The Cherished Wife (Noelle and Charles)

Charles, with the utmost composure, peeled the last shrimp and handed it to Noelle. "Here, have this."

Noelle popped the shrimp into her mouth under everyone's watchful eyes. She watched as Charles casually wiped his hands with a napkin, his calmness unshaken. "Alright, take him to Nippori first. I'll follow shortly."

"Right away, Mr. Hoffman!"

Once the manager had left, Sean inquired, "Your uncle?"

Milo was the only person who would go to such lengths to track Charles down here, and the manager had mentioned someone with the surname Baker.

Charles nodded, a glint of determination in his eyes. "I'll be right back." He stood up and looked at Noelle. "Make sure you eat plenty."

Noelle's lips twitched, convinced Charles had lost his mind today, but she managed a composed nod in front of everyone. "Sure." Charles affectionately ruffled Noelle's hair before he exited the private room.

Milo was led by the manager to a spot in Nippori and ended up waiting around ten minutes before Charles made his grand, late entrance.

The manager swung open the door to the VIP room and ushered Charles in with utmost respect. "Mr. Hoffman, right this way."

Charles nodded. "Coffee, please!"

"Right away, Mr. Hoffman!"

Charles strolled in with ease, catching Milo's annoyed eye. "Charles, you've gotten pretty good at playing the big shot, huh?"

It had been three days since

everything went down, and Milo had

not been able to see Janet or

Clarisse in the hospital. He had

come up against a brick wall witmet

the Hoffmans and could not track Charles down either. Meeting him would have been a real challenge if his people had not managed to tail Charles today.

Milo was, after all, Charles's elder, and he was not pleased with how Charles was treating him like a joke. "I might be charming, but I'm still your uncle!" Charles smiled, pulled out a chair, and sat across from Milo. "Uncle, don't get worked up. It's bad for your health!"

Charles spoke with a hint of frost in

his voice. He casually tossed his coat overthe chair's back, and just then, a server came in with a coffee set. "Mr. Hoffman, would you like us to prepare your coffee, or would you prefer to do it yourself?"

Charles gestured dismissively. "I've got it, thanks."

After the server left, Charles started messing with the coffee set. He was choosy, taking his time before finally raising his eyes to Milo. "Uncle, you're not back in Capiton

celebrating the holidays with hel.ne?

family, but here in Brookville instead. Did something urgent come up?"

Milo's irritation ballooned inside him, ready to burst. Charles had to be playing dumb. How could he not know why Milo was there?

Still, Charles remained composed, looking for all the world like he was clueless. Was Milo really about to be outplayed by someone younger for the first time?

The thought sent a shiver down Milo's spine. That was definitely not how he wanted things to go.

"I heard your mom got hurt a few days back, so I swung by to check on her, but she wasn't around. I thought she might be with you," Milo said.

"Oh?" Charles blinked, a beat of surprise. "My mom got hurt? What happened?"

Milo had not expected Charles to play along with the excuse he had made up on the fly. Was he pretending not to know?

"It sounds serious given that you've come all this way, but the Hoffmans haven't told me anything. You don't need to worry. It's probably something minor," Charles said smoothly. "You..."

"I know you and my mom are close, but coming all this way for a little injury might get people thinking that the Hoffmans are up to their old tricks again!"