CHapter 8
Palmer put the chess piece back on the board and walked out of the hospital room, No sooner had
he stepped out than he bumped into a frantic Calvin.
“Mr. Calvin, doing rounds?”
Calvin, seeing Palmer, wiped the sweat from his brow. “Mr. Pock, I got a call that someone’s been
tampering with the meds I prescribed for the old–timers. A patient kicked the bucket because of
changes made to their prescription, causing post–opplications. Just here to check things out.”
He looked around but couldn’t spot the person he was searching for.
Palmer, catching on, raised an eyebrow and asked, “Got a meeting, Mr. Calvin?”
Calvin, irritated, said, “Darn it, I told you before that I’d spotted a medical prodigy I wanted to snag
for myb. Looks like I’m a step behind; she’s already vamoosed.”
“For someone to be called a ‘prodigy” by you must be quite something.”
Realizing his search was futile, Calvin sighed. “If you’d ever taken up medicine, you’d be at prodigy
too. Too bad, all you think about is making bank.”
Palmer just smiled, saying nothing.
Exiting the hospital, the driver, Wren, had the car spick–and–span, respectfully waiting for Noe.
“Miss, did you see Mr. Marcel?”
Noe nodded, boarding the car. Now that the car was clean, she could confirm it was a special
model provided to the government and military.
Bulletproof, ording to the reports she had seen when involved in research, and judging by the
way those folks treated Marcel, it wasn’t hard to guess her granddad’s clout.
Her family had nothing to do with the ‘broke‘ Vincent rambled about. Maybe they kept a low profile
because of their unique status?
And those who wanted Marcel gone? She wasn’t going to let them off easy.
All smiles, Wren said, “Mr. Marcel has been yakking about you for ages. Just now, Mr. Tristan
Schnabel and his wife called; they’re waiting at home for you!”
Noe nodded again. She had figured out her new home wasn’t the poor house Vincent had
described.
Even with her mental prep, Noe was still taken aback when Wren drove straight into Imperial
City’s priciest neighborhood, the Golden Age Community.
She was rendered speechless.
Get this the smallest t in the Golden Age Community could buy five Lambert Mansions!
Not to mention, Wren stopped in the vi section of themunity!
The vi was the belle of the ball, with all the other houses circled around it.
“We’re home, Miss.”
Noe gazed at the sprawling vi and the 3000–square–foot garden with a twinge of surprise.
A 3000–square–foot garden might be peanuts elsewhere, but this was Imperial City!
At the vi’s entrance, Tristan Schnabel and Sienna Horwich, the couple, were already waiting.
As Noe stepped out, ribbons in the couple’s hands took flight.
Behind them was a whole troop of servants with bouquets, ribbons fluttered down on Noe like a
grand celebration.
Everyone shouted in unison, “Wee home, Miss!”
Noe was confused.
What in the world was this spectacle?
Seeing the Schnabels not giving Noe the cold shoulder for being away for years, Wren was
relieved and drove off to report back to Marcel.
Noe was covered in streamers.
Tristan and Sienna rushed over, each grabbing one of Noe’s hands.
Sienna went in for the hug. “Darling! So d you’re back! Mom’s been missing you so much. I could
only manage three meals, afternoon tea, and ate–night snack!”
Noe was speechless.
That’s a full house, isn’t it?
But the embrace felt warm.
Couldn’t recall Belinda ever hugging her like this, though she often saw herforting Briony that
way.
And she had thought that was all there was to a mother’s love.
Turns out, a mother’s embrace could be as tender and warm as spring.
After Sienna had her cry, she took a good look at Noe.
Noe had some of her features, her skin soft and fair like a peeled egg, standing there so prettily.
Seeing her daughter looking so good, Sienna felt the tearsing back.
Holding her daughter, she realized how skinny she was!
She was almost 5’7” and skinny as a rail in her arms. She wondered how the Lambert family had
been raising her girl to be this way.
