Chapter 3

Of course, Noelle's text went unanswered.

The next day, she went to John's villa with two dark circles around her eyes. She was halfway through dealing with work when Yvette came looking for her.

Yvette drove a trendy red Porsche, and she donned a fashionable, neat outfit. She brought Noelle to watch a movie.

Noelle couldn't refuse her, so she had no choice but to go along. After the movie, Yvette treated her to Frosan cuisine. She couldn't help but ask, "Have you heard any news about your cousin?"

"Why don't you call Quentin if you miss him that much?" asked a giggling Yvette. She took her phone from her bag, dialed Quentin's number, and shoved the phone to Noelle. "Go on, talk to him!"

Noelle was only worried Quentin would get scammed in a foreign country and never asked to speak with him. So, at that moment, she was at a loss. The phone was like a ticking time bomb in her hands.

"Yes?" A calm voice rang out from the other end of the call.

Noelle's heart skipped a beat, and she nearly dropped the phone.

At the same time, someone stepped out from the opposite booth in the restaurant. The person held his phone beside his ear. He styled a smokey gray shirt with pressed, straight dress pants.

He had a mature and magnetic charm.

Noelle stiffened once she looked up at him.

The man, who was none other than Quentin, noticed her, too. His brows furrowed.

"Thanks for celebrating my birthday with me, Quint!" As that sweet voice rang out, a stunning and slender woman in a long white dress stepped out from the booth. She linked arms with Quentin affectionately.

It was Xyla. She even wore a brilliant diamond necklace around her neck.

A dull ache gnawed at Noelle's temples as she watched the two. The man she had been worried about all this time was celebrating another woman's birthday.

He had already returned in one piece, yet she worried about him and struggled to sleep all night.

"You again?" Yvette was so furious she wanted to go over and beat Xyla up. "How can you keep clinging onto a man who has a wife? How can you be so shameless?"

Quentin's face grew stormy. "Yvette!"

Yvette wanted to keep yelling, but Noelle stopped her.

"Let's drop it, Yvette!" Noelle urged. She returned Yvette's phone and turned to go outside.

A scoff left Yvette's lips as she ran after Noelle with her phone.

Quentin turned to say to Xyla, "Don't take Yvette's words to heart."

Xyla's eyes had reddened. She sniffled as if about to cry and replied, "She's right. I shouldn't cling to you. You're already married, after all!"

After saying that, she covered her mouth and sprinted out the door like she was in great misery.

Quentin frowned but still chased after her.

Noelle got into the car. Her chest tightened uncomfortably, and she couldn't forget how intimate Xyla seemed when getting out of the booth to link arms with Quentin earlier. The two looked more like a couple while she looked more like the homewrecker instead.

Ironically, Quentin was the one who agreed to his and Noelle's marriage three years ago.

Upon seeing Noelle in a glum mood, Yvette consoled her. "Don't be sad, Noelle. Our entire family loves you!"

Noelle shook her head, and her eyes were moist with tears. What was the use of the entire Lowe family loving her? Ultimately, it was her husband who didn't love her.

All she wanted was to go back in time to speak with her younger self, who was brave and determined to marry Quentin. She wished she could tell her younger self, "Don't marry him! You'll never replace his other woman and become the only one in his heart."

"Take me home, Yvette." Noelle felt utterly awful and only wanted to go home and be alone for a bit.

Yvette had no choice but to send Noelle back to Windsor Villa.

…

That night, Quentin didn't come home.

Xyla updated her social media status to "I won't give up on us as long as you don't."

In the morning, Xyla posted a photo of two yummy breakfast dishes with two sets of knives and forks beside them. There was a sticker in calligraphy writing on the photo. It read, "Good morning, my love…"

Even an idiot would know Quentin had spent the night with her.

Noelle kept looking at the photo in a daze for a long time.

…

Janet Burns, Quentin's mother, phoned Noelle that afternoon. She invited Noelle to visit Lowe Mansion because she had a gift for her.

