Silence fell.

Estelle Lockwood opened her mouth instinctively, but her thoughts scattered for a second. ’Nathaniel Sloan?!’

"Who the hell do you think you are, stopping me from teaching the mistress a lesson? Get out of my—"

Rose Lowell was in the middle of her tirade, but when she saw who it was, it was as if a hand had clamped around her throat, forcing her to choke back the rest of her words.

Nathaniel Sloan’s cold gaze fell upon her. "Is this what passes for Mrs. Lockwood’s manners?"

Rose Lowell’s face turned beet red. The pain in her wrist was so intense she gritted her teeth, her features twisted in a ferocious scowl.

"Nathaniel." Noelle Lockwood’s expression faltered, her eyes welling with tears. "My mom was just being too impulsive. I’ll apologize to Yara. Can you please let my mother go first?"

Nathaniel Sloan released his grip. His oppressive gaze slowly swept over to Noelle Lockwood. "Impulsive?"

’He hadn’t been deaf to Rose Lowell’s curses just now. How could they have the audacity to blame their assault on being ’impulsive’?’

Noelle Lockwood bit her lip, her eyes red-rimmed, her face a mask of forbearance, as if she were the one who had suffered some great injustice.

"I’m sorry, I’m so, so sorry... My mom was just worried my body couldn’t handle the stress. So when she saw Yara, she naturally got a little emotional."

Estelle Lockwood’s expression flickered.

’The insinuation in Noelle Lockwood’s words was obvious. What did she mean, seeing ’her’ would make her worry about Noelle’s health? This was just her passive-aggressive way of telling everyone that Yara’s presence would upset Noelle and worsen her condition.’

’Just a few simple sentences, yet the manipulative subtext was overwhelming.’

Just as Estelle Lockwood was about to speak, Nathaniel Sloan cut in, his voice cool. "Your hospital room is over ten floors away. If you knew your body couldn’t handle the stress, why come all the way here to confront her?"

Noelle Lockwood’s expression stiffened.

Tears instantly welled up in her eyes, and she looked as if she was about to burst into tears. "Nathaniel, that’s not what I meant. I was just..."

She trailed off, choking on a sob, then forced a smile and turned to Estelle Lockwood. "Yara, I didn’t realize you were here. I hadn’t had a chance to say hello yet."

Everyone was shocked!

’How shameless could this Yara be, to make the real fiancée grovel so submissively to a mistress!’

Estelle Lockwood’s eyes glinted, and she arched an eyebrow.

’She knew what Noelle Lockwood was up to. It was the same old trick: act pitiful to make everyone else think Estelle was the one going too far.’

’Since Noelle Lockwood was so insistent on painting her as a homewrecking mistress, it would be a shame not to do something worthy of the accusation.’

Estelle Lockwood smoothed back her hair and said nonchalantly, "Hm. It’s not too late to say hello. Go on."

"..." Noelle Lockwood’s smile was about to crumble.

’She was mocking Yara, didn’t the bitch understand that? How dare she!’

"Yara, you’re such a kidder..."

"It’s not that I’m fond of joking."

Estelle Lockwood remained perfectly composed. "After all, Miss Lockwood, you came all this way just to greet me. Despite being ill, you insisted on crossing two hospital wings and coming all the way to the pediatrics department. It would be a shame not to say a proper hello."

She paused, her tone laced with meaning. "Mr. Sloan, wouldn’t you agree?"

Nathaniel Sloan gave an indifferent nod. "In that case, you should greet her."

Noelle Lockwood’s expression was rigid, her face pale as she glared resentfully at Estelle Lockwood.

’With so many people watching, how could Nathaniel... how could he humiliate me like this!’

"Mr. Sloan, isn’t that going a little too far?"

Someone in the crowd couldn’t stand it anymore.

’Yara was being so outrageous. They had all thought Mr. Sloan was here to protect Miss Noelle, but who would have thought he’d defend the mistress right in front of his own fiancée!’

And poor Noelle Lockwood had done nothing wrong, yet she had to endure such humiliation. She was sick, and had to watch her own fiancé defend the mistress, unable to say a word, only able to weep in silence.

