CHapter 1
On the second floor of the Lambert Mansion.
Briony Lambert, decked out in a in white princess dress, whipped out her pocket mirror to admire
her own lovely face.
She pinched her handkerchief, cocking a smug smile at Noe in front of her.
“Sis, there’s something I wannay on you…”
Justst month, when Belinda fell ill and needed a blood transfusion, both Noe and Briony were
called over. And bam! Turns out Noe wasn’t the biological daughter of the Lamberts! A paternity
test on the spot proved Briony was the real flesh and blood of the Lambert family!
Holding the paternity test report, Briony’s eyes were dancing with triumph. She grew up with Noe
since they were knee–high.
Why should she remain relegated to the role of the nanny’s niece while Noe basked in the glory
as the high and mighty Ms. Lambert?
Now, it was all hers for the taking!
Behind Briony, the Lambert folks were giving Noe heart–wrenching nces.
Spotting Noe’s gaze, Vincent Lambert brushed away a nonexistence tear.
“Noe, nobody anticipated that Briony was our own flesh and blood. We had ns for you to grow
up here alongside her, but out of the blue, your folks decide to take you back. We’re gutted to see
you go, but it’s only right to send you back. I can’t bear to separate you from your biological parents;
it would be too cruel.”
Vincent was actually game for keeping Noe around, but Belinda argued that Briony had been
overshadowed by Noe all her life, and living together would be unfair to her.
Just the thought of her darling daughter living like a servant under her own roof was enough to
make Belinda’s heart bleed.
It’s all Noe’s fault!
As for Noe, their supposed daughter, the moment Vincent spread the word, calls from Emerald
County flooded in, seeking a reunion. The thick ent on the other end of the line was as dense as
msses! Vincent could barely make heads or tails of what they were saying.
Emerald County, as the news reported, had an average annual ie of less than a grand per
residentst year. A ce so broke that charity couldn’t even lift it up!
It turned out that Noe’s real parents were from Emerald County, and judging by the sound of it,
they were farmers.
“Noe, even though your parents are farmers, don’t you worry. I heard chickens in the background
when I was on the phone. So, at least if you’re hungry, you can chow down on
some chicken…”
Briony snorted withughter.
What a backwater! They even raise chickens!
“Dad, you don’t get it. In ces that poor, chickens are worth more than people. You can’t just eat
them whenever you want.”
Briony’s face was a picture of superiority.
Noe saw right through their act and stood up, asking coolly, “I’ll leave in a bit. Where’s my
laptop?”
She was the picture of grace and elegance that Briony could never mimic, no matter how hard she
tried.
The nerve! What a show–off!
“Sis, we didn’t touch yourptop. It’s a clunker from five years ago. You must’ve lost it, right?”
The nannies behind chimed in, dissing her.
“Yeah, only Ms. Noe would be so petty as to care about aptop that old.”
*Ease up, Noe’s about to head back to the boonies, where folks probably don’t even know
what aptop is.”
Briony was smirking all over.
Noe gave her a cool nce and whipped out her phone, pulling up a surveince clip.
The video unmistakably revealed Briony sneaking into Noe’s roomst night when everyone else
was distracted and swiping herptop.
The footage showed Briony looking downright ferocious.
“That old hag, why does she only care about you! I’m the real daughter of the Lambert family!”
Briony was speechless. Had Noe lost her marbles? She’d actually rigged her, own room with
cameras! And caught her cursing out Old Mrs. Lambert.
Belinda yanked Briony behind her as if Noe was about to gobble her up.
“Noe, you’re out of line. This is your home too. How could you set up cameras here? You know
your dad’s got loads of trade secrets. If those got out…”
With that, Vincent’s expression turned all kinds of awkward.
“Noe, hand over your phone. I want to check if you’ve nted cameras anywhere else.”
Noe was left speechless. She didn’t give a hoot about the Lambert’s business.
Right in front of Vincent, Noe wiped her phone clean, restoring it to factory settings.
Vincent, feeling a bit sheepish, chuckled, “I’m not doubting you. Just ying it safe, you know.”
Noe’s reply was icy. “Give me myptop, and I’ll leave.”
Vincent quickly had Briony dig up Noe’sptop.
This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org.
Briony grumbled, “She can’t even let go of such an old piece of junk. Emerald County probably
doesn’t even have the inte.”
That bustedptop couldn’t even boot up now, only a soon–to–be poor girl like Noe would
treasure it.
Noe gave her onest nce. Thisptop, a gift from Old Mrs. Lambert while she was still
around, had been customized by Noe herself. It was precious, sure, but not indispensable.
She could rece theptop, and these so–called family members? She could do without them. It’s
just that this gadget held a different kind of sentiment.
The entire Lambert family favored Briony, top to bottom, except for Old Mrs. Lambert who loved. her
from the start, giving her a warmth she’d always cherish.
With Old Mrs. Lambert gone, the Lambert family meant squat to her.
Noe turned and walked towards the front door without a backward nce or a shred of
regret.
Belinda, who’d been gearing up to drop some sentimental lines, was left feeling awkward as hell
“Hey you, hold up! What’s with the attitude? An elder is trying to have a word with you, and here you
are, giving me the stink eye. You and Briony grew up together, for crying out loud. It’s like one of
you is from another!”
From Vincent’s lips, Belinda had also caught wind of how tough Noe’s biological parents had
1. it.
The word on the street was they were dirt poor, residing in Emerald County, one of the most
poverty–stricken areas in the country, without even a proper main road in their vige.
Her folks were farmers, with four bachelor brothers at home and a sister with a temper shorter than
a summer day, not to mention grandparents who weren’t in the best of health.
In a family like that, if Noe went back, she’d be in for a rough ride. It wouldn’t be surprising if. at
her young age, she’d have to bust her chops to put food on the table, maybe even ve away. to
save up wedding gifts for her brothers to find brides!
Briony, who had lived in Noe’s shadow for years, transformed her insecurity into a thickyer of
confidence as she rose to follow Noe. “Sis, let me walk you out.”
Vincent cast a disapproving nce at Belinda. “Cut her some ck. Noe’s been decent to you
over the years. Remember when you were sick? She took care of you.”
Belinda shot him a look that could kill.
13:07
“Take care of me? I’ve been waiting on her hand and foot, and look what she turned out to be. I’m
just worried she’ll start getting ideas about Briony’s wedding. A Rosenberg wedding is for our own
flesh and blood!”
Milford Rosenberg and the Lambert family had a marriage arrangement in ce, but it was meant
for the Lambert’s daughter, not Noe, the cuckoo in the nest!
Besides, Briony and Milford Rosenberg shared a close bond since childhood. Unlike the rebellious
Noe, Briony was the real deal thoughtful and sensible, which brightened Belinda’s day
considerably.
Noe didn’t have much to take with her, Just a small suitcase with theptop Old Mrs. Lambert had
given her.
Briony sidled up, grinning from ear to ear.
“Sis, I’m really gonna miss you, but you know I’ve always been close to Milford. It’s such a shame
you can’te to the wedding.”
Briony had always been a little magpie, snatching everything from Noe, from food and clothes to
the doting affection of Mr. and Mrs. Lambert.
Noe never let it get to her.
As for Milford, if Briony hadn’t mentioned it. Noe would have almost forgotten the guy event
existed.
“You like picking up guys at the dump. I’m not into that.”