Rowena had never met anyone as calm as Charles. His wife was the one in danger, yet he did not seem the least bit rattled.
However, then Rowena paused to think about Charles. He was always so sure of himself, so she did not doubt him.
"Ms. Smith, you're very clever!"
Rowena bit her lip. She did not really think Charles was praising her, but she thanked him anyway because it was the polite thing to do.
"Aren't you worried about Noelle being all alone with them? The Shaws aren't exactly nice to her. But Noelle can't seem to let them go. Otherwise, they would have never been able to bully her."
While tapping his fingers, Charles explained, "Family ties are the hardest to break in the world. Nelly has a big heart. She can't just give up on them. However, she's never felt total despair. Once someone feels that, family ties might not mean much anymore."
Rowena was shocked. "You… That's too harsh for Noelle."
Charles squinted. "Is it any less harsh now? You've been her friend for years. You know her." He did not say more on the subject. "You haven't had dinner yet, have you?"
Charles' words made Rowena realize she was actually hungry. She felt a little embarrassed. "I was too busy thinking about how to handle them."
Charles ordered the meal to be served. "Nelly mentioned she wanted to introduce us. Why not make it today?"
Rowena was pleasantly surprised. "Mr. Hoffman, you're too gracious."
…
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