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?"

ruffling Noelle's hair. "What were you saying about

think? Aunt Nancy didn't say a single bad word about you. She was just singing your praises about how wonderful you are. Honestly, it made me jealous," Noelle teased

her on the shoulder. "Have

have!" Noelle said proudly, tugging Charles toward the couch. "Come sit down. You must

was just waiting for you to get home so I

doing? Behave yourself! Stay here with Aunt Nancy for a bit. I'll go put your things away and

her scamper up the stairs. As her footsteps faded, his smile dimmed, and he turned his gaze toward Nancy. "Aunt

he?" Nancy

a slight nod. "Of course, nothing escapes your

head slowly. "So, what's your

detail, Nancy could already predict Maxwell's reaction.

His strictness extended not only to Mateo