Noelle had just uttered the first word when Hendrix interrupted her, "You're still inside the apartment, right? I'm downstairs."

Noelle's expression instantly changed when she heard that She instinctively wanted to sneak a glance at the couple behind her, but as soon as she lifted her gaze, she saw their reflections in the mirror across from her.

Coincidentally, Beatrice happened to lift her gaze as well. When their eyes met in the mirror, Noelle immediately calmed down.

"What are you doing here?" she finally asked Hendrix.

"To bring you out to eat," answered Hendrix matter-of-factly.

"I'm already in the elevator. Wait for me in the parking lot, Noelle replied quickly, pressing the button for the first floor

Beatrice stood silently behind her. She was the first to step but when the elevator arrived at the first floor. Her companion, seeming a bit slow to react, didn't say anything but gave Noelle a brief glance before following

Beatrice out.

Noelle quickly pressed the close door button. When she reached the parking lot and saw Hendrix's car, she finally exhaled in relief.

"What do you want to eat?" asked Hendrix.

He didn't bring his driver along with him today. He was casually resting his hand on the steering wheel while his sleeves were rolled up to reveal his toned and tanned forearms.

Noelle glanced at his forearms a few times before replying, 'Anything is fine."

Hendrix frowned, but he didn't press further. Instead, he waited for Noelle to fasten her seatbelt before starting the car.

As they drove out of Percy Gardens, Noelle happened to catch sight of the two people standing by the roadside- the same two she had just seen in the elevator.

Before she could take a closer look, Hendrix seemed to notice something, so his gaze shifted toward where she was looking, too.

Noelle quickly grabbed his hand. "Why did you suddenly come here?"

Hendrix's hand was still on the steering wheel, and her sudden tug almost caused him to swerve into the car next to them. Fortunately, he managed to quickly steady the car.

Noelle, seemingly oblivious to the near mishap, continued to stare at him intently.

Hendrix glanced at her. "Am I not allowed to come?"

"I didn't say that. It's just... a little unexpected."noveldrama

"I thought I texted you to let you know I was coming?"

Noelle opened her mouth to respond but found herself unable to come up with a good counter. By then, they had already driven out of the neighborhood, and the two people she'd been so wary of were far behind them.

Noelle let out a small sigh of relief and started to loosen her grip on Hendrix's hand, ready to let go. But before she

could, Hendrix suddenly slipped his fingers through hers to lock their hands firmly together.

She froze, momentarily caught off guard. She tried to pull her hand back, but that made him tighten his grip event more. It was then that realization dawned on her slowly-he was deliberately holding her hand. The same sensation from last night-like floating on a cloud-washed over Noelle again. The difference was that Hendrix was sitting right beside her now, and she could feel the warmth of his palm pressing against hers. It was grounding, like her feet had finally touched solid ground.

She stared at Hendrix for a long moment before finally voicing the question that had been gnawing at her, "Why?"

"Why what?"

"Why are you doing all this now?"

Noelle hadn't forgotten how, when she was publicly humiliated at the auction just a few days ago, he had stood there like a stranger. Yet last night, he had appeared out of nowhere to tell her that he couldn't marry anyone else.

Noelle understood why she herself couldn't accept another arranged marriage-it was because she had loved him in the past. But what about him?

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