Sabrina assumed that Noelle was finally driven away from fear.
This was great news, but she knew she still had to be careful. After all, she wasn’t some naive fool.
So, in the end, Sabrina decided not to return to the hospital and remained at the Ashford residence instead. At least here, every member of the household showered her with fawning affection.
In contrast, Noelle was someone no one bothered with. But this didn’t matter to her since she was leaving anyway. She was simply waiting for the Spencers to pick her up.
When Noelle had married Conner, her parents had sent her over with proud and joyful smiles. Now that she was leaving, she would walk out the same way–openly and with dignity.
Once the news of Noelle leaving reached Conner, he grew uneasy and started looking for excuses to talk to her. But after what had happened, Noelle treated him like the plague and stayed away from wherever he was. After all, she was leaving soon and wanted no drama.
But eventually, Conner managed to corner her in the small garden of the Ashford residence and seized her wrist from behind. “I heard from Sab that you’re going back to the Spencer residence.”
Sab? What an affectionate nickname. Was it a habit from bed that now rolled off his tongue far too easily?
Noelle yanked her hand back from Conner’s grip in plain disgust. “Whether I go home or not is none of your business, Caleb. You’re just my brother–in–law!” She stressed the last word–a deliberate reminder that he was now Sabrina’s husband.
Though her words hurt him, Conner still refused to let go.
They were pulling and tugging in the garden when Sabrina suddenly appeared on the second–floor balcony and caught sight of the scene.
As she clutched the railing, her eyes turned dark with hatred and fury. She hissed, “Noelle, you bitch! You just don’t give up!”
In the garden, Conner’s grip anxiously tightened on Noelle.
If she stayed at the Ashford residence, every move she made would remain under his surveillance. But if she returned to the Spencers, she’d be beyond his reach, and that was too much of a risk.
“How is that none of my business? Conner may be dead, but if you leave the Ashfords, he’d surely be
heartbroken!”
Noelle scoffed. “Oh, are you sure he’s dead?”
Conner’s expression awkwardly stiffened before he stammered, “H–He’s buried in Southfields Memorial Cemetery. Of course, he’s dead.”
Noelle tore her hand away from his grip and snapped, “Haven’t you heard the saying–life goes on? He’s
Chapter 9
dead, and that doesn’t matter to the living!”
With that, she resolutely turned and walked away.
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As she did so, Conner’s chest ached. He could no longer suppress his longing for Noelle now, and the
faintest whiff of her familiar perfume would bring up memories of their past.
If it hadn’t been for Caleb’s sudden death, they could have been the most envied couple in all of Norland.
As he watched Noelle walk farther away, he murmured under his breath, “Just wait, Noelle. Once the baby
is born safe and sound, I’ll come back to you.”
Back in her room, Noelle went straight to the shower and scrubbed her skin hard until her arms bruised
red. Everywhere Conner had touched her felt disgustingly tainted.
Right after she got out of the shower, an urgent knock came from the door.
When she opened it after slipping on her pajamas, she found Conner and Sabrina standing there, one on
each side.
Sabrina flicked her a glance before she looked at Conner. Then, Conner said, “Pack your stuff. I’ll send you back to the Spencers.”
The sudden shift in his demeanor startled Noelle. It was as if the man who’d cornered her in the garden wasn’t the same as the one now offering her a ride home.
Meanwhile, Sabrina had a smug smile on her face, looking like she’d already won.
Without hesitation, Noelle turned to pack her suitcase. After all, it didn’t matter that she’d planned to have the Spencers fetch her initially. Leaving the Ashfords ahead of schedule suited her just fine.
In her sweetest voice, Sabrina sounded almost sorry when she said, “Sorry for the trouble, Noelle. But right now, the baby comes first. A peaceful house is better for both me and the baby.”
Chapter 10
