The Sway and Slide of Love by Jean Song

Chapter 7 "Hendrix, thank you for speaking up for me earlier," Sandra said from the back seat on the way home. After that, she continued yammering nonstop, "I had no idea Mom would talk to Madam Freeman about this. I was so scared! Luckily, you stepped in, or I wouldn't have known what to do. I don't want to get married so soon."

Hendrix was driving. He merely said a faint "hmm" in response. He seemed to be flippant toward her, but Sandra knew that was just the way he was. So, she didn't mind.

She turned her attention to Noelle, who was in the passenger seat. "By the way, what did Madam Freeman say to you when you both went upstairs?"

"Nothing," Noelle replied dismissively, not even bothering to entertain Sandra at all.

Sandra pursed her lips in slight dissatisfaction but quickly changed the subject. "Oh, right. Did you know that Max is coming back to the country?"

Noelle's composed expression shifted slightly at those words.

light ahead turned red. Hendrix smoothly brought the car to a stop. The braking wasn't abrupt. Noelle was caught off guard by the news for a moment, so her body jerked forward slightly. The seatbelt snapped her back

Hendrix glanced at Noelle.

he's doing really well abroad. It's been so many years. Haven't you

hands on her lap were clenched tightly. "Such a shame. You two were

know. He's the illegitimate son of the

any hesitation. Noelle couldn't help but frown at that. Even Sandra seemed momentarily stunned, but she nodded in agreement shortly after Hendrix's blunt words. "Yes... That's him. He

thought he and Noelle would stay in

trailed off, her gaze

She couldn't understand why the latter was bringing all this up in front of Hendrix. Was she trying to drive a wedge between them? Or was she hoping to make

that was her plan, she had grossly miscalculated the situation-Hendrix wasn't the type to care about such things. Perhaps realizing this herself, Sandra grew quieter during the