The Cherished Wife

Chapter 58
Noelle’s hands relaxed, and she settled back into her seat. Her fidgety movements gave away her inner
turmoil.
Feeling anxious, her palms started to sweat. She gripped her hands tightly, then let go a little, “I... I’m. sorry. I’m just not ready
yet!”
Even though they were married, Charles was practically a stranger to her.
She knew he was the big boss of Collosus Group, one of the infamous Four Young Masters of Brookville, Mr. Hoffman, and that
he was not someone people in Brookville crossed lightly. However, that was the extent of her knowledge. She was clueless
about his likes, his family, or who he hung out with.
It was only now that Noelle was facing these facts, realizing she had been pretty bold to marry a guy she barely knew. Rubbing

her forehead to ease the headache, she gently tapped it and asked, “Mr. Hoffman, is it too late to back out of this marriage?”
Charles arched an eyebrow and turned to give Noelle a look.
In just a couple of minutes, he had seen every emotion play across Noelle’s face–twists of worry, flashes of irritation, and outright
panic. Not a single happy thought was in sight.
Did Noelle really think he was such a flake? They had barely said ‘I do,‘ and she was already having second thoughts?
Noelle looked at Charles, eyes brimming with hope. Charles, however, just quirked an eyebrow and smiled, looking like he did
not have a care in the world. The next thing he said totally burst Noelle’s bubble, though.
“In my world,” he said, “My women only get widowed, not divorced.”
Noelle’s heart had skipped a beat. She had just realized she might have been in way over her head. She gulped, trying to hold
back tears. “Mr. Hoffman, we just tied the knot, right? Maybe there’s still time to back out. I mean, no one even knows we’re
married yet, so everything could still be...”
“Ms. Shaw!” Charles’s fingers had danced lightly on the steering wheel, the picture of cool. He had not shown a hint of Noelle’s
chaos. “Like I said, in my world, it’s widowhood or nothing. And you want a divorce already?”

Charles let out a laugh, “You must have heard a thing or two about me, Ms. Shaw.”
Noelle forced a laugh, though her words were stuck in her throat.
Charles hit the button to unlock the car door and swiveled in his seat to give Noelle’s face an intrigued. once–over. The calmer
he appeared, the more Noelle squirmed with unease. She averted her gaze, trying to open the car door, but realized it was
locked. Panic rising, she blurted out, “Charles, you can’t just push people around!”
Charles’s brows knitted together in a frown, “Push people around?” He tasted the accusation, his intense eyes locking onto
Noelle’s with a predatory intensity. “Seems like Ms. Shaw’s memory is a bit hazy. Weren’t you the one who pleaded to marry
me?”
Feeling cornered, Noelle’s heart thudded. “But... I just...
As tears threatened to spill from Noelle’s eyes, Charles’s expression softened, and he let out a light laugh.
+15 BONUS
“Did I spook you, Ms. Shaw?” He continued, “I was only pulling your leg.”
Noelle was genuinely scared, her knees weakening as she slumped against the car door. She looked up at Charles, finding
herself at a loss for words.
Charles gently pushed a stray lock of Noelle’s hair behind her ear, making her shudder and look away. Then she heard the click
of a seatbelt being undone. She glanced up, startled, to find Charles’s face just inches from her own, so close that her heart
seemed to skip a beat.