"Noelle, I know you''re upset, and Lucas was way out of line today. I''ll make sure you get your revenge, but are you really going to push us all away because of him?" Noelle couldn''t help butugh. Didn''t the whole family always side with Xenia? She responded coldly, "It doesn''t make a difference to me."


    As Noelle headed to the curb to grab a cab, she spotted a familiar car stopping in front of her.


    The window rolled down, revealing Cedric. "Get in," he said.


    Noelle opened the passenger door and sat down. Just as she closed it, Frank walked up. "Noelle, I know you''re tired, but can we talk sometime soon?" Noelle pursed her lips. "We''ll see."


    Cedric hit the gas, speeding away.


    Frank stood there, feeling defeated. He looked at Michael and said, "Mr. Mrk, Noelle won''t be signing with your team. You might as well give up on that idea." Michael raised an eyebrow. "Since you''re so confident, why be afraid of a littlepetition? I''ve never seen such biased behavior before it''s a first for me."


    His gaze lingered in the direction Noelle had left. If he wasn''t mistaken, the driver was Cedric. He finally understood why Noelle had such a wless 12-hitbo. However, he couldn''t help but wonder why he was here, picking Noelle up. Everything about it feltplicated.


    Noelle nced at Cedric in the driver''s seat. "Why are you here?"


    "Just passing by," Cedric replied, gripping the steering wheel, his expression a bit uneasy. "Did you have fun at the event today?"


    "It was great," Noelle replied.


    Thinking of Lucas and Xenia''s reactions, she felt a lot better.


    Cedric stole a quick nce at her. He knew what had happened at the party, which is why he came to pick her up. He thought she would be affected, but she seemed even


    stronger than he expected


    Just then, Noelle''s phone buzzed with a message from Donovan. She didn''t even bother to check it. It was probably more moral lecturing. She was tired of hearing it. She put her phone down. "Let''s go for some barbecue."


    "Sure, where do you want to go?"


    "There''s this spot behind the school. It''s really good! I used to sneak there all the time. Every time I went, I felt like a little thief. I''d worry the smell would stick to my clothes." Cedric followed her lead. "Why sneak?"


    "That''s because my second brother doesn''t allow junk food. He says it''s bad for my health..." Noelle paused, her voice trailing off.


    Cedric noticed the change in her mood. "Are you sure you won''t regret leaving the Liddell family?"


    "No, I won''t."


    Noelle lowered her gaze. "They''re


    okay with the small stuff, but when ites to anything important, like choosing a school after the exams or anything rted to Xenia, they always make mepromise.''


    She didn''t care about their little favors, and she wasn''t going to let them guilt-trip her because of them.


    Cedric smiled t seemed he had


    been worried for nothing. Soon, the car came to a stop behind the school. As Cedric looked around at the surroundings, he frowned at the mess but still took a seat beside her.


    Noelle ordered everything she craved. "It''s been a while since I had this. Two cans of beer, please."


    The owner nced at Cedric before asking Noelle, "Does your boyfriend want anything?"


    Noelle froze.