Chapter 272
“What do you mean?” Hendrix asked in a low voice.
Noelle pulled the cake over but didn’t eat it. She just simply replied, “Have you handled Amity Group’s matter?”
Hendrix did not expect her to ask this.
Before he could answer, she continued, “The crisis last year was just a facade, right? You told me before that Amity Group, with its decades of history, has its advantages and disadvantages. The advantage is that it’s a nationally recognized enterprise with a solid reputation and foundation.
“The disadvantage is that over these decades, the motivation of many employees has been ground down to almost nothing–especially certain relatives and friends of a few shareholders. You’re well aware of their lack of contribution to the company, but you can’t completely remove them.
“After all, these are the veteran shareholders who fought alongside your father and even your grandfather. Taking action against them would harm your reputation. So, you’ve actually been waiting for an opportunity.
“You know they’re a group driven purely by profit. When last year’s public outcry erupted, you let it escalate, just so you could use the chance to give them a push when they hesitated to jump ship.
“As for Lana, that’s another matter altogether. Those people aren’t stupid. They must have realized the truth by now. But you haven’t given them a way out, which is why they’re going to such lengths to probe your intentions, even using Lana as a shield. Am I right?” Noelle spoke slowly, each word crystal clear.
Some of these insights came from Oliver, while others were confessions Hendrix had made to her directly. Today, for the first time, her words wove all the fragments into a complete and coherent web.
Hendrix didn’t deny anything. Instead, he looked somewhat puzzled, unable to understand why Noelle would bring this up now.
Still gazing at the cake, Noelle asked softly, “And in your eyes, what role do I play in all of this? Am I the perpetrator responsible for your mother’s incident? Or perhaps… just another person you’ve discarded like those you removed from the company?”
“Of course not!” Hendrix replied without hesitation, his expression growing darker. “Noelle, is that really what you think of me?”
“Hmm, if it’s neither of those, then I must have been the actor you pulled onto the stage.” Noelle smiled faintly and continued, “Last year, you turned a blind eye to public opinion, but in reality, everyone was watching your
every move.
“Under their watchful eyes, you couldn’t truly afford to do nothing. Even if it was just an act, you needed them to see, or at least misunderstand, that you were making an effort.
“And the effort you made was breaking up with me, turning me into a scapegoat without even a chance to explain. Isn’t that right?
“Only by doing that would they think you’d truly lost your footing. Only by pushing me out there would they believe you were at your wit’s end. And only when they thought you were desperate would they follow your lead and abandon ship. Isn’t that so?”
Noelle initially found it strange.
Hendrix was a smart person, so how could he be so easily manipulated by Sandra? And if he truly didn’t care about her at all, why did he go to the trouble of finding her a lawyer when she got into trouble later?
It was only now that Noelle finally … food. Back then, their breakup had merely been another calculated move in his plan.
Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: The Sway and Slide of Love
Like how the story is progressing now but why is the author only releasing 3 chapters at a time? this is torture😩😩...
Woah chapters 41-45 is intense!! Good to see Noelle’s character who has come across as mostly detached actually express emotion....
I find Noelle’s character so frustrating, she comes across lacking any true emotion. The chapters where Rosie was missing was probably the most where we have seen some strong outward emotion shown. Dreading these next few chapters if she is going to do something drastic to “go find Seline” The author has taken us on a rollercoaster with these characters. The novel feels like it is at a stage now where they can come full circle....
A good change of pace and story in the last 10 chapters. Good to see the shift in Hendrix’s character (more patience) to win over Noelle and Rosie. Hope we start to see them warm up to him. Please no crazy twist where he loses them again. Have enjoyed this story and looking forward to its wrap up👨👩👧...
A good change of pace in the last 10 chapters. Also nice to see a shift in Hendrix’s character (more patience) to win Noelle and Rosie over. Hoping in these next few chapters we start to see Noelle and Rosie warm up to him. Please no crazy twist where he loses them again. Have enjoyed this story and looking forward to its wrap up 👨👩👧...
I have been in love with this novel but I don’t know how much patience I have to wait until the to finish line. Dear Author, can you atleast give us some idea about how long is this going to be or if there’s any turning point coming soon. And it would be great if you could upload at least 10 chapters at once. 5 chapters is making me more impatience with the anticipation of the further story of novel🙈...
I really hope there is a turning point in this story where Noelle starts to show some interest in Hendrix...