The Cherished Wife (Noelle and Charles)

Nancy smiled and shook her head. "Charlie is like my own child. I know his thoughts well. Since you both went through the trouble of inviting me, there's no harm in meeting whoever it is." With that, Nancy took out her phone and called Henry. "Henry, I've been craving fruit cake. Could you get some for me?"

"Right now?" Henry furrowed his brows together. "Alright, I'll go in a bit."

After ending the call, Henry turned his gaze to Charles. "Since you've chosen to get married, live honestly and properly from now on. I think this girl is good-treat her well."

"I will," Charles replied with a smile. "I married her, so I'll take responsibility for her for life."

Henry chuckled. "You remind me of myself when I was young." Then he added, "But the girl's appearance..."

Charles frowned. "She is who she is, and she's not anyone else. Uncle Henry, I know perfectly well whom I love."

"That sets my mind at ease." Henry patted Charles on the shoulder. "You and Noelle take care of your Aunt Nancy. I'll go out and get her the fruit cake."

"Fruit cake? Aunt Nancy still likes that after all these years?" Charles teased, and Henry could only smile, his eyes filled with fondness. "Being able to love one thing consistently isn't a bad thing." After Henry left, Nancy looked seriously at Charles. "I know you're someone with a sense of propriety."

"Aunt Nancy, don't worry. It's not just

anyone-it's Steven. Do you remember him?" Charles brought

down a cashmere blanket and draped it over Nancy's knees, gently patting her shoulder in reassurance. "The adopted son of the Naylor family."

"Stevie?" Nancy paused, sinking into a long silence before she spoke again. "Didn't Stevie go abroad? Ever since I got married and moved to Brookville, I haven't seen much of him." Steven's image was faint in Nancy's mind, and hearing his name caught her off guard. "Stevie's in Brookville?"

"Yes, Aunt Nancy," Charles nodded. "Steven wanted to see you, so..."

"Then let's meet. I remember the

first timed saw Stevie—he was just a little boy, and now... He must be around your age, right?" Nancy chuckled. "It's been so long Khardly remember."

"He's three years older than me." Charles held Nancy's hand. "He'll be here soon. I wanted to keep this from Uncle Henry because, as you know, Uncle Henry and the Naylor family..."

"I understand." Nancy patted Charles's hand. "You're thoughtful as always. Let me meet Stevie first; we can tell your Uncle Henry later."

As Nancy spoke, the doorbell rang. Noelle smiled and stood up. "I'll get the door; it's probably Steven."

Noelle walked to the door and opened it, finding Steven standing there with a light brown coat draped over his arm.

Beside him stood a young woman. Though her baby face made her seem younger, her exact age was hard to discern. She stood close to Steven She was dressed in a pink dress, resembling a delicate doll.

The woman was Eloise.

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