The Sway and Slide of Love

When the household staff rushed in, they were greeted with the bloody scene. They immediately let out a few screams.

Hendrix, however, remained calm. He turned his head and ordered them, "Call the doctor!"

Hearing this, they seemed to snap out of their shock. Some ran out to find the doctor, while others stepped forward to restrain Noelle.

Only then did Noelle look at Hendrix. "You knew... You guessed it all along, didn't you?"noveldrama

Instead of answering, Hendrix simply pulled her tightly into his arms.

Noelle's emotions were still running high. She struggled against him, screaming, "Don't touch me! Let go! I said, let go! I knew it—you already figured it out earlier, didn't you? You did this on purpose! Just let me die! Hendrix, I'm begging you. Just let me die!"

Tears streamed down her cheeks, soaking through his shirt. Yet, he still didn't let go. If anything, he held her even tighter.

"I will never let anything happen to you," he said. "Going to Halbort wasn't your idea. You weren't the one who took them to the ski resort. The avalanche wasn't your fault. So, you don't need to bear any responsibility for all this."

"But Seline is dead! She's dead! She died because of Rosie! If she hadn't been protecting Rosie, she could have survived. But-"

"Yes, she saved Rosie, and I'm grateful to her. But you didn't do anything wrong, so you don't need to die for this. And even if you die, Seline won't come back. That's the reality," Hendrix said calmly.

Even at this moment, he didn't even reprimand or question her. So, last night really was her trying to make it up to him. She had already decided to die—that was why she went to see the Swifts and then Rosie.

Then, perhaps feeling indebted to him for everything he had done during this time, she decided to

thank him in that way. He had

laughable part was he had

sensed something was off, but the

convince himself he was

tried to

overthinking it.

He had told himself Noelle was all better and that she had moved on from Seline's death. And that being with him meant she was ready: start anew life together. But the truth proved otherwise-his instincts had been right all along.

Noelle had already made up her mind. Everything that happened last night was

just her way of compensating him, nothing more than a fleeting illusion.

The doctor arrived shortly after.

Once the sedative was administered, Noelle finally quieted down. Yet, Hendrix still held onto her tightly, as

if he was afraid that if he loosened

even slightly, she would disappear.

Only when she closed her eyes and fell asleep in his arms did he finally relax a

little.

"Mr. Freeman, should we treat the wound on your hand?" the doctor asked cautiously.

Hendrix didn't answer. He didn't even look up.

The doctor didn't dare say more, though his brows remained knitted as he kept his gaze fixed on Hendrix's wound.

Just then, Hendrix suddenly asked, "What will it take for her to get better?"

The doctor was caught off guard by the unexpected question.

But before he could react, Hendrix looked at him and asked once more, "What do

I have to do for her to truly heal?"