Rebirth: She Cuts Ties and Takes Revenge (Noelle Kain) novel Chapter 563

Lucas and Jasper stood behind Noelle. The two exchanged a glance and saw the same worry in each other's eyes.

Lucas leaned closer and lowered his voice, panic making it tremble. "Noey, maybe don't go. That note yesterday... it spelled it out clearly. The Duncans are dangerous! If something happens to you after you go—"

"I'm going." Noelle cut him off softly, but her tone was firm.

Lucas froze, then grew even more anxious. "But what if the note was real? What if Christine really has bad intentions? If you go there..."

"If I don't go, how will I ever know what she wants?" Noelle looked at him calmly, like she wasn't talking about something dangerous at all. "I can't wait anymore. Sebastian's still waiting for me."

Lucas opened his mouth to argue, then swallowed the words back down.

He looked into Noelle's eyes. There was no fear there, no hesitation, only a light he'd seen many times before. It was the kind of light hunters had when they knowingly stepped into traps.

But suddenly, he realized it wasn't a hunter's light at all. It was the look of prey willingly walking into the trap.

For Sebastian, she didn't even care about her own life anymore.

"Then I'm going with you," Jasper spoke quietly, but his voice carried the weight of stone rising from underground.

Gavin smiled and shook his head. The smile stayed gentle, but his tone left no room for discussion. "Ms. Duncan only invited Ms. Kain. The two of you from the Guard Department should stay here instead. Ms. Duncan doesn't like outsiders interrupting her."

Jasper frowned and stepped forward. "I'm not an outsider. I'm her—"

"You are an outsider." Noelle raised a hand to stop him.

The words caught in Jasper's throat.

He stared at Noelle, at the unnaturally calm expression on her face, and suddenly felt a tight pressure building in his chest.

"I'll go alone." Noelle looked at him, then at Lucas. "Wait for me here. I'll be back before dark."

With that, she turned toward Gavin. "Let's go."

Gavin stepped aside and gestured politely.

Noelle walked forward with a straight back and steady steps, never once turning around.

Lucas stood there watching her disappear around the alley corner. His voice sounded muffled, like he was speaking to himself as much as Jasper. "For Sebastian, that girl really doesn't care if she lives or dies anymore."

The smile on Christine's face instantly vanished. Her eyes turned cold as she set the plate down heavily onto the table, her voice dropping with it. "Ms. Kain, are you disrespecting me?"

The air froze instantly.

Noelle raised her eyes, her gaze sharp as a blade as she stared directly at Christine. "Ms. Duncan, are you done acting yet?"

Christine paused briefly, then let out a soft laugh like she'd just heard a joke. "Noelle, what are you talking about?"

"There's something mixed into those pastries, isn't there?" Noelle pointed at the plate of osmanthus cakes, a mocking curve tugging at her lips. "Or maybe your hands picked up some powder they shouldn't have while carrying the plate?"

Christine's expression completely darkened. The fake warmth disappeared from her eyes, revealing the cold calculation underneath. "If you already knew, why did you still come?"

Noelle stepped closer and lowered her voice until only the two of them could hear. "Not only did I know, but I also slipped in a little extra during your treatment just now. If anything happens to me, your nervous system will start shutting down within the hour, and everything you've trained for will be gone."

Christine's pupils shrank briefly, then she smiled again. This time, the smile carried both madness and admiration. "Noelle, you really are smart. Too smart."

She slowly rose to her feet, rounded the table, and closed the distance between them step by step. "You think that's enough to threaten me?

"You think I'd kill you?" Christine leaned close to her ear, her voice soft enough to sound almost affectionate. "No. I'd never kill you. Someone as intelligent and skilled as you is far too valuable to waste. I'll turn you into the perfect obedient puppet and make you serve me for the rest of your life."