For the next few days, Hendrix didn't reach out to her, but Noelle kept receiving cakes from different dessert shops every day.

And not just one cake at a time.

At first, Noelle tried to refuse them, but the delivery people wouldn't even give her the chance. They would simply tell her their task was to deliver the cake, and whatever she chose to do with it was up to her.

With no other choice, Noelle reluctantly accepted the cakes

After days of eating them, she finally couldn't take it anymore. She called Hendrix. "Stop sending me cakes."

"Why? I thought you liked them." Hendrix sounded unusually cheerful, with a laugh barely contained in his voice.

Noelle felt like he was doing it on purpose.

She liked them, right? So, he would just keep sending them until she threw up.

Noelle didn't respond and just hung up the phone.noveldrama

Hendrix had intended to say more, but he was taken aback for a moment when he heard the click of the

call ending. He checked the phone, confirming she had actually hung up.

And then, he couldn't help but laugh. This time, it was laughter out of frustration.

He thought Noelle's temper was really starting to show, or maybe it had always been like this, and she had just stopped pretending around him.

But in a way, he supposed it was a good thing. It was better than how lifeless she used to be.

Just as Hendrix was reflecting on this, there was a knock at the door.

"Mr. Freeman, you mentioned wanting me to keep an eye on the auction for Mr. York's painting. It's

scheduled for the end of the month in the city of Zenvora," Dan said, placing an invitation on Hendrix's desk.

Hendrix hummed in response.

Dan wasn't in a hurry to leave. He simply stood there, staring at Hendrix.

Hendrix raised an eyebrow. "Is there something else?"

"Someone from Freeman Manor called. They said they couldn't reach you on your phone. They want you to come for dinner tomorrow night."

"I got it."

After getting a reply from Hendrix, Dan seemed to finally relax and turned to leave.

Once the door closed behind him, Hendrix quickly sent Noelle a message. Originally, he had planned to ask her to meet at Percy Gardens tonight. But before he hit send, he changed his mind. Instead, he grabbed his keys and stood up.

This was Hendrix's second time coming to Serene Street.

This time, he didn't have to navigate through the winding roads. As soon as he parked his ca he spotted Noelle.

at the street corner,

She was sitting on the curb, across from a chubby little girl with braided hair. There was a cake in front of the girl.

A voice from nearby laughed, probably the little girl's mother. "Noelle, don't give her any more. Didn't you see that her face has gotten even rounder?"

Hendrix realized then that all the cakes he had delivered were being eaten by that little girl. He didn't say anything. Instead, he honked the horn.

Noelle turned to look at him, and her brows furrowed slightly.

Hendrix sat in the car, waiting for her to approach.

Without any other choice, Noelle exchanged a few words with the mother-and-daughter pair in front of her, then approached the car and got in.

Neither of them spoke at first. But after they had driven some distance, Noelle couldn't hold back any longer.

"Where are you taking me?" she asked.

"To eat."

Noelle glanced at the place where Hendrix had parked, her face blank. "I'm dressed like this. Are you want to take me to a fancy restaurant?"

Only then did Hendrix realize what she meant.

He didn't get angry. Instead, he turned to her and asked, "What do you want to eat?"