No longer a pushover (Noelle and Cedric)

"Since Mrs. Greene is here, I should greet her. You all enjoy your meal."

Salena didn't let Donovan finish, so she stood up and left with Laura. Only Noelle and Donovan were in the room.noveldrama

Dononva fixed his gaze on Noelle, and there was a hint of disbelief in his tone. "I never expected you to have such a close relationship with Alfred. Mrs. Greene even had Laura speak up for you, too."

It was only now he realized he might've underestimated Noelle all this time. Noelle remained calm.

"If there's nothing else, I'm leaving." She had no interest in explaining anything further.

"Noelle, I'm not done talking! Stop right there!" Donovan anxiously called out.

But considering her connections, he softened his tone and said, "We're family, aren't we? Now that no one will hold the Liddell family responsible, do you have to keep making things difficult for Xenia?"

Noelle's expression turned cold. "I've made my conditions clear if you want me to stop pursuing charges on Xenia."

She'd only compromise if Donovan admitted in front of Wyatt that he'd ignored the calls and avoided responsibility after the fire that led to Wyatt's amputation.

"Must you drag my dignity through the mud? I'm your eldest brother! How could you expect me to apologize and admit my mistake to a younger brother!"

Donovan had always been proud, especially in front of his younger siblings. If he admitted to that, there was no way he could hold authority as the eldest.

The door was pushed open with a bang, and Cedric entered. His expression was cold as he shoved Donovan aside.

"You abandoned responsibility and had Noelle take the fall all these years. She's been carrying this burden for you. Now, you're concerned about your dignity even after doing all that shameless stuff?"

Cedric's tone was sharp and pointed.

Donovan snapped, "You're an outsider. You have no right to interfere in the Liddell family's affairs."

"He's not an outsider. To me, you're the outsider," Noelle retorted. She'd never let anyone talk down to Cedric.

Donovan was furious. "Just because you know a few people, Noelle, you think you're different now. If you weren't the daughter of the Liddells, do you think Alfred or Mrs. Greene would even bother with you?"

Noelle was getting too arrogant.

Cedric coldly clapped back. "But they won't bother with you even if you suck up to them."

Donovan's expression turned purple with rage while Noelle took Cedric's hand and said, "Wyatt's issue is resolved, but I'll get to the bottom of the foundation incident."

There was no way she'd let Xenia off the hook that easily. They'd better not think they could change the outcome just by bringing Wyatt back.

Donovan finally snapped. "Must you completely humiliate me, Noelle?"

Cedric grabbed a glass from the table and hurled it at him. "When you forced a child to decide on an amputation back then, did you care about dignity? You've lost all sense of shame, so what dignity doyou have left to protect?"

Noelle looked over. "I'm been your scapegoat for years. It's about time you deal with it."

She had to make her stand.

Donovan had always shielded Xenia. Now, by forcing him to do the one thing he dreaded the most for the latter's sake, Noelle wondered if he'd still stand by Xenia. After all, he'd feel pain only if he was personally inflicted.

With that, Noelle took Cedric's hand and walked out of the private room. When they entered the elevator and headed upstairs, Noelle turned to him. "Why are you here? Were you still worried?"

"Yes. I was afraid they'd pick on you."

After getting off the phone with Alfred, Cedric didn't think twice about coming to Noelle's side. But Salena had left.

"No one picked on me. Mrs. Cantrell just said a few words. It was nothing."

As the elevator doors slid open, three women stood outside: Emma, Salena, and Laura.