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.

the traffic 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

Hendrix glanced at Noelle.

It's been so many years. Haven't you two kept in touch at

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

the illegitimate son of the Quinlan

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

and Noelle would stay in

off, her

being ridiculous. She couldn't understand why the latter was bringing all this up in front of Hendrix.

miscalculated the situation-Hendrix wasn't the type to care about such things. Perhaps realizing this herself, Sandra grew quieter during the rest of the