Noelle’s eyes gleamed as she watched Frank stumble through the reporter’s questions. “Family involvement helped her grades?” he stammered, utterly bewildered. He knew the truth: Noelle had left home before exams, her academic surge completely independent of them. Lucas and Xenia had even pushed her into esports training, tanking her grades. The Liddells had hindered, not helped, her remarkable achievement. Without Noelle’s defiance and escape from their influence, she wouldn't be here.

A shiver ran down Frank's spine. This was Noelle’s doing – a calculated mockery of their family’s pretensions. He knew none of them would dare claim credit. The realization hit him hard: he’d failed as a brother. His face flushed.

“Actually,” he mumbled, clearing his throat, “we didn’t do anything. She’s just…naturally brilliant, diligent.”

The reporter looked disappointed. Lionel, however, saw the sarcastic undercurrent. Bruce clapped Frank on the shoulder. “Congratulations, Mr. Liddell! A top scorer in the family!”

Humiliation washed over Frank. He couldn't meet Noelle’s gaze.

Lionel broke the tension. “Let’s head to the banquet.”

Noelle lingered, then turned to Frank. “You should leave.”

“Nelly!” Frank protested, but her retreating figure silenced him. From the car, she watched him standing alone, a smirk playing on her lips at Bruce’s earlier congratulations.

At the restaurant, Frank’s phone rang. It was Lucas.

“Frank, what’s going on? Xenia’s at the hospital, why isn’t Noelle there?”

Frank sighed. “Maybe after lunch.”

“What lunch? Justin’s exam results are disastrous, Mrs. Parham’s called repeatedly! He’s rejecting her calls. If she sees him at the hospital, it’s all for nothing!”

Frank’s voice trembled. “It’s Nelly’s celebration banquet. I can’t leave.”

“Celebration? She didn’t do that well, did she? Stop messing around, deal with the Parhams! I’ve been working on that relationship since last night!”

“Nelly’s the city’s top scorer. The top student.”

“What?!” Lucas nearly dropped the phone. “Noelle? The top scorer? How? Didn’t they say her language score was affected by faulty stationery?”

“Even without that, her grades shouldn't be enough. But the school has a banner, reporters are interviewing her…it’s true. I’m at the restaurant with them now.”