No longer a pushover

Chapter 16

Noelle noticed how Lucas was looking at her and frowned slightly. At that moment, her phone buzzed with a call from Frank. "Noelle, you're at the venue, right?"

An ominous feeling crept over her. She wanted to deny it, but the screams of the fans all around her gave Frank his answer before she could.

"Noelle, something urgent just came up at the company, so Blake and I can't make it to the match. This competition is significant for Lucas. You should step in and join the team. "Whatever issues you and Lucas had before, we need to stick together and stand united when facing challenges, right?"

The moment Frank's words hit her, the noise of the screaming fans faded into the background, swallowed by her silence. It was the kind of silence that spoke volumes.

Without saying a single word, Noelle ended the call. She didn't feel like explaining herself. She hadn't gone there that day to compete. She was there to watch the drama unfold.

On stage, Lucas glanced toward the audience, waiting. His irritation began to show when Noelle didn't move from her seat or head backstage.

"What's Noelle's deal? Does she expect me to go down there and ask her personally?" he muttered, his jaw tightening.

A flicker of amusement flashed across Xenia's eyes. "Lucas, let me message Noelle and check in with her. But honestly, seeing her just sitting there in the audience, I guess that she'd still be upset. If she wasn't, you know as well as I do that she'd already be backstage by now."

Lucas thought back to how Noelle used to be. She never needed him to say anything; she simply understood. He'd grown used to her always being there for him. But now, it was like she'd turned into someone completely different.

Lucas' tone was stiff as he said, "Call her. I'll let bygones be bygones if she's willing to join the match. I'll continue treating her like a sister, just like before."

The memory of what had happened at school flickered in his mind. He knew that he'd been too impulsive. He'd let it go as long as Noelle was willing to let it go, too. They could all go back to the way things used to be.

Xenia's expression froze for a split second, but she recovered quickly. "Alright. I'll call her now. I'm sure she'll join for your sake."

Lucas' expression softened at her words, his frustration easing slightly.

Xenia stepped off to the side, pulling out her phone. Her eyes found Noelle in the audience, her gaze darkening.

screen. She didn't need to think twice to know what this call was

the call, her expression

abrupt rejection, surprise flickering across her face. But it didn't take long

was no need to

wanted Noelle to join the match anyway. She didn't want Noelle

watch with her own eyes how she and Lucas

expression pitifully remorseful. "Lucas, it's my fault. I'm terrible with words, and Noelle probably hates me now. That must be why she didn't answer my call. Should I just go talk to

face darkened, his voice hard. "No need. Frank just told me that he called her, too, and she hung up on him. It's clear that Noelle never planned to join the

of person. She wouldn't come here just to laugh

win this match. There's no way we're letting

the audience, Lucas slid

Xenia's eyes. "Noelle, this

the match began between Team Luminark and Team

screen displaying the live commentary. Right from the start, Lucas,

done their homework. They'd studied

time, she warned Lucas to be cautious and not rush in blindly. But Lucas, stubborn as

ignored her and taken one

happened next was disastrous. It turned out to be a well-executed

rallied the remaining players, leading them in a daring counterattack. She had turned the game around by sneaking into the enemy's base and launching a surprise strike. This time, she curiously watched, wondering if Lucas had learned anything or if history would repeat

she expected, Lucas made the same decision as he did before. He led his entire team straight into the enemy's trap. A faint smile tugged at Noelle's lips as the

already too late. His

instantly. She fumbled repeatedly, making critical mistakes that

his team to retreat, guiding them

the mounting frustration finally boiled over. Lucas exploded. "Xenia, where the hell is your brain? I told everyone to fall back. What were you doing fighting? Are you trying to prove how great you are or something?" Xenia's composure was starting to crack. "Lucas, I just couldn't let it go. When I saw that enemy with low health, I thought I

a free kill! If you were so confident in your skills, maybe you wouldn't have gotten caught in their trap earlier and dragged the rest of

of everyone made her humiliation unbearable. She lashed out, "If it weren't for you falling into their trap and getting us