The Cherished Wife (Noelle and Charles)

Janet, clutching the fruit knife, charged wildly at Clarisse. She swung it around uncontrollably. "Kelly, you wretched woman! Why won't you leave me alone? Why do you always try to take Charles away from me? Charles is mine!" Janet muttered as she swung the knife around, paying no attention to anything else. To her, there was no one but Kelly. "I'll kill you! I'll kill you!" she screamed.

"Janet, don't scare me! There's no Kelly here, look closely!" Clarisse was genuinely frightened. It was the first time she had ever seen Janet in such a crazed state.

"Watch out!" Seeing Janet's manic behavior, Mateo quickly pulled Clarisse aside. In the chaos, Janet's knife slashed across his arm.

Mateo winced in pain, cold fury flashing in his eyes. He shoved Clarisse away. "Leave immediately and get the household staff."

"But..." Clarisse hesitated. "Janet's condition can't be revealed to others."

"We're past that now!" Mateo frowned deeply. As Janet charged again, he kicked her forcefully away.

Janet was thrown back and hit the wall before collapsing to the floor. Clarisse's eyes were filled with tears as her face turned pale with fear. "Janet, Janet! Are you alright?" Ignoring Mateo's warning, Clarisse rushed over and lifted Janet. "Janet, it's me, your aunt. Don't scare me like this."

"Get away! Kelly, you wretched woman! Why did you come back? Why?!" Janet screamed as she grabbed the knife again and lunged at Clarisse's chest. "I'll kill you! I'll kill you!"

In a flash, Mateo rushed forward and pulled Clarisse out of harm's way. Although he was quick, Janet still managed to injure Clarisse.

"Are you alright?" Mateo asked, seeing blood seeping from Clarisse's shoulder. He quickly took off his coat and pressed it against her wound. "We need to go now!"

He then turned to Janet, forcefully restraining her and pinning her to the ground. Janet, who was still in a state of madness, glared at Clarisse with wild eyes as if she wanted to devour her. Clarisse was terrified now. She backed away and stumbled into a coffee table. "Janet, you... Mateo, Janet, she..."

"Enough! How long are you going to protect her? She's a danger every time she has an episode. She even attacked you, the aunt who raised her! If she marries Charlie, how can the Hoffmans live in peace with this threat hanging over us every day?!"

"What's going on?"

Henry and Maxwell arrived shortly after. Seeing both Mateo and Clarisse wounded, Henry's eyes darkened as he assessed the scene.

His gaze shifted from the restrained

Janet to Clarisse's injury. He then said while frowning, "Dad, you should rest. I'll take them to the hospital."

Maxwell glanced at Janet before turning to Clarisse, who was pressing on her bleeding shoulder. Her face was as pale as a sheet. His cold gaze made her feel oddly guilty.

"Fine, take them to the hospital,"

Maxwell said, "As for Janet, take her

to the hospital too. In the met

contact the Bakers and have her

sent back. She is not to return to Brookville or the Hoffman residence again."

Maxwell's gaze hardened as he looked at Clarisse. "If you dislike the Hoffmans so much, you can leave tomorrow too."

"I..."

As he leaned on his cane, Maxwell ignored any further protests from Clarisse and left the room.

Henry approached them while surveying the scene. "Let's go. I'll take you all to the hospital," he said, helping Mateo up. "I'll handle Janet."