The speaker couldn’t help but frown. "Mr. Sloan, your own fiancée is being provoked by the mistress, and you’re helping the mistress? What kind of logic is that?"

"Miss Noelle loves you so much. Do you think you’re being fair to her by doing this?"

Someone else in the crowd sneered at Estelle Lockwood. "She’s pretty, but who knew she was so vicious? If I were the fiancée, I’d be furious!"

"Exactly! Being provoked by the mistress while you’re sick... Just thinking about it is suffocating..."

Noelle Lockwood’s gaze shifted, a bit of color returning to her cheeks as a flash of delight crossed her eyes.

’Yes, just like that,’ she thought. ’Curse Yara until she’s too ashamed to even leave her house!’

’After all, wasn’t this how they had broken the old Estelle Lockwood? By cursing her until she had a complete breakdown?’

A thrill of satisfaction shot through Noelle Lockwood. ’So what if Estelle Lockwood had married Nathaniel back then?’

’No one acknowledged her status. Whenever she came looking for Nathaniel Sloan, she’d be chased away like ’the mistress.’ Meanwhile, I will forever be known as ’Nathaniel Sloan’s fiancée.’’

’Curse her! The more viciously these people curse, the better!’

"Miss Noelle, don’t be afraid, we all support you! You can’t show any weakness to the mistress. If she’s provoking you now, what will you do when she shows up pregnant to stake her claim?"

"Mr. Sloan, Noelle has been with you for so many years! As her fiancé, you have to take some responsibility!"

Rose Lowell also chimed in at the opportune moment. "Nathaniel, you have to remember, Noelle saved..."

Noelle Lockwood and Rose Lowell exchanged a glance, and Noelle put on a frail, helpless expression.

’No matter what, she had saved his life. Now that it had come to this, Nathaniel would have to acknowledge it whether he wanted to or not!’

Thinking this, Noelle Lockwood gave a bashful smile. "Thank you all for your kind words. I believe Nathaniel will come to his senses in the end. Nathaniel, we..."

"Noelle Lockwood."

Nathaniel Sloan cut her off abruptly, his eyes narrowing. "So the title of my ’fiancée’ is that convenient. But you... are you, though?"

An immense silence fell over the hallway.

The crowd didn’t seem to understand what he meant.

Rose Lowell was the first to react. Her face fell, her eyes darting nervously. "Na-Nathaniel, what are you talking about! How is Noelle not your fiancée? Back... back then, both our families agreed to it!"

"Are you going to abandon Noelle for this woman? My poor daughter!"

Noelle Lockwood could no longer hold it in. She covered her mouth and burst into tears.

The onlookers finally processed what was happening. ’Oh my god, so Nathaniel Sloan was willing to lie just to protect Yara. He was trying to sever ties with the fiancée who had been by his side for so many years.’

Seeing Noelle Lockwood’s tears, Dr. Walsh’s heart ached for her, and he roared in anger.

"Mr. Sloan, are you really denying your relationship with Miss Noelle for this mistress? It’s common knowledge that Miss Noelle bore you a son, and that you two have been engaged for seven years! She’s been with you for seven years, and you’re just going to abandon her for the other woman? Do you have any conscience at all!"

Nathaniel Sloan’s gaze darkened menacingly!

Estelle Lockwood couldn’t help but laugh.

’Engaged to Nathaniel Sloan seven years ago?’ 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

’The whole world knows that Noelle Lockwood is Nathaniel Sloan’s fiancée, but no one knows that seven years ago was the day she and Nathaniel Sloan got married!’

Dr. Walsh was speaking with righteous fury, but when he met Estelle Lockwood’s eyes, he grew even more enraged. "You have the nerve to laugh?! This is all your fault! Why don’t you just die, you damn mistress!"

"Mr. Sloan, good women like Miss Noelle are rare. You should..."

"Noelle Lockwood, I gave you a chance."

Nathaniel Sloan interrupted him coolly, his expression placid as he tapped his fingers lightly. "Others may not know the truth, but surely you do, Miss Lockwood."

The man paused, then his lips parted, and he uttered a sentence that shocked everyone to their core!

"I was already married seven years ago."