Despite everything, she was already divorced.

Bang!

The door of the Ferrari slammed shut forcefully.

Callum didn’t say another word. As the sports car sped off, its four tires kicked up dust, and it hit her right in the face.

She was still smiling.

Her smile was unsettling enough that even the agent standing nearby felt uneasy.

A few days later, the agent called Noelle. “Miss Hartwell, I’m really sorry, but Mr. Lockridge has bought up the entire villa district in North Suburb. If you’re still looking to buy property in Mirage City, would you like me to recommend other villa areas?”

Noelle declined.

At that time, she was at the hospital, visiting her mother at the psychiatric hospital.

The doctor hesitated before saying, “Miss Hartwell, you need to understand that emotional issues require emotional solutions. Our expert panel recommends trying to bring your mother back to your previous home. That would be the best way to help her recovery.”

“Isn’t there any other way? A lot of bad things happened in our old place. Won’t it be too much of a trigger for my mother?”

That had always been Noelle’s concern.

The doctor shook his head and smiled. “Each patient is different, just like people are. For your mother, every time she has an episode, she insists on going home—that’s part of the condition itself.”

Noelle left the hospital and drove around the Third Ring Road, over and over again.

When she finally came to her senses, she realized she had parked right in front of Prospera Holdings.

“Teacher, I just want KFC. Will you come with me? And there’s a discount today, look.”

Faye Moon was clinging to Callum’s arm as they came out of the front door.

The young woman looked playful and radiant under the bright sun, her skin glowing. She was holding a phone, showing something to Callum, who was smiling affectionately, his demeanor soft and indulgent.

In the car, Noelle sat in the driver's seat, her expression unreadable.

Callum seemed to glance her way out of the corner of his eye.

Then, his body, which had been somewhat distant from Faye, moved closer to her. He gently ruffled her soft long hair and coaxed, “You’re pregnant, you can’t eat junk food, alright?”

“Then can you make me seafood pasta, teacher? I love your cooking, it’s the best!”

Even from the car, Noelle could hear every word clearly.

Callum smiled. “Okay, whatever you want.”

The man had even learned to cook to make his wife happy?

Noelle remembered back to their university days when, after she cried and made a scene, demanding a bowl of instant noodles, it had been nearly impossible to get him to do it.

When she finally got a bowl of noodles from him, she had been so touched that she cried.

She had always thought he treated her differently!

But now, comparing it with Faye, Noelle was left with nothing but bitterness, mourning the lost years of her youth.

She remembered a time when, after getting drunk, she had insisted on staying with Callum in the kitchen for an entire night.

Afterward, she lay on his muscular chest, complaining, “Callum, if I ever get really angry, don’t want to chase you anymore, and just want to leave, you should learn to cook well. I promise, you’ll win me back with your cooking!”

Look at her, struggling to get even the smallest amount of tenderness from Callum. Now, he had given it all, and more, to Faye.

Noelle sighed, opened the car door, and got out.

For her mother and to wait for her brother’s return, Noelle decided that, even if it meant swallowing her pride, she needed to talk to Callum Lockridge again about the house.

It was Faye Moon who saw her first.

The young woman waved playfully and said, "Doctor, what a coincidence! Are you here on business?"

Callum Lockridge, standing nearby, had a dark expression on his handsome face.

He really hated seeing her!

Noelle bit her lip but still smiled, "It’s not a coincidence. I have something to discuss with Mr. Lockridge."

As soon as she spoke, Faye’s charming smile froze, her face becoming awkward and unnatural.

Callum Lockridge, as usual, didn’t glance at Noelle. He took Faye’s hand and started to walk away.

It was as if he intentionally said this for Noelle to hear, "We’ll have dinner with the food I make tonight, alright?"

When Faye heard that, she beamed. "Yes, yes, teacher! I knew you were the best to me and our baby!"

The young woman was so open, her emotions written all over her face.

This was exactly what Callum Lockridge loved about her.

He used to always say, "Noelle Hartwell, a woman who schemes this much, what man would love you?"

Indeed, he had never loved her.

"Mr. Lockridge, please wait," Noelle said, taking a deep breath and trying to stop him. "I want to talk about the North Suburb villa..."

For her mother, for her brother.

She thought to herself, she had sacrificed enough five years ago.

Now, five years later, there was nothing left to sacrifice. What was there to fear?

"Callum Lockridge, we need to talk."

Her voice was not loud, but she called out his full name.

Callum Lockridge gave her a mocking glance and asked, "You want to talk to me? Do you have an appointment?"

"I..."

Noelle choked on her words.

Faye Moon suddenly exclaimed, "Oh, I just remembered! Doctor, are you by any chance a Hartwell? Was that villa in North Suburb once your family’s?"

Noelle couldn’t tell if the young woman truly didn’t know about her past with Callum or if she was pretending to be unaware.

Noelle didn’t care anymore.

She spoke plainly, "Mr. Lockridge, I’m willing to pay one third more than the asking price for the house. Please sell me that villa."

That extra third of the price was everything she had saved up.

Callum Lockridge sneered, "Noelle Hartwell, do you think I’m still as desperate for money as I used to be?"

"I just want our house back!"

Times had changed.

Now, Callum Lockridge was high up and she was the one begging.

She, once the shining heiress of Hartwell Family, adored by everyone!

She gritted her teeth and added, "I’ll pay double the price. I must buy that villa back!"

"Dream on."

Callum Lockridge’s voice was cold.

Faye Moon panicked and tried to mediate, "Teacher, Doctor Hartwell is a girl, too. We girls are sensitive. Can't you speak more nicely? This way, I’m a little scared too!"

"Okay, I’m sorry."

With just one sentence, the once-imposing man lowered his head.

He must really love her!

Noelle touched her chest where she felt a dull pain.

It wasn’t because of Callum Lockridge; she wasn’t sad.

She had a congenital heart condition, and when she studied medicine, she chose obstetrics and gynecology for its lighter workload, because her heart couldn’t handle too much excitement or stress.

If she hadn’t been careful, she would have died five years ago.

A slight misstep, and she’d be gone.

Faye Moon was taken to the car by Callum Lockridge.

Before getting in the car, the young girl stood on tiptoe, leaning on Callum’s shoulder and looking at Noelle with a mischievous smile. "Doctor Hartwell, that house is the one I like. Teacher just won’t sell it to me. I didn’t know it meant so much to you. Please don’t be mad at me, don’t dislike me, okay?"

"I just want to buy that villa back."

Noelle responded calmly and directly.

She didn’t want to cause any unnecessary misunderstandings.

She explained, "My brother is missing. If he comes back, I don’t want him to be unable to find me. Also, my mother needs to live in that villa to receive better treatment."

In the end, she truly, truly just wanted to buy the house back. And it had nothing to do with Callum Lockridge.

Hearing this, the smile that had been stiff on Faye’s face finally relaxed.

But Callum Lockridge remained expressionless.

He slammed the car door and walked away again, kicking up dust in Noelle’s face.

It was a mess.

The house situation was still unresolved.

Buzz.

Elliot Whitmore sent her a message: "Our son misses you, Noey. Don’t be so heartless, okay?"