The Cherished Wife (Noelle and Charles)

Charles stood up with a hint of exasperation. "I'll let you off just this once!"

He then leaned down to pick Noelle up. Confused, Noelle asked, "Charlie, what are you doing?"

"You're injured. How are you supposed to drive? Sit in the passenger seat." Charles lifted Noelle into his arms. Knowing she had made a mistake, Noelle nodded rapidly like a pecking chick, letting Charles hold her close. There was a smile spreading across her face. Charles glanced down at her. "What are you smiling about?"

"Charlie, sometimes you're so naggy, even more than my grandfathers. You're like a little old man!"

"Really?" Charles narrowed his eyes, giving her a warning look.

Noelle immediately clung to his arm, trying to flatter him. "But you're my little old man!" She reached up to smooth the frown lines on his forehead. "Charlie, don't frown so much. It doesn't look good."

As she gently stroked his forehead, she continued like a concerned old lady, "If you get old, how will you keep up with me?"

"Noelle!" Charles gritted his teeth, almost loosening his grip. Noelle quickly tightened her hold around his neck. "Charlie, don't drop me!"

Charles was so exasperated by Noelle that he did not know what to say. After settling her into the passenger seat, he walked around to the driver's side and got in. "What do you want for dinner?" "Dinner? I want stew, can we do that?" Noelle thought for a moment. "Beef stew!"

"Okay, but we'll need to buy the ingredients." Charles started the car and glanced at her. "How did your first day go?"

"It was good!" Noelle reflected for a moment. "I feel like my mentor is really kind to me. Even though he's strict, I think a strict teacher produces good students!"

Charles frowned slightly, clearly displeased. "Don't mention other men in front of me, even if he is your mentor. Actually, don't call him your mentor at all!"

"Ha! Charlie, you're so cute!" Noelle could not help but laugh. "I don't think anybody else would act like you."

"I said no, so no!" Charles insisted.

"But you're the one who brought up the topic!" Noelle protested.

"Then change the subject!" Charles ordered. "Talk about something else."

"Alright." Noelle sighed, rubbing her forehead. She realized that Charles was being a bit difficult today,

almost like he was sulking. "Um net

you're in my car, so what about your car? How will you get to work tomorrow?"

Charles glanced at her again, full of exasperation. "I don't have just one car, and Ronald will take care of it."

"Okay!" Noelle nodded but then noticed something. "This isn't the way home."

"Who said we're going home?" Charles paused for a moment. One of his hands was resting on the steering wheel while the other gently tousled her messy hair. "Are you hungry?"

"Not really."

е

Not long after, Charles pulled the car over to the side of the road. Noelle, feeling a bit tired, rested her head on the seat. Her head nodded forward sleepily, and she almost fell over. en.swhovels.net

Luckily, Charles quickly reached out to steady her before her head could drop.

The sudden movement startled her awake, leaving her drowsiness mostly gone.

She blinked her eyes open, her face flushed when she saw Charles. "Oh, are we home?" she murmured. Then, she realized, "No, we're not going home. I fell asleep, didn't I?"

"Sit still and don't move. I'm just going to get a few things, okay?" Charles' voice was gentle. Hearing Noelle's sleepy, half-awake voice made his heart melt.

He gently adjusted her to a more comfortable position before letting go. "I'll be right back!"