The Cherished Wife

"You... You got Charles to come?"

Noelle's eyebrow arched higher. "Why so shocked? You should've known he'd show up if you summoned me here." She let out a derisive snort. "Although, right about now, Charles is probably..."

She was mid-sentence when the door flew open with a bang. There stood a man with his hands clasped casually behind his back and a grin that seemed too innocent to be true. He winked at Noelle. "Hey there, Noelle." Noelle could not help but return the smile. "Mr. Smith!"

Sean propped himself against the now ajar door, his eyes quickly scanning the room before landing on the door he had just booted in. "Sir Hoffman, you wouldn't mind getting a new door courtesy of me, will you?" "Sean!" Maxwell glared at him, utterly shocked to see him. "What are you doing here?"

"Just hanging out. Charles got held up, so he sent me to keep an eye on Noelle. He mentioned some shady characters have been lurking around and trying to snatch her up. Isn't that right?"

times have you dashed over to save the day now?" She laughed lightly. "But you might be here for nothing this time. Charles's granddad wouldn't hurt a fly, much less kidnap me. Right, Grandpa?" Maxwell, gripping his cane, let out a

Noelle challenged with a playful lift of her eyebrow. "Are you really

match. Just name

mid-sentence. "So, Sir Hoffman, can you

million dollars. Do you really think you're worth that much?" Maxwell's

brushed off his intimidation. "Looks like you're not willing to pay. Or maybe you don't think Charles is

giving you a dime!" He was determined to show Charles that Noelle was only

think I'm after

dollars. If you can't afford