No longer a pushover (Noelle and Cedric)

Would Donovan forgive Noelle?

She scoffed. "Only someone with a guilty conscience would try to bluff their way out."

She had no interest in the so-called forgiveness from the Liddell family, especially when she hadn't done anything wrong.

"Noelle, if you return to our family and take over Frank's company, we can work together to grow the Al project.

"The Liddell family will reach new heights, and it'll benefit both you and the family. What do you think?" Donovan said, confident that Noelle would cave this time.

One of the representatives from Maple Enterprise couldn't hold back. "Mr. Donovan, you're really playing the game well.

"When you kicked Noelle out of the family, you didn't call it 'family', did you? Now that you see she's capable, you suddenly want to act like one. Is this how you treat family?"

Donovan's expression darkened at the reply.

He turned to Noelle. "Staying with the Liddell family is your best option. Do you know how ruthless Yasnia is? Small companies like Maple Enterprise go under every year.

"In the face of power, you're as insignificant as an ant."

Noelle's expression grew cold, and her mood soured. Donovan was targeting Maple Enterprise because of her.

"If Maple Enterprise goes bankrupt, I won't let you off the hook," she said.

"With you? A little brat, what kind of storm could you stir up? You couldn't even find a lawyer. I thought you understood how insignificant you are."

"Mr. Donovan seems so confident. Have you forgotten about the Liddell Corporation's firewall issue? The one where you scrambled to clean up the mess?"

Donovan's face hardened as the memory surfaced. He scoffed. "How dare you bring that up? Do you really think you can threaten me with that? You'll see soon enough."

Noelle watched as he and his team walked away, her mood unsettled as she stood there.

However, Lucas slowed his pace and approached her. He looked more haggard than usual and seemed hesitant as if he wanted to say something but didn't.

Noelle turned her attention back to the person in charge, ignoring Lucas.

However, Lucas wouldn't leave, and since they were still discussing the case, it felt awkward for everyone with him standing there.

Finally, Noelle turned to him, her expression filled with disdain. "What do you want now?"

"Noelle."

"Don't call me that. We're not that close."

Noelle's tone was cold and distant, treating him like a stranger.

Lucas faltered, his voice uncertain. "I know Donovan used his influence to make sure you couldn't find a lawyer. You know his methods. Can't you just reconcile with him?

"If you return to the Liddell family, Maple Enterprise won't be targeted because of you."

Noelle felt a pang of guilt upon hearing Maple Enterprise was being targeted.

But the person in charge quickly interrupted, "What do you mean 'our company is being targeted because of Noelle'? Our Al project is in high demand. Our competitors would do anything to take us down.

"This has nothing to do with Noelle. Without her, the project wouldn't be where it is today."

Noelle hadn't expected the person in charge to defend her.noveldrama

Over the years, she had grown accustomed to being misunderstood.

Lucas' expression faltered. "Noelle, that's not what I meant. I just think returning to the Liddell family is the best option."

"For you, maybe. It only benefits you, not me."

"I'm really worried about you."

Noelle sneered. "You're worried about yourself. If I really agreed to return to the Liddell family, you'd be the first one to benefit, wouldn't you?"

Lucas' expression grew awkward. Though he had selfish motives, he truly wanted to mend their sibling bond.

Noelle's face twisted with mockery. "Since you're so concerned about me not finding a lawyer, why don't you just admit to the judge that all of this was your doing? That way, I won't need a lawyer."

Lucas fell silent.

"Why are you quiet now? Didn't you just say you had my best interests at heart? This is actually what's best for me, so why aren't you happy about it?" Noelle's words cut deep, piercing through his defenses.

He took a deep breath and said, "Noelle, I'm still your brother. Do you really want to send me to prison?"

He knew he had made mistakes in the past.

He also realized that Xenia, with her duplicitous ways, was not a good person.