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?"

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

out starkly against her skin. But her skirt was pulled a little too high. He glanced once and swerved around.

"But you're a doctor."

tightened. He was a man as well. Had no one taught

he said. "Why haven't

third brother, Carl, said that this scar represented her parents. He promised to personally help her

She believed him.

he 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 was indeed

the wind out of Noelle. She couldn't tell Cedric that now, so she deflected, "How about you? Why

It doesn't matter. But for a

forced a smile.

Cedric said nothing further and

on the television, and Noelle noticed that the screen showed a gaming live

competition, but he had ultimately

he lost. He was so

the qualifiers, they made a comeback in the repechage. They eventually made their way to the finals, only to face the

and analyzing the Greene team's

because her gaming skills were poor. She could

one else to interrupt them as a family. She was so entranced by the competition that she even neglected her college

as they won a critical round and the championship was within reach, the Liddell brothers made Noelle step down

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 of

the television. It seemed as though the

you crying? This isn't some soap opera worth getting emotional

from her face. Her emotions had

two slender fingers appeared

and turned to Cedric

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

and said solemnly,

It was Lucas' team.

lips as he said nonchalantly, "You've got a good