No longer a pushover (Noelle and Cedric)

Blake yanked Xenia's hair roughly. Tears streamed down Xenia's face from the pain.

"I was covered in bruises yesterday. The reporters would have written all kinds of nonsense if they caught me visiting Noelle like this. I wanted to wait until I healed before going."

Blake growled. "You're lying. You could have snuck into the hospital without the media finding out.

"You just didn't want to go! You're still trying to turn me and Noelle against each other, right?" The more Blake spoke, the angrier he became. He raised his hand and slapped Xenia.noveldrama

Xenia's vision swirled, and she nearly collapsed from the impact. She hurriedly hid behind Frank. "Blake, I learned my mistake. I'll go to Noelle and explain everything. I'll earn her forgiveness."

However, Blake wasn't satisfied. He grabbed Xenia again and kicked her, sending her crashing to the floor.

Seeing her sprawled on the ground, Frank finally spoke up. "Blake, stop it. Are you trying to kill her?"

Blake's face was still wrapped in bandages, but he glared at her. "She deserves it. If this scheming bitch hadn't lied and stirred things up between me and Noelle, we wouldn't be in this mess to begin with!"

Blake hadn't been able to sleep these past two days. He never would have imagined that he had misunderstood Noelle. How was he supposed to live with that?

Xenia shrank back, tilting her head so Frank could see the injuries on her face. Frank frowned at the sight of her bruises. "Blake, don't you think you were wrong, too? You didn't trust Noelle either."

"If it were you," Blake retorted, "and you thought Noelle had abandoned you, wouldn't you be just as furious?"

He wouldn't admit fault. He had been deceived by Xenia. That meant he wasn't wrong, and she was.

His anger flared again as he glared at Xenia. "Go apologize to Noelle now. Or I'll kill you myself."

Just looking at her made his blood boil. Xenia had ruined his relationship with Noelle.

Xenia nodded. "I understand. I'll apologize right away."

"Not just apologize. You need to get her forgiveness. You need to do everything she tells you to," Blake warned.

Xenia lowered her head and mumbled, "I'll think of a way. But I came here to bring you all some food. I made it myself. And I made Frank some oats since his stomach isn't in good shape."

She cautiously got up and handed a

serving of medicinal congee to Frank. She said gently, "Frank, I

heard about your stomach problems. I asked the maids about the way Noelle used to make this congee and spent a long time trying to replicate it. Please try it."

Frank glanced at the congee and didn't want to accept it. But then he saw Xenia's bruises. And this was the same congee Noelle used to make, something he hadn't had in a long time.

Finally, he took the bowl and tasted a spoonful. It tasted similar.

Xenia asked carefully, "How is it?"

Frank remained indifferent to her meekness. "It's average and nowhere near as good as Noelle's."

"Of course, I know I'm not as good as Noelle." Xenia winced, her face pale from the pain of her injuries. "But I just wanted to do something to make up for my mistakes."

Frank's expression softened at her pitiful state. "Then go apologize to Noelle. Don't play any tricks again, or

we'll att despise you one day. You won't be able to stay with the Liddell family when that happens.

"I understand. This is all my fault. It has nothing to do with Blake." Xenia took all

the blame.

Blake's mood lifted. "At least you,

know your place. You're just a

driver's daughter who lives off the Liddell family. We owe you nothing. And we'll kick you out if you try any more schemes."

Xenia lowered her head, but a dark glint flickered in her eyes.