Not intending to stay a momment Innger, Whitney phosted on berrrutch and made to leave.

Beberra suddenly lastled out of nowhere and stopped her. "We raised you! Is it too much for us to ask that you help Stella this once? Sure, she drugged Noel, but for was line! Are you in heartless that you'd let her not behind ham for a small mistake like that ?TM Whitney Ignored Reberra and continued toward the door.

However, Bebevrahanded her back, gripping her left wrist so foarefully that a doll ache shot up Whitney's .ami.

"Let go," Whitney grounded, turning in glare at the older woman

"You're not leaving until you agree to help Steltal" Beberraldused, tightening fergrip even more

White

dulous look at Westley as if questioning his enabling Rebecca's hehador, But he did not reprimand Rebecca and instead bit out, "We didn't ask you to come here so we could beg a favne From you, we're nadering your to help Stella. If you refine, I'll have your mother pulled out of treatment."

din Whitney as the petorted, "And your all yourself my father?"

"You have always been my daughter Westley told Rebrera to pelease Whitney before adding, "Think carefully about your heat move

Anger, disappointment, and resignation filled Whitney at once. She told herself she was as good as homeless from now on. Fine," she snapped. "But this will be The last time help you out. Think of it as my way of arpaying the years you put buto-raising me. After today, I will not acknowledge you as my father."

Westley's brows drew together as a twinge of guilt seized him.

Beberra clutched his arm. "Do you think that beat will make good on her word to help Stella?

Wrestling his arm free, Westley shot Rebecca an annoyed look and snapped, "It's all your fault for spoiling Stella rotten! And now we have no clean up her mess The next time she gets into trouble, she's on heron! He then stormed into the study

stella, who had been standing in the comer all this while, hurried to Rebecca's side. "Mom, did Dad mean what he said about washing his hands off menoveldrama

Now that Whitney has cut ties with us, you're the only daughter of the family. Your dad couldn't have meant what he said, Rebecca reassured her.

"Do you think Whitney can get me out of this?" Stellapressed

Rebecca broke into a smug grin. "oh, she'll find a way if she wants to keep her mother alive." A sigh escaped her as she mused, "You might be comatose, Margaret, but you'll still be at my daughter's mocy." Whitney considered seeking out Madelyn, but she figured it was more effective to talk to Noel. After some thought, she sent him a text "Could you meet me at Costa Heights when you have the time? I need to talk to you"

She could talk to him about this at the Howard residence, at least not openly

It didn't take long for Noel to reply: "Sure When do you want to meet

"Now," was all she wrote...

Half a minute Later, Noel texted, "I'll be there in full an hour."*

Whitney remembered the driver and quiddy made up an ease. "Could you drop me off at Coaska Heights? I need to pick up something and straighten up my stuff. It could take a while, so drive around the neighborhood or find someplace to take a breather while you wall" "Tan help you I doubt you could do much with your leg injury," the driver offered.

"No, 1 rani manage just fine. Thanks," she atowered.

The driver dropped her off to Highs and drove off

Upon entering the house, Whitney sat down on the couch and waited for Noel to show up. He arrived just on time, for the bell rang half an hour later.

Whitney toe to her feet and, supporting her weight with her crutch, she padded to the door and opened it

Noel looked as elegant as ever in fils long, blackcoat and silver framed glasses

Watney skipped the ties and out to the chute. "I wanted to talk to you about having your mother drop the charges against Stella"

Noel stairdat het for a beat or two before saying. That's all you're going to say to me?"

He had been in the middle of a meeting when he got her teal. He even stopped the meeting and set his work aside just to see her. He knew she had been avoiding lain the last two days, and to get atex founder was like seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. dod yet, the only wanted to see him so she could talk him into sparing Stella

Watney jeruited las steady gaze. "What do you want to say? You didn't even tell me you were drugged "

"You found out," hoelantarked

*) wouldn't have if my father

begged me to help Stella, since you had no plans to come clean about it. Indeed, Noel even went so far as to lie about having feelings for stella Watney had no idea why he was doing all this.

"Bone things are better left stawedd for now "Noel began to explain

"It don't matter. You don't owe nor an explanation anyway, not that I'dcare to know. It's not like we're together or anything." Whitney cut him off.