Noelle felt a little awkward, but this time, she did not get up immediately as she would have before. Instead, she stayed seated just as Laurence had asked.

Although she felt conflicted, she loved Laurence. As long as he did not look down on her and remained determined to make her his wife, she was willing to marry him. If they became husband and wife, they would truly be equals. Neither of them would be above the other.

Jane and the others had always reassured her, telling her that they had n