Noticing Emma''s reaction, Noelle replied, "That''s right. I''m from the Liddell family."


    Emma anxiously pressed on, "Is Donovan your older brother?"


    Noelle nodded. Though she didn''t want to admit it, she had no choice, with Xenia standing right there.


    Emma let out a helplessugh. The youngdy Cedric liked turned out to be the survivor of that car ident! What kind of twisted fate was this?


    Noelle quickly helped steady her. "Are you alright?"


    Nearby, Xenia huffed. "Noelle, didn''t I tell you to bring the desserts you''ve removed? I have to entertain Mrs. Parham, and I don''t have time to do it myself!"


    Noelle ignored her and continued supporting Emma. "Let me help you to the lounge so you can rest."


    Xenia snapped, "Are you deaf? Mrs. Parham is our most important guest today!"


    Noelle shoved her aside. "Get lost."


    Caught off guard, Xenia fell to the floor. Then, she scrambled up and rushed off toin to Donovan.


    She was certain Noelle was doomed. Donovan valued his rtionship with Brittany, and he''d definitely be furious.


    Meanwhile, Noelle helped Emma into the lounge and poured a cup of warm water for thetter. "Are you sure you don''t need a doctor?"


    "I''m fine. I''m just a little low on blood sugar." Emma came up with a random


    excuse.


    Right now, she was utterly shaken and could barely calm herself down. She''d never expected to meet someone from that car ident again, and what shocked her more was that Cedric was interested in the girl who survived the ident back then.


    Noelle brought over some pastries and set them on the table. "Have some food to regain your energy."


    Emma''s eyes reddened slightly. "Thank you, dear. We''re really fated, aren''t we?"


    She hadn''t nned to attend this event, but since Brittany wasing, she figured she''de, too. Little did she know that the Cantrell family''s son-inw was from the family of that tragic car ident.


    Noelle smiled. "Today''s charity sales event was put together a little hastily. I hope you won''t mind if there are any shorings."


    "Did you organize this event?"


    "Not entirely. I stepped in only at thest minute to make adjustments. This charity foundation was established by my parents, after all, and I couldn''t let others turn it into a joke."


    Emma''s hand trembled. "Your parents founded this? I''ve never heard of it before."


    "They were from Aldoria and were passionate about charity work.


    Unfortunately, they passed away in a car ident years ago, and the


    i.ne


    foundation has been neglected since then. It''s only been revived in the past couple of years."


    The mention of the car ident made Emma''s heart feel unbearably heavy. After a long silence, she asked, "How have you been after


    losing your parents? I heard you brothers treated their only sister well and sent her to Yole University''s business school."


    Noelle let out a bitterugh. "The one sent to business school wasn''t me; it was


    my adopted sister. She''s the daughter of the driver involved in the car ident. You met her just now."


    "How could this be?"


    Emma recalled the time she ran into


    l.ne


    Noelle at the hospital and heard rumors about thetter. Back then she learned Noelle had been hospitalized because her brother had beaten her up, and the incident had gone viral.


    At that time, she''d just thought Noelle had aplicated family situation, and it


    was only now that she learned the truth.


    Her heart ached for Noelle. "Have you had a rough time all these years?"


    "It''s all in the past now," Noelle replied. Then, she heard voices approaching outside.


    She got up. "You should rest. I have something to attend to."


    Just as she stepped out of the lounge, Donovan and Xenia arrived.


    Xenia immediatelyunched into herint. "Look, Donovan. I told you, didn''t


    I? Noelle is just cking off in there.


    "I told her to bring back the desserts Mrs. Parham wanted, and she refused. Now Mrs. Parham is upset about our event being too shabby."