Chapter 174 Lowering Expectations

Noel'cryendarkened. "So, that's law you see us? As

wtly," Whitney countered. She drew a deep breath and delivered the

waradoulde edged sword, sharp enough to draw blood from both of them feel possed his lips as far plonand Whitney with any levede reberries

Atein, self-deguerating smile curled Whitney's lips. "Iter than to partendoherwise

also know that men are often after the twill of the chair I

She could never understand his thoughts and actions, and he never buld be anything Could someone who truly liked Karynoveldrama

re getting sidetracked. I'Hadar Mella deserves to be punished for drugging yes, and I understand if you don't want to

pey paused and cleared her mind.

1. d. "we're

Noel closed the distance between them and gazed down at her, asking softly, "Westley blackmailed yes, did when the ditet er, he probed, "And

sbat if I refuse to drop the charges against Mella? What will yourda

"You're the victims here, "Whitney pointed out, avoiding his paze and looking elsewhere. "Wouter no prason to forgive your assailant, so don't worry abe Hori stared at her alabaster check and redlips. He couldn't help reaching out to touch her face. Whitney saw his hand closing in and dodged it. When his fingers grazed flin alt, he drew his hard bark and let it fall to his side. Try to talk my mother into dropping the charges aganu Stella, I won't simpler from doing anything else the won't let this slide that easily The Howards wouldn't be able to live this incidit down it word of it got out. It would reflect poorly on Beckum if the public found out toel had been dovezed. As such, talking Madelyn into dropping the charges agafond Stella was the easy part. But it would be impossible to expect the Howards to space thella entirely Whitney heard the implication in Noel's words and said, "I only promised that I'd get the charges dropped. Everything

he did not glance at him, showing him only her side profile.

Noel turned to leave and stopped at the door. "I won't show up on your baleny anymore.

Cuppens is not of my hands.

Whitney beard the door open and shut after that. She felt her body sway, and the leaned against the cabinet for support. Her heart felt like it had cracked i her chest tightened to the point where breathing became difficult,

For the next two days, Noel did not show up at the Howard residence, and Whitney's balcony stayed resolutely ent

On the third day, Whitney got a call from Westley. He thundered on the other line, "What the hell did you do? I told you to help Stella,

tney's eyes widened. She didn't think Stella would be married off to solaria.

Westley barked on the other line, "As if that isn't bad enough, Mrs. Howard's distant oplewis just a small-time restaurant owner! How could you let your sister

Comprehension dawned on Whitney. It seemed that while Madelyn had agreed to drop the charges against Stella, she had punished the spencers by bandsting Stella from Seabourke and setting her up with Madelyn's distant nephew who owned a restaurant. Madelyn had destroyed stella's dreams of marrying into the Howard family and gotten her revenge at the same time.

"Tell Mrs. Howard that Stella will not be marrying that distant nephew of hers. Did she seriously expect our family to become in Laws with a man lik Westley was apoplectic.

Whitney drawled, "What's a

wrong with marrying a man like that? He sounds like an honest, down-to-earth businessman Stella would be marrying a restaurant owner, and I don't see how he'd make a terrible in-law."

What about our social standing?" Westley roated. "I am a reputable businessman. A man like that is not nearly good enough for Stella' she should be marrying a

Whitney laughed with wicked me "Youth

"You think Stella still stands a chance with the scions of Seabou

Koowing Madelyn, she would have already put out word to the ladies of leisure in Seabourke and warned them about Stella. And yet, poor Westley was still deluding lamell that Mella stood a chance to marry rich.

"I don't rate if she doesn't stand a chance. You'll make it happen one way or another! Why else do you think I'm calling you?" he supped.

Whitney's soulle slipped as anley look passed over het fare. "You told me to persuade Mrs. Howard to drop the charges against Stella, and i did. I also mentioned that was my last time Jarlging you. You'll just have to figure this out on your own! "So, you're going to abandon your mother, is that it?" Westley played his trump card.

However, Whitney had already anticipated this and aeloded, "If you want to go for broke just to help Stella, fine. I don't mind crossing the whole Howard family I might evenvallott invengagement with Damian to save Stella from uân.