Lilian suddenly chimed in. "There's a way. Just replace her."
Laurence was speechless.
Noelle's expression shifted.
Lilian turned to Noelle and said, "You always disobey Laurence, so just let him replace you with someone who actually listens to him. What do you think?"
"Master, I don't disobey Mr. Laurence."
"Don't you? You disobey him all the time. When he tells you to sit down and eat, you'd refuse. He has to call Clo and get her to lecture you.
“He keeps telling you that he's a man, that he can take the lead and face danger himself, and that he doesn't need you constantly throwing yourself in front of him, but you never listen. Every time there's danger, you're the one standing in front of him.
“Have you forgotten how he was so frightened he had a mental breakdown when you were injured? To him, your life is as important as his own. Do you understand? "So, before you think about protecting him, you need to protect yourself first."
Noelle said helplessly, "Master, that's my duty. It's not that I don't listen to Mr. Laurence. I do whatever he tells me to do. When have I ever disobeyed him?"
Lilian was always full of twisted logic.
"What did the old man teach you for you to end up like this?"
Lilian could not help but complain about Doc who had passed away many years ago. "He picked you up and raised you alongside Laurence, treating you like his own granddaughter. You and Laurence have been equal. There was never a difference in status between you."
"He said he brought me home to keep Mr. Laurence company, and that I had to remain loyal to him and protect him for life."
Noelle had never forgotten the words Doc had spoken when he first took her in.
Lilian said, "That was only at the start. Didn't he come to treat you as his own granddaughter later? Otherwise, he wouldn't have kept you by his side. He would've sent you to Hawk long ago."
Hawk was the one who trained elite bodyguards.
If Doc had only wanted Noelle to become a bodyguard, he would never have kept
her with him, let alone taught her martial arts and medicine. He clearly regarded her
as his granddaughter. Noelle was just stubbornly clinging to the first words he had said to her.
She remembered them and lived her life exactly as he had instructed.
Noelle fell silent.
At first, it was true that Doc treated her differently from Laurence. He was extremely strict with Laurence, teaching him everything. Even though Laurence learned quickly, the old man always demanded more from him.
On the other hand, he had always been gentle with Noelle. He only asked her to do whatever chores she was capable of and never taught her martial arts or medicine. However, he made sure she went to school so she would not grow up illiterate.
Only gradually did he begin teaching her martial arts and medicine.
Perhaps after spending time with her and understanding her character, or perhaps because she was exceptionally gifted in both martial arts and medicine, he decided to teach her because he could not bear to let her talent go to waste.
Even so, he would occasionally remind her that she must never betray Laurence, and had to remain loyal and take good care of him.
He said that Laurence would be too lonely on his own, and that he brought her home so the two of them would have each other as companions.
She understood that if Laurence had not needed a companion, Doc would never have taken her in.
Doc saved her life and showed her immeasurable kindness. She would never go against his dying wish.
“Lilian, stop scaring Noelle. Who could possibly replace her? Noelle, don't listen to the nonsense your master is saying. She's just trying to frighten you. No one is going to replace you. Laurence would never let that happen, and no one could take your place in his heart."
Jane pulled Noelle to the sofa and said, "There are no outsiders here, and we're all family. There's no need to be so reserved. Sit down and have a good chat with us."
Hearing Jane's words, Noelle felt relieved. She was genuinely afraid that Lilian would replace her and no longer allow her to be Laurence's bodyguard.