ke hadn''t expected Noelle to care so much about their parents'' inheritance.


    At first, he thought Donovan''s n would fail. Noelle had cut ties with the Liddells and wasn''ting back, but surprisingly, she did care.


    Noelle looked at ke and questioned, "So you''re all just standing by and watching Mom and Dad''s stuff fall into the hands of an outsider? Are you all using that as a bargaining chip against me?"


    ke''s expression flickered with guilt. "If you had agreed to make peace with me earlier, none of this would''ve happened."


    "You haven''t changed at all." The Liddells had the same demeanor in this and thest life. Though Frank and ke knew exactly how Xenia was, they chose silence when Donovan handed her their parents'' inheritance.


    Noelle nced at ke with eyes filled with disappointment. "You all are the ones who''ve truly let Mom and Dad down."


    ke avoided her gaze out of guilt. It was only after she left that frustration overtook him. He kicked over a nearby trash bin with a growl, and as he looked up, he saw Xenia standing there.


    He grabbed Xenia over, and she let out a sharp scream. "What are you doing?"


    "You heard her, didn''t you? You have no right to any of the foundation or the inheritance."


    Xenia couldn''t hold back her anger and red at him. "Let go! Unless you want me to tell the media that you abused your sister. Then, you''d never recover from the scandal."


    "How dare you talk back to me?" ke fumed.


    "I said nothing wrong, did I? You were the coward who suspected Noelle of abandoning you, and all I did was repeat your guesses. And now you''re ming me for everything."


    Her voice was low and fast. "You''ve never treated Noelle well since we were kids, and now you''re trying to show concern and act like a protective brother. Just how fake can you get?"


    Her words pushed ke over the edge. His hands shot up to her throat and gripped tightly. "How dare you fucking sprout nonsense? You think I won''t kill you for running your mouth!"


    Xenia coughed violently. "D-Did I hit a nerve?"


    She wasn''t going to hold back anymore. ke''s face was disfigured, and his career was ruined. She had no reason to tolerate him any longer.


    "ke, what are you doing? Let go!" Donovan stepped out of the ward to see ke choking Xenia. He shoved the former away and pulled Xenia to the side.


    Xenia gasped for air, and there were bruises on her neck as she said, "It''s not that I don''t want to return the foundation, ke, but Donovan made that decision."


    Donovan''s rage red. "You keep disappointing me, ke."


    "Xenia is vicious, Donovan. Don''t let her fool you!"


    "I know exactly what kind of person she is more than any of you do. Touch Xenia


    again, and I''ll make sure you rot in prison."


    With that, he took Xenia''s hand and walked away.


    ?????


    ke furiously clenched his fists while Eion approached him and said, "As your friend, let me give you a piece of advice: don''t go against Donovan, and stay low-key for now. Once this mess blows over, you''ll have plenty of chances to deal with Xénia."


    ke knew he had no other choice at the moment, but he wondered why Donovan was so protective of Xenia.


    Back then, ke treated Xenia well just to spite Noelle. He was no fool to treat a driver''s daughter better than his biological sister. But for Donovan, it was almost like Xenia had bewitched him.  ''


    After leaving the hospital, Noelle received Frank''s call.


    "I''ll testify for the will, Noelle."


    "If you do this, you''ll anger Donovan, and he''ll never agree. Are you sure?"


    "With the state of my health, who knows how much longer I have? And what can Donovan even do to me?"