The Cherished Wife

Charles's comment about finishing the meal had a hidden layer of meaning. No sooner had Noelle stepped outside with the basket than the doorbell rang, catching her off-guard. "Weird. Who would come by this late?" she wondered. The list of people who knew where she lived was not long: Charles, Ronald, the Shaw family, and Xavier. However, it did not make sense for any of them to drop by at this hour.

Curious, Noelle set the basket down and peered through the peephole. The figure outside made her do a double-take before she swung the door open. There stood Sean, looking sharp in a casual-chic way, glasses perched on his nose, a fruit basket in hand, and leaning casually against the doorframe. His smile was disarmingly sweet. "Hey, Noelle, it's been a while!"

Sean caught Noelle's eye and waved. She could not help but grimace before masking it with a polite, if not entirely genuine, smile. Swinging the door open, she greeted him. "It's been ages, Mr. Smith!"

After letting Sean in, Noelle glanced around for a pair of slippers before deciding against it. "Don't worry about the shoes. Come on in!"

Sean stepped inside with a grin, setting the fruit basket on the coffee table. "Nice. It's been half a year, and this place has such a different vibe now!"

sheep's clothing. Especially today, with Sean in just a white shirt and a blazer and no coat in sight. Looking at him, Noelle shivered and quickly handed him a warm cup of cocoa.

the place, muttering, "That Charles has some nerve. He's the one who told me to come up, and... Oh, there you are,

caught sight of Charles in the kitchen, knife in hand. "Hey, Charles." He

Charles with a mischievous grin. "Never saw it coming, he said, clicking his tongue always pegged you as

the chef's knife. It sent a shiver down Sean's spine. "Easy, I'm just messing

the garbage bin, sorting through veggies. He sauntered over, towering over

Grunt work?