The Sway and Slide of Love

"Nelly?" a voice called out, and Noelle snapped out of her thoughts.

"Mom, what's wrong?" she asked.

"I should be asking you that," Irene said, tapping the edge of Noelle's bowl with a frown. "You're supposed to be eating. What are you daydreaming about?"

Noelle let out a soft "oh" and obediently lowered her head to continue eating.

With a frown still on her face, Irene asked, "Are you still thinking about what happened today? Those cops were talking nonsense! Anyway, the date is already set, so we'll go ahead with the wedding.

"You're not getting any younger. Once you're married, hurry up and have a baby. I can help take care of them."

"Who am I marrying?" Noelle asked.

"What are you talking about? You're marrying Sid, of course. I've already accepted the wedding gift. What else do you want?" Irene furrowed her brows tighter as she spoke.

Noelle quickly shook her head. "It's nothing. I was just asking."

"You must be over the moon, huh? Wasn't this already decided before? Besides, you and Sid have been together for so many years-isn't getting married the next natural step?"

"We've been together for many years?"

"Yeah! You've known each other since you were kids. You even bathed together when you were little. In fact, you've known him for over two decades!"noveldrama

Noelle couldn't recall any of the things Irene said. She tried hard to remember, but a sharp pain shot through her head the moment she did that.

Just as she was about to say something, the sound of a car engine came from outside. The village roads were uneven, and the car swayed as it moved.

The dining table where Noelle and Irene were seated was near the entrance. As the car passed, it kicked up a flurry of dust that flew toward them.

Irene's expression immediately darkened. She slammed her spoon down and cursed loudly, "What the hell? What are you doing? We're eating here! Are you all blind?"

Her words grew increasingly vulgar as she continued.

Irene's fierceness was well-known throughout the village. After all, her husband had been gone for years, and she had raised her daughter alone. So if she wasn't tough, she wouldn't have survived.

If it had been anyone else, they would have fled after hearing her curses But to everyone's surprise, the car didn't leave. Instead, it slowly came to a stop in front of their house.

This move was puzzling.

Irene grew even angrier. She grabbed a broom and charged forward.

The car door opened at that moment.

"Hey! What are you doing, Mrs. Wallace?" Jerry, now in plain clothes, had just

stepped out of the car when he saw Irene charging at them.

But Irene didn't recognize him. She immediately swung the broom at his head the moment he got out of the car.

"You fool! Can't you see people are eating? I'll beat you to death, you old scoundrel!"

"Stop! Do you know you're assaulting

an officer? Even if you're old, this s still a

Cme!" Jerry kept shouting, but

he was chased around the car

several times by Irene.

Seeing this, Noelle was about to step in to stop her when someone grabbed her arm. She immediately turned around.

The village roads were unpaved, and there were no streetlights. The only light came from the dim yellow glow of their house. The car's hazard lights were still flashing.

In the faint light, Noelle clearly saw the man's face and the smile on his lips.