The Cherished Wife

Mr. Hoffman?

Rowena felt confused. When she looked up, she saw a man in a light brown suit step in. He was tall, and his neat suit made him look very respectable. However, there was something chilly about him, especially his eyes.

When Rowena accidentally caught his icy stare, she felt a shiver run through her. She bit her lip and swallowed hard. "Um... you can't stay in this room, I..."

Rowena was frightened, but she thought of Noelle in the next room and knew she could not leave. She had to stay put.

"Rowena?" The man spoke up, his eyebrows coming together slightly and his voice carrying a note of certainty.

Rowena jumped, feeling even more nervous then. The man had a powerful aura, and he had so many men with him. However, after thinking it over, Rowena could not recall offending anyone. "Who are you?"

"Charles!" Charles introduced himself.

Rowena, who had been so flustered, suddenly brightened at the mention of Charles' name. She quickly responded, "That's right, I'm Rowena, Noelle's best friend. Mr. Hoffman, huh? Noelle's told me about you. You're her husband, haha!"Text content © NôvelDrama.Org.

Rowena bounced with excitement. "Mr. Hoffman, you're here at last! Noelle's in the next room. You wouldn't believe how awful the Shaws and Simon have been. They've actually..."

"I know." Charles gave the chatty woman a long look. If she were not such a good friend to Noelle, he would have been tempted to send her chattering self right out the door.

With a wave of his hand, Ronald ushered the other two out with a knowing nod. The room quieted down, leaving just Rowena and Charles. Rowena gulped. "Mr. Hoffman, did you come to rescue Noelle?"

Charles raised an eyebrow and motioned for Rowena to take a seat. She hesitated, her ears straining for any sound from next door, but everything had gone eerily silent. Rowena's nerves tightened.

"I can't just sit here. What if they're being mean to her again? I have to check!"

Charles' voice stopped her in her tracks. "Ms. Smith, she's going to be okay."

While Rowena was a bundle of nerves, Charles remained the picture of calm. "Please sit down."

Rowena still had some concerns. "But if those people bully her..."

"Do you think Noelle is the type to get pushed around?" Charles asked with a smirk.

Rowena paused, then shook her

head. "No way. Noelle might be

sweet, but she's too stubborn to let

anyone walk all over her. It's just that those bullies are from the Shaw family, so Noelle, well..."

"She's got to learn to stand on her own two feet, right?" Charles said, dialing Ronald's number. "Keepza close watch on what's happening there!"

"Got it!" Ronald was already near Noelle's private room. The two men from before were skilled operatives brought by Charles.

Ronald had actually rigged Noelle's room with surveillance gear before they arrived to keep tabs on every move inside.

The door swung open, and Lareal

stepped in. "Mr. Hoffman always et

ropes me into these kinds of jobs. I'm going to tell Mr. Lennon," Lareal grumbled.

Ronald just shrugged. "What can I say? You're the expert!"

"Hey..."

Ronald cut him off, waving his hand, "Shh! Mr. Hoffman's still on the line!"

Lareal fell silent.

Charles, overhearing Ronald and Lareal's chat, frowned slightly. "Focus on the job," he said. He then ended the call and turned to Rowena.