"Oh, are you referring to the rumors about what your adoptive father did to you? Well, yes. I've heard about them, admitted Beatrice, unperturbed. "People say all sorts of things. Besides, I've known you long enough to know exactly what kind of person you are."

Her voice remained as calm and composed as ever.

Noelle felt something warm slowly spreading within her chest. She couldn't help but clench her fists, and then she whispered, "Thank you."

"Now that we've talked about you and Hendrix, it's time to focus on me." With a sudden shift, Beatrice's tone changed. "Thank you for what you did today."

"T-There's no need to thank me."

Beatrice couldn't help but laugh at Noelle's stunned reaction. "What's the matter? Did I surprise you?" "No, not exactly. It was just unexpected."

"Why, though? It is because you're used to seeing me as Hendrix's mother and forget that I'm just an ordinary woman, too?"

Noelle found herself at a loss for words. She lowered her gaze, and after a long silence, she asked, "Does Hendrix know?"

"He doesn't need to know." Beatrice's response was blunt. This is my own private matter, and I have no intention of leaving the Freeman family."

Noelle immediately understood what Beatrice meant

Beatrice was still part of the Freeman family, and Hendrix was the only heir to Amity Group. But that would certainly change if her affair were exposed. Ophelia, who held significant shares in Amity Group, was still alive, and if she were to find out...

"So, does that mean Hendrix really has other brothers?" Noelle finally asked, choosing a more subtle way to phrase it.

Beatrice looked up, the smile on her face gone. "Do you really want to know?"

"Ms. SwansoIL"

Sandra's steps came to a sudden halt the moment she heard someone call her name from behind. Before she could. turn around, Yvonne was already standing in front of her.

"Well, if it isn't Ms. Wright," said Sandra with a mocking smile. "I thought you'd be too busy to show your face lately, but here you are.'

Yvonne could hear the sarcasm in Sandra's words loud and clear. Yet, she didn't take offense. "Hendrix and I were only getting married for the sake of our companies, so it's only natural for us not to work out in the end."

"Is that so? Then, why did I hear that you were still eagerly planning for the engagement party just a couple of days ago? Now that the Freemans' statement is out, everyone is speculating that you must've been dumped by Hendrix."

Even Yvonne, normally poised and composed, couldn't help but feel her expression darken at Sandra's words. However, she quickly smiled again.

"So what if I was dumped by Hendrix? It's still better than a certain someone who didn't even get the chance to be dumped by him. And I also heard that your fiancé was admitted into the hospital after getting into a car accident. My, how careless of him!

"That's none of your concern." Sandra's smile instantly vanished the moment she turned to walk away. But Yvonne's voice trailed after her. "It seems like you've been kept in the dark about the real reason behind his injury."

Sandra turned around to look at her. "What are you talking about?"

"I heard he broke into some woman's home, only to get beaten up by her boyfriend. Unfortunately, the boyfriend has some powerful connections, and also, Maxwell's family felt embarrassed by what he did, so they chose to cover it up by calling it a car accident.

"Ms. Wright, why don't you take a guess as to who the woman's boyfriend might be?"noveldrama