Chapter 111 A Good Husband


    Chapter 111 A Good Husband


    Noah responded silently, mouthing, "You are asking for trouble."


    Audrey burst intoughter, savoring cranberry cookies heartily.


    Cookie crumbs were scattered all over the ce.


    Ste had headed to the garden to tend to the flowers while Noah approached his sister, his expression


    quite serious.


    "Clean up the floor after you''re finished eating!"


    Audrey was startled by this suddenmand.


    She gulped down the mouthful of food. Despite her reluctance, sheplied with her brother''s


    directive and took the broom from his hand, cleaning up her mess slowly.


    "Noah, you''ve reallye a long way." She yfully teased as she swept the floor. "Have you now


    mastered all the qualities of the perfect man and an ideal husband?"


    Noah cast a sidelong nce at her.


    Smiling, she covertly stashed the remaining cookies in a bag after tidying up the mess.


    "Who are you nning to give those to?" he asked suddenly.


    Audrey was caught off guard, clutching the edge of the bag tightly with her petite hand.


    Oh, no, he''s onto me. Since when did he be so perceptive? It seems like I can''t hide anything


    from him.


    "I..."


    She desperately tried to concoct a white lie, but Noah saw right through her and interjected, "Surely,


    you''re not nning to eat them all yourself!"


    After a brief moment of hesitation, Audrey relented with a forced smile and admitted. "I''m taking some


    for Horace to try."


    Horace Hand? Why is it him again?


    His gaze took on a subtle chill, and a trace of doubt crossed his brows.


    During her visit to the hospital thest time, she had casually mentioned that Horace had apanied


    her to Eldoria.


    At that moment, the name Horace Hand meant nothing to Noah in connection to the Martinez family.


    Upon closer thought, Noah remembered that Horace''s grandfather had been aborer working in the


    Martinez estate for an extended period. Theseborers usually undertook cleaning and other


    maintenance duties, hardly ever crossing paths with him.


    Even so, Noah could not help but wonder how this person had be so significant to Audrey.


    He remainedposed and indifferently asked, "Hasn''t he gone back yet?"


    "Of course not! How can he leave me all alone in Eldoria without any worries?"


    "He... worries about you?"


    "Well... yes!" Audrey looked somewhat embarrassed. "He initially came to... protect me."


    "Out of all the bodyguards you could have had on your trip, you chose awnmower?"


    "Noah!"


    "Audrey!" Noah''s expression turned serious. "You need to set boundaries and keep your distance from


    Horace!"


    "Why?"


    "Because you might get hurt." He stressed each word. "He''s not the right match for you, so you should


    stay away from him."


    "Are you implying he has a humble background?" Audrey pouted. "And what about you and Ste?


    You''ve been living discreetly in Eldoria, concealing your true identity and being a good husband. Yet,


    you have the nerve to lecture me-"


    "I''m not like you!" Noah was furious, and his voice turned hoarse as he roared his response.


    She always seemed to know exactly where to hit him, mentioning the things he least wanted to hear.


    He suspected she was doing it on purpose!


    "Audrey, I''m warning you. You''re only eighteen! Yet, you''re getting involved in romantic nonsense


    instead of focusing on your studies? You need to sever ties with that guy quickly. Otherwise, I''ll handle


    this Horace myself once I return to Emberfall!"


    "You-" Audrey was taken aback, her eyes filling with tears. She felt wronged but dared not to respond,


    muttering, "Don''t you dare!! If youy a finger on him, I''ll reveal your true identity to Ste!"


    Noah''s furious re left Audrey utterly speechless.


    She continued to wipe away her tears, murmuring, "I''m eighteen, and what''s the big deal? Who says


    you can''t have a rtionship at eighteen? Didn''t Gwen also pester you relentlessly when you were


    eighteen?"


    "Audrey, that''s enough."


    His overpowering anger filled the room, and she could only hear the sound of her own heart racing.


    Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.


    Timidly, she lowered her head, fidgeted with her fingers, and bit her lip, too afraid to say another word.


    At that moment, Ste walked in with Mia, Aiden, and Caleb, who hade to celebrate the sessful


    opening of the new store.


    Taking a deep breath, Noah made a conscious effort to put on a more rxed smile as he weed


    them.


    He engaged in pleasant conversation, embodying the graciousness of the host.


    Ste stood by his side, wearing an affectionate and admiring expression, which caused Mia to burst


    intoughter.


    Herughter finally brought Ste back to reality. With a slight blush, Ste pursued her lips and


    promptly retreated behind the bar to attend to her responsibilities.


    "You''ve been around him every day, and you''re still not tired of it?" Mia followed Ste with a smile.


    "But I have to say that Liam has be a trustworthy man indeed. I''m impressed! As long as he''s


    willing to do anything for you and stop being a yboy, he will have my approval!"


    "Cut it out." Ste smiled and handed her a menu. "Anything you''d like to drink?"


    "Not for now. Is everyone else here?"


    "Samuel has his cram school today. He''ll join us after that. As for the rest... they should all be here."


    At Ste''s remark, Caleb chuckled.


    Right at the next moment, his phone rang, and he left the room to answer. The call made him break


    into an even broader smile.


    On the other end of the line was Oliver, who was currently absent.


    "Caleb, do you think it''s fair for Noah to treat me this way?" Heined loudly as soon as the call


    connected. "Am I really that unlikable that I can''t even attend the grand opening?"


    Caleb suppressed hisughter and kindly consoled. "Try to understand Noah. After all, you were once


    dubbed a ''pervert'' by Ste, and you were involved in her car ident. If she met with you, who knows


    how she''d react!"


    Oliver felt gloomy and cast his fishing rod far into the distance, letting out a long sigh.


    "In short, Noah ces higher importance on personal rtionships than friendships."


    "Well, you can''t put it exactly like that..." Caleb suppressed hisughter. "Noah has been quite


    thoughtful. He even allowed you to stay at his family''s homestay for a vacation!"


    Oliver was on the verge of howling. A vacation? It feels more like exile!


    It was precisely because Noah knew Oliver so well and knew that he loved to be part of the excitement


    despite being warned not to show up on the opening day that he sent him away. Thus, there was no


    guarantee that he would not do something unexpected.


    To avoid startling Ste, Noah decided to keep Oliver away, even if it meant sacrificing his buddy.


    He diplomatically referred to it as a vacation at Emberfall, where Oliver could enjoy a homestay, savor


    the finest food and drinks, and even have the Royals'' exclusive service.


    But in reality...


    Oliver tightened his grip on his fishing rod and let out a shout to the sky. "If he''s so capable, he should


    publicly reveal his true identity! Let''s see who will scare Ste more!"


    "Shh! Can''t you hold your tongue for a second?"


    "He likes to please her with these fish, huh?" Oliver gritted his teeth. "I''m going to catch all of those


    mudfish under his Evergreen Mountain right now and see what he''ll use to appease Ste-"


    "Ah!"


    Caleb was taken aback as Oliver suddenly let out a loud yell for no apparent reason.


    "Oliver?" Caleb became concerned. "What''s wrong?"


    "Oliver? Oliver! What''s going on there?"