No longer a pushover

Chapter 606

Noelle pressed her lips into a thin line. "If you knew getting exposed would be

humiliating, then why lie in the first place?"

"I didn't lie! Ask anyone here—do you really think you deserve Cedric?" Laura

snapped. She was clearly losing her usual composure, her voice sharp and high.

Cedric's jaw tightened as he finally said, "Laura, I was the one who pursued her."

At that moment, Laura looked like someone had just cut off her oxygen. She

looked completely frozen and speechless.

She could not believe that he was the one who pursued Noelle. But why her?

What did Noelle have that she didn't?

Noelle watched Laura's crumbling expression and, for a second, was reminded of

herself back at the café—not so long ago. Maybe she had looked just as wrecked

that day, all because of the same man.

She stood up, ready to leave. She felt things had gotten so messy that discussing

work now seemed pointless.

Cedric noticed her movement right away and stepped in her path. Noelle's

expression tightened. "What are you doing?"

"There's broken glass on the floor," he replied. Then, he gently lifted her up, spun

her around to avoid the shards, and set her down safely. His lips were pressed

into a thin line. "We'll talk business tomorrow at the office."

at the shattered glass on the floor, her cheeks

couldn't explain.

the room.

her voice hoarse. "Cedric, did you really

this? In

told you long ago to clear up the engagement rumor

she wouldn't have stood by me

and it was obvious that there was no

negotiation.

but no words came out.

her

Noelle returned to the team's dinner gathering. Since most of

finished eating, she went to

smiled and said, "It's already been taken

to ask—she knew exactly who paid. As the group

she spotted

was tall and steady, his presence unmistakable. He turned and

her, locking eyes for

whispering behind her. "Isn't that

same guy who waited outside campus all

in person. Way better than the

heat. She turned and looked at

car on the

toward the door, and

suddenly skipped.

see him, but she

her teammates

small groups.

appeared beside her. "Come on,

the back seat with

glanced back at the man standing by

entrance.

Cedric did not even