The Sway and Slide of Love

"Isn't there a hospital nearby?" Hendrix asked, his impatience creeping into his voice. "A DNA test would settle this, wouldn't it?"

"Yes, that's right." Jerry finally remembered this option and immediately arranged for someone to take them to the hospital.

But Sid wasn't having it. "No way! You're all in on this! Don't think I don't see what's going on—you're just sucking up to this guy because he's rich. And when the results come back, you'll make sure they say whatever he wants!"

"Mr. Hodge, please watch what you're saying." Jerry's expression darkened. "Do you even realize where you are and what you're saying?"

"I—whatever! You're all in this together. We're leaving right now!"

With that, Sid grabbed Noelle's hand and was about to pull her away when Hendrix stood up.

"Let go of her hand," he said icily.

"This has nothing to do with you! I'm telling you. They might suck up to you, but I'm not afraid of you! You can

"

"Mr. Hodge, if you insist on leaving now, we can charge you with suspected human trafficking," Jerry walked over and interjected.

Sid's eyes widened in shock.

Just then, Noelle clutched his sleeve and said in a trembling voice, "I want to go home."

The entire room fell silent. Everyone, including Hendrix, stared at her in disbelief.

Hendrix frowned deeply and reached out to grab her. But Noelle dodged his hand and looked up at Sid with tears in her eyes. "Let's just leave, please."

Noelle's words had barely left her lips when Sid burst into laughter. He then turned to Hendrix with a smug expression.

"See? She doesn't even know who you are. Officers, you all saw that, right? She has no idea who this guy is. So, if you let him take her away, that would be human trafficking! And all of you would become his accomplices."

"This—" Jerry had clearly never handled a situation like this before. A hint of hesitation crossed his face as he slowly looked over at Hendrix.

Hendrix stared at Noelle for a long

moment before saying calmly, "Can'tnoveldrama

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you see something's wrong with her mental state? It's not that she doesn't know me-it's just that she has forgotten who I am. That's why we need to take her to the hospital for a checkup first and then a DNA test."

As soon as Hendrix finished speaking, a gruff voice rang out, "Who said anything about taking Nelly to the hospital?"

Noelle, who had been panicking, immediately brightened when she saw the newcomer. Then, she rushed forward without hesitation. "Mom!"

Irene Howell quickly shielded her, then glared at Sid. "Sid, what's going on here?"

Sid breathed a sigh of relief. Then,

as he walked over, he said, "Mrs. Wallace, I'm so glad you're here! As you know, Nelly and I were supposed to register our marriage today. But now they're insisting there's an issue with her identity. And this guy is even claiming she's his wife!"

"Nonsense!" Irene spat on the ground, not caring that they were in a police station. "Are you all crazy? My daughter is a perfectly respectable young woman, so how dare you slander her like this?

"And what do you mean there's an issue with her identity? She is my daughter-no one gets to question that!"