Conner rushed from the hospital straight to the Spencer residence.
In Mary’s memory, Caleb had always been somewhat of a gentleman. However, his continued appearances at the Spencer residence were starting to feel intrusive, and she couldn’t figure out exactly
what he was after.
Just then, a flash of lightning lit up the night sky, and for a moment, the face in front of her overlapped perfectly with Conner’s.
Mary hadn’t interacted with Conner much, but she was familiar with his usual expressions. For a split
second, she couldn’t tell if she was looking at Caleb or Conner.
Then, she recalled Yasmine’s outburst and what Noelle had said. She claimed that the one who had died
wasn’t Conner, but Caleb.
It sounded absurd. It was obviously something no one would believe, yet Mary believed her. She knew her own daughter well enough to know she never spoke recklessly.
If what she’d said was true, then the man in front of her was indeed Conner.
Mary couldn’t imagine how far someone’s morals had to sink to pull off something like this.
Conner’s eyes darted toward the slightly open door, clearly searching for Noelle.
But Mary quickly pushed the door closed a little more and warily asked, “Is there something you need?”
Conner didn’t bother hiding his intentions anymore. “I’m here to see Noelle.”
“Noelle isn’t home.”
Conner’s expression grew tense. “If she’s not home, where could she be? It’s storming outside, and she’s terrified of thunder. Where could she possibly have gone?”
That was the moment Mary’s last bit of doubt vanished.
If this man were Caleb, how would he know Noelle feared thunderstorms? And if he were Caleb, why would he even care?
Mary coldly stared at Conner. She finally understood why Noelle had left the Ashford family so decisively -and in such heartbreak too.
She must have discovered this outrageous deception.
How much suffering had her dear daughter endured at the Ashford residence? What terrible things had her once–beloved son–in–law actually done?
Mary’s gaze turned icy at the thought, and her usual gentleness was replaced by pure disgust.
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She wanted nothing more than to slap Conner across the face. Yet, her good upbringing held her back.
She coldly said, “Noelle’s been widowed and has no relationship with the Ashfords anymore. Don’t come looking for her again.”
Conner completely lost his composure at those words. He shoved past Mary, storming into the Spencer residence and heading straight for Noelle’s bedroom.
His familiarity with the layout made Mary feel guilty.
She should have realized this situation much earlier! She should have known!
The heartless Ashford family had actually done something so foolish.
Conner found the bedroom empty and frowned in confusion and anger. “Where’s Noelle? Where is she?
Where are you hiding her?”
Mary couldn’t hold back any longer either. She yelled, “Get out! Get out of the Spencer residence right now!
She trembled as she reached for her phone to call the police, but Conner stepped forward and used his
strength to snatch the phone away.
If Noelle wouldn’t answer his calls, she would surely answer Mary’s.
“What are you doing?” Mary looked at Conner in shock. “Have you no respect for the law?”
But Conner simply held Mary back with one hand while dialing Noelle’s number with the other. He glanced
at Mary and said, “The law? The Ashford family is the law in Norland!”
The Ashford family definitely had enough power to suppress the Spencer family, and this was why Conner
could speak so arrogantly.
Mary was furious but couldn’t fight back. In the end, she could only clutch her aching chest and watch
Conner’s outrageous behavior.
The phone rang twice before finally being answered. Then, Noelle’s gentle voice came through the line, Mom, what’s wrong? Why are you still awake at this hour? Are you worried about me?”
At that moment, Noelle was at the Cole residence.
She’d thought Mary was calling because she was worried about her. She had intended to comfort Mary, but the voice on the other end wasn’t Mary’s at all. Instead, it was a voice she could never forget.
“Noelle! Where are you?” Conner’s voice carried a hint of anger.
Noelle frowned, feeling a little uneasy.
Sebastian quickly sensed Noelle’s distress and moved closer, quietly asking, “What’s wrong, Noelle?”
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Conner heard his voice and became even more enraged. He shouted, “Why is there a man with you?
Which bastard is it!”
Noelle tried to steady her emotions and asked, “Where’s my mom? This is my mom’s phone! Are you at my house? What have you done to my mom?”
“Tell me where you are first!” Conner’s voice cracked into a near roar, and his eyes turned bloodshot.
His unhinged state thoroughly frightened Mary, and she instinctively called out, “Noelle, he’s broken in
again!”
Upon hearing Mary’s voice, Noelle’s heart sank. She stood up in a panic and said, “I need to go back to the Spencer residence…”
But just as she got up, Sebastian held her back and took the phone from her hand. He looked at her with firm yet gentle eyes and assured her, saying, “Noelle, don’t panic. Leave this to me. I’ll handle it.”
Conner overheard him again, and he broke down even further. He screamed at the top of his lungs,” Noelle! Which bastard are you with? If I don’t see you in half an hour, you’ll never see your mother again!”
Conner thought he had found Noelle’s weak spot. However, the person now holding the phone was
Sebastian.
His gentle gaze remained focused on Noelle, never leaving her face. It was as though he was telling her that nothing would happen to Mary while he was here.
Conner’s threat might’ve worked on Noelle, but it had absolutely no effect on Sebastian. In fact, a faint, almost mocking smile tugged at his lips too. “Mr. Ashford, you want to see Noelle? She’s here with me. I’ll send you an address.
“Come over, and we can talk in person.”
Conner’s grip on the phone tightened as he processed the voice on the other end. It didn’t sound like an older man–it was strong, clear, and carried a cool, almost aristocratic detachment.
Displeased yet alert at the same time, he demanded, saying, “Who exactly are you?”
Sebastian’s smile deepened ever so slightly. “You’ll know who I am when you get here, won’t you?”
Chapter 48
Chapter 48
