Xenia's eyes widened. Noelle wasn't letting her off the hook. This whole apology had been for Frank's sake; she hadn't anticipated the surveillance footage.

"Everyone knows we don't get along," Noelle sneered. "I'm not pretending we're best friends. Disgusting."

"Xenia came to apologize, and that's your response?" Lucas exploded.

"Should I just forgive her? If apologies solved everything, we wouldn't need police," Noelle snapped.

The livestream chat erupted.

"Exactly! That bitch lied!" "She needs to leave!" "So jealous of SweetNelly!"

Insults rained down. Xenia fled, her fan count plummeting. She'd never guessed Noelle had the video.

Bursting into Lucas's room, she cried, "I tried my best!"

Lucas, watching the livestream, sighed. "I know it's not your fault." He turned to Frank. "Noelle's signed with Firestorm. Why are we even trying? She doesn't care about the Liddells anymore!"

Frank clutched his stomach. "She has the right to choose her work."

"She's family! She's ignoring us, and I know she knows about my competition with Firestorm!" Lucas raged, remembering yesterday's humiliation – turning down his sister, a twelve-hit combo powerhouse, only to lose her to a rival.

"Noelle's just upset," Xenia said soothingly. "She won't actually join another team."

Frank glared. "Xenia, why did you lie on the livestream? Did you not consider the consequences?"

Tears welled in Xenia's eyes.

"Frank, her apology was sincere! Don't treat her badly because of Noelle," Lucas defended.

"Why can't you understand?" Frank snapped.

"I understand perfectly. Noelle's spoiled. I'll see how long this lasts. Xenia, let's go," Lucas said.

Frank felt a splitting headache. He finally understood Noelle's past mistreatment. He sent a ten-thousand-dollar gift to her livestream, messaging, "The party incident was a misunderstanding. As your brother, I support your choices."

Noelle saw the gifts but felt nothing. She ended the stream.

Later, Noelle emerged from her study. Cedric had been gone for days. Something felt wrong. The college entrance exams loomed, making her anxious.

She texted Cedric: "Are you busy? Will you be back for the exam results?"

Cedric stared at the message, then didn't reply. Alfred saw it. "Nelly, right? You've been avoiding her. Did she confess?"

Cedric looked away, clutching his phone. "She's too young. She doesn't understand."

An unbridgeable chasm separated them. Noelle still hated her parents' killers; that drunken kiss had left him trapped, avoiding her ever since.

Alfred smirked. "Tell her you have a girlfriend. That'll work."

Cedric's face hardened. "Maybe you're right. It's time I left."