Chapter 76

"Of course, it's Leia," Noelle silently grumbled to herself.

"Wait," Nick said. "Leia wouldn't say such harsh things directly. She just likes to stir the pot, making others come to their own conclusions. She's a born actress."

Noelle recalled how Nicolas had taught her how to act cute. She lowered her head, let her tears fall, put on a pitiful expression, and shook her head as she said, "I don't know. But everyone's been saying it."

"Eli, who do you think is spreading these rumors?" Eli thought he caught on to Noelle's subtle hint. He turned toward her, furrowing his brows, and asked, "You think Leia's the one spreading this?"

He's on to me, Noelle thought. But nodding here would give it away too quickly. Nick had always said that talking bad about someone behind their back was the lowest move.

Noelle quickly shook her head, looking genuinely surprised, and said, "Eli, how could you doubt Leia? Leia's a good sister. She would never say something like that, just because she's not a biological daughter of the Anderson family. She wouldn't slander me as an illegitimate child. Don't say things like that."

"Yeah, you're right," Eli agreed.

Noelle's words left a positive impression on Eli. At least, Noelle didn't gossip behind people's backs and even defended Leia. However, the rumors needed to be looked into. Hardly anyone at school even knew Noelle. For people to suddenly start spreading the rumor that she was an illegitimate child of the Anderson family, there had to be a reason. Plus, they knew she'd gotten into Eston University through connections. Also, Noelle and Leia are in the same class. Since Noelle has heard these rumors, surely Leia would have known about them too, right?

"Eli, class is about to start," Noelle reminded him.

Eli snapped out of his thoughts, looked at Noelle, and asked, "How many classes do you have this afternoon?"

"Two," Noelle replied.

"Alright, I'll come find you later," Eli said.

"For what?" Noelle asked.

"We'll talk about it later. You go ahead and go to class now," Eli said.

"Okay," Noelle nodded. She silently double-checked in her mind, making sure she had said everything Nick taught her, before feeling reassured and heading back to class.

In the classroom, Leia was chatting with some classmates when she noticed Noelle had returned. That's odd. Didn't Noelle say she was going to find Nicolas? How is she back in time for afternoon classes? But Harley left after lunch and still hasn't shown up, Leia thought.

"Hey, Leia, I heard Eli took you to the student union at lunch and wants to promote you. Is that true?" a girl named Vivian suddenly asked.

Leia snapped back to reality and gave her a reluctant smile as she said, "Eli said he wanted to give me some experience. I don't mind starting from the bottom, but he insisted that starting from a leadership position would help me develop faster. I couldn't argue with him, so I agreed."

"Wow, you're going to be an officer in your first year? It must be nice to have an older brother as the student union president," Vivian said, enviously. Vivian purposely spoke loudly. "Some people can't even compare to you, considering how lowly her background is."

Noelle suddenly stopped and turned to look at Vivian. Vivian, caught off guard by Noelle's stare, glared back at her, her eyes flashing with a hint of guilt. "Why are you staring?"

Although it was harsh, it was the truth. Noelle really was a lowborn illegitimate child. Eli doesn't even acknowledge me. I may not be able to mess with Eli, but taking it out on Noelle is fair game. Noelle doesn't have much status, after all, Vivian wondered.

Leia, afraid Noelle might cause trouble, quickly forced a smile and winked at Noelle. "Noelle, we were just joking. Don't take it the wrong way."

Noelle glanced at Leia, blinked, and replied bluntly, "I do take it the wrong way."

Leia's smile instantly froze. What's going on with Noelle? Did something happen with Nicolas, and now she's coming here to vent on me? she wondered.

The people around them noticed the sudden tension in the air and immediately turned to look.

"Huh? What's going on?"

"I don't know, the atmosphere just got really tense all of a sudden."

"It's almost time for class. Who's going to try and calm them down?"

"Who dares? Noelle's tough. She can be really scary."

Seeing everyone's gaze shift to her, Leia couldn't help but feel a surge of hatred toward Noelle. This bitch can't feel at ease unless she makes a scene, right? Leia forced a polite smile on her face, but her hands were clenched tightly into fists.

"Noelle, stop making trouble, okay? Let's just pretend Vivian misspoke. I'm sorry. Will that work for you?"

Vivian felt discontent as she wondered, "Leia, why are you apologizing! I didn't say anything wrong. Noelle's background is lowly, an illegitimate child…"

"Alright!" Leia glanced at Vivian, feeling increasingly irritated. How stupid you are! Why did you have to say that in front of Noelle? Idiot!

Vivian caught the warning look in Leia's eyes and quickly backed off. But Noelle wasn't so easy to dismiss. She shot a glance at Vivian and turned to Leia. "Whoever made the mistake should apologize. Why are you apologizing? I want her to apologize to me."

"Noelle, why are you still making such a big deal out of this?" Leia said, growing impatient.

Vivian, seeing that Noelle, a mere illegitimate child, was getting so bold in front of Leia, instantly lost her temper and retorted, "Why should I apologize? What did I say wrong!"

"I just walked up, and you deliberately said 'lowly background' so that I would hear it," Noelle stated flatly.

Vivian sneered. "Yeah, right. What a coincidence. I didn't expect you to walk up just as I said that. And anyway, some people really do have lowly backgrounds. Does anyone think that's wrong?"

Many students in the class, influenced by Leia, believed that Noelle was an illegitimate child, while Leia was the legitimate heir. Although Vivian's words were unpleasant, they didn't seem entirely off base.

Noelle thought for a moment, then suddenly felt a sense of clarity, nodding as she said, "Well, you're right. Some people really do have lowly backgrounds." Noelle then lowered her gaze to Leia and asked, "Leia, don't you agree?"

Leia, knowing the truth, felt a stab in her heart. Hearing Noelle repeat those words felt like a direct attack on her dignity.

At that moment, the instructor entered and addressed the class. "Everyone who's still standing, sit down. Class is about to begin."

Noelle didn't press the issue any further and turned to find a seat.

Vivian, still clueless about the situation, leaned in and whispered excitedly to Leia, "Leia, did Noelle just have a moment of clarity? She actually admitted her lowly background!"

Leia's face turned slightly pale, and she found the comment especially harsh. She frowned at Vivian, "What do you mean by 'lowly background?' Vivian, that was too much."

Vivian froze, clearly taken aback by Leia's reaction. She snapped, "Are you really going to defend Noelle? Please, a bastard like her acting all high and mighty in front of you! If it were me, I would've slapped that bitch already."

Leia's expression darkened even more, and she simply ignored Vivian, shifting her seat to the side and clearly signaling that she didn't want to talk.

Vivian felt completely confused. What is wrong with Leia? she wondered. But as the class started, Vivian had no choice but to bottle up her frustration.

Two classes later, when the instructor left and the students were about to leave the classroom, a tall figure entered. The girls immediately perked up, whispering excitedly.

"Eli's here!"

Eli walked in, and it was like a ray of light shining into Leia's heart. The tension that had been building up in her chest for the past two classes began to fade. Thank goodness. Eli's here. Eli's been angry with Noelle because of Nicolas. If Eli gives Noelle the cold shoulder right now, then everyone will believe even more that Noelle is really an illegitimate child, Leia couldn't help but smile as she thought of this. She stood up, ready to walk toward Eli.

But Eli scanned the crowd, his eyes landing on a specific spot. He deliberately raised his voice, "Hey, Noelle, come here."