No longer a pushover (Noelle and Cedric)

However, Noelle just couldn't recall the events that happened on the day of the car accident.

It felt as though something inside was tearing her apart, and she struggled to breathe.

Donovan took his coat off angrily. "You keep saying that we favor Xenia, but we only adopted her because of you to repay your debt! You didn't just kill Mom and Dad, you killed her father as well. Since you've decided to leave, then go ahead!"

With that, he turned to enter the elevator and left.

"Donovan, come back!" Frank called out in frustration. He turned to Noelle. "Forget what he just said. He didn't mean it. He was just too angry."

Noelle's knees had gone weak.

Cedric stepped forward and held her up by the shoulders, his gaze filled with concern. "Are you okay?"

She shook her head. Hoarsely, she asked Frank, "I still can't remember what happened that day. Was Mom and Dad's death really my fault?"

"No, you had nothing to do with it! It was an accident. Someone ran a red light and hit their car. That person's the real murderer!"

Cedric's eyes widened when he heard the word "murderer", pain flashing in his eyes.

Noelle found her brother's words hard to believe. "But that's not what Donovan said."

"He only said that out of anger. You should know how his temper is."

Cedric looked at Noelle's troubled expression and reassured her. "Your brother's made it clear that none of it was your fault."

Noelle wiped her tears and turned to Frank. "You should leave. From now on, I'm not part of your family anymore."

"Noelle, listen-"

Cedric stopped him. "At this point, do you really think your family deserves her forgiveness? You guys can't erase all the pain she's suffered with a simple apology."

Tears filled Frank's eyes. "I-I truly am sorry."

He had tried to stop Donovan and Lucas.

"If you really care about her, stop disturbing her."

Cedric shoved Frank aside and shut the door.

Standing outside, Frank clutched his stomach. However, the intense pain was

nothing compared to the ache in his heart.

as ran out of the

Just then, Lucas

elevator. "Frank, I just saw Donovan storming out. He said he was

catching the next flight back to.

Yasnia because of some company

issue. How's Noelle? Is she

okay?"noveldrama

Frank wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and waved his hand

dismissively. "She's fine. Let's go."

"Didn't you say you would make her stay no matter what?"

"Maybe the best thing to do is to stay away from her. We've done so much

damage, we shouldn't disturb her new life."

Frank slapped his forehead in frustration. "If only I could turn back time, I would never let this happen."

If only there was a way to undo all of this.

Back inside the apartment, Noelle sat on the sofa. Word about Liddell Corporation's systems being hacked had made the headlines once again.

She was certain that her eldest brother was on his way back to Yasnia now.

She breathed a sigh of relief. "He'll finally stop bothering me now."

At least, he wouldn't be making any rash moves until he could replace the source code she had written.

She had nearly forgotten all about the source code and had never considered resorting to such drastic measures.

However, they left her no choice.

Cedric's gaze was dark. "Don't let Donovan's words get to you."

Noelle smiled bitterly. "Honestly, sometimes I wish I was the one who died back then. If only Xenia's father saved my parents first, everything would have been so much better."

That way, she wouldn't have to carry this guilt for the rest of her life. Cedric trembled slightly. "But your parents chose to save you first."