No longer a pushover

Chapter 5

The infirmary was silent.

Noelle opened her mouth to speak but ultimately said nothing. Words seemed powerless at this moment. She had explained herself countless times before, but her brothers never believed her.

Frank swallowed hard and eventually released his hand. Looking disappointed, he glanced at Noelle and said, "If you keep being stubborn, I won't be able to defend you once Donovan returns. Think about it."

As soon as he left, Noelle breathed a sigh of relief and leaned back against the headboard. A hint of self-deprecation crossed her eyes as she wondered what she should think about.

Should she bend the knee and tiptoe around them like in her past life, only to end up being driven out of the family and dying a miserable death after being locked in a mental hospital?

She wouldn't do that again.

"Here."

A cold compress wrapped in gauze appeared before her.

Noelle took it and pressed it against her swollen cheek. Glancing at the man beside her, she whispered, "Thanks for what you did earlier."

"Why didn't you defend yourself?" Cedric asked icily.

A wry smile crossed Noelle's face as she lowered her head and said, "Believe it or not, but I've explained countless times in the past and even showed them the evidence. However, they never believed me. They just thought I was lying." The room fell into a brief silence.

Noelle had no intention of explaining further, as most people who heard her story thought she was simply being disobedient.

"It's hard not to believe you."

Noelle's heart skipped a beat. She questioned if he really believed what she said.

Cedric stepped forward and felt her forehead. "The fever's gone down."

Amidst her daze, Noelle realized how cool and soothing his hand was. She felt much better now. She glanced at his wrist and asked, "Did you get that scar from a car accident?"

a brief silence, he removed the empty IV bag and replied, "Yes. It was from a car accident." He propped his hand against the table, keeping his back to her. His expression was indiscernible against the light. "I have one on my leg, too," Noelle said, pulling up her skirt slightly. "Here. Doesn't it look similar to

against her skin. But her skirt was pulled a little too high. He glanced once and swerved around. "Don't lift your skirt in

"But you're a doctor."

a man as well. Had no one taught

scar can be treated," he said.

third brother, Carl, said that this scar represented her parents. He promised to personally help her remove it one day when

She believed him.

hated it and would never treat it. He blamed her for their parents' death and told her that the scar was the mark of her bringing doom upon them. He said that she should remember it for the rest of her life. She was devastated back then, believing that she

She couldn't tell Cedric

a man. It doesn't matter. But for a woman, it's better

forced a

head, Cedric

a gaming

had ultimately lost to the youngest son

him after he lost. He was so enraged that he

repechage. They eventually made their way to

hours training and analyzing the Greene team's strategies just to beat

poor. She could only

as a

round and the championship was within reach, the Liddell brothers made Noelle step down and had Xenia

brothers stood on the podium with Xenia, basking in the glory of her efforts. Xenia held the trophy that should've

pieces as she watched the game on the

isn't some

her reveries, she wiped her tears from her face. Her emotions had overwhelmed her as

held between two

and turned to Cedric shyly, "Do you play

prioritize your college entrance exam preparations, not the game." Cedric slouched back in his

to the screen and said solemnly,

It was Lucas' team.

Cedric's lips as he said nonchalantly, "You've got