Unwanted Girl Spoiled By Billionaire - Chapter 221: Chapter 221

On the other side of the house, once Damon made sure everything had settled down, he called Noelle out for a private talk.
Noticing how Damon seemed to hesitate, Noelle tilted her head curiously. "What is it, Damon? Just say it."
Leia had been taken away.
Noelle was the one who exposed her, yes—but Leia was the one who had done something unforgivable. So even if Damon was upset about it, Noelle wasn't going to apologize.
Damon pressed his lips together in silence.
He looked at Noelle's soft, rosy cheeks and couldn't help but recall that terrifying night. When she'd been hurt, pale as a sheet, forehead soaked with sweat, barely able to stand.
It was the first time he'd ever seen her like that. It had scared the hell out of him.
"Is your wound better now?" The question came out of nowhere.
Noelle blinked in surprise, then realized he was talking about the bullet wound from that night. Her expression softened.
She gave him a bright smile. "That healed ages ago. Why bring it up now?"
But Damon looked pale.
Lowering his gaze, he said quietly, almost like it pained him, "You have the right to know the truth... so I need to tell you something."
"What is it?" Noelle asked, intrigued.
Damon hesitated for a beat, then said, "The assassin from that night... it was Leia. She was the one who sent them after you."
Noelle was stunned.
Damon continued, "You're okay now, but you were hurt. If you want to press charges, that's completely your right—I won't stop you. But... if it's possible... I hope you'll consider letting her go."
He knew how selfish that sounded.
Noelle almost died that night.
And now here he was, shamelessly asking her to spare the person who wanted her dead.
Even if she yelled at him or cursed him out, Damon would accept it.
Noelle crossed her arms and eyed him, amused by his inner conflict.
"Well, if you really want me to let Leia off the hook..." she said, tilting her head, "then I won't report it. Problem solved, right?"
Damon blinked. He hadn't expected her to agree that easily.
"You're... sure?" he asked, searching her face.
"Totally." Noelle nodded. "And here I was thinking you called me out to yell at me for ratting Leia out."
"What? Why would I yell at you?" Damon looked half-exasperated, half-amused. "Leia did something wrong. You weren't wrong to expose her."
Noelle chuckled and covered her mouth. "A few months ago, I bet you would have yelled at me. You used to be sooo protective of Leia."
Damon didn't deny it. "She's been like a sister to me for eighteen years. I raised her, basically. You and I might be related by blood, but back then we were strangers. Of course I protected her more."
"That makes sense," Noelle nodded.
Then she suddenly cupped her face and leaned in close to Damon, smiling mischievously. "So what about now? Am I your sister yet?"
Damon squirmed, uncomfortable, and pushed her face away. "Don't get so close."
"Why not?" Noelle pouted. "Would you push Leia away if she got this close? Hmph. You're playing favorites."
"Leia would never cling to me like you do!" Damon shot back, clearly annoyed.
"Ohhh." Noelle nodded in mock understanding.
Then—whoosh—she launched herself at him, arms around his neck, grinning from ear to ear.
"But I'm not Leia, see? I like being clingy. So tell me, Damon... am I your sister now?"
Caught off guard, Damon tried to peel her off. "Get down."
"Nope," Noelle said cheerfully, hanging on like a koala.
Damon gritted his teeth. "What's with that baby-talk tone? Speak properly."
"Aww, I thought it sounded cuter," she said innocently.
"Cute my ass."
"You're being mean again," Noelle pouted. "You never talk to Leia like this."
Damon's temper flared, but he was also visibly flustered. He kept trying to shove her off, paranoid someone might see them. "Damn it. Didn't you just say you're not Leia? Leia doesn't cling to people like this."
"Well I do. And I'm not letting go until you answer. Am I your sister or not?" she teased. "Say it, or I'm sticking to you all day."
"You are so annoying," Damon groaned.
"I know," Noelle said sweetly, not budging.
Damon was at his limit. "If you weren't my sister, and anyone else acted like you... I swear I'd have already punched them."
Harsh words—but it was still an answer.
Noelle beamed. "So that's a yes! Damon finally admits I'm his sister!"
Damon sighed. "Can you get off me now?"
"Nope. I'm your sister. Big brothers are supposed to be patient."
"You are seriously unbearable."
Later that afternoon, Damon returned from the police station.
Leia had been officially taken into custody. But her sentencing would depend partly on the Anderson family's stance.
Since Adriel was on his way back, Damon decided they should wait and discuss it together as a family.
"Fine," Eli muttered. "We'll talk once Adriel gets back."
Rubbing his head, he trudged upstairs. "I've been up all night—I'm gonna crash for a bit before heading to see Dad."
Charlie and Noelle followed him upstairs as well.
Noelle was planning to tell Damon everything once she was back in her room.
After everyone else had gone up, Bennett—who hadn't moved—looked over at Damon with a faint smile. "Not heading up to rest?"
Damon stared at him. "Bennett."
"Yes?" Bennett replied politely.
Damon's expression turned serious. "I need to ask you something."
Bennett's eyes flickered. He seemed to know exactly what Damon was getting at. But he just kept smiling pleasantly. "Of course. Let's talk in the study."
The two of them entered the study and closed the door.
Damon didn't bother with small talk. He went straight in.
"When Leia poisoned Dad, the power went out. The electrician said it was because the main breaker tripped. But there was no sign of a short circuit. So that leaves only one explanation—someone shut it off manually."
Bennett's expression didn't change.
He smiled and said smoothly, "And what exactly does that have to do with me?"