The Sway and Slide of Love

In the end, Noelle agreed to go on the trip with Dylan.

Rosie was thrilled. She even packed her toy shovel into her suitcase, declaring that she was going to build a sandcastle for Noelle at the beach.

Noelle smiled and agreed, helping her fit everything into the suitcase.noveldrama

Seline only found out about the trip later, and she was fully supportive. She even sent a package to the hotel for Noelle to pick up upon arrival.

She had been mysterious about it, and Noelle had a bad feeling. When she finally received the package at the hotel, she had the urge to just throw it away.

At the time, Dylan had gone ahead to check in while Noelle and Rosie waited in the lobby. Noelle was holding Rosie's hand as the two of them admired the fishes in the large fish tank there.

When Dylan returned with the room keys and a pink bag, Noelle was puzzled.

"This... This is from Ms. Swift," he said.

Noelle was taken aback. When she opened the bag and saw its contents, her face flushed red.

Dylan quickly averted his eyes and said, "Let's go up and check out the rooms first."

Noelle didn't say anything, just nodded and took Rosie's hand.

But Rosie was extremely curious. "Mommy, what's in the bag? It's so pretty!"

Noelle stiffened. "It's nothing."

"Is it a gift from Mr. Pritchett? What's inside?"

As she spoke, Rosie tried to take a peek into the bag, but Noelle quickly hid it behind her back.

Just then, the elevator doors

opened, revealing a couple inside. When Noelle's and the man's eyes met, he seemed momentarily stunned. Then, his eyes narrowed slightly, as if trying to recall where he had seen her before.

Dylan didn't notice the exchange. He wheeled the suitcase into the elevator and turned to Noelle, who was still standing outside. "Noelle, what's wrong?" he asked, puzzled.

"Nothing." Noelle snapped out of it and stepped inside.

The elevator door quickly closed. By then, the man behind her suddenly remembered who she was. A smirk tugged at his lips, and his gaze was fixed straight ahead.

In the reflection of the elevator doors, his eyes met Noelle's. Then, his gaze slowly

drifted downward until it settled on the bag in her hand.

Noticing his movement, Noelle tightened her grip on the bag.

The woman beside the man, however, wasn't pleased. "What are you looking at?"

The man chuckled and turned to her. "Nothing. I just noticed something interesting."

"What's so interesting?"

"Why the rush? I'll tell you when we get back to the room."

The man sounded as if he were cajoling her, but his voice carried an air of laziness and indifference. Then, he glanced at Noelle again, his smirk widening.

Noelle avoided his gaze this time, keeping her eyes fixed on her toes. Their room was on the 12th floor, one level below the man's.

When the elevator doors opened, they stepped out first. Noelle walked quickly, almost as if she were fleeing.

Dylan had already handed her the room key. Just as she was about to unlock the door, he asked from behind, "That man in the elevator-do you know him?"