No longer a pushover (Noelle and Cedric)

Noelle tightened her grip just enough to make Laura wince in pain. Her gaze was icy as she said, "You have everything, yet Cedric still doesn't want you. Maybe you should be asking yourself why."

She released Laura's wrist with a slight shove. "Ms. Merlock, if you want to keep coming after me, I'll be more than happy to play along. I still have plenty of dirt on Samantha."

If Noelle exposed what she had on Samantha, it would not just ruin her reputation —it would drag the entire Merlock family down with her.noveldrama

Laura's face darkened. She had assumed Noelle would be an easy target, just some nobody from a small-town family. However, it turned out Noelle was not so easy to crush.

In the end, Laura scoffed. "All Liddells are desperate to climb the social ladder. Donovan even shamelessly agreed to be the Cantrells' live-in son-in-law just for power and status."

Noelle said with a smirk, "You're absolutely right. Just like how you sat in a café and lied to my face without even blinking. That was pretty shameless, too."

She did not care what Laura thought about the Liddells. Then, noticing that the competition was about to start, she turned and headed toward the backstage area to prepare.

Laura clutched her designer bag tightly, glaring at Noelle's retreating figure. She cursed under her breath, "We'll see about that, you little bitch!"

Noelle joined her teammates backstage. Raymond, the second-best player on the team in terms of skill, was discussing tactics and potential scenarios for the upcoming match. She stood by, watching, and suddenly felt a surge of confidence this match was as good as won.

When the competition began, Noelle led her team out onto the stage. Outside, fans held up signs with her name, cheering loudly. The cameras were mostly focused on her, as she was not only a popular streamer but also known for her exceptional gaming skills, which made her a fan favorite.

During the match, Noelle and

Raymond worked together seamlessly, their chemistry undeniable. They played flawlessly and secured a solid victory. The crowd erupted in applause and cheers, the energy in the room electric.

Noelle smiled, though she was not surprised by the outcome. The preliminary

rounds were always relatively easy.

After the win, a reporter approached

her for an interview and asked,

"There's been a lot of speculation about you frequently playing with a gamer whose username is

'ReverseTime.' Is he your boyfriend?"

Noelle paused for a moment before replying, "No, he's not."

She thought, "Well, he used to be, but not anymore."

The reporter then turned to Raymond. "You two have such great synergy, and you've trained together for so long. Is there any romantic spark between you?"

Raymond was caught off guard by the question. He glanced at Noelle, then chuckled. "We're just really good teammates right now."

Noelle knew the reporter had mistaken Raymond for Cedric since they shared the same in-game name. Once the interview wrapped up, Noelle and her team headed back to their school, where she had already planned a celebratory dinner for the evening.

However, when they arrived, Howie Lambert, the school administrator, personally approached Noelle and announced, "The celebration dinner has been arranged at L Bistro."

The team was stunned. "Wait, L Bistro? That super exclusive, members-only place? Since when does the school splurge like this?" one of them exclaimed.

The administrator smiled. "It's all arranged by the investors. They were impressed with your performance today, so make sure you all go."

However, Noelle could not shake the feeling that Laura was the investor behind this. She wondered, "What is she up to? Is this just a show of power, or is there something more to it?"