Chapter 30

Noelle buried her face in Gretchen's shoulder, pouting as she whispered, "Let's go, Aunt Gretchen. I don't want to go in with that evil woman!" Noelle thought, "That evil woman is always bullying Mommy Olivia!" Gretchen raised an eyebrow and asked, "What's wrong, Elle? Why are you calling her an evil woman?" It wasn't that she cared about Cassandra. She was simply curious. Noelle had always been a cheerful, polite child. It was unusual for her to suddenly lash out like that. Noelle didn't answer. Instead, she squirmed in Gretchen's arms and grumbled in a muffled voice, "Aunt Gretchen, let's just go already!" "Alright, alright," said Gretchen with an affectionate smile. With Noelle in her arms, she started walking inside. When she turned around, she saw Ashton walking ahead coolly with his hands in his pockets. Meanwhile, Gregory took Cassandra's hand and placed it gently on his arm as they walked together toward the entrance. None of them noticed that, just a short distance aw