The Cherished Wife

Charles and Noelle spotted Gerald too, and the woman with him, her delicate arm linked with his, came over.

"Mr. Hoffman, got some free time to shop today?" Gerald asked, eyeing the ring on Noelle's finger before nodding knowingly. "Your wedding was so lowkey, Mr. Hoffman. You haven't even thrown a ceremony dinner yet! Did you just come to pick out this ring today?" Gerald's gaze lingered on the simple band on Noelle's finger. It was nothing flashy or expensive, just a plain ring. "Mr. Hoffman, surely you're not pinching pennies? Couldn't you have splurged a little for Mrs. Hoffman?" Gerald's eyes flicked meaningfully toward the sales associate they had encountered earlier.

The clerk's face went ghost-white in a flash, and the other clerks who had been sneakily watching started sneaking each other looks after Gerald dropped his bombshell.

They did not recognize Charles, but they could tell from how Gerald was practically bowing that Charles was a big deal.

Charles just arched an eyebrow and shot Gerald a look that could freeze lava, but Noelle jumped in before he could get a word out. "You know, I'm actually fond of this plain ring. Getting married is about me and Charles, not how pricey the bling is. It's the thought that counts, right?" Noelle held up the ring, shook her head, and said, "We've been hitched for ages, so it's no sweat to skip the ring. It's getting late, so I think we'll make our way home."

"Sounds good!" He glanced back at

set to jet, Noelle in tow, when Gerald's fiancée Aurora piped up, "Mr. Hoffman, hold up! I haven't even had a second

be quick on the uptake in their world. She had pieced together who Noelle was from

I'm Gerald's better

ahead and shook it though she was not exactly thrilled. "Hey,

each other is such a rare treat. Maybe we

Charles checked his watch and nodded at Gerald. "We'll

exactly thrilled, so he did not push it. "Just make sure we're on the guest list for your wedding to Mrs.

hand in his. Once they were gone,