ke pped the driver across the face. "Whose hands were you nning to tie up? She''s my sister and the daughter of the Liddells. Understood?"


    Trembling, the driver immediately shut his mouth.


    ke closed the car door. "To the hospital."


    He touched his swollen face and winched slightly. Noelle had been training recently and knew how to fight back now.


    The car arrived at the hospital.


    ke carried Noelle and took her to a private VIP ward. He proudly announced, "Frank, guess who I''ve brought!"


    "Noelle? Why is she unconscious?" Frank''s eyes lit up with surprise and joy when he saw Noelle, but he soon noticed she wasn''t awake.


    "ke, what happened to Noelle?"


    ke pointed at his swollen face. "Let me tell you, bringing her here wasn''t easy."


    Frank gave up his hospital bed and carefully checked Noelle''s condition. Frowning, he turned to ke and asked, "How exactly did you bring her here?"


    "We were having a friendly conversation when she suddenly punched me so hard I passed out. Frank, she''s gotten pretty strong and a lot harder to control." Though ke was pleased with Noelle''s newfound strength, her defiance and hostility toward the Liddells annoyed him.


    "You''ve gone too far, ke. You can''t do that to Noelle. That substance harms her health."


    "Rx, Frank. I know what I''m doing," ke replied as he settled in a chair. A nurse came in to apply ointment and ice packs to his swollen face.


    Frank sighed. "Noelle is older now, and she has her thoughts. We can''t treat her the same way we used to."


    "But look at her. After the college entrance exam, she left home and went to Yasnia alone to attend college. Now she''s offended the Merlocks and caused Lucas to end up in detention.


    "If you''d been more assertive and kept her by your side, none of this would''ve happened," ke retorted.


    "This time''s different. We''re in the wrong." Frank hade to realize that none of this was Noelle''s fault.


    ke nced at the unconscious Noelle. "I was forced into istion and couldn''t go near her. On top of that, I had trouble with the production crew, so I had no choice but to leave. If I''d been around, I wouldn''t have let her end up like this." From when she''d been little, he had always taught her how to behave.


    Frank took off Noelle''s shoes and tucked her in. He lowered her voice and said, "I''ll handle Noelle, ke. Give me your word that you will not use those old methods again!"


    "Fine," ke replied rather impatiently.


    Just then, ke''s manager approached. "You have a schedule tonight, Mr. Liddell. Why are there injuries on your face?"


    "It''s nothing."


    "How can you say that? For an actor, your face is everything!"


    ke got up rather unfazed and nced at the sleeping Noelle. "Talk to her, Frank. I''lle back when I''m done."


    "Leave, but don''t treat Noelle like this again."


    "You''re happy to see her here, aren''t you?" ke countered with a question.


    Frank was at a loss for words. While he was d Noelle hade to visit, this wasn''t the way he wanted it to happen. It was like adding fuel to the fire.


    ...


    Noelle''s phone started ringing the moment ke left.


    Frank nced at the caller ID and noticed it was from Cedric.


    He pressed his lips and hung up the call without hesitation. Then, he set the phone to silent mode.


    Deep down, Noelle would always be part of the Liddells.


    After doing this, he turned around only to meet Noelle''s gaze.


    Feeling slightly guilty, he said, "You''re awake."


    Noelle wore an expressionless face as she got off the bed barefoot.


    Frank quickly fetched her slippers. "Put these on. The floor is dirty."


    Noelle extended her hand. "Give me my phone."


    "Now that you''re here, can''t you stay with me a little longer?" Frank asked almost pleadingly.