Wren had mentioned on the phone that the Lamberts were dirt poor, all crammed into a tiny house
without even a separate room for a maid.
“You’ve had it tough, baby. It’s all good now. Mom’s here to protect you!”
Tristan, not to be outdone, kept nodding. “Yeah, yeah, we might not be filthy rich, but we can make
sure you’re well–fed and clothed!”
Noe nced at the row of luxury cars parked on thewn behind Tristan, thinking, “Not filthy
rich?”
Following her gaze. Tristan pped his forehead.
“Oh, you must love the garden, right? Ours is a bit on the small side, but no worries- I’ll get you a
castle and estate in Franse to enjoy during your holidays!”
Sienna, leading Noe toward the vi, cautiously asked, “Honey, do you prefer Frensh or Italonian
estates? Royal ones are okay too; just a bit of a hassle to kick them out first.”
Noe was speechless.
Just like that, they were talking about booting out royalty like it was no big deal?
“No need. Anywhere’s fine. I’m not keen on going abroad right now.”
Both parents eagerly agreed, “Alright, we’ll get you something here. Mom’s got a 2,000–acre
garden in Shangri–Ra- it’s all yours now.”
Inside the vi, it was all glitz and m. The floor tiles cost hundreds of thousands, the trash bins
were gifts exclusive to customers who spent 200 million dors on a certain brand, the chandelier
was worth 60 million, and everywhere one looked, there were pricey antiques and masterpieces…
Sienna’s w
N?velDrama.Org content.
wrist was rocking a jade ne that was straight–up emperor–level bling. It fetched a whopping
600 million at an international auction justst month.
This jade set, personally carved by the Gemstone Gambling King himself, was born from a
nondescript rock that turned out to be wless top–notch jade–the ne, earrings, bracelet, and
bangle – each piece a stunner.
At the auction, it was a total frenzy, with wealthy tycoons wing over each other to snag it. The
final price? An incredible 678 million.
Who would’ve thought it would end up in the Schnabel family’s treasure chest?
Sienna caught Noe eyeing the jade. “Babe, you like this ne? It’s all yours!”
As Sienna moved to drape it around her, Noe quickly stopped her. “No, I’m more into
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Amethyst Gems.”
Her young age just didn’t live with this royal–grade jade. Sienna, with her graceful beauty and
dignified poise, was the perfect match for it.
But what really blew Noe’s mind was thinking about that 600 million sale with a sweet 80%
probably tining Sienna’s own pockets. Talk about speechless.
Meanwhile, the nanny was over there, rolling her eyes.
This jade set was Miss Yvonne’s crush. She begged Sienna for it a bunch of times but got shot
down. This country bumpkin clearly had no clue what’s precious.
Amethyst Gems? Pfft, might as well be cheap ss beads.
Sienna’s all in. “Totally; Amethyst Gem’s got that vibe, y’know? I’ve got a decent set of them in my
room. I’ll hook you up tonight!”
Noe’s feeling all sorts of emotions. “Violet Cloud Fairy?”
Sienna was beaming. “Yeah, you know about the Violet Cloud Fairy? It’s gorgeous! And now it’s
yours!”
Noe had no words.
Suddenly, she was dying to know just how much of the Gemstone Gambling King’s loot ended up in
the Schnabel family’s deep pockets.
Tristan ushers Noe into the living room.
“Your room’s all set. If it’s not to your liking, we can switch it up for you. We thought about giving you
our room, but then we realized the furniture’s all old school!”
Sienna hands over a pile of food. “Sweetie, eat up. You’re looking way too skinny. Didn’t the
Lamberts feed you right or what?”
Even though the Lambert couple was rather indifferent, they never skimped on the meals.
Noe stares at a bowl of soup in her hands. It looked like the average cabbage soup, but it was
actually a fancy–schmancy dish straight from state banquets, with the broth alone costing a five–
figure sum.
More importantly, one could not just throw money at getting a state banquet chef to whip it up.