No Longer a Pushover

Weblic 1/5 Chapter 1

“Noelle, are you going to admit your mistake or not?”

Noelle Liddell’s mouth and nose were submerged in water; her throat burned from choking. On the brink of death, she opened her eyes and saw her second brother, Frank Liddell, at the pool’s edge. She also saw her fourth brother, Blake Liddell, holding Xenia Quigley.

Disbelief flashed across her eyes. This scene was so familiar. Hadn’t she died already? Could she have been reborn three years ago, to the day Xenia was adopted by the Liddells?

Xenia had framed Noelle at the banquet, making everyone believe Noelle had pushed her into the pool. Blake, the first to discover them, saved only Xenia, leaving the non-swimmer Noelle to struggle. Frank pressured Noelle to admit fault, refusing to save her unless she confessed.

Desperate and terrified, Noelle begged, forcibly admitting guilt and pleading for rescue. She was pulled from the water only when near death. Afterward, she appeased her brothers and avoided Xenia, to no avail. Xenia stole Noelle’s thesis; Frank testified for Xenia, labeling Noelle a plagiarist and getting her expelled. When Xenia needed a kidney, Carl Liddell, her third brother, performed the surgery. For an international competition, Blake, Wyatt, and Lucas kicked Noelle off their team. When Noelle found evidence of Xenia’s plagiarism and falsified medical records, she went to her eldest brother, hoping to expose Xenia. Instead, she incurred the family’s wrath; no one believed her, no one looked at the evidence. Donovan Liddell, her eldest brother, threw her out, ordering her to reflect.

Homeless and penniless, Noelle suffered unimaginably. Past memories surged. She stopped struggling, letting herself sink. Her eyes were open, her expression stoic, as if she were already dead. Looking at her brothers surrounding Xenia, she felt a sharp chest pain—a familiar pain.

It was absurd. She was their biological sister, yet meant less than an outsider. Frank’s attention was solely on Xenia. Realizing Noelle had stopped struggling, he saw her sink to the bottom, paled, and cried, “Noelle!” He immediately dove in.

Xenia’s eyes glinted. She preferred Noelle dead. Feigning meekness, she tugged Blake’s sleeve, whispering, “Blake, I want to save Noelle too. It’s my fault she fell.”

Blake, equally concerned, reassured her, “Don’t be silly. Frank’s help is enough. Noelle’s reaping what she sowed. She won’t die.” His expression grew complicated as he looked at the pool.

Underwater, Noelle saw Frank swimming toward her. He seemed genuinely worried, despite forcing her apology and watching her drown moments before. This time, she didn’t want his help. Mockery crossed her eyes as she swam to the surface.

After her near-drowning, Frank forced her and Xenia to learn to swim. Traumatized, she overcame her fear to please him. Yet, he only praised Xenia’s bravery. No one cared about Noelle’s lasting trauma—even a minute underwater scarred her for life. Everyone cared only about Xenia.

“Noelle, what stunt are you pulling?” Frank blocked her path. “Do you think pretending to drown undoes the damage?” He noticed she could swim. He wondered when she’d learned.

Chapter 1 3/5

Noelle met his gaze. He’d once been her favorite brother. Donovan was strict, but Frank had been close. Now, only disgust and impatience filled his eyes.

“Frank, don’t blame Noelle,” Xenia interrupted weakly. “I know she dislikes me. It’s my fault for wanting a family. You’re all important to me.”

Blake glowered at Noelle as Xenia sobbed. He bellowed, “Happy now? She wouldn’t be an orphan if her father hadn’t died saving you! He should’ve let you die!”

Frank frowned. “Noelle, be grateful. We should treat Xenia as family. It’s what we owe her. Got it?”

“An ingrate like her wouldn’t understand,” Blake hissed. “If she could have, she wouldn’t have pushed Xenia. Saving an animal is more worthwhile!”

Noelle froze. She would have preferred not being saved. Enduring the burning pain in her lungs, she rasped, “You’re right. It’s my fault. It won’t happen again.” She would quit being their sister.

“Noelle, you did it on purpose? Xenia can’t swim! She could’ve died!” Disappointment washed over Frank. He’d thought it an accident, not deliberate. He wondered when she’d become so ruthless.

The family doctor arrived.

Blake spun to Noelle, snarling, “You’d better pray Xenia’s fine. Otherwise, you’re doomed when Donovan returns.”

Frank hesitated, then looked back at Noelle, feeling bad seeing her alone, pale, and soaked. “Go change,” he urged. “The banquet’s starting.”

Noelle didn’t respond. Alone, she violently coughed, as if coughing up her lungs. Swallowing blood, she stumbled to her room. In the bathtub, she recalled her vengeful actions after becoming homeless, her failed attempt to kill Xenia, and Donovan locking her in a mental hospital, where Xenia’s caretakers tortured her to death. Noelle clasped her hands to her face and cackled, her voice chilling.

“Very well,” she thought. Her gaze was cold.

Chapter 1 4/5

Noelle dressed, feeling unfamiliar in her bedroom. In her past life, Xenia had this room; she’d been relegated to a smaller one. She saw a family portrait: a young couple holding a baby, surrounded by six boys.

Her parents had died in a car accident shortly after her birth. The driver had saved her first; returning for her parents, the car exploded, killing him. Xenia, the driver’s frail, sickly child, was raised with Noelle by Donovan after the accident.

Everything changed with Xenia’s arrival. The brothers Noelle adored turned their attention to the new addition.

“Xenia’s not healthy, so I hired a chef. Noelle, ensure she eats properly.”

“Noelle, Xenia wants to learn painting. You’ve learned enough. Let her have your lessons.”

“Noelle, drop out of the competition and let Xenia represent the school. She came in second, but had prepared for a long time.”

“Noelle, Xenia’s grades aren’t great, but you should attend the same college to look after her.”

Noelle clutched her head; a dull ache throbbed in her chest. She breathed shallowly, forcing the pain to subside. She would cut ties with the Liddells. She put away the photo and packed.

A maid knocked. “Ms. Liddell, the banquet’s begun. Mr. Frank requested you come down after changing.”

“Got it.”

Noelle opened the door and strode toward the banquet.

Shocked, the maid muttered, “What is she wearing? Has she lost her mind?”

The banquet was in full swing. Xenia, in an elegant white gown, looked angelic, flanked by Frank and Blake, gazing at her with affection. It was heartwarming.

But Frank thought of Noelle. He’d hoped for her obedience and sensibility. Instead, she’d grown unruly and arrogant. “Noelle’s here!” someone announced.

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