The Sway and Slide of Love

Noelle wasn't quick enough to stop Irene this time.

When Irene swung down her hoe, Hendrix instinctively raised his arm to block it. As a result, the wound he had just had re-bandaged at the hospital that day split open again. There was even a faint cracking sound, as if a bone had been

fractured.

Even for someone as tough as Hendrix, the intense pain was enough to make him frown, and cold sweat quickly beaded on his forehead.

"Mom!" Noelle rushed forward and grabbed Irene's arm.

But was still in the heat of anger. She pushed Noelle aside and was about to strike again when Jerry, who had received an emergency call, arrived on the scene.

Jerry felt his vision darken for a moment when he saw Hendrix's injury. Then, without hesitation, he and his team restrained Irene.

"What are you doing? You bunch of ass-kissers! Let me go!" Irene struggled fiercely, her curses never stopping.

Jerry was at a loss. He was about to have her taken to the police station when Hendrix grabbed his arm.

"Take me to the hospital first," he said. His brows were still furrowed. His face was pale, but his voice remained calm.

"But-"

"She didn't mean to hurt me," Hendrix said without changing his expression. He glanced at the panicked Noelle before adding, "I won't press any charges. Just get me to the hospital."

Since Hendrix had already made his decision, Jerry naturally couldn't push the matter further. Besides, Irene was already quite elderly and mentally unstable, so it would have been troublesome to take her back to the police station.

Relieved by Hendrix's choice not to press charges, Jerry instructed two officers to stay behind and disperse the gathered villagers before helping Hendrix into the

car.

Even though Hendrix was bleeding, Irene's anger still hadn't subsided. She even accused Jerry of helping Hendrix escape, chasing the police car and hurling curses until Noelle finally dragged her back inside.

"Did he do anything to you?" Irene asked anxiously as soon as the door closed, her eyes scanning Noelle for any signs of harm.

Noelle immediately shook her head. "No, he didn't."

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Irene stomped her foot. "That's impossible! Why are you still defending him? Why else would he take you away? He must have done something to you!"

As she

fault

fore, Irene grabbed Noelle'snoveldrama

hand. "I'm sorry, Nelly. It's my for failing to protect you. You e

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must've been so scared."

Her voice choked with emotion.

Noelle quickly held Irene's hand in return. "No, Mom, he really didn't do anything

to me. He just took me to the hospital."

"The hospital? What for?"

"For a checkup." After a moment of thought, she added, "He said it might help me remember my past."

"What checkup? You're fine, aren't you? I think he's just using this as an excuse to get close to you so that he can hurt you!"

Irene grew more worked up as she spoke.

In the past, Noelle would have

changed the subject to avoid further

conflict But this time, after a

moment of silence, she shook her head and denied Irene's

accusations.

"No, Mom. You've really got him all wrong. He's a good person."

Noelle didn't know where this conclusion came from. After all, he was a stranger to her.

When she first saw him at the police station, when he grabbed her hand and held her, she had felt nothing but resistance and fear.

But when his gaze fell on her...