The Cherished Wife (Noelle and Charles)

stake?"

"I did everything for you and the Shaw family's sake," Jade said, her eyes brimming with unshed tears. "If I had known, I would've left that girl to her own devices. Do you really think I'd let her benefit without a second thought if it wasn't for my family's inheritance being at Jade's fists were balled up tight, her face twisted with loathing. "You were on board with this from the start, weren't you?"

"How could I possibly get involved in the Jabs family's affairs?" Julian stumbled over his words but managed a comeback. "Have I ever complained about the messes you've made over the years?"

"I..."

"That's enough. We're not discussing Noelle's past anymore. Remember, you still haven't secured what Sir Jones has, and now my father has gone and given the shares to her. Your priority should be to calm Noelle down and convince her to give up the shares, not to keep stewing over your grudges. It was her mother who wronged you, not her."

"You... Julian, are you telling me you feel sorry for that woman too? That woman's daughter is just as bad as her!" Jade's temper flared every time Julian mentioned that woman, and she struggled to control her emotions.

"Cut the insults out. Remember, Sir Jones is backing Noelle now. I wonder what you'll do if he hears about this!"

Someone else's child?

A cheap person?

Noelle paled, and her feet were rooted to the spot. She stood in disbelief at the doorway, her gaze fixed on the two figures in the study.

The volume of their argument made it impossible for Noelle to ignore them.

Her hands balled into fists as Jade's piercing tone and Julian's effort to stay composed echoed in her ears. Her face went pale again, the back-and-forth between Jade and Julian replaying in her mind until she stumbled backward, crashing into the wall with a thud. "Who's there?"

Julian and Jade exchanged puzzled glances, quickly flinging the door open to find nothing behind it.

"Jule, did you hear that?" Jade scanned the area and found no one. Julian did the same. He came up empty and shook his head. "Nope."

"That can't be right. I definitely heard something." Maybe it was the guilt talking, but Jade could not shake the feeling of being watched. "It could be..."

Meow.

Out of nowhere, a cat leaped

through the study window, letting out a couple of meows and breaking Jade and Julian's concentration. They exchanged a look and watched the cat explore the room, their tension easing. "Oh, it was just a cat. But let's never talk about today again, got it? Remember, don't have any hard feelings against Noelle, and don't let your personal issues cloud your judgment. She's still got what we're after!"

Once Julian and Jade left, the hand that had been muffling Noelle's mouth finally relaxed.

Sean had also stepped out earlier and, by sheer luck, was walking past the study. He caught Noelle looking like she was in another world and heard some rustling from the room. Without missing a beat, he grabbed Noelle, and they ducked next to the Window in the side hallway.

They were hugging the wall, Sean's arm wrapped protectively around Noelle and his hand muffling her whispers.

He had barely eased his hold when Noelle crumpled to the floor, all her energy leaving her. "Noelle!"

Sean scooped her up in a rush, his face creasing with worry when he saw how deathly pale she was He checked her forehead. "Noelle, sorry about that."