No longer a pushover

Chapter 19

Noelle stood in place, looking at the others expressionlessly. She wondered if the Liddell brothers really thought she was still the old Noelle.

They never asked her opinion, acting like letting it go was a huge favor to her, even though she didn't care at all.

Lucas felt diffident. He avoided looking Noelle in the eye while waiting for Frank to step in.

On the authority as their older brother, Frank continued, "You've proven yourself in this repechage, Noelle. No one will be able to replace your position on the team in the future."

He figured that his words would put Noelle at ease.

Xenia's expression darkened instantly. She was beyond frustrated to see how easily Noelle had taken her spot away despite working so hard. Although she had no natural talent, she had put in just as much effort as Noelle. Lucas looked at Noelle with an equally hopeful gaze. Although he said nothing, he hoped she would join their team. He figured that she shouldn't be sulking anymore now that he had given her an out. Noelle's gaze was cold when she replied, "I refuse."

Lucas became somewhat agitated. "Why?"

Noelle replied, "I joined the repechage this time because they insulted my parents, not because I wanted to join the team."

"But you've clearly been practicing in secret. Wasn't it just so you could return?"

They thought that it was impossible for Noelle to become this skilled overnight. They figured she must have been secretly practicing just so she could join the team.

Lucas refused to believe what she said, staring at her intensely.

Noelle's expression was neutral. Her gaze was cold when she replied, "It wasn't."

Lucas' heart sank. He blurted, "Do I have to personally apologize to you for you to forgive me, Noelle?"

Noelle stopped walking. "This has nothing to do with forgiveness. The Liddell family's team isn't the only team in this world."

She loved playing in competitions but refused to be confined to Team Luminark. Her implication was clear.

know you hated me, Noelle!" Xenia suddenly cried, her

to look

Noelle and said submissively, "Lucas really wants you to join the team. If my

up, will you? I'm not joining the team because I don't want to. It has nothing

You're still angry! I

didn't want, I'd be able to work hard to prove myself and contribute to the Liddell family. But I was just too stupid!" She sniffled, sounding meek and making it impossible for people not to feel sorry for her. Frank felt sorry for Xenia. "Lucas was the one who went overboard and hurt Noelle's feelings. It has nothing to do

even more frustrated upon being unfairly blamed. He glanced at how Xenia was acting pitifully, yet he couldn't muster any sympathy for her. He now regretted his decision to let her join the team. She was better

at her wrist and said, "Don't worry, Noelle. I won't ever compete with

stumbled back in shock, wondering if Xenia had gone mad. Whether she

her joining the team. Noelle thought that Xenia must be out of her mind to try to force her to join the team by resorting

Xenia. This

upset Noelle if I had never seized the opportunity she

up in the Liddell family all these years anyway. I wouldn't

had been holding some reservations about her earlier,

Noelle. "Are you really going to stand there and watch your sister hurt

figured that everything would be alright if only Noelle agreed to join the team. All she had to do was to agree to it. Noelle asked indifferently, "I'm sorry, but have you guys mistaken

was dumbfounded. He asked, "What do you

clear. I'm not joining the team because I don't like it. It has nothing to do with any of

difference between Xenia using self-mutilation to force me to compromise

hit the mark perfectly. The other teammates, who originally wanted to speak

what, Xenia is still

game and lacked a sense of responsibility, she was only

retorted, "Does that have anything to do with me? I don't care if Xenia self-mutilates or commits suicide. None of that has anything to do with me. Stop trying to guilt trip

you agitate her like this?"

react in time as she never expected him to actually hit her. Aside from Blake, her other brothers had never once hit

fully landed on

it had made contact with her face, preventing her from receiving the full force of the slap. He had a