The Cherished Wife



A baby?

Ronald's eyes widened at Charles's suggestion to show Milo a child. "What are you getting at, Mr. Hoffman?"

Realization dawned on Ronald. "Got it. I'll handle it. Don't worry about the Hoffman stuff-it's all been taken care of."

Charles waved nonchalantly just as Noelle breezed into the study. Noticing their chat had wrapped up, she said, "Charles, I whipped up some dessert. Would you like a bowl downstairs?"

She glanced at Ronald. "Mr. Wells, all done with your chat?"

"Yes, we're done here. I've got stuff to do, so I'll pass on the dessert," Ronald said, eyes darting around as he snatched up the papers and bolted for the door.

If he didn't make a run for it then, when else would he be able to? He did not want to wait around for the boss to give him the death stare.

Anyone paying attention knew that Charles had been super into Noelle lately. Ronald would not dare touch anything the boss's wife made. That was a rule as old as time: what the boss's wife makes is off-limits to everyone but the boss.

Noelle watched Ronald's hasty retreat and could not help but chuckle. "Am I really that scary?" she mused. Ronald always acted so weirdly around her.

Charles let out a soft laugh and beckoned. "Come here!"

Noelle just rolled her eyes and did not move an inch towards him. Instead, she spun on her heel and headed out. "I've made some dessert. If you want some, come and get it!"

Charles could only shake his head with a wry smile, quickly tidying up his desk and stashing the papers away before he followed Noelle down the stairs.

Once Ronald was out of Charles's

Phoenix Tree Residence, he did notnovelbin

waste a second before dialing

et

Lareal's number. He needed a favor-some digging on J. "Hey, you're a tech whiz, right? Find me some childhood photos, edit them so they're not recognizable, and send them to my phone as soon as you can!"

In the quiet of the hotel room, Alex had just finished checking J over and gave her a shot to calm her nerves. Pulling off his mask, he stepped out to where Milo was waiting and shook his head.

"Something set her off

was in

the middle of something when it happened."

The specifics were fuzzy to Alex. "I tried hypnosis, and it's like she's got this deep-seated terror of kids. Did she ever... have a child?"

"No way!" Milo blurted out, his voice edged with disbelief. "J hasn't even dated in years. How could she have a kid?"

Alex saw the shock on Milo's face and decided not to push it. He switched gears. "The meds I gave you before are top-of-the-line. They should be helping Ms. Baker. Is she taking them?"

Alex had his doubts. J was not exactly cooperative. "Look, if she skips out on the meds, she's on a fast track to a breakdown with all this stress. She's in a much worse spot than Hilary."

It was not an exaggeration. Milo could feel it too, especially after seeing J's meltdown at the hospital. It was clear her situation was dire.

Milo stayed quiet, and Alex got the message He gave a wry smile and laid it out. "Milo, I'll be straight with you. If you and Ms. Baker don't get on board with the treatment there's nothing I can do to fix this.