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

about what had happened that night. Charles had not told her much, and Rowena

it made her feel somewhat anxious. "Noelle, do you

so?" Noelle raised an eyebrow. "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

face. "And what happened to

fists. "Who's backing

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

"I don't like you, I really don't. But my brother said my dislike for