The Cherished Wife

Upon hearing Charles' reassurance, Noelle finally let out a sigh of relief. "That's good. I thought..."

She smiled, then urged, "Go change your clothes. Aren't you worried about catching a cold?"

...

Meanwhile, Chloe had pressed the button to end the call, but her mind remained unsettled. The fact that Charles had already gotten married was hard for her to accept, especially since his wife was woman who looked exactly like Kelly.

This left Chloe in disbelief. She had always believed that Charles harbored no romantic feelings for Kelly-or perhaps he had, but it was in the past. Now, however, she was not so sure.

"What's going on?" Jordy asked, noticing the shocked expression on Chloe's face. "I just heard you mention something about Charlie being married, the Hoffmans, and Kelly. What's all this about?" Chloe rubbed her temples in frustration. "It's nothing!" Her mind was a mess.

had been a warning. His marriage was not something he had told her to get approval for; he was simply informing

the Hoffmans or the Bakers and be in opposition. For Chloe, none of those choices seemed easy.

New Year's was destined to be anything but peaceful. The lively atmosphere at the Hoffmans gradually faded into a bleak ending, something that had not happened in decades. Burdened with a heavy heart and full of worries, Chloe could not

...

residence, the quiet night was suddenly shattered by a piercing

to Janet's. The moment she heard the scream, she grabbed the bottle of pills from her drawer and rushed to Janet's

she called out

hair hanging loosely around her. She clutched a photograph in one hand and a fruit knife in the other,

breath, "You wretched woman, you wretched woman! Kelly

sounds coming from inside the room. She pounded on the door even harder. "Janet,

coat. Seeing Clarisse in such