The Cherished Wife

When Charles returned, he had already tamped down the anger and frustration he carried from earlier, but Noelle could still sense the lingering heaviness in his demeanor. She was chatting with Nancy, sharing amusing stories and anecdotes from her school days about friends she had known.

Nancy seemed to grow even fonder of Noelle with every conversation and asked more about her life. She clearly appreciated Noelle's personality.

Noticing Charles quietly entering the room, Nancy smiled. "You're back already?"

Noelle looked up, her eyes curving into crescents with a bright smile. "Charlie, you're home?"

"Yeah," Charles answered. At the sight of Noelle's cheerful expression, the weight on his shoulders seemed to lift entirely. The harshness he carried melted away.

He returned her smile. "What were you two talking about? You seem to be having a good time."

"We were talking about you!" Noelle grinned, standing to take his coat and fetch him a pair of slippers. "Did everything get sorted out?"

Noelle's hair. "What were

Aunt Nancy didn't say a single bad word about you. She was just singing your

shoulder. "Have you figured out what we're having for

I have!" Noelle said proudly, tugging Charles toward the couch. "Come sit

I was just waiting for you to

here with Aunt Nancy for a bit. I'll go put your things away and get started on dinner," she

her scamper up the stairs. As her footsteps faded, his smile dimmed, and he turned

he?" Nancy asked

a slight nod. "Of

slowly.

Charles had not explained in detail, Nancy could already

life. His strictness extended not only to Mateo and Henry but to