Noelle laughed loudly after hearing Ruth's mockery.

Ruth's smug smile turned into a frown. She asked Noelle, "What are you laughing for?"

"Ms. Upton, you should brush up on basic knowledge. You don't want to be both crude and ignorant-a dumb yet evil woman!" Noelle had been rather restrained in her sarcastic jabs earlier, but now, she openly mocked Ruth.

Ruth's expression fell. She even reached out to grab Noelle's hair when the latter tried to walk around her.

Ruth barked, "How dare a country bumpkin like you insult me? Look in the mirror! Do you think you're something after you married up?"

However, her insults were cut short by a clean slap from Noelle. Taken aback, she soon shrieked and threw herself at Noelle.

In the midst of the chaos, Sandra hit a glass wall on the side-perhaps she had been shoved by Ruth when she tried to stop the latter, or it could be a deliberate attempt to victimize herself.

She was on the floor amidst the screams of some passersby. Arm raised, blood dripped down her lower arm. She burst out in tears as she looked at Noelle. "Noelle, it hurts!noveldrama

"Noelle!"

Sandra was surprised to hear a worried voice from the end of the corridor. Before she could get up, Matilda had hurried over to her. "What happened to Sandy? Is she alright?"

"Mom," Sandra called out to her.

Matilda did not wait for Noelle's reply. She immediately turned her attention to Sandra. She looked horrified when she saw the blood-stained bandage on Sandra's lower arm.

She cried, "How did this happen? Does it hurt?"

"The doctor has given me stitches. It doesn't hurt at all." Sandra smiled. "Mom, why are you suddenly home? I thought you'd only be back by next week. Where's Dad?"

"I came home early because I was worried about you. Your dad is still there alone." Matilda studied Sandra's wound for a bit with a tight frown. She grumbled, "I should have come home earlier. You were hospitalized twice in the two weeks we were gone!"

Then, Matilda turned to Noelle and prepared to chastise the latter.

Sandra interjected, "Mom, it's not Noelle's fault. I hurt myself because I was careless. It's true."

"You don't have to defend her. I have heard about it all. Noelle, how could you get into a catfight at a mall? Remember, you're Mrs. Freeman! Your actions will taint the reputation of the Freemans and the

Swansons! When are you going to ditch the bad habits from the countryside?"

Throughout the drama, Noelle sat by the side without a word. She was used to Matilda's favoritism. Still, she couldn't stop herself from clenching her fist when Matilda insulted her upbringing.

Anyway, she did not talk back to Matilda, knowing that the latter would only label her as rebellious. Then,

as usual, Matilda would blame it on her countryside background.

"Since you're back, I shall take my leave." Finally, Noelle stood up and said, "I'm too busy to look after Sandra properly. Please bring her home today."