No longer a pushover

Chapter 2

All eyes turned to Noelle as soon as she showed up. Despite the crowd's attention, she remained indifferent.

She wore a simple T-shirt, but an exquisite antique tiara sat on her head. An emerald necklace adorned her neck, while diamond and gold bracelets decorated her wrist. Her finger also bore a large pink diamond ring. Laughter erupted from the crowd.

"Look at how tacky she is! How could she pile on all her accessories like that? She's like a flamboyant nouveau riche!"

"I bet she's doing this on purpose to show off and make Xenia look bad."

Unfazed, Noelle swaggered up to Xenia and said, "Congratulations. You've finally become a part of the Liddell family."

In her previous life, her nightmare began the day Xenia joined her family. No matter how much she tried to please everyone or how obedient she was, her brothers all still sided with Xenia. Frank had even once said that he wished Xenia were their biological sister. This time, she wouldn't yearn for some stupid familial love.

Jealousy filled Xenia's chest as she saw how many lavish accessories Noelle had. Nevertheless, she kept her composure.

She shrunk back slightly and tentatively said, "Noelle, I know you're upset, but don't worry. I won't compete with you for your brothers' affection.

"I'll always be an outsider. You're their real sister. How could I possibly compare to you?"

Her eyes reddened as she spoke, looking pitifully fragile.

Noelle sneered. With that flawless act of hers, Xenia was indeed a remarkable actress. In her previous life, she had been a victim of Xenia's facade. She only saw the latter's true colors before her death.

Seeing this, Blake quickly intervened, "Don't cry, Xenia. You're not an outsider. From now on, you're my real sister."

Xenia dropped her gaze, a hint of smugness flickering in her eyes. Just then, Frank handed her a box. "Xenia, this is a gift for you."

Looking surprised, Xenia exclaimed, "Frank, wasn't this gift meant for Noelle? How could I possibly accept it?"

Noelle was not surprised when she saw the limited-edition figurine in the box. In her previous life, Frank had also "kindly" taken it upon himself to give the figurine she had waited for so long to Xenia as a form of apology. "Take it," Frank urged. "She owes you this."

Visibly upset, Blake chimed in, "Noelle, even though Xenia doesn't hold a grudge about you pushing her into the water, and Frank has also given her a gift on your behalf, where's your gift for her?"

Noelle nodded. "I'm aware of that. That's why I've prepared a heartfelt apology gift." She began removing the accessories she wore, placing them one by one on a tray.

antique tiara and this emerald

was from Carl, and Blake

bracelet, and finally, this gold

everything on the tray, Noelle continued, "These are all very important to me. As a token

to Xenia as a reparation, so she had prepared these items in

her brothers would ultimately reclaim these with various excuses and give them to Xenia instead. Blake froze once he saw the items on the tray. Knowing that these were all items Noelle had cherished, he

grim. "Noelle, what are you

apology. Do you think it's

had laid out. She couldn't comprehend Noelle's actions. She wondered if this was the latter's attempt at appearing at a disadvantage to gain leverage. "These are the gifts your brothers have given you, Noelle," she quickly said. "They're

How could you just give

smile faltered. She bit her lip before saying, "Yeah. I'm just an outsider, Noelle. I don't

pick out something new for you. You shouldn't take something someone else

that this was how an obedient younger sister

why are you throwing

these gifts, forbidding anyone from touching them. He

with them? Or was she doing this to spite

chance that Noelle would willingly give these

think we can't tell?

worth tens of millions of dollars. Isn't that enough for an olive branch? Or are you

how she could have possibly drawn that conclusion. They were two

I'm not that kind of person," he sputtered in front

that I have shown Xenia a sincere gesture

irritated.

He felt that, even if she were to

said. She shoved the tray into Xenia's hands. "These are

awkwardness flashed across Xenia's face. Sensing that Frank and Blake

give these to her as a peace offering. The Liddell brothers might resent her if she didn't handle this situation carefully. She wondered why Noelle had suddenly become so difficult to deal with. Before Xenia

apologize to Xenia-what kind of apology was that? Still, Noelle

He felt upset. He had bought the emerald necklace for her with his first salary-it was

hit a wall. Frustrated, he said, "Exactly. She did this on

Noelle's tactic had indeed worked, but

to meekly say, "Frank, Blake, did I do something wrong again? I will never take Noelle's most treasured items. What