer a married woman over me? I can't accept it! I can't understand it. What does she have that I don't?"

"So, you called her yourself?" Clarisse felt her patience snap. "I've told you countless times. Can you use your brain when dealing with these things?" "But I-"

"Enough," Clarisse cut her off sharply. "Listen to me. Next time, don't throw a tantrum here in the Hoffman residence if you still want to marry Charles!" Suddenly, Clarisse felt a pang of regret for ever pushing for this marriage between Charles and Janet. Was it truly the right decision?

Other people might not know, but Clarisse was fully aware of Janet's nature. Though she had not yet exhibited the violent tendencies that her mother once did, Janet's

emotional outbursts were

increasingly erratic.

The more time Janet spent in Brookville and at the Hoffman residence, the more she regressed to her old ways from three years ago.

"Your father asked me to bring you this medicine, Clarisse said as she helped Janet off the floor. However the moment Janet heard the word 'medicine', she reacted violently, shoving Clarisse away with

unexpected force.

Her voice was frantic and sharp. "I'm not sick! I'm not sick! I don't want to take any medicine. I don't have a mental illness. I'm perfectly fine!"

Janet took a few steps back, her

eyes blazing as she glared at

Clarisse, who was now sprawled on the floor. Did you hear me? I said I'm not sick! It's because all of you keep saying I'm sick that Charles doesn't want me. I'm perfectly normal!"

"You..." Clarisse winced from the pain, realizing her hand had landed on glass shards. There was blood seeping through her fingers. "Janet, calm down. I didn't say you're sick. This medicine is good for your health. I would never harm you."

"I don't believe you!" Janet snatched the bottle of pills from the floor and smashed it.

She then hurried to the bathroom to flush the pills down the toilet, muttering to herself all the while, "I'm not sick. I'm not sick!"