Chapter 35

Despite her petite frame, Noelle’s eyes blazed with rebellious determination. She firmly answered, “My answer won’t change, even if I say it a hundred times. I refuse.”

Xenia seized the opportunity, sweetly saying, “Don’t be angry, Donovan. I already have a tutor, and my grades will improve soon. Noelle’s grades improved because of her hard work. I’ll learn from her, I promise!”

Frank, attempting to mediate, chimed in, “Don’t worry about their grades, Donovan. I’ll handle it.”

However, Donovan remained furious. “Stop making excuses for her! Do you think I don’t know what she’s like? She’s acting out because she’s unhappy about Xenia joining our family!”

He snapped at Noelle, “Let me make this clear, Noelle. No matter how much you’re against it, Xenia isn’t going anywhere, even if you leave the house. She’s here to stay, you hear me?”

Noelle’s head was lowered, her expression hidden. Frank felt sorry for her. “Noelle, Donovan doesn’t mean it that way.”

Noelle slowly raised her head, her face devoid of emotion. Coolly, she said, “It doesn’t matter.” Without another word, she stood up and left.

Frank paled and was about to follow when Donovan’s furious voice rang out, “Stop! That kid has you wrapped around her finger because you’re so soft.”

Frank sighed, exasperated. “It’s not like that, Donovan.”

Noelle had changed. In the past, he might have dismissed her as stubborn. However, her expression earlier worried him. He’d never seen her look like that before.

Xenia intervened. “Guys, don’t fight. I blame myself for not doing well this time. I wish I were as smart as Noelle, but unfortunately, I’m not.”

Donovan’s tone softened. “It’s not your fault. The gaming team wasted too much of your time. Blake already told me everything, so you should stop defending Noelle. Just because she’s our biological sister doesn’t mean we’ll favor her over you.”

Xenia wiped away her tears, her expression brightening. “Thank you, Donovan. I’ll try harder from now on.”

Donovan was the most difficult person in the family to please. He was also rarely home, which made Xenia fear him most. But thanks to Noelle’s outburst, she’d gained the perfect opportunity to win his favor.

Chapter 35

Frank, however, felt his brother had misunderstood Noelle. “Donovan, Noelle competed too. The team wouldn’t have won without her.”

“As if I don’t know she refused to join Lucas’s team so he’d beg her. But she got jealous when Xenia stepped in and secretly practiced to steal the spotlight.”

“It’s not like that, Donovan,” Frank protested weakly, feeling helpless. For the first time, he realized he’d treated Noelle the same way Donovan was treating her. He wondered if they’d hurt her so much she wanted to distance herself.

Guilt overwhelmed him as he understood what a terrible brother he’d been. Perhaps he, not Noelle, was at fault.

He watched Xenia and Donovan chat, unconcerned by Noelle’s absence. The sight made him uncomfortable; the day was supposed to celebrate Noelle’s good grades.

He quietly slipped out while Donovan wasn’t looking and tried calling Noelle, but she didn’t answer. He quickly texted, “Noelle, where are you?”

In the restroom, Noelle glanced at her brother’s message before leaving the stall. At the sink, she saw her reddened eyes in the mirror.

Despite reminding herself not to let the Liddells hurt her again, Donovan’s words stung.

Noelle splashed cold water on her face, telling herself to hang on for just one more month. She left the restroom and headed for the elevator to leave the restaurant.