The Cherished Wife

Chapter 51
Time froze, and Noelle’s heart raced out of control. She Instantly wished she could take back her words, wondering why she had
ever blurted them out.
Her cheeks warmed with a blush, and she could not bring herself to look at Charles, feeling totally mortified. Girls were not
supposed to ask guys questions like that, were they?
Charles watched her, a playful smile creeping into his eyes as he saw her squirm. His fingers drummed lightly on the table, each
tap echoing in Noelle’s chest
Noelle chewed on her lip, her embarrassment growing. She felt like she had lost all control of the conversation. “I mean... just
forget I asked, okay? Don’t take it seriously!” 1
“What if I do take it seriously?” Charles’s voice was cool but teasing.

Noelle was ready to just shrug off the whole awkward moment, but Charles’s response stopped her cold. She looked up at him,
her eyes wide with surprise. “What?”
She had figured Charles was just messing with her, especially after his earlier gesture, and she had nearly given up hope. “Can
you repeat that?”
“You heard it,” Charles said, his eyes twinkling. “I always keep my word, and I’m not one for jokes. I told you I’d give y
you time to think, and now that you’ve made your decision, there’s no turning back.”
He spoke with confidence, holding the reins of the conversation and, it seemed, her heart too.
Noelle could not shake the sudden chill of fear that creeped up her spine. It disappeared as quickly as it had come.
She tried to force a smile, tugging at the corners of her mouth. Sadly, it just would not come. “I... I was just thinking...”
“No need to explain, Ms. Shaw,” Charles had cut her off with a wave of his hand. “Whatever sparked this change of heart or sped
it up, it is not my concern. I’m only interested in the end result, and that’s all that matters.”
Was she really about to hand over her life story to someone else? Noelle’s heart was a tangled mess of

emotions.
“Do not worry, Ms. Shaw, Charles reassured her, rhythmically tapping the table with his fingers. “Marry me, and I’ll give you the
happiness you’re after. And if there’s anything you want, just name it.”
Noelle bit her lip, lost in thought for a moment. “Can I ask you a question?”
Charles raised an eyebrow, his tapping coming to a halt. He gestured with an open hand, inviting her question. Noelle’s voice
was hesitant. “It’s the same question as before. Why me?”
The silence stretched on, the air heavy between them.
Charles’s gaze was sharp, cold, scrutinizing Noelle as if trying to unravel a mystery, then he let it go and chuckled softly. “Are you
really hung up on getting an answer, Ms. Shaw?”
After a brief pause, Noelle nodded.
“Fair enough,” Charles said with a nod. “If we tie the knot, I’ll put my all into our marriage. I’m a simple guy.
I don’t do well with complications, and divorce has never crossed my mind
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Noelle knew that if she was seriously considering marrying Charles, she had to lay her cards on the table and talk to him about it.
Charles quirked an eyebrow. “Great minds think alike, huh? If you’re on board, I’m not the type to bail and suggest a divorce. But
if you ever want out, just say the word He grinned “Anything else on your mind, Ms. Shaw?”