"XenBaby, you're so understanding. Let's teach that bitch a lesson," Rachel texted.

Noelle replied calmly, "Xenia's always pulled this kind of stunt."

Rachel fumed. "I'm furious! I told everyone the truth, but she's twisting everything! My brother's getting the hotel security footage. I'll make her eat her words!"

Noelle glanced at her screen. "Once we have it, I'll post it." She didn't want Rachel further involved. Xenia's old tricks needed stopping, but something felt off. Why lie publicly when proof existed?

Rachel's next message hit: "Bad news. Footage deleted."

"Xenia came prepared," Noelle replied. Her suspicion confirmed.

"What now? She's slandering you online! Should we get Frank involved? His word carries weight."

Noelle smirked. "Frank won't." His bias would only worsen things.

"So we just let her slander you?" Rachel demanded.

Noelle's eyes hardened. "No. We don't."

She logged out, grabbed a USB drive, and hacked into the hotel's system. Deleted footage – hotels kept backups, but finding them took time. While restoring it, she forwarded the video to Frank: "Is Xenia insane?"

Frank called instantly. "Just found out. Xenia meant no harm. She wants to reconcile."

"Reconciliation? She's lying, Frank! Are you blind? Family stabs you in the back? I can't—" She hung up. Distancing herself from the Liddells was supposed to be her escape, but they wouldn't leave her alone. She had to fight back.

Frank, clutching his stomach, descended the stairs. Last night's drinking had left him in agony. "Gordon, tell Xenia to come down."

Xenia rushed in. "Frank, what's up?"

"Your stream was misleading. Don't do it again."

Xenia hesitated. "I just wanted Noelle back. I didn't mean anything bad."

His stomach pain overriding his patience, Frank snapped, "Just do as I say."

Xenia hung her head. "Okay, Frank. My stream isn't finished, I'll go back to my room."

Frank nodded, barely awake with pain. Xenia, noticing his discomfort, didn't dwell on it. She left.

A cold realization washed over Frank. He remembered Noelle's care when his stomach ached – the congee, her comforting presence. Now she was gone, the house felt empty, meals tasted wrong, the pain constant. He pressed his hand to his face, regret sharp and sudden. It wasn't that Noelle needed the Liddells; it was that the Liddells needed her.