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?"

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

came into view, the scar standing out starkly against her skin. But her skirt was pulled a little too high. He glanced once and swerved around. "Don't lift

"But you're a doctor."

as well. Had no one taught her

he said. "Why haven't you done

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

She believed him.

parents' death and told her that the scar was the mark of her bringing doom upon

couldn't tell Cedric that now, so she deflected, "How about you? Why

a man. It doesn't matter. But for a

a

head, Cedric said nothing further

Noelle noticed that the screen showed a gaming live stream. To her

competition, but he had ultimately lost to the youngest son of the Greene family in

after he lost. He was so enraged that he recruited her and his brothers into his team when he

a comeback in the repechage. They eventually made their

countless hours training and analyzing the Greene team's

because her gaming skills were poor. She could only be a substitute and couldn't make it onto the main

having no one else to interrupt them as a family. She was so entranced by the competition that she even neglected her

was within reach, the Liddell brothers made Noelle step

they won the national championship. Her brothers stood on the podium with Xenia, basking in the glory of her efforts. Xenia held the trophy that should've been hers, smiling happily in the center

she watched the game on the television. It seemed as though the

some soap

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

held between two slender fingers appeared

turned to Cedric shyly,

exam preparations, not the game." Cedric slouched back in his

to the screen and said solemnly, "Team

It was Lucas' team.

he