Picking up where Jane left off, Lilian said, "Those people are just jealous that you have Laurence's heart. You're the subject of envy. They are just bitter that they can't have what you have.
"Live your own life. No one else matters."
"When Ben and I were dating, didn't people gossip about us too? I didn't care about what they said because they were just jealous." Jane had not found her biological parents when she first married Ben. She had no idea that she came from a powerful family.
Most people believed that Jane did not deserve Ben because he was the heir of the Johnsons, the leader of FC & Co.
Meanwhile, Jane was just the owner of a tiny café. Though her adoptive parents were well off, their wealth was nothing compared to that of the Johnsons, the richest family in Annenburg.
“Besides, you should trust Laurence to protect you. He won't let anyone talk badly about you. He is a nice guy, but very few can handle his wrath when he's upset."
Laurence was patient and broad-minded, but that did not mean he did not have a temper.
Not one to be crossed, Laurence never let his enemies get away.
Jane and Lilian took turns to talk to Noelle, gradually calming her nerves.
Noelle sipped on her drink.
“Mr. Laurence is the head of the Longbottoms now. Wouldn't those people defy me if I were to get together with him?"
Lilian squeezed Noelle's cheek. “Is that even a question? You can handle that. I'm sure you can work to earn their respect. If all else fails, just beat them up until they do."
Noelle was lost for words.
No member of the Longbottom family could beat her in a fight. It would not be a hitch for her to thrash them into submission.
Of course, she would not attack anyone for no reason.
Jane said with a smile, "With that stern face of yours, I doubt you can't command respect."
Noelle had no words.
"To be honest, a woman is respected in her in-laws' home only if her husband treats her well. If he loves, protects, and cherishes her, no one in that family will do anything out of line.
"No one will ever think less of you, Noelle. It might not be easy to be the lady of the Longbottom household, but so long as Laurence loves, respects, and trusts you, I'm sure the family will accept you as Mrs. Longbottom.
"You are both my apprentices. Who is going to belittle Mrs. Lilian's goddaughter?"
Lilian patted Noelle's hand. "Even though I hadn't formally taken you as my student, you have trained under my care for years. I've long regarded you as one of mine."
She was hailed as the legendary doctor, earning respect from the rich and powerful. No one would upset her unnecessarily since illness could strike anyone. Her expertise was needed for complicated cases.
Since the day Lilian started practicing medicine in the world, no one wanted to make an enemy out of her.
People would only want to befriend her.
It was not easy to suck up to Lilian since she was too busy to meet just about anyone.
With Oliver taking over, Lilian could finally take a breather.
Oliver insisted on running his own hospital. As the only son of the great Dr. Carden, he had inherited her legacy. There was a saying in Annenburg that if anyone could outwit death, it was Oliver.