The Sway and Slide of Love

Chapter 150

Hendrix's voice remained cold, but his grip on Noelle's wrist tightened. His actions gave Noelle an unsettling feeling, as if one wrong answer from her was enough reason for him to crush her bones. "It's not that I don't want to see you," replied Noelle.

Hendrix didn't respond immediately. Instead, he lifted his gaze to meet hers.

"It's just... I don't see the need to." Noelle pressed her lips together. "We-"

"Why did you marry me in the first place?" interrupted Hendrix.

Noelle hadn't expected the question. The suddenness of it caused her expression to change, but she quickly regained her composure. "It was something our families decided."

"Was that really the only reason?"

"What other reason could there be?"

Hendrix fell silent, but his grip on her wrist loosened every so slightly.

Noelle initially thought the conversation had come to an end, but the next moment, Hendrix spoke again,

his voice calm but deliberate, "Noelle, based on your ability to sever ties with the Swanson family, you don't seem like someone who would let them control you.

"Because if that were truly the case, you would have married Liam months ago."

Hendrix's eyes locked onto Noelle's. The intensity of his gaze made Noelle's heart skip a beat, but she quickly looked away.

"I... I just didn't want to be controlled by them anymore."

"Is that so?"

"Why else could it be?"

"I thought it was because you liked me."

Hendrix's reply was like a punch to Noelle's chest, shocking her. An intense tremor and pain coursed through her, leaving her gasping for breath as her muscles tightened. When she finally lifted her eyes, she found herself staring directly into Hendrix's mocking gaze.

At that moment, Noelle felt like nothing more than a fool. I was as though she had been stripped bare and pushed onto a stage, hoping that no one would find out who she was if she just kept her hands over her face.

But in the end, her hands were ripped from her face, leaving her completely exposed under the harsh lights-and, in that moment, she became nothing more than a joke.

Noelle's hand tightened into a fist. After a long silence, she finally found her voice to ask Hendrix, "Why do you say that?"

"I was just making a guess. Sandra's words made me believe that you and Maxwell share a deep bond, but after tonight, it seems that's not quite the case.

"And it just so happened that someone reminded me today if you truly didn't want to marry me, you would have resisted it with everything you had. But you didn't. So, would it be so wrong to say that you were actually looking forward to it?"

Hendrix's voice grew increasingly certain as he spoke, and his expression seemed to carry a hint of smugness.

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Chapter 150

Noelle sat there, staring at him for a moment, before a soft laugh escaped her lips.

"So what? Do you find this theory of yours satisfying?"

Hendrix narrowed his eyes.

"Yes. I did like you once, but what about it?" Noelle took a deep breath before continuing, "When I married you, I was indeed looking forward to our life together.

"At that time, I truly believed that I was finally going to have a home-a home built with the person I cared about. But those dreams were shattered by you. Even though I once loved you, that all changed when-" "Aren't you curious why I suddenly brought all this up tonight?" Hendrix suddenly interrupted her, and with that, Noelle's emotions were cut off as well.