Once Noelle entered the cab, Matilda's call came. "Get home right now."
Matilda then ended the call without waiting for a response.
Noelle had no objections to that. Her original plan was to return to the Swanson residence anyway.
Evidently, Matilda was one of sheer exasperation. Noelle had barely set foot inside the house when the former delivered a vicious slap.
The impact was so forceful that it sent Noelle's hair—once neatly tucked behind her ear—flying, followed by a ringing buzz in her ears.
"Do you know what you've done?" Matilda thought the slap wasn't enough and was ready to deliver another one.
Right then, a deep voice sounded and interrupted her movement, "Stop it."
Matilda frowned, and her hand eventually dropped. When she looked up, she saw the person descending the stairs.
The man was dressed in a neatly pressed shirt and a gray waistcoat, his hair showing strands of white. Yet, his posture remained straight, and his face showed no sign of age.
Noelle watched as
