The Lies Behind Her Marriage novel Chapter 209

Old Rivals.

“Noelle Rowan,” Celine blinked during dinner. “Oh, I remember. Right, Sterling?”

“This was the girl who often beat Silas for the top honors back in high school!” Celine revealed. “I remember it so well, because Silas would always be anxious each time the awarding happened.”

“Is that so, Mom?” Serena asked before putting slices of fruit on Alisa's plate. She was so amused, hearing about this.

“Yes!” Celine confirmed. “Not only in academics, but also in interschool competitions and leadership roles.”

Serena’s family waited for her to come home that night, so everyone was at the table for dinner, including the kids and Noelle.

Serena no longer invited Bianca over because the latter wanted to rest early for their drive to Greyhold the next day.

“She only became Vice President of the student council while I won the presidency position during my last year in high school,” Silas pointed out.

“Yes, I remember,” Celine acknowledged. “You did great, Silas. That year you took over the school body was the best year for Westbridge Academy.”

“Noelle, you were the same girl who beat Silas at the Academic Science & Math Championship?” Sterling asked.

Noelle pressed her lips together and admitted, “Yes.”

“Impressive,” Sterling complimented.

From her seat, Serena saw her brother shaking his head. Silas said, “She got lucky. That’s all.”

A laugh escaped Serena’s lips. She said to Noelle, “You weren’t kidding when you said you were rivals with Silas in school.”

“I remember that particular academic competition,” Celine eagerly shared. “After you won the award, you gave your trophy to your boyfriend. Was that right?”

Serena turned to Noelle and her face paled.

Noelle’s lips twitched as she said, “Well, now I know he never deserved that.”

Seeing the puzzled expressions on her parents’ faces, Serena explained, “Noelle is going to file for divorce. That’s why I invited her over to stay with us until she finds a place to stay.”

Serena was seated next to Noelle. She put her hand on her shoulder and said, “I know exactly how painful divorce can be, so I sympathized with Noelle. In any case, she’s not a stranger to us.”

She turned to her brother. “Right, Silas?”

“Mmmm,” Silas simply acknowledged before taking another bite of his food.

“Thank you, Serena,” Noelle said.

“Well, we have a lot of rooms,” Sterling said. “We don’t mind. Any friends of Silas and Serena are welcome in our home.”

Celine smiled but belatedly asked, “If you don’t mind me asking, Noelle, why are you divorcing your husband? Divorce is not something so trivial. I just hope it's not something you will regret later on.”

Noelle was drinking water. She gulped it down and replied, “My husband has a mistress. They have been in a relationship for seven years now. I had no idea until earlier this year.”

“My whole marriage was a lie,” Noelle added. “And now he has turned our son against me, making him favor his mistress. I don’t even know if I can get custody.”

“That’s terrible,” Celine frowned.

Serena unwittingly glanced at her brother. She saw how Silas’s grip on his utensils tightened. Then Silas’s gaze darkened as he turned to Noelle.

“I don’t want to,” Alisa said. Her eyes flashed with fear.

Celine and Sterling laughed.

Serena comforted her daughter. “Don’t worry, Ali. You don’t have to ride a helicopter if you don’t want to. But in case you want to try, I know your dad will hold you tightly.”

After Serena returned to eating, she noticed Noelle studying her. When Serena turned to her, Noelle said, “Is it really going well for you and your… ex-husband?”

Serena nodded. “Yes, and the kids love him too.”

“But your situation is truly different,” Serena suggested. “A betrayal of that level can’t be forgiven. I’m sorry to say this.”

“No, you don’t have to,” Noelle said, clearly forcing a smile. “I already know it’s beyond saving.”

They all ate in silence for the next few minutes when Celine remembered, “Serena, since we are leaving for Greyhold tomorrow, Noelle will be alone here.”

“Noelle, why don’t you come with us instead? That might help get your mind off the divorce for a while,” Celine said.

“Thank you so much for the offer, Mrs. Vander, but actually, I was thinking of looking for an apartment to rent tomorrow,” Noelle said.

“Silas can help you,” Celine suggested. “He has lots of connections in real estate.”

Serena turned to Silas. Noelle did too.

“You’ll get better results if agents think I’m the one house-hunting,” Silas said calmly. “They tend to move faster when they assume I might sign the lease.”

He set down his glass and, without looking at Noelle, said, “So you should come with us. If anything good comes up over the weekend, I’ll hear about it before anyone else. If you stay here, you’ll only miss out on opportunities. The signal is quite terrible on the way to Greyhold.”