No longer a pushover (Noelle and Cedric)

Lucas quickly comforted him, saying, "Donovan, calm down. It's our fault with Noelle. She's right to be angry."

Hearing those words, Lucas remembered how he had forced Noelle to compete, and a wave of guilt washed over him. Thankfully, Noelle wasn't affected, or she wouldn't have performed so well on the exam.

"Wasn't she raised by the Liddell family? How can she cut ties with them just because of a little grievance? Who does that?" Donovan snapped.

Then, he turned to Noelle and said, "Noelle, tell me clearly, how had the Liddell family wronged you?"

Donovan felt humiliated, as if everyone around him was laughing at him. This was the first time he had ever felt such shame. He thought all of it was Noelle's doing.noveldrama

Noelle walked down the stage and looked at him coldly. "Did someone from Yole University's admissions office call you yesterday? Did you reject their offer and tell them I wouldn't be attending?"

Donovan's expression changed. For a moment, he didn't know how to respond.

Noelle pressed on, "Did you forbid me from going to Yole University, telling me to stay here and attend a local college with Xenia, who couldn't even pass the entrance exam?"

The crowd gasped.

"As the top scorer in the college entrance exam, Noelle attending Yole University would be a huge honor. How could the Liddells turn it down for her?"

"Yeah, if I had such an outstanding family member, I'd be celebrating for days! I'd make sure everyone knew about it-it would be a scandal if they didn't."

"Are the Liddells blind? How could they not see Noelle's worth and yet favor someone unrelated to them?"

Hearing these comments, Donovan's anger boiled over. "That's not it! I asked you to stay because I want what's best for you!"

"For my own good?" Noelle sneered. "For my own good, you wanted me to attend the same university as someone who didn't even pass the entrance exam? Is this how you care for me? I don't need anything from you or the Liddell family!"

Donovan couldn't bear to look Noelle in the eye.

Lucas quickly tried to explain, "Noelle, Donovan didn't mean it that way, please don't misunderstand!"

"And you!" Noelle turned her sharp gaze to Lucas. "You were the one who forced me to take leave from school toplay games, and you only won the repechage because of me! Without me, you would've been eliminated in the first round of the finals."

Lucas immediately felt guilty. "Noelle, it was my fault. I shouldn't have pressured you like that. Thankfully, your exam results weren't affected."

Noelle scoffed. "I don't need your apology. I've severed ties with both of you. I hope you understand that clearly."

With that, she left the venue. She was determined never to have anything to do with the Liddell family again.

Donovan glared at his secretary and ordered, "Suppress this news. It can't get out."

If it did, the Liddell family would be the laughingstock of the city.

He glanced around at the crowd, trying to salvage the situation. "She's just going through a rebellious phase. You know how difficult it is to deal with teenagers."

Lucas was anxious. "Donovan, why did you reject Yole University's offer to Noelle? She's the top scorer! If our parents knew, they'd be thrilled to have a child attending such a prestigious university."

Donovan faltered, still unwilling to admit his mistake. "With her temperament, what would happen if she caused trouble at Yole University? Staying at a local university is the best option for her."

Lucas was increasingly frustrated with Donovan's decisions and chased after him. "Donovan! She has us to protect her. What could possibly happen? Are you out of your mind?"

Noelle walked alone outside, with Cedric beside her. "Feeling better now?"

Noelle smiled. "Yes."

Cedric remarked, "I guess you've finally stopped avoiding them, right?"

Noelle smirked, "I used to think

staying away from the Liddells would let me start a new life, but now I realize that some people just never learn. No matter how many times I try to make them understand, they'll never get it."

After clearing things up in public today, she felt much better.

"Noelle, Noelle, wait for me!" Lucas called out, running after her.