No longer a pushover (Noelle and Cedric) novel Chapter 1086

Noelle smiled at Mia. "Thanks."

Mia shrugged. "This is nothing. It's all over now, anyway. The future will turn out brighter."

Noelle sat at the dining table and made a wish over the cake. She just hoped for a fresh start in this life. She took a lot of photos, drank some red wine, and posted them to her Instagram.

Mia glanced at the time. "Alright, get some rest. We're heading back to school."

Grace looked like she wanted to say something, but Mia tugged her away. Noelle was a bit tipsy and watched her friends leave.

While they were waiting for the lift, Grace asked, "Why are we leaving so soon?"

Mia cleared her throat. "Now's the time to give her some space. No need for us to play third wheel."

Grace's eyes widened. "Are you saying Cedric might come?"

Mia glanced to the side. "I'm not sure. But I overheard a certain someone mentioning it."

Eugene stood beside them, calmly pressing the lift button, silently hiding his contributions.

…

Noelle was alone in the apartment. She posted a photo with the caption: "A new beginning."

She lay across the table and poured herself another glass of the red wine she hadn't finished. She really was happy. As she sat at the table, it felt like everything from her previous life was finally behind her.

Xenia was dead, Sean and Ruth were sentenced, and the truth had finally come to light.

She didn't know how long she had been drinking when a hand suddenly covered her glass. "That's enough."

Cedric chalked it up to her being drunk and rambling. He picked her up gently. "It's good that you understand now."

"So, do you still think I'm dumb?" she asked.

Cedric answered warmly, "I never said you were dumb."

Noelle pouted. "You did. In the infirmary when you were tutoring me and when you were teaching me to play games."

Cedric looked at her in amusement. "Are you still holding a grudge over that? But I don't remember ever teaching you how to play games."

She had always been pretty good at games herself.

Noelle looked up seriously. "What do you mean you didn't? You're the one who taught me that 12-hit combo."