The Sway and Slide of Love

Noelle raised her head, her eyes locking onto Jean's. "I thought you hated me? So, why are you telling me all this?"

"Because I hate Dylan even more. I know it was him who set me up back then. If it weren't for his tip-off, my father would never have fallen from grace. So, how could I not hate him?"

"So, the assets you mentioned were just a lie to fool him?"

"Of course." Jean nodded without hesitation, turning to face Noelle with a smile. "So, are you going to tell him that?"

Noelle pressed her lips together. "I don't believe you're doing this alone."

"What?"noveldrama

"You said it yourself Dylan was the one who reported your family, leading to the investigation. He knows exactly what happened to your family, so he'd know whether your father left you any overseas assets or not.

"And you just got out of prison. Even if you wanted to forge an asset certificate, you'd need a professional to help you with that. Dylan has been in the business world for years, so it wouldn't be easy to fool him. That is, unless someone is helping you, right?"

Noelle's voice grew calmer.

Jean stared at her for a moment, then her smile deepened. "And? Who do you think that person is?"

"Hendrix Freeman," Noelle answered with certainty.

Jean laughed.

Noelle didn't say anything more. She simply turned and walked away.

Jean's voice came from behind, "Even if the assets are fake, the fact that Dylan slept with me for that investment was real.

"You think he made a mistake back then, don't you? But the truth is, even if he had a second chance, even without his grandfather in the picture this time, he'd still make the same decision.

"In fact, all that talk about doing it for his grandfather? That was just an excuse he came up with for himself. This is who he truly is. Even without any external pressure, he'd still make the same choice!"

Jean's words echoed behind her, but Noelle didn't look back, nor did her steps ever once falter. She simply held Rosie's hand as she led her away from the playground and back to their apartment.

Rosie had been quiet this time. Maybe she just didn't understand what Noelle and Jean were talking about-but normally, if something confused her, she would've asked Noelle about it right away. Yet, strangely enough, not a single peep came out of her.

It wasn't until Noelle sank onto the couch in a daze that Rosie finally asked her, "Mommy, is Mr. Pritchett a bad person?"

The question hit Noelle like a punch to the chest. She slowly turned to look at Rosie, who was staring at her earnestly, waiting for an answer.

But Noelle suddenly didn't know how to respond, because she didn't know the answer herself.

Was deception considered "bad"? If what Jean said was true, then everything Dylan had told Noelle was a lie—including his claim that he had chosen her.

That was what terrified and disgusted Noelle the most. No one could understand how overjoyed she had been when she heard him say those words. It was in that moment that she finally let her guard down, ready to fully accept him.

But now, someone had come forward to tell her that it was all a sham? That it had

been nothing but a carefully constructed lie?