Chapter 3

The next morning, Noelle’s phone buzzed incessantly with notifications. Awakened by the noise, she checked her phone, her expression darkening. The notifications were all from a campus forum app; her message inbox was flooded with insults.

She was no stranger to such abuse. The incident of her pushing Xenia into the pool the previous night had been uploaded to the forum. Xenia was very popular at school, and most students began berating Noelle.

Despite a throbbing headache, Noelle retaliated, lashing back at her detractors. The number of comments ballooned to over a thousand, prompting the page administrator to suspect a hack.

After posting her response, she tossed her phone aside and lay back down. Free from the need to please the Liddell brothers and maintain her reputation, she resolved to live as she pleased.

Shortly afterward, a maid knocked. “Ms. Liddell, it’s time for school. You’ll be late.”

Only then did Noelle remember she had school that day. She splashed cold water on her face to rouse herself. To leave the Liddell family, she had to graduate and get into a university far away. She changed into her uniform and headed downstairs with her backpack.

Just then, Frank and Blake arrived.

Noticing Noelle’s flushed face, Frank instinctively reached for her forehead to check her temperature. Noelle dodged his hand and went to the dining room. She took a seat, knowing she needed breakfast to regain her energy for studying. She was aiming for Yole University, after all.

Frank’s hand paused mid-air. As he awkwardly lowered it, Blake snorted. “I told you she’s ungrateful. Unlike Xenia, who’s always been frail, she’s as strong as an ox. She’s burning up from a simple fall into the water last night. But Noelle? She’ll never get sick!”

Frank fell silent. It was true Noelle had always been exceptionally healthy. He approached the dining table. “Xenia’s sick, so you’ll care for her at school for the next few days until she recovers. Understood?”

Now that Noelle had become more rebellious, he felt he couldn’t spoil her as before. He would force her to learn gratitude.

“Noelle, Xenia’s father saved your life, but you almost killed her,” Blake added. “You must atone by caring for her!”

Noelle hung her head and ate her breakfast. Her appetite was poor, but she forced herself to eat. With less than 100 days until the entrance exam, she was determined to leave the Liddells behind.

Annoyed by her indifference, Blake snatched her utensils. “I’m talking to you! Are you deaf?”

Noelle glanced up, her eyes cold and unwavering.

“Fetch warm water for Xenia’s medicine, buy her lunch at the cafeteria—quickly, before it gets cold,” Blake ordered. “If she needs the bathroom, go with her. Her father saved your life; you owe her this. Understand?”

“Understood,” Noelle replied coldly, harboring no intention of compliance.

She left the Liddell residence with a stoic expression, gazing at the sky to suppress her tears. She’d thought reliving her life wouldn’t upset her, but Blake’s words pierced her heart.

Memories of Frank staying by her side during childhood illnesses were vivid. Blake even told jokes to coax her to take medicine. But because Xenia was frail, her brothers’ attention always went to her first when she was sick. Later, even with a fever, Noelle had to endure it alone.

Suppressing her sorrow, she got in the car and closed her eyes. She reminded herself to endure; it was less than 100 days.

At school, she went straight to her senior-year classroom. The noisy room fell silent at her entrance. Rumors of her forum outburst had spread; everyone wondered if she’d lost her mind.

“I wonder what triggered Noelle to give up on herself.” “Maybe she can’t improve her reputation anymore, so she’s dropped the pretense.”

Noelle ignored the whispers. She dropped her bag and went straight to sleep, sleeping through the entire morning.

At lunch, Xenia arrived. Still on an IV drip, her appearance immediately garnered sympathy.

Noelle frowned, shifting in her nap.

Someone slapped her desk. She glanced up impatiently, irritation evident in her eyes. Xenia stood before her, flanked by Gwen Hopkins and Betty Yates, who always followed Xenia and spread rumors about Noelle, even fabricating lies involving her brothers. They looked furious.

“Noelle, what would you like for lunch?” Xenia asked meekly. “I’ll get it for you. Please don’t be mad.”

“No need,” Noelle replied coldly.

“How dare you!” Gwen hissed. “You’re so ungrateful. Xenia’s already sick!”

“Exactly! You should be taking care of her. She’s sick because of you!”

Xenia coughed weakly. “Don’t say that. I can manage. Stop criticizing her, or she’ll get upset.”

“Xenia, you’re too kind. No wonder people take advantage of you!”

Annoyed, Noelle prepared to leave. As she exited, Xenia rushed toward her. Her IV stand fell, and she coincidentally fell onto the broken glass.

The classroom erupted into chaos, and Noelle felt a headache coming on. Just as she was about to speak, her vision went black, and she fainted.

She awoke to the scent of disinfectant. She must be in the school infirmary.

“Your temperature is 103°F. You’ve been pushing yourself too hard. Trying to burn yourself out?”

Noelle glanced to the side. A tall, lean man in a white coat, the new school doctor, stood there, his indifferent eyes visible behind his mask. He had a sharp tongue, and was known for it.

He left shortly.

Thanks to the IV drip, Noelle felt better. She lowered her gaze. “Can I leave now?”

“Wait until your family picks you up,” Cedric Greene drawled. “I don’t want to be responsible if you die on the way.”

He lived up to his reputation.

“I don’t have a family,” Noelle replied hoarsely.

Blake’s concerned voice echoed from outside. “Xenia, are you okay? How severe are your injuries?”

“Minor injury, Blake. Don’t blame Noelle. I was careless and knocked over the IV stand.”

Gwen countered, “That’s false! Xenia offered to get Noelle lunch, but she refused and tripped her out of revenge! We all saw it!”

“Exactly!” Betty added. “Despite being sick, Xenia cared about Noelle’s lunch. Noelle is evil!”

Blake’s fury boiled over. “Where’s Noelle? Get her out here! How dare she let Xenia get her lunch?”

A mocking smile crossed Noelle’s face. Blake would believe whatever Xenia said.

The curtains beside Noelle were yanked open. She looked up, pale with chapped lips.

“Noelle, you—”

Blake stopped mid-sentence.