Noelle tried calling Hendrix, but he seemed to be on the phone with someone else. Feeling helpless, she called

Dan.

"Mr. Freeman is still in a meeting, but I think he might be too busy to see you today. What about..." Dan sounded like he was stuck in between, but Noelle immediately knew what he meant.

Of course, Hendrix wasn't too busy to see her.

Noelle remembered that he was busy some time ago. However, no matter how busy he was, he would still find time to see her. Sometimes, when he went on business trips, he would even come to her even if he landed in the middle of the time. Now, he didn't even want to answer any of her calls.

Many thoughts crossed Noelle's mind, but she did not ask a question and just said, "Alright. Got it." With that said, she turned around and left..

When the taxi asked her where to, she said, "Percy Gardens"

It had been a long time since she last came here. When Hendrix criticized her place back then, he would ask her to come live with him here, but Noelle never agreed to that.

When she arrived, she didn't go in. She just stood at the door and sent Hendrix a text, saying, "I am waiting for you at Percy Gardens. Let's meet."

After sending the text, she sat on the bench beside her.

It was a cold day in Coppersville. The window by the corridor remained open, letting the biting cold wind stream in continuously.

Noelle sat still, her gaze fixed intently on the elevator across from her. Hendrix hadn't replied to her messages, but a part of her held onto a belief that he would come.

Yet, as time ticked by, that certainty started to fade bit by bi

She rubbed her hands together vigorously, trying to create some semblance of warmth for herself, but it was futile

-utterly futile.

Glancing at the time again, Noelle realized I was already nearing midnight. She stared at the time on her phone, silently setting a limit for herself.

Five more minutes. If Hendrix still didn't show up in those live minutes, she would leave.

The clock kept ticking.

Just as the countdown to midnight reached its final minute the elevator doors slid open.

Noelle's head shot up immediately. Her hands, feet, and cheeks were already numb from the cold, nearly frozen stiff, but when she saw him, a faint smile tugged at her lips

The smile, however, was fragile-so fleeting that it disappeared almost as soon as it appeared.

Hendrix stood there, staring at her for a long moment. Then, without a word, he walked past her and

opened the door. Inside, the room was filled with comforting warmth.

Noelle didn't dare to walk in. She stood at the door for a while before going in.

Hendrix tossed his coat by the side and walked to the cellar to get a bottle of wine. He didn't say a word in the

entire process.

Noelle just stared at his back for a while before asking, "How's your mom?"

Her words fell, and Hendrix's grip on the wine glass tightened slightly. Then, he replied, "She's out of danger, but she still hasn't woken up."

"That day..."

"Noelle."noveldrama

Just as she mustered the courage to say something, Hendrix interrupted her. That word felt like a thousand-pound weight, making it hard for Noelle to breathe.

She didn't rush to respond. Instead, she just looked at him.

"Leave." Hendrix placed the wine glass on the table, speaking calmly, "From now on, there's no need for us to meet again."