CHapter 17
The van jostled along, heading out of the city.
Noe noticed they were headed towards Imperial West Hospital, and thought, “Well, ain’t that a
stroke of luck! These goons are giving me a free ride.”
“Who sent you?” she demanded.
The kidnapper let out a sleazy chuckle, his face full of creep.
“Listen, girlie, we ain’t lookin‘ to harm ya, but you had to go and get greedy, eyeing stuff that ain’t
yours.” he taunted.
“We’ll just dump ya in some mountain area, and don’t you worry, you won’t be seeing the light of
day again! Lucky for you, you’re easy on the eyes. That pretty face of yours could bring in a good
chunk of change up in the hills. Pop out a few chunky kids, and you’re golden.”
Noe swiftly reached for the small knife tucked at her waist and conked out a few of the
kidnappers, then pressed the de against the driver’s neck.
“Who sent you? My patience is wearing thin.”
The driver, shaking like a leaf and gripping the steering wheel, stammered out, “Oh please, have
mercy! We’re just hired guns! It was Belinda! She forked over a cool hundred grand for us to whisk
you away and sell you off in some mountain dump!”
Belinda hadn’t said that Noe could fight!
With a nonchnt “Drive to Imperial West Hospital,” Noe might as well have been the Grim
Reaper sharpening his scythe. The driver nearly lit the steering wheel on fire getting her there.
As soon as Noe got out, she shouted at the guards at the door, “They kidnapped me!”
The guards had seen hering and going from Imperial West Hospital and knew her as the pretty
granddaughter of the Schnabel family who was also a chess whiz.
The hospital guards were special forces soldiers pulled from the ranks for duty. They were used to
standing guard.
Hearing Noe’s cry for help, the special forces guys stepped up and quickly subdued the bad
guys.
“Thanks,” said Noe.
“Don’t mention it, Miss. Get inside. Mr. Marcel has been fussing over you for ages. We’ve got this!”
This is property ? N?velDrama.Org.
They all thought highly of Noe, a real looker who was polite and smart to boot–a true Schnabel
family gem.
No sooner had Noe stepped into the ward than she heard Marcel’s robust voice, “Where’s my
13:13
precious granddaughter? Didn’t they say she was on her way?”
“Grandpa, did you take your medicine today?”
Atarcel’s eyes lit up at the sight of Noe.
“Come here, darling. Tavian from building three is waiting to y chess with you.”
Hearing that Noe knew Marcel was dodging the subject of his medicine. She gave the nurses
a knowing look and handed over the daily meds to Marcel and said, “Take your medicine.
Grandpa. Be good.”
Marcel reluctantly downed the bitter pills and pulled a face. “Disgusting! Why are you only getting
here now?”
“I went shopping this morning and had lunch with Beckett.
Not wanting to worry Marcel she kept mum about the kidnapping ordeal. She could handle.
Belinda’s antics on her own.
“Why bother eating with that bore? Shopping’s fine. My granddaughter ought to dress to the nines.
I’ll send you some jewelry to y with,” beamed Marcel
Thanks, Grandpa.”
Marcel all excited, led her to another ward. “Come on, let’s go y some chess!”
Back in the day. Tavian used to make Marcel lose at chess all the time. This time he was
determined to turn the tables!
After several games, Marcel’s face was beaming with smiles, Heh, his granddaughter was a champ,
winning every game!
Tavian, once the second–inmand of Harmonia Country, looked on with admiration. Judging the
yer by the y, Marcel’s granddaughter was a real catch. He’d struck gold!
With a chuckle, Tavian offered, “Noe, if you ever run into trouble,e to Tavian. I’ll fix it for
you!”
Marcel was not having it. “Who needs your big talk? I’m still kicking!”
“It doesn’t matter if you kick the bucket or not. My word carries more weight.” said Tavian.
“Eh you old fossil! Noe, go y. I’ve got to settle a score with this geezer!”
Noe just nodded and bowed to Tavian before leaving the room.
As soon as she stepped out, her smile vanished, reced by a chilling aura. She sensed the
presence of an assassin. It seemed the Cerulean Whale had sent their hitman.
Noe turned and entered the green–lit emergency corridor, pulling out her silencer–equipped pistol
and disappearing into the shadows.
At the Schnabel Mansion
Yvoene burst through the door, flinging herself at Sienna who was tending to her garden.
“Mom it’s bad news!! saw Noe being taken away!”
Sienna was stunned, her $3 million watering can crashing to the ground in pieces.
“What are you talking about?”
Tristan, hearing themotion, came out of the study with the four Schnabel sons in tow.
They were just discussing which country to buy Noe a castle in when Yvonne’s panicked. words
hit them.
Sienna almost fainted on the spot!
Beckett asked with a stern face, “Where did you see that? Why didn’t you call us? Why didn’t you
call the police first? What if something happened to Noe!”
“I saw Noe getting into a van. I was so scared and I ran home to tell Mom and Dad.” Yvonne
sobbed, disying her cracked phone and bruised knees, the unfortunate result of her joy at seeing
Noe’s plight.
to give those scoundrels plenty of time to do their dirty work, she even strolled around Rising Glory
Mall treating herself to a shopping spree, a nice meal, and a full–blown skin pampering session, all
to be in tip–top shape to witness Noe getting the boot from the Schnabel family!
Utrich whipped out his phone and called the police.
Jasper frowned and said, “You’re only telling us about something that went down at three in the
afternoon? What the heck have you been up to?”
Yvonne dabbed her tears and said in a pitiful tone, “What’s that supposed to mean, Jasper? Of
course. I was at the hospital taking care of Grandma. Ever since she’s been admitted, it’s been
all me, all the time. Noe hasn’t even popped in to see Grandma once…”
Tristan roared, “Everybody zip it! We’re all hands on deck to find Noe now!”
“Beckett, you check the mall’s security footage: Ulrich, you go talk to the cops: Stirling, hit the road
and drive around looking for Noe; Jasper,e with me to the traffic police department! Noe’s
been through the wringer out there, and now with this mess under the Schnabel family’s nose, you
four are on a spending freeze for a year!”
The four Schnabel brothers stood at attention and replied, “Yes, sir!”
Noe stood at the door, watching the stern faces of her four brothers and Tristan.
“Where are you all off to in such a rush?”
Like a whirlwind, Sienna swooped in and hugged Noe.
“Baby, are you alright? Let me have a look. Yvonne said she saw you getting kidnapped; I was
scared to death!”
13:13
Sienna checked Noe from head to toe, making sure not a single hair was out of ce, with tears
streaming down her face,
Noe quickly wiped away her tears.
“I’m fine. I ran into some kidnappers, but Grandpa sent people to rescue me, and now the bad guys
have been taken away.”
“Thank goodness Grandpa’s got sharp Instincts. If I lose you again, I’d be beside myself!” Sienna
was visibly shaken.
“I’m okay, I just had dinner with Grandpa and came back.” She pulled out her phone to show a
selfie taken with Marcel at dinner.
Yvonne was practically wringing her handkerchief to shreds.
“Noe, I was so worried. Seeing those guys manhandling you… Are you sure you’re okay?”
Noe was speechless.
Was she trying to make the Schnabels think those thugs had done something to her? Could her
tactics be any more lowbrow?
“I’m fine.”
Yvonne hid the resentment in her eyes.
Why on earth! Why should Marcel pay so much attention to Noe, a wild girl who’s just returned
home? Just wait until he gets to know me better, then he will realize I’m the perfect granddaughter
for the Schnabel family–blood ties be damned!
With that thought, Yvonne was determined to drive Noe out of the Schnabel family!