Sabrina assumed that Noelle was finally driven away from fear . This was great news , but she knew she still had to be careful . After all , she wasn't some naive fool . So , in the end , Sabrina decided not to return to the hospital and remained at the Ashford residence instead . At least here , every member of the household showered her with fawning affection . In contrast , Noelle was someone no one bothered with . But this didn't matter to her since she was leaving anyway . She was simply waiting for the Spencers to pick her up . When Noelle had married Conner , her parents had sent her over with proud and joyful smiles . Now that she was leaving , she would walk out the same way - openly and with dignity . Once the news of Noelle leaving reached Conner , he grew uneasy and started looking for excuses to talk to her . But after what had happened , Noelle treated him like the plague and stayed away from wherever he was . After all , she was leaving soon and wanted no drama . But eventually , Conner managed to corner her in the small garden of the Ashford residence and seized her wrist from behind . " I heard from Sab that you're going back to the Spencer residence . " Sab ? What an affectionate nickname . Was it a habit from bed that now rolled off his tongue far too easily ? Noelle yanked her hand back from Conner's grip in plain disgust . " Whether I go home or not is none of your business , Caleb . You're just my brother - in - law ! " She stressed the last word - a deliberate reminder that he was now Sabrina's husband . Though her words hurt him , Conner still refused to let go . They were pulling and tugging in the garden when Sabrina suddenly appeared on the second - floor balcony and caught sight of the scene . As she clutched the railing , her eyes turned dark with hatred and fury . She hissed , " Noelle , you bitch ! You just don't give up ! " In the garden , Conner's grip anxiously tightened on Noelle . If she stayed at the Ashford residence , every move she made would remain under his surveillance . But if she returned to the Spencers , she'd be beyond his reach , and that was too much of a risk . " How is that none of my business ? Conner may be dead , but if you leave the Ashfords , he'd surely be heartbroken ! " Noelle scoffed . " Oh , are you sure he's dead ? " Conner's expression awkwardly stiffened before he stammered , " H - He's buried in Southfields Memorial Cemetery . Of course , he's dead . " Noelle tore her hand away from his grip and snapped , " Haven't you heard the saying - life goes on ? He's Chapter 9 dead , and that doesn't matter to the living! " With that , she resolutely turned and walked away . 2/2 As she did so , Conner's chest ached . He could no longer suppress his longing for Noelle now , and the faintest whiff of her familiar perfume would bring up memories of their past . If it hadn't been for Caleb's sudden death , they could have been the most envied couple in all of Norland . As he watched Noelle walk farther away , he murmured under his breath , " Just wait , Noelle . Once the baby is born safe and sound , I'll come back to you . " Back in her room , Noelle went straight to the shower and scrubbed her skin hard until her arms bruised red . Everywhere Conner had touched her felt disgustingly tainted . Right after she got out of the shower , an urgent knock came from the door . When she opened it after slipping on her pajamas , she found Conner and Sabrina standing there , one on each side . Sabrina flicked her a glance before she looked at Conner . Then , Conner said , " Pack your stuff . I'll send you back to the Spencers . " The sudden shift in his demeanor startled Noelle . It was as if the man who'd cornered her in the garden wasn't the same as the one now offering her a ride home . Meanwhile , Sabrina had a smug smile on her face , looking like she'd already won . Without hesitation , Noelle turned to pack her suitcase . After all , it didn't matter that she'd planned to have the Spencers fetch her initially . Leaving the Ashfords ahead of schedule suited her just fine . In her sweetest voice , Sabrina sounded almost sorry when she said , " Sorry for the trouble , Noelle . But right now , the baby comes first . A peaceful house is better for both me and the baby . " Chapter 10