Chapter 97

Rachel’s revelation about Noëlla’s identity hit everyone like a bombshell. Lucas’s mind went blank. His legs felt weak, and he nearly collapsed. He stared at Noëlla in shock and anger. He couldn’t believe she was the streamer Sweetbelly.

It turned out Noëlla had been watching everything unfold as a joke, including the day he mentioned recruiting a talented gunner. She must have known who he meant but said nothing.

The corners of Lucas’s eyes reddened as he stared at Noëlla. “Why did you lie to me?” He wondered why she’d hidden her identity as Sweetbelly and why she hadn’t told him sooner. Filled with anger, he couldn’t understand. Didn’t she like him best among her brothers?

Unlike Lucas’s emotional outburst, Noëlla’s expression was calm and indifferent. “I never lied to you.”

“Then why didn’t you tell me you were the streamer?”

Noëlla’s clear gaze and cold demeanor sent chills down his spine. He couldn’t believe it. Even though they argued, he’d believed they were family and that things would resolve themselves with time, as they always had. But why was this different? Noëlla knew the tournament meant a lot to him, so why? Just then, Frank grabbed Lucas. “Calm down, Lucas.”

How could he possibly calm down?

Lucas turned to Frank, his eyes slightly red. “Frank, I…” His chest felt heavy. Frank saw his brother’s disappointment but didn’t know what to say. He’d warned Lucas that Noëlla had changed, but Lucas hadn’t taken it seriously. The reporters closed in on Noëlla.

“Ms. Liddell, why did you keep your identity as the streamer a secret? Is there some deeper reason?”

“Ms. Liddell, is it true that you’ve fallen out with your family?”

It was a headline guaranteed to grab attention—Sweetbelly, the streamer who could perform the twelve-hit combo, was Noëlla Liddell. With her talent, she’d unexpectedly signed with Firestorm instead of staying with her family’s team. There had to be more to the story.

Noëlla looked at the reporters, her tone as distant as ever. “Yes. There have been disagreements, so I’ve decided to support myself.” She didn’t need their help anymore. She thought it best to let the public know to avoid the Liddell family bothering her in the future. Frank winced when he heard Noëlla’s reply. It was as he’d guessed. Noëlla had been hurt so badly she didn’t want to be associated with her brothers anymore.

Lucas couldn’t accept it. “Noëlla, are you really going to throw the whole family away over some petty arguments? Is that really necessary?” Were such petty arguments between family so serious? He’d always thought Noëlla was just throwing a tantrum. He hadn’t realized how serious she was.

Slightly panicked, Lucas finally spoke. Noëlla stared at him, unyielding. She didn’t even feel like answering him. It turned out Lucas considered all the hurt she’d endured to be petty arguments.

“If you think so, then you can treat this as another petty argument. Since you’re such a forgiving person, I’m sure you won’t hold it against me.” The mockery in her voice was enough to hurt.

Lucas’s words choked in his throat. He wanted to say he hadn’t meant it that way, but for a moment, he couldn’t find the words.