Hendrix reached out and gripped Noelle's chin. In a deep voice laced with a clear trace of anger, he asked, "You've fallen for Dylan, haven't you?"

Noelle didn't answer, but she pressed her lips tighter and tighter. Her eyes still brimmed with tears, but the moisture only made them shine more brightly, more vividly.

In their reflection, Hendrix could see himself clearly, and he could also see the unmistakable hatred within them.

She hated him.

Hendrix knew that, of course. From the moment he decided to take this path, he had already anticipated how she would react.

But so what? Was he supposed to stand by and watch as they became nothing more than strangers who had nothing to do with each other?

If that were the case, Hendrix would rather she hated him.

He could live with that outcome-it wasn't something he couldn't accept. But the one thing he absolutely couldn't tolerate was her heart belonging to someone else.

She could hate him because of the incident with Elm Group, because of who he was, or even because of Craig. But it could never, ever be because of Dylan.

Yet, as he watched her tears fall, a cold numbness began to creep through his hands and feet.

The question burst out of him before he could stop it, but he regretted it as soon as the words left his mouth.

Not giving Noelle a chance to respond, he quickly added, "It's not possible, right? Of course not. You and him it's just a contractual relationship. How could you possibly"

"Why couldn't I have fallen for him?"

Before Hendrix could finish, Noelle cut him off sharply.

Her words hit Hendrix like a stone, lodging themselves in his throat and silencing him instantly. He immediately clenched his hands, but after just a few seconds, he let go.

Then, forcing a stiff smile, he said, "You're lying to me, Noelle. Didn't you hear what I just said? He has been helping-"

"No matter how he is in front of others, at least he's genuinely good to me," Noelle interrupted him. "He's kind, considerate, cares about how I feel, and is there for me when I need him. Isn't it natural for me to fall for someone like that? Am I supposed to like someone like you, a lun-

Before she could finish, her words were abruptly cut off.

Hendrix lowered his head and kissed her on the lips, his tongue invading with a brutal intensity, as if determined to steal every breath from her.

Noelle felt a sharp sting on her lips and tongue, and even the oxygen in her chest seemed to be crushed away. Her face flushed a deep red as she pressed her hands against Hendrix's chest in an attempt to push him away..

But Hendrix quickly grabbed her wrist, pinning her hands in place.

Noelle tried to pull back, but she forgot they were on the couch. Her retreat caused her to fall backward. Yet, the pain she expected never came.

When she opened her eyes, she saw Hendrix's hand beneath the back of her head, shielding her. Behind it was the sharp edge of the glass coffee table.

Noell wasn't hurt, but the combined weight of their bodies pressed heavily against the coffee table,

causing the coffee cup sitting on it to fall to the floor with a crisp, shattering sound,

The noise immediately drew the attention of someone outside, and a cautious voice soon followed. "Ms. Swanson, are you alright?"

was

Noelle wanted to respond, but before she could, Hendrix kissed her again. The reply she had intended to give w quickly reduced to muffled, incoherent murmurs.

The person outside waited for a moment, and when no response came, they asked again, "Ms. Swanson? Do you need me to go in?"

With that, the sound of someone preparing to open the door followed.

Noelle immediately tensed up, and she pushed harder against Hendrix.noveldrama