Noelle and Hendrix were already divorced. How could there still be any contact between them? After all, Hendrix wasn't crazy. And with Noelle stuck in her current mess, who in their right mind would want to be associated with her?

After waiting for a few more minutes, Sandra felt her worries leaving her completely. She glanced toward the driver and said, "Let's go."

"Sure. Where to?" the driver asked briskly, but his question was met with silence. When he glanced back curiously, he noticed her staring fixedly out the window.

"Wow! Is that a Maserati? Fancy car for this part of town," the driver mused.

Sandra, however, didn't react. Her eyes stayed glued to the vehicle. She was biting her lips so hard that the skin had split, leaving a faint trace of blood. Yet, she didn't feel the pain at all.

It couldn't be Hendrix. It was impossible. There was no way he would come here. No way he'd have anything to do with Noelle again.

Her gaze faltered, losing focus, and her clenched jaw suddenly slackened. Because up ahead, the car door had opened, and out stepped Hendrix. He carried a beautifully wrapped cake box in his hand. Noelle had been restless the entire evening. The tablet in front of her was powered on, yet her stylus hovered in midair, unable to make a single stroke. When Hendrix emerged from the bathroom and walked up behind her, she didn't even notice his presence.

"What are you thinking about?" he asked.

Noelle jumped, startled by the sudden question. Her first instinct was to shield her tablet screen with her hand. Then, frowning, she turned around. "When did you come out?"

"Just now,"

Noelle fell silent, and she quietly turned off her tablet.noveldrama

Hendrix didn't seem particularly interested in what she'd been working on. Instead, he repeated his question, What were you thinking about just now?"

Noelle lifted her gaze to meet his, holding his eyes for a moment before finally asking, "Is it true that Mrs. Swanson is in the hospital?"

"Mrs. Swanson? No idea. I haven't been paying attention."

As Hendrix spoke, he casually made his way to her bed and lay down, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

Noelle frowned at his actions. "What are you doing?"

"Sleeping," replied Hendrix matter-of-factly.

Noelle froze for a moment before stepping forward. "You have so many houses. Why don't you go stay in one of them? Why are you slumming it out with me here? You-

Before she could finish, Hendrix suddenly reached out and yanked her onto the bed.

Noelle instinctively opened her mouth to scream, but before she could make a sound, Hendrix clamped his hand

down over her lips.

Noelle stiffened. Not one to back down, she bit down on his fingers without hesitation.

Hendrix hissed in pain. "What are you? A dog?"

"I wouldn't have bitten you if you hadn't covered my mouth!"

"I was trying to stop you from getting noise complaints from the neighbors!"

"How would there be anything to complain about if you hadn't pulled me down like that?" she shot back.

Hendrix was momentarily at a loss for a comeback, but then he chuckled softly. "Seems like I can't win an argument with you anymore."

"That's because you know you're in the wrong," Noelle retorted.

He nodded in agreement.

Noelle was about to say something else when he suddenly leaned down and kissed her on the lips. It was their first kiss since last time.

His kiss was as aggressive as ever, but beneath that unyielding dominance was something else-a

gentler, softer undercurrent. The way his lips carefully traced hers was like the quiet ripping of spring water, pulling her under with an irresistible force.

Surrendering to the moment, Noelle slowly released her grip on his shoulders.