The Cherished Wife

Chapter 27

The look on Charles‘ face changed slightly. However, he merely shook his head and said, Nothing!” before he continued standing beside her instead of taking a seat.

Noelle gave Charles a long look and then turned to look at the stool before she accepted her fate and began wiping it down. When she was done, she said to him, “It’s clean now, Mr. Hoffman!”

Charles gave Noelle a pointed look. Did she think he found the place dirty?

His long stares made goosebumps rise on Noelle’s arms. “What’s the matter? Shall we eat somewhere else instead? I know there’s another restaurant nearby that’s got pretty good reviews. Should we go there instead?” She was starting to regret bringing Charles here.

Upon hearing that, he immediately sat down, his lips curving ever so slightly into a smile as he said, “That’s alright. This place is fine!”

Noelle heaved a sigh of relief and watched as the shop owner approached them. She was stunned when she saw Noelle. “It’s been so long since you last came here, missy! So… Oh, is this your boyfriend?”

“No.”

placed the menu in front of her. Slightly stunned, she did not

glanced at Noelle. “What

stew. What about you?” Noelle had initially wanted to order gumbo but had changed her mind because her throat was not feeling well. Charles nodded. “Two bowls of gumbo, then! Is there anything you

before returning them to the store owner. “Two bowls of

at Charles. She thought to herself, “What a good–looking man, and he’s considerate, too. Much better than the one who

dinner time, but there were plenty of other customers in the store with them. Those sitting at the next

pretend she could not hear them, but they were way too loud for her to do that. Most of what they said was along the lines of, “I can’t believe there are such

what a rare sight to behold. The campus

She agrand wholeheartedly that the girls were not

he noticed Noelle staring at him, and he chuckled “What’s the matter? Finding me good looking all of a sudden? Have you fallen

such a narcissist, M,

just self confident!” Charles answered. “Didn’t you hear what