Chapter 25
Noelle only realized she had walked right into a trap as she left the shop. She was here to buy a present, so how had she ended up buying Charles dinner? Besides, the present was not even in her possession yet!
“What are you thinking about?”
Charles, who was walking in front of her, paused in his tracks when he realized the woman behind him seemed distracted.
His abrupt stop caught Noelle by surprise, and she nearly walked right into him. Still reeling from her shock, she shook her head and asked, “Where would you like to have dinner, Mr. Hoffman?”
Charles narrowed his eyes, a hint of a smile tugging on his lips as he gazed at Noelle. “Since you’ll be buying me dinner, you get to decide where we eat, Ms. Shaw.”
Noelle hesitated, “Alright, as long as you’re okay with it.”
She and Charles Hoffman came from different worlds. He had been born into a rich and noble family, so he must always have had access to high–quality food and clothing. However, she was different. Although she had been born into the Shaw family, no one had ever treated her as an heiress to the Shaw family. Noelle had started fending for herself when she was a young child and had led a life
no different from any ordinary middle–class kid.
There were massive differences between her and Charles, so her first thought after hearing his suggestion was that he had gone mad,
“You must have misunderstood me, Ms. Shaw, I’m not as difficult to get along with as they make me out to be.” Charles chuckled. “Please come with me, Ms. Shaw!”
Charles was driving a different car today. It was a car that did not attract a lot of attention, and Noelle only hesitated briefly before getting into the car when Charles opened the passenger side door for her.
After shutting the door, Charles walked over to the other side and got into the driver’s seat, where he buckled his seat belt and turned to Noelle. “Lead the way, Ms. Shaw.”
“Wanderlust Street. Thank you!”
Charles typed the address into the navigation system and drummed his slender fingers against the steering wheel. “Is it nearby Vista University?”
An astonished look appeared on Noelle’s face as she gave him a side–eyed look. Charles smiled slightly and rested his chin on one hand as he said, “Have you forgotten, Ms. Shaw? I graduated from Vista University as well!”
Realization dawned over Noelle. Her grandfather had mentioned Charles-
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students he had ever had. It looked like that was true.
“It’s been so long since I’ve been back there, though. I wonder how the university is doing now!”
“Have you never been back to visit your alma mater, Mr. Hoffman?” Noelle was extremely sentimental. Her attachments extended to include humans, objects, and memories.
She was also a Vista University alumnus and visited the campus several times a year. Whenever she visited, she would also have a meal at the snack bars near the university to reminisce about her student years.
However, Charles was such a successful man that he probably attracted everyone’s attention no matter where he went so he probably did not enjoy going to crowded places!
The look in Charles‘ eyes changed ever so slightly. “Yes, I was too preoccupied with work! Besides, I’m not one to get caught up in the past,” he said as he gave Noelle a pointed look.
Noelle’s heart skipped a beat, and she turned her head the other way, taking a long pause before finally saying. “Everyone’s got a past.”
“But don’t you think it’s a shame to get so caught up in your past that your present gets affected as well?”
Noelle remained silent. She did not understand why someone like Charles was telling her such things. She tilted her head and stared at Charles before saying. “You should be a lawyer or a therapist, Mr. Hoffman.
“Oh?” Charles raised an eyebrow. “How did you come to that conclusion, Ms. Shaw?”
“Is this how you always console others?” Noelle could not help but wonder how Charles
comforted others when they were in distress.
Charles drummed his index finger against the steering wheel. The look on his face was not solemn, but it was definitely serious as he said, “There’s no one else.”
That surprised Noelle slightly. Then, Charles added, “There’s no one else but
you
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