Chapter 18

"Huh?" Noelle looked up, noticing everyone's eyes on her. She quickly finished the food on her plate and asked, "Why's everyone staring at me?"

Damon was the first to speak, letting out a sarcastic snort. "Give it a rest, Eli," Damon said. "She didn't even finish middle school, and she's already eighteen. In a few days, Leia will start college. So tell me, is Noelle heading to college with Leia, or back to middle school?"

His words were harsh, but they pointed out the elephant in the room. Noelle was eighteen, college age by any standard. But with only part of middle school under her belt, she was stuck in an awkward spot—too old for middle school, but far from ready for college.

Just then, Leia offered a gentle suggestion. "I think Noelle should go back to middle school first. Build a solid foundation, you know! Take things step by step."

But at her age, going back to middle school would make Noelle a complete joke.

Before Leia could say more, Adriel cut her off, his expression cold. "Absolutely not. If word gets out that Noelle's back in middle school, it'll be humiliating—for her and the Anderson family."

Leia hesitated, guilt flashing across her face as she avoided Adriel's gaze. She bit her lip and muttered, "I'm sorry, Adriel. I wasn't thinking."

Seeing Leia flustered, Damon jumped in to defend her. "So if middle school's out, what are you suggesting? College? Adriel, do you really think she'd fit in there?"

Adriel shot back calmly, "I never said she should go to college right now."

"Then why dismiss Leia's idea?" Damon pressed.

Before the two could argue further, Bennett stepped in with a smile. "How about this? We hire a tutor for Noelle. She can study at home for a year, and then we'll see where she stands. If she's ready, maybe she can start college next year. It'll give us a reasonable answer if anyone asks."

"Let's go with Bennett's plan," Vincent said, his tone firm. Then, he glanced at Damon and added, "You seem worked up, Damon. How about some iced coffee to cool off?"

Damon snorted and turned away, clearly annoyed. He couldn't shake the feeling that the family was bending over backward for Noelle. Have they all forgotten Leia? She's the one who's been here all along. Noelle's just a blood relation, he thought bitterly. No matter what the others thought, Damon was resolute. To him, Leia was the only sister that mattered.

After agreeing to Bennett's suggestion, Vincent wasted no time hiring a tutor for Noelle. Later that day, a middle-aged woman in a crisp, professional outfit arrived at the Anderson family home.

"Ms. West, it's so good to see you!" Leia greeted her warmly.

"Leia, it's been a while," Shiloh West replied with a smile. As one of the top private tutors in Renia City, Shiloh had a stellar track record; nearly all her students ended up at prestigious universities. She had also tutored Leia in the past, and the two had developed a good rapport.

"Welcome, Ms. West," Kimberly said, approaching with her usual polished smile. "We've asked you here to tutor my other daughter..."

Shiloh raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised. "Another daughter? This is the first I've heard of her." In her mind, the Anderson family had always been five boys and one girl.

"...Complicated," Kimberly replied, brushing off the topic with a vague smile. "But I'm trusting her education to you."

Ever tactful, Shiloh didn't push for details. Instead, she glanced around the grand hall and asked, "So, where is this other daughter of yours?"

"She was hungry, so her brother took her to get something to eat," Kimberly explained before signaling a servant. "Please fetch Noelle."

"Yes, ma'am," the servant replied promptly.

Moments later, a young man and a petite young woman entered from the dining room. The man was strikingly handsome, and the woman had a delicate, pretty look. Despite their differences, there was a clear resemblance between them—siblings, without a doubt.

Shiloh quickly pieced things together. From Kimberly's mention of "another daughter" and Leia's lack of resemblance to the Andersons, it became clear that Leia probably wasn't their biological child. A pang of pity flickered in Shiloh's mind. Poor girl. It must be tough to lose her place in the spotlight, she thought.

Meanwhile, Noelle was still clutching a chicken leg, her mouth smeared with sauce. She grinned and declared, "Eli, I told you I'm smart. College won't be a problem for me."

Eli, who had been rolling his eyes for most of the conversation, finally snapped. "Oh, give it a rest already! With that brain of yours! You better focus on the tutor. I'd be too embarrassed to introduce you to anyone otherwise."

"Eli, you're so mean!" Noelle pouted, clearly annoyed. She couldn't understand why Eli doubted her when Nicolas always believed in her.

Finishing her chicken, she casually wiped her greasy hands on Eli's shirt.

"Hey!" Eli's face twisted in horror as he stared at the oil stains on his clothes. A neat freak to the core, he looked like he might explode. "You little brat! What's wrong with you?"

Noelle snorted and walked off, ignoring his outburst. Heading over to Kimberly, she called out, "Mom!"

Kimberly waved her over. "Noelle, come here. Let me introduce you to your tutor."

"Okay," Noelle said, moving to her side. With a polite smile, Kimberly gestured between the two. "Ms. West, this is my other daughter, Noelle. Noelle, this is Shiloh West, your new tutor. Say hello."

"Hello, Ms. West," Noelle greeted her politely.

Shiloh looked Noelle over, her eye twitching at the sight of the girl's greasy mouth. This girl's a mess. She just wiped her hands on her brother's clothes. She has no manners at all. Where on earth did the Andersons find her? she thought. The contrast was stark when Shiloh glanced at Leia, who stood nearby, poised and graceful as always. Shiloh's first impression of Noelle couldn't have been worse.

Forcing a stiff smile, she managed a curt nod. "Hello."

To ensure a productive study environment, Kimberly had cleared out a spare room as Noelle's new study. When Shiloh and Noelle headed there for their first session, Leia tagged along, saying she wanted to catch up with her former tutor.

"Leia, it's been a while! You applied to university this year, right? How did your exams go?" Shiloh asked warmly.

Leia answered with a polite smile, "Thanks to you, Ms. West, I did well. I've been accepted to Eston University."

"Eston University?" Shiloh's face lit up. "That's the top school in Renia City! Leia, I knew you had it in you. Congratulations!"

"Thank you, Ms. West," Leia replied, her smile widening. Getting into Eston University was one of Leia's proudest moments. All five of her brothers had attended the same school, and as an Anderson daughter, she couldn't afford to fall short.

Shiloh nodded approvingly but soon remembered the other Anderson daughter standing awkwardly nearby. Turning to Noelle with a slightly forced smile, she asked, "So, Noelle, which high school are you attending?" Though Shiloh didn't expect Noelle to match Leia's accomplishments, she assumed she was at least in high school, given the family's background.

"Me? I'm not in high school," Noelle answered, blinking innocently. In truth, she recalled the time she'd ghostwritten papers for a student at Eston University. That student had even become a professor later, thanks to her work. But since she'd signed a confidentiality agreement, she kept that story to herself.

"You're not in high school?" Shiloh echoed, visibly taken aback.

Leia quickly stepped in, her voice soft and reassuring. "Ms. West, Noelle dropped out in middle school and hasn't been in school since. But don't worry; she's a quick learner. I'm sure she'll catch up in no time."