Wife 1

The Cherished Wife

Ch weety

Chapter 1

Autumn had painted Brookville in shades of gold and crimson when Noelle Shaw stepped off the

plane. She grabbed her suitcase and walked out into the crisp air, a familiar sense of home

wrapping around her.

A whole year had passed since she left to pursue a corporate training program overseas, and now,

she was back just in time.

Her third anniversary with her boyfriend Xavier Harris was just days away, and she had been

working nonstop to make it back early enough to surprise him.

She hailed a cab and headed straight for Xavier’s office. The moment she walked through the -front

doors, Alice, the receptionist, gave her a look of total shock. “Ms. Shaw? You’re back?

Are you here for the CEO’s engagement party?”

Noelle’s brow creased in confusion. The CEO’s engagement party? What are you talking about,

Alice?”

‘It’s Mr. Harris’s engagement party with your sister!”

“What?” Noelle’s heart skipped a beat, and the happiness drained from her face. “Whose

engagement party?”

Alice seemed to realize she had dropped a bombshell and nervously swallowed. “The CEO… and

your sister…”

“Where is it happening?”

“The… Golden Oasis Hotel.”

It felt like a punch to the gut. Noelle spun on her heel and rushed out. “Driver, take me to the

Golden Oasis Hotel, please.”

She had not even made it inside the hotel when she saw a huge photo by the entrance. There

Xavier was with his arm around Winter Shaw, who looked stunning in her elegant dress. They were

gazing into each other’s eyes, lost in a world of love.

On her way over, Noelle was psyching herself up. Xavier was her boyfriend. He was hers! The idea

of him getting engaged to her sister was just too bizarre. As she arrived, however, reality

hit her like a ton of bricks.

She walked in just in time to catch Xavier whispering sweet nothings into Winter’s ear,

making her cheeks tum a rosy pink.

Noelle felt a surge of anger, her eyes blazing with fury.

+15 BONUS

How ludicrous it was. Her boyfriend of three years, the one she had been with through thick and

thin, was now cozying up to her elder sister while she had been miles away.

Winter Shaw was mingling and toasting with the guests arm in arm with Xavier when she spotted

Noelle. Her face drained of color, and her grip on Xavier’s hand tightened without her even realizing

it.

Xavier’s eyes met Noelle’s. He paused for a split second, then flashed Winter a comforting smile

before walking over to Noelle. “Hey Noelle, did you come to celebrate me and your sister’s big

day?”

His voice, which was usually so warm and gentle, felt like a knife twisting in her heart. Noelle

clenched her jaw. “Celebrate? Celebrate you stabbing me in the back? And Winter, really? Are you

that desperate for a man? You knew he was mine, and you… you both…”

Before she could finish, a slap snapped her head to the side, leaving her cheek throbbing.

Holding her face, tears brimming in her eyes, she looked up in disbelief. “Mom!”

‘Don’t you dare call me ‘mom‘ right now! What kind of daughter or sister acts the way you’re acting?

It’s your sister’s engagement, and you can’t even be happy for her? Instead, you show up here to

make a scene. You’re doing this on purpose, aren’t you?” Jade Jones was fuming, her eyes

shooting daggers at Noelle.

Noelle’s heart clenched. “Mom, what are you even saying? Xavier’s my boyfriend.”

“Your boyfriend? Xavier is your sister’s husband. Why do you have to challenge your sister for

everything? I’m so disappointed in you.”

Noelle could not help but laugh. She stared at her mother, Jade, who had the nerve to twist the truth

so blatantly. She turned to Xavier. “Xavier, come on. Tell us who you’re really dating.

His brow creased, his gaze on Noelle filled with uncertainty. The firm grip he felt, however, brought

him back to the moment. “Noelle, I’m sorry, but there’s only ever been one person for me, and that’s

your sister.”

Noelle’s heart felt like it was being sliced open as she listened to Xavier’s emotionless confession.

What a joke! What bitter irony!

“Xavier, you’d better get this straight: it’s me who’s dumping you, not the other way round.” It took all

her willpower not to lash out at the cheating couple. “I hope you two have a long,‘ happy‘ life

together,” she spat.