The Cherished Wife

"I'll head downstairs to rest now," said Eloise.

"Okay." Steven did not even bother to look up. Only after Eloise left did he slide his hands into his pockets, his dark eyes shining brightly in the night.

He stood by the window, gazing out at the desolate view with his brows slightly furrowed. It had been so many years since he last returned, and it seemed that much had changed, including the people.

After drinking too much alcohol that evening, Charles, though appearing to behave himself, ended up being quite a challenge for Noelle.

Both of them disliked having outsiders in their homes, so even after getting married, they maintained their habit of not having any household staff around.

Noelle usually did not mind, but tonight, taking care of a drunk Charles by herself was proving exhausting.

Charles out of his clothes, but then came the

finally breathed a sigh of relief. Fortunately, Charles was calm when drunk. He did not get loud or

a hazy sleep in the middle of the night. She was not sure how long she had slept when she began to feel warm, noticing something on

fluttering open to find Charles propped up on one hand, leaning over her. His lips roamed freely across her face, and his expression showed

side of the bed, lifting his head to look at her. "You're

post-drinking voice carried a low, husky tone, like the rich warmth of aged wine. Still groggy, Noelle stared at Charles's face hovering so close to hers, her mind taking

opened her eyes wide, quickly pushing him away. "Stop it! I'm too

immediately wanting to mess around now that he

do my thing." Charles, who was fully alert, was

he had seen her nightgown bunched up from sleep. It revealed her smooth, pale thighs, and the sight of her slender,

be a gentleman, and with his wife lying before him, he could not