The Cherished Wife

The mention of the annual Collosus event made everyone put their poker faces on each of them had caught wind of a different tale. However, Noelle was in a league of her own. She had been right there in the thick of it, so she knew what really went down. Winter's

composure wobbled, but she clung to her emotions, her lips quivering in a picture of distress.

Noelle was no stranger to Winter's damsel routine. In fact, she had seen it enough to write the playbook. Once upon a time, she might have fallen for it, but those days were long gone. She was immune now.

"The way you and Mr. Hoffman were chatting up a storm that day made you guys look like best friends."

"Enough!" Emilia cut Noelle off mid-sentence. No woman could stand by while her daughter-in-law made a fool out of her son. Emilia was already stewing over the whole mess, but she had hoped to smooth things over with Winter today and remind Winter of her place. Winter needed to understand that she had to act appropriately as a married woman.

man linked to those scandalous rumors about Winter, owned Saint Di's boutique made Emilia's skin crawl. "We'll

her wallet hard. Besides, as the face of Saint Di, it would look terrible if she did not wear the brand. If Charles got wind of her shopping at a rival store, it would not just be the end of her endorsement deal-her movie and

the mood to think things through. All she could

"Let's go!"

big deal for their image. If you balon us to shop somewhere else, you could ruin her deal. Royal Star Entertainment and Saint Di are both under the Collosus Group umbrella. Actually, this whole mall is under

words. She felt like

skin her alive. "Noelle, how dare you talk to Mom