The Cherished Wife



"Excellent!"

Charles's lips quirked up in a sly grin. "I'll have someone take you home!"

"No need. I'll head back myself!"

"Sure. I'll take my leave, then!"

Charles had what he wanted, so there was no point in sticking around with Milo any longer.

He returned to the private room, where everyone was finishing their meal. They caught sight of Charles, looking all bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, and figured the negotiation must have been a breeze.

Charles slid into the seat next to Noelle and glanced around. "Why's everyone staring?"

Noelle flashed a smile and dished up some more food for Charles. "Everything went okay?"novelbin

He nodded. "Yep!"

"Dig in. You barely touched your food earlier." She looked at the table. "Should we get more? We're running low on food."

Noelle was about to flag down the waiter, but Charles waved her off. "No need. There's plenty here, and I'm not that hungry!" He gave Noelle's shoulder a reassuring pat. "Are you full?"

"Yep!"

Charles looked away and, taking Noelle's cue, started to eat. His phone buzzed shortly after. It was Ronald. "Mr. Hoffman, Milo lingered at your private room's door for a bit before he took off."

Charles's eyes narrowed slightly. "Yeah? Got it."

"What's our next move, Mr. Hoffman?"

"Let's lay low for now. Tomorrow, find Milo and bring him to J," Charles instructed, subtly lifting his hand to tell Noelle to stop piling food on his plate. "But first, increase J's meds before you let Milo see her."

swne

The room fell silent. Everyone stared at Charles, shocked by his harsh tactics.

Steven and Peter kept their cool, but Sean looked visibly upset-though it was not out of pity for J. "Charles, are you out of your mind? Do you really think attacking her will end well? And in my hospital of all places!"

S

A sly smile played across Charles's eyes, sharp as a blade. "Milo needs to learn his lesson, or he'll never fall in line!" He knew his uncle Milo all too well.

Milo might have agreed to take J away, but with his track record, he would surely try something like that again.

As long as J was Milo's ace in the hole, he wouldn't relinquish his advantage. However, if that ace were to crumble, Milo might just back off for a while.

Charles wanted to avoid a direct

clash with the Bakers if he could.

After all, even a family fallen from

grace, like the Bakers of Capito

was not easy to take down. They were a dynasty that had stood for a hundred years.

Sean shrugged, a mix of frustration and awe in his gesture. "You've got to be kidding me. How can you plan so far ahead and think of everything?"

Charles, overhearing, gave a slight frown. "I don't do things that don't pay off."

Ronald, who had been quietly listening, said, "Well, Mr. Hoffman, I'll head out then. The person looking after J says she's been babbling about leaving and keeps mentioning a child!"

"A child?" Charles's eyes narrowed.

"Yes!"

Charles looked at Sean, who felt a shiver run down his spine. "What are you staring at me for?"

"Since when do the ramblings of a madwoman make any sense?" Charles's fingers, long and well-defined, tapped rhythmically against his knee. Sean was taken aback by Charles's remark, and even Noelle, who was standing nearby, sensed the deeper meaning in his words. "Charles, you..."