Chapter 5 The Sandback Family
Noelle had just reached the gates of the Sandback residence when the security guards spotted her and opened the door.
She smirked slightly. So this show of authority isn’t thorough enough, huh?
Soon, a middle-aged man came out to welcome her in. Introducing himself as the Sandback family’s butler, he led her into the main mansion.
As Noelle entered, she scanned the people seated in the living room, their profiles flashing through her mind.
Her maternal grandparents, Kingston and Phoebe were both present. Her eldest aunt, Zayla, was also there, along with her two daughters.
Her eldest daughter, Yelena Daines, was twenty-five and already married, while her youngest daughter, Yuliana Daines, was a year older than Noelle and studying at Jamore University.
The people in the room were also sizing Noelle up. No one spoke, and an awkward silence filled the air.
The butler broke the tension, hastily apologizing. “Apologies, Ms. Yersley, it was my oversight. I forgot to arrange for someone to pick you up.”
As expected of a butler from a prestigious family. He was quick-witted. Seeing that no one else was speaking, he immediately stepped in to smooth things over.
Had I spoken first, there would have been no apology, right? Interesting.
Noelle ignored the butler, who was still apologizing. Since the Sandback family clearly didn’t welcome her and couldn’t even be bothered to put on a polite facade, she saw no reason to cooperate.
They had tried to intimidate her and now expected her to greet them first? Dream on.
They all knew who she was, while this was her first time at the Sandback residence. It was perfectly normal for her not to recognize them.
As Noelle remained silent, the atmosphere grew even more strained. The butler, playing a solo act, was beginning to falter.
Just then, her older cousin Yelena stepped forward, her tone warm and gentle. “You must be Elle. I’m your older cousin, Yelena Daines. Butler, you can get back to work now. Elle wouldn’t mind such small matters.”
The butler breathed a sigh of relief and quickly exited the room.
Noelle cast Yelena a half-smile but didn’t respond. Oh, so she is making decisions for me now?
Yelena’s expression stiffened. Typically, one would take the peace offer. Noelle’s refusal to play along left Yelena momentarily embarrassed.
Noelle observed the expressions around her. Her grandparents clearly didn’t like her. Yelena’s face carried a mocking sneer, while Zayla looked displeased that Noelle had refused to acknowledge her daughter’s goodwill.
Just as the tension reached a peak, the sound of a car pulling up came from the courtyard. A moment later, more people entered the house.
Noelle glanced up. Oh, her eldest uncle Ryder and his family had arrived.
Ryder, his wife Jacinda Galley, and their three sons had all come, a clear sign of how much importance they placed on her.
The moment they entered, they were struck by the strange atmosphere and the stiff expressions on everyone’s faces. What is going on here?
Upon seeing their three grandsons enter, the elderly couple managed to crack a smile.
After exchanging greetings, Jacinda walked over to Noelle, taking her hand with a smile.
“Elle, you’ve grown so much. The last time I saw you, you were just a little girl.”
Noelle finally spoke. “Aunt Jacinda.”
Her tone was neutral, neither warm nor cold, but Jacinda didn’t seem to mind. She took out a box and handed it to Noelle.
“A gift from me. See if you like it.”
Noelle opened the box to find a diamond necklace. It was beautiful and likely expensive. She wasn’t an expert, but seeing Yuliana’s envious, almost jealous gaze told her everything she needed to know about its value.
She closed the box and said indifferently, “Thank you, Aunt Jacinda.”
Jacinda’s smile deepened, and she introduced her three sons.
Each of her three cousins presented Noelle with a gift. The eldest, Jason Sandback, was the general manager at the Sandback Group and handed her a check. Noelle glanced at the amount. He was quite generous.
The second, Nixon Sandback, was a doctor and gifted her a miniature gold anatomical model. Noelle touched it, impressed by its extravagance.
The youngest, Carson Sandback, a carefree rich heir who spent his family’s money freely, pulled out a stack of cards and handed them to Noelle. She took them, her lips twitching slightly. They were various membership cards for elite clubs and venues.
Noelle thanked her three cousins. Since entering the Sandback residence, she had barely spoken, yet she had already received quite a few gifts.
After Ryder’s family had finished presenting their gifts, Zayla gave an awkward laugh and said, “Elle, you arrived so suddenly that I didn’t have time to prepare a gift for you. I’ll make it up to you next time.”
Then, as if joking, she added, “Jacinda is smart to prepare gifts in advance. We’ve been sitting here all this time, and Elle hasn’t said a single word to us!”
The implication was clear—Noelle was rude and materialistic. Her three male cousins frowned. They had long found their aunt insufferable. What was she even saying?
Noelle turned to Zayla, her voice neutral yet cutting. “And you are?”
Her simple response made Zayla’s face turn red and then pale. Noelle genuinely didn’t know who she was, but the way she said it made it sound like an insult.
Brilliant. Carson nearly burst out laughing. I need to learn the art of language from Elle.
Jason and Nixon exchanged a glance. Their little cousin was no pushover.
Zayla forced a smile. “It’s my fault for not introducing myself properly. Next time, your Aunt Zayla will bring a gift to apologize.”
She emphasized the word “gift.”
Before Noelle could respond, Yuliana interjected sourly, “Mom, she’s already received so many gifts. She doesn’t need yours. Right, Elle?”
Carson, who had always disliked Zayla and her daughter’s antics, finally spoke up. “Since you know it’s nothing much, then prepare more next time. What, is the Daines family going bankrupt? Can’t even afford a gift?”
Yuliana’s face turned red with anger, but she couldn’t find the words to retort.
Yelena tried to smooth things over gently. “Elle, don’t take it to heart. Liana doesn’t mean anything by it. She’s just a spoiled child. Don’t hold it against her.”
Noelle nodded seriously, her tone grave.
“Don’t worry. I won’t hold it against Liana since she’s just a child.”
She emphasized “child,” leaving Yelena momentarily speechless. Once again, she felt the sting of Noelle’s refusal to follow expectations.
Not only did she refuse to take the peace offering, she fired back another insult.
Carson openly laughed, while Jason and Nixon smirked slightly.
“Never mind me. Elle, your grandparents have been waiting for you all morning. And yet, you haven’t even greeted them.”
Zayla was compelled to regain her dignity. She pointedly implied that Noelle was both late and disrespectful.
Ryder frowned slightly. She had been here for so long and still hadn’t greeted her grandparents?
Jacinda gently held his arm, stopping him from speaking.
She didn’t believe Noelle was as rude as Zayla made her out to be. After all, she had been nothing but polite to them despite her indifference.
“Apologies, it took me a while to walk in,” Noelle replied unhurriedly.
Hearing that, Ryder’s family glanced at Kingston and Phoebe in disbelief.
What is this? An attempt to put Noelle in her place?
