Chapter 18
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Finally, Noelle clenched her fist and looked up at Sandra, who flashed her a doelike, innocent smile.
After some staring, Noelle broke out in laughter. Then, she spat, “You’re a bastard child.”
Everyone had their sore spot. She had hit Sandra where it hurt. The bastard child insult was taboo for Sandra, whose expression soured.
Without thinking, she shoved Noelle to the ground. Engulfed in anger, she lost her calm and acted impulsively. It wasn’t until she had lashed out that she realized she had done wrong
However, it was too late.
They heard Matilda’s shocked gasps. “What did you do?”
Sandra froze on the spot. She quickly turned around to explain herself, but Matilda passed her by. Sandra’s outreached arms hung awkwardly in the air.
Noelle was quick to recover. She got up from the ground with a chuckle. “I’m fine.”
Her actions were reminiscent of Sandra’s usual tactics, but her smile was more sarcastic than Sandra’s.
Matilda missed the sarcasm in Noelle’s expression. She merely glared at Sandra in dissatisfaction.
“Mom, it wasn’t what it seemed. I-“Sandra attempted to explain herself, but a maid interrupted with an
announcement.
“Mrs. Swanson, Mr. Freeman is here.”
Tears immediately streamed down Sandra’s cheek. Hendrix happened to run into Sandra crying when the maid ushered him to the second floor.
“Alright, now. Wipe your tears away,” Matilda instructed Sandra.
Then, she turned to Hendrix. “Hendrix, you’re here.”
“Hello, Mrs. Swanson.” He nodded at Matilda before asking, “What just happened?”
“Oh, it was nothing. Noelle… She accidentally fell.” Matilda was clearly trying to cover up for Sandra.
Noelle raised her gaze and asked, “Mom, did 1?”
“Yes,” Matilda insisted.
Matilda’s behavior reminded Noelle of the child she lost. Her family made up an excuse, claiming the tragedy was an accident.
Smiling weakly, she mumbled, “If you say so.”
However, Sandra immediately confessed, “No, Mom. I–I shoved Noelle, but…”
Sandra sobbed even more as she began to speak. Although she was the perpetrator, she was good at playing the
victim
Matilda wanted to comfort Sandra, but Hendrix interjected as his icy gaze swept past Noelle’s face, “I believe Sandra will not hurt the others for no good reason.”
He declared with such determination, and his burning gaze seemed to pierce through her existence.
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Chapter 18
What remained of the smile on Noelle’s pale face vanished in totality. The blood in her veins froze. Her arms, which hung limply by her side, started to shake violently, but she had a steely look in her eyes.
She stood there, meeting Hendrix’s gaze.
At that moment, a maid stood forward. “Mrs. Swanson, I heard Ms. Noelle and Ms. Sandra quarreling just now.”
Matilda turned to the maid. “What did you say?
Hendrix’s harsh gaze landed on the maid.
The maid kept her head low. She revealed, “I heard Ms. Noe le calling Ms. Sandra a… bastard child.”
Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: The Sway and Slide of Love
Like how the story is progressing now but why is the author only releasing 3 chapters at a time? this is torture😩😩...
Woah chapters 41-45 is intense!! Good to see Noelle’s character who has come across as mostly detached actually express emotion....
I find Noelle’s character so frustrating, she comes across lacking any true emotion. The chapters where Rosie was missing was probably the most where we have seen some strong outward emotion shown. Dreading these next few chapters if she is going to do something drastic to “go find Seline” The author has taken us on a rollercoaster with these characters. The novel feels like it is at a stage now where they can come full circle....
A good change of pace and story in the last 10 chapters. Good to see the shift in Hendrix’s character (more patience) to win over Noelle and Rosie. Hope we start to see them warm up to him. Please no crazy twist where he loses them again. Have enjoyed this story and looking forward to its wrap up👨👩👧...
A good change of pace in the last 10 chapters. Also nice to see a shift in Hendrix’s character (more patience) to win Noelle and Rosie over. Hoping in these next few chapters we start to see Noelle and Rosie warm up to him. Please no crazy twist where he loses them again. Have enjoyed this story and looking forward to its wrap up 👨👩👧...
I have been in love with this novel but I don’t know how much patience I have to wait until the to finish line. Dear Author, can you atleast give us some idea about how long is this going to be or if there’s any turning point coming soon. And it would be great if you could upload at least 10 chapters at once. 5 chapters is making me more impatience with the anticipation of the further story of novel🙈...
I really hope there is a turning point in this story where Noelle starts to show some interest in Hendrix...