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!"

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

And Mr. Smith, you're

voice cut through the air, surprising both Sean and Noelle as they looked up

and even as she fought to keep her emotions in check, the

That was why they had always played favorites. She was not a real

her. She knew she could

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