The Sway and Slide of Love

Noelle couldn't help but frown.

But before she could say anything, Hendrix suddenly asked, "Why didn't you come?"

"What?"

"I'm asking why you didn't come to the hospital. Was it because you were too busy getting married?"

As Hendrix spoke, he took a step closer to her. His intense gaze felt as if he were trying to pull something out of Noelle.

Noelle froze for a moment but quickly replied, "I never said I would definitely go." "You said you'd take care of me."

"I didn't say that. That was your own assumption," Noelle quickly retorted. Then, she looked up at him. "Besides, I'm pretty sure you have plenty of people taking care of you."

"What do you mean?"

"You've definitely had a lot of women before, right?" Noelle forced a smile. "I don't know why you're staying here, but I'm not like those women. So, if you're just looking for some fun, don't waste your time on me."

Noelle's voice was laced with sarcasm. But her eyes were slightly red, and her throat moved as if she was trying hard to swallow back the lump forming there.

Hendrix stared at her for a moment, then suddenly laughed. Until now, he had assumed Noelle was just throwing a tantrum. Although he didn't know what had upset her, he figured a little coaxing would do the trick.

But when he overheard her conversation with Irene earlier, he became consumed with anger. It wasn't until he heard Noelle's words that he realized-so it was his expertise that day that had made her overthink things.

She was telling him not to waste his time on her, yet her hands remained at her sides. She didn't push him away in the slightest. Instead, her eyes only grew redder.

Hendrix gazed at her for a while before asking, "Are you jealous?"

"No!" Noelle denied it without hesitation. She quickly glanced at him, then looked away again. "What's our relationship? Why would I need to be jealous?"

"What's our relationship?" Hendrix echoed. "What do you think our relationship is?"

"We don't have a relationship."

"Why are you playing dumb?"

Hendrix asked, displeasure written all over his face. He grabbed her hand. "We've already kissed, yet you're saying we don't have a relationship?"

His words stunned Noelle.

Then, she clenched her teeth tighter. "I said, I'm not—"

"There's no one else," Hendrix cut her off. "From beginning to end, there's only been you."

His teasing smile was replaced by a steady, serious gaze. The intensity and sincerity in his eyes seemed to both reveal his past and offer her a solemn promise-there had been no one else before, and there would be no one else after. noveldrama

"No, that's impossible." Noelle, however, wasn't swayed. She quickly came to her senses and said, "You clearly said that day—"

"You must have felt it yourself, right? You're not Nelly," Hendrix interrupted her again. "Everything I told you that day was true. You're my wife. The reason I'm here and the reason I stayed is all because of you.

"Your name isn't Nelly Wallace. It's Noelle Swanson, and I'm Hendrix Freeman.

We have a daughter together. You named her Rosie. Can you remember any of this?"