Chapter 1

"Noelle, are you going to admit your mistake or not?" Noelle Liddell's mouth and nose were both submerged in water while her throat burned from the choking sensation. On the brink of death, she opened her eyes and saw her second brother, Frank Liddell, on the edge of the swimming pool. She also spotted her fourth brother, Blake Liddell, holding Xenia Quigley in his arms. A flash of disbelief crossed her eyes. This scene was so familiar. Hadn't she died already? Could it be that she had been reborn back to three years ago, on the very day Xenia was officially adopted by the Liddell family? Xenia had deliberately framed Noelle at the banquet, making everyone believe that the latter had pushed her into the pool. Blake was the first to discover them, but he only saved Xenia. He left Noelle, who also couldn't swim, to struggle in the water. Meanwhile, Frank even pressured her to admit that it was her fault, seemingly refusing to save her unless she confessed. Desperate and terrified, Noelle begged and forcibly admitted to it, pleading for her brothers to save her. She was only pulled out of the water when she was on the brink of death. After that, she no longer dared to provoke Xenia and went to great lengths to appease her brothers. But that ultimately didn't get her anything. Xenia stole Noelle's graduation thesis, but Frank testified for Xenia instead. Noelle was labeled a plagiarist and expelled from school. When Xenia needed a kidney transplant due to her poor health, her third brother, Carl Liddell, immediately took her to the operating room and performed the surgery himself. Xenia had to participate in an international competition to boost her credentials, so Blake, Wyatt, and Lucas kicked Noelle out of their team without hesitation. When Noelle found evidence of Xenia's plagiarism and falsified medical records, she took it to her eldest brother, hoping to expose Xenia. Instead, she incurred the wrath of the entire family. No one believed her. No one even looked at the evidence. Her eldest brother, Donovan Liddell, threw her out of the family and ordered her to reflect on her actions. Ended up homeless and penniless, Noelle went through unimaginable suffering. Past memories surged like a tide. She stopped struggling and allowed herself to sink to the bottom of the pool. Her eyes were wide open despite her stoic expression as if she had died. Looking at her brothers surrounding Xenia on the shore, she felt a sharp pain in her chest—even though she had experienced this before. She thought it was absurd. She was their biological sister, yet she meant less to them than an outsider. All of Frank's attention had been dedicated to Xenia. Realizing that the sounds of Noelle putting up a fight had ceased, he swerved around and noticed that she had sunk to the bottom of the pool. He paled instantly. "Noelle!" Without hesitation, he dove into the pool. Xenia's eyes glinted as she saw the scene before her. She felt that it would be better if Noelle died. Pretending to be meek, she tugged at Blake's sleeve and said weakly, "Blake, I want to save Noelle too. It's my fault that she fell in the water." Blake was equally concerned. Hearing this, he reassured her, "Don't be silly. Frank's help is more than enough. Noelle is just reaping what she sowed. She won't die." As he turned to look at the pool, his expression grew complicated. Underwater, Noelle saw Frank swimming toward her. He seemed genuinely worried even though just moments ago, he had forced her to apologize and watched her drown. This time, she didn't want his help. Mockery crossed her eyes as she turned and swam to the surface. After the near-drowning incident in her past life, Frank forced her and Xenia to learn to swim. She had been traumatized, but she overcame her fear and learned how to swim to please her brother. Yet, in the end, he only praised Xenia's bravery in curbing her phobia. No one cared about the lasting trauma Noelle endured—even a minute of neglect under the waters had left her scarred for life. Everyone only cared about Xenia, not her. "Noelle, what kind of stunt are you pulling now?" Frank blocked her path. "Do you think pretending to drown can undo the damage?" He noticed something different about her. He wondered when she had learned how to swim. Noelle met his gaze. Once, he had been her favorite brother. Donovon had always been strict, but Frank was always close to her. Now, however, only disgust and impatience filled his eyes. "Frank, don't blame Noelle," Xenia interrupted weakly. "I know she's always disliked me joining the Liddell family. It's my fault for being greedy and wanting a family. You're