Chapter 24
Noelle’s sharp comeback left Sabrina both furious and flustered.
As far as Sabrina was concerned, Noelle had stopped giving a damn. With nothing left to lose, she wasn’t
about to be cowed by anyone.
If Sabrina picked a fight now, there was no guarantee she’d win, and she might even end up even more
humiliated.
Still, she wasn’t going to let it drop. She had plenty of ways to even the score.
She turned to Yasmine with a wounded look, clutched her stomach as if it hurt, and pitifully said, “I don’t
care if Noelle talks nonsense about me or Caleb, but how could she speak to you like that? I just can’t
stand it.”
Sabrina knew Yasmine never let anyone walk over her. She wouldn’t let Noelle off the hook easily either,
and with a few well–placed prods from her, Yasmine’s temper flared.
Now, it was only a matter of how far the blaze would spread.
Sure enough, Yasmine’s eyes blazed as she fixed Noelle with a hard, unapologetic stare.
Noelle knew that look all too well.
Back when she’d lived with the Ashfords, Yasmine would sometimes give her that same glare before tearing into her. Even if something wasn’t her fault, she wasn’t allowed to defend herself.
Conner always told her his dad died young, leaving Yasmine to run the company alone.
If Yasmine hadn’t been so tough, he and Caleb might have gone hungry.
In retrospect, Noelle found it rather funny. She had actually felt sorry for Yasmine back then. But now, she
knew better.
Resilience was a virtue, but being overbearing was just a personality flaw.
She met Yasmine’s glare head–on, unflinching before her ex–mother–in–law who would stop at nothing for
a grandchild.
Yasmine froze under Noelle’s stare.
Since when did she dare look at her like that? In the past, whenever she scolded her, Noelle would just
stand there and take it.
“You’ve only been back with the Spencers for two days and already can’t keep your temper in check. Look at you. What man would ever like you now? You have no respect for your mother–in–law.
“Clearly, your mom never bothered to teach you any manners,” Yasmine shot.
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A coldness crept into Noelle’s narrowed eyes.
If Yasmine hadn’t dragged Mary into this, she might’ve spared her a shred of dignity. But since she had gone straight for her soft spot, Noelle was done with mercy.
She spat, “I have no shortage of men who like me. But you? Looking the way you do, I doubt any man would. The only ones who stick around are after your money.”
Mary sensed the tension spiking and instinctively reached out to stop Noelle.
What on earth had happened to make her usually gentle daughter cast aside her respect for her elders?
But then, she thought better of it. After all, Noelle had always been well–behaved. So, if she was speaking
up like this now, it could only mean that she had endured too much humiliation from the Ashfords.
In the end, Mary gave up on the idea of stopping Noelle.
When Noelle was the Ashfords‘ daughter–in–law, she had no choice but to endure their harsh words. But
now that she wasn’t related to them anymore, why should she put up with her overbearing ex–mother–in- law’s crap?
Sabrina’s eyes went wide. She had never expected to hear such bold words from Noelle -not even in a
million years.
She glanced at Yasmine. Her face was mottled with fury, and her eyes were burning with rage.
Sabrina then remembered the story Noelle had spun about Caleb harassing her at the Spencer residence.
This time, she’d make sure Noelle paid for it.
“Ah!” she gasped, collapsing against Yasmine. “Mom, how can she talk to you like that? I just can’t stand it.
“Ah! My stomach… It hurts so much!”
Yasmine had been gearing up to unleash her anger, but before she could, a new problem had landed in
her lap.
How spiteful. Noelle was truly nothing but a jinx.
Every time she showed up, something would go wrong with her precious grandson.
“What are you waiting for?” Yasmine snapped at the bodyguards behind them. “Get her to the nearest
hospital now!”
The bodyguards stepped forward to help, but Sabrina waved them off. “No, I’m not going.
“Mom, Noelle’s walking all over you with me standing right here. What’s going to happen when I leave? I’m calling Caleb and telling him to come set things straight!”
Noelle let out a cold laugh at Sabrina’s theatrics.
Mary had intended to help, but Noelle stopped her. “Mom, don’t go over there. If you touch her, she might
Chapter 24
claim you upset her pregnancy and make you pay for it.”
Mary eyed Sabrina’s exaggerated expression, then stayed put. “You’re right. At my age, if someone accused me of that, I’d never live it down.”
As Marry watched Sabrina put on her little show, a sudden realization hit her.
With a sister–in–law like this, Noelle’s life with the Ashfords must have been pure misery.
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She slipped an arm around Noelle’s shoulders and turned to Yasmine. “Ms. Clark, in our family we believe in raising our daughter to be happy.
“You’re right. We admit we might not have taught her well. If Noelle has offended you, as an elder, you shouldn’t take it to heat. The future is wide open, and our families can go our separate ways. Even if
Noelle has no manners, she’s no longer your concern.”
Noelle was caught off guard by this.
It wasn’t like Mary at all. Normally, she’d bite her tongue and endure whatever she could. Now though, her words, though were wrapped in politeness, carried a sharp edge beneath them.
Of course, Yasmine wasn’t going to let Noelle off the hook. She never let anyone get away with a slight, and now her usually compliant daughter–in–law had dared to talk back to her.
There was no way she’d swallow that.
But just as she was about to fire off a retort, Noelle drawled, “Ms. Clark, Sabrina’s about to call Caleb over. The other night in our place, he rambled that he was actually Conner.
“I didn’t feel like dealing with it then, but I think I have the time to set him straight today. I’m just not sure if Sabrina’s pregnancy can handle that.”
Chapter 25
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Chapter 25
