The Cherished Wife

"You sound happy. Did Bob take it easy on you yesterday?" Charles teased with an icy laugh.

Sean felt a rush of frustration but held back his words when he saw who was at his door. He gulped, trying to look harmless under the man's sharp gaze. "Hey, bro. What brings you here?" he asked with a nervous grin.

Bob, Sean's cousin, gave him a chilly look. "You don't need to know about my deal with Charles. All you need to know is that you've got to go to that party, or else..." Bob's lips twisted into a sly smile. "If I head back to Cascade City, you'll be stuck with the Smith family business, and you wouldn't like that, would you?"

Sean's heart sank. "No, I wouldn't. I think you should stay in Brookville. You're too important to the Smith family!" Sean was ashamed of his own words. "But what does your mom want by sending you to the party? Does she know the Shaws?"

"That's not your concern," Bob said, his face hardening. "It's getting late," he reminded Sean.

Sean snapped to attention. "Oh no, I'm really running late." He checked his phone and realized Charles was still on the line. "Charles, did you hear everything?"

the other end, Charles snorted. "Scaredy-cat!" His voice was smooth but mocking. "Sean, you know I always record my calls. Imagine what Steven and Peter would think if they heard you sounding so

you

you're even a minute late, I'm sending this recording to

out a loud yelp, but Bob shot him a look that

of the guests were arriving. Xavier was

on the door, hoping to see her walk through

eyes off the door. He was waiting for Noelle. He could not admit it, but deep down, he really wanted her to show

Noelle. However his dad would not let them be together because Noelle did not own any shares in her family's company. To his dad, Noelle was a woman

about whether to tell Joseph the truth-that Noelle actually