The Cherished Wife

Wife 57

Noelle watched her phone disappear into Charles’s hand, let out a little sigh without even realizing it, then caught his teasing look. “Having second thoughts?”

Noelle bit her lip, her face a shade paler than usual. Charles’s words had thrown her for a loop. Deep down, she knew the truth, though. Ever since Xavier’s betrayal with Winter, her heart had checked out. “No way!”

“Is that so?” Charles let out a skeptical chuckle, clearly not buying it.

Noelle caught the disbelief in Charles’s eyes and sighed inwardly. What was she expecting? Charles was a tough nut to crack, and their relationship had taken a turn into uncharted territory. “Believe it or not, Xavier and I are done,” she declared, pausing for emphasis. Since she was his wife now, she would not step out of line. “You have my word.”

Charles quirked an eyebrow, his eyes revealing a flicker of surprise before he gave a half–smile. “Good to hear. Let’s get you home.”

“Okay.”

Noelle knew better than to argue. Charles was set in his ways, and she could not change his mind.

He had been to her place before, so the drive was quick and familiar. Just as Noelle reached for the door handle, Charles’s voice stopped her. She turned to face him, her hand still on the handle. “What’s up?”

Charles squinted slightly, the weight of his words hanging in the air. “I know this all happened fast, but we are married now. You understand that, right?”

Noelle’s frown deepened, a silent acknowledgment, as she met his gaze.

“Do you understand it?” Charles pressed, his brow furrowed with concern.

Although Charles was always the one pulling the strings, with Noelle, he handled things with kid gloves. Noelle bit her lip and gave a small nod. “I need a little time.”

She understood that they were hitched; however, it had barely been a day since they had said ‘I do,” and she had rushed into this life–changing decision. The thought, left her head spinning. Still, she was at married woman now, and life was definitely different.

With a forced smile, Noelle said, “You know, you don’t have to remind me. I’m your wife now, and I’ll stick to our… you know, the promises we made to each other.”

“Noelle!” Charles cut her off, his deep eyes glinting with mischief. “Relax, I’m just chatting with you. I’m

not some monster out to get you!”

Although Noelle’s smile wobbled as she thought, “You’re way more terrifying than any monster.” She kept that to herself and managed a weak, “Sure.”

“Head on up. You must have been beat from last night. Just take it easy today, and don’t go catching a cold,” Charles said, his gaze making Noelle’s cheeks heat up.

Nothing had even happened between them last night, but Charles’s words were loaded with innuendo that could send anyone’s mind racing–not that Noelle was the type to let her thoughts wander.

Her face flushed, and her grip on the doorknob tightened. “You…”

“I’ll give you three days. I’ll come for you then,” Charles declared.

“Huh?” Noelle’s eyes widened in surprise. “Three days for what?”

Charles chuckled, “You don’t seriously think we’re going to live in separate houses after we tie the knot, right?” He put so much spin on the words ‘live In separate houses‘ that Noelle felt a shiver run through her. © 2024 Nôv/el/Dram/a.Org.

Embarrassment creeped onto her face, a clear sign she had not even thought about the whole ‘married and living together thing.