The Cherished Wife

Sean could feel that Noelle was ice-cold. She seemed utterly hopeless and as lifeless as a doll. "Noelle?"

Her eyes were glazed over, her expression vacant. It was not until Sean gave her a gentle pinch that she snapped out of it, grabbing his hand desperately. "Sean, I need to see Charles. I have to!"

"But... we're at the Shaws' right now. Charles went back to the Hoffmans' today, and you know the Hoffmans. They have this rule about family dinners saying everyone's got to be there, so Charles is probably stuck!" Sean said, his voice full of sympathy as he looked at Noelle's troubled face. "Noelle, what's going on with you?"

"No way! I'm not accepting that! I have to see Charles, and if that means heading to the Hoffmans' place right now, then so be it!"

Noelle was like a broken record, clinging to that one demand like a lifeline. Her eyes were desperate. "I need to see Charles!"

see Charles," Sean relented, unable to say no to her determined face. He gently lifted her, whispering, "But first, we've got to swing by the Shaws' and give your grandpa a heads-up. We can't just leave without a word or

you are, Noelle! And Mr. Smith,

both Sean and Noelle as they looked

eyes, and even as she fought to keep her emotions in check, the cold truth washed

and Jade's real daughter. That was why they had always played favorites. She was not a real

felt an icy numbness spreading through her. She knew she could not

distress in Noelle's eyes and gave her a quick, covert pinch on the arm-a silent signal to snap out of it. Flashing a grin, he said, "Oh, look, it's Ms. Shaw and Mr. Harris. Noelle and I have something to do, so we've gotta run. Could you tell them we're sorry