Once Noelle arrived, Janet took out a diamond necklace and placed it around Noelle's neck. "Take a look at this, Elle. Do you like it?"

Janet had given Noelle plenty of gifts throughout the latter's three years of marriage. The gifts ranged from jewelry to clothing, shoes, and hats. Noelle's closest was brimming with them.

Noelle seldom spent time with her mother since she was a child. As Janet showered her with motherly love, she cherished her relationship with Janet dearly.

"Mom, you're spoiling me too much again!" Noelle felt bad that Janet had spent so much money. "I still have many jewelry pieces in my closet that I haven't worn…"

Janet chuckled. "You could sell those, then."

That rendered Noelle speechless.

Janet had specially picked out each gift, so everything represented her blessings and kind wishes. How could Noelle be cruel enough to sell them?

The two were chatting when someone came into the mansion.

Quentin had changed into a new suit and also switched up his hairstyle. He was more handsome and stylish than before.

Noelle looked at him and immediately recalled what Xyla posted. It made her heart sink.

Three years ago, Quentin was in a severe car accident and needed a massive blood infusion. However, the hospital had run out of blood.

Only Xyla's blood type and qualities matched what Quentin needed, yet she fled at the last minute.

Quentin nearly died.

Janet was so enraged that she arranged a marriage for Noelle and Quentin. It lasted peacefully these past three years.

Alas, Xyla later returned. Quentin fell in love with his old flame again. Meanwhile, Noelle became an awkward figure in that love triangle.

"I need to use the washroom, Mom." Noelle hinted that she didn't wish to see Quentin.

Janet's features softened. "Go on."

Noelle left.

That was when Quentin's gaze settled on Noelle's neck, and his brows furrowed.

Once Janet noticed Quentin's face, her eyes turned frosty. "I need a word with you!"

She then headed upstairs.

Quentin frowned once more as he had an inkling about what would happen next. Still, he followed her upstairs into the sunroom.

Janet spun on her heel once they arrived there. Her features contorted into a deep scowl. She finally unleashed her rage after suppressing it for the entire day. "I never should've let Elle marry you! In doing so, I've greatly wronged my best friend!"

Noelle's mother was Janet's best friend.

Quentin's eyes narrowed to slits. A hint of malice flickered in his eyes as he snarled, "What did Noelle say to you?"

A scoff came from Janet. "She didn't tell me anything. Everyone knows about you and Xyla's repulsive affair! Instead of going home after returning from Merania, you went to celebrate Xyla's birthday?

"Just how little do you value Noelle? And what about last time at Cedarfield Villa? What the hell is the meaning of that?"

Quentin's gaze turned sinister. "You seem to know everything!"

Janet sneered frostily. "Don't commit such heinous acts if you don't want anyone to know about them! You know well enough how Xyla treats you. If you still plan on marrying her, I suggest you cut ties with me ASAP!"

All color drained from her face while she panted heavily. She reached a hand forward to snap off all the leaves from her valuable orchid plant.

Quentin's features had also darkened as his chest rose and sank rapidly. In the end, he turned to leave.

Noelle was playing chess with Fred Lowe, Quentin's grandpa, downstairs. He was over 80 years old and had a head full of white hair. Despite his old age, he had good vision and could hear well.

He was also as playful as a boy. He chatted with Noelle to distract her while he cheated at chess. He'd even secretly shift the pieces they had already put down.

Fred proudly declared at the end of their match, "It seems your chess skills haven't improved one bit, little girl!"

Noelle was speechless.

Robert McCarthy, the Lowe family's butler, greeted Quentin just then. "Mr. Quentin!"

Following that, a tall figure entered the space. His presence suffocated the others around.

Fred was baffled as he remarked. "That damned brat has such a nasty scowl. He looks like he has stepped in dog poop. Who upset him this time?"

Then, he raised his voice to call out to Quentin. "Hey, your wife is still here! Why are you leaving alone? Aren't you afraid your wife will leave with another man if you keep this foul temper of yours?"