The Cherished Wife

Tania slipped back into Phoenix Tree Residence way past midnight. The car's rumble barely had time to die down before Charles was on his feet. He squinted through the darkness and saw Noelle out like a light. Moving like a shadow, he made sure she was snug under the covers before he tiptoed out of the room.

"Charles? You're still up?"

Tania could not hide her shock at finding Charles awake. He just nodded, giving her a once-over. "I figured you wouldn't make it back tonight." He frowned a little, seeing the weariness etched on her face. "What's up?"

Tania gave a weary shake of her head. "Nothing, really. It's late, and you should get some sleep too."

Once Tania vanished into her room, Charles lingered at her door, eyes narrowed in thought, before he finally retreated to his own space.

The bombshell about Trevon actually being Jack only hit Charles the next day. Tania, up with the dawn, found him waiting outside her door. "Charles?"

Charles confirmed with a nod. "Peter told me about Trevon and

all night, haunted by the revelation. Her mind raced back to long-forgotten moments and to the tangled web she had woven with Peter and then with

love with Trevon, but she could not deny how good he had been to her. She could admit that she married Trevon out of desperation-she was pregnant with Peter's baby, and Peter was out of the picture. She could not stand the thought of her kid growing up

care of her, her son, and even her adoptive dad, Tania felt like he was a hero

her to do anything she did not want to.

Tania's mood and looked at her

"I'm okay, Charles!"

"Heading to the

a check-up. We can't put off Mom's treatment any longer. So, I've got to swing by the hospital. Would you

Noelle!" Charles gave