The Cherished Wife

Sean got Noelle back home without a hitch. Charles was holed up in his study, buried in work, but the distant purr of the engine had him pausing. His face set in a serious line, he shelved his work and headed downstairs.

No sooner had Sean and Noelle stepped inside than Noelle caught sight of Charles on the stairs. She rushed toward him. "Charles!"

"Yeah?" Charles shot a quick look at Noelle, and seeing her unharmed, he let out a sigh of relief before fixing his eyes on Sean. Sean quirked an eyebrow. "Done and dusted. But seriously, Charles, how'd you figure out someone was lurking outside?" "Someone?" Noelle's head shot up, her eyes narrowed in confusion. "What are you guys whispering about?"

"It's nothing!" Charles said, smoothing Noelle's hair affectionately and giving her cheek a little nudge. "You must be tired. Head on up and get some rest. I've got to chat with Sean for a bit."

"Alrighty!" Noelle agreed with a nod and started up the stairs. "I'll leave you to it, then!"

Once Noelle was out of earshot, Charles turned back to Sean. "I took a wild guess."

got psychic powers or something? How do you just guess right

was actually someone there?" Charles motioned for Sean to take a

on him, don't you?" Sean could not help but smirk. "And you're right. I did see him. I noticed his car when I first went in, and it was still there when I came out. After your call, I doubled back, and you won't believe

in with a look of intrigue. "Charles, your mother-in-law is one of a kind, seriously. She's like a pro at flipping the script. Before I got there, she was giving Noelle the cold shoulder. But the moment I walked in, she was all sunshine and rainbows, trying to play Cupid with us. She kept gushing about how Noelle was head over heels for Bob, missing him like crazy, always singing his praises!" Sean chuckled,

said something to tick her off because she nearly slapped

news, a storm brewing in his

Noelle's no pushover. Even if I hadn't made it back in time, she

taken it lying down Still, it's weird, right? The way

his lip. "Go

Jones all gave Noelle the cold shoulder, except for Sebastian and Samuel. It was like she was an