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."

Cindy, Annie glanced at Noelle. "Let's go

had happened that night. Charles had not told her much, and Rowena and Teresa had not shared

made her feel somewhat anxious. "Noelle, do you know that your indifferent, high-and-mighty attitude is

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

Annie's face. "And what happened

her fists.

question. She thought of Charles and bit her lip. "I don't have any backers. If

I really don't. But my brother said my dislike for