No longer a pushover (Noelle and Cedric)

Noelle was stunned. "My boyfriend?"

She recalled that she had never introduced Cedric to her classmates.

Grace nodded and explained, "When we were heading back to the university after dinner, a really handsome man approached us and said that he was your boyfriend. But since none of us had ever met him before, we didn't let him take you away."

"How were you so sure that he was my boyfriend?"

"Well, we just guessed. Some of our classmates saw him still standing next to his car outside of the university this morning. He's really handsome, so he's easily recognizable."

Grace handed her phone to Noelle and continued, "This is the photo they sneaked of him. Here, see if it's your boyfriend or not."

Noelle took a look at the photo and immediately recognized the man as Cedric. Her expression became slightly unnatural. "He actually waited outside the university all night?"

Grace explained, "He's still wearing the same clothes from yesterday, so it's obvious that he didn't go home at all. He also followed us the entire way when we were bringing you back to the dorm last night."

Noelle was temporarily at a loss for words after hearing Grace's explanation.

Grace continued, "It's normal for couples to argue with each other. But still, you should give him a chance to explain himself."

She had never been in a relationship before, but she believed that they should at least talk things through.

Noelle smiled, seemingly mocking herself. "Not everything can be solved with an explanation."

She still had not yet figured out how to face Cedric, or rather, his true identity.

"So what did he do to make you mad anyway?" Grace asked.

Noelle complained, "I just recently found out that he had been lying to me. I haven't talked to him since then because I don't know how to deal with it yet."

Suddenly, Mia spoke up. "Are you planning to forgive him? Or are you planning to break up?"

Noelle turned over to Mia in surprise. Mia had barely interacted with them after all.

Mia's expression was also slightly unnatural. "I think my fiance has been lying to me as well."

Noelle's brow twitched as she realized that Mia may be referring to Donovan.

Grace immediately asked, "Mia, your fiance lied to you as well? Don't tell me they're all cheating?"

Both Noelle and Mia fell silent.

Noelle thought about the relationship between Cedric and Laura. With that relationship in mind, Noelle herself was technically the mistress.

She turned to Mia and asked, "Do you know your fiance well?"

Mia explained, "We don't really know each other that well. Our marriage is arranged by our families. I'm a disabled person, so even if my family is well-off, men of similar background wouldn't normally choose someone like me to marry."

She sounded as if she had been

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holding the words in for a long time as she continued, "I don't have many friends growing up. The few friend's I had were only friends with me because of my family's influence. A boyfriend would do that, too. Cóntent

Noelle frowned and asked, "Then, do you like your fiance?"

"I don't even know if my feelings for him are considered liking him, but he treats me well. Someone like me can't really wish for more, or I'll just be laughed at."

Mia's tone contained a deep sense of inferiority. Noelle had not expected Mia's relationship with Donovan to be like this.

What happened during the press conference back then was most likely due to Mia being a whistleblower. As such, Noelle had assumed that she and Donovan were on good terms.

Grace could not stand the somber conversation any longer. "No need to be so depressed, Mia! I heard that you're doing really well in your journalism major. You must really be talented!

"You don't really have to force yourself to get married, you know? If your fiance doesn't treat you well, then just find someone else!"

Mia lowered her head and replied, "But it's what my family arranged for me. They said that if I married a good man, my future would at least be secure."noveldrama

"You've been brainwashed by your family! It's not like we're still living in medieval times. As long as you have a job and can support yourself, you'll be fine!" Grace spoke with fervor. She wanted to help shake away all of Mia's self-doubts.

Noelle finally spoke up. "Trust your own feelings, Mia. If a relationship makes you uncomfortable, then you need to make a choice."

Mia looked at her and asked, "What about you, Noelle?"

Noelle fell silent for a long while before coming up with an answer. "The same goes for me, of course. It's not like I can't live without a man by my side. Even if we broke up, I'll still be doing fine by myself."

Grace nodded and said, "Well said! Anyway, it's almost noon. Let's go get lunch together!"

Noelle got out of bed to freshen up and get a change of clothes before heading

out.