The Cherished Wife (Noelle and Charles)

Noelle had waited in the living room for a good half-hour, but Sir Hoffman was nowhere to be seen. She frowned slightly, curious about what he was really up to.

Upstairs, Maxwell was glued to the surveillance screens, not missing a beat of Noelle's actions since she had walked in.

What he had not anticipated was Noelle's ability to stay so calm. Time ticked by, and she barely moved an inch, only having asked for water at the start. She had not shown the slightest hint of impatience so far. Beside Maxwell stood James, the seasoned steward of the Hoffman family. He had caught Noelle's act too, and it left him a bit taken aback by the girl's knack.

Maxwell's brow was creased with thought. "What's your take on her?"

He was clearly asking James, who looked surprised. He took a moment before replying, "Sir Hoffman, I'm just a steward. I'm not the best at sizing up people!" Maxwell let out a dismissive grunt. "We can't keep this woman around!"

"Why not?"

"She's got an even cooler head than Janet and Kelly."

"Isn't that a good thing? Mr. Charles could really use someone with her level of calm by his side!" James was confused. Maxwell shot him a sidelong glance. "Oh? You think she's that impressive?"

"I wouldn't presume!" James was, after all, just the help. His opinions hardly carried weight.

Maxwell's attention drifted back to Noelle.

Honestly, Noelle did have a certain appeal, and her performance at Colossus Group had been nothing short of impressive. However, he was dead set against that marriage. The more composed she was, the more she seemed a fit for Charles, and the more she had to go.

In the Hoffman household, one powerhouse was plenty, and what Charles was looking for was a lady with the pedigree of Janet and Kelly, but without their backbone. It was clear Noelle was not the type to be tamed. Plus, he was not exactly fond of her family's standing. "Come on. Let's go down and see her."

"Right away!"

James quickly stepped up to help Maxwell make his way downstairs.

Noelle had been patiently waiting, curious about what the illustrious Sir Hoffman's offspring was up to. He had her come all that way and then kept her waiting. She could not get a read on him, so she decided to stay composed.

It took a while, but eventually, Maxwell appeared, leaning on James for support.

Noelle got to her feet. "Grandpa!"

"Hmph, I'm not so sure you should call me 'Grandpa', Ms. Shaw!" Maxwell was not on board.

Noelle's smile did not waver as she gently said, "Calling you 'Grandpa' is just good manners. You're around the same age as my granddad and my mom's dad, so it seems fitting. But of course, it's up to you to decide if you want to accept it."

With that smooth move, Noelle defused the awkwardness Maxwell had thrown her way.

Still smiling, Noelle watched Maxwell approach and asked with a hint of amusement, "So, Grandpa, what's the reason for this summons?"

Maxwell's brow furrowed. He was irked by Noelle's unflappable nature, but then he figured, what was the point of an old man like him getting worked up over a young lady? "Ms. Shaw, do you have any other family members?"

Noelle's eyebrow quirked up ever so

slightly. Was Sir Hoffman finally showing signs of impatience? His question made it clear he had done his homework on her family history, probably all the way back to her distant ancestors.

With a smile, Noelle replied, "My parents are still with us, as are both my grandfathers, and I have an older sister!"