Chapter 6

"You're getting married?" Noah's gaze hardened. "You were in my arms just a few days ago, refusing to get up. Yet, now you're telling me that you're getting married? Do you seriously think I'd buy a story like that, Bethany?" He was well aware of how much Bethany liked him. If she didn't, she would never have agreed to stay in a clandestine relationship with him for three years. He figured that she was only saying this because she was jealous and trying to get a reaction out of him. Bethany curled her lips coldly. "If you don't believe me, I can show you my marriage certificate." His gaze darkened, but before he could respond, a pleasant voice sounded from outside the door. "I made some desserts for you, Noah!" Ella froze for a moment when she saw Bethany. Then, she beamed. "You're here as well, Beth! Are you discussing work with Noah?" Bethany sneered, "Nope. I'll leave you two to it. We're done here. I'll take my leave then, Mr. Vazquez." Noah pressed his lips together, his expression unreadable. He still wanted to say something, but with Ella there, he couldn't bring himself to pop the question. After all, he didn't want anyone to know about his relationship with Bethany. Ella called after her, "Mom said you haven't been home in a while, Beth. Why don't you come back tonight for dinner? Mom and Leo miss you." Then, she turned to look at Noah bashfully. "My father asked you to come over tonight to discuss our marriage, Noah. You're free, right?" Noah's low, magnetic voice sounded cheerful as it rang out from behind Bethany. "I always have time for you, Ella." Right after saying that, he took a quick look at the pale curve of Bethany's neck in front of him. Bethany swallowed the lump in her throat. "I won't be joining your family dinner." With that, she opened the door and walked out. Ella smirked, but when she looked up, she noticed Noah staring intently at the already closed door. "Noah?" He snapped back to reality when he heard that. "Yeah?" "Hurry up and have a bite of the dessert I made, Noah!" Noah had never cared much for sweets. However, when he met her hopeful eyes, he couldn't bring himself to refuse. Thus, he took a small bite of the strawberry on top. "It's really good, Ella." "Really? In that case, I'll make you something else next time!" she chirped before asking, "What were you and Beth talking about just now, Noah?" "Nothing much; just work. Let's not talk about her." Ella wasn't deaf. Before she came in, she was fairly sure she had heard something about a marriage. Who was getting married? Was it Bethany? … Before long, Ella went home. Diana greeted her with a smile. "You're back, Ella. Tina, bring out the royal jelly for her!" Unlike how she treated Bethany, Diana was always warm and attentive toward her stepdaughter. After marrying into the Reid residence for nearly 20 years, she had truly treated her husband's child from his previous marriage as her own. Ella, on the other hand, felt lukewarm toward Diana. Still, just to spite Bethany, she was more than willing to play the role of a close, loving mother and daughter. "Noah's coming over tonight to discuss our marriage, Mom. Don't forget to have Tina prepare more good food!" "I know. I already told them to get ready." Diana was all smiles as she pulled Ella to sit down. "Ella, now that you're back, don't you think Bellecourt is a little dated? Your father and I were thinking of getting you a bigger place to use as your piano studio." Ella looked at her, puzzled. "Why? That villa may be old, but the view is beautiful, Mom. I really like it." Diana's brows drew together, obviously troubled. She was well aware that Bethany was determined to take Bellecourt back, so she tried to persuade Ella. "There are plenty of villas with beautiful views out there, Ella. I'll take you to pick a new one another day. I don't mean anything by it. I just want you to have the best." The smile on Ella's face faded. "Did Beth say something to you, Mom? I'm not going anywhere. I want Bellecourt." Diana looked troubled as she gently explained, "Beth did ask me for Bellecourt. After all, it was the villa her father had left behind. That place is old and run-down, Ella. It wouldn't hurt to let her have it." Just then, a young man came down from the second floor and let out a cold snort. "Since when did that older sister of mine become so greedy, Mom? She never asked for it before; she only wants it now, right when Ella comes back. "I told you she's calculating. You should stay away from her, Mom." Leo Reid was Diana's child from her second marriage. He was closer to Ella and instinctively disliked Bethany, who didn't share their last name. Every time Bethany stayed at the Reid residence during the summer holidays, she was often picked on by the siblings. Yet, Diana would only ask her to be more magnanimous since she was older. Gradually, Bethany no longer wanted to stay at the Reid residence. Even during long breaks, she preferred staying with her grandparents. Diana frowned. "Leo, she's your older sister as well. Don't be rude!" Leo scoffed. "In any case, she's not allowed to take anything that belongs to my sister!" Gary Reid, who had been silent all this time, shot his son a hard look. "Watch your manners! That's enough. Bellecourt belongs to your mother and her ex-husband. "We don't need it. I'll buy you a larger villa, Ella. Be good." He had ultimately made the final decision. He wasn't defending Bethany—he simply didn't want anything to jeopardize the marriage alliance she had already agreed to. Ella bit her lip, resentment burning in her chest. She thought that this was all Bethany's fault. She had only just returned, and Bethany had already upset her. However, in that house, her father's word was final. Nevertheless, she couldn't swallow this resentment. … The first thing Bethany did after resigning was reclaim what Diana had promised her. She deliberately hired three burly men to help with the heavy lifting. Yet, when she arrived at Bellecourt, she found the housekeeper, Cassandra Park, in a fluster. Cassandra had always managed Bellecourt on her own. "I'll be living here from now on, Cassandra. I'm here to clear the place out." Cassandra looked troubled. "Ms. Reid is here as well, Ms. Porter. Why don't you come back another day?" A mocking smile crept onto Bethany's face. "So what if she's here?" Out of the corner of her eye, she spotted a familiar Bentley parked in the carport. In an instant, her expression darkened. Ignoring Cassandra's attempts to stop her, Bethany walked straight inside. Bellecourt no longer looked the same. Ella had remodeled it beyond recognition, filling it with her own belongings. Bethany looked up at the second floor, her expression unreadable. Then, she took a deep breath and went upstairs, one step at a time. The moment she reached the bedroom, a soft, breathy moan drifted out. "That hurts, Noah. Don't be so rough." Bethany's hands curled into fists. Her expression hardened as she spun on her heel and went into the bathroom nextdoor, filled a bucket with water, and walked back to the bedroom door. The very next second, she kicked the door open and stormed toward the half-naked couple, emptying the bucket over them. "I want both of you to get off my bed. Right now!"