Chapter 55 The Secret Is About to Be ExposedÂ
Nova had no idea what Alison Voss was planning. She hesitated for a moment, then whispered, “Answer it.”Â
“What’s with all these rumors about Nova online? Can’t she stop embarrassing the Voss family with this nonsense?” Alison’s voice was sharp with anger, her frustration palpable even through the phone. “She’s gotten too arrogant. Does she even respect me as her elder? Does she care about this family at all?”Â
Kael frowned. quickly covering the receiver. He forced a smile, his tone overly casual. “Nova and I are fine, Mom. Don’t worry about it.”Â
Nova’s hands froze mid–motion, and her heart felt like it was being squeezed–she’d heard every word.Â
Alison recognized her son’s evasive tone and knew Nova must be nearby.Â
She sneered, “There’s a family dinner tonight. Make sure you and Nova come back. Don’t forget!” She hung up before Kael could respond.Â
Beep, beep, beep…Â
Nova bit back a bitter laugh. The dinner was just an excuse, and Alison clearly had an agenda.Â
Kael sighed, slipping his phone into his pocket. When he turned to Nova, he noticed her design sketches were gone.Â
He hesitated, then said, “You know Mom’s temper. She actually cares about you–she’s just worried the online rumors will hurt you.”Â
Nova said nothing, her silence a sharp contrast to his attempts to smooth things over.Â
Kael stepped behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist, his voice soft, almost pleading. “Don’t let this get to you. Ignore her. I’ll handle everything. As long as I’m here, no one can hurt you.”Â
Nova’s body tensed. A wave of sadness washed over her.Â
She remembered when Kael had first told his family he wanted to marry her.Â
Alison had fought tooth and nail to stop it, but Kael had stood up to his entire family, choosing her over their approval.Â
He’d loved her so fiercely back then.Â
Those memories, once sweet, now made her eyes burn with tears.Â
She took a shaky breath, gently pushing him away. “I know. I won’t let it bother me. Grab some gifts later–we’ll take them when we go tonight.”Â
Alison was determined to get them back to the Voss Manor, and refusing would only lead to more trouble.Â
Nova didn’t care about Alison, but she did care about Kael’s grandma, Margaret Voss. Margaret had always treated her like family–Nova would never forget thatÂ
indness.Â
This might be the last time she saw Margaret before she left.Â
But what if Kael found out about her plan to leave? What if he noticed something was off during dinner?Â
The thought flashed through her mind, but she quickly pushed it away.Â
It’s impossible. He’ll never suspect.Â
Nova lowered her eyes, hiding the pain in her gaze.Â
Kael smiled, relieved, and leaned in, pressing a quick kiss to her cheek. “My wife is so thoughtful. I’ll have someone prepare the gifts right away.”Â
Nova frowned, wiping her cheek vigorously the moment he turned around. His touch made her feel sick.Â
Kael didn’t notice, his eyes lingering on the crumpled paper ball in the trash can. A faint frown crossed his face–he couldn’t shake the feeling that Nova wasÂ
Chapter 35 The Secret ly About to Re ExposedÂ
hiding something from him.Â
the sent a quick message to Sam, ordering him to investigate,Â
That afternoon, Kael and Nova arrived at the Voss Manor early.Â
As soon as they walked in, they heard laughter. Alison was chatting with a woman, Daisy Shelton.Â
When Alison saw Nova, she barely glanced at her before turning back to Daisy.Â
She raised her voice, her tone overly warm. “Daisy, you’re too kind. You didn’t have to bring such expensive gifts. A well–mannered, educated girl like you–you’d make the perfect daughter–in–law.”Â
Daisy blushed, playing coy. “Alison, you’re teasing me. Kael already has a wife.”Â
“So what?” Alison scoffed. “You’re far more accomplished than her–better family, better looks. Kael was just blinded by infatuation back then.”Â
Nova’s body stiffened.Â
Ever since she’d married into the Voss family, her “ordinary background” had been a weapon Alison used to belittle her.Â
No matter how hard she tried, no matter how much she sacrificed, Alison had never once looked at her with respect. To her, Nova would always be “not good enough.”Â
Nova clenched her fists, forcing a smile. She stepped forward, her voice cold but calm. “Alison, are you expecting another child? Planning to find a fiancée for him already?”Â
The room fell silent. The servants struggled to hold back their laughter. Everyone knew Alison and her husband were barely on speaking terms–they’d lived apart for years. Nova’s comment was a not–so–subtle jab at Alison for being unfaithful.Â
Alison’s face turned bright red. Her carefully applied makeup couldn’t hide her rage. “Nova,” she warned, her voice low.Â
Daisy looked equally embarrassed and shot Nova a glare. “Ms. Hale, where are your manners? Alison is your elder!”Â
Alison sneered, “Daisy, don’t waste your breath. Arguing with someone so uncultured is beneath you.”Â
Nova laughed, her eyes cold as ice. “I guess I don’t know what ‘manners‘ are. Is it gossiping behind someone’s back? Is it trying to break up your son’s marriage by finding him a mistress? Alison, why don’t you teach me?”Â
4 servant nearby couldn’t hold back a snort.Â
Daisy’s face turned red, then white. “Ms. Hale, you’re being ridiculous!”Â
Alison’s face turned livid, Shooting Nova a furious glare, she snapped, “Nova, shut your mouth! You keep bickering with me at every turn–you show no respect for your elders at all! Even if I scold you, you’d better take it quietly and obediently!”Â
Alison was absolutely fuming. Nova had always been docile and fawning in front of her before–how had she changed so drastically? It was like she’d become a completely different person.Â
Nova let out a cold chuckle, her eyes as frosty as ice.Â
Respect her?Â
In the past, because of Kael, Nova had deliberately tried to avoid tension between them as in–laws. She’d gone out of her way to curry favor with Alison, not wanting to put Kael in the awkward position of being caught between them.Â
But now? She didn’t even want Kael anymore–so who did Alison think she was?Â
Nova sneered, “Respect is a two–way street. You don’t respect me, so why should I respect you?”Â
Alison’s face burned with embarrassment. She suddenly slammed her hand on the table. “How dare you rebel! Butler! Take her to the ancestral hall! AÂ
Chapter 55 The Secret Is About to Be ExposedÂ
daughter in law who keeps bickering with her mother in law has no manners at all–she won’t learn her lesson unless we use the family discipline!”Â
Nova frowned.Â
The butler was equally shocked. The “family discipline” involved a whip, and Nova was such a delicate young woman–she wouldn’t even be able to bear a single lash!Â
The butler wiped the sweat from his forehead. “Madam, perhaps we should wait until Mr. Voss comes back to decide this…”Â
At his words, Alison furrowed her brows slightly, as if weighing the idea.Â
Daisy’s eyes darkened subtly. She let out a sigh and said, “Ms. Hale really is too ill–mannered, talking back to her elder like this. If word gets out, it will definitely bring shame to the Voss family.”Â
Sure enough, upon hearing this, the last bit of hesitation in Alison’s heart vanished completely. The more she looked at Nova, the angrier she became.Â
“Get to the ancestral hall now–move!”Â
As soon as the words left her mouth, two tall, burly servants stepped forward and stood beside Nova. In low voices, they said, “Ms. Hale, please come with us.”Â
They called her “Ms. Hale” -a clear sign that they didn’t truly recognize her as a member of the Voss family.Â
In this house, she was like a stray dog that everyone chased away–anyone could step on her without a second thought.Â
Nova’s face turned as cold as stone. She tightened her grip on the palms of her hands.Â
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