Chapter 8 No sooner than Noelle had spoken did Sabrina break into loud wails . Panicking , Conner pulled her into his arms and shot Noelle a hard look . " Can't you be reasonable for once ? Apologize now that you've made a mistake ! " Noelle frowned and almost laughed in disbelief . She pointed to herself and snapped back , " My mistake ? Are you saying I'm in the wrong ? Seriously ? " Clenching her teeth , she continued , " Fine , it's all my fault . So now , can you get out of my room ? " Yasmine was clearly dissatisfied . " If you're apologizing , then act like it . That's the only way Sabrina will feel better . " Conner was equally frantic . He hadn't expected Sabrina to suddenly come home from the hospital , much less walk in on him . If anything happened to the baby , the past two months ' work would be for nothing , and there was no telling when he could return to Noelle's side . With Sabrina's emotions spiraling out of control , he could only fix Noelle with a sharper stare . But to Noelle , his stare was a vicious , almost threatening look . She couldn't help but wonder how those eyes , once filled with love , had turned into this . Now , they glared at her with coercion and loathing , like shards of poisoned glass . Before Conner could speak , she pushed herself up from the edge of the bed . " Fine . If you won't leave , I will . " Noelle had barely taken two steps toward the door when Sabrina's plaintive cry rang out behind her , Yasmine ! Caleb! Do you see her attitude ? How dare she act so defiant when she's clearly in the wrong ! " And my stomach hurts so much ! " Panic flickered in Conner's eyes , worried that something might happen to Sabrina's baby . He shot forward to grab Noelle by the arm and warned , " Your dad … " Noelle turned to look at his unfamiliar eyes . She was in disbelief that Conner would use Patrick's plight to force an apology out of her . That just showed how ruthless and cruel the Ashfords were . Patrick's matter had been settled and paid for with Dalton's favor , but Conner seemed certain that she wouldn't risk it and would certainly compromise for Patrick . Swallowing the pain from her cramps , Noelle faced the smugly coddled Sabrina . " I'm sorry , Sabrina . It's all my fault . " A trace of satisfaction flashed in Sabrina's eyes after seeing her softened attitude - though she never intended to let it slide . Very quickly , she turned to Conner and Yasmine . " Why don't you two step out ? I'd Chapter 8 like a word with Noelle . " Yasmine knew that Noelle had already faced her share of humiliation , but Sabrina was the Ashford family's priority right now . It was only right that Noelle take on the insults and swallow her grievances since she was infertile . Once Conner and Yasmine were gone , Sabrina dropped her aggrieved act . Her now triumphant and arrogant gaze shifted to Noelle as she crossed her legs and smugly raised her chin . " What do you have to fight me , Noelle ? Do you think you can steal Caleb just because of your looks ? " 2/2 Noelle frowned . " Since when did you develop this persecution complex ? I have zero interest in fighting for Caleb . " But Sabrina wasn't listening to whatever she had to say . When she'd received news of the plane crash that night , she went cold from head to toe . She learned that one brother had died , and another had survived . Back then , she wouldn't dare imagine what she'd do if Celab were dead . For years , the Harpers had fed off of the Ashfords . Without the Ashfords , the Harpers ' debts would have swallowed them whole . If Caleb had died and the Ashfords cut them off , her life as an elite socialite would have ended on the spot . Fortunately , Caleb had survived , and she now clung tighter to what she'd almost lost . " Enough talk . Conner is dead now , so there's no point for you to stay at the Ashford residence . Go back to the Spencers , or I'll make you regret it . " Noelle snorted . " Is that a threat ? Your tricks are so pathetic that I'd never be intimidated by them . And don't worry . I'll be long gone before you know it . " Chapter 9 1/2 Chapter 9