The Cherished Wife



"Still be what?"

"I figured he'd be married with kids by now. H-he used to have someone, you know."noveldrama

"Used to?" Noelle was clearly puzzled. "You've got it all wrong. Peter's been waiting for you. He's been searching for you all these years. I don't know what went down between you two, but Peter would never have a crush on someone else!"

Noelle was convinced of what she had seen herself. Peter was obviously hung up on Tania, or he would not have waited all those years.

However, Tania seemed to dodge the topic, quickly steering the conversation elsewhere. "What about you and my brother? How'd you guys meet? And the Hoffmans... do they know about you?"

Noelle hesitated for a moment. "You know, meeting Charles was like something out of a cheesy drama. He's been amazing to me. We kept our marriage under wraps at first, but now the Hoffmans are in the loop. Though, I guess you get it-I'm not exactly on great terms with the Hoffman family!"

Tania burst into laughter. "It's no big deal. You married my brother, not his family. As long as he treats you right, that's all that matters. The Hoffmans aren't really our problem!"

Peter had come down from upstairs and lingered outside the kitchen, eavesdropping on Tania and Noelle's conversation. After a bit, he finally turned and strolled into the living room.

Sean was the first to show up that evening, heading straight over from the hospital after his shift, still in his scrubs. He walked into the living room and exclaimed, "Wow, what a delicious aroma, Noelle!"

Noelle stepped out of the kitchen and spotted Sean by himself. "Where's Peter?"

Right on cue, Peter swung the door open from the backyard. "Did someone call me?"

Noelle grinned. "I thought you'd taken off, Peter. Just wait a bit. We'll eat as soon as Charles gets here."

"Hey, what about me, Noelle? Isn't it a bit unfair to just say hi to Peter?" Sean chimed in with mock indignation.

Noelle flashed a mischievous smile.

"You? You'd show up whether I invited you or not. I don't even need to bother opening my mouth!" With that, she turned and headed back to the kitchen.

Sean quirked an eyebrow, took a quick peek at the kitchen, and then turned to Peter. "Where's Tania?"

"She's in the kitchen."

With a nod, Sean sidled up to Peter and gave him a playful nudge. "If you're not up for dealing with the whole Brandon situation, I've got your back, man!"

Peter's face hardened, and he shot Sean a sharp look. "I don't need help!"

"Are you sure? Don't you want to know if Brandon is actually your kid and whether Tania has tied the knot with someone else...?" Peter's response took Sean aback.

"I said I don't need help!" Peter cut him off, clearly annoyed. "You seem to have a lot of free time on your hands, huh?"

Sean shrugged. "I'm only offering

because you're my friend. You don't seriously think I enjoy meddling, do you?" However, deep down, Sean

knew that Brandon was a spitting t image of a young Peter. It might.

have been hard to tell at first, but after a few days together, it was clear as day to anyone with half a brain that Brandon and Peter shared a lot of the same traits. Plus, the kid was really taking a shine to Peter.

Sean was not really questioning whether Brandon was Peter's son He just wanted to ease his friend's mind. If Tania would not come clean, then a paternity test would surely force her hand.

Peter shot Sean a warning glance. "You'd better not go behind my back and get a paternity test done on Brandon without my say-so!"

Sean rolled his eyes, unable to hide his disappointment. "Well, that takes the fun out of it."