No longer a pushover (Noelle and Cedric)

If there really was nothing between Laura and Cedric, why did she have his phone?

Cedric recounted, "I was rushing to get my grandmother to the hospital. I must have dropped my phone there, and she picked it up. But I didn't know she answered your call. She never told me."

"How am I supposed to believe that?" Noelle looked at him calmly, but her heart ached.

She continued, "I never doubted you. But you lied to me for so long. Once trust is broken, it can never be the same again."

Cedric panicked. "Noelle, it's not like that. I didn't mean to hide my identity from you."

"Oh? Then tell me why." Noelle wanted to hear the reason.

Cedric met her gaze but couldn't bring himself to talk about the accident all those years ago. Noelle once said that she hated the driver and the person in the back seat.

Cedric finally understood the pain of a broken heart.

His grandmother was right. He should have told Noelle from the beginning. But now, he couldn't because he didn't want to lose her he was trapped between a rock and a hard place with no way of turning things around.

Noelle stared at him. "Say it. Why did you lie to me?"

Cedric remained silent.noveldrama

Noelle smirked. She guessed it was because of their difference in status. That was why he had hidden the truth. Did their time together mean nothing to Cedric?

Noelle picked up the boxing gloves and handed them to him. "Take these back. And I'll return the things you sent to my dorm, too."

Cedric looked at the red boxing gloves but didn't take them.

Noelle let go, and they fell to the floor.

Cedric's gaze lowered to the gloves The bright red color was piercing He stepped forward,

Noelle's hand, but shee

Noelle's hand, but she pulled away before he could touch her

He sounded hoarse. "I was wrong, but I don't want to break up."

Noelle's expression remained

remained eerily

calm. "Arelationship built on lies

wouldn't last. I fell for Dr. Greene, not the heir of the Greene family."

Cedric met her eyes and felt as if he was trapped. His heart sank.

He knew Noelle. She might seem gentle, but she rarely changed her mind once she made a decision.

Noelle stumbled back. "Cedric, this is the end for us."

Cedric shook his head. "No. I don't accept this."

"Don't ruin what we had. You know as well as do that this wouldn't work. Your identity will only bring me trouble. I just want a peaceful life." She turned and left the boxing ring, tears streaming down her face.

She had rehearsed this so many times. In the end, she could barely form words.

She would never forget her meeting with Laura at the cafe.

If Cedric had kept this from her, what else was he hiding? She couldn't take the

risk, nor did she want to. Walking away was her best option.

"Noelle, stop!" Cedric ran after her but tripped as he jumped from the boxing ring.