This was the first time Noelle saw ke''s injured face. She''d caught a glimpse of it outside the police precinct, but his face had been wrapped in bandages, which made it impossible to see the extent of his injuries. Now, she could see everything clearly.


    There was a long scar on ke''s cheek, and the wound had begun to develop hypersia. The fresh red flesh stood out grotesquely and strikingly.


    That was a devastating blow to ke as an actor in the entertainment industry, and judging by the depth of the wound, it might not heal that easily.


    The training base fell silent.


    ke appeared utterly defeated as he ced a velvet box on the table and slowly opened it. It contained a set of pink diamond jewelry consisting of a ne, a bracelet, and a ring.


    With a hoarse voice, he said, "I knew you gave Xenia my diamond ring as an apology gift, so I bought you a new set to make up for it."


    Noelle nced at the jewelry and found itughable. Then, she indifferently said, "I don''t need these things anymore."


    ke continued, "I understand I went too far, but I resented you for abandoning me. Now I realize Xenia had been lying all along. If I''d known the truth earlier, I''d never have treated you that way."


    Noelle thought of the tragic fate of her past life. To be honest, she didn''t believe a single word he was saying.


    As ke spoke, he carefully observed her expression, and his heart sank. Donovan was right.


    Noelle remained seated and snapped, "Are you done? Take your things and leave. I have a lot to deal with."


    Her expression was cold, and she looked utterly unfazed.


    ke pleaded. "You''ve seen my face, Noelle. My career is ruined even if you drop the charges. Can you bear sending me to jail?"


    "If that''s how you see it, shouldn''t you have Xenia go to jail instead? She was the one who started this, wasn''t she?"


    ke fell silent. "She deleted the video she showed me, so there''s no evidence proving she egged me on."


    "Shouldn''t you deal with Xenia instead ofing to me? Do you expect me to be merciful just because your face is ruined? To drop changes and take all the me myself?" Noelle mockingly questioned.


    "That''s not what I meant..."


    "Oh? I must''ve misunderstood then. Fine. You can leave now."


    Noelle didn''t bother giving ke another chance to speak. She had better things to do.


    ke stepped forward in disbelief. "I''m your brother, Noelle! I''m the biggest victim of all this!" If he''d been


    n the one to orchestrate everything, he would''ve dly


    epted responsibility.


    Yet, he was unwilling to ept the consequences and pushed. "Xenia lied to me,


    too. Can''t you understand that?"


    The word "understand" struck Noelle as almost amusing, and she let out a coldugh. "So what? Do you think beating Xenia up, making her kneel and apologize in public, is enough to make me forgive you?"


    "I never thought that''d be enough, but Xenia is the real culprit. You should be


    going after her." ke felt like he was the innocent one in all of this.


    Noelleughed out loud. "Shouldn''t you have Xenia take responsibility for you then? Just like how Lucas took the fall for her?"


    ke''s expression darkened instantly. Xenia was now under Donovan''s protection, and there was no way she''d take the fall for him.


    As he watched Noelle leave, ke spoke in disappointment, "No wonder Donovan says you''ve grown cold and heartless. Now I finally see it for myself."


    He''d shown Noelle her ruined face, but she hadn''t softened the slightest.


    "You''ve changed, Noelle. I''m starting to wonder if the person in front of me is even my sister." If ke hadn''t seen it with his own eyes, he wouldn''t have believed Noelle could be this ruthless.


    Noelle''s lips curled into a cold smirk. "The old Noelle, the one who obeyed your every word, meek, and was eager to please, is dead."


    "Even if you''ve suffered, we''re still family. Do you have to go this far?


    "You''re reacting this way because you can''t take advantage of me anymore. If we''re family, you should be punished, too," Noelle snapped.


    Guilt-tripping no longer worked on her. She turned and left the office. When the bodyguards tried to stop her, she shoved them aside. She was much stronger


    now.