CHapter 2


    Briony blinked, her eyes welling up as she grabbed Noe’s arm.


    “Sis, I know you dig Milford, but you know damn well Milford and I are head over heels for each


    other. Please don’t break us up! What the heck did you say to Milford yesterday? He’s been


    ghosting me all day.”


    Noe frowned, giving her wrist, which Briony was squeezing, a cold nce.


    “Slipped my mind. Some dude wanted to add me on WhatsApp yesterday, but I didn’t give it to him.


    So that was your boo, huh?”


    “What did you say?”


    Noe looked at her with a pitying gaze. She can’t fathom what’s so great about that oddball.


    Milford’s got a bunch of honeys, sweethearts, and darlings in his phone. March ‘em all out, and they


    could put on a whole women’s ser match for Briony right there. All with simr mugs. same


    series as Briony’s. Anyone would think he’s into stamp collecting.


    This kind of yer, only Briony would treasure like gold.


    Seeing that look in Noe’s eyes, Briony’s pride was deeply wounded.


    What gave her the right! She’s the real Ms. Lambert now! Why the hell is this imposter still looking


    down on her with pity?


    A fierce jealousy shed in Briony’s eyes, and when she caught a glimpse of Belinda approaching,


    she nimbly tripped herself and went down.


    “Ah! Sis, why did you push me!”


    Noe was speechless.


    Belinda rushed over to her precious daughter sprawled on the ground, scolding Noe as she


    helped Briony up.


    “Noe! She’s your sister, for crying out loud! Don’t you have a heart?”


    Noe looked at Briony bawling in Belinda’s arms with indifference.


    “I’m perfectly sane, thank you. You two might want to look after yourselves first.”


    Belinda was baffled. “What do you mean? How on earth did I raise a kid like you?”


    A snicker escaped from a nearby servant.


    Noe dusted off her hands, her tone icy. “Don’t me you. My words are a bit of a brain–teaser,


    something you clearlyck.”


    Belinda was at a loss for words.


    “You stand right there! If you dare im you’re part of our family out there, I’ll break your legs!”


    WL


    13:07


    A smug look flickered in Briony’s eyes as she quickly yed the sweet daughter, consoling an


    enraged Belinda.


    “Mom, don’t be mad. Noe has no idea how rough it’s gonna be when she gets home. I’ve heard


    that girls from rural areas often have to marry early to bring money for their brothers.”


    At that, the nanny who had raised her chimed in. “Briony is right. With her temperament. Noe


    could only marry some lonely old widower who can’t afford a wife. With her sharp tongue, she’ll


    surely get beaten up when she’s married! Briony has always been more caring than Noe. Since


    childhood, Briony has been more diligent than Noe.”


    These words were music to Briony’s ears. She smirked, but noticed that Noe was still as


    serene as ever.


    How could she still be smiling? She must be faking it!


    Briony reached out, “Sis, let me help you with your suitcase. Oh my… Howe you have so little


    stuff?”


    Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org.


    identally, she flung open Noe’s small suitcase, revealing only a neatptop and some nk


    papers inside.


    Briony had expected Noe to take some valuables to sellter, but upon seeing the nk papers,


    she couldn’t help but lose herposure.


    “Sis, even though Emerald County is dirt poor, these nk papers won’t do you any good! You can’t


    just draw a pie and call it dinner,” sheughed.


    The nanny added, “Hasn’t even hit the countryside yet and already looking so destitute?”


    Belinda, still fuming, snatched theptop from Noe’s hands.


    “You think you’ve grown up eating what, air? Even if I send you out naked today, you must obey


    me!”


    Briony’s eyes widened with anticipation.


    This was too thrilling!


    Vincent rushed in, took theptop, and stuffed it back into Noe’s arms.


    was he


    After all, Noe had grown up under their watch. Making a scene like this- how supposed to keep


    his rep around here? The mishap of acknowledging the wrong daughter was already the talk of the


    town; he couldn’t risk further embarrassment.


    “Noe, dear, you can take whatever you want. It’s all yours anyway.”


    The nanny wouldn’t let up.


    “Every time I see Noe, I get chills down my spine. She’s such a country bumpkin, isn’t she? I


    hope she’s not up to any weird tricks. I say don’t let her take anything. What if there are


    Noe bent down to pack her small suitcase.


    Lifting her clear eyes, she stared at Belinda and Briony.


    With a slight smile, she said, “Haven’t you noticed over the years how much you two resemble each


    other?”


    Since childhood, no matter what Noe did, Belinda favored Briony. She even told her not to worry


    about grades, stating that the Lambert family doesn’t rely on academics. It was onlyter that Noe


    discovered the reason behind it- Briony was jealous of her good grades and had cried to Belinda


    about it.


    If Noe scored too high, she’d get scolded for not considering Briony’s feelings.


    It seemed that a nanny’s niece mattered more to Belinda than her own daughter.


    As for what that represents, Noe didn’t believe for a second that Belinda had no clue.


    Noe curved her lips into a smile, looking at Vincent.


    “I’ve prepared a gift for you, Mr. and Mrs. Lambert. Hope you’ll like it. It’ll be delivered after !


    Leave.”


    Mr. and Mrs. Lambert.


    Those words were cold, marking a clear boundary with the Lambert family, with no hint of


    association.


    Vincent’s face tightened.


    Upon hearing her words, Belinda felt as though Noe was on the verge of leaving yet still


    threatening her.


    Fuming with anger, she stormed past Briony’s half–hearted attempts to stop her, hell–bent on


    pping Noe right across the face.


    “Listen up, once you’re out of here, don’t even think abouting back. Even if you end up crying


    from feeding chickens, we won’t give you a second thought!”


    Belinda tried to snatch the suitcase out of Noe’s hand, her p hanging midair, but Noe nimbly


    dodged it.


    Before anyone behind could catch her, Belinda crashed headfirst into the wall, instantly forming a


    large bump on her head!


    Belinda let out a piercing scream, “You dare to push me?!”


    Briony got the fright of her life, rushing over to help Belinda up.


    Noe stood her ground, seeing Belinda and Briony as nothing more than pathetic clowns.


    That look made Belinda inexplicably feel a twinge of guilt.


    17-07


    Her raised hand never came down, and Vincent, ever the peacemaker, tried to smooth things. over.


    “What’s the big scene for? Noe’s ride is here. Let’s all see her out together. Who knows. this


    might be thest time we see her.”