all important to me." Blake glowered at Noelle as Xenia sobbed. He bellowed, "Happy now? She wouldn't have become an orphan if her father didn't die to save you! He should've let you die instead of saving an ungrateful wretch like you!" Frank frowned. "Noelle, you should be grateful. We should treat Xenia as part of the family. It's what our family owes her. It's what you owe her. Got it?" "An ingrate like her wouldn't understand," Blake hissed. "If she could have, she wouldn't have pushed Xenia into the water. Even saving an animal is more worthwhile than saving her!" Noelle froze. She would've preferred not being saved at all if she had a choice. Enduring the searing pain in her lungs, she rasped, "You're right. It's my fault. It won't happen again." She would never do something so foolish again. Since they wanted Xenia as their sister, she would quit being theirs. "Noelle, so you really did it on purpose? Don't you realize that Xenia can't swim? She could've died!" Waves of disappointment washed through Frank. He had simply thought it was an accident but hadn't expected Noelle to push Xenia into the pool deliberately. He wondered when she had become so ruthless. Just then, the family doctor arrived. Blake spun toward Noelle and snarled, "You'd better pray Xenia is fine. Otherwise, you're doomed once Donovan is back." Frank trailed after them, but he hesitated and turned back to look at Noelle. He felt bad for her as he saw her alone with her soaked clothes, looking pale. "Go back to your room and change your clothes," he urged. "The banquet is starting soon." Noelle didn't respond. Soon, she was the only one left. She waited until everyone had left before she bent over and hacked violently as though she was coughing her lungs out. Swallowing the blood surging in her throat, she stumbled back to her room. She lay in the bathtub and closed her eyes, recalling how she had turned vengeful after she ended up homeless. She tried to kill Xenia but failed. Consequently, Donovan locked her up in a mental hospital, where she was tortured to death by caretakers arranged by Xenia. Noelle clasped her hands on her face and cackled, her voice carrying an eerie chill. "Very well," she thought. Her gaze was cold when she opened her eyes again. Noelle got dressed and looked around her bedroom, feeling a sense of unfamiliarity. In her previous life, this room had been given to Xenia while she was relegated to the latter's small room. She noticed a family portrait on the desk. In it, a young couple held a baby in their arms while being surrounded by six boys. Unfortunately, her parents had tragically died in a car accident not long after she was born. The driver had saved her first. When he returned to rescue her parents, the car exploded, killing him as well. Xenia was the driver's only child, who was born frail and sickly. Donovan brought her to the Liddell residence after the accident and raised her alongside Noelle. Everything changed from the moment Xenia showed up. The brothers Noelle once adored all turned their attention to the new addition of the Liddell residence. "Xenia isn't in great health, so I hired a chef to make meals suited to her needs. Noelle, make sure she eats properly." "Noelle, Xenia wants to learn painting too. You've learned enough. Let her have your lessons instead." "Noelle, drop out of this competition and let Xenia represent the school instead. Although she came in second, she had been preparing for a long time." "Noelle, Xenia's grades aren't great, but you should attend the same college to look after her. … Noelle clutched her head as a dull ache throbbed in her chest. She took shallow breaths, forcing the pain to subside. She was determined to cut all ties with the Liddell family this time. She put the photo away and began packing her belongings. Not long after, a maid knocked on the door. "Ms. Liddell, the banquet has begun. Mr. Frank requested that you head downstairs after you've changed." "Got it." Noelle opened the door and strode toward the lively banquet occurring outside. Widening her eyes in shock, the maid muttered, "What on earth is she wearing? Has she lost her mind from the trauma?" Outside, the banquet was in full swing. Xenia was dressed in an elegant white gown, her dark locks cascading over her shoulders. She looked angelic. Frank and Blake flanked her on both sides, gazing at her with overflowing affection. It was a heartwarming scene, indeed. But Frank couldn't help but think of Noelle. He had hoped for her to be this obedient and sensible. Instead, she had grown increasingly unruly and arrogant over the years. "Noelle's here!" someone announced.