Chapter 3 The Snobbish Woman

At some point, it started drizzling. Northern Cemetery. The grass was green and soft to the touch. The entire North Mountain was enveloped by a curtain of rain, making it look hazy and surreal. Charles’ grave was chosen here, where it was beautiful and peaceful. The funeral was minimalistic, almost too simple. Most of the people who came were the Nolan family’s friends and relatives, and some business partners. Under the rain, the white lilies that were placed around the tombstone appeared spotlessly white. Ashlyn got down from the car and walked toward the crowd holding a black umbrella. She looked at Lucas. The man was in a black suit, his posture was straight and his lips were set in a hard line. He was standing quietly at the front; his handsome face full of sadness and his eyes red. She knew he was single-handedly brought up by Charles and that he was extremely attached to him. Ashlyn went over and bowed in respect. Looking at Charles’ picture on the tombstone, she drew in a deep breath and gently put the lilies in her hand in front of the tombstone. And so, a man’s life ended. She hated this place, and she hated the atmosphere. Most of all, she hated it when someone walked away from her life. A trace of helplessness and sorrow surfaced from the depth of her eyes. Charles had been really good to her when he was alive, doting on her as if she were his own granddaughter. She flung herself against the cold tombstone and kneeled under the pouring rain, bowing to the old man with her face to the earth. “There’s no way I can show my respect to you anymore, Grandpa. And there’s no way in this lifetime that I can repay your love for me. Rest in peace, Grandpa.” Everyone looked at Ashlyn in astonishment. Who’s this eye-catching woman? What’s her relationship with the Nolan family? Why did she… No one else from the Nolan family got down on their knees besides Lucas Nolan! Lucas’ deep, dark eyes flickered with a tinge of surprise. This woman... I didn’t know she has such deep feelings for Grandpa. Ashlyn didn’t stay too long. She got up and left after the prayers, just as mysteriously as she came. “Who is she?” “She is quite the beauty.” “Hey, I’ve heard that Lucas Nolan has a secret wife? Why didn’t he allow her to come to such an occasion today?” “She’s probably not favored in the family. I heard that Lucas Nolan is filing for divorce.” Ashlyn walked down the mountain while holding an umbrella, listening to the gossip of several noblewomen who were going down the mountain together behind her. These people have nothing else better to do than gossiping about the gentry. Those comments were like water off a duck’s back to Ashlyn. If only these women knew that the young wife they were talking about was standing in front of them, their eyes would probably pop out. “Wait up, Ms. Berry!” Suddenly, an ear-piercing voice came from behind. Ashlyn squinted. Following the sound of footsteps, a teenager about one meter eight intercepted Ashlyn; his handsome face flushed with rage. “Let’s see how long you can stay proud without Grandpa to cover you in the future, Ashlyn.” “So you came all the way over here just to tell me that?” Ashlyn said casually. The teenager standing in front of her was Blair Nolan, the second son of the Nolan family and Lucas’ half-brother, who was still a freshman in college this year. “I’m warning you. Don’t even think about getting a single penny of the Nolan family’s assets!” Blair shot daggers at Ashlyn. This woman is really good at pretending to be meek in front of Lucas. She’s clearly a different person once she turns around. Is Lucas blind or something? No, I can’t let this woman deceive my brother again, no matter what. Only the three Nolan siblings and Charles knew about her secret marriage to Lucas. The Nolan family’s youngest, Naomi, was abroad and had to be back today to attend the funeral of the old man. Sure enough, just as Ashlyn reached the foot of the mountain, she ran into Naomi, who was getting down from the car in a hurry. Scorn shone in Naomi's as she said, “Ashlyn, I suggest you quickly divorce my brother. He's handsome and is an outstanding man. The number of women who want to marry him could queue into a line that goes around the world. You better know your place.” “Can you come up with something new?” The way Ashlyn looked at Naomi was as though the latter was a piece of trash. Following that, she climbed into her car and sped off. Naomi stomped her feet in anger. Damn it! How dare she be so rude to me?