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Elena gasped in outrage, while the cutlery snapped under Cisco's vicious grip.
"Noelle!" Elena turned to her, no doubt ready to deliver a set-down of her impetuous daughter.
She didn't get the chance, however, as Cisco suddenly stood up.
"We're leaving," he said in a clear, even tone. He didn't yell, he didn't even raise his voice.
He simply gave Elena a look of disgust as he went to Yuyu's side to get Val. The child didn't even notice the exchange as his attention was focused on his toy.
"Grab your bag, Noelle," Cisco gave her a brief nod before he went out. To the car.
He wasreallyleaving.
Yuyu, too, stood up then.
She shook her head at Elena, pity reflected in your gaze.
"You're always accusing me of taking your son away, but it'syouwho drives him away time and time again. Believe it or not, I've never tried to intervene in your relationship. I've never once spoken badly of you, regardless how you treated me—time and time again. Cisco might not say much, but he sees everything."
Elena's mouth parted in surprise, just as regret flashed across her features.
Noelle blinked in awe at Yuyu's diplomacy and the way she shut Elena up. Not rude, nor belligerent, she'd simply said her piece and moved on.
And as she exited the dining room, Noelle, too, rose to her feet.
"I could say I'm sorry," she paused, looking at her mother. "But I'm not," she shrugged, smiling as she went to her room to pick up her bag.
Elena didn't give them more trouble as they all left the house, boarding the car before Cisco drove away.
It was already dark by the time they arrived at the lodge. The entire journey had been quiet and tense. Cisco barely spoke, and though Yuyu tried to change the topic several times to a lighter one, she eventually gave up.
As they entered the cabin, Noelle hurried to the small room in the back to drop off her stuff. Used to getaways at the lodge, she already had her designated space while Cisco and Yuyu occupied the upper level.
"Noelle, wash your hands when you're done," Yuyu snuck her head inside the room. "I'm going to make us something to eat since I doubt any of us had much at dinner."
"Sure," she nodded.
But just as she expected Yuyu to leave, she didn't.
"Is Elena like that with you all the time, too?" She asked in a tight voice.
Noelle shrugged.
"I'm used to her by now," she replied honestly. "I know what pushes her buttons and I mostly keep out of her way."
Yuyu pursed her lips.
"You can tell me anytime if she does something, you know that, right?"
Noelle's cheeks stretched into a forced smile as she nodded, though she doubted there was anything Cisco and Yuyu could do at this point. Whether she wanted to or not, she was stuck with her mother until she came of age.
Noelle had to admit that she'd considered running away a number of times. But as she'd planned her escape, she'd realized that she would have never gotten away with it.
First, she had no real skills aside from playing the piano. She might be smart, which she wasn't shy to admit, but she was entirely useless in the real world. Running awaynowwould just make her an easy target for others to take advantage of her. And she wouldn't trade one hell for another—better the devil she already knew than the one she didn't.
And secondly… Cisco would find her. She was one hundred percent sure that her brother could find her anywhere in the country, or outside of it. She had a vague idea of the business Cisco was involved in, and she knew it skirted the line of legality, sometimes veering into very dangerous territory. At times, he seemed larger than life with the things he was capable of. And as the head of the family, he wouldneverlet her go.
But when she came of age… She shuddered thinking what would happen then. The more time she spent with her mother, the surer Noelle was that Elena had plans for her when she turned eighteen. There was something in the glint of her eye as she spoke of the future—some type of knowing smile that made Noelle ill every time she recalled it. Elena had never shied from telling Noelle that one day she would eventually get what she deserved—someone totameher.
