The Cherished Wife (Noelle and Charles) novel Chapter 652

"Silly girl," Charles said with a gentle tease, flicking Noelle's nose affectionately. "Look at me. I'm totally fine. There’s not a scratch on me."

He gently stroked her cheek, trying to ease her worries. "Don't worry. I knew I'd be okay. That's why I had to draw them away by myself."

"But…”

Noelle still felt uneasy. She still hated the thought of losing him. She would rather face any danger by his side, even if it meant their end could come at any moment. "I can't bear the thought of facing danger without you again."

Charles let out a heavy sigh and pulled Noelle into a tight hug. They flopped down onto the bed, gazing into each other's eyes. "I messed up this time. I promise I won't leave you behind again, okay?"

"Okay!" Noelle spun around and clung to Charles, pressing her face into the warmth of his chest.

With one arm wrapped around her, Charles used his other hand to gently soothe Noelle's back. "You got a bit scared today, huh?"

The memory of the blood-soaked scene flashed in Noelle's mind. She had not actually seen any blood, but the mere thought was enough to send shivers down her spine.

Feeling Noelle shudder, Charles gave her back a reassuring pat. "It's all good now. Mr. Fischer was just trying to save you. Those guys aren’t from around here. They snuck into the country, and nobody here has heard of them. They're actually on the most-wanted list for being top-notch assassins."

"Assassins?" Noelle seized on the word. "That's what Steven said when he came to my rescue. So, they're really assassins? But why are they after you? Or is it me they're after?"

Charles watched over Noelle with his deep, dark eyes. Once he was sure she was fast asleep, he carefully adjusted her position, tucked her in, and quietly left the room.

Downstairs, Steven, Peter, and Sean were waiting. They had been up all night discussing the killer's case. Charles descended in his rumpled clothes, prompting Peter to narrow his eyes in scrutiny while Steven remained silent. Sean, on the other hand, was visibly annoyed. "Really, Charles? We've been up all night worrying about you, and the moment you're back, you ditch us for your girl? Do you realize you left me to deal with the aftermath here?"

Charles shot Sean a look and took a seat. Eloise emerged from the kitchen with a cup of coffee in hand. "Steven."

Steven gave a nod of acknowledgment. "It's late. You should get some rest."

"But..." Eloise hesitated, about to say more, but one sharp look from Steven made her switch to just nodding."Okay, I'll head up to my room. It's right next to Noelle's," she said, shooting a quick glance at Charles.