The Sway and Slide of Love

Hendrix pulled Noelle closer to him. "Mrs. Swift, I think you might be losing your mind."

Hendrix remained expressionless, but the sharp, icy air radiating from him sent an involuntary shiver through everyone present.

Marshall also whispered to Marla, "Stop talking."

"Why should I stop? What, are you scared of him, too, now? Hendrix Freeman, others might fear you, but I don't! What else do I have to be afraid of when Seline is already in this state?"

Hendrix didn't even glance at her again. He just gave Marshall a cold look before pulling Noelle away.

Noelle's mind was completely blank. She didn't know what to do or say, only letting herself be dragged along by Hendrix like a puppet.

Then, she saw Rosie inside the room. There was a time when she had also watched her like this in a hospital room. It was right after Rosie had her surgery.noveldrama

Back then, seeing the numbers on the monitors had filled her with joy and hope for a new life. But now, all that echoed in Noelle's mind were the words Marla had just said.

She couldn't help but lower her head. Marla had been helped up by Marshall and was now leaning against him, trembling as she cried.

As a mother herself, Noelle understood her feelings all too well. So now, as she looked at Rosie's steady heartbeat, she felt no joy at all.

She lowered her eyes, her lashes trembling as she murmured, "Is Seline's condition really that bad? Was what Mrs. Swift said true? That Rosie was able to come out of her critical condition so quickly because of Seline?

"Yet when the disaster happened, I didn't even think about Seline. I only worried about Rosie. I even blamed Seline for bringing us here and for taking Rosie up the mountain. How could do that? How did I become this kind of person?"

Noelle kept talking, as if she were speaking to Hendrix, or perhaps just to herself.

But the next moment, Hendrix wrapped his arm around her shoulders.

"You didn't do anything wrong," he said. "Noelle, what happened was a natural disaster-something no one could have predicted. If anyone's to blame it's the ski resort. They didn't build proper shelters or warm everyone in time.

"You're a good mother. How could you have time to think about anything else when Rosie was in

danger and facing uncertainty? Set

you shouldn't blame yourself think this is your fault. And don't worry. Even if something really happens to Ms. Swift, I'll take responsibility for it."

As he finished speaking, Noelle slowly looked up at him.

At that moment, the red light across the room suddenly went out.

Noelle turned her head sharply. Then, she saw the doctor walking out. She saw Marla and Marshall stagger forward. She saw the doctor shake his head, say something to them, and then bow his head slightly.

Marla seemed frozen in place. Noelle could tell how stiff her back was, and then, she watched as Marla collapsed backward, fainting on the spot.

Then, she saw a nurse wheel out a bed, and under the sheet was a body.

Noelle's mind went blank, but a voice in her head told her clearly that the body belonged to Seline.