The Cherished Wife

Wife 20

got it

Noelle managed to get rid of Larisse and rubbed her temples, feeling a headache coming on. She had been putting on a brave face all week, but seeing Xavi and Joseph in the meeting room today hit her hard.

Joseph had shared a meal with her in secret just a year ago, hinting that he hoped she would end up marrying Xavier. Noelle could never have guessed that things would spiral into the mess they were in now.

“Ms. Shaw, Mr. Harris would like to see you,” Joseph’s secretary said through the phone, catching Noelle off guard. She quickly recovered. “Sure, I’ll head over now.”

After tidying up her papers, Noelle made her way to the president’s office.

She rapped lightly on the door and heard Joseph’s voice from inside. “Come in.” Pushing the door open, Noelle found Joseph lounging on the couch, flipping through a financial magazine. He looked up and gestured for her to come closer. “Ah, Noelle, you’ve arrived!”

“Mr. Harris!” Noelle’s tone was polite but distant, a clear sign she was not about to forget what had transpired. “What did you need?”

Joseph let out a soft laugh and shook his head. I was just thinking that it’s been a while since we caught up. You’ve just returned. How is the job treating you?”

“It’s going alright.” Noelle managed a tight–lipped smile. “I’m a bit out of practice, but I’m holding up. No need for concern, Mr. Harris.”

She kept the formality with ‘Mr. Harris, putting up a wall between them.

Joseph’s eyes narrowed slightly, a flicker of sharpness passing through them before he smiled warmly. “Good to hear. I actually wanted to discuss something about you and Xavier. As you know, Xavier and your sister Winter, well…”

“Mr. Harris, we’re at the office, and it’s work hours, Noelle cut off Joseph mid–sentence, her face tensing up as she spoke. “Besides, Xavier and I aren’t a thing anymore.”

A knowing glint passed through Joseph’s eyes for a second when he heard Noelle, then he squinted and cracked a smile. “Right. Noelle, you’re one sharp kid!”

Noelle’s words had put Joseph’s mind at ease.

Truth be told, he had always liked the idea of Noelle as his future daughter–in–law. She was smart, had a mind of her own, and could be a real asset to Xavier in the business world. However, she had made the mistake of falling out of favor with the Shaw family, which only complicated things…

Joseph’s face went back to business as he gave Noelle a once–over. Sure, she was impressive, but there were bigger fish to fry. After all, Winter was the Shaw family’s golden

girl. If Xavier ended up marrying her, the Shaw fortune was practically in the Harris family’s pocket, right?

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Relying on the Hoffman family’s influence was all well and good, but not the same as owning it outright. Joseph was not about to spend his life depending on someone else’s charity. That was

why he had turned his attention to the Shaws. They might not be as high up the social ladder as the Hoffmans, but they were still a catch.

“So, Noelle, doesn’t this mean you should swing by the Shaws‘ place? I’ve heard you haven’t been back since you returned. They’re still your family, right? Even if you’ve moved out, you’ve got to catch up with them sometime, don’t you think?”

Noelle caught on to Joseph’s game in a heartbeat. All her years in Frotconn had at least taught her to be alert like that. She let out a silent, mocking laugh. Winter was the golden child of the Shaw family, and to top it off, the year Winter turned eighteen, Julian had handed over a sweet fifteen percent of the company shares as a coming–of–age present. Noelle, on the other hand, did not even get a crumb of the company or the smallest gig there. 1

After Noelle graduated, Jade had insisted she find her own job, dressing it up as a lesson in standing on her own two feet and toughening up. Everything Noelle had paled in comparison to Winter’s, and at times, she seriously questioned whether she was even a Shaw.

“Mr. Harris, your advice is spot on. I do have to head back, but Granddad said I should hold off for now.”

D