Chapter 12
In the end, Hendrix didn’t send Noelle to the villa. After he made himself clear, he dropped her off at a random intersection.
Before she even stood still, he had sped away in his black Porsche without hesitation. That did not surprise her at all. Still, she couldn’t help but curl her fist out of anger, digging her nails into her palm.
She felt a slight pang of pain in her flesh–a warning to herself not to hold any hope for Hendrix.
Since she was still out there, she decided to go shopping. Alas, luck wasn’t on her side. She bumped into someone she despised when she entered the mall.
“Hah! Mrs. Freeman, is that you?” Ruth said with a grin. “How surprising! I thought an uppity woman like you would never go to the mall!”
As Sandra’s best friend, Ruth was the one who loved picking on Noelle the most. The other friends had mellowed down after Noelle married Hendrix, but not Ruth. Instead, she seemed to grow more vicious in her attacks.
Unwilling to waste time on Ruth, Noelle planned to walk around her, but Ruth stopped her.
“Where are you going? How about joining me for some shopping since you’re here alone?”
Noelle stared at Ruth impassively. “Sorry, I’m afraid that won’t be possible.”
“Why not? Do you have a date that you have to hide from me? Oh, is he your lover?”
Without warning, Noelle blurted out, “Ms. Upton, you are an educated woman, aren’t you?”
“What is that supposed to mean? Of course I am!”
“If so, you should know the consequences of slandering others. Did your parents and teachers raise you lies?” Noelle spoke with calmness, all while staring squarely at Ruth.
Her demeanor immediately caused Ruth to fluster.
to spread
Ruth’s expression fell. She barked, “Noelle Swanson, a country girl like you has no right to talk down to me!”
“I didn’t want to, but you were blocking my way. You started it first, so you have to face the music. Got it?”
“You” Ruth’s face was red from anger. At that moment, Sandra hurried over from a store nearby and grabbed Ruth’s arm.
She said timidly, “Ruth, don’t fight with Noelle.”
She dared not look Noelle in the eye. Her fearful behavior created the illusion that she had been a longtime victim of Noelle’s bullying.
Ruth was upset when Sandra told her to stop. “I can’t stand her!”
She turned to Noelle. “Noelle Swanson, what are you so smug for? You have Sandy to thank for your smooth life. She gave up Hendrix!”
“Stop it.” Sandra tugged at Ruth Keeping her head low, she shuffled toward Noelle. “I’m sorry, Noelle. Ruth is quite brash at times, but she’s a good egg. Please don’t take it to heart.
“If that’s not enough, I will apologize to you on her behalf.
The remark fanned Ruth’s anger. “Why do you have to apologize? Noelle was the one who started the insults!”
Chapter 12
+25 BONUS
“Alright, now, Ruth. Don’t fight with Noelle. She’s in poor health, you know. She just visited the hospital this morning…” As Sandra spoke, she seemed closer to tears.
Noelle looked startled at Sandra’s comment. How did Sandra know about her hospital visit?
However, she soon figured it out. Hendrix must have told Sandra about it.
“The hospital…” Ruth paused after she heard Sandra’s reveal. Something flashed across her mind, and she guffawed. “Is that so? Mrs. Freeman must have visited the fertility center, I bet.
“I feel so sorry for Mr. Freeman. Not only did he marry a woman he didn’t love, but this bitch even turned out to be infertile!”
