The Cherished Wife

Noelle agreed, "Alright then, but I don't have much time. I have something to do later."

She remembered she had plans with Rowena and Teresa, who would be arriving soon. "My friends will be here shortly."

"Let's find a place to sit," Annie suggested, turning to Cindy. "Mom, I need to talk with Noelle. Why don't you head back first?"

Cindy gave Noelle a complicated look, recalling how her son had warned Annie not to offend Noelle. Though she did not see anything particularly threatening about Noelle, as Annie's mother, she instinctively wanted to protect her daughter.

She feared Noelle might bully her.

"Mom, it's okay. If you're worried, you can wait for me in the car. I'll be right there."

glanced at Noelle. "Let's go to that café over

what Annie wanted to discuss, but she was curious about what had happened that night. Charles had not told her

demeanor, it made her feel somewhat anxious. "Noelle,

"Well, you dislike me. So no matter what I do, you won't be pleased anyway." She stirred her drink with the straw, pausing. "Then again, whether you like me or not doesn't really affect me." Annie was taken aback. She was rendered speechless by Noelle's retort, her face turning red with frustration. Noelle sighed. "You wanted to talk about that night, right? Go ahead. I was unconscious and don't

Annie's face. "And what

her fists. "Who's

and bit her lip. "I don't have any backers. If you're looking for an explanation, all I can say is that I don't

really don't. But my brother said my dislike