CHapter 9


    “Do you not like it? How about trying something else?”


    With a nonchnt air, Noe said, “I’m not a fan of seasonings: I can’t stand onions, ginger, or


    garlic.”


    It was just a minor issue, and she didn’t sweat it. After all, in the Lambert family, Belinda never


    cared about what she liked to eat. Instead, she would force Noe to eat stuff she hated just to flex


    her control freak muscles.


    The soup bowl in her hand was swiftly taken by Sienna, who then turned to the nanny and


    instructed. “From now on, absolutely no onions, ginger, or garlic in any of our dishes!”


    The nanny was speechless.


    Yvonne’s favorite dishes contained onions and gingers!


    However, she didn’t dare speak up, just shot a re at Noe, who had been throwing her weight


    around since she came home, almost grinding her teeth.


    Noe blinked, surprised by Sienna’smand. “It’s fine, really.”


    Sienna was unfazed and, taking Noe’s hand, advised, “Noe, when you’ve got a sec, jot down


    what you like and dislike. What you like to eat, me and your dad will like, and what you don’t is a


    no–show in our house!”


    Tristan nodded in agreement. “Yeah, look how skinny you are; the Lamberts definitely didn’t feed


    you any good grub.”


    To the Schnabel parents, the Lambert family had practically be Noe’s tormentors. Her


    clothes were nothing to write home about, no brand names and her suitcase was tiny, with no


    other luggage in sight!


    Talk about pinching pennies!


    Sienna hesitated before spilling the beans, “Sweetie, you’ve got four brothers and one sister at


    home. We figured out a few years back that you and ra were switched at birth. It took us years to


    find you. Your dad and I, it wasn’t on purpose, we…”


    Noe nodded.


    Nobody intentionally swaps kids.


    “As for ra, she’s innocent. We’ve raised her for years, and she’s not looking topete with you.


    So, until she finds her own family, we hope she can stay with us. Don’t worry, she’s usually out at


    Emerald County doing research.”


    “The one who called me, that was her?” She remembered Vincent mentioning a rooster crowing on


    the phone.


    “Yup, ra found you and called you. These past two years, we’ve been digging into what


    13:09


    happened and realized ra’s actually a few days older than you. Your dad and I are still trying to


    find ra’s real family.”


    Finding rtives was all about fate. The Schnabet parents simply hoped ra Schnabel could


    remain part of the family.


    Noe didn’t object; whoever the Schnabel folks wanted to take care of was their prerogative.


    “I got it.”


    The Schnabel parents breathed a sigh of relief.


    They knew their daughter wasn’t the type to kick ra out of the Schnabel household. ra had


    been with them for years, and even when they stumbled upon the truth years ago, they couldn’t


    bear to send her away!


    Sienna said excitedly. “You’ll surely like ra when you meet her!”


    Noe’s expression remained neutral, silent.


    The nanny muttered under her breath, “And there’s also Ms. Yvonne…”


    The mention of Yvonne Schnabel noticeably dampened the parents‘ enthusiasm and anticipation.


    Sienna took a sip of her soup and said indifferently. “As for Yvonne, she’s an orphan adopted by


    your grandma, not really a Schnabel daughter, so don’t worry about her.”


    The nanny looked a bit miffed but kept her gaze on Noe. She had finally managed to get ra to


    stay away for research, leaving Yvonne as the only daughter at home. Mr. Schnabel and his wife


    were bound to grow fond of Ms. Yvonne!


    But now, with a new miss in town, everything that was Yvonne’s was at risk of being snatched


    away!


    Noe noticed the nanny’s resentful look but didn’t give two hoots.


    “Why adopt?”


    Talking about Yvonne, the Schnabel couple’s attitude was lukewarm at best.


    “Your grandma was sick back in the day, dreamed about a celestial maiden descending to keep her


    company. After she got out of the hospital, she adopted Yvonne, who’s been keeping grandma


    company ever since. Your brothers are all busy; we’ll Introduce you to themter.”


    Noe acknowledged with a nod, slightly bowing her head.


    Tristan pped his hands. “Noe, wanna check out your room?”


    Meeting the hopeful gaze of the Schnabel parents, Noe nodded.


    They went upstairs.


    “Noe, I heard you’ve got college entrance exams next month. Got any schools in mind? No


    13.09


    worries if academics aren’t your thing. We can study abroad! Which university do you fancy?”


    Noe hadn’t really thought about it. She had received eptance letters from Aqua Vine College


    and Northlight Universityst month and was still weighing her options.


    The Lambert couple was clueless about these developments. Ever since Belinda stopped Noe


    from studying properly to provoke Briony, she kept her grades to herself, away from the Lambert


    couple.


    “Haven’t figured it out yet.”


    “No rush, take your time. Your brothers all studied abroad, and ra graduated from Northlight’s


    gifted youth program and is now pursuing her Ph.D. at the Harmonia Country Science Research


    Institute. We’ll have ra give you some pointerster on.


    Noe could tell ra was a genius in the science area. No wonder the Schnabel parents were so


    keen on keeping her around.


    N?velDrama.Org content.


    Tristan patted his chest, “You can ask me too! I’m a Aqua Vine College grad!”


    Sienna called him out, “You only got into Aqua Vine College because your old man donated a


    couple of buildings to the school.”


    Tristan was at a loss for words. He chuckled awkwardly and pushed open the door to the second–


    floor hallway.


    The whole floor was decked out in minimalist style, but every nook and cranny screamed


    understated opulence.


    A thirty–million antique shelf, loaded with priceless antiques, a walk–in wardrobe bigger than the


    Lambert family’s master bedroom, a bathroom floor one could see one’s reflection in, plus a study, a


    dance studio, and a game room…


    Tristan swept his arm grandly. “This whole floor is yours, Noe. Do you like it?”


    The entire second floor, at least three 3000 square feet, all for her?


    Sienna chimed in, “Yeah, check out the style. If it’s not your cup of tea, we’ll knock it down right


    away. The third floor’s yours too. If you’re not into it, we’ll switch it up!”


    Noe did not know what to say.


    “No need. The second floor is fine.”


    Tristan and Sienna were worried sick that Noe wouldn’t be into it. Seeing her nod, they both


    breathed a sigh of relief.


    Sienna flung open the walk–in wardrobe’s door. “I’ve got some loungewear ready for you. See if you


    like it.”


    Half the wardrobe was stuffed with high–end designer loungewear, but the most eye–catching were


    a few pieces with the distinctive willow leaf logo.


    “This is Master Azure’stest collection. You like?”


    Noe felt a mix of emotions. “I like it.”


    Sienna and Tristan almost burst into tears of joy! Their daughter said she liked it!


    “Sweetie, you rest up. I’m gonna call your brothers toe home, and we’ll all have dinner together


    tonight!”


    “Okay.”


    Sienna and Tristan skipped downstairs, over the moon.


    Noe thought for a moment and sent a text.


    Noe: [Find out why Vocalist showed up in Imperial City and when he took Marcel’s order.]


    [Gotcha!]


    Five minutester.


    [Boss, Vocalist took a gig for a tycoon in Imperial City, but he didn’t take any job about Marcel]


    Damn that Vocalist!


    Noe: [Dig into the mix–up with the Schnabel family’s daughter back in the day.]


    [On it!]


    Noe had always suspected there was more to that story!