When Love Is a Lie

Chapter 168 Gullible

Madeln snorted. “You and Lilandon’t suit each other? Who do you think is a good match for you, then? The

Spencers” stepdaughter?”

« had never liked any of the socialites or young ladies from the upper-crist society, let alone deem the

Spencers as worthy prospects. So what if their eldest gliter was engaged to Damian? Was Madelynexpected

to hand her son over to their stepdaughter, too?

She cursed Westley for being so amning

“No, what | meant to say was, I'm not good enough for Lilian,” Noel conected.

Madelyn bristled. “That makes no sense! You are the deputy mayor's son, and she’s just the daughter of the

director of the Department of Land Management!

Not to mention, you're the chief designer at the Seabourke Architectural Institute. If anything, Lilian isn’t good

enough for you! You're far beyond her league!”

Herpoor choice of words inherit of rage didn’t sit right with Beckham, who snapped, “Madelyn, watch yourself!”

“Eine, I'll star out of this, then. He's your son. You talk to him!” Madelyn snapped. With a thick of her wrist, she

stormed up the stairs.

Beckham glanced at Noel and motioned for him to sit. “Your mother is only looking out for your best interests.

Most people your age have already settled down and

started familiek

Noel's brows furrowed “Dad, do you think should marry within ear circle, then? Am | not allowed to marry

someone who doesn’t cfrom a political

“Everyone is equal, Noel, be they rich or politically affiliated, “Beckham said wisely, raising his cup to his lips and

taking a sip of tea. “Your mother tends to fuss over such matters more than we do. Try to understand where

she’s coming from.”

Just then, Beckham's secretary cin with a few documents, signaling the end of his conversation with Noel

Upon returning to his room, Noel took off his tie and loosened the top two buttons of his shirt. He fished out his

phone, then hesitated before making a call. Over at the Howard residence, Whitney was leaning against her

headboard with her laptop popped up before her. She was going over the records in the thumb drive again, this

tscanning each one with detail.

When her phone suddenly rang, she glanced at the screen to see Noel's nflashing. She ignored it and fixed

her steely gaze on the laptop, not that she could focus on any of the words or figures.

The call stopped seconds later, and Whitney grew listless with thoughts of why Noel was calling her. Did he want

to explain to her? What explanation could he possibly have to displace his silent admission that moming?

The more she thought about it, the more frustrated she became. Annoyed, she sent Yvette a text: “I need

someone to talk to.”

No sooner had the text been sent did Yvette video-call her “I figured you'd be upset after seeing those photos,

and sure enough, you're moping, Has Noel explained himself? What in the world is going on with him?”

“He didn’t so much explain himself as he admitted to it,” Whitney said despairingly.

“Admitted to Yvette repeated in shock, her voice rising, “What did he admit to? Being together with Stella?”

“Something like that,” Whitney muttered. There was no difference between lilding someone and bring together

with them. Besides, the photos told her enou about what was happening between them.

enough

Yvette was furious and skeptical. “B-But that’s not possible! He likes you, doesn’t he? Look at all the things he’s

done for you! Why would he could he have been drugged?”

Whimary recalled Noel's off-kilter demeanor last night. He would have told her if he had been drugged. Why

would he allow everyone to accuse him of such Indiscretion when he had a perfectly reasonable excuse?

she doubted Yvette’s theory. “He's the deputy mayor's son and the crown prince of the Howard family. As if he

would let anyone who drugged him get away unscathed” & bitter smile curled her lips. “If he didn’t like Stella,

he wouldn’t have admitted to it so readily.”

A sigh escaped Yvette as she agreed, “You have a point, but he’s Noel The next second, she cursed aloud, “That

bastard! | can’t believe he has feelings for Stella even while he’s flining with you! All men ate jerks!”

Whitney chuckled dryly. “It's my fault for being so gullible. | wouldn't have gotten but again and again it I'd kept

my wits about me. This won’t happen again. There's no one else in this world | can depend on but me

After lunging up, she returned to screening the records on her laptop. If she could find any incriminating

evidence against Damian, she could call off the

ngagement and bad goodbye to the Howard family for good

She would work hard, make a lot of money, and becan outstanding designer so she could pay her mother’s

medical bills. The thought tilled her with motivation and lifted her spirits

Whitney grabbed her phone to test Rachel and ask her if she could find other evidence of Damian's illicit

transactions in Howard Group. She had only just started typing when the image of Damianconstantly touching

his watch flashed across her mind.

She knew the make and model of the watch. It was a designertimepiece made by a high-end, Internationally

renowned brand. Damian seemed to favorit. She restainly hadn't seen kim wear other watches, and he hardly

took it off.

Whitney immediately searched for the brand of the watch on the internet. Five minutes later, the divot between

her brows finally smoothed