Mary perked up in joy, but fearing that she might have misheard, she pressed, “Really, Noelle?”
Noelle glanced at the shattered photo frame on the floor and calmly replied, “Even if Conner’s dead, I have to live my life to the fullest.”
Indeed. Now, Conner was no different from dead to her.
Naturally, Mary was thrilled to hear this. After all, Noelle had been so devastated that it had seemed like
she’d lost her point in living now that Conner was dead.
“That’s right! Life goes on for the living!” Mary exclaimed, her voice trembling with relief.
That night, sounds from the room next door were bolder than before. Each breathy cry was like a dull
blade sawing into Noelle’s chest without mercy.
Noelle didn’t sleep until late into the night, and at dawn, the wail of an ambulance siren tore through the
Ashford residence.
When Noelle opened her bedroom door, she saw Conner rushing downstairs holding Sabrina in his arms.
He had panic written all over his face and didn’t even bother to spare Noelle a glance.
In all the years she’d known him, she’d never seen him so alarmed. He’d always been composed and in
control.
Downstairs, the housekeepers were talking among themselves.
“Mrs. Sabrina woke up feeling nauseous, and Mr. Ashford was so worked up that he called an ambulance
right away and said she needed a check–up.”
Another housekeeper snickered. “I could hear them from my room downstairs last night. After more than
a month of that, it’d be stranger if she wasn’t pregnant.”
As Noelle stood at the top of the stairs, she gripped the polished wood railing so hard that she left
scratches on it.
Soon, the hospital called and asked for her.
Noelle was too disgusted to go, but Yasmine pressed and added some guilt–tripping. “Noelle, even if Conner’s gone, you’re still family. The Ashfords have only always had few heirs to carry on the name, and this baby is a hard–won miracle.”
She sighed and continued, “Dr. Brown is known for saving difficult pregnancies, yet he won’t agree to come, and no amount of money can bring him here. Since the Spencers have ties in the medical field, you can surely reach him, right?
When that didn’t move Noelle, Yasmine tried again. “We’ve treated you and the Spencers well. Back then-
”
Chapter 2
2/2
“I’ll go,” Noelle said, cutting her off with a raised hand. She could see where this was going.
It was true that the Ashfords had once helped the Spencers financially, and the Spencers had never been ones to accept help without paying it back. However, they’d long settled every debt of gratitude already.
Still, if Yasmine insisted on bringing that up, Noelle would rather oblige than appear ungrateful.
When she arrived at the hospital, Conner was scrambling to pull strings. However, this was a top private hospital in Norland, and the doctor, Dalton Brown, was a top obstetrician. Money alone wouldn’t make
him appear.
Upon spotting her, Conner strode forward and seized her hand so hard it sent pain shooting up her wrist.
“Noelle, you’re finally here! Sabrina has an unstable pregnancy, and the doctor says it’s a tough case. Your family’s acquainted with Dr. Brown, aren’t they?”
Noelle looked down at the reddened skin he was holding onto, and a bitter smile tugged at her lips.
Conner had always known that she couldn’t stand pain and was highly sensitive. Sometimes, even a light
touch could make her flinch.
In the past, he’d used to gently hold her hand. But now, for the sake of the child in Sabrina’s womb, he was
too frantic to notice that he’d hurt her.
Noelle smirked, and a cold glint flashed across her eyes as she said, “Caleb, you’ve never called me by my
name. It’s always been ‘Ms. Spencer.””
It was absurd, really. When Conner had come back pretending to be Caleb, the flaws had been obvious. It was just that she’d been too blind then. She was convinced that the man she loved would never pull such an outrageous trick, so the suspicion had never crossed her mind until the previous night.
Conner’s expression awkwardly stiffened. Then, he briefly paused to confirm that Noelle hadn’t noticed anything and immediately relaxed.
“I was just worried about Sabrina and slipped up. It happens.”
Noelle scoffed. “Oh, worried? You should be gentler then. Didn’t she beg you to be gentler last night?”
Chapter 3
1/2
Chapter 3