Chapter 72

Cassandra studied Noelle's face, twisted into an angry glare behind her sunglasses. Noelle was still too young to hide her feelings; she wore her emotions on her sleeve. In Noelle's world, Olivia and Gretchen were good people. The Hart family members were kind and treated her well. Only Cassandra—an outsider who had intruded into their family—was cast as the villain. Cassandra didn't blame Noelle. She was only five years old, after all, and had lived her entire life in the world the Harts had built for her. It was only natural that she would resent Cassandra. "Elle," Cassandra said gently, bending down to meet her eyes. "Can I ask you something?" Noelle's body bristled with anger as she waited for Cassandra to scold her. She had already planned her response. If Cassandra dared to reprimand or strike her, she would call Lance to drive her to Steven and Christina's house. There, she would tattle to them and Gregory, demanding that Cassandra be expelled from the family. But Cassandra